Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1925-11-21
OLD CHRIST CHURCH A
HISTORIC LANDMARK
Will Be Shrine For Visitors Next
Year To The Sesquicentennial
In Philadelphia

Old Christ Church, on Second ST.,
below Arch street, Philadelphia, has
heard the prayers of Americas first
patriots beseeching freedom from tyr
amy. Visitors to the Susquicenten-
NAL International Exposition next
year will scarcely find landmark of
more historical significance.
Construction of the ancient sanct-
uary, which is of pure Colonial archi-
lecture, was begun in 1927. Dissen-
sion regarding an environment con-
ducive to worship must have abounded
for many alterations were made, and
it was only after the pulpit was NOV
ed twice, the gallery enlarged, the
esats altered, and the twentyfour
branch chandelier hung that the body
Of the church was completed in 1744.
The pillars alone seem to have been
made of adamant.
Funds for steeple and bells were
raised by means of lottery. They lat
ter would indicate more broad mind
ed attitude on the part of our fore
fathers toward funding expenses than
is the custom of the goth century YES
tryman. There can be no doubt that
lit was overscribed since Benjamin
Franklin was one of it's managers. The
tower and steeple were completed in
1753-54, and chime of eight bells,
costing five hundred pounds, was i'm
ported.
The old pulpit Of ITO, the prayer
desks made from the original high
desk, and the old communion table be-
y low the altar, remain to this day. The
font, at which Bishop White, Francis
Hopkinson, and long list Of worthless
were baptized, was replaced in 1879
by one which was the gift of Jonathan
Gostelowe. The beautiful silver bowl,
weighing over sixty-three ounces, pre-
sented by Colonel Robert Quarry of
the British Army in 1712 lis still used.
1t is the general impression that
, Washington, during his sojourn in
Philadelphia, was regular attendant
at Christ Church. However, it appears
from the correspondence of Bishop
White with Colonel Mercer that the
General was at one time worship
per at st. Peters. Says Bishop White:
"He was an antipode to those who are
in the habit of changing the places
of their attendance"
Many distinguished men were buried
under the floors of Christ Church, in
Guiding Bishop White and his brother
in-law, Robert Morris. In the bury
ing ground at the southeast corner Of
Fifth and Arch streets were buried
Franklin and his wife, Deborah; Gen
era flames Irvine, Major William
Jackson, the Rev. Bird Wilson, Pey-
ton Randolph, president of the First
Continental Congress, and Francis
Eopkinson.
The Rev. Jacob Duche, gentleman
with Tory prociivities shepherded the
illustrious period Of 1776. On the 4th
o. July, after the reading of the Dec
laration, he permitted the bells of the
church to chime merrily, becoming,
for the moment, patriot. Later he
wrote his famous letter to Washington
in which he states that he insisted
upon using the prayer for the royal
! family till the last moment, though
threatened with violence; but that on
: the Declaration of independence, not
being able to consult his spiritual SUI
perior, he called his vestry together
and solemnly put the question,
whether they thought it best for the
congregations to close the churches or
to continue the services without using
the petitions for the royal family.
The vestry promptly decided: "The
Honorable Continental Congress, hav
ing resolved to declare the American
Colonies to be free and Independent
States: it will be proper to omit these
petitions"
Verify, the clerical conscience was
salved with opportunism.