USA > Virginia > City of Williamsburg > City of Williamsburg > Historical sketch of Bruton Church, Williamsburg, Virginia > Part 5
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Dr. Garrett thereupon moved that the vestry proceed to take such steps as shall be necessary to restore Bruton Church to its original form; provided, however, that no work shall be undertaken until the necessary funds shall have been secured, and the rector is hereby authorized to solicit contributions for this purpose, and that all funds collected for this object be turned over to the treasurer of the Church and be deposited in bank on interest-bearing account. Unanimously adopted.
The rector suggested that the vestry associate with themselves, in the restoration of the Church, an advisory committee, consisting of the Rt. Revd. A. M. Randolph, Revd. Dr. B. D. Tucker, Diocese of Southern Virginia ; Revd. J. J. Gravatt, Diocese of Virginia; Revd. Dr. Randolph H. McKim, Washington, D. C .; Revd. Dr. William R. Huntington, Diocese of New York; Mr. J. Frederick Kernachan, New York, and such others as they may deem proper. This suggestion was unanimously agreed to.
It is gratifying to the vestry to be able to say that after a full and free discussion of the proposed restoration of the dear old Church, not only in the sessions of the vestry, and among the congregation, but with many dis- tinguished visitors, we are yet to hear of any serious opposition on the part of any one, and we are assured that the funds necessary to make the changes contem- plated will soon be available. We have already some sub- stantial promises of aid."
H. D. COLE, Registrar of the Vestry.
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Distorical Notes
The experience and knowledge of the gentlemen as- sociated with us on the advisory committee will be of great service to the vestry in the undertaking, and will give to the Church at large the assurance that the work will be wisely planned and executed.
In Memoriam
OD, through nature, has done much to make G beautiful the spacious grounds where the old Church stands. Each season gives to the place a special charm, and a varied love- liness. The spring calls forth the wild butter-cups which spread themselves over the entire grounds like a rich cloth of gold. The summer breathes upon the roses which blossom forth and bloom here among the tombs and above the green graves of the dead of other days. The ancient trees, full- leaved, cast upon the dark walls of the old Church deep shadows which lengthen and deepen with the dying day. Then the touch of autumn tells that another year is beginning to die. The berries redden on the English hawthorn tree which stands near by the ancient tower door; the vine, clinging to the north wall of the Church, turns crimson; and the leaves flush with varied color, then fall and die. In the bleak winter the wind, as if at requiem, sighs through the bare trees, and moans about the walls and tower of the old Church. Only the ivy which mantles the eastern end of the build- ing, and clings to the old trees in the Church yard, re- mains green. But the scene is one of matchless beauty, when, from heaven, the mantle of spotless white softly falls o'er Church, and tombs, and bending trees. And then, again, there come the glad days that speak of life, and suggest thoughts of immortality. Dormant vital forces stir and breathe and move. The air is filled with the music of birds singing as they nest in the trees in the Temple court, and is ladened with the perfume of the hawthorn bloom, and violets come forth and weave a border of purple and green about the bases of the tombs.
Through the many changing seasons, unchanged the Church has stood. The touch of time has been gentle and
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Mistorical Notes
forbearing. Through widening cracks the old Church, at times, has made mute appeals for protecting care, to which those who loved her have responded. The ancient tower, through which so many of the living and the dead have passed, is even now appealing for repairs to protect its strength. What time has spared so long and hallowed, must not suffer harm from man's neglect. To secure its protection and preservation the Church should be ENDOWED. This endowment should be given, not to main- tain the living service, which it is the privilege of those who worship here to do, but to provide a perpetual fund for the preservation of the old Church building, and for the rightful care of the grounds where sleep the dead who worshipped here, and loved, as we do now, this sacred soil which now enshrines their dust. This endow- ment would be a fitting tribute from the living to the memory of the dead, and would be to the glory of God Who has watched over and protected this ancient and hallowed Temple which bears witness to the faith and devotion of our fore-fathers.
Communion Silver
T
HE Church has at present three sets of Com- munion Silver, which on account of their sacred associations and antiquity are highly prized and carefully preserved. The follow- ing description of this plate is taken from a book entitled "Old Plate," by John H. Buck, published by the Gorham Manufac- turing Co., New York, 1888, pp. 210-212:
The Jamestown Church Service
"CHALICE, H 104 in. PATEN, Dia 7 in. One mark, | W, oval object below, plain shield.
