Evening journal., 1903-10-19
WELSH TRACT CHURCH
TWO HUNDRED YEARS OLD
of Oldest Baptist
Meeting House in Della
ware Being Observed

ine ltuth anniversary or the Oiu NtieN
Trao. Baptist Meeting House. near Iron
Hll, which Is the oldos. Baptist Church
IN Delaware and one Of the Oldest in this
country ts being observed today. The cell
ebration is Of especial interest to the old
school Baptist throughout the country
and many visitors are present 10 take
part ln the EXERCISES.
Henry c. Conrad and Frlncis II. IIof-
fecker are among the Wumlnptonians
who are attending the anniversary and
Mr.. Conrad may make a short address.
IL was expected chat Governor McCul-
lough. of Vermont, whose family was
buried in the Welsh Tract burying
grounds would also be present. but when
seen 'thls morning Mr.. Conrad said he
did not know whether the distinguished
Governor would he there or not.
The exercises started at i o'clock thisI
afternoon and the principal address viii
be made by DR.. Benjamin r. Coltcr, oil
Philadelphia, on the history Of the
church Elder Enbanks will preach an
appropriate sermon.
Yesterday was the yearly meeting day
and In the morning a sermon was preach-
ca hy Elder Horace Lefferis, Of Philadel-
phla. who took as his dext Peter II, to
li0 verses Elder William Grafton Of For
lest Hin. Nd. spoke briefly ana alluded
TO the age Of the church.
At the afternoon service the sermon was
Z by Elder Meredith who took as his text,
Isaiah 4, 26. and Elder Grafton quoted
numerous passages OF scripture.
The History Of the Church.
The original Welsh Tract Meeting
House was erected on the present site IN
ll1o3. It's construction being of stones
lgathered from neighboring felds.
In June Of 1901 Thomas Griffith, Grif-
nth Nicholas. Evan Edmond. John Ed
ward. elisha Thomas. Enoch Morgan,
Richard David. James David. Elizabeth
lGrifhth. Lewis Edmond. sIary John. Mary
Thomas. Elizabeth Grifn,h Jennet David,
Margaret Mafhias and Jennct Morris.
having previously been constituted a
church. sailed from Milford and landed
az Philadelphia, September s. They were
advised 10 settle at Pennepok, which adj
vice they followed. and there they re-
NAMED for nearly two years when they
procured land near Iron Hill from the
gran.ers Of .he Welsh Tract In i703 dhoy
removed to the land purchased by them IN
Pencader hundred and erected the orig
inal meeting house.
in l7i6 the present church was built on
a lot containing six acres. The odilce
was slightly damaged by the British dur
ing the battle of Cooch's Bridge. The
British used chain shot, and one Of these
weighing thirty-six pounds. Is in the pos
session of Edwin Clendenin. living ncar
the church. who will exhibit d at the ser.
vices today when @ complete history OF
the old meeting house viii be read Mr
lClendenln found the two shots about M
teen inches apart. The chain which form
erly connected them had rusted away.
The road passing by the church wa
formerly known as the Kings Highway
land pust across from where the edihc
Stands a stone dwelling which was ereci
/ ed at the time the first church was buiil
, The dwelling. which was built on colonl'
I lines, IS tenated by Arthur Mccall. n
sexton OF the church. and his family
While In pursuit Of the British Washing
ton stopped at the old dwelling and spen
Ia few hours within It's walls.
The old meeting house Is situated ol
lthe northwestern slope Of Iron Hill an,
about three miles distant from Newark
The ediice Is Of stone construction Will
a gabel roof and wall about two fee
lin height surrounding it-and the churcl
yard.
The graveyard which contains tn,
graves OF many Of the prominent citizens
OF early Delaware is divided into two sec.
tions, the old and new. the old meeting
house serving as the dividing Line. The
epitaphs on the tombstones IN the Old
section are written in both Latin and
English.