Early Clergy of Pennsylvania and Delaware, S. F. Hotchkin, 1890 - Chapter 6, Succession of Clergy in Gloria Dei Church Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja and Sally Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ________________________________________________ EARLY CLERGY OF PENNSYLVANIA AND DELAWARE. BY REV. S. F. HOTCHKIN, M.A. Author of The Mornings of the Bible, History of Germantown, &c. P. W. ZIEGLER & CO., PUBLISHERS, NO. 720 CHESTNUT STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA. 1890 Copyright, 1890, by Rev. S. F. Hotchkin. NOTE: Use URL: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/1pa/1picts/hotchkin/early-clergy.htm to access other chapters. SUCCESSION OF CLERGY IN GLORIA DEI CHURCH. 65 CHAPTER VI. SUCCESSION OF CLERGY IN GLORIA DEI CHURCH. REV. JOHN LEADENHAM, assisted Dr. Clay before his death for some time, and became rector in A.D., 1863, after the doctor's demise, and held the position until 1865. Rev. John S. Reed was rector from 1865 to 1868. On December 13th, 1868, Rev. Snyder B. Simes became the fifteenth rector of this church, and now (1890) continues in the rectorship. See Rev. Dr. Reynold's note Acrelius's "New Sweden," pp. 261-262. ASSISTANT MINISTERS. Rev. Charles Lute was appointed assistant to Rev. Andreas Georgeson in 1774. Rev. Joseph Clarkson was first assistant to Dr. Collin from 1787 to 1792. I suppose him to be the grandfather of Bishop Clarkson. Rev. Slator Clay was assistant in 1792, officiating monthly at Upper Merion (Bridgeport) and on fifth Sundays in the month at Kingsessing. He gave a part of his time to the Swedes, but served them until he died, in 1821. He was Rev. Dr. Clay's father. Rev. Joseph Turner, Rev. Dr. Prof. Samuel H. Turner's father, began work as one of the assistants in 1792, and held the place many years. Rev. J. C. Clay, in 1813, soon after ordination, was assistant for a year, and then accepted a call to St. John's Church at Norristown and St. Luke's, Germantown. From 1816 to 1820 Rev. James Wiltbank was assistant minister. In 1820 Rev. M. B. Roche acted as assistant SUCCESSION OF CLERGY IN GLORIA DEI CHURCH. 66 minister to the Swedes for six months. In 1822 Rev. J. C. Clay again became minister for Upper Merion (Christ Church,) still holding St. John's Church, Norristown, and St. James's Church, Perkiomen. He also officiated every fifth Sunday in the month at Kingsessing (St. James's). He continued to fill this station until called, in 1831, to the rectorship of Gloria Dei. In 1817 Dr. Clay had charge of the church and the academy in Newbern, North Carolina. In the four succeeding years the church at Hagerstown, Maryland, was under his care, when his father died, and he received a call to his father's church at Perkiomen, and was called a second time to Norristown. In 1822 Rev. Charles M. Depuy became assistant for Wicacoa and Kingsessing, continuing to act in this capacity until 1828. Rev. Pierce Connelly succeeded him, officiating chiefly at Kingsessing, though a portion of the time at Wicacoa, till the close of the year 1831, when he accepted a call to Natchez, Mississippi. Rev. Raymond A. Henderson was assistant to Rev. J. C. Clay in 1832, continuing in the churches until the close of 1834, when he was called to the French Protestant Church in New Orleans. Rev. John Reynolds assisted one year in Upper Merion. He received his appointment about the same time with Mr. Henderson. Rev. William Diehl and Rev. Samuel C. Brinckle succeeded these two clergymen as assistants, and so remained until the separation of the parishes. See "Clay's Annals of the Swedes," pp. 177-179, and note on p. 178. Rev. Isaac Martin, M.D., is at present the assistant of Rev. Snyder B. Simes. THE RECTORS OF KINGSESSING since Dr. Clay are: Rev. S. C. Brinckle from A.D., 1842 to 1848; Rev. J. Brinton Smith from 18-- to 1856; Rev. Charles A. Maison, D.D., from May 1st, 1857, to the present time. Dr. TRINITY CHURCH, WILMINGTON. (By permission of T. P. Chandler, Jr., Architect.) SUCCESSION OF CLERGY IN GLORIA DEI CHURCH. 