Inscription on each : Mixe not holy thinges with pro- fane. Ex dono francisci Morrison, Hrmigeri* Hno Domi 1661. This maker's mark is on the celebrated cup form- erly belonging to the Blacksmith's Company, London, 1655, and purchased at the Dexter sale for no less a sum than £378, and it is also found in a shaped shield on the copper plate preserved at Goldsmith's Hall 1675-1697.
ALMS BASIN, Dia 994 in. Four marks: 1, Lion pas- sant; 2, Leopard's Head, crowned; 3, Small Roman a,' London 1739: 4, maker's mark, .T F. (Thomas Farren). Inscription: for the use of James City Parish Church. This service has been in use in Bruton Church since the Church at Jamestown was abandoned. (See illustration.)
Bruton Parish Church
Two-handled CUP AND COVER, gilt H 3% in .; Dia. 414 in. Four marks: Lion passant; 2, Leopard's Head, crowned; 3, black letter small i London 1686; 4, maker's mark P . H, crown and two ermine spots above, crescent below, shaped escutcheon, Peeter Harache. This maker's
*Francis Morrison was at this time acting Governor of the Colony.
1 This should be small Roman d, London, 1739.
THE JAMESTOWN COMMUNION SERVICE.
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Historical Notes
mark is also to be found on the copper plate preserved at Goldsmith's Hall.
PATEN, Dia 51/2 in. Four marks: 1, Lion passant ; 2, Leopard's Head, crowned; 3, small Roman b,' London C 1737; 4, maker's mark R . 6. (Richard Gurney and Co.) C
The cup is beautifully chased and embellished with applique leaves and bears private arms, the Paten is of less delicate workmanship. (See illustration.)
[The following letter in reference to the two-handled cup and cover written recently is inserted here, as it con- tains additional information in regard to this silver which has been commonly known as the Queen Anne Service.]
49 North 8th Ave., Mount Vernon, N. Y., October 21, 1903.
Revd. Sir :-
The Gorham Co. have handed me your favor of the 17th inst., to reply to. You are welcome to use the re- quired matter from "Old Plate," as you suggest. In 1897 I received a letter from the President of William and Mary College2 with regard to the cup and cover now in use in your church. "I have a letter of Samuel Athaires from London to the President and Masters of the college, under date 29th July, 1775, in which it is stated that he has in his custody 'the gilt sacramental cup and patten, together with the bible which was left by Lady Gooch to the col- lege of William and Mary, and which, when the times would permit he would send addressed to the Bursar of that seminary.' Now Lady Gooch was Rebecca, daugh- ter of William Stanton, Esq." (the arms on the dexter side of shield engraved on cup are those of Stanton). "I suppose the cup and bible fell into the custody of the church through Revd. John Bracken, who was president
I The letter on the paten is a small Roman q, London, 1751.
2 Lyon G. Tyler, M. A., LL. D.
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Historical Notes
of the college in 1812, and also minister of Bruton Church. Yours very truly,
JOHN H. BUCK.
The king George Service
FLAGON, H 101/2 in. CHALICE, H 10 in. ALMS BASIN, Dia 10 in. Four marks on Flagon: 1, Lion pas- sant; 2, Leopard's Head, crowned; 3, Old English capi- tal & London 1766; 4, maker's mark 9.H. crowned (Thos. Heming).
On Chalice the maker's mark is wanting, and the date letter is an old Old English 3, London 1764, there are no marks on the Alms Basin. All engraved with the Royal Arms between the initials GIIl R with motto "Doni soit qui mal y pense."
Plate of the same date and by the same maker is at Trinity Church, New York." (See illustration.)
These services of communion silver, when not in use, are kept in a fire-proof vault in a building of the Eastern State Hospital.
The ffont
According to tradition the Font in Bruton Church was used in the Church at Jamestown, and was brought from that place when the House of Burgesses was moved to Williamsburg, in 1699.
FONT STONES
In the Calendar of State Papers Vol. I, page 35, there is the following record relating to the importation of Font Stones :
" One order more, fame date (April 19, 1692), concern- ing font stones at Tindall's Point, Mr. Robt. Read one,
I This old English L is not exactly the same form as the style of L on the silver.
THE KING GEORGE III COMMUNION SERVICE.
1
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Historical Notes
Capt. Thorp one, & by Capt. Thorp's Information to my Under Sherif, Capt. ffra, Dage one, Capt. James Archer, one & yt ye Stone in Broughton, p'ifh Church is ye fame, & yt Capt. Dage gave his Receipt for them, but to whome he Knows not."
The tradition in the Parish is that when the James- town font was brought to Williamsburg, the one im- ported in 1692 was given to one of the neighboring Churches.
