Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1884-12-06

Norborne Parish is coeval with Berke-
ly County. Bishop Meade says that : this
Parish and County were, by Act of As
sembly, taken from Frederick in the
year 1907 The original Parish includ-
ed all the territory now embraced by the
counties of Jefferson and Berkeley, aud
there seems to have been but two, posi-
bly, three, churches within these limits.
The one at Mill Creek or Bunkers Hill,
which was founded by Morgan Morgan
about the year 1740, was the first Episco-
pal Church erected in the valley. The
other was located in Mecklenburg OF
Shepherdstown. If was built by Mr..
VanSwearinger little while before the
Parish was formed. We have it on au-
thority better than mere tradition that
there was also Chapel about this time
in Hedgesville. 1t the latter is correct
then there were three and not two
Churches in the original Parish.
The next Church erected in the Parish
was the one in Charlestown. This was
done soon after the division from Fred
erick and not many years before the Rev
olutionary war. But it was not until the
close of the Revolutionary war that the
first Episcopal Church in Martinsburg
was built. This says Bishop Meade $ was
erected chiefly at the cost and under the
superintendent of Mr.. Philip Pendle-
ton. who was jealous Churchman and
so far as we know and believe, a good
Christian This Church stood at the
entrance to Norborne cemetery, which,
by the way, was laid out by Adam
Stephens and established by law in ITS.
Just about this time the Church in He'd
gesville was erected, because the found.
ers and principal contributors to that
were Mr.. Raleigh Colston and Mr. Will
lam Pendleton. brother to Philip.
| In the year 1901, jefferson County was
| formed from Berkeley and that territory
in name and fact cut off from Norborne
Parish. The whole county is included
in st. Andrew s Parish. Norborne Par
ish thus reduced contained three Church
es. One of those that at Bunker Hill
Smithfield, which arrangement has been
continued to this day. The Church at
Martinsburg and Hedgesville jointly
supported minister.
About the year 1885. the old Church
which stood in the cemetery became I'M
safe for use. and measures were taken
to erect another in the town more con-
venient to the worshipers. A lot was
donated and about 1888 or 80, new
building was commenced. For eight
years or more before its completion there
was no stated place of worship in this
town. From the old Register we take
the following memoranda Trinity
Church. Martinsburg, was consecrated
by Ri. Rev. VIM. Meade, Bishop of Vir-
ginia. on Thursday, Aug. 10th, 1S43.
Present and assisting the following of
the clergy Revs. Alexander Jones and
J. Chisholm of Va, Revs. Jas. A. Back
and Theodore B. Lyman, of Maryland.
Sentence of conservation read by the
Rector of the Parish. Morning service by
Rev. I. B. Lyman. Sermon by Rev. A.
Jones, Text. Zackeriah XIV, 90
During the late war the Church was
so badly damaged that in 1865 it was
found necessary to renovate it before it
could be used for Divine worship. On
the feast of st. James, July 25tb, 1882,
the corner stone of the present edifice
was laid, and on Sunday the 2Sth of
January, 1888, the first service was held
in it. 1t stands as beautiful ornament
to the city and tribute to the faithfulness
and devotion of the congregation.
Now we come to speak of the clergy
of this Parish. There are many breaks
in the succession. Whether the names
of the clergy were lost, or whether there
were no ministers in charge of the Parish
at those times we are unable to say
The latter superstition is the more proba-
BILE. Though the Parish was organized in
1869, we can identify no clergyman as
its Rector until I'LL, when Rev. Daniel
Surge, was licensed for Norborne Parish
by the Bishops of London, He was sue
ceeded in 1886 by Rev. Veasy, man
faithful in preaching and catechising.-
The next was Rev. Mr.. Wilson, nothing
can be found about him. In the year
1895 Rev. Bernard Page was the Rector.
He is said to have been deeply pious.
jealous and far beyond the ministerial
standard of that day" Rev. Mr.. Heath
came next and was minister in 1900. He
died in the Parish. Rev. Emanuel Will
mer succeeded the last and was in the
Parish about the years 1906 and 1907
Rev. Mr.. Price was Rector from 1911 to
about 1918. and we know that he preach
ed in Martinsburg. The war of 1912
seemed to have put temporary stop to
clerical efforts. In 1915, however, Rev.
Benjamin Allen took charge of the Par
ish. He was man of untiring energy,
deep piety. and not unknown in the lit
erary world. He published six volumes
of poems, History of the Reformation
running through three editions. Histo-
of the Church, and the Christian Maya
zine. He also edited while in Martins
burg. The Layman's Magazine, the
first Church paper ever published in the
valley. This clergyman also was the
first to propose division of the Diocese.
The committee appointed to confer with
the Bishop and standing committee on
CrIh
Edward Colston and Robert Page. ESQ.
From here Mr.. Allen went to st. Paul S
Church, Phila. He died on board a
homeward bound vessel from England
whittier he had gone to restore shatter-
ed constitution. caused by overwork in
the service of his blessed Master.
The successor of Mr.. Allen was Rev.
Thomas Horrel, in the year 1916. He
remained three years and went to St.
Louis, Missouri. Good accounts are given
of him. Rev. Enoch Lowe was the next.
He was followed by Rev. Edw. R. Lip
pitt, in 1923. Three wears later Rev.
John I. Brooke took charge of the Par
ish. Then came in 1880. Rev. James II.
Tying 1882. Rev. VIM. p. G. johnson
1886. Rev. Cyrus H. Jacobs 1887. Rev.
Chas. G. Tolifereo. 1912. Rev. James
Chisholm 1850, Rev. D. Frances Sprigg
1855 Rev. Rich d T. Davis; 1869. Rev.
w. ID. Hanson 1875, Rev. John w. Lea
and in May. 1879, the present Rector en-
tered upon his duties in the Parish.
The membership of this Parish next
claims our attention. But, of course, we
have no time to enter into detail. A few
names in the community we can identify
as having descended from those who
were instrumental in establishing the
Church here about. But many there are
who have forsaken the faith of their
fathers and forefathers and wandered
we know not whittier. Let us not forget
them but pray that they may be brought
back to the fold and grow up strong
members of the true household of faith.
Among those who have beeen vestrymen
or held other positions in the Parish we
find the names Pendleton, Colston. Shep-
herd. Hedges, Coxes. Robinson. Hunter,