Milford chronicle., 1934-03-30
PUBLIC ARCHIVES COMMISSION
ACQUIRES CHURCH RECORDS


ACQUIRES CHURCH RECORDS
DIR. George II. Ryden. State arch
ivist, announces that at recen
meeting of the vestry of st. Thomas
Episcopal Parish In Newark, Del.
decision was made to turn over t
the Public Archives Commission O
Delaware at the State House in Do
YER all the old records of the parish
for safe keeping. These records in
clude the Minute Book of the meet
ings of the vestry from the organ
ization of the parish in the year 1912
until the year 1917. Other very val
liable papers consist of letters writ
| ten by the founders including Will
liam S. Wilson and Thomas Blandy
and printed historical brochure
written in 1853 by the second rector
of the parish. the Reverend Mr.. w.
II. Brooks.
The Public Archives Commission
is prepared to receive records from
any other congregation or parish
in the state. Protestant. Catholic, or
Jewish. and in view of the urgent
need for preserving church records
before they are irreparably lost by
carelcSsness. fire, theft, or other
causes. an official communication
will soon be sent to the authorities
of all religious organizations by the
State archivist urging that the ex-
ample of St. Thomas Parish of
Newark be followed by them also.
The St. Thomas Parish Minute
Book contains copy of parch-
ment deposited in the corner stone
of St. Thomas Church reading as
follows:
This Corner Stone
of the Church of St Thomas in New
ark. Delaware. was laid by The
Right Reverend Alfred Lee, DID.
Bishop of Delaware
on the Twenty-fOurth day of August
in the Year of Our Lord. One thou
sand eight hundred and forty-three.
St Thomas Parish was organized
on the first day OF August. Ammo
DOmini. One thousand eight hun
drcd and fOrty-twO, when Thomas
Blandy and Benjamin Gibbs. Is
quires. were chosen Senior and Ju-
nior Wardens. and Jones s. Mar
tin. William COoch and William T.
Wilson. Esquires, Vestrymcn of said
church
The ground whereOn the Church
Of St Thomas is built was conveyed
on the fourth day of July Ammo
DOmini. One thousand eight hundred
and forty-three. to the Right Rev
ercnd Alfred Lee. d. d.. Bishop Of
Delaware, the Reverend George Al
len. and to James S. Martin. Thomas
Blandy and William COOch. EsQuircs.
Trustees for ST. Thomas PARISH.
John Tyler
President of the L. States
William b. Cooper
Governor Of the State of Delaware
VIM. S Wilson. Building Committee
Geo. G.. Justus. Carpenter & Builder.
William Macklem. Stone Mason
Joseph Hicks. Bricklaycr"
The minutes also contain copy
Df the notice concerning the corner
stone laying which was sent TO the
editors of Delaware newspapers OH
August 30. lSi3. by William 5. Will
son. secretary and treasurer of the
parish and chairman OF tho Building
Committee. The notice reads as fol-
Ows:
The Corner Stone :
pf st. Thomas Church in Newark.
Delaware. was laid on Thursday the
!lth of August. 1888. by the Right
Reverend Alfred Lee. Bishop of Del I
iware Present and assisting i'm the .
services were the Rev. Professor
tllcu of Delaware College the Rev
Mr. Tying of Middletown. Del. tho
tev. Mr. Long of SeafOrd. Sussex
'Ounty. Del. and the Rev Mr..
of Elkton. Maryland.
he Right Rev Bishop delivered an
lOquPnt address on the occasion.
he lesson was from Ezra 3rd verse
q. 10 and H."
The Professor Allen referred TO ,
u the notice. was Rev. George AL
IN. an Episcopal clergyman. who
cid :hC chair Of Ancient Languages ,
Delaware College from 1888 to /,
SiJ. aud who was professor of the |
imc subjects at the University Of
from lS45 until his {
cath in 1876. Professor Allen pre- Z
dcd at the organization meeting of [
|. Thomas parish which was held I
D August /. 1872. and in all prob {
Jility conducted services until the {
rival of the first rector Of the )
lurCh on January ~. 1Si5. 5