67 Maison communicated important information to Dr. Reynolds as to parish history, which may be found on p. 349 of Acrelius's "New Sweden." THE RECTORS OF CHRIST CHURCH, UPPER MERION, since its organization have been: Rev. Edwin L. Lightner from 1844 to 1855; Rev. William Henry Rees, D.D., from 1855 to 1861; Rev. Thomas S. Yocum from 1861 to 1870; Rev. Octavius Perinchief from 1870 to 1873; Rev. Edward A. Warriner, elected in September, 1873. See "New Sweden," p. 350. George W. Holstein, then secretary of the vestry, a descendant of M. Holstein, one of the first Swedish settlers, gave Dr. Reynolds the above information. The clergy of this parish have a seat in Convention, but the laity are not members of that body. The Rev. A. A. Marple is now the rector, having succeeded the Rev. Mr. Warriner. TRINITY CHURCH, WILMINGTON, DELAWARE. - Rectors succeeding Rev. Lawrence Girelius, the last pastor under the Swedish Mission: The Rev. Joseph Clarkson officiated from 1792 to 1799; Rev. William Pryce from 1800 to 1802; Rev. William Wickes from 1814 to 1817; Rev. Levi Bull, D.D., from 1818 to 1819; Rev. Richard D. Hall from 1819 to 1822; Rev. Pierce Connelly from 1827 to 1828; Rev. Isaac Pardee from 1828 to 1835; Rev. Hiram Adams from 1835 to 1838; Rev. J. W. McCullough, D.D., from 1838 to 1847; Rev. E. M. Van Deusen, D.D., from 1848 to 1852; Rev. Charles Breck, D.D., from 1853 to 1870; Rev. William J. Frost, D.D., from 1871 to --. See Acrelius, p. 313, note. I have not further dates; but Rev. Henry B. Martin, M.D., succeeded Dr. Frost, and Rev. H. Ashton Henry was the next rector, and is now in charge of the parish. Robert Shaw has made a beautiful drawing of Old Swedes' Church. It has a foreign look and is rustic in SUCCESSION OF CLERGY IN GLORIA DEI CHURCH. 68 its city surroundings. The entrance gate is picturesque and the graveyard has a new interest as the burial-place of Bishop Lee, Delaware's first bishop. Dr. Horace Burr has written a work entitled "Records of Holy Trinity (Old Swedes') Church, Wilmington," which he is now putting in press. It will be a valuable addition to local history, Rev. S. C. Stratton was a Sunday-school teacher in a lecture-room in Hanover Street, Wilmington, before his ordination. This was the first attempt at Sunday-school teaching in this town. Rev. Samuel Brinckle was one of the teachers before he became a clergyman. On June 6th, 1818, a Sunday-school having fifty scholars was regularly organized, under the care of Rev. Levi Bull, rector of this parish. It soon had 300 pupils, and was moved to the academy. The Latin teacher, Joseph Downing, invited it there and assisted on Sundays. The academy has been demolished. Rev. Levi Bull taught some German girls in their own language, and had an interesting class. Miss Montgomery notes this. Dr. Bull was a large man, of fine presence, and a striking preacher. He died at his country home near St. Mary's Church, Warwick, Chester County, Pa., of which he was once rector. Trinity Chapel was moved to Delaware Avenue in Dr. Martin's rectorship. Mr. Henry is erecting a new church near the new chapel. Rev. William Murphy and Rev. Jesse Higgins have been assistants of Trinity Church, in charge of Old Swedes' Church. As St. John's, Wilmington, was a colony of Trinity Church, the succession of clergy is given: Rev. Charles Breck, rector of Trinity Church, was also rector of St. John's, from Aug. 7th, 1855, to October 25th, 1858. Rev. Stevens Parker was rector from October 25th, 1858, to ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, WILMINGTON. SUCCESSION OF CLERGY IN GLORIA DEI CHURCH. 