USA > Virginia > City of Williamsburg > City of Williamsburg > Historical sketch of Bruton Church, Williamsburg, Virginia > Part 4
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On the first of January, 1777, the Episcopal Church in Virginia was incorporated, and by the act of incorpora- tion her property was secured. This security was short-
I Hawks. Ecclesiastical History, Virginia, p. 137.
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lived. By reason of bitter and persistent opposition, which need not be described here, this act was repealed January 9, 1787;1 and on the 24th day of January, 1799, an act was passed, "whereby every act which had been passed since the Revolution, touching the Church and its property, was repealed.2 During this controversy, the Church, fore-seeing the ultimate purpose of this influence which was being brought upon the Legislature, secured learned counsel to examine and report on the legality of the claim of the Protestant Episcopal Church to the tenure of the glebes, Churches, etc. These lawyers reported to the Convention held in Richmond in 1797 that it was their opinion: "That the Protestant Episcopal Church is the exclusive owner of these glebes, Churches, etc." This report was signed by Bushrod Washington, Edmund Randolph, and John Wickham.3
The enemies of the Church, having influenced the Legis- lature to pass the law of 1799, now found iteasy to strike the final blow. This was done through an act passed on Jan. 12th, 1802, "by virtue of which the glebe lands were ordered to be sold for the benefit of the public."4
The Convention of Virginia authorized Bishop Madison to take the case into the Court of Appeals. This was done in 1804. This case was decided by a vote of three against one in favor of the Episcopal Church. But on the night preceding the day when the opinion was to have been pronounced, Judge Pendleton died.
Judge Tucker was appointed to succeed him, and the case was again argued. Upon the second hearing the court was equally divided, Judge Fleming, who favored the Church, having in each instance refused to sit on the case because he considered himself interested in the decision. The decree of Chancellor Wythe, from which the appeal
Journal of House of Delegates, p. 87, and Journal of Senate, p. 91. Hawks 194.
2 Laws of Virginia, edition 1803, p.338. Hawks, p.233. 3 Virginia Convention Journal 1797. 4 Hawks, p. 233.
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had been taken, was thus affirmed,' and the glebe lands of Bruton Church, with those of many other Virginia Churches, were sold.
Early Episcopal Visitations
The first Episcopal visitation ever made to Bruton Church was that of Rt. Revd. Dr. Madison, reported by him to the Convention of 1793. Bishop Moore reports visitations to Bruton Church to the Conventions of 1816, 1819, 1820, 1825 and 1828; and Bishop Meade re- ports visitations to this Church to the Conventions of 1832 and 1834; but in all these reports there is no men- tion made of the consecration of Bruton Church. Frequent mention is made in the Convention journals of Churches consecrated, but they seem to have been either new churches, or old ones which had been in disuse, or which had been restored, or extensively repaired. This fact is frequently distinctly stated. The other Churches were doubtless considered as having been consecrated by unin- terrupted use in the service of God, or as having remained unharmed and hallowed during the period of their silence. Bruton Church has always been officially called by the Parish name.
Bruton Church made valuable contribution to the work of reconstructing the Church in Virginia, subsequent to the revolution. The Rev. John Bracken was elected rector of the Church in 1773. An ex- amination of the journals of the conventions of the Episcopal Church in Virginia from 1785 to 1818 shows that he was prominent and influential in the councils of the church. In 1785 it is "Ordered, That the thanks of the convention be given to the Rev. John Bracken, for the ex- cellent sermon preached by him this morning."2 Mr. John Blair was the Lay Deputy to this convention. In 1786
1 Hawks. Ecclesiastical History, Virginia, pp. 237-239.
2 Journals of the Convention of Virginia, 1785.
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Rev. Mr. Bracken appears as a member of the committee on the Articles of Religion; and at this convention he re- ceived nine votes for delegate to the General Convention, "To be holden in Philadelphia." In 1787 he appears as a member of the committee to revise the Canons of the Church. He was elected president of the convention in 1789, to which Mr. Robert Andrews was Lay Deputy from Bruton Church. Mr. Andrews appears as secretary of the convention from 1791-97, when he was succeeded in this office by Rev. John Bracken, D. D. At this conven- tion of 1789, Edmund Randolph, of Bruton Parish, was elected a member of the Standing Committee of the Church, on which Rev Dr. Bracken was placed in 1790. In 1791, and again in 1812, he was appointed delegate to the General Convention of the Church. In 1812, after having been thanked by the convention for his excellent sermon preached at the opening session, he was elected Bishop of the Diocese, receiving twenty-two of the twenty-five votes cast. He resigned the election in 1813.'
