A history and record of the Protestant Episcopal church in the diocese of West Virginia, Part 57

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages:

USA > West Virginia > A history and record of the Protestant Episcopal church in the diocese of West Virginia > Part 57

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

REV. CHARLES C. PEARSON.

ST. MARKS, BERKELEY SPRINGS.

RECTORY, BERKELEY. SPRINGS.

697

IN WEST VIRGINIA.

fory, which was completed two years later, and on the last Sunday in August, 1894. announcement was made from the chancel that a mortgage, which had been placed on the rec- torv, for $900, had been canceled, Mrs. E. M. Breese supple- menting the amount which had been raised by offertory, by the gift of $500, in loving memory of her mother.

Two years later Mr. Leavell gave up this work and devoted his time to his parish, in Hedgesville, where he lived, and was followed by Rev. C. C. Pearson, who took charge April 1st, 1896. For two years after, the Church continued to prosper, by being sustained, to a considerable extent, with offerings from summer visitors, but since the burning of the large hotel, in February, 1898, and the destruction, by fire, also, of the "Fairfax Inn," July, 1901, the number of visitors has greatly diminished, to the detriment of the financial interest of the Church. Both the hotels named, now destroyed, stood as souvenirs of the past. The large one was built nearly sixty years ago, and was a popular resort for more than half of the past century,-the other, not only for the whole of the cen- tury past, but for a part of the preceding one, being built, it is said, in 1790.

At the time of this writing, August, 1901, there is no hotel accommodations in the old town of Bath. Plans are, how- ever, on foot to rebuild the "Fairfax Inn," this autumn and winter, and also to supplement the other with quite a large and costly one.

Nicholas.

Nicholas county was formed from Greenbrier, 1818, and was named for Wilson Cary Nicholas, Governor of Virginia, 1810. Square miles, 720. Population-1870, 4,458; 1880, 7,223; 1890, 9,298; 1900, 11,403.

Bishop Peterkin visited Nicholas in August, 1887, holding one service.

698

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Ohio.

Ohio county was formed from West Augusta, in 1776. In 1785, on the adoption of Mason and Dixon's line, Virginia lost nearly the entire area of Youghiogheny county, and the re- mainder was annexed to Ohio county. Square miles, 120. Population-1870, 28,831; 1880, 37,457; 1890, 41,365; 1900,.48,- 024.

St. Matthew's Church, Wheeling .- "The Rev. Joseph Dod- dridge was the first Episcopal minister, it is believed, who officiated in Wheeling. Residing in Wellsburg, he occasionally visited the few Church families then in Wheeling."-From Bishop Meade.

In 1816-'17 Bishop Chase, of Ohio, uncle of the late Chief Justice Chase, at the request of Mr. JJohn Carter, a merchant of St. Clairsville, held service in the old court-house in Wheel- ing. There was a good attendance, and, as was the custom of the Bishop, he instructed the congregation in the use of the Prayer Book and particularly in the responses. Daniel Peck led in the singing of the hymns. After the services the Bishop entertained Mr. Peck and others of the citizens of Wheeling. On this occasion, he told of his recent visit to England, when Lord Kenyon, Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench, had subscribed to the establishment of the present Kenyon College.

The result of Bishop Chase's visit perhaps was the organi- zation of a parish "in the borough of Wheeling. W. Va .. " under the title of St. Matthew's Church, Wheeling. The per- sons composing the first congregation were as follows: Sam- nel H. Chapline, John Armstrong, Jr., William L. Good, Wil- liam Gray, Thomas H. Armstrong, Joshua Norton, John Good, William Perrine, Richard Simms, Patrick Ray, John C. Wil- liams, Joshua Chapline, William Chapline, Jr., Philip Bier, Southmayd Scorie, Thomas M. Coates, Charles D. Knox, John M. Smith, Robert C. Thompson, Moses Shepherd, Moses W.

699

IN WEST VIRGINIA.

