The times., 1899-08-17
FIRE DESTROYS A CHURCH
st. Peters. at West Chester. N. T.,
Mass of Ruins.
The Edifice Wherein DIR. Briggs
ordination Was Forbidden-Brave
Efforts TO Save Valuable Records
and Furniture-Electric Wires Sup
posed to Have Caused the Biaze.

New York Aug. 1e.-St. Peters Episeo-
pal Church, West Chester, of which the Rev.
Dr. F. n clendenin is the pastor, was prac-
ticslly destroyed by a fire this morning.
The loss is reckoned at about 5000 geo.
How the flames started is unknown. Po
Iicenen Nicholas Turner and Charles Con-
ley were passing the place shortly after /
O'Clock when they noticed an unusual IL
Illumination within the building A moment
later one OF the great stained glass windows
fell and smoke and flame leaped out in
great quantities. Conley ran TO the nearest
alarm box and tried TO turn in a call for
the engines. but found the apparatus out
of order He then ran 10 a citizens house
and. with great difficulty, succeeded in
arousing the inmates and telephoning for
the engines.
Turner had aroused the people in the
Hotel Hepfer, just across the street, IN the
mean time, and Mr.. Hepfer gave him
bicycle TO 20 for the engines He was on
his way when the changing of the gongs in
formed him of their approach Another
alarm was turned in after the engines ar
rived, but the water pressure was weak,
and the men could do little to stop the fire
BY this time the flames had gained great
headway Coniey and some citizens OBJ
tained axes and tried to batter in the
doors TO save some Of the valuable church
records. but the heavy oak panels with
stood their work for many minutes Isaac
Butler, the aged sexton Of the church, who
for many years has had charge of the place,
was finally found wandering around in
dazed condition, and was induced TO get
his keys and let the firemen ana police
men into the building. There were heroic
efforts TO save the books and such other
things as could be taken out Many of the
records and other things were carried from
the building Two boys saved the COM
munion service
The entire structure and some of the
outbuildings were abiaze at 2:30, and the
fremen announced that the church would
be entirely destroyed The flames continued
10 burn until nothing except the framework
was left. The destruction of the famous
church was practically complete at 2:50
O'Clock The roof had fallen in, and tbs
walls were cut OF plumb in several places
ST. Peters was Illuminated with cleo
tricity and ii is thought the crossing OF
Improperly insulated wires started the fire
The flames started back of the chancel rali-
All the citizens OF West Chester were finally
aroused BY the blaze. and the excitement
was intense. Everybody wanted 10 do some
thing TO save the church. but, as a matter
OF fact. most of the willing ones got in
somebody's way and really hindered the
work. The police OF the West Chester sta
fion were turned out and did creditable
work IN handling the crowds and aiding the
6remen- Several of the old parishioners
were In the crowd, and many were novel
10 tears at the destruction of their be-
loved church
ST. Peters Church has been the house OF
worship OF the most sristoeratic citizens OF
West Chester, and the parish is very OLD
While not strictly high" il has been
classsd with the conservative portion o.
the Episcopal Church. The pastor, Dr..
Clendenin, obtained wide notoriety during
his controversy with Bishop Potter over
the ordination to the Anglican priesthood
of Dr. Briggs Bishop Potter announcer
that he would crdain DR.. Briggs at GER
tain time in ST. Peters Church.
The Bishop and the Episcopal Church
world generally was rather startled when
DR. Clendenin wrote refusing positively 10
permit the ceremony 10 take place in his
church, and he was sustained by his par
sshioners almost unanimously The con-
troYersy waxed warm and DR.. Clendenin
wrote fr+ter, in which he severely crit
icised the attitude of DR.. Briggs and the
Bishop.
St Peters parish Is one OF the Oldest in
New York Members of the Hayemeyer,
Waterbury and other wealthy families
were pewholders IN the burned edifice,
which was d beautiful structure OF brown
granite. covered with ivy.