The Bell
The bell which has rung out the years for more than · a century and a quarter, has engraved upon it : "The gift of James Tarpley to Bruton Parish, 1761." There was a still older bell, which has been referred to, for the vestry, in 1769, entered an order for their contractor, Benjamin Powell, to have the "Old Bell and the materials of the old steeple." The ancient clock still looks down from the steeple, but for many years it has been unmindful of the flight of time.
Old Record JBooks
The old Parish Register of the Church is still in the possession of the Vestry. It was found some years ago in a box of papers where it had doubtless been hid for safe keeping during the war. During this time it was badly mutilated by some person, ignorant of its value. A large number of pages were torn from the front and back of the book. It now contains the records of Bap- tisms from 1739 to May 21st, 1797, and the record of Deaths from April 13th, 1662, to December 18th, 1761. Thus it would appear that pages containing the record of seventy-seven years were torn from the front, and pages containing the record of deaths for thirty-six years were torn from the back. The book that remains has been rebound, and is kept in an iron safe.
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Historical Notes
The entries in this Old Parish register prior to 1674, seem to belong to one of the adjacent churches. probably to the one located in Marston Parish, which was united with Middletown Parish in 1674. The Baptismal record in this book shows with what care the members of the Church provided spiritual ministration for the children of their servants. The illustration given shows two pages of this ancient record.
As stated in the introduction, the old vestry book of the Parish was either lost or destroyed during the wars, or was burned with the house of Revd. John McCabe in Hampton.
Ertracts from Sermons Preached in Bruton Church by Commissary Blair, 1710=1743
ON LYING AND SWEARING
"Thus now I have done with my text ; but I am afraid I have done no good all this while, and that the evil one, from whom the spirit of lying and swearing comes, will be abundantly too hard for all that I can say or do to fortify you against his devices. Learn, I beseech you, this easy part of Christianity, to be men of your word, and to refrain from the evil custom of swearing; and to refrain from it from a right principle-the fear of God. I know no vice that brings more scandal to our Church of Eng- land. The Church may be in danger from many enemies; but perhaps she is not so much in danger from any as from the great number of profane persons that pretend to be of her; enough to make all serious people afraid of our society, and to bring down the judgments of God upon us, for 'by reason of swearing the land mourneth.' But be not deceived: our Church has no principles that lead to swearing more than the dissenters; but, whatever, Church is uppermost, there are always a great many who, having no religion at all, crowd into it and bring it into disgrace and disreputation ; but the time is coming that the tares
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Historical Notes
must be separated from the wheat; and they shall be cast with the evil one-the devil that loved them-into hell; but the angels shall carefully gather the wheat into God's barn. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."
ON THE VANITY OF APPAREL
"I doubt not but it was designed to cast a slur upon the vanity of apparel, since it is a thing of so little estima- tion in the sight of God that He bestows it in the highest degree on the meanest of his creatures. For it is to be presumed, had it been a thing of any great worth in itself, instead of bestowing these admirable varieties of colors, gildings, and embroideries upon tulips, He would have be- stowed them upon creatures of higher dignity. Whereas, on mankind He has bestowed but very sparingly of these gaudy colors and features; a great part of them being black, a great part of them being tauny, and a great part being of other wan and dusky complexions, show that it is not the outward gaudy beauty that He values, but the ornaments of the mind-Christian graces and virtues- which, in His sight, are of great price."
Appendir
Appendir A
T
HE following notes give an account of the In- duction controversy mentioned on page 23.