In 1821 the Rev. Reuel Keith, D. D., of Georgetown, D. C., became Rector of the Church. He reported to the convention, held in Norfolk on the 17th of May, 1821, that there were twenty-five communicants, at that time, in Bruton Church.2 Dr. Keith remained as rector until 1824, when he was elected Professor in The Theological Semi- nary, Alexandria.2
In 1826 the Rev. William H. Wilmer, D. D., of St. Paul's Church, Alexandria, was elected rector of Bruton Church, and President of William and Mary College.3 To the convention of 1827, held in Fredericksburg, Virginia, he made the following report :
"The rector of Bruton Parish, Williamsburg, reports that the condition of the church under his charge is some- what improving. The building has been repaired-the
I Journals of the Convention of Virginia, 1785-1813.
'Journals of Convention of Virginia, 1821, 1824.
3 Journals of Convention of Virginia, 1826.
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congregation attend regularly upon public worship. An increasing attention to the order and services of the church is manifested, and the hope is entertained that the pure religion of Jesus Christ is gaining ground. A kind feeling towards the church prevails among the various denomi- nations of Christians, and the rector deems it a matter of advantage to the church, as well as of duty and inclina- tion, to cherish and reciprocate this catholic spirit. There is a flourishing Sunday School attached to the congrega- tion, consisting of one hundred and fifteen scholars, which does honour to the zeal and piety of its teachers.
The number of communicants belonging to the church is about thirty, ten of whom have been added lately. Baptisms twelve; marriages ten; funerals three."I
Revd. Dr. Wilmer was a man of beautiful Christian character. The high esteem in which he was held is shown in the tribute paid to his memory by Bishop Moore, who spoke of him to his convention in 1828 as follows: "In touching on the subject of the bereavement we have ex- perienced in the death of our beloved Wilmer, it is impos- sible for me to find language sufficiently strong to express that sense of his loss which fills my mind. He was one of those who first called my attention to this Diocese, and of the three clergymen who corresponded with me on that subject, one only now remains.
To the usefulness of Dr. Wilmer we must all subscribe. He was a man of business and of piety. He loved his God, and the interest of the Church was near his heart. As a preacher he was faithful, energetic, eloquent. He was the friend of evangelical religion, and considered that the strictest regard to the public order of the Church was per- fectly compatible with the most animated social worship, in the houses of his parishioners and friends. His private meetings formed, in his opinion, the nursery of the Church, and were blessed to the edification and comfort of his con- gregation. He was always ready to discharge his duty.
I Journals of Convention of Virginia, 1827.
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Like the Apostle Paul, he not only taught his people pub- licly, but went from house to house, exhorting them to prepare to meet their God. His fidelity in the discharge of his duty met my warmest approbation; and if it is your wish, my brethren of the clergy, to give an account of your stewardship with joy, oh, let me entreat you all to "go and do likewise."
That he was loved and revered by his people, and by the whole community, is evidenced by the inscription upon the mural tablet placed in the Church to his memory. This inscription is given further on in the book.
In 1828' the Rev. Adam Empie was elected rector of the church. He reported to the convention, held in Pet- ersburg that year, that "The whole number of communi- cants in Bruton Parish, Williamsburg, is 38; that the adult members of the church are about 140; children 100; catechumens 50. The Sunday School consists, at present, of 93; the rector delivers one weekly lecture in the church, which is well attended.
Signed, A. EMPIE."
In 18291 Dr. Empie reports continuous improvement in the church; and to the convention of 1831 he states that the present number of communicants is sixty,' and that the number of adults was 109, a mistake, he asserts, having been made in the number reported in 1828.
I Virginia Convention Journals.
The Later Destry JBook
T
HE next Vestry Book of Bruton Parish opens in 1827, with the following members of the Vestry :
Henry Edloe, Jesse Cole, John Page, Dr. Peachy, Dr. Griffin, W. W. Webb, James Semple, Sr., Robt. McCandlish, Burwell Bassett, William Waller, Leonard Henley and Ferdinand S. Campbell. -
Modern Innovations
On April 18, 1829, it was resolved: That a Committee be appointed to ascertain the probable cost of cutting down and painting the pews; and on June 12, 1829 it was "found it would cost about $120," and it was resolved: "That the pews shall be cut down and painted and the Church whitewashed." On Oct. 20, 1829, the Committee appointed to have the pews cut down and painted, and the Church whitewashed, re- ported that they had done so, and that the expenses thereof amounted to upwards of $200, and that they had only been able to obtain from subscriptions about $120, to defray the expense.