Chapline, Hus. Thornburg, John Eoff, Samuel Chamberlain, Joseph Wilson, Jr.

Attest:

THOMAS H. ARMSTRONG.

The date of the above instrument is May 11, 1819.

On May 11, 1819, a vestry was elected at the first parish meeting to hold office until Easter Monday following: John Good and Richard Simms, Church Wardens; William Chap- line, Jr., S. Scovil and John C. Williams, vestrymen.

The Rev. John Armstrong, of Frederick, Maryland. was chosen Rector and entered upon his duties at some time im- mediately prior to December 23d, 1820. Mr. Armstrong's sal- ary was set at the munificent sum of $100 per annum.

During the first year services were held in the old court- house, where the Rev. Mr. Doddridge had officiated, and which stood on Main street, where Tenth street now intersects.

On February 2, 1821, commissioners were appointed to make arrangements for the building of a church. Mr. Noah Zane offered the choice of several lots, and a lot on Market street opposite the present market-house was selected as the building site. On May 9, 1821, the corner-stone of St. Mat- thew's Church was laid by the Order of Masons. The Rev. Mr. Armstrong preached a sermon, and the Rev. Dr. Dod- dridge delivered an address. The church was built of brick, having a tower and bell. It is remembered as containing a gallery on three sides and a very high pulpit. Much of the money for this church building was contributed by the people of Wheeling, but a considerable portion was raised by Mr. Armstrong in Philadelphia some years later. After seven years of devoted service, Mr. Armstrong came to his end through heart trouble, incurred while crossing the mountains in his own conveyance for the purpose of raising the money for the debt. Mr. Armstrong was buried in the church for which he had labored so faithfully. At the building of the new church his remains were removed to it.

During the incumbency of Mr. Armstrong, Bishop White, of Pennsylvania, visited St. Matthew's, administered the rite

700

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

of confirmation in the Market-street building, which he conse- crated, as Bishop Moore, of Virginia, was too infirm to cross the mountains. Mr. Armstrong was accustomed to preach every fourth Sunday in the month, at St. John's Church, Brooke county, and occasionally preached at St. Clairsville, where he eventually built a church.

After the death of the Rev. John Armstrong, his son, the Rev. William Armstrong, then the Rector of Zion Church, Frederick county, Maryland, was elected to succeed him. Mr. Armstrong declined the call, but recommended the Rev. Thos. Wheat, who was chosen to fill the vacancy. In 1832, Mr. Wheat resigned, and Mr. Armstrong being again elected, ac- cepted the call.

The congregation so increased under his care, that it be- came necessary to build a larger church. In 1836 the church site, which had greatly increased in value, was sold and a new site, where the Fort Henry Club now stands, was purchased. For a short time, services were held in the brick building which stood upon this lot. Bishop McIlvaine, of Ohio, at one time preaching here while visiting Wheeling.

But the lot did not prove satisfactory, by reason of its prox- imity to the other churches. It was, therefore, sold for $7,600 and the lot on the corner of Byron and Twelfth streets pur- chased.

The church built upon this lot was consecrated by Bishop Meade, October 26, 1837. Mrs. Ann Davison, speaking of the occasion, writes: "The Bishop forgot to bring his robes with him, much to everybody's dismay, and all the ladies hinted that 'he needed a wife.' Elizabeth Armstrong and I made something with flowing sleeves, which answered the purpose." Mrs. Davison continues: "The Bishop was very much beloved and his visits were great events."

Throughout Mr. Armstrong's administration there was a large and flourishing Sunday-school, under the superintend- ence of his brother-in-law, Mr. John F. Clarke. In 1853, the Rev. Mr. Perkins was appointed assistant to the Rev. Mr.

701

IN WEST VIRGINIA.

Armstrong. In the following year, Mr. Armstrong resigned. The vestry and congregation were so unwilling to part with one who had so faithfully served them for nearly a quarter of a century, that earnest efforts were made to prevent his re- moval from Wheeling, and had he consented, provision would have been made for his support without the performance of his usual ministerial services. But he felt it his duty to re- turn and spend his remaining days in a small parish in Mary- land, where he had served during the first thirteen years of his ministry.

