The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-17
ST. JOHN SCHURCH.
. is 800 YEARS old.
Formal Celebration OF Annivers-
airy Will Begin
To-day.
AN IMPRESSIVE PROGRAM
Conservation of First Foundation
to Take Place Tues
day.
AN IMPRESSIVE PROGRAM
Especial to The Times-Dispatch. j

Especial to The Times-Dispatch.]
Hampton, Va, July 16-With dis
tinguished bishops and ministers in at
tendance, the congregation of famous
old ST.. Johns Church will tomorrow
begin the celebration of its three hun
dredth anniversary. According to tho
correct history of the parish Of Eliz-
abeth City, from which has grown the
present congregation, 1t was formed in
July, three hundred years ago, and
the most accurate information gives
the date of the establishment of the
church as July II, 1910. For several
months the congregation and the rec
| tor Rev. Reverdy Estill, d. D., have
been planning to observe the third
century anniversary, and the exercises
are expected to attract many promi-
nent Episcopalians from all sections of
the Old Dominion.
Until to-day the venerable bishop OF
Virginia, the Right Rev. A. NJ, Ran
dolph, D. D., had been expected to
come here to open the celebration to-
morrow morning. with confirmation
services, but telegram from the aged
prelate says that he is with his III
daughter in Baltimore. and that he
will not be able to be present at any
of the anniversary exercises.
The Rev. Beverly D. Tucker, p. d.
bishop coadjutor, will take the place
of Bishop Randolph and will confirm a
class of twenty or more communi-
cants at the morning services. The
exercises proper will begin at o'clock
Sunday morning, when Holy Commun-
Ion will be administered by Bishop
Tucker, after which the formal presen-
tation of the beautiful hagon will be
made.
Historical Address.
At II o'clock Sunday morning Bish-
on Tucker will confirm class Of COM
municants, and will then make a his
torical address. giving information re-
lative to the establishment of the
Episcopal Church. and its growth in
this country.
sunday afternoon the services will
be In the nature Of historical talks. as
the Rev. w. W. Scott, chaplain at Fort
Monroe; Rev. j. M. Neifert. chaplain
of the National Soldiers Home and
the Rev. r. Fl. Wright, assistant rec
tor of st. Johns Church, will be the
speakers.
Monday night the Rev. Corbin BraX-
ton Bryan, D. D., Of Petersburg. for
merly the rector here. will give an
address in which he will tell Of the
work under his rectorshlp.
Probably the most impressive as
we'll as the most unique feature, OF
the celebration will take place on
Tuesday morning, when services VIII
be held on the site of the first foun-
dation of the church. This founda'
ton was only recently found, and l.
! located on the Tabb Farm, just at thu
outskirts of tho city. The Rev. j. j
Gravatt, D. D., rector of Holy Trlnit,
Church, who spent twenty-seven year!
as rector OF st. Johns, will make tht
1 address at the foundation, while thu
| complete vested choir, consisting o.
| forty or more male and female voices
will render appropriate music. Thi
exercise will be denominated the con
secratjon Of the first foundation. I
.Ihas been for years a desire of anti
4 uuarians here to locate the first ant
A original foundation OF the church, ant
4 Jacob Heffelfinger finally made the dis
covery.
i Complete Record of Church.
4 Tuesday the celebration Will enc
Y with a historical address by Jacob Hef
elfnger, senior warden of the boar
of Vestrymen Mr., Heffelfnger ha
4 compiled complete history of tn
church from its beginning to July
! 1910.
u ST. Johns Church has been serve
4 by some Of the most distinguished min
L listers OF England and the United States
j, and list OF their names would max
very decidedly Interesting reading. MI
Hehelhpger Will probably be able Z