On April 2, 1834, on motion it was "Resolved: That the standing Committee be directed to have the steps and entry at East end of the Church on the outside taken down, and in lieu thereof new steps inside of the Church be made to ascend the Gallery in the East of it."
On the 28th of Feb., 1834, it is "Resolved: That the Rt. Rev. Bishop Moore be respectfully solicited to lay be- fore the Vestry of Trinity Church, New York, the decayed condition of the Church and the poverty of the Parishioners of Bruton Parish, and to use his good offices to procure such aid as their benevolence may prompt."
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A Universalist Minister Applies to Preach
On July 7th, 1834, the Vestry took into consideration the application for the Rev. Mr. Skinner, a Universalist Minister, to preach in this Church, and after thorough examination of the said application rejected it.
Old Organ Sold
On April 23rd, 1835, it was Resolved, That the remains of the old organ be given to Mrs. Galt to be disposed of by her in such manner as she may deem proper, the pro- ceeds to be applied to the ornament or improvement of the organ gallery, or such other uses in the Church as she may think expedient.
The items above mentioned all appear during the rec- torship of Revd. Dr. Empie.
On Tuesday, May 8th, 1838, during the rectorship of the Rev. William Hodges, a communication was received by the Vestry from the Ladies' Working Society stating that "the Directors and Managers of the same, tender to the Vestry $700, being the proceeds of the late Fair for the repairs of the Church."
On the 19th, of July, 1839, it was "Resolved: That all the interior of the Church not necessary for further use be sold (by the Committee appointed to have the Church repaired) at such time and in such manner as they may deem best.
Interior Remodeled
Acting under these orders, and others of like purport, the Church was remodeled in the interior. The exterior remained unchanged. A partition wall was built across the Church, changing the shape from a cross to a T. The chancel was removed from the East end of the Church, where it had been for one hundred and twenty-five years,
INTERIOR VIEW, 1840-1886.
THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER STREET.
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and built out from the newly erected partition wall in the West. The old nave of the Church was not sold, but was afterward used for the Sunday School. The Church, thus turned around, was fancifully decorated on the interior. The old pulpit and the flag stone aisle were removed, and the tower was converted into a place for holding coal.
The diagram on page 58 will show the nature and effect of these alterations of 1840.
The Mayor's Pew
The pew set apart for the Colonial Governor was as- signed after the revolution to the Mayor of the City of Williamsburg, out of respect for his position and au- thority. In 1825 it was occupied by Mr. Wm. T. Galt, who, while Mayor of the city, officially received and wel- comed La Fayette when he visited the place.I
The pew occupied by the Colonial Governors has been designated in diagram on page 58 as located at the north- east corner of the Church Governor John Page is known to have occupied the pew located at this corner facing south. Mr. Wm. T. Galt and Mr. Robt. Saunders,2 both mayors of Williamsburg, are known to have occupied the pew intersecting Governor Page's pew just at the corner and facing East, before the change of 1840, and subse- quently facing West. The Colonial Governor doubtless occupied a large square pew, which would have embraced them both, and enabled him to sit just opposite the corner pulpit located at the south-east corner, or, by sit- ting on the other side of the pew, to face the Chancel in the East. There are letters extant which locate these as the pews of the above named persons; and there is one person3 still living who remembers the red canopy hang- ing there which originally marked the pew of the Colonial Governor. In 1704 the Governor occupied a pew on the south side of the Chancel. (See p. 42).
: From an old letter. & Mrs. Robt. Saunders was the daughter of Governor John Page. 3 Mrs. Randolph Harrison.
N
11
6
W
2
3
E 7
10
4
12
5
O0, In West Gallery assigned to College students in 1718. OO, In East, Present Organ Gallery.
I, Tower Entrance.
2, Portion cut off by wall in 1840.
3, Present location of Communion Table.
4, Present location of Lecturn.
Location of old Corner Pulpit-Removed.
6, Traditional location of Colonial Governor's Pew.
7, Location of the old Chancel, 1715-1840.
S
8, Location of Servants' Gallery-Re- moved
9
9, Location of College Students' Gal- lery-assigned in 1753-Removed. 10, Main Entrance after 1840.
11, Location of Benjamin Waller's Gal- lery, built 1762- Removed.
12, Location of Gallery for the Boys of the Parish, built 1721-Removed.
