A history and record of the Protestant Episcopal church in the diocese of West Virginia, Part 61

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 61

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).

Mr. Buchanan reports to the Council this year, two bap-

751

IN WEST VIRGINIA.

tisms, twelve communicants, one burial, and that seven hun- dred dollars had been pledged for the building of a church. The former building having been lost, through debt, some time before. In 1881, services were held once every two months. In March, the Bishop confirmed four. In May, a church plan was adopted, and in August the contract given for the building. In 1882, the church building was completed, at a cost of $865. The Bishop gave a very encouraging de- scription of the work in his report to the Council this year.

The chancel furniture, for the new building, was a present from the Rector, who asked the privilege of naming the new church; this was granted, and it was called "St. Anne's." The small debt having been paid, the Bishop came on the 26th of July to consecrate the edifice, bringing with him the Rev. Messrs. K. Nelson (of the Theological Seminary of Virginia); R. A. Gibson, (Rector of Trinity Church, Parkersburg) ; J. Brit. tingham and A. Buchanan. At this time the Rev. J. Britting- ham was placed in charge of the work. In 1883 the Bishop confirmed five persons. In July of this year Mr. Brittingham resigned to go to Clarksburg. The Rev. K. J. Hammond was his successor, and took charge the first Sunday in August. There was no break in the monthly service of this year, but in the carly part of 1884 the service had to be suspended be- cause of inclement weather and high water. The flood reach- ed the highest point ever before known in this town, coming nearly to the eaves of the church. Considerable damage was done, yet the building was thoroughly cleaned and ready for service the first Sunday in March. The Bishop paid a visit on the first Sunday in May and confirmed two persons. The first Easter Day service was held on the first Sunday in April, 1885, a few Lenten services being held on the days immedi- ately before and after the first Sunday in the month. In : February, 1886, the stove was removed to the cellar and con- verted into a hot-air furnace, adding much to the room and comfort of the church. The Rev. Mr. Hammond resigned in

752

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

June, 1888. Rev. J. R. Taylor was Mr. Hammond's successor. During his rectorship three persons were confirmed. Mr. Taylor was succeeded by the Rev. B. M. Spurr, who took charge in December of 1893. During his rectorship, which lasted two years, there were thirteen persons confirmed. He set on foot plans for the building of a rectory, and arranged a combine with St. Paul's Church, Sistersville, to which charge the Rev. R. U. Brooking was called February, 1895. Early in the summer of this year the rectory was begun, and was ready to be occupied by the first of September. The house is a very creditable building, costing nearly nineteen hundred dollars. The lot was given by Mr. S. R. Martin. When the building was completed the entire indebtedness was only four hundred dollars. "The Ladies' Aid" and "The Guild" set themselves to work to pay off this debt, and on Easter Sun- day, 1897, the debt was wiped out entirely. During the sum- mer of 1898 several rooms were papered, which added much to the beauty of the house.

The societies and congregation generally are now talking about a new church building, and there is a small sum already laid aside towards this improvement. Up to the time of this writing, there have been added seventeen, by confirmation, during Mr. Brooking's rectorship. The communion list now numbers forty.

March 1st, 1899.

R. U. BROOKING, Rector.

The present vestrymen (March 1st, 1899,) are: S. R. Mar- tin, Warden; Lester Williams, Registrar; S. Bruce Hall, Treasurer; Robert MeEldowney, Lindsay Merrill, William McG. Hall, John F. Martin. Sunday-school Superintendent, S. R. Martin.

Smithfield .- Attention was first called to Smithfield by con- tributions coming in (unasked) from that point for the mis- sions of the Church. The lumber interests was for a long time dominant, but a few years ago, oil was found in large quantities, and the building of the Short Line from Clarks-

REV. WILLIAM HULLIHEN BURKHARDT.

ST. PAUL'S, SISTERSVILLE.

RECTORY, NEW MARTINSVILLE.