71 September 28th, 1863. Rev. James Chrystal was assistant for a few months. Rev. Thomas G. Clemson had charge of the parish during Mr. Parker's sickness and absence of about six months. Rev. Leighton Coleman was rector from November 29th, 1863, to November 5th, 1866. Rev. T. Gardiner Littell, D.D., became rector December 2d, 1866, and continues to the present time. Rev. Edwin C. Alcorn was assistant from August 25th, 1879, to September 28th, 1880. St. John's Church was erected in part by Alexis I. du Pont and family. Christ Church was, I believe, due to the interest of other members of the du Pont family for its erection. St. Andrew's Church was independent, but all our church work in Wilmington may be traced back to the Swedes. Calvary Church was a colony of St. Andrew's. Bishop Lee preached a semi-centennial sermon in 1870, which was printed by Ferris Bros. at Wilmington. Many clergy from Delaware and other dioceses attended this anniversary. In addition to the memorial discourse by Bishop Lee, sermons were delivered by Rev. Wm. A. Newbold, a former assistant minister, and Rev. W. H. Gallagher, who was "a child of St. Andrew's Church," and Rev. Dr. Richard Newton, who taught in the Sunday-School under Rev. Mr. Coit. In his jubilee sermon Bishop Lee stated that it was deemed desirable to have a church more convenient to many of the inhabitants of Wilmington in location than the Old Swedes' Church. In A.D., 1828, Rev. J. Howland Coit became pastor of the new parish. A church was erected at the southwest corner of Shipley and Kent Streets; Kent Street is now called Eighth Street. The church was consecrated in 1829 by Bishop White. A number of clergy SUCCESSION OF CLERGY IN GLORIA DEI CHURCH. 72 of Pennsylvania and Delaware assisted in the services. Rev. Dr. Bedell read the service, and Rev. Dr. Bull preached impressively from I. Kings, 8:27, "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded." In 1830, on Whit-Sunday, Bishop H. U. Onderdonk confirmed a class of fourteen. In 1831 the church was first represented in Diocesan Convention. The delegates were John B. Lewis and James L. Devou. Bishop Lee finds no later public service performed by Bishop White in Delaware after the consecration of St. Andrew's Church. This bishop had "provisional charge" of Delaware, in addition to Pennsylvania, and the trio of revered names, White, Bull and Bedell, are pleasantly noted by Bishop Lee on this occasion. In 1832 Rev. Mr. Coit resigned St. Andrew's. He was the father of Rev. Dr. Henry A. Coit, and the son says of this fervently pious, beloved and useful rector, that on October 1st, 1866, "he passed peacefully from this land of prayer and tears to the land of praise and rejoicing." He died on the thirty-seventh anniversary of the consecration of St. Andrew's, which was "his first church." The death of the venerable layman, Dell Noblit in 1878 at "the patriarchal age of one hundred years," is noted by Bishop Lee. After Mr. Coit the following rectors succeeded: Rev. Messrs. J. V. E. Thorn, C. S. Hedges, William C. Russell, William James Clark and William H. Trapnell. Mr. Russell was very feeble when he was obliged to give up his work, and a parishioner of those days has described to me the solemnity of the parting words of this "man of God" to his congregation, when he was SUCCESSION OF CLERGY IN GLORIA DEI CHURCH. 