Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1925-09-05
Interesting Account
OF The Church OF
St. Mary The Virgin
Many Changes Since Organi.
cation Of Parish-List Of
Rectors Given

is a mere child. 1t was in 1845 that
the Episcopalians of Newtown under
took the erection of a church, and the
first service was held therein on the
Ninth Sunday after Trinity, July 20
1915. Until 1855, when Pocomoke
Parish was organized, there are nc
records extant.
The Convention of the Diocese OF
Maryland, in 1854, granted a petition
to separate from Coventry Parish an
area to be known as Pocomoke Parish.
The boundaries of this tract, which
have not been changed, start from
Puncheon Landing, on the Pocomoke
river, and follows the county road to
Green Hill. From thence it follows
the road cast, and includes within il
land in both Somerset and Worcester.
The first Vestry of Pocomoke Parish
was made up of the following gentle
men: James Mills, Samuel S. McMas-
ter, John B .Corbin, Littleton Sturgis,
Stephen Mills, John Corbin, R Wells
MacClayland, James D. Sturgis.
Within the parish until 1865, were
two churches-St. Stephens at Divid-
ing creek and St. Mary the Virgin at
Newtown (Now Pocomoke City,. The
following minute appears on the rec
ord, dated Newtown, April %, 1865:
Whereas changes in the neighborhood
of st. Stephens Church, Dividing
creek, as well as it's proximity to St.
Mary the Virgin, Newtown, have rem
dered St. Stephens Church practical
ly useless for the purpose for which
it was erected; and whereas the Vest
ry of Coventry Parish, through their
building committee have made an in
formal proposition to purchase St.
Stephens Church, for the purpose of
transferring it to part of their par
ish where a Church is greatly needed:
therefore resolved that a committee
OF three be appointed to receive and
act favorably on such formal propo-
sition.
ST. Stephens Church was taken
down and moved by boat to Upper
Paramount, where it was later erected.
1t has been recently restored interior
ly, and the Bishop dedicated it to re-
newed service on Sunday, May 81,
1925.
The Rev. John Crosdale, D. D., was
the first rector of Pocomoke Parish.
He served from February 5, 1855, to
March 11,1878. His grave is in St.
Mary's churchyard, and the monu-
ment bears these Inscriptions: Or
dained Deacon in Rehoboth Church
(now in ruins) on Fourth Sunday in
Advent, 1912. He thenceforth, with
occasional intermissions, ministered in
Coventry Parish. When Pocomoke
Parish was cut off therefrom he be-
came and continued until death it's
devoted rector" "The Diocese of Eas-
ton established chiefly by his exer-
tions) preferred him to every post of
trust and responsibility His brethren
and children in the faith loved him
dearly, while his integrity, wisdom
and benevolence led all people to
hold him in honor"
DR.. Crosdale was quite arbitrary re.
garding some entries on the parish
register. One comes across "Strick-
en- from the list" "Apostatized to the
Baptist heresy," "Suspended," "Join
ed the Baptist schism," etc. His was
not as smooth running rectorate as
the beautiful inscription on his monu
ment would imply to this generation
The salary question was frequently ;
bug-bear, and present-day congrega
tons have inherited the slow and ir
regular payments of their forebears
At one time "Busy" vestryman made
trouble in the parish and DR.. eros
dale felt compelled to resign. Tn
other members of the vestry, however
prevailed upon him to remain. Othe
rectors served the parish in the fol
lowing order:
Rev. Francis William Hilliard, Sep
TENDER Is, 1878, to November 1, 1885
Rev. VIM. D. Sartwelle, July
1890, to October /, 1890.
Rev. J. H. H. Brown, December %
1890 to April 80, 1891.
Rev. Charles H. Vandyne, Octobe
20, 1891, to January, 1896.
Rev. George C. Sutton, August
1897, to February Is, 1899.
Rev. C. d. Frankel, May Is, 1896
to October, 1900.
Rev. G. F. Kettell, June 81, 1901, t
July IA, 1902.
Rev. F. B. Randall, October 5, 1905
to September 1, 1903.
Rev. VIM. B. Guion, November, 100