ST. ANNE'S, NEW MARTINSVILLE.

753

IN WEST VIRGINIA.

burg to New Martinsville is rapidly developing this section. The Robinsons, who were so active in Mannington, having moved to near Smithfield, they, with a few other faithful members and friends of our Church, now make up quite a lit- tle band. It cannot be said that as yet they have even occa- sional services. The Bishop has visited them three times. We hope that they may be served from New Martinsville, even though very infrequently.

Wirt.

Wirt county was formed in 1848, and named for William Wirt. Square miles, 290. Population-1870, 4,804; 1880, 7,- 104; 1890, 9,269; 1900, 10,284.

Wirt County Mission, Elizabeth and Newark .- The first Epis- copal services held in this mission, the date of which is known were by the Rev. Robt. A. Gibson, Rector of Trinity church, Parkersburg, in September, 1880. Occasional services prior to these were held at Elizabeth, Burning Springs and adja- cent points by the Rev. S. D. Tompkins, the dates of which are unknown. Mr. Gibson made a second visit in this year, 1880, holding services at Elizabeth and Newark. The latter place had not had a service by an Episcopal clergyman for over thirty years. Two Episcopal families, Mr. Jos. W. Hale's and Mr. Leonard B. Bidwell's, settled on Newark (Flats) 1848. Rt. Rev. G. W. Peterkin made his first visit to the mission 1881, and confirmed two; also in 1882, April 23rd, and con- firmed two. From this time he made regular visits. The first regular monthly services were established by the Rev. J. F. Woods, in September, 1881, who is now in charge of the mis- sion, which has no church building and which in consequence of deaths and removals is so weak, as not to be entitled an organized mission-or mission in the full sense. Among the persons who have been connected with this mission are Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Hale, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Hale, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard B. Bidwell, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Bidwell, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Fleming, Mr. David Burns, Mr. and Mrs. Heer- mans, Dr. Shaw, and Miss Jossie Riddle.

J. F. WOODS.

754

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Wood.

Wood county was formed from Harrison in 1799, and was named for James Wood, the son of Col. James Wood, the founder of Winchester, Virginia. Square miles, 375. Popula- tion-1870, 19,000; 1880, 25,006; 1890, 27,992: 1900, 34,452.

Trinity Parish, Parkersburg .- The late Maj. A. T. Laidley, of Charleston, is authority for the statement that the Rev. Joseph Willard was the first elergyman who came to Parkers- burg. He came in the year 1814 as an agent of New York people, who owned lands in Virginia, and Ohio, and that it was his habit to give the people a service of the Church when- ever the opportunity offered. This statement seems to be borne out by the fact that subsequently when he went to Marietta, Ohio, he was the first clergyman to preach in a school house built by Israel Putnam in 1816. This brick school house had "a pulpit at one end of it, which also served as a reading desk."

The following record has been found in an old register in St. John's Parish, Charleston in Maj. Laidley's chirography:

Baptized, Summer of 1816. at Parkersburg: Alexander T. Laidley, Corrinne E. Laidley, James Madison Laidley. Par- ents, Jas. B. Laidley and Harriet B. Laidley. Sponsors, John Tyler, Mrs. Stephenson, widow of Edmund Stephenson.

The early work of the church here was done by missionar- ies, sent by the Bishop and Council of Virginia into Western Virginia. Visits to this place were made by the Revs. Wm. F. Lee, Chas. H. Page and Frederick D. Goodwin. The Rev. Mr. McMechen spent about a year in efforts to raise up a congregation here, during which he resided in Parkersburg. About the same time an attempt was made to unite the churches at Parkersburg and Marietta, under one minister and for a while the Rev. John T. Wheat, Rector of the church in the latter place, preached regularly in the former. The dates of these various visits and attempts seem to lie be- tween 1825 and 1840. At some time during the same period. probably, according to tradition, about 1832, the earliest ef-

755

IN WEST VIRGINIA.

