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KAI THN EK
Y NOIZI
PI
EPISCOPUS
.1878
12.8.02
Library of the Theological Seminary, PRINCETON. N. J.
Purchased by the Wrs. Robert Lenor Kenmed, Church History Fund.
Bx 5918
APA
RT. REV. JAMES MADISON, D. D.
RT. REV. RICHARD CHANNING MOORE, D. D. RT. REV. WILLIAM MEADE. D. D. RT. REV. JOHN JOHNS, D. D., L.L. D.
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN
WEST VIRGINIA
Entered according to act of Congress in the year Nineteen Hundred and One BY GEO. W. PETERKIN.
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.
A HISTORY AND RECORD
OF THE
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL
CHURCH
IN THE
DIOCESE OF WEST VIRGINIA.
AND, BEFORE THE FORMATION OF THE DIOCESE IN 1878. IN THE TERRITORY NOW KNOWN AS THE
STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA.
COMPILED, ARRANGED AND CONTRIBUTED
BY
GEO. W. PETERKIN
THE FIRST BISHOP OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE DIOCESE OF WEST VIRGINIA, 1878.
1902
THE TRIBUNE COMPANY, PRINTERS, CHARLESTON, W. V.A.
UNIONE
ABEL
ERRATA.
Page 1. read 1608 for 1868.
Page 15, read appointment for appointed.
Page 25 et seq., add to elergy lists: Rev. Richard T. Brown, Middleway.
Rev. Edmund Christian, Wellsburg 1857
1×46
Rev. Thomas K. Coleman, Parkersburg 153℃
Rev. Henry J. Kershaw (missionary) Parkersburg 1857
Rev. Francis Keys Leavell (Coal Valley) Montgomery .. 1882
Rev. Thompson B. Maury, Ravenswood 1865 Rev. Henry Hobart Morrell, D. D., Wheeling ( Island) .. 1888 Page 69, read 1834 for 1824.
Page 196, read Murdaugh for Murdough.
Page 202, read far for for.
Page 535, read Bacon for Brown.
Page 601, read Surrey for Survey.
Page 637, read parishioners for parishoners.
Page 664, the name of Wm. E. Watson, one of the most faithful and liberal members of Christ Church Vestry, was omitted from the list. Page 768. read 1878 for 18:3.
Page xiv of index, read poverty for property.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Page.
Bishops Madison, Moore, Meade, and Johns Frontispiece
Rt. Rev. G. W. Peterkin, D. D. LL. D .. viji
Revs. Benjamin Allen and Edward R. Lippitt.
Rt. Rev. B. B. Smith and Rev. John Armstrong 19
Rev. F. D. Goodwin and Rev. Jno. T. Brooke. D. D. 36
Rev. C. C. Talliaferro and Rev. Wm. Armstrong.
Rev. Alex. Jones, D. D., and Rev. Jas. Chisholm.
64
Rev. Jas. Craik, D. D., and Old St. John Ch., Charleston 65
Rev. F. B. Nash and Rev. C. W. Andrews, D. D.
$0
Rev. Thomas Smith 81
Rev. E. T. Perkins, D. D., and Rev. R. T. Brown.
96
Rt. Rev. Francis M. Whittle, D. D .. 97
Rev. S. D. Tompkins and Rev. C. M. Callaway.
112
Rev. W. L. Hyland, D. D., and Old Trinity Ch., Parkersburg. 113
Rev. D. F. Sprigg, D. D., and Rev. W. D. Hanson 128
Rev. J. J. Page and Rev. D. A. Tyng. 129
Rev. R. T. Davis, D. D., and Rev. C. E. Ambler. 144
Rev. R. A. Castleman and Rev. Edm'd Christian. 145
Rev. W. F. M. Jacobs and Rev. T. K. Coleman. 176
Rev. A. J. M. Hudson and Rev. T. G. Addison, D. D .. 177
Rev. W. H. Meade, D. D., and Rev. Isaac Gibson, D. D. 208
Rev. Joshua Cowpland and Rev. H. E. Hayden 209
Rev. H. T. Sharp and Rev. Jas. A. Latane. 240
Rev. E. V. Jones and Rev. W. L. Braddock.
