Smyrna times., 1930-11-05
MANY ATTEND OLD EPISCOPAL
CHURCH SHRINE NEW CASTLE
1 Nj Nj A N UEL CHURCH, 24l
YEARS OLD, CELEBRATES
Famous Old Church Was Place of
Worship for Delaware States
men of the Colonial DAYS

Famous Old Church Was Place OF
Worship for Delaware States
men of the Colonial Days
A number from Smyrna and vi
cinity and all down thru the State
motored to New Castle Sunday, to
participate in the services mark
ing the 241 anniversary of Imman-
uel Episcopal Church, the Oldest
church in Delaware and one of the
oldest in the United States. Due
to the illness of the Rev. Joseph
Holland carp, rector of Emmanuel
Church, the Rev. Addison A. Ew-
ing, D. D., of the Philadelphia Di-
vinity School, and a former rector
of Emmanuel Parish officiated. Fol-
lowing the early service the Wis
itors spent several hours viewing
the historic old structure, which is
one of the finest specimen of
colonial architecture in the coun-
try and visiting many of the grav-
es in the cemetery surrounding the
edifice, where many warriors,
statesmen and men of high office
in the service of the church and
state have reposed, some for as
long as 225 years. The church it
self which has been restored as
nearly as possible to its original
splendor of Colonial times, pre-
sented an unusually attractive ap-
pearance. The altar was decorat-
ed with huge bouquets of yellow
and white chrysanthemums. At
the anniversary service at 1890
o'clock, when nearly five hundred
members and friends of the church
were in attendance, the Rt. Rev.
Philip Cook, Bishop of the Episco-
pal Diocese of Delaware, was the
speaker. Due to the absence of
the rector, DR.. Ewing assisted at
the altar, opened the service and
read the lesson. Mr.. Ewing then
spoke words of welcome in behalf
of Mr.. carp, to those who had as
sembled, many of whom had come
from considerable distance, and af-
terward presented the Bishop, who
however needed no formal intro
duction to Emmanuel Church and
its friends. The luncheon served
in the Parish House Immediately
following the morning service was
attended by several hundred
guests and members of the parish
and was served by members of the
parish guild. The musical pro-
gram, which was directed by
George Madden, and consisted of
solos, duets and quartettes pre-
sented by Henri Scott, formerly of
the Metropolitan Opera Company.
History of Church Dates to 1859
Emmanuel parish was founded in
1859 and the land upon which the
church stands was originally part
of the Market Square. The
churchyard was the site Of an old
fort built in 1872. It is said to
have been the spot upon which
William Penn performed his first
public act in America. The title
of the land was formally conveyed
to the parish in 1772 when the
General Assembly gave it for the
use of the members of the Church
of England. The brick wall sur
rounding the church yard was
built in 1871. The church building
was erected in 1903. Originally it
was a simple oblong structure,
thirty feet wide and fifty feet long.
The chancel was in the east end of
the building, whose position on the
lot is due to seeking to secure its
facing east and west, according to
ancient custom. The tower, steeple
and transepts were added in 1920
and the remodeled church was
consecrated by Bishop Kemp, of
Maryland on Tuesday, October 90,
1922. The structure has undergone
several changes since that time.
Cemetery Contain Notable Dead
The parish was the recipient of
gifts, a pulpit and altar cloths and
glass from Queen Anne's Bounty
Fund. 1t also possesses a chalice
and fagon which date from 171O,
the gift of the Liet.-Governor of
the Providence, who was at the
time a vestryman. The parish
records date from 1710 and are in
a remarkable state of preserva-
ton. Visitors had the privilege of
viewing these and the wonderful
treasure of value which the church
holds. In the churchyard lie the
remains of many distinguished
men of affairs, statesmen, jurist,
clergy. Among these are to be
found the names of George Reed,
a signer of the Declaration of In