fort to organize a parish was made by those interested. As the result of this or later efforts, some kind of organization was effected, through which in 1843, the Rev. Thos. Smith was called to the charge of the work. The first entry in his "par- ish register" reads thus: "1843, July 17. Call and accept- ance this day. Found but few friends, some interest and four communicants. Gen'l. Jackson, Mrs. Rathbone. John Taylor and Mrs. Murdock." This is the first official record of Trin- ity Parish, which appears to have been in the year (1843) reg- ularly organized and in the year following admitted into un- ion with the Convention of Virginia. Mr. Smith continued to reside here until his death, but was absent much of the time, preaching at other places over a wide territory and vis- iting points in the East in order to solicit funds for the erec- tion of a church here. The first recorded visit of a Bishop to this parish-probably the first ever made to this place-is entered thus in the " Register:"-" 1843, October 31st. This day Bishop Johns arrived in the village and remained with us, in company with Rev. Mr. Craik, until Monday. 6th of No- vember, preaching and exhorting every day to the great sat- isfaction of all and edification of the Church." During his visit, on November 4th. confirmations was administered in the Methodist Chapel, when six were confirmed, and on the same day one additional at home on account of illness.

Mr. Smith was so successful in his efforts to raise money that he felt justified in beginning the erection of a Church, of which the corner-stone was laid with appropriate ceremo- nies on July 11th, 1846. But he did not live to see the build- ing completed. In April, 1847, he died and was buried at his own request beneath the vestibule of the unfinished Church. The burial service was read by the Rev. E. Winthrop. Rector of St. Luke's, Marrietta.

Mr. Smith was succeeded by the Rev. E. T. Perkins, who came here on October 1st. 1847, a young deacon just from the Virginia Seminary. On October 11th occurs the following entry in the Register of the Parish: " Meeting of the Vestry

756

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

for the purpose of devising a plan for the completion of the Church, partially erected-and to elect a treasurer of the Vestry-and to have some understanding as to the amount of service to be performed by myself in this place and at Prible's Mills and Cow Creek respectively. Mr. C. J. Neal elected treasurer. The amount of salary contributed by the Parish, beside the apropriation from Missionary Society, $300. I consented to preach here three Sundays in each month, and at Prible's Mills or Cow Creek one Sunday- preaching also at one or the other of these places once dur- ing the week in each month." Mr. Perkins found thirty-six communicants. He immediately undertook the work of rais- ing funds for the completion of the Church. Within three weeks after his arrival here, he had started for Wheeling "to present the wants of our Church before the people of that place," and, several times during the next two years or a lit- tle more, we find entries of trips to the East with a similar purpose in view. The result of these efforts was that the building was at length completed. On May 12th, 1850, Trin- ity Church was opened for divine service. Prayers were read by Rev. Mr. Tompkins, of Weston. Lessons by Rev. J. D. McCabe, of Wheeling-Ante-communion by Rev. M. Tolford, of Marietta-and Communion service by Rev. E. T. Perkins, Rector of the Parish. The opening sermon was preached by the Rev. J. D. MeCabe from 2nd Tim. 1st chap. 13th verse. The Communion was then administered by the Rector, as- sisted by Rev. Mr. MeCabe.

On October 27, 1850, the Church was consecrated by Bishop Johns by the name of Trinity Church.

Meantime, on September 27, 1848, the first ordination ser- vice ever held in Parkersburg occurred, when the Rev. E. T. Perkins was ordained to the order of Priests, in the South- ern Methodist Church by Bishop Meade. "The sermon was preached by the Rev. Mr. Armstrong, of Wheeling, who with Rev. Mr. Tompkins, of Weston, united in the imposition of hands."

757

IN WEST VIRGINIA.

The reetorate of Dr. Perkins ended in October, 1853. After his departure, the parish remained vacant probably until the spring of 1857. During a small portion of this period the Rev. Henry I. Kershaw was here. He does not appear, how- ever, to have been Rector of the Parish.

