USA > Virginia > Henrico County > Henrico County > History and reminiscences of the Monumental Church, Richmond, Va. : from 1814 to 1878 > Part 5
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" The corner-stone of a large and respectable. church has been laid in Fredericksburg, on the site of the old building, which has gone to decay. For- Leesburg also they have obtained a subscription ade- quate to the expense of erecting a respectable church ;. and in the counties of Frederick and Spottsylvania,. and perhaps in other places, from which reports have not been received, the state of the church is improving. In Alexandria there are two large and respectable congregations. From the present excitement which is manifest throughout the State, nothing more seems wanting, under the blessing of God, than faithful ministers, to realize the hopes which are entertained of the future prosperity of this important part of our Zion. Let all who wish her well pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into His har- vest."
Soon after the adjournment of the general con- vention Bishop Moore repaired to Richmond, visit- ing and preaching at Alexandria and Fredericksburg on his way hither. The chief object of this visit was to become acquainted with his new flock, and prepare for the permanent location of his family. His first impressions respecting the field of his future
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labors, of the character of the people with whom he was thenceforth to be connected in the pastoral re- lation, and of the field of usefulness opened to him in the diocese, were given in several letters ad- dressed to Edmund J. Lee, Esq., in the first of which, dated Richmond, June 28th, 1814, he says :
"I am at present at the house of my valued friend, Dr. B. (Dr. John Brockenbrough.) St. Paul, in his excursions, was never better received, nor more affec- tionately treated.
"I am highly pleased with those features of vital piety which I discover among the ladies of this city. So far from being ashamed of religion, or its illus- trious founder, they are proud of giving it that place to which it is so justly entitled."
The Rev. Dr. Henshaw, in his memoir of the life of the bishop, says :
"The congregation of the Monumental Church comprehended probably a larger amount of intelli- gence and refinement, and a greater proportion of men distinguished for talent and influence, than any congregation in the Union."
NOTICE.
From the Virginia Patriot, June 16th, 1814:
"Divine service will be performed at the Monu- mental Church on next Sunday." (It is believed the bishop preached then for the first time to his new congregation.)
"At a monthly Court of Hustings held for the city
REV. JOHN BUCHANAN, D. D.
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of Richmond, at the courthouse, on Monday, the eleventh day of July, one thousand eight hundred and fourteen, Richard Channing Moore this day pro- duced credentials of his ordination, and of his being in regular communion with the Protestant Episco- pal Church, whereupon the said Richard Channing Moore, having taken the oath, and entered into bond, with securities according to law, a testimonial is granted him to solemnize the rites of matrimony be- tween any persons regularly applying to him, within the commonwealth, for that purpose."
"At a meeting of the vestry of the parish of Hen- rico, held at the house of the Rev. John Buchanan, rector thereof, in the city of Richmond, on the 23rd July, 1814,-Present,-Col. William Mayo, Dr. John Adams, Mr. Anthony Turner, Church War- dens ; Col. John Ambler, Mr. Wm. Marshall, Mr. John Williamson, Mr. Samuel Greenhow,-A re- solution of the vestry of the Monumental Church of the city of Richmond having been submitted, which is in the words following, to wit:
"Resolved, That this vestry will pay two hundred dollars per annum to assist the vestry of Henrico Parish in compensating a minister to officiate in the Richmond Hill Church, (St. John's,) provided that during the absence of the bishop in the performance of the duties of his diocese, such minister shall of- ficiate once every Sabbath alternately, morning and evening,' in the Monumental Church, and provided also that the vestry of Henrico Parish shall by re- solution assent to this arrangement."
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On consideration whereof,-
"Resolved, That the proposition contained in the. foregoing resolution of the vestry of the Monu- mental Church, be, and the same is hereby accepted. and approved.
"Resolved, That under the present appearance of the funds of this parish, the sum of one thousand dollars per annum should be given for the term of three years, to any clergyman who may be appointed as an assistant to the Rev. Dr. Buchanan, in addi- tion to the sum proposed to be given by the vestry of the Monumental Church.
. "Resolved, That the vestry do now proceed to ap- point an assistant minister to this church.
"The vestry proceeded to ballot agreeable to the provision of the last resolution; and the ballots being counted, it appeared that there was an unani- mous vote in favor of the Rev. David Moore, of the State of New York.
