USA > Virginia > Henrico County > Henrico County > History and reminiscences of the Monumental Church, Richmond, Va. : from 1814 to 1878 > Part 14
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"And to this end I earnestly entreat the prayers and co-operation of my brethren in the ministry, and of the good people, 'whose servants for Christ's sake we are.' "
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The following report, submitted by Mr. Philip Williams, and as subsequently considered and amended, was adopted.
"The committee to whom was referred so much of the address of the Right Rev. Bishop Meade as re- lates to the propriety of requesting some legislative enactment in relation to property given or bequeathed to religious, benevolent, and literary institutions was referred, respectfully report :
"That it is expedient to ask the legislature to pass some law authorizing religious, benevolent, and lit- erary institutions to take property which may be given or devised, or bequeathed to them; and that a committee of nine, with power to increase its numbers, be appointed to prepare and present a memorial to the General Assembly upon the sub- ject; and that this committee be authorized to solicit the co-operation of other religious denomina- tions in the way best calculated to secure the object proposed."
Bishop Meade announced the following named gentlemen to compose the said committee: Mr. Wm. H. Macfarland, Genl. Wm. H. Richardson, Genl. James W. Pegram, Mr. Wm. Williams, Mr. Edmund Fontaine, Mr. Randolph Harrison, Jr., Mr. David May, Col. Geo. M. Carrington, and Mr. James Lyons.
Mr. Wm. Williams, from the committee on fi- nance, presented a statement of contributions to the contingent fund :
"From the Monumental Church, Richmond, $279."
.
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MONUMENTAL CHURCH.
Rev. Upton Beall, from the committee on paro- chial reports, presented the report of the Mon- umental Church, Richmond, Rev. Wm. Norwood, rector : Communicants, total, 279; contributions to monument to Bishop Moore, $1,623; and for other purposes from Monumental Church, $1,712.87, mak- ing in all, $3,335.87.
Mr. Wm. H. Macfarland, from the special com- mittee, submitted the following:
"The committee appointed to inquire into the allowance proper for the bishops of the diocese, and the mode of raising the necessary funds, respectfully report :
"That the limited funds at the disposition of the convention do not admit of the provision which, if at liberty to choose, the committee would regard as proper and suited to the exalted stations and invalu- able services of the bishops.
"Their compensation ought to be fixed at a sum beyond what would suffice to meet the necessary ex- penses of themselves and families, if for no other reason, because their conspicuous position in the church involves expenditures not easily estimated, nor to be avoided. But unfortunately, the present resources of the convention create a necessity for limiting salaries to a scale of economy which yields nothing to liberality, if it be not too rigid to be just. The committee express the hope that a better state of things may be expected from the growth of the church, and the prevalence of stronger feel- ings of benevolence and charity among all her mem-
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bers; and that before long, all who minister at her altars, bishop, priest and deacon, will find the peo- ple willing as they are able adequately to provide for them.
"The committee recommend that the salary of Bishop Meade be continued at one thousand dol- lars; and the salary of Bishop Johns be fixed at two thousand dollars.
"In limiting the salary of Bishop Johns at that sum, the committee was controlled by the considera- tion that the congregations in the city of Richmond may be relied on to provide him with a house. That, as it seemed to the committee, was a return which might be expected of their liberality for the large share of his ministrations with which they are favored."
1844.
The convention met in Lynchburg, on Wednes- day, the 15th of May. Bishop Meade, president ; the Rev. Mr. Miller, secretary.
Mr. William Williams attended as the lay dele- gate from the Monumental Church.
In the list of parishes contributing to the conven- tion fund, the Monumental Church is credited with $300.
Parochial report of Rev. Wm. Norwood, rector of Monumental Church, Richmond: Communicants, total, 298 ; contributions for church purposes, total, $1,988.57.
In addition, $15.800 towards the new church
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called St. Paul's, now in course of erection in this city, have been paid in since the last convention.
