Early Clergy of Pennsylvania and Delaware, S. F. Hotchkin, 1890 - Chapter 8, The Swedish Churches 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. THE SWEDISH CHURCHES. 82 CHAPTER VIII. THE SWEDISH CHURCHES. REV. C. M. PERKINS, of Salem, N.J., communicates the following additional information to the Swedish sketches: "Pennsville is a village located on the western side of Penn's Neck township. The village is a little over a mile from the old church. The church building is located at the junction of what is known as Church Landing road and the Pennsylvania road. Church Landing is one of the points where the U.S. Government determined the variation of the compasses of vessels on the river. In my opinion the Landing took its name from the fact that the people used to come in boats to church. The property now consists of a brick church in good repair, and a rectory opposite. The land may contain two acres probably. The larger part is the churchyard and has been used as a burying-place for many years. The rectory was built within the last few years from certain funds that had been invested for years. St. George's and Trinity, Swedesboro', were once made recipients of land. But St. George's did not have so much and it was not so carefully managed; now it has only the rent of its rectory beside what the people pay themselves. For many years Rev. J. W. Bradin was missionary. He was succeeded by Rev. W. A. Schubert, M.D., now living in Washiington, D. C. Then G. W. Fisse was in charge. THE SWEDISH CHURCHES. 83 Rev. W. B. Otis had charge for awhile. Rev. W. A. Matthias, now of Philadelphia, was missionary for a period. Rev. H. L. Phillips succeeded. The church was closed for a time, and I have had charge now for near two years." Mrs. Edwin L. Lightner adds the following: "The Rev. Edwin L. Lightner was the first rector of Christ Church, Upper Merion, holding the position for well nigh eleven years; and all the many years of his ministry were passed in the Diocese of Pennsylvania, except the last few years of his life in Central Pennsylvania, dying in the Parish of Christ Church, Danville, almost fifteen years its rector." _____ The Rev. E. Leaf, a former rector of St. Gabriel's, Morlatton, Central Pennsylvania, having requested me to add something about that parish to the Swedish articles, I append the following notes from Bishop W. Stevens Perry's valuable historical collections of the American Colonial Church, Vol. II., Pennsylvania. A petition of William Bird and others in A.D., 1760 to the Venerable Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, under the encouragement of Rev. Dr. Wm. Smith, who had officiated among the petitioners, prays that a missionary be sent over to live in Reading, and also officiate "at Molattin, a place fifteen miles distant, where a church has for many years been built by a society of English and Swedes, who are desirous of having a missionary of the Church of England and join with us in this application." "Molattin congregation" joined the Reading people in a subscription toward the support of the missionary, pp. 288-289. On the 9th of April, 1763, Rev. Alexander Murray, the missionary, writes from Reading that in "Molatton" THE SWEDISH CHURCHES. 84 (the name is variously spelled) there are 39 church families, making 232 souls, 65 being under 7 years old; all were "baptized to a very few, being chiefly of Swedish extract. At Molatton there is a ruinous kind of church, built of logs or rough timber about thirty years ago by the Swedes, and as a great part of the congregation there consists of these I have been hitherto allowed the use of it, but it matters very little whether I am or not for the future, as it will cost as much to repair it as would build a new one of like materials and dimensions in a rather more convenient centrical place," p. 345. There was then no church in Reading; service was held in a dwelling-house where civil courts were held. On January 25th, 1764, Rev. Mr. Murray reports that the Molatton congregation "has decreased by removals to 29 families, making in all 185, of which I have baptized 2 adults and 12 infants. I can no more prevail on that people than those here in town (Reading) to engage heartily in any scheme for building a church," p. 357. On June 25th, 1765, the same missionary reports that Molatton congregation "has neither diminished nor increased much since the commencement of the mission, and consists presently of 30 families, and in both places, including the single persons residing in other families, amount to the number of 331, young and old," p. 383. On June 17th, 1765, "the church wardens and vestry of the Episcopal congregation at Molatton, in the county of Berks," petition the Society, saying, "they have engaged to raise £100" toward repairing their church. They hope this will "encourage others to unite with them," and "it will accommodate themselves." They, THE SWEDISH CHURCHES. 