The sun., 1898-10-16
Cradle OF METAOD|SM. 7
Historic Barratt's Chapel Will
Celebrate Its 114th Anniyer-
sary Next Sunday.
ASBuRY AND COKE WEPT HERE
The First Methodist Church in This
Country Stands Near Frederick,
Del---Named For One of the
COuntry's Old and Illus
trious Families.
ASBuRY AND COKE WEPT HERE


trious Families.
Next Sunday the l14th anniversary OF
Barratt's Chapel will be celebrated at
that historic place of worship in the
southeastern part of Murderkill hundred
and about one mile from the ancient
town OF Frederick.
The old chapel. which is called "The
Cradle of Methodism," was built nearly
1lS years ago, but the anniversary is
dated from four years later, when the
first Quarterly Meeting was held in the
building.
The historic old Barratt's was built i:
grove OF oak trees, many of which are
standing today and their massive and
gnarled trunks and their wide spreading
limbs testify that they have been guar
dians Of this ancient place OF worship
for over a century and have sheltered
the hardy pioneers from the broiling sun
for nearly century before. The old
oaks have moaned in sympathy with the
suffering pioneers during the chilling
winter months when they were strug.
Cling for civil and religious liberty, and
who were trying to convert wilderness
into a hapitable God fearing country by
industry and labor. Yet, these pioneers
persevered, and not only brought the
land under cultivation, but cared for the
spiritual welfare of their respective fami'
lies, meeting from house to house and
some times when the worshipers were
too numerous to be accommodated with.
in doors the meetings were held beneath
the old oak trees on the spot where now
stands substantial proof of their relig.
ious aspirations.
Few changes have been made in the
chapel. The old bench on which Coke
and Asbury sat and wept and kissed
each other is still in evidence.
The Barratt family who were SO active
in the construction of the chapel are now
almost extinct, there being but few direct
defendants Of Philip Barratt, the founder
of the church.
The pulpit will be filled on this occa.
sion by former Presiding Elder Barratt
of Milford, and there will be services
morning and evening.
The surroundings of the chapel are
beautiful and kept in excellent order by
sexton John Ryan, who lives with his
family in house situated in the church
grove.
The grove is a beautiful clump O
mammoth oak trees, while the grounC
beneath them is covered with luxuriant
growth of grass we'll kept. There are
several dwellings through the grove ane
in the rear is a pump and watering
trough for the accommodation of thost
who attend church by teams.
On The left of the chapel is the come
terry with low brick wall running from
the front along the end and an iror
fence along the entire front. The bury
ing ground is we'll kept and laid out ant
many, if not all of the founders OF tht
chapel, sleep within its gates.
The little iyy-covered church will no.
hold one-third of the people who attent
the anniversary celebrations, for they
come hundreds OF miles and from many
different states to see the spot Whert
Methodism struggled for its existence il
the United States and where through
John Wesley and his emissaries Crane
and permanent victory was won.
The following is a true and historica
account of the foundation of the churcl
in 1850, and of the next doubtful years
of its existence:
Barratt's Chapel is located on what wa:
formerly known as Williams Chance
and is a noted land mark in the history
of the Methodist Episcopal Church ir
this county. 1t is situated about one
mile north of the town of Frederick, or
the road leading to Dover. The land
upon which it is located was decided by
Phillips Barratt, August 18th, 1850,
''unto Reymar Williams, David Lewis,
Waitman Sipple, Samuel Smith, Caleb
Furber, Johpathan Furbee, Andrew
Purdin, William Virden and Daniel
James," trustees.
The deed of feoffment, after, receiving
the nominal consideration of five shil-
lings current money, continues in these
words: "For divers other causes and
considerations thereunto moving him,
the said Phillip Barratt have granted
All that part of tract or parcel OF land
called Williams Chance-Beginning at a
marked hickory bush standing about
three feet to the eastward from where a
marked red oak formerly stood, being a
corner tree of said Williams Chance, as
also a corner of a tract Of land called Gus
bee, and about eight perches from the east
ernmost corner Of brick building now
carrying on and intended for a Preaching
House or Chapel, there runs northwest
thirteen perches to hickory sapin
marked with nine notches, then south.
west by west thirteen perches to a
hickory bush marked as aforesaid, then
southeast thirteen perches to red oak
saplin marked as aforesaid, standing in
or near the line of Bowers Furbee's part
of Williams Chance, that with that line
to the beginning aforesaid containing one
acre OF land, be the same more or less
upon special trust and con-
fdence and to the intent and express
purpose Of building Preaching House
or Chapel thereon, and that they, the
said trustees and survivors Of them and
the trustees for the time being, do and
shall and shall from time to time and for
all times forever thereafter, permit such
person as shall be appointed at the
Yearly Conference of the people called