ELECTION OF VESTRY FOR 1844.
At a meeting of the pew-holders of the Monu- mental Church, held in the lecture-room of said church, on Easter Monday, April 8, 1844 :
On motion, Thomas Nelson was requested to act as chairman, and Thomas H. Ellis as secretary.
On motion of Mr. George D. Fisher, the meeting proceeded to the election of vestrymen for the ensu- ing year, whereupon the following named gentlemen were duly elected : Dr. John A. Cunningham, Wm. H. Hubbard, Dr. Robert W. Haxall, Henry W. Mon- cure, Dr. James Bolton, Thomas Nelson, William Wil- liams, Charles F. Osborne, David Walker, James Dunlop, Wm. H. Macfarland, James B. Macmurdo.
On motion the meeting then adjourned.
THOS. NELSON, Chairman.
THOS. H. ELLIS, Secretary.
1845.
The convention met in Fredericksburg Wednes- day, the 21st of May; Bishop Meade, president, Mr. Wm. M. Blackford, secretary.
Mr. Wm. Williams attended as the lay delegate from the Monumental Church.
In the account of money paid to the contingent fund, the Monumental Church is credited with $287.
. Parochial 'report of Monumental Church, Rich-
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mond, Rev. Wmn. Norwood, Rector : Communicants, total, 287; contributions, $1,742.98.
The new church, (St. Paul's), which this congre- gation have been engaged in erecting, is nearly com- pleted, and will be ready for consecration early in the fall.
ABSENCE OF REV. DR. NORWOOD, SEEKING BETTER HEALTH.
The Rev. Mr. Norwood did not attend the two last conventions of the diocese, in consequence of the state of his health. From this cause also, and with the consent and request of the vestry, he was often absent from Richmond. Hence we find in the annual reports of the convention frequent mention made of ministerial services performed by Bishop Johns at the Monumental Church.
MISSIONARY EFFORT AND WORK IN THE CITY.
While Dr. James Bolton was at the Theological Seminary, preparing for the ministry, some of the young men of the Monumental Church congregation, particularly those who had been associated with him in a weekly prayer meeting which they had been in the habit of attending after so large a number joined the church in 1842, determined to build a mission church, to be ready for him by the time he was or- dained. This was the origin of " St. Luke's chapel," the site of which is now occupied by the Clay Street Methodist Episcopal church, the ground and build- ing thereon having been sold the 4th of Oct., 1848
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$1,280.47 was raised by a subscription, to pay for the lot and building, among eighty-seven persons,. who were friendly to the cause of making it a free chapel; $1,500 were borrowed on a deed of trust upon the lot and building, and Mr. Thos. H. Ellis advanced on the subscription, which might not be depended upon, the sum of $77.72, making the en- tire cost of the lot and building $2,858.19. The trustees were Dr. Francis B. Deane, Thos. H. Ellis, and Ro. R. Duval.
The lot was 70 feet front on Clay street, running back 90 feet on Adams street, designated as lot No. 1, in the plan of John Rutherfoord, dated 16th May, 1845, and cost $670. The building was contracted for with Mr. Henry Exall, by Mr. Robert Duval for the sum of $2,100, and the residue was expended in painting the front enclosure, stove for warming the house, insurance and recording deeds.
About the same time another missionary enter- prise was started in the direction of the public armory and Tredegar iron works, under the auspices of the Rev. William Duval.
The subscription list connected with his support has not been preserved; but the first fruit of his labors was the establishment of the Tredegar free school, which he placed in the charge of Mrs. Susannah W. Burton. It continued in her charge, and was most successfully conducted by her for several years, until her removal from the city, when it was placed in the hands of Mrs. Gates, the wife of Mr. James E. Gates, under whom, as superinten-
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dent and teacher, it was kept up (aided by an annual appropriation from the commissioners of the school fund of the city) until about the beginning of the late civil war.
Mr. Duval designated Joseph R. Anderson, Efford B. Bentley, and Thomas H. Ellis as the trustees for the school; and these gentlemen appointed Thomas H. Ellis as their treasurer.
The subscribers for the first year, commencing October 15th, 1845, were thirty-eight ladies and gentlemen, chiefly of the Episcopal church, from one to fifty dollars each, and amounted to $274, and the compensation allowed Mrs. Burton per quarter was $66.25, equal to $265 per annum.
After Mr. Duval's death, a monument was erected over his grave in the city, or "Shockoe Hill," ceme- tery, bearing this inscription:
In memory of REV. WILLIAM DUVAL, Born May 3rd, 1822, Died February 22nd, 1850.
A tribute of gratitude and affection from the members of the public guard, artizans, and others.
To one whose life was gratuitously devoted to their temporal and eternal interests.
" Give me a place to preach the word of God to those who have it not is all I ask," was the declaration to which his life was responsive.
" In this connection, it would not seem to be just to omit some special mention of Miss Margaret Harvie Robinson, whose missionary labors were
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scarcely inferior to those of the Rev. Mr. Duval. She was the third daughter of Mr. John Robinson, of this city, (and sister of Mrs. R. Barton Haxall,) was educated by that very admirable lady, Miss Margaret Mercer, of Belmont, Loudon County, Va., and died unmarried, on the 2nd of July, 1857.
"After her return from school, she devoted her- self in an unusual and remarkable degree to the re- lief, comfort, and instruction of the poor; waiting upon the afflicted; strengthening the weak ; succoring the tempted; guiding the ignorant into the way of knowledge, and daily endeavoring, according to her health and opportunities, to advance the interests of Christ's church on earth, and to make not only her own family, but all whom her influence could reach, members of His blessed family in heaven. With Mr. Duval, she was a zealous co-laborer in behalf of the armory mission ; the Tredegar free school ; the distribution of Bibles and tracts; the temperance society ; the Union Benevolent Society, and the Male Orphan Asylum. After her death appropriate tributes to her virtues and worth appeared in all the news- papers of the city, from friends who had knowledge of her self-denying and devoted labors, or who had reason to be personally grateful for her liberal charities and untiring efforts in the cause of benevo- lence and humanity.
"Prior to the efforts made for the establishment of a mission church under Dr. Bolton, and another under Mr. Duval, an enterprise was started for the purpose of securing religious instruction for the
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colored population of the city, and a subscription was gotten up, as the first annual one, to be placed in the hands of the Rev. Richard H. Wilmer, amount- ing to $260, of $10 each, among twenty-six names."
NAMES of the several ministers and assistant minis- ters of the Monumental Church, commencing with its consecration in 1814 :
May 6, Right Rev. Richard Channing Moore, D. D., was elected bishop by the convention of the diocese of Virginia, on the 5th of May, 1814, and rector of the Monumental Church, by the vestry of the same, on 6th May, 1814.
Rev. John Buchanan, assistant minister in same church up to 18th December, 1822, when he died.
1830, Rev. Robert B. Croes, assistant rector since the death of Dr. Buchanan, when he resigned.
1832, Rev. Leonidas Polk, assistant rector since the resignation of Mr. Croes, and resigned from bad health.
1834, Rev. Mr. H. Nicholas, assistant rector since the resignation of Mr. Polk, and resigned in conse- quence of his mind being unbalanced.
1836, Rev. Thomas Jackson, assistant rector since the resignation of Mr. Nicholas, and resigned on ac- count of ill health.
1841, Rev. Wm. Norwood, assistant rector to this. time, since the resignation of Mr. Jackson, and upon
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the death of Bishop Moore, in November of this year, he became full rector to 1st of December, 1845, a period of about ten years as assistant and full rector, when he resigned, and was elected rector of the new church called St. Paul's, standing on the corner of Grace and Ninth streets.
