The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-02
The history Of the Episcopal
church In Virginia Is coeval
with that Of the colony and the

New World The English COloniStS,
who made the first permanent settle
ears ago, brought with them, as a
natter OF course, their own Protestant
md Episcopal Church OF England, with
ner open Bible her prayer book, min,
lstry and sacraments, as we have them
to-day. The royal articles, Instructions
and orders" for the colony provided
that the true word and service OF
God and Christian faith be preached. 4
planted and used. according to the
doctrine, rights (rites) and religion
now protested and established Within
our realm OF England" Nor wes there
any disposition on the part OF our
colonists to depart from these in
structions. since at this time there had
been no separation from the estabIish-
ment In England, and religious dig
ferences had no part in the settlement
OF Virginia. So this became the legally
established church Of the colony, and
SO continued as long as 1t remained
subject to the British Crown. and In
deed, for eight years thereafter
Some Early Workers.
At first ministers We're sent over
from England by the London Company.
and were men most carefully selected
for their character and. fitness The
names OF tho Rev. Robert Hunt. chap
ers. and OF the Rev Alexander Whit
taker, founder, with the excellent Sir
Thomas Dale. of Henrico Parish, wall
always be held in remembrance, and
there were others Of whom less is
known who were also worthy Of high
Nonor. Each plantation or "hundred"
as considered q parish, and was sup
led, as far as possible, with a church
I'd minister. but as the settlements
N read and the county took the place
Y the plantation as the unit Of local
government the parishes became 1arg-
er aud comprised usually about half
or a county. with we'll defined bounds,
and containing from two to four or
five churches or chapels. Each parish
was the charge OF one minister, and
lay-readers were usually employed to
assist him in maintaining regular
services at his different churches. So
we have the large rural parishes.
which have always been a feature OF
the church In virginia.
The first churches would, at course,
he rude buildings OF logs or plank,
to be supplanted later by the hand
some and substantial colonial churches
which still remain in many localities
as the pride Of their respective neigh
horhoods. AS population extended
westward. after the tidewater had been
coupled the formation OF new parishes
by successive acts OF the General AS
,embly proceeded with it, and at the
outbreak of the Revolution tho whole
country east Of the Blue Ridge. anc
4 also the lower valley was occupied BY
.he Church. There We're then abou
me hundred organized parishes II
II yirgioia very few OF which were with
Al tut ministers, and probably about three
n hundred churches.
81 Salary In Tobacco.
II Each parish was under the contro
II vestry, composed OF twelve Q
] | re leading gentlemen and largest tax
= ayers. They were elected In the firs
Y ,AtaEcc by vote OF the freeholders
u 1T were thenceforward close cor
~ ration unless dissolved by act OF tn
aHislature. The vestry was require
II s. law to build and keep in repair
4 ,uffcient number OF churches to pro
vide u glebe, a house and small farm
Tor the minister and to pay his fixe
salary OF 10000 pounds OF tobacco.
They had also to provide for tn
poor, to oversee the provisioning g
land boundaries and to enforce til
laws regulating the public moral
They also laid the parish. levy, frol
which all these expenses were pait
che Office OF vestrynen was an In
u portant one In the administration (
local affairs, and 1t was much sougi
afler, an influence sufficient to gal
u seat being about the only qualif
cation necessary.
Influence Of England.
Ministers were obtained from Enc
land. or If POSSIBLE men We're chose
here and sent to England for exanin,
tlon and ordination. Some ministe,
\ without standing in the old countl
\ would come to Virginia looking for
] living, and would occasionally be give
~ mn. tcl, 1,nr I,e,y nS>D
be most unworthy men, or would (
from place to place officiating as O,
portunity was allowed them. On
Installed IN a parish it was almo
impossible, under the law, to disposse
minister Of bad character. so til
much scandal was occasioned by
few such black sheep. though the
number has been grossly eSaggerate
The vestries were earnest in the
endeavors to secure good ministe
and the great majority OF those
the colony We're cody. faithful a
efficient men. Many OF them wr1e ed
Gators. as well as clergymen. q
under their nnaided ministry for me
than "a century and half the GosI
I was preached, religion was kept ali
N the public conscience was trial ned, al
~ In spite of the prevailing vices of t
81 ago, multltudcs OF devoNt and hont
n able Eaen and women We're taught Y
ways OF God. .gs
In Fixed Groove.
But while the Colonial church "
thus supported and protected as
n part OF the governmental machine
M she was perforce running In a fix
groove, with no voice as a church
lli the management OF her own anal
and no capacity for the developp,s
VII OF her corporate life. Her laws W,
" made by the General Assembly u
! administered by the vestries, VIII,
functions, as We have seen, We're ci
rather than ecclesiastical.
tler nominal bishop lived In Lond
and his comnlissary had no power Q
but small influence, at least after 4
days OF Blair. She could not adop,
single rule for her own guidance q
could neither choose nor diaplace
ministers or other officers. This I
han been forgotten when the chu
has been taulted for failures and