It is probable that he came here in August, 1856, and re- lained about six months. He graduated at the Virginia Sem- inary in June of that year and was probably sent here, as a Deacon, to fill the vacancy temporarily. He had certainly left prior to June, 1857, for on the 7th of that month we find the Rev. Thomas K. Coleman already Rector and presenting to Bishop Meade a class for confirmation. Mr. Coleman re- mained in charge of the Parish for eighteen months. He was here on June 7, 1857, when the class just mentioned was confirmed, and also on October 24, 1858, when Bishop Johns confirmed another class. These two dates are nearly seven- teen months apart. He must, therefore, have become Rector shortly before the earlier date and have resigned shortly af- ter the latter.

Mr. Coleman was succeeded by Dr. Wm. L. Hyland, who came to the Parish in the spring of 1859.

Dr. Hyland's rectorate was the longest in the history of the Parish, lasting until June 1st, 1878, and thus covering a period of 19 years.

The Parish possesses an enduring and admirable monu- ment to Dr. Hyland's zeal in the commodious rectory, which during many years, furnished a comfortable home to himself and family, as it has done for the succeeding Rectors and their families. It was built about 1863 and constituted a most important addition to the efficiency of the Parish.

Another important movement, in which Dr. Hyland and the members of the Vestry, associated with him, were most active, was that, which resulted in the formation of the Dio- cese of West Virginia, to which this Parish has always wise- ly and generously contributed.

In the last year of Dr. Hyland's administration the old Church, in which for nearly thirty years the congregation

758

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

had worshipped, was torn down, to give place to the hand- some stone church now standing upon the same site, having been much enlarged and beautified, in the year 1898. The details of the erection of this building appear quite fully in the records. The Building Committee, appointed May 11, 1878, consisted of Mr. W. N. Chancellor, Mr. R. J. McCandlish, and Mr. H. H. Moss, and to these Mr. J. B. Neal was subse- quently added. The architect was Mr. A. C. Nash and the superintendent of construction Mr. A. F. Lang. Pending the erection of the Church, a call was extended to Rev. R. A. Gibson to become Rector, which was accepted and his rector- ate began October, 1878.

He entered upon his work with faith and courage and was wonderfully blessed and successful in it. He saw the church completed and consecrated on May 4, 1879. During his in- cumbency Trinity Hall was built under the supervision of a committee, consisting of Mr. W. N. Chancellor, Mr. G. W. Thompson, and Mr. W. Vrooman, with Mr. B. M. Ambler, as Treasurer of the building fund. This was in 1881, the hall being formally opened to the public on October 27.

In the latter part of his administration the Chapel at Tav- ennerville was built, chiefly through the exertions of one lady, a member of this Church, whose zeal and devotion contin- ues to be the chief instrument in the maintenance of the Sun- day School and services there-Mrs. Janet Tavenner.

It would scarcely be proper to omit mention of one event, occurring during Mr. Gibson's administration, which does not, indeed, pertain directly to the history of the Parish, but has exerted, and will continue to exert, a most beneficial in- fluence upon it. This was the erection of the Bishop's House in Parkersburg, which was completed in 1885.

When Mr. Gibson left the Parish in October, 1887, after a rectorate of nine years, he left a work, harmonious, well equipped, and well organized. He was succeeded by the Rev. S. Scollay Moore, who took charge of the parish on April 15, 1888. During his incumbency, three missions have been undertaken in this city and a chapel has been built at Wil-

759

IN WEST VIRGINIA.

liamstown. The Mission at the Memorial Chapel of the Good Shepherd, corner of Charles and William streets, was begun in 1891, the first service having been held on February 15, of that year. The lot with the Parish House now upon it was presented to the Parish, by Bishop and Mrs. Peterkin, as a memorial to their child, John Stewart Peterkin.