73 obliged to address them, sitting, for he was unable to stand. He died about six months after. Bishop Lee names the following assistant ministers who have died: The Rev. N. C. Pridham, James Leason Hood, Edward Hale, Charles H. Williamson, and Charles E. McIlvaine, the son of Bishop McIlvaine, and son-in-law of Bishop Lee. Rev. Samuel Hazlehurst must be added to the list. Bishop Lee says: "The ministry of Rev. Wm. C. Russell is worthy of especial mention as attended with holy influences and an abundant blessing." We may echo these words concerning the bishop himself. Anyone who saw his earnest manner of instructing his flock could well perceive that he was one of the most faithful rectors in this land. St. Andrew's has ever been foremost in mission work, and Foreign Missions, and Africa and Mexico have received special care. In 1840 the church was burned, but a new one was built and consecrated by Bishop H. U. Onderdonk in the same year, Bishop Whittingham, of Maryland, preaching the sermon. Bishop Whittingham had been consecrated four weeks before this event. In 1843 Bishop Lee's long rectorate began, and he touchingly dwells on its solemn history marked in the spiritual life of so many souls. Sixteen clergy entered the ministry who had been teachers or scholars in St. Andrew's Sunday-school. Some became western missionaries. The bishop closes thus: "And although we cannot expect to participate here in another Jubilee, we may through God's grace share in its joys, as, peradventure, in ours sainted ones to-day where they see the King in His beauty." On April 12th, 1887, Bishop Lee's rectorate and Episcopate terminated by his entrance among the sainted company of whom he wrote. SUCCESSION OF CLERGY IN GLORIA DEI CHURCH. 74 Rev. Charles E. Murray, the bishop's assistant minister, became rector of the parish, which he now holds. For a time he was assisted by the Rev. Francis D. Hoskins, formerly Dean of the Faribault Divinity School. Christ Church, Christiana Hundred, is a little way outside of the city at the powder-works. The rectors of Christ Church, Christiana Hundred, Delaware, have been Rev. S. C. Brinckle, who began as missionary in the Hundred, May, 1848, and was rector of the parish at its formation, May, 1851. He died March 14th, 1863. Rev. W. A. Newbold was rector from August 1st, 1863, until he resigned October 1st, 1869. Rev. I. Newton Stanger, the third rector, began his work March 4th, 1870; resigned November 14th, 1873. Rev. D. D. Smith, the fourth rector, began duty November 24th, 1873, and is still in charge. Immanuel Church, Highlands, though outside of the city limit, is in a suburb. It is a Gothic brick building. It was a colony of Christ Church, Christiana Hundred, and the Brinckle family, children of the late rector of that parish, have been largely instrumental in the building of the church. Rev. Kensey Johns Hammond is the rector; he accepted the charge June 11th, 1888. St. Michael's Mission, Wilmington, has an afternoon service and a Sunday-school in a room. It is in charge of Rev. Alexis I. du P. Coleman, the son of the bishop. RECTORS OF TRINITY CHURCH, SWEDESBORO, NEW JERSEY. - The succession after Dr. Collin is as follows: John Wade from 1788 to 1789; John Croes (afterward Bishop of New Jersey) from 1790 to 1801; Henry James Feltus from 1802 to 1808; Simon Wilmer from 1808 to 1820; J. M. Douglass from 1820 to 1824; Norman SUCCESSION OF CLERGY IN GLORIA DEI CHURCH. 75 Nash from 1829 to 1834; J. Long Woart from 1834 to 1835; John Woart from 1836 to 1840; George W. Freeman (afterward Bishop of Arkansas) 1841; J. W. Brown from 1841 to 1843; W. H. Trapnell from 1844 to 1847; E. B. Boggs from 1847 to 1855; W. J. Timmer from 1855 to 1857; Henry Tullidge from 1857 to 1864; C. W. Duane from 1864 to 1868; C. N. Chevrier from 1868 to 1872. The new church was built under Dr. Collin's rectorship. Mr. Chevrier gave the above list to Dr. Reynolds. See "New Sweden," pp. 344-345, note. Mr. Chevrier died in 1872 on the 13th of November. C. W. Duane became rector a second time, and remained until October, 1882. The Rev. F. D. Hoskins, held the rectorship from January, 1883, to December, 1884. Rev. George W. Watson, D.D., is the present rector, having been in charge since April, 1885. Mr. Hoskins wrote a historical sermon of value which appeared in the Swedesboro local newspaper.