The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-05-05
Trinity Church, Abbeville.
Continued from page ~

meeting of the congregation in the
following April, there were present,
Messrs. Parker, Thomas, Jackson,
Wilson, Taggart and T. M. Percival.
The Vestry was authorized anG re-
quested: First, To form, if practical
BILE, such a union with Trinity
Church, Edgefeld, as would enable
the two Churches, with the assist
ance of the Advancement Society, to
secure the services of a regular Min
lister. Second, To obtain, if posi-
BILE, in this capacity, the services of
Rev. Edward Reid, "whose ministe-
rial services to us as a Missionary,
have been acceptable as such servic-
es could we'll be rendered." Third,
To commence forthwith the erection
of a church building. Fourth, to
request the Bishop to appoint Mr..
Thomas Parker a Lay-Reader. Sub
sequently, Rev. Mr.. Phillips was in
vited to take charge of the Church
for the Summer. The arrange
ment, however, was not effected
with the Church in Edgefield, and
Messrs. Reid and Phillips both de-
clined the call made them. A call
to Rev. A. Ford, was also declined.
In June, 1843, the contract was
made for building a small wooden
church for $1,400, to be completed
by January 1st, 1874. The amount
raised within the District did not
exceed 5000 or 300. Meanwhile,
occasional services were held in the
Courthouse.
In octoberA 1913, Rev. A. H. Cor
nish, of Hobart, N. Y, accepted a
call to the Parish. After a brief
visit, he returned to the North about
Christmas, for the purpose of bring
ing on his family. When he reach
ed Charleston with them, early in
February, he received intelligence
of the death of Mr.. Thomas Parker.
His first impules was to return by
the next vessel to New York, but
fortunately he was dissuaded by the
Bishop and came on to Abbevil!e.
Soon after his arrival e. scarcely less
serious blow fell upon the infant
congregation in the death of Mrs. D.
l.. Wardlaw. Mrs. Wardlaw. al
though a Presbyterian, was the most
active and efficient cooperaL.- with
Mr.. Parker, in the establishment Of
the Church, and was The life of the
congregation after his death.
Through her exertion, 10 the little
church now finished, Wore added an
Organ and Communion service. Her
death, just at this crisis, wa a Sc
cond almost irreparable loss.
Mr.. Cornish oficiated as Rector
from 1914 to the beginning of 184e,
when he resigned and removed to
Pendleton. The church was closed
from that time to June 1851, except
occasional services by Mr.. Cornish,
who voluntarily and very kindly Wis.,
tied the parish every two Or three
months for the purpose of Opening
the church and administering the
Communion. From Easter, 1847,
to Easter, 1850, there was no cleo
ton of vestry. A vestry was tacr
elected, including the names of j.
Foster Marshall and w. H. Parkes,
and measures were taken to re-opcn
the church.
In June, 1851, Bishop Gadsden
sent Rev. VIM. Greene as a Mission
airy, who oficiated with satisfaction
to the congregation until June, 1853
when he resigned and removed to
the North. In 1851 the names of
Messrs. S. MCGOWAN and E. Noble
appear on the list of vertrymen, and
in 1852 that of Mr.. j. A. Calhoun.
After the resignation of Mr..
Greene, the church was again closed
until 1854, when on the recommen-
dation of Bishop Davis, the Rev. B.
c. Webb was invited to take charge
of it. He accepted the call, but
his services were of brief duration.
In the following January he resign
ed in consequence of i'll health, and
died in the summer at Wilson's
c.