Smyrna times., 1949-04-28
OPEN CHURCH
ON DOVER DAY
st. Peters P. E. Church
Among Places to be Open
in Smyrna
OPEN SATURDAY, MAY Z

1t is fitting and proper that st.
Peters Church should be among
the places in Kent County to be
visited by those making the Dow
er Day pilgrimage this year. Rich
in tradition dating back to the
early days of this country and fill
ed with memorials to those who
have cherished their heritage
through the years, it is considered
by many to be one of the most
beautiful churches in the state, and
not surpassed in beauty by any in
the country. AS expressed by ]. N.
Taylor in a recent brochure. ut is
the effect of the stained glass win
dows that gives rise to the emo
tion of beauty, the genial relation
between truth and personality
which cannot be expressed in
words" The beauty of the present
church is a far cry from pre-revo-
lutionary days when a frame
building was erected at Duck
Greek, later replaced by a quaint
brick building for which the bricks
were brought from England. Ac-
cording to historical accounts, in
1927, following a period of little
activity, the parish took on new
life; the church at Duck Creek,
with box pews and high pulpit
sounding board of pre-Revolution-
ary style, was torn down, and the
materials as far as good were used
in the construction of the church
of the present day. The building
committee comprised John Cum
minis, Ebenezer Blackiston, Jacob
Raymond. and John and Eben
Cloak. In 1857 it was decided the
church was too small, and it was
then that an addition of 20 feet
was made to the length, transepts
added, making the church cruci-
form in shape, but with the opJec-
tionable feature of an organ loft
back of, and over, the pulpit. In
1872 the chapel was built, the gift
of Mrs. Susan H. Fisler, daughter
of John and Susan II. Cummins, in
memory of her husband, DR.. Sam
uel Fisler, and of her father ana
mother. In 1885, under the rector
shin of the Rev. William b. Gordon
the organ loft was removed, new
organ was placed in the rlgnt
transept, an open chancel was add
ed. with large altar window depict
ing Raphaeps The TRANSPORTATION
in memory of John and Susan II.
Cummins. The interior and exter-
ior were painted Further altera-
tions were made in 1901, the third
since it's erection in 1927; and
twice in the memory of those now
living, the interior and exterior
have been renovated, the last time
during the past year. Among the
early rectors serving the church
was the Rev. Robert S. Piggott,
who came in 1881, who was not
only a learned and faithful pastor,
but an engraver of note. His works
of art included one of Gen. Wash
ington, Patrick Henry, and many
other notable men of the time. Fol-
lowing Mr.. Gordon's pastorate the
following names appear on the
records: The Revs. George Dame,
Poffenberger, Lemoine, Thomas
Hill, Frederick Marx Barton
among others. The chimes were a
gift of Morris l.. Clothier, of Phil
adelphia, in memory of his friend,
the Rev. Alexander G.. Cummins,
and were consecrated by Bishop
Coleman in 1907. Visitors on Sat
urday, May Z, will particularly
note the stained glass windows, the
symbolic carving on the bosses,
the choice brass-work, and the
carved oaken altar. The windows
are imported, made in France and
Austria, and are in memory OF
members of the Cummins, Ray
mond, Fisler, and Leinberger fam
lilies. The "angel window" over
the west door has special charm; 1t
was the gift of Mrs. Caroline Ray
mond in memory of two of her
children. The present generation
of parishioners holds precious their
heritage from the past, and is
growing under the leadership OF
the Rev. Donald J. Parsons, who
came to this parish on January
16, 1949.