85 with Reading, ask for an increase of their missionary's stipend. They hope "to provide a glebe and parsonage and a better maintenance for their worthy missionary, which, they are convinced, is too scanty at present." Signed by John Kinlin and John Warren, church wardens, and John Godfrey, George Douglass, Mounce Johes, Peter Jones and John Old, vestrymen, pp. 388, 389. Four Johns and one Peter among seven names shows a worthy honor of the Apostles. Rev. George Ross writes that St. Paul's Church, Chester, was built at a Swedish burying-place, and that the Swedes had originally "a church, endowed with a valuable glebe, not far from this place of burial, which in 1714 disappeared," pp. 78-79. _____ Rev. J. L. Heysinger writes the following letter to the Standard of the Cross: "As Church antiquarian you are fairly entitled to much credit for your indefatigable industry in exhuming the records of the past in regard to the old Swedish churches. No doubt these records are often obscure and sometimes incorrect. Allow me to call your attention to a mistake or two. You mention that '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.' Rev. Slator Clay was ordained to the diaconate in 1786 by Bishop White, and the following year to the priesthood. This was done at the request of St. James's, Perkiomen, where he resided, and St. Peter's in the Valley, St. David's, Radnor. He remained at St. James's, Perkiomen, all his life, living and dying THE SWEDISH CHURCHES. 86 in the glebe house there. You also state that Dr. Clay (Jehu Curtis Clay) was born in Upper Providence. He was born in the glebe house of St. James's, Lower Providence." The author's statement about Rev. Slator Clay was taken from the Appendix of Rev. Dr. Jehu C. Clay's Annals of the Swedes, p. 177, and Acrelius's New Sweden, p. 262, note. As Rev. Mr. Heysinger has been rector of St. James's Church, Perkiomen, he has had access to records there which may show an error. It is interesting to note that one who was baptized by Slator Clay, but who was not old enough to remember him, revering his memory, has had his tombstone at St. James's, Perkiomen, cleaned and put in order. _____ The author of this work prepared the following sketch of St. Luke's Church for the Germantown Telegraph. As this church was served in its early work occasionally by clergy of All Saints', Torresdale (Lower Dublin), and Emanuel Church, Holmesburg, which may be called children of Trinity Church, Oxford; St. Luke's may be called a grandchild of that venerable parish. It is a pleasure to state that Dr. Charles R. King, the Accounting Warden of All Saints' expects to issue a history of that parish, and his long connection with it well fits him for the work, while his interest in antiquity will give zest to the laborious undertaking. Would that every parish had such a historiographer. Rev. Dr. Beasley held this parish over forty years. It is now in charge of Rush S. Eastman. Rev. John T. Magrath and Rev. Frederick J. Bassett succeeded Dr. Beasley. In the Frankford Gazette, of May 27th, 1887, is an extended sketch of the history of Emanuel Church, THE SWEDISH CHURCHES. 87 Holmesburg, by the rector, Rev. Dr. D. Caldwell Millett, who assumed the rectorship in 1863. Rev. W. H. Bowens was the first rector in 1844; in 1848 Rev. George G. Field became the second rector. In 1857 the parish school began, the Misses Lardner and Mrs. Ann W. Glenn and Mrs. Elizabeth D. Fisher, her sister, kindly teaching it, with the assistance of others. It is now under the faithful care of Miss Bolton. In 1857 Rev. John P. Lundy, D.D., became rector. In 1858 the beautiful new brownstone church was first used for service. In 1858 it was consecrated by Bishop Bowman. In 1863 Dr. Lundy resigned the rectorship. In 1879 the beautiful stone parish building, in memory of Mary D. Brown, was opened. It contains a tablet in memory of Mrs. Elizabeth Darch Fisher, who died in 1876, erected by the Parish School. Miss Catherine Moore was a munificent donor to this parish. Holy Innocents Church, Tacony, was started by the efforts of Dr. Millett, who held services in that place in 1868. In 1869 the first service was held in the new church, which was consecrated in 1872. Rev. William Augustus White is the present rector. Rev. Mr. Avery (now of Atlantic City), and Rev. Messrs. Post (now of Oregon), and Rev. Dr. Osborne have held the rectorship of this parish. _____ ST. LUKE'S CHURCH, BUSTLETON. Bishop Leighton Coleman, of Delaware, was the first rector of the Memorial Church of St. Luke, the Beloved Physician. He outlined its history in a sermon in A.D., 1861. Rev. George Sheets, who was the faithful rector THE SWEDISH CHURCHES. 88 of Oxford, used to hold a service in the Old Academy when he lived in Bustleton. Years after the beloved Dr. Beasley, rector of Torresdale (All Saints), maintained services, assisted by neighboring clergy. Drs. Buchanan, Millett, Lundy and the late Samuel E. Smith assisted in this good work. Dr. Beasley used also the former Sons of Temperance Hall for services by the good will of Joseph Wagner, the owner, who did much to advance the young parish, with the aid of his devoted wife. Services were also held in private houses and in Union Hall, where Bishop Coleman first officiated. The church lot was bought of Rev. Theophilus G. Crouch, in July, A.D., 1860. The corner-stone was laid on Thursday, September 20th, A.D., 1860, in the afternoon. Bishop Alonzo Potter was present. Rev. Dr. Buchanan and Rev. Dr. Wilmer (afterward Bishop of Louisiana), made addresses, and Rev. Dr. Stevens (afterward Bishop of Pennsylvania), concluded the services. Upjohn & Son, of New York, were the architects. The church is built of blue stone, and brown stone and brick are used in trimming the building, while the roof is of slate. It is one of the prettiest churches in the country, and is surrounded by a large and beautiful churchyard. The chancel is apsidal, and a bell gable holds the bell. It is surmounted by a gilded cross, which proclaims our faith in the Crucified One. On August 29th, A.D., 1861, the church was consecrated by Bishop Alonzo Potter, assisted by Bishop Odenheimer, of New Jersey, and thirty surpliced clergy from various Dioceses. Dr. Wilmer was the preacher, but being ill Dr. Ducachet read a part of his sermon and the bishops made addresses. The church was filled so that many could not enter. Many friends of THE SWEDISH CHURCHES. 89 Dr. and Mrs. Henry were present and many who had associations with the neighborhood. Mrs. Pauline E. Henry built the church in memory of her husband, Barnard Henry, M.D., who died April 15th, 1860. Mrs. Henry had some associations with the neighborhood. She continues her interest in the parish. A memorial church is a blessed monument, as it aids the living. It it much to be desired that many such churches may arise. The first vestry were Morton P. Henry, Esq. (Dr. Henry's brother), secretary; Amos A. Gregg, Esq., Robert J. Henderson, Esq., Charles Tillyer, Newberry A. Smith and John Trump. On the 10th of June, A.D., 1861, the vestry elected the Rev. Mr. Coleman, a deacon in the General Theological Seminary, New York City, the first rector. On June 19th, A.D., 1861, he accepted the call and entered on duty on the 1st of July following. On May 30th, 1861, the parish was admitted to the Convention of the Diocese. On May 15th, 1862, the rector was ordained priest; that saintly man, Professor Johnson, of the General Seminary, preaching the sermon. Dr. Coleman resigned November 26th, 1863 (Thanksgiving day). In November, 1861, Mrs. Henry gave the rectory to the parish. The pretty stone chapel and Sunday-school room was first used in January, 1870, and the foundress of the church gave the larger part of its cost. She has also enriched the chancel windows by inserting some beautiful designs of ancient stained glass from Europe. The beautiful west window is in memory of Dr. Henry, and the brass lectern commemorates her daughter, Miss Connor, and the brass altar-cross, her father, Mr. Van der Kemp. The rectors after the first have been, Rev. Edmund Roberts, Rev. James H. Barnard, Rev. Henry A. Parker, Rev. Lucius N. Voigt and Rev. S. F. Hotchkin, THE SWEDISH CHURCHES. 90 now in charge. The present vestry are: Edward Evans, accounting warden; Charles H. Strout, rector's warden; Amos A. Browne, William S. Robinson, Eugene Beck and General Pennock Huey. The late Mr. John B. Willian was long a faithful vestryman, a volunteer organist and Sunday-school teacher. His work was well done. The workers die, but new ones arise and the work advances, and the abundant labors of the toilers in the service of the Blessed Master will not be "in vain in the Lord." The rectory has been enlarged. The St. Luke's School boys and the voluntary choir in their absence do good and acceptable musical service in the Lord's house. Harry Ashton, William Maguire and Edward Rylott have been the sextons during the present rectorship.