Rev. Nicholas P. Tillinghast, a graduate of the Theological Seminary of Virginia in 1842, ordained a deacon by the Right Rev. Bishop Griswold at Alexandria, Va., in October, 1842, " as he was from the eastern diocese," admitted to the priesthood by the Right Rev. Bishop Johns, July 7, 1843, in St. James church, Richmond; rector of Trinity church, Society Hill, South Carolina, in 1844 ; afterwards, and for some years, rector of St. John's church, Georgetown, D. C., now or lately residing in Phila- delphia.
In bringing this first part of the History of the Monumental Church (embracing a period of thirty- one years) to a close, I would be wanting in a very pleasant duty, if I failed to bestow upon my friend, Col. Thos. H. Ellis, due praise, as well as sincere thanks, for the material he has gathered so faithfully, and so well arranged in his compilation of . this period of the church's history. With the exception of an occasional note, while copying his interesting and handsome antographical journal, (prepared at
15
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the request of the vestry of St. Paul's Church, Richmond, in 1868,) I have endeavored to follow his record with strict adherence, and only left out some details in regard to the deeds for the church ground, rules and regulations, with many names of children . connected with the first Sunday-school. If I can succeed in imparting to the second part of my book half the interest which the first has afforded me, I shall feel well rewarded for the effort made to give all my readers a book which will edify as well as afford them useful information connected with the dear old church.
G. D. F.
:
REV. GEORGE WOODBRIDGE, D. D.
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MONUMENTAL CHURCH.
MEMORANDA
FROM THE NEW RECORD BOOK OF THE VESTRY OF THE MONUMENTAL CHURCH.
In the month of October, 1845, it was ascertained that the bulk of the congregation worshipping in Monumental Church of Richmond would move into the new church, then nearly completed, (called St. Paul's, to be under the rectorship of the Rev. Wm. Norwood,) on the first of December following, and at that time he would resign as rector of the Monumental Church.
Under these circumstances, a few individuals who preferred remaining at the Monumental Church, proposed to and invited the congregation, with their rector, the Rev. George Woodbridge, of Christ Church in the valley, in this city, to come up and form anew the congregation in the Monumental Church, on and after the first Sunday in December, 1845.
Two motives chiefly actuated these few individuals to give the invitation to the congregation and rector of Christ Church: One was the desire to keep up this old church, sacred to the feelings of those who had worshipped in it from their infancy; and the other more effectually to build up a congregation that would enable the Rev. George Woodbridge to extend his valuable labors in the ministry.
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The location of Christ Church was such that his congregation there could not be expected to increase, at least until the city of Richmond should double itself in population.
For these reasons the proposition was made; and the following is a copy of the proceedings of the vestry of Christ Church, in reply to the invitation thus given :
"At a meeting of the vestry of Christ Church, Richmond, on the 3rd of October, 1845, a com- munication from the following persons, to wit : George D. Fisher, Jaquelin B. Harvie, John Adams Smith, Ro. Gwathmey, Chapman Johnson, Ro. W. Haxall, Joseph Allen, James H. Gardner, Adol- phus W. Nolting, William Beers, Ro. H. Cabell, and Mrs. Elizabeth S. Wickham, was read, expressing their desire to remain members of the Monumental Church congregation, if the rector and congregation of Christ Church would unite with them.
"It was moved and seconded, that a committee be appointed to ascertain the feelings and views of the rector and congregation of Christ Church, and report to a meeting of the vestry, to be held on the 7th instant.
" Pursuant to adjournment, and in accordance with the foregoing resolution, the vestry of Christ Church convened on the 7th of October, 1845.
" The committee appointed to ascertain and report the feelings and views of the rector and congrega- tion of Christ Church, in relation to the communi- cation from certain members of the congregation of
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the Monumental Church, proposing that they should unite, after the removal of the bulk of the congre- gation of the latter to St. Paul's Church, and to- gether form one congregation in the Monumental Church, reported, that they found an almost unani- mous sentiment in favor of the proposition ; where- upon it was-
"Resolved, That the rector, vestry, and congrega- tion of Christ Church cheerfully accept the invita- tion aforesaid from Messrs. Geo. D. Fisher, Jaque- lin B. Harvie, and others, members of the Monu- mental Church congregation."
