Milford chronicle., 1949-10-28
Presbyterian Church


The year 1850 will mark the on
hundredth anniversary of tn
rounding Of the Milford PresbyteT
ian Church, which will be observe
with appropriate ceremonies.
This Church standing seventh /,
the list of Churches in New CastI
FresDytery, begins its second cen
tury OF achievement with higl
hopes of continued usefulness an.
lnfluence. It's beginning was sinai
ana It's growth slow at first Tb,
story has been told frequently anI
inns aFticIe will probably add little
10 What has already been told.
On the old Kings Highway .
snort distance from the present re.
siuence OF George S. Grier. there
stood in former DAYS a chanel
Where worship was conducted afteT
the Presbyterian manner If woq
situated at the confluence of the
tnree branches which ioin tn nake
ine MlspilliOn, and it was know
II tnose days as the Three Runs''
Meetlng House. Its erection is lost
IN oDscurity, and the accounts we
nave OF 1t are mostly legendary n
proDaDly dated as far back as tbe
early 17OO's. 90 'u7
AT any rate, it seems this meet
5Hg mouse was abandoned about
1912 and for a time the few 70
manning members worshinnnd IN .
,,'u..C. Duilu'ig " on what is now Montgo.
merry Street. After a time, this was
SSDandoned for worship, but tha
sunday School started bv Miss
[1ester McColly (afterward Mrs Dr.
WIN. MarshalD Continued Tbo
wilmington Presbytery. answer
'hg the call Of the faithful ren1n-
anu, sent Rev. G. w. Kennedv n
mliIord t,iI to organize a congregatioT
ms gentleman, after manv die
cOuragements, succeeded in ootb
Ss s suIIlclent funds to erect a
LpulIGlng. A number of the most IL
Deral and progressive citizens who
were not members, or who beIong9
ca 10 other denomations. contribt97-
Tea and with the efforts of tbo
small group of loyal Presbvteris,,s
sneIe were soon sufficient funds to
Duiid not only a place of worsbir
put q manse was incornorated 4,
the building. The resultant CybTroIl
ma TSs substantially as it looks TODAY
- ne 1,,,Ii ,D,Iuillolng committee consisted
u William Tharp, Peter F. Cansev
1lehIy Cy b. Ffddeman, William v
Ioulter' DR.. James P. LofIand on5
IOnh A. Hazard. The lot was mr.
chased by this committee for s1on
Inc Ilrst roll of members cor
SSalned seven names. William "
COuI'er was unanimously elocted
Sr, ana ordained the first ruling e1do,.
me committee agreed unon q Ci brioi.
nant I~lltlns 80 30 feet, with a base
rIenU Tba STORY cupola, and steepIe
ne plans were formally aDnrovaJ
OH april 1, 1850, and the bnildinG %
y goliiIiIIIee III was elected Trustees of j
S.5G . ~ Church. The building cost abont {
oo'9OU. Later plans were annro,-oS ,
y 1lu the manse was added. The lot ]
=. ene corner OF South Walnut and {
2Outh Front Street, was 1O8 foat :
-Ohg on Front Street and 60 fast ~, :
walnut. The deed, now in noSsiS,, f
= - AreasuTer Edwin c. Messick G
,ays that the plot was "for the mr. $
use OF the erecting, or causing to
= = erected, a house of Worshin for n
ne use OF the members of tbe q
-IesDyterian Church, of tbe viIlsao 4
Z south Milford, in oonnectio,, p
WIN the Presbytery of WiIming- P
On usually nominated "The New h
'Snool Presbyterians'." .
Inc laying of the cOrnerstono y,
ook place the morning of INV 4 =,
COZ. A large concourse of peonIe
ssenhDled under a tent on tLe m
-oHI lawn OF the residence of Pet 7,
r. Causey (later governor of r
.ela"afel. Appropriate speeches. s.
ere made and a religious service 4,
slu. Ihen the people went IN tbo y,
lurcn lot and deposited in tao M e. e.
zinc box hermeficaII,, n
'aiea' and containing a LIST of az D
= ,.iss .ssts3s 1t tne subscribers, a copy of it,
y vS MiiIord Beacon, a copy of tho III
ynIlStlan I1i,s Observer" other papsrs ri
DlDie' the Declaration of IndenenS en-
nee and a brick from the rims mr.
'He ola Three Runs Presbyter- EI
Wheh the church was comnIotcd 70,
ere was tall spire, pointing ita I'M
ll1e finger heavenward. which A
= outstanding in those dsvs A n,
mer CLOCK was installed in the 7
sc OF the tower with four disIs sr, e.
clng North, East, South spd =
~ and striking mecbanism bal
licn tolled the hours. The cIoSi- 1or 11T+
was a single Iiai int int
',teInent, hooked up to rim fo,7- me- me
'is; Ihls placed an unusual strain %, m
a., the movement, which. counIeS
IN lack Of proper care. resnIteJ of
lts failure, and for some reason an,
was not replaced. Parts Of tba Sol sliI
,ck are still strewn about the beje se of of
:. A newspaper story at the timo VIZ
.teo tnat the clock had been nree 's.NSI
iIed 10 the church by the Stats inc
delaware, and that there wss W. y 7
ne criticism Of the State for ~ fic.
ierousity When the naonie Ile, ~,
nd out how convenient toTS ~, ~
ch was the criticism vanished Ro,
lr. Kennedy continued hia mi, n ~
y until 1856, during which time VIII
membership increased. For . Hn, :,
3 slEeF his departure, the J.