" Resolved, That the wardens be requested to in- vite the Rev. David Moore to accept the appoint- ment as assistant minister to Dr. Buchanan in this- parish."
The Rev. David Moore was the eldest son of the Bishop by his first marriage. He was one of the thirteen deacons reported as having been admitted by Bishop Hobart to the holy order of priests, be- tween May, 1811, and October, 1813.
He succeeded his father as the rector of St. Andrew's Parish, Staten Island, some years after the transfer of Dr. Moore to the rectorship of St. Stephen's.
MONUMENTAL CHURCH. 65
church, in the city of New York, and was acting as such at the time of his invitation to Henrico.
In the month of October, 1814, the Bishop took his final leave of the congregation of St. Stephen's, and removed with his family to Richmond.
At a meeting of the vestry of Henrico parish, on the 7th November, 1814,-
" Resolved, That in case the Rev. David Moore shall accept the invitation given to him as assistant minister in the parish of Henrico, he shall be con- sidered as the permanent rector of this parish when- ever the present incumbent may resign, or in the event of his death."
From the Richmond Enquirer, Nov. 15, 1814 :
" The Monumental Church of the city of Rich- mond was consecrated on Sunday last, by the Right Rev. Richard Channing Moore, with the usual solemn ceremonies, and a discourse was delivered appropri- ate to the occasion." (This was the first Episcopal act performed by the Bishop.)
1815.
" The pew-holders of the Monumental Church are requested to take notice, that their attendance is re- quested at the church on Saturday next, at 11 o'clock, in the forenoon, to elect nine vestrymen for the ensuing year. BY THE WARDENS." "April 18, 1815.
" The members of the 'Association for building a
5
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Church on Shockoe Hill' are hereby notified that one-half of the subscription money will be returned on application at the Bank of Virginia, by
"April 26, 1815.
THE TRUSTEES."
At a meeting of the vestry of Henrico parish, May 1, 1815, the Rev. Wm. H. Hart, having pro- duced testimonials, as required by the 31st canon of the Church of the United States, of his good con- duct for three years past, and having offered himself a candidate as the assistant minister in this parish to the Rev. Dr. Buchanan,-
" Resolved, unanimously, that the Rev. William H. Hart be appointed the assistant minister to this parish, and if he shall accept the appointment, he shall be considered the permanent rector of the parish, whenever the present incumbent may resign, or in the event of his death.
"Resolved, That the salary of the assistant min- ister commence from the date of the acceptance of his appointment, and that the wardens be authorized to make him such advance of his salary as to them may appear necessary."
The Rev. Mr. Hart married a niece of Bishop Moore.
In December, 1822, after the death of Dr. Bucha- nan, the vestry of Henrico Parish, unanimously in- vited him, in compliance with their resolution of 1st May, 1815, "Forthwith to assume his duties as rector of Henrico Parish in full, and to do and per- form all things for the good and interest of this
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parish, in the same manner as our late rector, the Rev. John Buchanan."
In July, 1828, he resigned this charge, in conse- quence of intending to remove to New York; but was re-elected in January, 1836, and again resigned in September, 1842, after the death of Bishop Moore.
From the Richmond Enquirer, May 6, 1815 :
"Want of room forbids us from saying anything more, than that Bishop Moore will deliver a dis- course on to-morrow morning, in the Monumental Church, in aid of the 'Female Humane Associa- tion,' when it is hoped every friend of the aged and infirm female, and of orphan children, will at- tend.
" Happy that we can know how to serve the un- fortunate, without passing through the bitter school of experience which Lear recommends :
' Take physic, pomp ; Expose thyself to feel what wretches feel ; That thou may'st shake the superflux to them, And show the heavens more just.'"
" At a convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Virginia, held at the Monumental Church in the city of Richmond, on Tuesday, the 23rd May, 1815, the Right Rev. Richard Channing Moore, D. D., bishop of the diocese, took the chair as President, and Wm. Munford was appointed Secretary.
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"Dr. James McClurg attended as lay deputy for the vestry of the Monumental Church.
" Resolved, unanimously, that the thanks of this convention be presented to the Right Rev. Bishop Moore, for the evangelical and eloquent discourse delivered by him in the Monumental Church this morning; and that he be requested to favor the con- vention with a copy thereof for publication."
