Middletown transcript., 1914-06-27
A HISTORIC CHURCH
2O9th Anniversary Of the Founding
of Old st. Anne's
ABLE ADDRESS BY MR. CATTELL

Safy OF Cle IOuUuluS Oh OC. ALu6 >
Episcopal Church, was celebrated Sun
day. The anniversary sermon was
preached by the Rt. Rev. Frederick J.
Kinsman, bishop of the Protestant
Episcopal diocese of Delaware. At the
afternoon service an address was deliv-
cred by Edward J.-Cattell, of Philadel-
phia, Special music was a feature of
both tne morning and afternoon ser
vices.
During the day fully thousand per-
sons attended the anniversary services
at the quaint old church among the
huge oaks IN the grove. Between
seventy-ive and hundred automobiles
brought visitors from a distance to the
church while hundreds came to Middle
town on the early morning trains.
| Among the visitors were many men
prominent in the business, professional
and political activities of the state.
The anniversary services in the morn
ing were conducted by the Rev. Percy
l.. Donaghay, rector of st. Anne's.
Special music was rendered by the
choir and several solos were sung by
John w. Vandersloot, bass soloist, and
Charles w. Deans, tenor soloist of
Philadelphia.
REVIEWS HISTORY
In his sermon, Bishop Kinsman told
of the early history of St Anne's par
ish from the time of the founding of
the church in 1705 to the present time.
He told of the part played by the So
ciety for the propagation of the gospel
in the establishment of the church in
Appoquinimink hundred, and of the
erection of the first chul ch building in
1902. He recounted the work accom-
plished by the different rectors of the
| church since the time of its founding
until the present time.
In speaking of the significance of the
name est. Anne's" he dismissed any
credence in local traditions concerning
the naming of the parish after any local
person, declaring that there could be
but little doubt but that the parish was
named after Queen Mary of England,
who was crowned queen about the time
of the founding of the church. He re-
minded his hearers of the many beneyo-
| lences bestowed on the parish by the
queen during her life time. He drew
! the attention of the audience to frag~
ment of an altar cloth, bearing the in
itials "A. R." which had been en-
broidered by the queen and presented to
the parish.
Bishop KiEsman also declared that
there was a possibility that the church
| had been named after Anne, the mother
of the Virgin Mary, but said that the
evidence tended to show that the church
was really named est Anne's" as a
compliment to the reigning monarch.
AFTERNOON SER VICE
The afternoon services were conduct
ed by the Rev. Percy L. Donaghay,
rector of st. Anne's assisted by the
Rev. Thomas Getz Hill, rector of the
Protestant Episcopal Church at Smyrna
The address was delivered by Edward j
Cattell of Philadelphia.
In his address Mr. Cattell spoke of
the necessity of preserving such monu-
ments of a past generation as ST. Anne's
and perpetuating them for future gen
erations. He pointed out the beauties
of the old church building among the
old trees and told of the enthusiasm
which the sight of the old church
with its traditions should inspire in
everyone.
The offering at the two services of
the day amounted to over $3.50. This
amount will be devoted to the erection
of brick wall around the church yard.
Already large portion of the wall has
been erected with several memorial
gates.
SKETCH OF CHURCH
st. Anne,s Church was first founded
in 1705, just two hundred and nine
years ago, although the history of the
parish really begins in the preceding
year. The founding of the parish in
Appoquinimink hundred was largely the
result of the work of the Society for
the Propagation of the Gospel. This
society was organized in 1701, and in
the following year sent out the Rev.
George Keith on a trip through the colo
nies to observe the conditions. The
founding of the parish of ST. Anne was
a direct result of the visit of the Rev.
Keith to Delaware.
In 1904 Richard CantwelI and William
Dvre, with several others, were autho-
Erized to survey and lay out the tract of
ground on the left hand of Queens
Road below Appoquinimink hundred for
the erection of the church The first
church building was erected the follow
ing year, and although rude structure
did service for more than sixty years.
After the erection of the church
building the parish was three years
without any settled rector, services be-
| ing held IN the church by visiting clergy
men from New Castle, Dover or the
neighboring state of Maryland. In 1708,
however, the Rev. Thomas jenkins
became the first rector of the parish.
He died the following year, but in the
short time in which he was rector drew
together a congregation Of over 200
persons.
Services were conducted with more or
less regularity at St. Anne's until the
troubulous days of the opening of the
Revolution. On Sunday, July 28, 1776,
the Rev. Phillip Reading being rector,
the last services were held until after
the close of the Revolutionary War.
! It was during the time that the Rev.
Mr.. Reading was rector of st. Anne's
| that the present structure was built.
The exact date of the erection of the
church is largely matter of con-
i lecture but it is certain that the
present structure was built about the
year 1853, the bricks, according to ira
1 dition, being brought from England.
1t was also probably during the minis
try of the Rev. Mr.. Reading that the
silver communion set, still in use of the
parish, was presented to St. Anne's
bv Mrs. Rebecca Dyre, then of New
York city, but formerly a member of
the parish.
In the minutes of the parish under
date of October 8, 1866, is found the
first mention of the erection of a new
church building in Middletown. The
new church was not erected until 1872,
when the Rev John G. McCabe, d. D.
was rector. In the meantime however
the necessity for a place for holding
services in Middletown was supplied by