Evening journal., 1918-03-09
of Dover Church
Where Conference Will Meet

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.
DOVER. Del, March 9.-The conven-
ing Of the annual session of the VIII
mington NJ. E. Conference in Wesley
NJ E Church. Dover. March 20-2J Del
aware's State Capital,, On the nftieth
anniversary Of its organization as q
separate conference formerly being a
part Of the Philadelphia Annual Con-
ference viii make an epoch in the
history Of Wesley Church. enjoyed
possibly by no other Methodist Episco-
pal Church on the Peninsula.
MethOdism in Dover came to its first
organized life in 1882, when plot Of
ground, lying at the intersection Of
North and Queen streets, not far from
the Pennsylvania B0ilr0ad station, was
sold by Vincent Loockerman for the
sum Of five shillings, to John Prior.
Richard Lockwood, William kirley,
Major Taylor and James Hull. "for the
express purpose OF building a preach
ing house or chapel thereon for The
use of the Methodist preachers and the
friendly clergy Of the Church Of Eng
land"
In the year 1899, the society, consist
ing Of twenty families, was incorpor-
ated by the name Of Wesley Church,
near Dover, Kent county and State of
Delaware The first trustees elected
included Richard Basseit. Benoni Har-
ris, John Wiltbank. John LOwber and
Joseph Harper. Some idea may be
had Of the meager beginning Of the
society by the record on the minutes
which reads, purchase two boxes of
glass to be put into the windows be
! low in the meeting house and a. many
above as may be left"
The house, a One-story brick with
galleries on the north, south aud cast
sides, was built in 1850 by Richard
Basselt, a p ointment member Of the
society, afterwards Governor Of the
state Of Delaware, at a cost Of - 00
/ OF which one-half was repaid by sub
scriptions. In this house many Of the
/ first advocates Of Methodsm labored
with success. including Doctor Coke
/ Bishops Asbury, Whatcoat. Mckcndfee
/ George and Freeboyn Garretson, Doctor
Chandler, old Father Conley," John
/ w. Many, John Manlove, and others
/ Bishop Whatcoat's remains lie buried
I In the old NJ. L. Cemetery here, where
7 the old Church stood the interment be-
/ ing directly under the pulpit Of the
old church in 1907. The old edifice
was torn down in 1850, many Of the
bricks therefrom being used in the
/ building Of the present edince. which
/ is located on South State street. two
doors from the Federal Building
The cornerstone Of the present edi-
/ flee was laid September %. 1850 IN
/ February. 1851. the basement Of the
new church was opened for public
worship, the first sermon being preach
ed by the Rev. Charles /. Thompson.
/ In November, 1885, at a congrega-
/ tional meeting it was resolved by q
/ vote of "A to ,. 10 make Wesley Church
station. 1T had been a station In
/ 1885, but returned to a circuit after
{ wards. The request was granted In
/ 1856, and it became a station the sec
ond time and has thus remained ever
! since. In 1856 a three-story brick par
sonage, adjoining The present edi1ce
was built at a cost Of $1,000, including
/ the lot.
s The church was enlarged in 1868 by
} the addition Of twenty feet, during tn,
pastorate Of the Rev. j. II. Light
bourne, d. d. It was further enlarged