Mr. Boggs, from the committee on the subject of parochial reports, presented a statement containing the substance thereof in a condensed form :
"In the church in the city of Richmond much attention is given to Divine worship. The number of communicants is about one hundred and twenty, and the number of prayer-books is increased."
The Right Rev. Bishop Moore delivered to this convention an address on the state of the church :
"The members of the church in this city, breth- ren, deserve my sincerest thanks for the friendship, affection, and indulgence with which they have fa- vored me. They have shown, by their marked and continued tenderness towards me and my family, that they are alive to all the sensibilities which adorn our nature.
"I have found in them not only friends, but bro- thers and benefactors ; they have met my necessities with a solicitude beyond my expectations ; they have anticipated my every want; they have discharged the duty of the most affectionate children towards their spiritual father."
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NOTICE.
From the Richmond Enquirer, May 27th, 1815 : "The owners of pews in the Monumental Church are hereby informed that an assessment has been ordered by the vestry of sixteen per cent., payable to the treasurer-one-half on Thursday, and the other half on the first day of December next.
C. J. MACMURDO,
Treasurer."
1816.
From the Richmond Enquirer, Jan'y 25th, 1816: COMMUNICATION.
The following are the concluding words of an elo- quent sermon delivered in the Monumental Church on Sunday last, by the bishop of Virginia. They pay a very appropriate and well merited tribute to the memory of one of the most exemplary women who ever lived. They are communicated for publi- cation in the hope that they will be read with plea- sure by her numerous surviving friends, and that the example of uncommon purity and worth which they commemorate will not be lost upon the public:
"Since Ilast addressed you from this sacred desk, the church has been deprived of one of its brightest ornaments, and the altar of one of its most pious attendants, in the death of our lamented friend, Mrs. Francis Davenport.
"To withhold from her memory the last tribute of pastoral attention would constitute a neglect bor- dering on criminality, and would be doing violence
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to those feelings of respect and affection with which her virtues have inspired my mind.
"A Christian from the conviction of her under- standing, as well as from the principle of a pious education, Mrs. Davenport exhibited in her conduct the superior beauties of the dispensation of grace.
"Advanced to that period of life in which nature shuns the crowd and courts retirement, blessed with those resources derived from a mind stored with in- tellectual knowledge, the retirement which heaven had provided her proved a school of information, in which the experienced Christian might learn an ad- ditional lesson of religious instruction, and the young candidate for eternal joys be taught the way to heaven. Her latter years had been exclusively de- voted to the care of the children of Judge Coalter, and it is from the tears of those children, and their expressions of respect for her memory, that we may draw the conclusion of her excellence and worth.
" Bereaved at an early period of life of the atten- tions of an affectionate mother, they sought an asy- lum under the maternal wing of Mrs. Davenport, and by that affection which marked her conduct she proved, beyond all controversy, that their confidence in her had not been inisplaced. To train them for a better world was the first wish of her heart; to that effect she directed her unwearied attention ? May those tender plants over which she watched with such anxious solicitude, be watered with the dew of heaven, and at length bloom and flourish in the paradise of God.
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"During that indisposition which has deprived her friends of her society, Mrs. Davenport mani- fested a spirit of submission to the will of God. Confident of the protection of that Divine Being whose mercies are over all His works, and whose care extendeth to the unfledged sparrow, she was patient under her sufferings and resigned to her fate. Like the harvest, when ripe for the reaper's hand, she waited until her change should come, and when her work on earth was finished, and not a moment sooner, the sickle of death was applied, and she was gathered into the garner of eternal life.
"Let us, brethren, prepare to follow her. In the midst of life let us always remember we are in death. May Jehovah guide you by His counsel, and afterward receive you into glory."
A convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Virginia, assembled in the Monumental Church, Richmond, on Tuesday, the 21st May, 1816.
"The Right Rev. Richard Channing Moore, D. D., took the chair, Mr. Wm. Munford acting as secretary.
"Dr. James McClurg attended as the lay deputy for the Monumental Church.
" The account of the Treasurer, Mr. Wm. Mun- ford, credits the vestry of the Monumental Church in the city of Richmond, by Dr. James McClurg, $15.
" Mr. Hugh Nelson, from the committee on the. subject of the parochial reports, presented a report : ' That in the Monumental Church in Richmond, such.