The Mission at the Light House was begun on December 26, 1892. It includes a coffee and reading room, a chapel where services are held during the week and on Sunday (and also a Sunday school) and some lodging rooms. Sometimes a kin- dergarten school is maintained. The Mission among the col- ored people on June 14th, 1896.

At all these points and at Tavennerville regular and quite frequent services are maintained.

Bishop Meade gives the names of twenty-four gentlemen, who had been up to the date, at which his account closes, about 1855, Vestrymen of the Parish.

The Registers now existing begin many years later-on June 8, 1874. Those, covering the interval, if any existed, seem to have been lost. We find in the later records an al- most entirely new list of Vestrymen. These are some of the new names: Judge Jno. J. Jackson, W. Vrooman, Henry Gill, C. M. Shrewsbury, R. J. McCandlish, W. T. Poole, A. F. Lang, T. Adams, J. N. Camden, W. P. Thompson, H. H. Moss, J. B. Jackson, B. M. Ambler, J. B. Neal, W. N. Chancel- lor, A. G. Jackson, Dr. Philip Burwell, G. W. Thompson, Dr. T. A. Harris, Dr. T. B. Camden, Simms Powell, W. W. Jack- son, C. S. Fewsmith, B. D. Spillman, Dr. W. H. Sharp, W. J. Robb, D. B. Burns, C. C. Martin and J. M. Jackson.

Within the past few years the church has been greatly beautified by several handsome memorial gifts, notably a carved walnut reredos, the gift of Mrs. Geo. W. Thompson in memory of Col. Geo. W. Thompson; an angel lectern of brass, the gift of Mrs. W. H. Smith, Jr., in memory of Gen- eral and Mrs. John J. Jackson, and a pipe organ of unusually fine tone and quality, built by the Votey Organ Company, of

760

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Detroit, Michigan, the gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Jackson in memory of Mr. and Mrs. John V. Rathbone. Before the organ was placed in position, the church was enlarged by an addition, which increased its seating capacity rather more than one-third.

Other handsome memorial gifts, now in use in the service of this parish, not strictly in the line of church ornamenta- tion, are an alms-basin, given by Bishop Peterkin in memory of Mr. R. J. McCandlish, and a Communion service, of silver, whose several pieces, were given by Mrs. M. E. Rathbone in memory of Mr. F. Vinton Rathbone, by Mrs. H. C. Jackson in memory of Mrs. Julia A. DeCamps, by Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Moffett in memory of their children, Robert Beale and Mar- garet Moffett, by Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Trevor, in memory of Miss Elizabeth Trevor, and by the King's Daughters of Trin- ity Church in memory of Miss Maude C. Dent, one of their number.

Belleville, Wood County .- The Rev. Dr. Perkins used to hold services at Belleville, and in his time there was a church there, but it was destroyed by fire, and owing to the removal and death of friends and members no attempt was ever made to restore the building.

Williamstown .- Probably the first communicant in this neighborhood was Mrs. Jane H. Henderson, wife of Alexander Henderson. This worthy couple were staunch Episcopalians. Mr. Henderson being a son of Alexander Henderson, Sr., who was a vestryman with George Washington, in the Church at Pohick. Mr. Henderson brought his bride (Miss Lithgoe,) to Western Virginia in 1801, but did not live in this neighbor- hood till some years later. For a few years, about 1818, he resided in Marietta, Ohio, being cashier of the Bank of Mari- etta; and we find both him and his wife mentioned in connec- tion with the Church work, and when in 1826, St. Luke's was organized, he became a vestryman, although again in his na- tive State, Virginia. In the "History of St. Luke's" we find that "Rain or shine, he always came to Marietta to the ser- vice on Sundays." He and his wife spent the latter years of

REV. S. SCOLLAY MOORE, D. D.

TRINITY RECTORY, PARKERSBURG.

RT. REV. ROBERT A. GIBSON, D. D.

TRINITY CHURCH, PARKERSBURG.