241
Rev. T. H. Lacy, D. D., and Rev. A. C. MeDonough )56
Rev. R. A. Cobbs and Rev. J. P. Hubbard, D. D). 257
Rt. Rev. G. W. Peterkin, D. D., LL. D. 254
Episcopal Hall, Morgantown. 265
Rev. J. F. Woods and Grace Ch., Cresap's 272
St. John's Ch., Willow Island, and Church at St. Mary's 2:3
Rev. C. N. Spalding, D. D., and St. Luke's Parish House 280
Rev. H. H. Morrell, D. D., and Rev. J. G. Gantt.
281
Rev. G. W. Easter and Rectory, Union.
St. Thomas, White Sulphur, and All Saints', Union 289
St. Barnabas, Davis, and Grace, Elkins. 296
Rev. Jas. L. Fish. . 297
Church of the Holy Spirit, Summit, and St. Bartholomew's, Leetown . 204
Christ Church, Blue Ridge, and St. John's, Ripon 305
Robert J. MeCandlish and Lawrence E. Sands 312
Maj. J. C. Covell and Rectory, Romney 32.0
Church of the Epiphany, Okonoko. 321
Christ (Memorial) Ch .. Williamstown, and Good Shepherd.
Parkersburg 329
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Page.
Rev. K. J. Hammond and Rev. J. A. Hiatt. 329 Rev. W. B. Everett, M. D., and Rectory, Harper's Ferry. 336
Old St. John's and New St. John's, Harper's Ferry
Rev. Jas. A. Deaver and St. Philip's, Charles Town 344
Rev. Walter L. Burwell 2.43
Rev. Dallas Tucker and Parish House, Charles Town. 352 Old St. George's and St. Andrew's on Mountain, Charles Town. 353
Bruce Chapel and Christ Church, Point Pleasant
Rev. J. H. Gibbons and Rev. R. U. Brooking 360
Gen'l. John H. Oley 368
Grace Church, (exterior and interior) Kenova.
369
Rt. Rev. W. L. Gravatt, D. D .. 376
Rev. J. S. Lightbourn, Church and Rectory, Bluefield. 384
Rev. C. A. Chrisman and Ch. of the Heavenly Rest, Princeton. 385
Rev. A. R. Price and St. David's. Powellton 392
Rev. J. R. Taylor 393
Rev. John Ambler and Rev. L. W. Doggett
400
Theological Seminary of Virginia, (two views)
132
Episcopal High School 433
Rev. Anselan Buchanan and St. John's, Brooke Co. 504
Rev. H. B. Thomas, and Christ Ch., Wellsburg 505
Rev. J. W. Ware and Rev. D. H. Greer. D. D .. 520
Rev. G. W. Dame and Rev. D. F. Forrest, D. D. 521
Rev. J. S. Douglas and Trinity Ch., and Rectory. Martinsburg. 536
Rev. Henry Thomas and Christ Ch., Bunker Hill. 537
Rev. W. T. Leavell and Mt. Zion Ch., Hedgesville. 544
Rev. Chas. E. Shaw
545
Christ Church, Wellsburg 552
Rectory, Wellsburg. 553
Trinity Church and Rectory, Huntington 560
Rev. J. S. Gibson and Trinity Ch., Huntington. 561
Rev. A. M. Lewis and Church of the Redeemer, Ansted. 568
Rev. F. K. Leavell and Calvary Ch., Montgomery 569
Rev. G. A. Gibbons and St. Stephen's, Romney. 576
Rev. J. D. Ferguson and Emmanuel Church, Moorefield. 577
Rev. T. W. Cooke and Christ Church, Clarksburg 584
Rev. A. K. Fenton and St. Thomas, Clarksburg. 585
Rev. C. M. Campbell and Whittle Chapel. Liverpool 592
Grace Church and Rectory, Ravenswood. 593
Rev. R. S. Coupland and Zion Church, Charles Town. 600
Rectory and Zion Church, (interior) Charles Town .. 601
Rev. W. H. Neilson, D. D., and Trinity Church, Shepherdstown
Rev. L. R. Mason and Rectory, Shepherdstown 609
Rev. A. J. Willis and Grace Church, Middleway 616
Rev. J. H. W. Blake and Rectory, Middleway 617
St. John's Church, Charleston 624
Rev. R. D. Roller, D. D., and St. John's, (interior) Charleston. 625
Major A. T. Laidley and Rectory, Charleston 632
Sheltering Arms Hospital, Paint Creek. 633
Rev. Gerald Card and St. Matthew's, Charleston 640
St. Luke's, Charleston and Christ Church, Boone Co.
641
Rev. J. W. Lea and Rectory, St. Albans. 648
Rev. J. B. Fitzpatrick and St. Mark's, St. Albans 649.
Rev. A. G. Grinnan and St. Paul's, Weston. 656
Rev. W. II. H. Powers and Rectory, Weston. 657
Christ Church, Fairmont 664
361
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Page.
Thos. G. Steele and Rt. Rev. C. C. Penick. D. D ..
Rev. B. M. Spurr and Reynolds Memorial Hospital. 672
Christ Church, Reetory and Parish House, Moundsville 673
Rev. N. F. Marshall and Grace Church, Eckman. 680
Holy Trinity, Bramwell 681
Rev. I. T. Marley and Trinity. Morgantown.
Rev. James Sheerin and Rev. T. E. Winecoff. G59
Rev. C. C. Pearson and St. Mark's, Berkeley Springs $96
Rectory, Berkeley Springs.
St. Matthew's Church, Wheeling 204
Rev. D. W. Howard and St. Matthew's, (interior) Wheeling 7.15
St. Luke's Church, Wheeling @12
Rev. J. Brittinghanı and St. Luke's, (interior) Wheeling
Rev. N. S. Thomas and Rev. R. R. Swope, D. D ..
Rev. J. G. Armstrong, D. D., and Rev. T. J. O. Curran. 721
Grace (h., Clover Lick, and St. James' and Rectory, Lewisburg. 728
Rev. Guy H. Crook and Church at Glen Jean.
$29
Rev. F. A. Meade and Rectory. Hinton.
Church of the Messiah, Alderson, and Ascension, Hinton
:44
Rev. J. W. Keeble $15
Rev. W. H. Burkhardt and St. Paul's. Sistersville
Rectory and St. Anne's, New Martinsville
153
Rev. S. S. Moore, D. D., and Rectory, Parkersburg
Rt. Rev. R. A. Gibson, D. D., and Trinity, Parkersburg
St. John's Church, Ripley TGS
Church of the Good Shepherd, Duffields 769
Rev. C. W. Bartlett and R. G. Noland :76
Rev. John Moncure, D. D .. . 777
Rev. JJ. T. Foster and St. Matthias, Grafton.
Ecclesiastical Maps of West Virginia. 1880-1900. >54
7;6
Transfiguration, Buckhannon, and St. John's, Sutton.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Preface and Introduction.
CHAPTER I.
Resume of Franeis S. Hawk's book, entitled "A Narrative of Events connected with the Rise and Progress of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Virginia." 1
CHAPTER II.
The Episcopal Church in America and in West Virginia 19
CHAPTER III.
List of Clerical and Lay Delegates to the Annual Councils of the Diocese of Virginia, from the Churches in Western Vir- ginia, 1785-1877
25
CHAPTER IV.
List of Clerical and Lay Delegates to the Annual Councils of the Diocese of West Virginia, 1877-1901.
30
CHAPTER V.
Digest of Annual Couneils of the Diocese of Virginia, 1785-1877. with Parochial Reports from the Churches in what is now known as the Diocese of West Virginia, and full state- ments from the addresses of the Bishops having refer- ence to their visitations in that territory 38
CHAPTER VI.
Digest of Annual Councils of the Diocese of West Virginia. 1877- 1901. with extracts from the Bishop's addresses 264
CHAPTER VII.
Republication of all the material concerning the Churches in Western Virginia, from Bishop Meade's book, entitled "Old Churches, Ministers and Families of Virginia," pub- lished in 1557. General observations. 405
CHAPTER VIII.
Republication from Bishop Meade's book continued. Parishes .. .. 471
VI
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IX.
Records of all the Parishes, Churches, Missions, Stations, &c .. in West Virginia, since Bishop Meade's book was publish- ed in 1857, compiled from accounts furnished by the cler- gy and others. Barbour, Berkeley, Boone, Braxton, Brooke, Cabell, Calhoun, Clay, Doddridge counties. Churches in Martinsburg, Hedgesville, Bunker Hill, Sut- ton, Wellsburg, Huntington, &c. Account of Rev. Joseph Doddridge
534
CHAPTER X.
Records continued. Fayette, Gilmer, Grant, Greenbrier. Hampshire, Hancock, Hardy, Harrison, Jackson coun- ties. Churches in Montgomery Ansted, Lewisburg, Ron- ceverte, White Sulphur, Romney, Moorefield. Clarksburg, Ripley, Ravenswood, &c .. 565
CHAPTER XI.
Records continued. Jefferson county. Churches in Charles Town, Shepherdstown, Harper's Ferry, Lee Town. Mid- dleway, Summit Point, Ripon, &c 594
CHAPTER XII.
Records continued. Kanawha county Churches in Charles- ton St. Albans, &c. 623
CHAPTER XIII.
Records continued. Lewis, Lincoln, Logan, Marion, Marshall, Mason, McDowell, Mercer counties. Churches in Weston, Fairmont, Mannington, Moundsville. Cresaps. Pt. Pleas- ant. Mercer's Bottom, Mason City, Eckman, Welch, Prince- 1on, Bramwell, Bluefield &c. 654
CHAPTER XIV.
Records continued. Mineral, Mingo. Monongalia. Monroe. Morgan, Nicholas, Ohio counties. Churches in Morgan- town. Union, Berkeley Springs, Wheeling. Elm Grove, &c ... 686
CHAPTER XV.
Records continued. Pendleton, Pleasants, Pocahontas, Pres- ton, Putnam, Raleigh, Randolph. Ritchie. Roane, Sun- mers, Taylor, Tucker, Tyler. Upshur counties. Churches in St. Mary's, Waverly, Willow Island. Clover Lick, Scary, Beckley, Elkins, Hinton, Grafton, Davis. Sistersville, Buckhannon, &c. 723
CHAPTER XVI.
Records continued. Wayne, Webster, Wetzel, Wirt. Wood. Wy- oming. Churches in Kenova. New Martinsville, Parkers- burg. Williamstown, &c. 747
TABLE OF CONTENTS. APPENDICES. I.
Lists of Councils. Churches and Chapels in use 1876. Churches and Chapels built since 1878. Churches extinct. Conse- cration of Churches prior to 1878. Churches consecrated since 1878. Rectories. Ordinations and Confirmations. Episcopal work done in others Dioceses.
11.
Contraer between the Rev. Jos. Doddridge and his several con- gregations 1800.
TIT.
Constitution of the Episcopal Society of the Valley. organ- ized 1819 ..
IT.
Circular letter issued by the Episcopal Society of the Valley Dec. 2. 1819 700
T.
Records of the North Western Convocation. 1850-1877.
VI.
Letter of Bishop Meade appointing Lay Readers for Parkers- burg in 1834. . 799
VII.
Address of Bishop Meade to the Episcopalians of Western Vir- ginia ón a proposition to divide the Diocese-1851. $00
Letter from Bishop Johns to the officiating clergy and vestries in the Western part of the Diocese of Virginia, July 28. 1865
ZX.
Extract from the Journal of the Rev. W. T. Leavell
Seleeted letters of Bishop Peterkin from the Church News, re- ating chiefly to visitations made in the early years of his work .. 832
Comparative statistics 855
RT. REV. GEORGE WILLIAM PETERKIN, D. D., L.L. D.
PREFACE.
Several years ago I sent a circular letter to my clergy in substance as follows:
"In 1857 Bishop Meade published two volumes entitled "Oid Churches, Ministers and Families of Virginia.' In his pre- face he says: 'Besides the recovery of many old vestry books or fragments thereof supposed to have been lost, I have by my own researches or those of my friends, found interesting materials for this work in a number of the old records of the State, which may yet be seen, though often in a mutilated or mouldering condition, in the clerks' offices of various coun- ties.'
"There can be no doubt but that by this publication the Bishop has preserved a vast deal of most important and in- teresting information which must otherwise have long since perished. These books are however but little known in West Virginia, and are reported now to be practically out of print. The desire to spread abroad the information, which Bishop Meade so laboriously gathered concerning the establishment and progress of the Episcopal Church in West Virginia, and. as far as possible, to complete the work by bringing it down to the present time, has induced me to undertake to prepare a volume that shall be supplemental to the two already men- tioned. I shall not pretend to give an orderly or systematic treatment of the subject, but rather such compilation of facts and figures as may interest the casual reader. and per- haps serve the future historian.
"In gathering material for this undertaking I ask your as-
Y
PREFACE.
sistance. My idea is to take up the history of our churches in West Virginia where Bishop Meade leaves it, i. c., about 1855, and briefly, but clearly, to give the course of events down to the present time, and also to note the general pro- gress of the Church throughout the State, and the work of ex- tension that has been going on during these years. It would be a very great help if in each case the writer would put his article in such shape that it could go directly to the printer. Judgment will be required to give in each case the material facts without going too much into details.
"I should like to have definite information in regard to church building and ministers, with dates, and such other items as may suggest themselves. Any information that can be sent me in regard to the history of the Church in the Dio- cese will be gratefully received."
This letter sufficiently explains the origin and purpose of this book. It is a compilation from all available sources -- a collection of facts and items culled from Journals and letters and papers. No doubt the want of a general plan will be thought by many to be a serions defect. It is freely admit- ted, but at the same time the defect could not be remedied by the present writer. He had no time nor inelination to work up the material here collected into a consistent narra- tive. The choice lay between doing the work in this way or not doing it at all, and it is hoped, that, although this volume is so desultory, it may be found useful and convenient by vir- tue of the copious index which has been added. The value of the book is, that the facts that are gathered here can hardly elsewhere be found. There is no one in the Diocese who has command of all the documents from which the compilation is made, to say nothing of this, that many of the statements were expressly prepared for this use.
My hope is that the book will have wide circulation, and, by giving needed information about the Church in West Vir- ginia, be helpful to its development.
If any one has ever tried to do such work they will know
xi
PREFACE.
something of the difficulty of getting information, and they will be surprised to find how soon even material facts pass out of mind.
I propose, first to give the sum and substance of what I find in Bishop Meade's book as to the general condition of the Church in Virginia, and then, on to particular churches, etc., in West Virginia, adding such material as I can command in order to bring each record, as far as possible, up to the present date. It may seem in some instances that I have ex- tended the quotations from Bishop Meade's book beyond what the necessities of the case required, but it has been hard to draw the line, and everything that relates to the gen- eral interest of the undivided Diocese, i. c., everything of general interest before 1878, ought to be of concern to us. I am particularly anxious that our Church people in West Vir- ginia should understand and valne their associations with the early Church in Virginia, and be thoroughly imbned with its spirit and principles.
To get a complete history of any one point, the reader will have to turn from one part of the book to another. which pro- .cess will be facilitated by the free use of the Index. This is an acknowledged defect, but under the circumstances conld not be avoided.
I trust that this publication may not prove uninteresting to my people scattered abroad over the Diocese, and that for lack of something better, it may serve as the record of an honorable past, and be an incentive to renewed efforts in the future for Christ and the Church.
! desire to make grateful acknowledgment of the kindness of the Rev. Dr. Sprigg in placing at my service, a complete set of the Virginia Journals; also of the very great assistance I have received from the clergy of the Diocese in writing up the records of their respective charges; to others. ladies and gentlemen, for the valuable aid they have rendered. and especially to Miss Brady of Wheeling for conducting so large a part of my correspondence, and for other faithful and la-
xii
PREFACE.
borious assistance, and, to the Rev. Dr. Roller, for taking off of my hands the whole labor of securing the illustrations, and particularly for his invaluable help in seeing the book through the press.
GEO. W. PETERKIN.
INTRODUCTION.
The Episcopal Church of Virginia commenced with the first settlement of the first colony; but she had to labor under great disadvantages during nearly the whole period of her existence in connection with the Government and the Church of England. Of the ministers who came out from England, few were faithful and duly qualified, and indeed there was great difficulty in getting a full supply of any sort. In the vear 1655, it is recorded that many places were destitute of ministers, and likely still to continue so, the people not pay- ing their accustomed dues. There were at this time about fifty parishes in the Colony, and only ten ministers for their supply. If we proceed in the history another fifty years, we shall find only a few more parishes established, and not more than half of them supplied with ministers, the rest being served by lay readers. The Bishop of London was in charge of the Church in Virginia, but his superintendence was of ne- cessity only nominal. And so for two hundred years did the Episcopal Church here, as elsewhere in this country, try the experiment of a system, whose constitution required such a head as a Bishop, but was actually without it. It must be er- ident how much she everywhere suffered for lack of this office so indispensable to most important parts of ecclesiastical ad- ministration and discipline. As the Revolution approached, dissatisfaction with the mother country grew, and with it, naturally, dissatisfaction with the Mother Church. This feeling against the Episcopal Church was aggravated when some of the clergy showed attachment to the cause of the
xiv
INTRODUCTION.
King; the Church was subjected to suspicion and her enemies sought her destruction. And then the dispute about Church property coming on, and being waged with great bitterness for twenty-seven years completed the wreck. And so it came to pass, that while at the commencement of the war of the Revolution, Virginia had ninety-one clergymen officiating in one hundred and sixty-four churches and chapels; at its close, only twenty-eight ministers were found laboring in the less desolate parishes of the State.
The Church in Virginia having resolved on an effort to ob- tain consecration for a Bishop who might complete her im- perfect organization, the Rev. Dr. Griffith was selected, but the parishes failing to provide funds to defray his expenses to England, the plan fell through. At last in 1790 Bishop Madison was consecrated. He began his work under the most discouraging circumstances, and after a few partial visita- tions of the Diocese, his hopes of the revival of the Church evidently sank, and he devoted himself during the greater part of the year to the duties of William and Mary College, of which he was President.
In 1811 Mr. William Meade was ordained and began his ministry; many persons expressing surprise that he should seek orders in a Church which was in such a depressed con- dition. In 1812 Bishop Madison died and was succeeded in 1814 by Bishop, Richard Channing Moore. In 1829 Bishop Meade was consecrated as Assistant Bishop. These were the years that marked the revival of the Church in Virginia. During Bishop Moore's episcopate of twenty-seven years, 1814-1841, the number of clergy increased from ten to nine- ty-five, and the communicants from three or four hundred to nearly four thousand. But better still, hopefulness and ac- tivity was infused into both clergy and laity, and a vigorous life imparted to the whole Diocese. The Church grew rapid- ly, and her Bishops and other clergy, and the congregations committed to their charge were having poured upon them the healthful spirit of God's grace, and the continued dew of His
INTRODUCTION.
. blessing. In these days were the beginnings of those famous old Virginia Conventions, so delightful and so profitable. The spirit of these Conventions was eminently social, yet re- strained from anything like levity by an abiding sense of the Divine presence. Bishop Moore died in 1841, and Bishop Meade succeeded to all the responsibilities connected with the administration of the Diocese. It became necessary in 1842 for him to have an assistant, and Bishop Johns was clos- en. In 1862 Bishop Meade died, and Bishop Johns had the sole charge of the Diocese until 1878, when Bishop Whittle was consecrated as his assistant. In 1876 Bishop Johns dy- ing, Bishop Whittle succeeded to the sole charge of the Dio- cese, which he thus administered until 1883, when Bishop Randolph was chosen to be his assistant. In the meantime the original Diocese of Virginia had been divided by setting apart West Virginia as a new Diocese, for which Bishop Pe- terkin was consecrated in 1878. The Diocese of Virginia was again divided in 1892, and Southern Virginia formed; Bishop Randolph choosing this for his jurisdiction. In 1894 Bishop Newton was consecrated as assistant for Bishop Whittle in Virginia. On Bishop Newton's death Bishop Gib- son was consecrated.
There were many noble men whom God raised up from time to time to carry on the good work in this part of His vineyard. Chief among them were Wilmer, Norris, Dnnn, Hawley, Horrell, the two Allens, the Lowes, Ravenscroft, Smith, Balmaine, Wingfield, Armstrong, Page, Keith, Lippitt, Jones, Cobbs, Lee, Grammer, McGuire, Brooke, the Jacksons, and others. They rest from their labors and their works do follow them.
The Episcopal Church in West Virginia.
CHAPTER I.
Resume of Dr. Hawks' Narrative of Events, connected with the Rise and Progress of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Virginia.
1606-1618.
Rev. Robert Hunt, one of the petitioners for the charter granted by James I. to the London Company, on the 10th of April, 1606, embarked for Virginia, 19th of December, 1606. He was a man of strong and sincere Christian character, and, more than once, his prudent conduct and pious exhortations allayed the jealousy and animosity between the members of the Council of the Colony, which otherwise might have ruined the whole undertaking.
On the 26th of April, 1607, the little fleet of three ships en- tered the Chesapeake, and on the 13th of May, the Colonists landed at what was once Jamestown. This was the first per- manent habitation of the English in America, and, on May 14th, the sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered for the first time in Virginia, and so the colony began its career of civilization.
A Church was soon built, but, in a few months, it was de- stroyed by fire. Then chiefly through the energy of John Smith the town was rebuilt and the Church restored. Mr. Hunt continued to live in the Colony, and exert an influence that was invariably for good. It is believed that the first recorded marriage in Virginia was solemnized by him. It was in the year 1868, that a white woman was first seen in the
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