The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1924-10-02

With record of service extend
ing over two centuries and rich in
the historical association it holds
long before and during the founding
and rapid development of our ma
ion. tie 200th anniversary of st.
Andrews Amwell church, at Lam
hertville, is to be observed by
members of the parish, led by the
present rector, Rev. DR.. Thomas J.
Bensley, with an appropriate pro-
gram arranged to begin next Sunday
and continue until Wednesday.
In the brief survey of the two
centuries of history of the noted
church at Lmbertville, which is given
herewith, it may be seen that this
is not only one of the very oldest
churches in the United States, but
that it has continued to survive and
thrive during the many stormy de-
cades in which its members and
leaders have bestowed abundant re-
ligious influence upon the commun-
ity
Bishop Paul Mathews is among
the prominent clergymen who will
attend the anniversary services,
while other features programmed in
clude a session in the ancient Rim
goes churchyard, parish social to
which all pastors and members of
religious societies of the community
are invited to participate, and also
a supper for visiting clergy and
vestry in the parish house.
st. Andrews is the ninth oldest
Incorporated parish in New Jersey.
Officers Of the Corporation of
Amwell Parish for 1924, in addition
TO Rector Bensley, include Jacob II.
Holcombe and Thomas j. Walker,
wardens; Fred Stout, Robert Justice,
Raymond Wesner, Charles Young,
Sidney Thompson, and Sylvester
Kroegen, vestrymen; S. G.. Kroesen,
recording secretary; ]. II. Holcombe,
financial secretary; Sidney Thomp-
son, treasurer.
Among the rectors who have SER
we'd Amwell parish and their periods
Of leadership are the following:
Rev Andrew Morton, from 1850
TO 1866; Rev. William Frazer, from
1853 TO 1875; Rev James Adams,
from lsi5 to ls49; Rev. David
Brown, from 1850 to 1867; Rev.
William McGlathery, from 1868 to
1869; Rev. Charles Ritter, from
1869 to 1870; Rev. Samuel II. Meade,
M. D., from 1870 to 1871; Rev. John
Ireland, from 1871 to 1872; Rev. j.
Vanlinge, d. D., from 1872 to
1873; Rev. Henry NJ. Baum, from
1876 to 1877; Rev Thomas b New
by, from 1877 to 1879; Rev. Elvin
X. Smith, from 1879 to 1896; rec
tor-emcritus from 1896 to 1900;
Rev. Herbert S. Smith, from 1896
to 1908; Rev. John Carr, from 1905
to 1911; Rev. Henry W. Armstrong,
from 1911 to 1918; Rev. Thomas J.
BensleY d. d.. from 1918.
ST. Andrews Amwell bears the
distinction of having been one Of
the Colonial churches of New Jer-
sey, fruit of the labors Of the now
venerable but then newly formed
English Society for the Propaganda
Of the Gospel in Foreign Parts.
To the faithful and jealous services
If the missionaries Of this society,
performed at times under circum-
stances Of great difficulty, the
church IN these United States is in
debted TO an extent now little APP
preciatcd or understood.
Churches and mission stations were
established in the vicinity Of Tren-
ton very early in the Eighteenth
century. Up to 1928 Amwel town
ship was "the northwestern and ut
termost bounds Of Hunterdon coun-
ty tHunterdon county was erected
March IL, 17l4. It's southern
boundary was the River Dermcnt
now known as the Assaupink creek)
and the frontier Of the Province of
New Jersey.
The name Of the first missionary
is not known, but there is evidence
that efforts were made TO plant
the Church of England here as early
as l716. In a letter dated at Bur
lington, September 20, 1923, and adj
dressed to the secretary of the S. P.
G., Rev John Talbot, founder Of st.
Mary's, Burlington. and one of the
first missionaries sent out by the
society, states that during the month
he had been preaching the Gospel