"The following from Sir Edward Northy, Knight, her Majesty's (Queen Anne's) Attor- ney-General for the Colony, given in the pre- ceding year, opens the case between the Vestry and Mr. Whateley. It is his opinion-
"On consideration of ye Laws of Virginia provision being made by an act Intituled Church to be built or Chapel of Case, for the building a Church in Each Parish, and by the act intituled Ministers to be Inducted: that Ministers of each Darish shall be inducted On ye presentation of ye Parishioners. And ye Church Wardens being by ye Het, Instituted Church Wardens to keep ye Church in re- pair, and provide Ornaments, to Collect ye Minister's dues, and by ye act for the better support & maintenance of ye Clergy, provision being made for ye Ministers of ye parishes, and by ye said act for inducting Ministers, ye Governour be- ing to Induct ye Ministers to be presented, and thereby, he being constituted Ordinary and as Bishop of ye Dlanticon, and with a power to punish Ministers preaching Contrary to ye Law-I am Of Opinion ye Advowson and right of presentation to ye Churches is subject to the Law of Eng- land, (there being no express Law of that Plantation made further concerning the same.) Therefore when the Parish- ioners present thier Clerke, and he is Inducted by ye Gover- nour, (who is to, and must Induct On ye presentation of ye parishioners,) the Incumbent is in for his life, and Cannot be displaced by ve parishioners .- If ye parishioners do not present a Minister to the Governour within six months after any Church shall become Voyd, Che Governour as Ordinary shall & may Collate a Clerke to said Church by Law; and his Collatee shall hold ye Church for his life. If ye Parish- toners have never presented, they have a reasonable time to
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Induction Controversy
present a Minister, but if they will not present, being required so to do, the Governour may also, in their default, Collate a Minister. In inducting Ministers by ye Governour On ye presentation of ye Parish, or on his own Collation, he is to see the Ministers be qualified according as that act for In- ducting Ministers requires. In Case of ye Hvoydance of any Church, ye Governour, (as Ordinary of ye Plantation) is, ac- cording to the statute 28: h 8th, Cap. 11, Sect. 5, to appoint a Minister to Officiate till the Parish shall present one, Or ye six months being lapsed, and such person appointed to officiate in ye Vacancy, is to be paid for his services out of ye profitts thereof from ye time ye Church became Voyd. By the Law above stated in this case, No Minister is to officiate as such till he hath shewed to ye Governour he is qualified according as ye said act directs. If the Vestry do not levie ye tobacco for ye Minister, ye Courts then must decree the same to be levied.
"Edward Northy, July ye 29th, 1703."
"Ht a Council held at Williamsburg ye 3d day of March, [1704,] Present, his Excellency in Council.
Upon reading at this Board Sir Edward Northy, Knight, her Majesty's Attorney General, his Opinion upon ye act of Assembly of this Colony, relating to ye Church, and par- ticularly Concerning Induction of Ministers,-his Excellency in Council is pleased to order that a Copy of ye said Sir Edward Northy his opinion be sent to ye Churchwardens of each Parish within this Colony, Requiring them Upon ye re- ceipt thereof forthwith to call a Vestry, & there to cause the same to be read and entered into ye Vestry books, to ye end ye said Vestrys may offer to his Excellency what they think proper thereupon.
"Wm. Robertson, Clerk Council.
"ff. Nicholson."
"Sir Edward Northy's Opinion being read to ye Vestry, Mr. John Dage is requested by them to draw an answer on ye foll: heads .- Being without a Minister, have & shall do our utmost Endeavour to gett one.
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"Ho to ye Right of Presentation and Induction, think it too Weighty a matter for us to handle, but hope ye Worship- full Hosembly Convened will take care for ye Clearing of yt point."
"Mr. Solomon Whately, it seems, was not disposed to submit tamely to be thrust out, and accordingly,
"Ht a Vestry held ye 22d day of May, 1704, Present his Excellency, Mr. Solomon Whatelev, Minister,
Col. Phil Ludwell, Mr. Wm. Dinkethman,
Mr. John Dormer, Mr. WIm. hansford,
Capt. hugh Norwell, Mr. Joseph White,
"The Detition of Solomon Whateley, Clerke, humbly sheweth to his Excellency ffrancis Nicholson, her Majesty's Lieutenant & Governor General of Virginia .- May it please your Excel- leney, that upon ye death of Mr. Cope Doyley, late Minister of Bruton Parish, (lying part in ye County of York, and part in ye County of Jamestown,) the Vestry of ye said Parish bolding a meeting were pleased (without Your petitioner's seeking to any of them, or so much as knowing of ye Vacancy,) by Common Consent to make ye following Order." here follows the order made in Vestry 17th Oct., 1702, in- viting Mr. Whateley to officiate, & desiring the Governour to give "the same Mr. Whateley leave to remove from ye Parish where he is now entertained, and also to invite ye said Mr. Whateley to take upon him the Cure of this Darish. According to which ye petitioner, with your Excellency's Consent, and also probation given in form and manner as in ye said Order specified, presented himself at Williamsburg, where, to his great surprise, be found ye said Vestry by an unaccountable change of mind in some of them, divided among themselves upon some causeless debate relating to ye said Order; which, however, at last upon your petitioner having been putt to many unnecessary troubles and expenses, at another Vestry holden December ye 13th, 1702, terminated in ye order following :- Sunday, December ye 13th, 1702. Ordered that ye Reverend Mr. Solomon Whateley be enter-
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Induction Controversy
tained Minister of this Darish for One Year, to begin at Christmas next, allowing ye Salary according to Law; in Conformity to which two Orders of Vestry, (though the latter seeming very materially to derogate from ye former,) Your Petitioner at ye time prefixed entered upon ye said Cure, & continued without any lett or impediment to officiate in ye same, faithfully discharging all ye duties and affaire of his place in ye said Darish till the tenth day of ffeb: last past,-when, notwithstanding Your Excellency being then known to be at your own home so neare adjoining to ye Church where the Vestry was held, and being at least one of the Most Considerable Inhabitants of the said Darish, & whose Consent one would have thought might have been as necessarily required to the turning out of the Minister as it was to the taking him in, Yet they were pleased to make ve two Orders following"-
[Bere follow the two orders, dismissing Mr. "hateley, after 25th day of March, and authorizing Col. Ludwell to invite the Rev. Mr. Grace to officiate in the Parish.]
