Milford chronicle., 1915-09-17
LARGE CROWD AT
BARRATT'S CHAPEL

The largest crowd that ever was
present at the celebration of the an
niversary of the bnilding of Barratt's
Chapel, near Frederick, attended the
| celebration of the one hundred and
| thirty-fifth anniversary of the found
ing of the famous chapel last Sunday
1t is estimated that between five and
eight thousand people were present at
the exercises.
The annual anniversary address
and sermon was delivered by the Rev
Albert Wagg, d. D., of CollingswoOd
n. j., who preached a most eloquent
sermon concluding with a brief ad-
dress on the history of Methodism on
the Peninsula in which he spoke of
the sacredness Of Barratt's Chapel
and the place the edifice holds in the
affections of the Methodists of the
State and nation. The anniversary
exercises were presided over by the
Rev. Leolan Jackson, pastor of Mag
nOia Methodist Episcopal Church,
Baratt's Chapel being on the Mag
nOlia Circuit
Because of the throngs that fiocked
to the exercises and taking advantage
of the clear weather the exercises
were not held in the building as in
former years, but were held in the
grove surrounding the venerable old
church. A choir, composed of the
best singers of the surrounding
churches. furnished special music for
the exercises.
The annual celebration of the ami
versary of the founding of Barratt's
Chapel has long since become an in
stitutiOn of Kent County and the
lower part of the State where Meth
odism is especially strong. Year after
year the anniversary exercises are
made the occasion of family re-
unions and local political leaders take
full advantage of the meeting of
thousands of voters of the county
Long before noon hundreds of auto
each filled to capacity and
coming from all parts of Delaware,
and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. !
parked in the grove surrounding the
ancient edifice and in the fields along
The roads nearby. Included in the
automobiles were many from Penn
sylvania and New Jersey and other |
States, the people having been pass |
ng through the State and stopping |
)ver for the celebration.
Barratt's Chaple, more Familiarity |
Known as the Cradle of Methodism."
vas erected in 1880 on land donated
~ Philip Barratt, the church being
IN the "Old Kings Road" leading
rom Dover to Frederica, about mile
rom the latter town. The building
vas completed in tie late fall of the
ear and services have been held
here ever since.
Barratts Chapel is especially re-
cred by the Methodists of the PENN
ula because of the fact that it was on
he altar steps of the church that
bishop Thomas Coke and Bishop
rancis Asbury first met in November
7S4, and planned the campaign that
'as to spread MethOdism throughout
he land And it was in the same
hurch one year later that the Rev. ]
Ezekiel Cooper who was largely re-
ponsible for the successful spread I
the new doctrine, was ordained to /
le priesthood
To this day the old building re
aims in much the same condition it I
as when first erected. During the
rst years of the existence of the r
lurch the walls remained very rough
nd the bare ground was the only
Dor, but during all this time largely s
tended meeting were held regularly.
sveral years ago new girders were
aced in the building and a new floor t.
id. At the same time the old roof
as replaced with a new one and a
lmber of minor repairs were made
the building. The old pulpit, which '
aced high above the floor, almost a