On motion, a committee was appointed, consisting of Messrs. John H. Tyler, Francis H. Deane, Joseph Gill, and John L. Bacon, to communicate tbe fore- going resolution of acceptance to Messrs. Fisher, Harvie, and their associates.
In conformity with this action, the congregation in the Monumental Church was formed anew, on the first Sunday in December, 1845, under the rector- ship of the Rev. George Woodbridge ; and a record of the proceedings of the vestry and pew holders of the said congregation, on and after the 4th day of December, 1845, as well as the proceedings of the former vestry on that day, is to be found in the new vestry's record-book, commencing with same date.
GEO. D. FISHER,
Secretary of New Vestry, formed 4th Dec., 1845.
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MEETING OF FORMER VESTRY OF MONUMENTAL CHURCH.
At a meeting of the Monumental Church vestry, held on Thursday, the 4th day of December, 1845, present, Chas. F. Osborne, John A. Cunningham, Wm. H. Hubbard, Thos. H. Ellis, Ro. W. Haxall, James B. Macmurdo, James Dunlop, and Wm. Wil- liams.
Mr. Osborne was requested to act as chairman, and Mr. Williams as secretary, pro tem.
A letter, of which the following is a copy, was presented and read :
RICHMOND, December 4, 1845.
To the Wardens and Vestry of the Monumental Church :
GENTLEMEN,-We, the undersigned, desirous of having worship continned in the Monumental Church, and in order to secure this object, feel that it is important that we should have the disposal of the pews in said church, and the general arrangement of its affairs under our control, propose to you, and jointly and severally bind ourselves, to hand to your treasurer, Mr. Wm. H. Hubbard, in ten days from this date, endorsed negotiable notes, such as shall be acceptable to him, payable at sixty and one hundred and twenty days, to the amount of one thousand dollars, in order to enable him to pay the debts of the church now due.
" We likewise request that a sufficient number of your body, who are about uniting themselves with St. Paul's church, will allow their places in the vestry
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of the Monumental Church to be filled by such per- sons as you may select. [Signed,]
FRANCIS H. DEANE, JAMES H. POINDEXTER, Ro. R. DUVAL, JAMES M. SUBLETT,
JAMES H. GARDNER,
GEO. D. FISHER, JOHN L. BACON, ADOLPHUS W. NOLTING, WILLIAM BEERS, JOHN ADAMS SMITH."
Whereupon, on motion made and seconded, it was unanimously resolved that the proposition now read be accepted, and that the obligation be placed in the hands of the treasurer, and he be instructed, with the means to be thereby placed in his hands, and the money which he may collect from rents of pews due, to pay the late rector, sexton, and organist, and such other debts as in his opinion are justly due.
" Resolved, That the order made at last meeting of the vestry for the sale of the pews in the Monu- mental Church, be, and the same is hereby rescinded."
The resignation of Mr. Wm. H. Macfarland, as a warden and vestryman of this church, was then handed in, read, and accepted.
Mr. James H. Gardner was nominated as a vestry- man, to supply the vacancy occasioned by the death of Mr. David Walker, and elected.
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Mr. John L. Bacon was elected as a vestryman, in the place of Mr. Wm. H. Macfarland, resigned ; and both being introduced, and having signed the form required by the tenth canon, they took their seats in the vestry.
Dr. John A. Cunningham tendered his resigna- tion, which was accepted, and Mr. James H. Poin- dexter was duly elected to fill the vacancy; and having signed the required form, took his seat in the vestry.
Mr. Thomas H. Ellis tendered his resignation, which was accepted, and Mr. George D. Fisher was elected in his place, and he being introduced, and having signed the required form, took his seat in the vestry.
