Middletown transcript., 1893-06-17
ANNUAL SERVICES SUNDAY
A Brief History of the Church From
It's Inception to the Present Time.
interesting Data of Its Many Rec
tors-A Rector who Closed the
Church During the Revolution
Rather Than Break His Vows.

entire community. The church itself
risidly plain, but its Surroundings al
picturesque enough TO inspire a poet
Il ought or awaken an artists delm.
Situated about one mile south of tl
town, on the State road, it is an inyitin
resort for old and young, and scarce da
passes but that some pilgrim pays tribut
to the past which is so tenderly .enshrine
in this haIlowed spot. Many are the scene
which memory pictures, as in the contem
plative hush Of twilight, the devotee sit
beneath the majestic oaks, that in the day
Of good Queen Anne, belonged to the fores
primeval. High and holy thoughts fill tn
mind, as the soft summer breezes whispe
I through the leaves, telling the story o
ancient days.
The graves Of former pastors and peopl
are sheltered by these stately oaks, who's
shade has yielded comfort for the succeed
ing generations who worshipped here. 4
clump of trees hard by, marks the pIac'
where the rectory stood in former days, ,
cherished spot, dear to all who remembel
the quaint and beautiful structure. Rev
Mr.. Butler was the last rector who resided
there. the building being afterwards SOLD
to the late Henry Eliason who removed il
to Middletown where it was made into &
double dwelling on Green street. A brie
history of the church from its foundation
to the present time is as follows:
The inhabitants of Appoquinimink were
so jealous as to build aconvenient church
about the year 17O5 long before they had
any settled minister The church was sup
piled with missionaries from the Propoga-
ton Society. The last Of. the missionaries
being Rev. Philip Reading.
His lot fell upon troublous times. The
condition of those clergymen who con-
sidered their allegiance to be due to the
mother country, and who felt conscientious
ly bound to adhere, without any variation, to
the established service of the Church, was
eminently painful in the great crisis Of the
Revolution.
He writes, August 25. 1776, Being
assured on all hands of the danger with
which / was threatened, if persisted in
complying with my oaths. VOWS and sub
scriptions, thought it high time to consult
my own and my family's safety; and there
fore, on Sunday, July q. when the people
were assembled for public worship, began
{ the service explained to them the obliga-
tions the Clergy Of the Church Of England
are under to assert the Kings supremacy in
their public ministrations and acquainted
them that as could not read the Liturgy
agreeably to the prescribed form. without
offending against the new government, ana
incurrine the resentment of the people, 1
should on that day declare the church
shut up for six weeks. Accordingly, after
the Nicens Greed, 4 declared in form that as
had no design TO resist the authority Of
the new government on one hand, and /
was determined. on the other, not to incur
heavy guilt Of perjury BY breach of the
most solemn promises, / should decline at
tending on public worship for short time
from that day; but that, for the benefit of
those who were in full and ose communion
with me, for comforting them in the present
distress, for strengthening them in the
faith, for encouraging them to persevere in
their present profession unto the end,
would administer the sacrament of the
Lords Supper on that day six weeks.
It is believed that the church was not
opened again during Mr.. Readings life.
The present Old st. Anne's Church edifice
is believed to have been built about the
year 176s, or some 63 years after the
original church building. which, tradition
says, stood due east from and near to the
site of its now venerable successor. Work.
men engaged in digging the foundations
for the present vestibule, which was built
about thirty years ago, found and rebuilt
on apart of the ancient foundations, thus
partially fixing the site of the original
building.
The present ediice is believed TO have
been built Of brick brought from England.
and the ivy clinging to its walls was trans
planted from the mother soil.
After being closed by Mr.. Reading, il
would seem that the church did not again
have regular services until 1902. Mr.. Bis
sell officiated occasionally in 1871 and Mr.
Dashiel in 1874. The Rev. Mr.. Reese came
in 1902 and held the Rectorship for SIX
years He was succeeded by the Rev. Lyon
Davis who remained until 1922, and was
again Rector in 1892 The list of Rectors
stands as follows: Reese, Davis. Smith,
Willer, Robinson, McKenny, Coleman,
Peck, Banman, J. II. Tying. D'Ozanne,
Freeman, Harold. Bilopp. Goldsborough.
Brown. McCabe. Butler, Lewis, ]Gallaudet,
and Rev. J. Beers.
The new church of St Anne's was built
in Middletown in 1871, and was consecrated
by Bishop Alfred Lee on April 4th, 1872.
1t was handsome stone structure and cost
about $4,000 to build It was burned at
the destruction which occurred
on May I'd, 1882. 1t was rebuilt during the
same year and the re-opening services,
which were conducted by the Rector, the
Rev. Mr.. Lewis. occurred on Christmas day
of that year.
Eight years ago the present pastor, Rev.
Joseph Beers, became rector of the parish,
and during his ministry the church has
had period of marked success. The church
properly has been improved and many
commandments added to the membership.
The interest which is being manifested in
the annual service at old St. Anne's which
tomorrow IS largely due to his zeal; effort
to make the service memorable are lauda-
bic. Every member of the parish, and all
interested friends should avail themselves
of the opportunity % attend this service.
Tne sermon and music viii BE-