Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-05-19

earlier dacs in yirsinis and the oesau.
iul structures OF 'tc4dsy-the qua'u'
old stone chapel in Clarke county wa"
its high sounding-bosrd and queer gar
lerv. entered from the outside by =
fight Of narrow stairs and through
window. or the old churches 81 Dian
ford, in Williamsburg; Wycomico, IN
Northumberland county; ana tne o.hei
curious old cdifices OF the architecture
of the yast---and the graceful oui'd-
ngs of so-day--the Memorial cnureh
AZ Lexington. at Danville, at
Winchester, in Norfslk, and elsewhere
in the diocese. Now the churches are
built of costly stone and finely-iinisned
woods. There was no ornamentaticn
or steepIes then. To-day lofty spires
reaching heayenward are seen at every
hand. and acknowledgements aren't
tectural designs crafty and satisfy the
eve. Thon there were no organs OF
Gothic windows; now there is hardlya
church in the land not supplied with
these accessories.
And SO the Episcopal Church has
advanced in the past ore hundred years
as other things have been seen to adj
vance.
The old church once at jamestown
has crumbled away, and a few bricks
and stones mark its site. The traveller
and tourist Of to-day is pointed to the
spot where ence stood that venerable
edifice, with its ancient and imposing
tower. and around whose walls are
buried the remains of some Of the most
distinguished people of the Common
wealth. 1t was perhaps in this very
church that Bishop Madison preached
in the concluding years Of his ministry.
CONCLUSION.
II would seem hardly necessary to
extend this sketch Of the Episcoal
Church in Virginia; and yet it would
not be complete without references to
the churches of this city since their
work began.
st. Johns, on Church Hill-known
years ago as the church on Richmond
Hills the oldest church in Rich
mond. its exact age, however, net being
known. Before and during the Revo-
lutionary war it had been the sanctuary
of patriotism as well as Of religion.
From 1885 there has been kept regu-
lar record of this church, and its nem-
bership from perhaps dozen is now
increased to 300. That the church was
not once in a very fourishing condition
may be inferred from an account by
Bishop Meade of a communion service
which was held in old st. Johns in
1913, at which time two gentlemen and
only few ladies received the sacra-
ment. and one of these gentlemen was
not resident of Richmond. The
erection of st. Johns church building
was commenced in 1879 on half-acre
lot given by Colonel William Byrd, the
second, on what was then called " In
dian HILL" now Church Hill-the
bricks being burned on the lot and the
house erected by Colonel Richard Ran
dolph, Of Curle,s. 1t was completed
in l740.
The next church built en- Richmond
was the Monumental, erected upon the
site Of the Theatre burned in 1871, and
beneath whose venerable walls lie the
ashes of the unfortunate victims of that
terrible disaster. From a handful of
communicates that membership has in
creased to 300.
St. James came next in order, and
now numbers $50. st. Paul's and st.
Andrews, GOO; Grace, $50; Christ,
200; St. Marks, $50; Moore-Memo-
rial, 1875 St. Philips (colored), Sc; and
Emmanuel, rs, complete the list, omit
ting Meade-Memorial church, in Man
chester, which, although not in lenrico
parish, was for long time really the
work of the Richmond churches. Its
membership is about $50.
The list OF clerical and lay delegates
will be published by Beckwith d Par
ham, and it will show at glance
where each member of the Council can
be found. Distinguished visitors from
other dioceses in the United States, both
clergymen and laymen, are expected,
and as the railroads have agreed to
bring visitors at the same rates as dele
gates, we may expect large number
of our city and country friends from all
parts of the State.
Our Episcopal friends will receive a
hearty welcome from all denominations
in our city.