761

IN WEST VIRGINIA.

their lives a few miles below Williamstown, with an only child; George W. Henderson, whom they had reared to love the Church. There are several in Marietta as well as in our county, who will remember Mrs. Henderson as a tall, stately, cultured old lady, whom pioneer life never robbed of her cour- teous bearing. A most devout woman. Mrs. G. W. Hender- son. (formerly Elizabeth Ann Tomlinson) was confirmed in St. Luke's, 1835. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Henderson open- ed wide its doors to ministers, and thus they had the priv- ilege of giving cordial welcome to Bishops Meade, Johns, Whittle, and many clergymen; and later, during her widow- hood, Mrs. Henderson was cheered and strengthened by visits from Bishop Peterkin. However, we do not find that as yet there was any Episcopal service at Williamstown. In the rec- ords of St. Luke's among the burials by the Rev. C. L. F. Hoensel, 1839; we find within the short space of seventeen days there were laid to rest three children of G. W. Hender- son, in Virginia. A few days later the fourth child was bur- ied, and as a minister could not be procured, on account of the heavy flow of ice, it became the sad duty of the father to read the Burial Service. Among those present was the one child left to him, who is now Mrs. Mary P. Beeson, and who tells of this pathetic incident. Perhaps the first Episcopal service was the burial of A. Henderson in 1833, and except on such occasions, we find no record until 1857, or 1858. Mrs. G. W. Henderson having organized and equipped a Sunday school in the school room, afterwards removed it to the barn. At her request, the Rev. T. K. Coleman held occasional ser- vices. Frail health made it impossible for Mrs. Henderson to continue in this work, but her beautiful Christian life left its impress on many.

In 1850 there came to reside in the village Mrs. Hunter. This estimable lady was confirmed in Dungloe, Dunagal county, Ireland, in 1819, at the age of sixteen. A churchwo- man of strong personality, who gave to her children the pre- cious heritage of staunch Episcopal principles. In 1858 there came to the village J. W. Snodgrass, a man reared in the

762

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Church, but not at that time a communicant, however his bride, Eunice Hall, of Marietta, had been confirmed in 1854. The children of these three families received baptism, some in Parkersburg, others in Ohio.

In the Spring of 1872, Mr. D. Mckinney moved to the vil- lage, two daughters being communicants of St. John's, Pleas- ants county. Fannie Piatt, and Sarah Caroline (Sharp) the former is at this time the oldest communicant (in member- ship, not age,) among us. During the same spring Mr. E. Wilcox came here. His wife, as also his mother-in-law were communicants. Miss Fannie Mckinney writes:

"Through the agency of Mrs. Smith a devoted church-work. er, the services of Dr. W. L. Hyland, of Parkersburg, were occasionally procured." "Mrs. Smith organized a Sunday school in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, during the summer of 1874, herself superintending the same." This fam- ily removed in 1877, however, "Grandma Smith" left many marks of her earnest, zealous work. As the years passed on there were occasional services held by Messrs. Hyland. Tomp- kins, Woods, Brittingham, Gibson, Bishop Whittle preaching once in the summer of 1874.

Bishop Peterkin first preached here Wednesday, August 6, 1879. First confirmation service, November 11, 1883.

In October, 1887, B. T. Beeson, came to reside here. Two daughters, Georgia H. and Mary Winifrede were communi- cants of Trinity, Parkersburg.

On May 29, 1888, Mrs. E. A. Henderson died, bequeathing to the church one lot in Williamstown and $1,000.

In the autumn of 1889 the Bishop arranged to give us more frequent services. Rev. J. R. Taylor coming for one Sunday service each month. We think he preached first in January, 1890. He is especially remembered for his sympa- thy with, his kindness to the sick, and his love for children. Then in May, Rev. John Ambler came; (we believe he had pre- viously made a visit in October, 1899). He came for some months. We can not speak too highly of this noble old man whom everyone loved. Afterwards, beginning in 1891, Rev.

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 61

Author: Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: