A history and record of the Protestant Episcopal church in the diocese of West Virginia, Part 12

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I took charge of this parish in July last. The congregation is yet worshipping in the Court House, and burdened with the expense of erecting a new church, which will be opened for service sometime during the ensuing summer. The benevo- lent operations of the year are in the way of a quarterly subscription. The first quarter only has been fully paid in.

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St. John's Church, Harper's Ferry- Rev. Horace Stringfel- low. Jr., Rector. Communicants 30; baptisms 9; contribu- tions $89.00. The above report embraces only the aets of the present minister, who entered upon his duties in Novem- ber last.

Trinity Church, Shepherdstown-Rev. C. W. Andrews, Rector. Communicants 52; baptisms 9; Sunday school teachers 6; scholars 46; contributions $300.

Remark :- Although the above report indicates no improve- ment in the parish for the past year, it has in fact (when com- pared with others) been a year of most decided improvement, as the Rector trusts will appear in the next report.

St John's Church, Charleston, and St. Luke's, Salines-Rev. R. T. Brown, Rector. Communicants 40; baptisms 14.

St. Mark's Church, Coalsmouth-Rev. F. B. Nash, Rector. Communicants 18; baptisms 2; contributions $50.

St. Paul's Church, Weston-Rev. S. D. Tompkins, Rector. Communicants 22; baptisms 9; confirmed 7; families 12; adults 24; infants 50.

Trinity Parish, Marshall County-Rev. W. L. Hyland, Rec- tor. Baptisms 5; communicants 12; confirmed 8; contribu- tions $11.46.

A subscription has been commenced for the purpose of erecting a house of worship in this Parish, and hopes are en- tertained that the building will be completed during the pres- ent season.

Rev. F. B. Nash, Rector of St. Paul's and St. John's Churches. Putnam County, reports: St. John's, communicants 9. St. Paul's, communicants 7.

Arrangements are made for erecting a church edifice (St. Paul's) during the coming summer. The prospects for the church in Putnam county are, it is thought, encouraging.

I officiate occasionally at Bruce's chapel, and at Pt. Pleas- ant, Mason county. There are thirteen communicants of the church at these two points. The friends of the church at these places, in connection with those at Ravenswood,

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Jackson county, expect to obtain the services of a clergyman of their own, during the coming season. The prospects of the church in Mason county, appear to me to be much more en- couraging at this time than they have been heretofore. At Guyandotte, Cabell county, where I have, now, monthly ap- pointments, quite a cheering interest in the effort to establish the church there is manifested. There are nine communicants blonging to the church there.

St. John's Church, Wheeling-Rev. James D. McCabe, Rector. Communicants 62; baptisms 50; confirmed 29; families 29; adults 72; infants 52; contributions $275. In this amount is included sums contributed to building churches in destitute places in our own and other Dioceses.

Trinity Parish, Parkersburg-Rev. E. T. Perkins, Rector. Communicants 33; baptisms 2; confirmed 4; contributions $100.

St. John's Church, Brooke County-Rev. James B. Goodwin, Rector. Having finished a neat and comfortable church and completed the fourth year of my ministry in this place; and having understood that the congregation of Christ Church, Wellsburg, wished to re-unite with that of St. John's, I re- signed the rectorship of this parish the 30th of last June.

The past year I have officiated twenty-four weeks in Penn- sylvania, fourteen in Ohio, and eight in Virginia. The re- maining six weeks were occupied in attending conventions, travelling for the benefit of my health, and visiting my friends.

Convention of 1852. St. Paul's Church, Richmond, May 19. Bishop Meade presiding.

West Virginia clergy: Rev. C. W. Andrews, Trinity Church, Shepherdstown; Rev. William Armstrong, St. Mat- thew's Church, Wheeling; Rev. R. T. Brown, Charleston, Kanawha county; xRev. C. McK. Callaway, Middleway, xRev. William D. Hanson, Kabletown, Jefferson county; xRev. W. L. Hyland, Trinity Parish, Marshall county; Rev. James D. MeCabe, D. D .. St. John's, Wheeling; xRev. E. T. Perkins.

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Parkersburg; xRev. Horace Stringfellow, Jr., St. John's, Harper's Ferry; Rev. D. Francis Sprigg, Martinsburg; Rev. S. D. Tompkins, St. Paul's, Weston and St. John's, Brooke county; Rev. Dudley A. Tyng, Zion Church, Charlestown. (x present).

Lay delegates: Messrs. James O. Hawley. St. Paul's Church, Weston; Isaac Hoge, Trinity Church, Moundsville; Robert C. Bonham, St. Matthew's Church, Wheeling.

Bishop Meade, in his address says: "My fall visitation was to Western Virginia. The first duties performed were at Pillowsville and Evansville, two small villages at the west- ern base of the Allegheny mountains. Between these, three days was spent in company with the Rev. Mr. Tompkins, of Weston. In the former we have six or seven communicants who have immigrated to it from the north within the last few years. A Sabbath was next spent at Morgantown, where we have three or four valuable members, and where one was confirmed. This is one of the most growing places in West- ern Virginia.

A day was also spent at Smithtown, where we have a few friends, though only one member.

A day was spent at Fairmont, and two services held; at the last of which four were confirmed. This is one of the most growing places in Western Virginia. We have ten or twelve members here already, and assurances were given me that a church would be built.

At Clarksburg, which for a time should be connected with Fairmont, I held two services, at each of which I addressed myself at some length to the friends of the church, urging speedy efforts for a house of worship. A handsome sub- scription was made on the spot, and assurances given that the work should be done.

Two days were spent at Weston; a church consecrated, and four persons confirmed. Two days also were devoted to Par- kersburg, where eight were confirmed.

From Parkersburg I visited Belleville, about fifteen miles

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off, where I consecrated a small plain church, and confirmed two persons.

From Parkersburg I proceeded to Ravenswood, a small vil- lage on the Ohio river, where a neat church has been put up at the expense of Mr. Fitzhugh, the owner of the land on which the village has been erected. Two days were here spent in continued services by myself and Mr. Perkins.

The next appointments were at Point Pleasant and Mer- cer's Bottom, on the Ohio. At the former place one was con- firmed. It has been some years since regular services were enjoyed at these places.

I next visited the congregations on the Kanawha river, four in number, under the care of the Rev. Mr. Nash, who has since left them, spending a day at each, and confirming five persons in two of them.

At Charleston and the Salines, two days were spent; seven were confirmed at the former, and nine at the latter. On returning I spent another day at Ravenswood, and conse- crated the new church; also another day at Parkersburg, be- ing the day of Thanksgiving appointed by the church, when I supplied the place of the minister by some appropriate re- marks. Ascending the Ohio, I came next to Martinsville, a new and promising village, where I consecrated a new church and confirmed six persons.

A day was also spent at Grove Creek, still higher up the Ohio, where I addressed the friends of the church on the sub- ject of building a house of worship, and received assurance that it should be done.

My next appointments were at Wellsburg on the Ohio, and St. John's in the vicinity. Two days were devoted to them. The last appointments were in Wheeling, where thirty persons were confirmed, six in the new church of St. John's and twenty-four in St. Matthew's.

Soon after my return home, I was called to consecrate the new church at Charlestown, Jefferson county, which had been rebuilt on the ruins of that which was burned a few

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years since. At that time also I confirmed nine persons. The speedy rebuilding of this church after the loss of one which had scarcely been consecrated before it was consumed by fire, shows what may be done by active zeal in a good cause. In the month of April of the present year. I entered again on duty, by visiting two congregations in Hampshire county. In one of them, that in Romney, I confirmed five persons."

From Bishop Johns' address: "July 29th. I preached at Martinsburg and confirmed seven persons. 30th and 31st. I was prevented by rain from reaching Hedgesville. August 1st. I preached at Smithfield and laid the corner stone of a new church, since completed. 2nd. I preached in the same church and admitted the Rev. Horace Stringfellow, Jr., and Rev. J. Campbell White to Priest's orders; the morning ser- vice was read by the Rev. D. F. Sprigg, the candidates were presented by the Rev. C. W. Andrews. 4th. I preached at Harper's Ferry and confirmed seventeen persons.

5th. I preached at Charlestown, and confirmed eleven per- sons. 17th. I preached at Hedgesville. 18th. I preached in the morning in the same church, and confirmed ten persons. At night after the sermon by the Rev. Mr. Sprigg, I addressed the congregation."

St. John's Parish, Pleasants county, and Ravenswood Par- ish, Jackson county, with the limits of the counties as boun- dary lines, were admitted into union with the Convention.

The Diocesan Missionary Society reported $290 paid to four missionaries in West Virginia.

Parochial Reports:

St. John's and Christ Church Parishes. Brooke County-Rev. W. L. Hyland. 40 communicants; 2 baptisms, and 12 com- municants. Resigned April 1, 1852. Succeeded by Rev. S. D. Tompkins, who has become the principal of the primary school lately established in Wellsburg, under the patronage and control of the church.

Wickliffe Parish-Rev. Joshua Peterkin reports: The Rev. W. D. Hanson still continnes his useful labors in the lower

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part of this parish, and is also actively engaged in minister- ' ing to the servants, and in missionary effort in a very desti- tute part of the Blue Ridge.

St. Paul's, Romney; Frankfort Church, Frankfort-Zion Church, Slanc's Cross Roads; and Bethel Church, Bethel Tal- ley, Hampshire Parish-Rev. Wm. N. Irish, Rector. Commun- icants removed 3; added 16; total 13; baptisms, infants 1; confirmations 5; marriages 2; collection for church objects $4.06.

Within the year past the above parish was revived under the auspices of the Valley Convocation, and at their sugges- tion, the present Rector assumed the charge of the same. The field at this time is peculiarly encouraging, and requires the undivided oversight of a minister. At the last visita- tion of Bishop Meade, five persons were confirmed, and three more were unable to receive the rite on account of inclement weather, which prevented the Bishop meeting one of his ap- pointments in this parish.

Christ Church, Norborne Farish, Grace Church, Middleway, and St. Bartholomew's Church, Lcctown -Rev. C. MeK. Calla- way, Rector-Communicants 41; baptisms 7; Sunday School teachers 8; scholars 30; contributions $62.18.

There are two new churches in the parish ready for con- secration.

Trinity Church, St. Andrew's Parish-Rev. C. W. Andrews, Rector-Communicants 62; baptisms 5; confirmed 5; Sun- day school teachers 7; scholars 42; contributions $300.

St. John's Church, Harper's Ferry-Rev. Horace Stringfel- low, Jr., Rector. Communicants 35; baptisms 3; confirmed 17; Sunday school teachers 12; scholars 62; contributions $82.65.

Zion Church, Charlestown-Rev. Dudley A. Tyng, Rector. Communicants 102; baptisms 21; confirmed 17; Sunday school teachers 15; scholars 115; contributions $580.28.

New church consecrated December 6, 1851. The congrega- tion has much increased and is prosperous in every way. Ar-

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rangements have been made for securing stated services once a fortnight, in that part of the parish which lies across the Shenandoah river, npon the slope of the Blue Ridge, by the Rev. Mr: Hanson of Kabletown. This will enable the Rector to transfer the labors, heretofore expended there, to the col- ored population.

Weston, Clarksburg and Morgantown-Samuel D. Tompkins, Missionary. Communicants 45, of which Morgantown 4; Fairmont 13; Clarksburg 7; Fellowsville 7; Buckhannon 4; Weston 10. Baptisms 15.

I have resigned the charge of St. Paul's Church, Weston, and also of all the missionary points here mentioned.

Trinity Parish, Marshall County- Rev. Wm. L. Hyland, Rec- tor. Communicants 14; baptisms 2: contributions $6.873. Postoffice, Grove Creek.

St. John's Church, Wheeling-James D. MeCabe, Rector. Communicants 62; baptisms 38; Sunday school teachers 14; scholars 65. Contributions $214.38.

The parish church was greatly injured by the recent heavy flood in the Ohio river, which laid a large part of our city under water, and destroyed a vast amount of property.

Through the pious activity of the congregation, the build- ing has been repaired at considerable expense. The children of the parish are regularly catechised.

St. Paul's Church, New Martinsville, Wetzel, Parish-Commu- nicants 9; confirmed 7; number of families 6. The undersign- ed is unable to make a regular and formal report from the parish, from causes beyond his control. Since the last con- vention, aided by the Rev. Wm. L. Hyland, (who has divided the service with him), he has supplied a regular service on Tuesday in each week, except during the last three months. The church erected during the past year by the efficient aid of the contributions from this city, was consecrated in No- vember last by the Bishop of the Diocese; at which time there were seven persons confirmed. The increase of paro- chial duties will, I fear, prevent the same attention to this

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promising parish. An active, self denying minister at this and one or two places in the vicinity, would find ample suc- cess in building up the church of Christ. The undersigned, during the month of March, by invitation, visited the town of Fairmont, in Marion county, where he held several public services, baptized one adult and one infant, and administered the Holy Communion to thirteen devout communicants. These Western fields are white to the harvest; but alas! the laborers are few.

James D. MeCabe. Rector St. John's Church, Wheeling.

Trinity Parish, Wood County-Rev. E. T. Perkins, Rector. Communicants 36; baptisms 12; confirmed 10; Sunday school teachers 7; scholars 40; contributions $105.

There have been two churches consecrated within the sphere of my ministry, since the last convention, and a third is nearly ready for consecration.

Summary for the whole Diocese: Communicants, 5,842; baptisms 858; (of which colored 149); confirmed 440: mar- riages 314; funerals 562; contributions to the cause of reli- gion and the church $32,980.

Convention of 1853. St. Matthew's, Wheeling, May 18.

The first convention held west of the Allegheny Mount- ains.

Bishop Johns presided. Bishop Meade absent, first time in the twenty-four years of his Episcopate (from sickness).

Two new names among the West Virginia clergy: Rev. James J. Page, Weston; Rev. John H. Kepler, Shepherds- town. Seven clergy from West Virginia, present.

Lay delegates: David Holmes Conrad, Trinity, Martins- burg; Henry Tallant, St. John's Church, Wheeling; Andrew P. Woods, St. Matthew's Church, Wheeling; William Pendle- ton, Norborne Parish, Berkeley county; Geo. W. Veasey, St. John's Church, Brooke county; Thomas Kirk, Christ Church, Parish, Brooke county; Burdett Fitzhugh, Ravenswood Par- ish, Jackson county; Isaac Hoge, Trinity Parish, Marshall county; Francis Thompson, St. Mark's Parish, Kanawha;

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Samuel Hommett, St. John's Parish, Pleasants county; Rob- ert J. McCandlish, St. Paul's Church, Weston.

From Bishop Meade's address: "In the month of August, I admitted the Rev. Mr. Hanson to Priest's orders. In the month of November visited the Churches in Jefferson and Berkeley. Spent two days at Harper's Ferry, confirmed four; the church being in part unpaid for, could not be consecrated; it is hoped the difficulty will soon be removed. Spent one day at Shepherdstown, confirmed eight; one day at Mar- tinsburg, confirmed five; one day at Hedgesville, confirmed three; one day at Back Creek; two days at Bunker Hill, con- secrated a new church, confirmed ten; one day at Leetown, in Jefferson county; two days at Smithfield, consecrated a new church and confirmed five persons.

From Bishop Johns' address: "April 24th. In the morning I preached in Clarksburg, and confirmed four. At night I preached in the same place. Having as yet no church build- ing in this village, we were kindly accommodated by our Presbyterian friends. 25th. I rode to Weston, and arrived in time for night service. I preached and confirmed eight. 27th. I preached at Fairmont in the Methodist Church. The last three places together with Buckhannon and Morgantown distant from each other about seventy miles, are now re- ceiving the services of the Rev. Mr. Page, and the Rev. R. Castleman, who are sustained in part by the Diocesan Mis- sionary Society, and officiate alternately at each of the sta- tions named.

At Weston, a church was consecrated some few years since. At Clarksburg means for erecting one have been pro- vided; and our friends at Fairmont are not without hopes of procuring a building of their own. Certainly the pros- pects, in this extensive missionary range are brightening, and I trust that the brethren who occupy this interesting field, will continue to receive the blessing of the Lord on their la- bors, and be privileged, in due time to report the establish- ment of several prosperous, and self-sustaining congregations.

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28th. I travelled seventy miles on the railroad to Mounds- ville, preached at night in the Presbyterian church and con- firmed three. The Rev. Mr. Hyland, who is also aided by the Diocesan Missionary Society, is preparing to erect a church at this place. Part of his time is given to New Martinsville, where he alternates with the Rev. James D. McCabe. 29th. Accompanied by the Rev. Mr. Hyland, I passed down the Ohio to Pleasants county, and the next morning consecrated St. John's Church, preached and confirmed two. The sentence of consecration was read by the Rector; morning service by the Rev. Mr. Hyland. May 1st. In the morning I preached in Trinity, Parkersburg, and united in the administration of the Lord's Supper. At night, after a sermon by the Rev. Mr. Hyland, I addressed the congregation, and confirmed six. 2nd. Was appropriated to Belleville, but the rector, for suf- ficient reasons, had changed the appointment, and at night, I again preached in Trinity Church, Parkersburg. 3rd. At night, after a sermon by the Rev. Mr. Perkins, who occasion- ally officiates there, I addressed the congregation.

4th. At the same place, I preached and assisted in the ad- ministration of the Lord's Supper. At night I again ad- dressed the congregation. 5th. At night I preached at Point Pleasant in the Presbyterian church, and confirmed one. 6th. Accompanied by the Rev. Mr. Perkins, I rode twenty-one miles to Buffalo, where I found a congregation assembled in the Methodist church, and the Rev. Mr. Brown conducting the morning service. I preached there, and in the afternoon rode twelve miles further, and at night crossed the Kanawha, and preached in the Court House at Winfield, the county town of Putnam. 'Sth. I preached in the morning in St. John's, Charleston, and confirmed two. At night after a sermon by the Rev. Mr. Perkins, I addressed the congregation. 9th. I preached at the Salines, in St. Luke's Church, and confirmed one. At night I again addressed the congregation at St. John's, Charleston, and confirmed two. 10th. Accompanied by the Rev. Mr. Brown, I rode to Coalsmouth and preached.

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My next appointment was at Teays Valley, but it was found unnecessary to fulfill it. The interesting congregation which I once met there having for some time been as sheep without a shepherd, had been so scattered, that then, there was no one to receive and circulate the notice which I had published. I was therefore, constrained to forego the ser- vice I had anticipated, and make my way to meet my next engagement which was in Wheeling. To be deeply impress- ed with the importance of zealously and liberally sustain- ing our Diocesan Missionary Society, and of frequent, fervent prayer, that the Lord of the Harvest would send forth more laborers, one need only travel the line along which I have thus passed, notice the lamentable destitution which prevails, and listen to the importunate entreaties of the many deprived of the ministrations of the Word, that we would send some to break to them and to their children the bread of life. The spectacle must affect the hearts and command the means of our more favored people, and must, one would think, lead many of the pious youth, who are aspiring to other profes- sions already crowded to suffocation, to consider the call and the claims of the ministry, and to utter from their hearts the self dedicatory prayer 'Lord, here am I; send me.'

From May 10th, until the morning of the 12th, I was occu- pied in passing from Coalsmouth to Wheeling, where I preached in St. John's Church, on the evening of the 13th. 15th. In the morning I preached in St. Matthew's Church, Wheeling, and confirmed seven. 16. At Wellsburg, I visited and addressed the pupils at Meade Institute. At night I preached in Christ Church and confirmed eleven. 17th I preached in St. John's, Brooke county, and confirmed seven.

Meade Institute, to which I have alluded, is incorporated, and under the direction of a board of trustees favorable to its being conducted on proper principles. They have received by deed from the trustees of Wellsburg Academy, two town lots, on one of which stands a commanding two story brick building, erected for a school house. In addition to this, more.

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than fifty acres of land, embracing several of the beautiful hills adjoining the town, have been conveyed to the board. On this tract there is a dwelling, occupied by the Rev. Mr. Tompkins, principal of the preparatory department, who in addition to his parish duties, is engaged in instructing twenty five pupils. On a most eligible and commanding site, near the dwelling of the principal, it is proposed to erect addi- tional buildings, for the accommodation of boarders and more advanced scholars. The Institution has commenced under hopeful circumstances, and, if managed with the wis- dom and prudence, so indispensable to success in such enter- prises, I trust it will be extensively felt for good through this western section of our Diocese, and receive a patronage pro- portioned to its value.

The Diocesan Missionary Society reports three mission- aries in West Virginia. Total receipts $2,487.50, of which seven West Virginia churches paid $60.00.

Contingent fund, total receipts $4,296.40, of which fifteen West Virginia churches paid $482.00. Eight churches in West Virginia reported delinquent.

Parishes and Churches in Western Virginia:

Berkeley county-Norborne Parish, Mt. Zion Church, Hedgesville, Rev. D. F. Sprigg.

Berkeley county-Norborne Parish, Trinity Church, Mar- tinsburg, Rev. D. F. Sprigg.

Berkeley county-Norborne Parish, Calvary Church, Back Creek, Rev. D. F. Sprigg.

Berkeley county-Norborne Parish, Christ Church, Bun- ker Hill, Rev. C. M. Callaway.

Brooke county-Christ Church Parish, Christ Church, Rev. S. D. Tompkins.

Brooke county-St. John's Parish, St. John's Church, Rev. S. D. Tompkins.

Hampshire county-Hampshire Parish, St. Paul's Church, Frankfort Church, and Zion Church, vacant.

Harrison county-Bethel Parish, Christ Church, Rev. R. A. Castleman.

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Jefferson county-St. Andrew's Parish, Zion Church, Charlestown, Rev. C. E. Ambler.

Jefferson county-St. Andrew's Parish, Trinity Church, Shepherdstown, Rev. C. W. Andrews.

Jefferson county-St. Andrew's Parish, St. John's Church, Harper's Ferry, Rev. J. H. Kepler.

Jefferson county-St. Andrew's Parish, St. Bartholomew's Church, Leetown, Rev. C. M. Callaway.

Kanawha county-Kanawha Parish, St. John's Church, Charleston, Rev. R. T. Brown.

Kanawha county-Kanawha Parish, St. Luke's Church, Salines, Rev. R. T. Brown.

Kanawha county-Kanawha Parish, St. Mark's Church, Coalsmouth, vacant.

Lewis county-St. Paul's Church, Weston, Rev. J. J. Page. Marshall county-Trinity Parish, Rev. W. L. Hyland.

Mason county-Bruce Chapel, vacant.

Mason county-Point Pleasant, vacant.

Ohio county-Wheeling Parish, St. Matthew's Church, Rev. Wm. Armstrong.

Ohio county-St. John's Parish, St. John's Church, Rev. J. D. McCabe, D. D.

Putnam county-St. Paul's Parish, Winfield Church, va- cant.

Putnam county-St. Paul's Parish, St. John's Church. va- cant.

Putnam county-St. Paul's Parish, Teays Valley Church, vacant.

Pleasants county-St. John's Parish, St. John's Church. Rev. E. T. Perkins.

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A history and record of the Protestant Episcopal church in the diocese of West Virginia, Part 12

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