Smyrna times., 1930-06-18
OLD DELAWARE CHURCHES
AT ANNIVERSARY EXERCISES
ST. ANNE'S CHURCH, MIDDLE
TOWN, OVER 300 YEARS OLD
ST. Georges Presbyterian Church
232 Years Old Also Celebrates
Congressman Houston Sneaker

OlQ 81. Anne'S Church. a mile
south of Middletown, historic
shrine of the Protestant Episcopal
faith on the Delmarva Peninsula.
was the Mecca Sunday for MANY
former worshippers, who joined
with Episcopaleans of. Middletown
in observing the 225th anniversary
Of the founding of the parish. The
many fine tall trees, including the
sturdy, wide-spreading "Old st.
Anne's Oak" estimated to be more
than $500 years of age, formed a
perfect setting for the event. Two
services were held in the old
church, which stands empty on its
little hill throughout the year, un-
used, save for special commerative
worship held every year. The first
service at IL o'clock Saturday was
featured by special sermon de-
livered by the Rev. Charles L. At
water, M. A., rector of Emmanuel
p. E. Church, Chestertown, Md.
At the afternoon service held at 4
o'clock the guest rector was the
Rev. Phillip J. Steinmetz, D. D., of
st. PauPs P. E. Church, Elkins
Park, Pa. st. Anne's Church choir
rendered the chants and an offer
tory anthem at the services. The
soloist at the morning service was
j. r. Dumler, who rendered 20
Love That Will Not Let Me Co."
at the afternoon service Jay d.
Davis sang "One Sweetly Jolemn
Thought" The members of the
choir are: Mrs. j. A. Johnson, or
ganist and director; John r. Dunn
Ter, Frederick Brady, Jay D.Davis,
Mrs. Ethel P. Browne, Mrs. Clara
S. Green, Miss Margaret Evans,
Miss Charlotte Donaghay, Mrs. ].
w. Beasten, Miss Alice w. Wood,
Miss Eunice r. Horsey, Miss Vir-
ginia Johnson, Mrs. Theodore v
Whitlock, Miss June Johnson, Hen
ry v. Vaughan, William Floyd
Thompson and Henry S. Brady, Jr.
The interior of the church, which
is done in white, except for brown
tops of the old box pews and the
altar rail, was pervaded today by
the fragrance of lilies which stood
in two gold vases on the altar, on
either side of the gold cross. The
two oldest persons to attend the
services were l.. r. Hushebeck, of
New Castle, Sc years old, and Col
onel Joseph Hanson, of Midletown,
85 years old.
ST. Georges Church 232 Years Old
Two hundred thirty-two years
early settlers of Delaware living in
the vicinity of st. Georges banded
together into a single congrega-
tion and constructed a small log
cabin as a place of worship. Thus
was what later became the st.
Georges Presbyterian Church
founded. Sunday members of the
church and friends gathered there
at two services to celebrate its
founding and incidentally to greet
many returned friends and rela-
tives. The principal speaker was
Robert G. Houston, Congressman
from Delaware, who spoke at the
afternoon service on the "Estab-
lishment of Presbyterianism". A
feature of the meeting was the
dedication of mural tablet in
honor of DR.. James G. Howe, pas
tor of the church from 1880 to
1855. Miss Estherbelle Britton, of
East Tawas, Michigan, great
grand daughter of DR.. Howe, un-
veiled the tablet. The anniversary
program was arranged by the Rev. !
Walter W. Harris, pastor of the
church. At the morning meeting
the sermon was delivered by the /
Rev. John Humphrey, D. D., evan
gelist of the New Castle Presby- |
terry. The program of the after.
noon opened with an organ pre-
lude by Mrs. Cam. The Rev. Will !
liam Gibson read the scripture and
offered prayer. Mrs. H. Reed and
Mrs. Holcomb sang duet follow
ed by the offertory and prayer by
the Rev. Franklin w. Stevens. The |
Rev. William Gibson sang Face
to Face" This was followed by |
Congressman Houston's historical /
address and a brief history of the |
church by Mr.. Harris. The unveil-
ing of the tablet followed. The
service concluded with benediction /
and prayer by the Rev. E. W.Bate, |
of Middletown. Rev. w. w. Har-
ris in his talk dealt with the
church from the time of its origin
in the little log cabin in 1898. The
first pastor the Rev. Henry Hook,
assumed charge of the congrega-
tion in 1922. The only existing
record giving the present genera
tion authentic data on early his
tory of the congregation is con-
tanned in a sermon written by the
Rev. j. c.. Howe in 1845, during
his pastorate. The sermon was
delivered at the time the congre-
cation moved into the present /
structure following the burning of
the original edifice. The sermon