Diagram Showing the Original and Present Arrangement of the Church
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Historical Notes
The Pews Rented Out
On the 22d day of May 1840, in order to obtain revenue, it was resolved, that the pews of the Church be rented out ; and on the 22d day of May, 1840, there ap- pears the following record :
No. 5, to Miss B. Page, twenty dollars ; No. 6, to Mrs. Coleman, twenty-five dollars ; No. 7, to Richard Randolph, twenty-five dollars; No. 8, to Dickie Galt, thirty dollars; No. 9, to H A. Burwell, thirty dollars; No. 11, to John Coke, thirty dollars ; No. 12, to A. G. Southall, thirty-two dollars and fifty cents; No. 13, to William Martin, thirty dollars; No. 14, to R. P. Waller, forty-two dollars ; No. 15, to A. D. Galt, twenty dollars; No. 16, to Ro. P. Waller, thirty-three dollars, No. 17, to G. Durfey, twenty-fivedol- lars; No. 18, to W. W. Vest, twenty-five dollars ; No. 19, to W. W. Tyler, fifteen dollars, No. 20, to S. S. Griffin, fifteen dollars; No. 21, to Robert Anderson, forty dollars; No. 22, to Robert Anderson, forty dollars; No. 23, to Tho. R. Dew, fifty dollars; No. 24, to Robert Anderson, fifty dol- lars; No. 25, to B. Tucker, fifty dollars; No. 26, to Ro. Saunders, fifty dollars; No. 27, to John B. Christian, forty dollars; No. 28, to Jesse Cole, forty dollars; No. 29, to Sam. F. Bright, forty dollars ; No. 30, to R. M. Garrett, forty-five dollars; No. 31, to Thos. G. Peachy, forty dol- lars; No. 32, to J. C. Sheldon, fifty dollars; No. 33, to Dabney Browne, forty dollars; No. 34, to Robert McCandlish, sixty dollars; No. 35, to Moreau Bowers, thirty-seven dollars; No. 36, to William H. Pierce, forty dollars; No. 37, to Benjamin Hansford, thirty dollars; No. 38, to Lucius F. Cary, forty dollars; No. 39, to John Millington, thirty-four dollars; No. 40, to William Edloe, thirty-six dollars; No. 41, to John M. Galt, twenty-two dollars; No. 42, to Mrs. Mary Shield, twenty-four dollars; No. 43, to Henley Taylor, fifteen dollars; No. 44, to Mrs. Henry Edloe, twenty dollars; No. 45, to John Tyler, fifteen dollars; No. 46, to Mrs. Mary Carter, ten dollars; No. 48, to Mrs. Miller, ten dollars.
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At a meeting of the vestry held Jan. 23rd, 1878, it was "Resolved, That the pews in this Church are free and all persons are invited to attend our services."
Town Clock Placed in Church Steeple
On the 14th day of July, 1840, on motion, it was Resolved, That the Town authorities have permission to have the town clock removed to the Church and fixed up therein.
"At a meeting of the vestry held on the 8th of May, 1841, it was "Resolved, That the Church be fitted up in the usual emblems of mourning on Friday the 14th day of May, in compliance with the recommendation of the President of the United States, because of our national bereavement in the recent death of Wm. Henry Harrison, our late President."
The Revd. William Hodges, D. D., resigned in 1848, and was succeeded by the Revd. Henry M. Denison, who con- tinued rector until March, 1850. He was again elected rector in 1852. He was succeeded in 1856 by the Revd. Geo. Wilmer, D. D., who was rector for one year. Dr. Wilmer was followed in the rectorship by Revd. Thomas Ambler, who served as rector for twelve years, from 1860 to 1872.
On the 1st day of May, 1852, "On motion it was re- solved, That a Gallery be erected, and that Dr. Jno. M. Galt and Mr. G. Durfey be appointed a Committee to draft a plan and to let the same to the lowest bidder."
The last entry in the Vestry book, preceding the Civil War, was made on April 13, 1853, at which time the fol- lowing gentlemen were enrolled as Vestrymen:
Robert Saunders, Goodrich Durfey, Robert T. Cole, M. Galt, R. M. Garrett, C. Jos. Coleman, Turner Christian, W. W. Vest, John A. Henley, Joshua Walker, Jr., William Waller, Robert McCandlish.
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The Revd. Thos. M. Ambler, who was Rector of the Church during the time of the Civil War, states that one year after the battle of Williamsburg, some if not all of the Communion silver of the Church was removed from the city, and taken by him to South Carolina and else- where, and brought back by him at the conclusion of the war.
He further states that no service was held in the Church during the war because the authorities would not allow the service unless the prayer for the President of the United States was said. During a part of this time the Church was used as a hospital for the Confederate sol- diers. The services, however, were not abandoned, for Revd. Mr. Ambler held regular services on Sunday at his home, which continued until he left the city to enter the army as a commissioned Chaplain. After the war he re- turned as rector, and visited the north, securing $250 for repairing the roof of the Church.
The first entry in the Vestry book after the Civil War was made on October, 1865, at which time the following gentlemen were enrolled :
Revd Thos. M. Ambler, Rector; Mr. Robert Saunders, Mr. P. Montague Thompson, Mr. W. W. Vest, Mr. R. F. Cole, Mr. J. C. Munford, Mr. E. Taliaferro, Mr. Richard Hansford, Mr. G. Durfey, Mr. Wm. S. Peachy, Mr. John A. Henley, Dr. Robert Garrett.
After the rectorship of Revd. Thos. M. Ambler, the Revd. Geo. Wilmer, D. D., was for the second time elected rector in 1872, and served four years. The Revd. Jaquelin Meredith served as rector from 1876 to 1877; Revd. Henry Wall, S. D. T., from 1877 to 1880; Revd. Alexander Overby from 1880 to 1885; the Revd. F. G. Burch from 1885 to 1887; The Revd. Lyman B. Wharton, D. D, now Professor of Latin in the College of William and Mary, was rector in 1888; The Revd. T. C. Page served as rector from 1889 to 1893; and the Revd. William T. Roberts from 1894 to 1902.
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At a meeting of the vestry of the Bruton Parish held in the lecture room on Monday, the 5th of April, 1873, on motion it was "Resolved, That the rector, Revd. George T. Wilmer, is hereby requested to furnish any information in his possession relative to any of the missing records of this Parish, or their contents, and report at his con- venience to the Vestry.
At a vestry meeting held on October 27, 1885, it was "Resolved, That a committee appointed be authorized and empowered to contract to have a tin roof put upon the Church."
"At a meeting of the vestry of Christ Church," Bruton Parish, held on March 2nd, 1886, the Revd. Francis M. Burch, Rector, being present, it was determined : First, to repair the floor and make it perfectly secure; second, that the walls should be plastered and kalsomined; third, that the side lamps should be removed, and the Church lighted by chandeliers; fourth, that the present Pulpit (see illustration showing interior view 1840-1886,) be taken down, and reading desk and Pulpit and Com- munion table supplied ; fifth, that the Gallery in the north end of the Church be removed."
For these, and other repairs, the "Catharine Memorial Society" placed $300 in the treasury of the Church. The changes determined upon were made, and the furniture for the chancel purchased. The pulpit purchased by this Society was subsequently presented to St. John's Church, Petersburg, Va.
On March 24, 1887, the vestry granted the request of "The Catharine Memorial Society to repair the old monu- ments in the church yard, and otherwise to put in order as their means would justify."
On February 12th, 1902, "the rector, Revd. W. T. Roberts, reported that the deed to the Parish house had been made in the name of the trustees of the Church, and
* We occasionally, at this time, find Bruton Church thus designated, without authority.
1777
THE INTERIOR VIEW OF THE CHURCH, 1886-1903.
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had been recorded." This Parish house was secured in order to make room for the Sunday School and Parish meetings, in view of the restoration of the Church which was then contemplated.
The Restoration of the Church
It has long been thought that the comparatively modern changes which were made in the Church in 1840, destroying its ancient cruciform shape, were out of keeping with the rest of the building; and that the interior of the Church should be restored to its ancient form.
The following account of the action of the congrega- tion and Vestry, which appeared in the Southern Church- man of May 30, 1903, will show what has been deter- mined upon in this matter:
"At a meeting of the vestry of Bruton Church, held Saturday evening, May 23rd, the rector, the Revd. W. A. R. Goodwin, stated that he had, at the request of the vestry, presented the question of the restoration of the Church to the congregation on Sunday morning, May 19th, and asked that those opposed to such restoration, if any, should so inform the rector, and that at the service held May 17, 8 P. M., at the visitation of the Bishop, the rector had stated that final action on this matter would be taken by the vestry on May 23d; that no member of the congregation had offered any opposition to the plan, but that a great many had expressed their hearty approval of the undertaking.
Mr. Mercer moved, that whereas no objection had come to the knowledge of the vestry on the part of any member of the congregation to the proposed restoration of the Church edifice, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the vestry proceed with the considera- tion of the restoration proposed by Dr. Garrett at the meeting of the vestry, held May 8, 1903, which is in the following words, to-wit:
"Resolved, Thatitis the sense of the vestry to restore Bru- ton Church to its original form, provided the move on their
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part meets with the approval of a majority of the members of the Church, and that the rector be requested to present this matter to the congregation and ascertain their views on the subject, and to report to the vestry at some future meeting."
It is further provided that no steps in this matter shall be taken until the necessary funds have been received. This was unanimously carried.
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