"The said Rev. Mr. Grace having indeed received the in- vitation Mentioned in ye said Order, but (as being a Gentle- man newly arrived in this Province, & unacquainted with such kind of proceedings,) reasonably judging it not proper for him to intermeddle in an affair which boare ye aspect of so unlucky a precedent against himself,-May it please yr Excellency, the case standing thus with your petitioner, he could not think it proper for him to seek to provide for him- self elsewhere, until he should have first laid ye whole Matter before your Excellency, to whose Inspection (both as Gover- nour and Ordinary within this province) he conceives things of this nature properly to Hppertain; without whose Knowl- edge, therefore, he could not think it in his own power to dis- pose of himself elsewhere,-to whose disposall, therefore, he entirely submits himself, humbly supplicating your Excel- lency's favorable regard ; and not doubting but that from so Known a Datron of those that serve at ye Hltar, he shall obtain what relief You shall in Your Wisdom judge proper
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Induction Controversy
and reasonable to be afforded to a person of his profession lying under so sad and disheartening circumstances. Shall Your petitioner (as in duty bound) allways pray for Your Excellency's long life and Prosperity.
Your Excellency's Most humble Detitioner and Most obedient Servant,
Solomon Whateley."
"The Vestry were in a hard place. Mr. Whateley's letter, which is well conceived, and flatteringly commended to his "Excellency's" consideration, is followed by the one written by Col. Ludwell to the Rev. Mr. Grace, which gentleman, feeling it his duty to conciliate the Governor, bad handed Ludwell's epistle to Nicholson. Ludwell to Rev. Mr. Grace:"
"York, ffeby : ye 24, 1704.
Rev. Sir,-I wrote to You about a fortnight past, but having heard nothing from You, I suppose it miscarried. Therefore I send this to acquaint You that the Church of Bruton Darish being Vacant, and the Vestry having beard a good character of you, have desire i me to invite You to come and give them a Sermon, in order to your being chosen Minister of that Parish, if they like: I doubt not you will maintain ye character Capt. humphreys hath given me of you, and should be glad of so good a Guide. I suppose I need not Commend ye Parish to You, since every body can tell You it is one of the best in Virginia. I suppose you also know it is ye Parish wherein Williamsburg stands. I desire to hear from You as soon as maybe. If you please to Cover Your letter to Mr. Charles Chiswell, at ye Secretary's Office, or Walter Cromley, at Dr. Blair's store, in Williamsburg, it will come safe to me.
Your Most Bumble Servant, Dhill. Ludwell."
"This letter I received from Coll. Ludwell at Capt.
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Induction Controversy
Royall's house, By what hand it came I know not. Some days after I went to Williamsburgh, and delivered it to ye Governour with my own bande.
May ye 14th, 1704."
Isaac Grace.
"Whereas Coll. Ludwell acquainted the above said Vestry that I sayd, Upon his Invitation to that Parish, I should be glad of so good a one, if I might have it with ye Gover- nour's liking,-I utterly deny I ever said any such thing. The substance of My Hnewer, to ye best of my remembrance, being, that ye Governour had a knowledge of the matter, and I would not intermeddle in it without his Consent .- Withall returning Coll. Ludwell thanks for his Offer,
May ye 14th, 1704."
Isaac Grace.
"Immediately following, Nicholson orders the record of the instructions sent from England :
"And to ye end ye Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of ye said Lord Bishop of London may take place in that our Collony, so far as Conveniently may, we do think fit that You do give all Countenance and Encouragement of ye Exercise of ve Same, excepting only ye Collating to Benefices, Granting Lycenses for Marriages and probate of wills, which we have reserved to You our Governour as the Commander in Chief of our said Collony for ye time being.
"The above-written is one of her Majesty's Royal In- structions, bearing date ye 12 day of December, 1702, and sent to
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