The New York herald., 1877-01-11
AN OLD LANDMARK GONE.

BURNING OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT WEST
CHESTER INTERESTING RELICS OF THE
PAST.
Tho Episcopal church OF st. Peters, on Main street,
near Union avenue, westchester, was burned Tues.
day night The total loss is estimated at $4,000,
about $685. 900 OF which covered by the
Westchestcr and other insurance compauies Tho
chief loss however, consists in the destruction Of
eral memorial tablets and windows, the history Of
which, in connection with that of the church, is
tremely interesting.
Tho fire began at nine o'clock just after the conclu
sion Of missionary SERVICE conducted by tho pastor,
Rev. G. b. Wyatt, and others The draught caused by
the opening of the doors for tho departing congrcga-
tion blew the flame Of a gas jet on dry Christmas
wreath encircIing tho arch OF tho chanceL AZ that
timo the SEXTON Isaac Butler, and his son Will
lam in tie church, engaged In cxtin.
gushing the lights. They pulled down the
wreath, but the flames had already communicated
with tho roof which composed OF dry pine boards
covered with slate The two men rushed to the tower
in the northeast corner OF the building, and rang
alarm to arouse the neghborho0d. The ianes were
seen from the Catholic Proiectory near by, and tho
fire dcprtment OF that institution turned out Tor DUTY
The Empire Engine OF the township and u hook and
nddcr company were soon on The scene but the hand
engines which thoy brought would havo been OF no
avail even had there been plenty OF water lew pic
and books saved before the flames had got
much headway. They roof fell In, and alter tho
turee large bells OF the church, being loo heavy ioI the
burnt timbcrs of the fell tho ground, dis.
tance OF 1862 feet, with laundering noise, bearing
away tho stairs and crushing all beneath them. This
the climax of the conilagration. From tnat time
the flames dccreased, but the runs were still smoking
when the reporter visited them yeste day afternoon.
In the rear of the chance was large memorial
window IN honor OF Mr.. Gouvcrncur Morris Wilkins
placed there by his widow 1t made by one of he
hest makers Of stained glass In England and cost
So 900.
A tablet, IN memory of the same gentleman was
still In ITS place on the wall but beyond repair Two
other tablets were also totally destroyed on tn
chaDcel wall in memory of two pastors Of the churc
the Rev. Isaac wilkins and Z. ID. jackson, ID. ID.
The value of the bells Is unknown. They were CT
In Troy, In the same moulds those OF Tn,
chapel and were presented to the church by g.
wilkins, one OF Its nrst trustees. Strange 10 nv
OF them we're not cracked by the fall anu may sti
serviceable.
memorial window "n honor OF tho fostering
of the venerable Sccety Tor the Propagation OF
Gospel In Foreign Parts, was destroyed
| The church Itself WAS not very old. having bccn
IN 1854 but tho associations with It's h,s
arc very interesting In the cemetery adoinIng
pose the remains OF different members of Tho Win
families, Van Renssclacrs. Bartows Scrvcus Iot
ards and Ardens. Tho church was the third erec
on that site. The parish was one OF the Oldest IN
country, dating back to Queen Anne's time. Recor.
oil regular monthly reports which were sent 1
CONTINUED ON NINTH PAGE1