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has been the success, under heaven, of the pious and venerable bishop of this diocese in his holy labors, as to excite in us the most lively feelings of grati- tude to the great Author of our religion. A devout attendance on their religious duties, and a spirit of harmony mark the conduct of the members of this church Communicants to the number of one hun- dred and twenty surround the altar of the living God."
The bishop, in his address to the convention, says : "My own congregation, brethren, continue, by their benevolent efforts, to render my residence in this place agreeable. It has pleased God in mercy to raise me up friends, among those to whom, until lately, I was an entire stranger. May their friend- ship to me and my family meet its due reward ; may the blessing of divine love be their present and eter nal portion.
"I should be wanting in duty were I to pass over in silence the assistance which I derived from the labours of my friend, Dr. Buchanan. Though ad- vanced in years, when nature requires retirement and repose, he engages every Sunday in the discharge of the public duties of the ministry, and without any reward, except that which arises from the testimony of his own conscience, he labors in the gospel. May his remaining days be crowned with happiness, and his last end be the end of the righteous."
1817.
The convention this year assembled in the town
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of Fredericksburg on Tuesday, the 6th of May. Bishop Moore in the chair, Mr. Wm. Munford, Sec- retary. Col. John Ambler attended as lay deputy for the Monumental Church.
The Treasurer, Mr. Munford, credits the Monu- mental Church, in the city of Richmond, by Dr. McClurg, $30.
Mr. Philip Nelson, from the committee on the subject of the parochial reports, presented a report:
"The Monumental Church is represented to be in a quiet state,-communicants increasing."
1818. ยท
The convention met in Winchester, on Tuesday, the the 19th of May. Bishop Moore presiding, and Mr. Win. Munford acting as Secretary.
On Thursday, the 21st, the bishop informed the convention that in the absence of John Brocken- brough, a lay deputy appointed by the vestry of the Monumental Church in the city of Richmond, he, in pursuance of a vote of said vestry, certified the appointment of William Munford to act as lay deputy for that church.
The Treasurer, Mr. Munford, credits the Monu- mental Church, in the city of Richmond, by John Ambler, $30.
Rev. George Lemmon, from the committee on the subject of parochial reports, presented a condensed statement:
"The Monumental Church is in the same state as formerly,-communicants increasing."
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The bishop, in his address, says : "In my own parish, brethren, it is my duty to mention that my people continue to me their affectionate regard ; the number of communicants increase, and the con- gregation is very respectable. I endeavor to secure the affections of my parishioners by a faithful atten- tion to my parochial duties; and in order to promote the interests of the church, I sometimes lecture from one to three times in the week, independent of my Sabbath exercises.
"If fidelity to God and to their eternal interests,. will secure to me the blessing of heaven, that bless- ing, I trust, will be obtained."
1819.
The convention met in Petersburg, on Thursday, the 13th of May The Right Rev. Bishop Moore took the chair as President, Mr. Munford acting as Secretary.
Mr. William Mayo attended as lay deputy for the Monumental Church.
The Treasurer, Mr. Munford, credits Monumental Church, Richmond, by Bishop Moore, $30.
Mr. Wilmer, from the standing committee, pre- sented a report of the money collected in the dif- ferent parishes on account of the fund for the sup- port of the Episcopate :
"By William Mayo, Esquire, collection in the . Monumental Church, Richmond, $200.66."
The Rev. Oliver Norris, from the committee to whom the parochial reports were referred, pre -- sented the following report:
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"The congregation of the Monumental Church continues in the same state in which it was reported the last year. The number of the communicants increases, and several of the most valuable of the society joined the altar upon the last Easter Sunday. A large Sunday school has been established in this church."
1820.
The convention met in Alexandria, on Thursday, the 11th of May. The Right Rev. Bishop Moore took the chair, Mr. Munford acting as Secretary.
Mr. William Mayo attended as lay deputy for the Monumental Church.
The Rev. Oliver Norris, from the committee to which the parochial reports were referred, presented the following condensed report :
"The committee are informed by Bishop Moore, that although in the Monumental Church in the city of Richmond he does not perceive any peculiar re- ligious excitement, yet it is with infinite pleasure he can say, that the members in full communion pre- serve their good standing; and that upon every sacramental occasion there is some small increase of members. The congregation are regular in their attendance upon public worship, and manifest a dis- position to render his ministry among them happy and agreeable. The number of communicants is about one hundred and twenty-five or one hundred and thirty."
