Metadata
Title
Vestry Correspondence, 1822-1825
Date
1822/1825
Digital Identifier
ChristChurch.VestryCorrespondence1822-1825_1-7-0-3
Call Number
1.7.0.3; F61(c)
Description
A majority of the documents in this folder pertain to discussions regarding the use of land surrounding the burial ground by various local fire companies and institutions. Institutions involved include the Amicable Fire Company, the Resolution Hose Company, the Hope Engine Company, and the M.E. Union Church.
Other notable documents include a letter from a congregant strongly advising the Vestry against hiring an assistant minister on a one-year probationary basis, arguing it would be detrimental to both the minister and the congregation. Additionally, there is a significant 1824 memorial signed by members of Christ Church, St. Peter's, and St. James proposing the separation of the United Churches into independent entities to increase revenues and the usefulness of the clergy.
Other notable documents include a letter from a congregant strongly advising the Vestry against hiring an assistant minister on a one-year probationary basis, arguing it would be detrimental to both the minister and the congregation. Additionally, there is a significant 1824 memorial signed by members of Christ Church, St. Peter's, and St. James proposing the separation of the United Churches into independent entities to increase revenues and the usefulness of the clergy.
Subject
Place
Pennsylvania--Philadelphia
Congregation
Christ Church, Philadelphia, PA
Extent
11 documents
Format (Digital)
tiff
Rights
http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/
Language
eng
Type
Text
Abstract
This collection of correspondence and petitions was addressed to the Vestry of the United Churches of Christ Church, St. Peter's, and St. James in Philadelphia between 1822 and 1825, largely concerning the use of land surrounding the burial ground in Fifth Street.
Several documents relate to fire companies seeking to occupy Church land. A committee of the Resolution Hose Company petitioned the Vestry to confirm a grant of the site in Fifth Street formerly occupied by the Amicable Fire Company, and requested permission to extend and expand the building [p.1]. In their formal petition, the company noted it had been active since 1804 and had lost its previous home when the New Theatre burned in 1820 and was rebuilt [p.2]. The four surviving active members of the Amicable Fire Engine Company explained that their company was effectively dissolved, between 40 and 50 dollars in debt, with a broken engine estimated to cost 150 dollars to repair, and proposed bequeathing their engine and apparatus to the Resolution Hose Company; honorary members endorsed the transfer [p.3r].
Subsequent letters, addressed to committee members G. Bringhurst and Wm. Murdoch, negotiate the terms of building. The company initially objected to being required to build vaults beneath the proposed ornamental two-story house given its limited funds [p.5r-5v], but later agreed to undertake the vaults according to the Vestry's directions and to erect a building from a plan by Mr. Haviland, suggesting the Vestry contribute at least one hundred dollars toward the vaults [p.6r-6v]. In June 1823 the company reported having finished three vaults for the Church's use and again requested assistance in defraying costs [p.7]. The Hope Engine Company separately applied in 1823 for permission to erect an engine house on St. Peter's burial ground [p.8, p.9].
An 1825 letter from the Trustees of the M.E. Union Church requested that two windows opening onto the churchyard from their newly erected Sunday School building be permitted to remain for ventilation and light [p.10].
Two documents concern church governance rather than land. A copy of an 1822 letter from a self-described member and constituent urged the Vestry to abandon its plan of calling assistant ministers on a one-year probationary basis, arguing that turning a clergyman adrift after a year would be cruel and would injure the church's standing [p.4r-4v]. A memorial read in Vestry on 3 March 1824, signed by prominent members of all three congregations including Joseph Hopkinson, Charles Wheeler, William Rawle Jr., and members of the Ingersoll and Lewis families, requested the Vestry consider a plan of altering the charter to make each church independent for certain purposes [p.11r-11v].
Several documents relate to fire companies seeking to occupy Church land. A committee of the Resolution Hose Company petitioned the Vestry to confirm a grant of the site in Fifth Street formerly occupied by the Amicable Fire Company, and requested permission to extend and expand the building [p.1]. In their formal petition, the company noted it had been active since 1804 and had lost its previous home when the New Theatre burned in 1820 and was rebuilt [p.2]. The four surviving active members of the Amicable Fire Engine Company explained that their company was effectively dissolved, between 40 and 50 dollars in debt, with a broken engine estimated to cost 150 dollars to repair, and proposed bequeathing their engine and apparatus to the Resolution Hose Company; honorary members endorsed the transfer [p.3r].
Subsequent letters, addressed to committee members G. Bringhurst and Wm. Murdoch, negotiate the terms of building. The company initially objected to being required to build vaults beneath the proposed ornamental two-story house given its limited funds [p.5r-5v], but later agreed to undertake the vaults according to the Vestry's directions and to erect a building from a plan by Mr. Haviland, suggesting the Vestry contribute at least one hundred dollars toward the vaults [p.6r-6v]. In June 1823 the company reported having finished three vaults for the Church's use and again requested assistance in defraying costs [p.7]. The Hope Engine Company separately applied in 1823 for permission to erect an engine house on St. Peter's burial ground [p.8, p.9].
An 1825 letter from the Trustees of the M.E. Union Church requested that two windows opening onto the churchyard from their newly erected Sunday School building be permitted to remain for ventilation and light [p.10].
Two documents concern church governance rather than land. A copy of an 1822 letter from a self-described member and constituent urged the Vestry to abandon its plan of calling assistant ministers on a one-year probationary basis, arguing that turning a clergyman adrift after a year would be cruel and would injure the church's standing [p.4r-4v]. A memorial read in Vestry on 3 March 1824, signed by prominent members of all three congregations including Joseph Hopkinson, Charles Wheeler, William Rawle Jr., and members of the Ingersoll and Lewis families, requested the Vestry consider a plan of altering the charter to make each church independent for certain purposes [p.11r-11v].
Thumbnail
IIIF Manifest
https://www.philageohistory.org/rdic-images/iiif.cfm/ChristChurch.VestryCorrespondence1822-1825_1-7-0-3/manifest
