Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Parish elections]]> Church records and registers]]> Church finance]]> United Churches of Christ-Church, St. Peter's, and St. James's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Kearsley, John, 1684-1772]]> White, William, 1748-1836]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Church management]]> Church fund raising]]> Church committees]]> Church buildings]]> Cemeteries]]> Church bells]]> Poor]]> Charity]]> Hospitals]]> Charters]]> Episcopalians]]> Episcopal Church]]>
Entries include the date and place of the meeting, members attending, and business discussed. Topics include church elections, improvements to buildings and grounds, fundraising efforts, burial requests, and the ongoing operation of Christ Church hospital.

Recorded at the rear of the book are legacies, gifts, and donations made to an assortment of church related funds by various congregation members. Of note is a transcribed copy of Dr. John Kearsley's will. This volume has inserted at page 47 two additional items: a printed excerpt from the minutes of October 30, 1752 and a printed version of Bishop White's sermon delivered on June 21, 1786. Note: Blank pages were not scanned.]]> Minutes (Records)]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Parish elections]]> Church records and registers]]> Church finance]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> St. Peter's Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> American Revolution (1775-1783)]]> Church buildings]]> Church committees]]> Church discipline]]> Church fund raising]]> Church management]]> Church of England]]> American Revolution (United States : 1775-1783)]]> Corporate minutes]]> Episcopalians]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Frontier and pioneer life]]> Indians of North America]]> Charters]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Poor]]> Charity]]> African Americans]]> Kearsley, John, 1684-1772]]> Episcopal Church]]>
Other important events and topics include:

The opening of St. Peter's and the establishment of the United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's in 1761, with shared government and finances. Minutes include draft and final versions of the charter for the United Churches.

The response of the United Churches to the 1763 "Indian invasion" of the "back provinces" of Pennsylvania and subsequent correspondence with church officials from York and Cumberland Counties on behalf of "families on the frontier."

The 1763 review and approval of Reverend William Sturgeon's fulfillment of his duty as the "Catechist to the Negroe Children for the Society for Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts."

The 1772 bequest from Dr. John Kearsley that funded the development of the Christ Church Hospital for poor women and widows.

The American Revolution. Minutes from the Vestry meeting of July 4, 1776, when the Vestry resolved at the onset of the American Revolution: "Whereas the Honorable Continental Congress have resolved to declare the American Colonies to be free and independent States, In consequence of which it will be proper to omit those Petitions in the Liturgy wherein the King of Great Britain is prayed for, as inconsistent with the said Declaration. Therefore Resolved, that it appears to this Vestry to be necessary for the peace and well-being of the Churches to omit the said Petitions, and the Rector and Assistant Ministers of the United Churches are requested in the Name of the Vestry and their Constituents to omit such petitions as are above mentioned." (p. 338)

Subsequent minutes reveal effects of the war, including the loss of pew rents after many parishioners fled the city during the British occupation, the damage to church property caused by the British army, and the departure of Reverend Coombe, who could not tolerate the conflict of serving revolutionary subjects while ordained and governed by the Church of England.]]> Minutes (Records)]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]>