1821.
The convention met in Norfolk, on Thursday, the 17th day of May.
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The Right Rev. Bishop Moore delivered a sermon appropriate to the occasion, and then took the chair as president of the convention, Mr. Munford attend- ing as secretary.
The Monumental Church was represented by Mr. William Mayo as lay deputy.
The Rev. Enoch M. Lowe, from the committee to whom the parochial reports were referred, pre- sented a report :
"In the Monumental Church, Richmond, the con- gregation are steady in their attendance upon divine worship. At the administration of the Lord's sup- per the greatest solemnity is preserved, and some additional members generally added. They are af- fectionate to their pastor, and the greatest love and harmony prevail."
1822.
The convention met in Charlottesville, on Thurs- day, the 16th of May. The Right Rev. Bishop Moore took the Chair as President; and it appear- ing that Mr. Wmn. Munford, the Secretary, was ab- sent, ordered that Edward Colston, Esq., act as Sec- retary pro tempore.
Mr. William Mayo attended as the lay deputy for the Monumental Church.
It appearing that Mr. William Munford, the Treasurer of this convention, is not present, on mo- tion of the Rev. Mr. Meade --
" Ordered, that Mr. Hugh Mercer be appointed to receive and account for to the Treasurer the con- tributions of the several parishes to the contingent
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fund ; whereupon the following payments were paid, viz : By William Mayo, Monumental Church, Rich- mond city, $30.
" The Rev. George Lemmon, from the committee to whom were referred the parochial reports, made the following report, viz : ' The Monumental Church, Richmond; the number of communicants in this church have increased since the last meeting of the convention. A Tuesday lecture has been established by the rector, which bids fair to be productive of the greatest advantage: and the congregation are regular in their attendance upon public worship.'"
On the 19th of December, in this year, died, in the city of Richmond, the Rev. John Buchanan, D. D., Rector of Henrico Parish. For many years prior to the erection of the Monumental Church he was the only Episcopal minister in Richmond. To the congregation of that church on Richmond Hill, (now called St. John's,) he was as familiar as the Bishop himself, and was second only to him in their affectionate regard.
The private and official relations between the Bishop and himself were of the most intimate and friendly character.
Before coming to Richmond, Dr. Buchanan was the Rector of Lexington Parish, Amherst Co., Virginia, the duties of which office he assumed on the 1st of October, 1779, as appears from a minute of the proceedings, at a meeting held on the 11th of January, 1780, as follows, viz :
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" The vestry, taking into consideration the dis- tressed situation of this parish for the want of an orthodox minister, and the Rev. Mr. John Buchanan, who has officiated in this parish as pastor to the same since the 1st October last, being well approved of as a clergyman of what is commonly called the church of England, this vestry do unanimously receive him into the same as such; and as a proper compensation for his services, are of opinion that he ought to re- ceive ten thousand pounds of net tobacco for one year, commencing from the first day of November last ; and this vestry do conceive it their indispen- sable duty to use their best endeavors to procure the same, by promoting subscriptions for the voluntary contributions thereof from the friends of that holy religion. And as the support for any benefit which any civil community receives from the advantage of true religion ought to be borne equally by all, the said vestry do most earnestly recommend to the in- habitants of this parish to subscribe and pay to some one of the vestry of this parish twelve pounds net tobacco per tithe, or an equivalent in money for the same, for each tithe in their possession, on or before the first day of July next. And this vestry do pro- mise and engage, that if any surplus should remain after paying the said ten thousand pounds of tobacco as aforesaid, that the same shall be properly applied to the use of the church towards lessening the future necessary burdens of the same."
Note by Col. Ellis :
"One of the subscription lists, or a subsequent
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one, dated December 5, 1780, is in my possession, subscribed to by my grandfather, the late Josiah Ellis, of Amherst county, who for twenty five years was a vestryman in that parish, by his brother, Chas. Ellis, and others, making the amount subscribed three hundred pounds of inspected tobacco, or its equivalent in money."
Subsequent to the last mentioned date, he came to Richmond to act as an assistant minister to the Rev. Miles Selden, then, and for many years pre- viously, rector of Henrico Parish; he was at the same time engaged as a private tutor to the children of Mr. Jaquelin Ambler, in whose family he had a comfortable home for ten years of his life.
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