Mr. Wm. H. Hubbard tendered his resignation, which was accepted, and Dr. Francis H. Deane was elected in his place, and he being introduced, and having signed the required form, took his seat in the vestry.
Mr. James Dunlop tendered his resignation, which was accepted, and Mr. John H. Tyler was duly elected in his place.
Mr. James B. Macmurdo tendered his resigna- tion, which was accepted, and Mr. George N. John- son was elected in his place.
Mr. Chas. F. Osborne, having called Dr. F. H. Deane to the chair, tendered his resignation, which was accepted, and Mr. Jno. Adams Smith was elected in his place.
Mr. Wm. Williams, having requested Mr. Geo.
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D. Fisher to take his place as secretary pro tem., tendered his resignation, which was accepted, and Mr. Chas. J. Macmurdo, Jr. was elected in his place.
Teste : [Signed,] CHAS. F. OSBORNE, FRANCIS H. DEANE, WILLIAM WILLIAMS, GEO. D. FISHER.
At a subsequent meeting, to wit: Saturday, De- cember 13th, 1845, Mr. Gardner presented the written resignation of Mr. Thomas Nelson as a vestryman of this church, which was accepted, and Mr. James Milnor Baker was duly elected to sup- ply the vacancy thereby created. And at another meeting, to wit: Saturday, January 17th, 1846, the resignation of Mr. Henry W. Moncure, as a warden and vestryman of this church, was handed in and ac- cepted, and Mr. Benjamin L. Meade was duly elected in his place.
T'este : GEO. D. FISHER, Secretary.
Names of the new vestrymen and wardens, from the 4th December, 1845, when the reorganization of the Monumental Church took place, under the ministry of the Rev. George Woodbridge.
MR. JAMES H. GARDNER, Senior Warden. MR. JOHN ADAMS SMITH, Junior Warden. MR. GEORGE D. FISHER, Sec'y or Register. MR. JAMES M. BAKER, Treasurer. MR. JAMES H. POINDEXTER.
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DR. FRANCIS H. DEANE.
MR. JOHN H. TYLER.
MR. GEORGE N. JOHNSON.
MR. CHAS. J. MACMURDO, JR.
MR. JNO. L. BACON.
Mr. BENJ. L. MEADE.
On the same day (4th December, 1845,) a meet- ing of the new vestry of the Monumental Church was held at the Farmers Bank of Virginia, when Dr. F. H. Deane was called to the chair, and George D. Fisher, as secretary.
At this meeting Mr. Gardner was appointed senior warden, and Mr. John Adams Smith junior warden; Mr. James M. Baker, treasurer and collec- tor of pew rents; Mr. Geo. D. Fisher, as secretary. Mr. Wm. Daniel, a young Englishman, was chosen organist, at a salary of one hundred and fifty dollars per annum, and a colored sexton, (slave) named Cornelius, for one hundred dollars, and another colored man, named Lambert Johnston, to blow the organ for sixteen dollars a year. Our rector's salary commenced at twelve hundred dollars per annum.
A committee of two, Dr. F. H. Deane and Geo. D. Fisher, was appointed to wait upon the Rev. George Woodbridge, and inform him of the vestry proceedings thus far, and to request him to open the church the following Sunday with divine service, and preach.
Accordingly (although the walking was very bad, owing to a heavy snow melting, which had fallen a
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day or two before) a respectable congregation in number attended, and all much interested in the suc- cess of our new minister, and the work which lay be- fore us in sustaining his hands, and building anew a congregation for the church we loved, and also soon to repair and make more comfortable to worship in.
The text selected on the occasion, (the 7th Dec., 1845), in the morning, and preached from by Mr. Woodbridge, was James i. 22-25 verses : "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiv- ing your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man behold- ing his natural face in a glass ; for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forget- eth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and con- tinueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."
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