The Rev. E. T. Perkins succeeded Mr. Armstrong. Under his aggressive and earnest leadership, the church building soon became inadequate to the needs of the congregation. Many persons were unable to obtain pews. So, on July 13, 1858, a committee of the vestry was appointed "to inquire and report at their earliest convenience as to the expedieney of providing an adequate place in the city to be devoted to the publie religious worship" of the Church.

On September 2, 1858, the committee reported the time in- expedient, stating that it would seem impossible to raise the necessary funds to accomplish this end. Many of those who were unable to obtain pews preferred to continue at St. Mat- thew's without a regular sitting. The Rector, therefore, on September 27, presented a plan of alteration on the interior of the church by which ten additional pews might be obtain- ed. This plan was adopted and executed.

On May 30, 1859, Mr. Perkins read to the vestry a letter "from a friend in (Eastern) Virginia," giving him authority to draw on him for the sum of from $500 to $700 for the purpose of defraying the expense of sending an evangelistie mission- ary into Western Virginia. The donor expressed the wish that, if convenient, the Rector should open the work in per- son.

To the purport of this letter the vestry assented, on the condition that the rectorship should be filled during the in- terim by an acceptable assistant, who should not be charge-

702

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

able to the vestry. In December of the same year, the Rector reported to the vestry that he had devoted some three weeks to this itinerant service in Northwestern Virginia.

In the spring of 1860, the congregation was found alto- gether too large for the capacity of the church, and further plans were instituted for rebuilding, but as this plan did not meet the approval of the congregation, the whole matter of church extension was laid on the table.

At the outbreak of the Civil War Dr. Perkins severed his connection with the parish. This separation was brought about in a most happy manner, and it is only fitting to record that, had it not been for the wisdom and Christian courtesy of Dr. Perkins, the parish might easily at this time have been seriously disabled through divisions occasioned by party feel- ing.

Mr. Perkins was succeeded by his brother-in-law, the Rev. Thomas G. Addison, on December 15, 1861.

Dr. Addison's first sermon has never been forgotten by those who heard it. The text was from I. Cor. 2: 2: "For I determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified." From the spirit of this text Dr. Addison never wavered throughout his ministry during this trying period.

Notwithstanding the war, the Church continued to thrive under Dr. Addison's care and several matters of special in- terest occurred during his incumbency.

In 1863, Bishop Bedell, of Ohio, was invited by the vestry to administer the rite of confirmation, inasmuch as it was im- possible for Bishop Johns to do so. This he did, but Bishop Johns regarded it as a breach of Episcopal courtesy, since his consent had not been asked. The matter assumed national importance and was one of the factors which led up to the change of Article IV., of the Constitution in 1874, which con- stitutionally prohibits a similar repetition.

In the fall of 1863 it was decided that a new church must be erected, and on February 22, 1864, ten persons gave $500

703

IN WEST VIRGINIA.

each for the purchase of a new site. The same spring the con- gregation of St. John's parish being without a Rector or church, the vestry of St. Matthew's extended to them a cor- dial invitation to accept seats in St. Matthew's "until such time as they should provide otherwise for themselves," whichi invitation was cordially accepted.

On March 13, 1866, the sale of the old church was consum- mated for the sum of $8,000, which was offered by the Baptist Society.

The Cotts lots proving unsatisfactory, the two lots on which the present Church and Rectory now stand were bought of Mr. Henry K. List for the sum of $5.000, and the corner-stone of the Church was laid with appropriate cere- monies on November 1, 1866. The address upon this occa- sion was delivered by the Rev. Charles Gillett, of Ohio.

The Rev. Mr. Addison tendered his resignation to the ves- try of the parish on April S, 1867. It was accepted with great regret and Mr. Addison left with the love and esteem of all to whom he had ministered so faithfully for nearly five years.

It is here fitting to make mention of Mr. John Harrison, who for so many years served so faithfully the Mission Sun- day-school. We find a minute of the vestry dated October 6, 1861, expressing a vote of thanks to him for his zeal and labors. He continued as superintendent, much beloved, until his sudden death, in 1870.

A minute of the vestry, dated January 29, 1868, reads as follows:

"Resolved, That Mr. McAfee be appointed a committee to go to Louisville and see if Bishop Whittle will locate here, provided we raise $1,000 per annum for him." In conformity with this resolution, Mr. McAfee went to Louisville, but was unable to persuade the Bishop-elect to come to Wheeling. This minute is interesting, as showing the spirit of the north- western portion of Virginia and the relationship which this section at that time desired to maintain with the eastern por- tion of the State, in Church matters. The Church was still a

704

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

unit, notwithstanding the bitter partisanship during the years immediately preceding.

The following clipping, from the Churchman, may well come in here:

Wheeling, W. Va .- Sunday, February 1st, 1868, the new church erected by St. Matthew's Parish was opened for Divine service. It is a fine stone church of the Gothic order, seating between six and seven hundred. It has cost about sixty thou- sand dollars. The parish is without a Rector, and has been so for nearly a year.

Work on the beautiful church for St. John's Parish has been suspended during the winter. The congregation was much disappointed in not getting into it for Christmas, as was ex- pected. It is hoped that early in the summer, it will be com- pleted. The Rector, (the Rev. William B. Morrow), is doing earnest work in the parish, and will, no doubt, when the new church is occupied, find such a congregation as will leave but little room to spare within its walls. The Church here in the western section of this great Diocese is not a "great power in the land," but, rather, the reverse. The parishes are wide- ly scattered, and not strong in numbers. It is, in fact, splen- did missionary ground all through these mountains. In this city, too, where for more than half a century the Church has been established, there are but two parishes. There should be four at this time, if not more.

The Rev. C. George Currie accepted a call to succeed Dr. Addison and arrived to undertake his pastorate in March, 1868. Dr. Currie pressed with vigor the work of building the new church which was designed by Mr. Lloyd, of Detroit. Ser- vices were held in the meanwhile at Union Hall, in which Dr. Currie preached, as he always did, to large congregations.

On November 6, 1870, the Rev. Mr. Tongue was called as assistant Rector, which position he accepted, remaining until August 8, 1871. On December 27, 1870, Dr. Currie resigned and was succeeded by the Rev. James AA. Latane, from Staun- ton, Virginia, on May 24th, of the following year. Dr. La-

ST. MATTHEW'S, WHEELING.

REV. DAVID W. HOWARD.

ST. MATTHEW'S, WHEELING.

705

IN WEST VIRGINIA.

tane's pastorate was memorialized by the completion of the church at an expense of $5,000 for the lots. $65,862.28 for church and appointments; total, $70,862.28, July 1, 1871.

A debt of nearly $10,000 still remained, making the total cost over $80,000. On Jannary 16, 1874, Mr. Latane tendered his resignation to the vestry, accompanying his resignation with a letter, stating at length his reasons for defection from the ministry of the Church, to join the movement of Bishop Cumming, known as the Reformed Episcopal Church

Mr. Latane's resignation was reluctantly accepted by the vestry, with the assurance that in the severing of their rela- tions with their late beloved pastor, they were constrained to bear testimony to his fidelity and ability in the discharge of all his duties.

On June 6, 1874, the Rev. J. G. Armstrong, of Hannibal, Mo., was called to the rectorship of the parish. He entered upon the duties of office August 1, 1874.

In the early spring of 1876, a mission chapel was built upon the island, at a cost of $980.91. The wisdom of this attempt at expansion has now visible proof in the strong and vigorous parish of St. Luke's. Soon after the mission was built a min- ute of the vestry records a resolution to the effect that if at any time the people of the island should wish to apply for a separate parish they might possess this property upon the payment of the principal sum. This was thereafter done.

Diocesan matters of importance were now occupying the attention of St. Matthew's people. On April 4th, 1876. the Right Rev. John Johns. D. D., who had been Bishop in the Church of Virginia for thirty-four years and Diocesan for fourteen years, "entered into life." His departure was deep- ly felt, not only within his own Diocese, in which he labored so devotedly and successfully, but throughout the general Church.

The necessity for a division of the Diocese had long been seen. There had been several attempts to bring such a divis-

706

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

ion to pass, but each attempt had seemed to be inopportune. The death of Bishop Johns, throwing, as it did, the whole work upon Bishop Whittle, furnished the occasion for the division, and accordingly on April 18th, 1877, a meeting of the Parochial delegates was called at Parkersburg, West Vir- ginia.

Provision for the support of the new Bishop taxed the new jurisdiction to its utmost. The delegates from St. Matthew's pledged the parish for $600 a year, looking forward to a time in the near future when the Church in West Virginia would so increase that this pledge could be reduced. The Church has grown, as was expected, but the needs have grown pro- portionately with the work, so that it has been necessary to contribute this sum up to the present day.

The Rev. J. G. Armstrong resigned his rectorship of this parish April 11, 1878, to accept a call to Monumental Church, Richmond, Virginia, but at the request of the vestry he re- mained until after the consecration of Bishop Peterkin, which was to take place in St. Matthew's Church on May 30th, 1878, that day being Ascension Day.

The consecration took place, as appointed. Never before, and never since, has St. Matthew's been favored with such an array of dignitaries. The consecrator was the venerable Bishop of Ohio, Dr. Bedell, of precious memory, and the preacher the great and eloquent Bishop of Kentucky, Dr. Dudley. Three other Bishops assisted in the consecration- Bishop Whittle, of Virginia; Bishop Kerfoot, of Pittsburg, and Bishop Jagger, of Southern Ohio. Of the number three are still alive, after an interval of twenty-one years, to testify to the excellence of the work they that day accomplished.

The summer of 1878 in some respects marked the lowest ebb of St. Matthew's Church during these latter years. The large numbers who hung upon Mr. Armstrong's preaching had not connected themselves with the Church. These drifted

707

IN WEST VIRGINIA.

elsewhere. A large debt of $20,000 embarrassed the congre- gation and the whole prospect was far from bright.

On October 2, 1878, the Rev. R. R. Swope, of Cleveland, Ohio, was called to the rectorship and he entered upon his duties November 1st of the same year. A plan for reducing the debt was at once undertaken. Twenty-year coupon bonds (4 per cent) were issued, redeemable at the pleasure of the vestry. The plan was an assured success from the start, $5,290 worth of bonds being laid upon the plate in 1879 and $3,060 worth in 1880. By the fall of 1888 the entire debt upon the church had been canceled, so that it was ready for conse- cration.

Arrangements were made for the long-hoped-for ceremony, and on November 1, 18SS, All Saints' Day, the church was con- secrated to the worship of Almighty God. The Rev. Thomas G. Addison, D. D., of Washington, D. C., who laid the founda- tion stone of the building during his incumbency, was present and preached the sermon.

With the debt extinguished, Dr. Swope turned his atten- tion to the expansion of the work.

On November 29, 1880, six years after the mission church on the island was built, the vestry gave consent to its erection as an independent parish. Notwithstanding the loss of sev- eral of the strongest supporters of the old Church, resulting from the organization of this mission, St. Matthew's was still animated with the missionary spirit, and in 1892 aided in the erection of a church at Elm Grove, for which a debt of $1,300 was incurred.

On February 2, 1894, a lot and building in the Eighth ward were purchased for $3,060, to be known as St. Andrew's Mis- sion. This missionary venture, however, was purely personal, having been undertaken by Dr. Swope and Mr. Lawrence Sands, of St. Luke's, with the co-operation of the Bishop. St. Matthew's has, however, ever since contributed to its support.

During the summer of 1894, some needed improvements

708

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

were made in St. Matthew's. The chancel was altered, the organ replaced and the church kalsomined. Adequate provis- ion had not been made for these necessary expenses. The rectory was still encumbered with a debt of $5,400 and $1,000 had been borrowed to meet the Diocesan obligations, so that the outstanding debt of the parish was in the neighborhood of $11,000.

On September 3, 1894, there was a full discussion of the finances of the parish, at which time the trustees were au- thorized to negotiate a loan of $5,000 to provide for the cur- rent indebtedness, which loan was to be secured by a mort- gage on church property.

On March 17, 1897. Dr. Swope resigned the parish to accept a call to All Souls Church, Biltmore, North Carolina. The ties which must be formed in a successful pastorate of eighteen years are not quickly broken, if ever. Dr. Swope will never be forgotten. He was a leader in the Councils of the Diocese, a preacher of rare power, a man of strong person- ality, and, though St. Matthew's was weakened by the several drains upon her membership, he left the Church far stronger than when he became its Rector. May his ministrations be ever as useful as they were here.

The Rev. Nathaniel Seymour Thomas, of St. Paul's Church, Leavenworth, Kansas, succeeded Dr. Swope and entered upon his duties as Rector of the parish on October 31, 1897.

Mr. Thomas quickly won the love of all, and infused new life into the Church and into the various societies for Church work, and many new members were added. With the idea of assisting Mr. Thomas to enlarge the work, the Rev Henry L. A. Fick was called, June, 1899, as assistant Rector of St. Matthew's Parish. He remained until November, 1899, when he went to Oklahoma Territory, upon Mr. Thomas' accepting a cali to the Church of the Holy Apostles, Philadelphia. Mr. Thomas left Wheeling, to the great regret of the Church and the Diocese. In JJanuary, 1900, the Rev. David W. Howard succeeded him.

709

IN WEST VIRGINIA.

List of Wardens and Vestrymen of St. Matthew's Church.

Names.

Years Ves- Years tryman. Warden.

John Good

Richard Simmts

Wm. Chapline, Jr

S. Scovil

J. C. William

Noah Zane .. 6

Judge Alex. Caldwell 19

Joseph Caldwell 13

Win. Chapline, Sr ..

Josialı Chapline

Eli B. Swearingen

Moses Shepherd

Richard Lane

l'eter Yarnell

Patrick Ray

James Tanner

Edmund 1. Lee, Jr

Dr. JJoshua Morton

Major Moses C. Good

Wade H. Heiskell

John F. Clark

Zedekiah B. Curtis

Frank Bassett

Morgan Nelson

W. J. Selby

Hiram D. Brown 25 20

WV. D. Atterbury 4

John Robinson 13

Samuel Neil

Alfred Richardson 2

Andrew P. Woods

J. L. Newby 2

Alex. T. Laidley

710

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Names.

Years Ves- Years tryman. Warden.

J. R. Greer 14

W. K. Lindsay

George Armstrong 15

Robert C. Woods S

Hon. Sobieski Brady.

46 7

R. C. Bonham

Geo. C. Tingle 6

Dr. E. A. Hildreth S

A. Allan Howell 2

N. Pigman 2

Judge G. W. Thompson 11

James McCluny 16

James H. McMechen

George Adams

John G. Chandler

T. C. McAfee

S. P. Hildreth

L. S. Delaplain

Alonzo Loring

John M. McLure, Jr

James Maxwell

1 mo.

A. C. Quarrier 2

Thos. Hughes 2

A. J. Cecil. 7

L. W. Stocton

*J. D. DuBois

O. C. Dewey 11

James P. Rogers 5

*J. D. Culbertson 19

Lucius Hoge 5

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A history and record of the Protestant Episcopal church in the diocese of West Virginia, Part 57

Author: Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: