Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1916-04-27
rson County, West Virginia, Thursday, April 27. 1916

Ot1O III. WllldHlS, OF Mar lldnu, were
wounded, he commanded the rifle regi-
ment OF Maryland and Virginia during the
remainder of the action. He received
letter from Gen. Washington but two
months before the generals death, speak
ing of him as ga valuable officer in the
Revolutionary War" After his return to
Shepherdstown he became the most
active friend and supporter of the church.
contributing the principal part towards
the erection OF new church edifce, rep
resenting the church in the Diocesan Con-
ventions, and seeing that all the dues OF
the parish were punctually paid. He died
on the 7th OF September, 1922, in his Goth
year.
His widow, Mrs. Eleanor Shepherd,
the chief character in this memorial, sur
vived him thirty years, and continued
until the day OF her death the chief in
every good work for the support and ex-
tension OF true religion. She was the
principal contributor TO the present church
edifice, erected in 1912, giving more than
$500, from resources by no means abun-
dant. The bell aad clock were the gift
OF her son, r. D. Shepherd, Esq, who
also has given the sum OF three thousand
dollars toward the fourth Episcopal church,
now in the course OF erection, which.
when completed, will compare favorably
with any church in the diocese. few
only in the cities excepted. This dona-
ton determined the proposition 10 build
a new church.
From the fact that no church records
are known 10 have been kept from 1863
until 1910, it has been found impossible
TO give any accurate information con-
cerning The ministers who have officiated
in this church; but from laborious in
quiries among the older inhabitants les
pecially of Mrs. Shepherd and COM
pariSon OF dates, the writer believes the
following partial information may be re-
lied on as. accurate as far as itgoes. From
1869 until 1884 the church seems 10 have
had no stated service. In that year, or
perhaps earlier, the Rev. Mr.. Sturgis was
its stated minister In 1856 he was sue
ceeded by the Rev. Mr.. Stubs. Persons
baptized by him are still living in the
neighborhood. After Mr.. Stubbs re-
moved, the church was dependent for
several years, as was every church in
the counties OF Berkeley and Jefferson,
upon the celebrated lay reader, Morgan
Morgan. The next ministers were the
Rev. MIR. VeaZey and the Rev. MIR. Will
son. All that can be ascertained OF them
is that their term Of service preceded the
year 1895; for in that year the Rev. Ber-
nard Page was rector OF the church. He
was from England, man OF great ability
as a preacher, and entered fully into the
evangelical doctrines then preached with
so much fervor and success in the Church
OF England. After three or tour years he
was called to Williamsburg, where, from
the effects OF the climate, he soon died.
In the year 1900 the Rev. Mr.. Heath
had charge Of the church; and about the
year 1910 it was occasionally served by
the Rev. Mr.. Price from Hagerstown; but
from the removal of Mr.. Page up 10 the
year 1917, the church was in very low
condition, and must have been vacant the
greater part OF the time from its foun-
dation. But in the year 1917 the Rev.
BENJAMIN Allen, afterwards rector OF ST.
Paul's Church, Philadelphia, became rec
tor OF the church, in connection with three
or four others in Berkeley and Jefferson
counties. He preached four times on
every Sabbath, at as many different
churches, and very frequently during the
week at regular stations. During the
five years OF his ministry The church and
the interests Of religion generally received
an impulse which has been most sensiblY
felt to the present day. He made the
first report to the Diocesan Convention.
In the churches OF Shepherdstown and
Charles Town there were 80 communi-
cants, but the proportion TO each is not
stated. In 1922 the Rev. b. b. Smith,
the present Bishop OF Kentucky, became
the rector Of the church, and continued
about eighteen months; when in 1923 The
Rev. Alexander Jones succeeded TO the
rectorship, which he held for fifteen years
in connection with that OF Zion Church
at Charles Town, where he resided. In
1S4O the Rev. |. H. Morrison, the present
rector OF ST. Peters Church, Baltimore,
was called 10 the church, and continued
its rector for two years. During his
ministry the present church edifice was
commenced, and the greater part OF the
means obtained. In November, 1912, the
present rector took charge Of the church.
II has now valuable rectorY towards
the purchase OF which Mrs. Shepherd was
the principal contributor, a very COM
modious, most substantial and beautiful
church now in progress, and a congre-
CATION with sufficient ability to support
the Gospel at home and contribute TO-
wards IFS extension abroad.
When the church was completed in
1853, the town clock that had been in the
tower Of the old church now used by
the colored Methodists) was removed TO
the new. The circular windows that
may be observed in the tower were used
q. .l.a incac IL The clnck Rezin nauis