"(Eljc people tfjat walked xn imrluteaa hatte seen a great
'?• ■$• '*• fitglft."—Isaiah 2: 9. *?•
A BRIEF HISTORY
...OF...
§t. (Eljurrh
PHILADELPHIA, PENNA.
:: :: 1754
I I4tl) &nmbergarp • J?ob. X, 1908
A BRIEF HISTORY
...OF...
£i. SH|otnaa' (Etfttrrff
PHILADELPHIA, PENNA.
Jfaltttfrft :: :: 1794
Cfjronologp of H>t. JKfiomaS' $i. €. Cfrord)
May 17,1787—Free African Society founded. Absalom Jones admin¬
istered at its organization.
1792—Free African Society disbanded. Ground at Fifth and Adelphi
streets purchased. Feb. 17th, erection of the first edifice owned
by a corporate body begun.
1793—First purchase money, being funds in the Free African Society
at disbandment, contributed by Cyrus Bustill, Samuel Boston,
John Morris and Peter Sharpless.
July 17, 1794—First service in Church. First sermon by Rev. Samuel
Magaw, Rector of St. Paul's Church (text, Isaiah 9:2: "The
people that walked in darkness have seen a great light,")
assisted by Rev. James Abercrombie, of Christ and St. Peter's
churches.
Among the original members were James Forten, James
Mintess, John Emory, William Wiltshire, Mark Stephenson,
William Gray, William White, William Gardiner and Henry
Stewart.
1795—Absalom Jones ordained to Deaconate by Bishop William White.
1796—Legal Incorporation. Insurance Company started and operated
for some time ; Absalom Jones, President, and the rest of its
officers were members of St. Thomas' Church.
1804—Absalom Jones ordained to priesthood ; Bishop White officiating.
A day school started.
1809—A Society was formed for the suppression of vice and immorality
by the men of St. Thomas'.
1810—James Cook Summers, of Jamaica, W. I., came as assistant to
the rector. He brought about discontent, started a church at
Seventh and Jayne streets, which lasted a short while and then
disappeared.
Solomon Clarkson called as successor to James Cook Sum¬
mers, but failed to qualify. He was vestry clerk for twenty
years and was never late or absent.
4 CHRONOLOGY OF ST. THOMAS' P. E. CHURCH.
1812—Absalom Jones, James Forten and Richard Allen were appointed
a Committee by the Mayor to raise a brigade of colored soldiers.
1816—Absalom Jones, out of personal friendship, placed his hands on
Richard's Allen's head in consecration, after the first A. M. E.
Conference had elected him Bishop.
1817—Absalom Jones and James Forten were officers at the first Secular
Convention ever held by colored men in protest of Colonization.
1818—Absalom Jones died and was buried in the graveyard adjoining
the first Church.
For several years from 1818, Bishop White, Revs. Drs. Ma-
gaw, Blackwell and Abercrombie filled the pulpit by turns.
1819—Prince Sannders of the West Indies was a candidate for the rec¬
torship, made vacant by the death of Absalom Jones, but was
refused for failure to prove a clean bill of moral health at
his home.
1822—Rev. James Wiltbank, a chaplain in the navy, officiated for
several years.
1824—Joseph Harding, of St. Paul's Church, started a Sunday-school.
1826—Rev. P. Van Pelt, of South Carolina, was the priest in charge for
several years.
1831—Rev. Jacob M. Douglass served the parish three years.
1833—St. Thomas' Church built the first pipe organ of any colored
church in the United States, with Ann Appo as organist.
1834—Rev. William Douglass became rector and served faithfully until
his death in 1862.
1862—Rev. William j. Alston became rector and served sincerely for
ten years.
1864—Admitted as a member of the Diocesan Committee.
1872—From 1872 until 1882 the Church's spiritual interests were under
Revs. Robert J. Bowen, Henry L,- Phillips, P. Fuget, William
Jarrett and William Heaton.
1882—Rev. John Pallam Williams, a baptized child and a confirmed
member, became rector, serving for ten years.
1888—The original Church, Fifth and Adelphia streets, sold.
1888—From 1888 until 1892 the place of worship was in Durham Hall
at Seventeenth and South streets.
1892—Present building opened for worship.
CHRONOLOGY OF ST. THOMAS' P. E. CHURCH. 5
1893—Rev. Owen M. Waller called to the rectorship and served three
years.
1894—Centennial Anniversary of Parish celebrated fittingly ; Bishops
Potter, N. Y.; Coleman, Del.; Nelson, of Georgia; Nicholson,
Wisconsin ; and Whittaker, of Penn, taking part.
1896—Rev. W. C. Starr and Rev. John H. Simons, Priests in charge.
1897—Rev. E. G. Knight was Priest in charge for five years.
1902—Rev. G. A. McGuire called to the rectorship, serving four years.
1905—Rev. A. C. V. Cartier, Priest in charge from May ist, called to
rectorship January ist, 1906, present incumbent.
A BRIEF HISTORY
...OF THE...
Parish of St. Thomas
INCE we, as members of St. Thomas' Church, are cele¬
brating the 114th Anniversary of its Founding, it has
been suggested that a short history of the Church would be
most fitting on such an occasion for the benefit of those who
have had neither the time nor the opportunity to learn of its
progress through the many years of toil and labor, and the
trials and difficulties encountered both previous and subse¬
quent to the erection of our original building.
About one hundred and twenty years ago no church
edifice could be found throughout the country owned and
controlled exclusively by persons of color. The religiously
disposed among them were then under the necessity of wor¬
shipping in churches belonging to their white brethren, and
as Methodism addressed itself chiefly to the feelings and
affections, the great majority gave their adherence to that
belief. In those days even that denomination of Christians
could lay claim to but one house of worship in Philadel¬
phia. This was situated on Fourth street below Vine and
known by the title of St. George's Church. Here it was
that the larger portion of the colored population of the city
assembled from time to time on occasions of public worship
and they in common with others, gave vent to their devo¬
tional feelings without hindrance. They had comfortable
seats on the lower floor of that building, to which there was
no objection made until the increasing numbers of the con¬
gregation afforded a plea, to those invested with power, for
their removal to the gallery. But as they had contributed
their mite toward paying for the building in which all seats
were free, they did not readily yield to this unfair proposal.
This expressed desire, however, soon rose to an imperious
order, and the pressure was so great that these men of color
deemed it useless to contend any longer against the odds
A BRIEF HISTORY OF ST. THOMAS' CHURCH.
7
that opposed them. This stern command was followed by
a forcible act, resorted to by one of the officials; and, to the
lasting shame of those who sanctioned the measure, it was
enforced at a time when the assembly was invoking the
blessings of the common Father of all, Who "Is no respecter
of persons," " and willeth all men to be saved and come to the
knowledge of the Truth." With the enforcement of this com¬
mand the entire body of colored people walked out of the
church, and before the close of that eventful Iyord's day the
noble determination was formed to worship the I^ord under
their '' own vine and fig tree "without molestation from any.
)t jFree African is>orietp
We find under the preamble that on 4th month 12, 1778,
'' Absalom Jones and Richard Allen, two men of the African
race, who, for their religious life and conversation have ob¬
tained a good report among men, these persons from a love
to the people of their complexion, whom they behold with
sorrow because of their irreligious and uncivilized state,
often communed together upon this painful and important
subject in order to form some kind of religious society, but
there being too few to be found under the like concern, and
those who were differed in their religious sentiments; with
these circumstances they labored for some time, till it was
proposed, after a serious communication of sentiments,
that a Society should be formed, without regard to religious
tenets, provided, the persons lived an orderly and sober
life, in order to support one another in sickness, and for
the benefit of their widows and fatherless children."
These same obscure but worthy men, who, animated
by the spirit of the times, resolved to introduce a better
order of things, had many difficulties to surmount before
they could proceed a step toward the accomplishment of the
object desired. The great question for solution, in the first
place, was to effect a union among themselves. Unaccus¬
tomed to organization of any kind, few in number and with¬
out pecuniary means, the most favored among them without
the advantages of a liberal education, to have immediately
proposed, under these circumstances, the establishment of
a church would have been considered impracticable and vis-
8 a brief history of st. thomas' church.
ionary. But a successsful plan of union at length presented
itself, which was to form an organization having the two¬
fold objects of a beneficial and moral reform Society. It was
called M The Free African Society, '' and was founded
April 12th, 1787.
The Society, as it appears from the minutes, met at the
house of Richard Allen, monthly, up to May, 1788. His
room at this period being too small for the accommodation
of the increased number of members, a more commodious
room was rented in the house of Sarah Dougherdy. Here
the Society continued its regular meetings up to December
28th, 1788. From this time up to 1791 the monthly meet¬
ings were held in "Friends' Free African School House,"
situated in Willing's Alley, removed since to Raspberry
street. At this period a proposal was made by the Standing
Committee of the Society to establish a religious meeting.
The proposition was generally approved of by the members,
and the committee was accordingly instructed to procure a
room for the purpose. They succeeded in obtaining one
from Joseph Sharpless. In this room they met for the first
time together for religious worship January 1st, 1791, at 3
P. M. It is interesting to note, therefore, how they ad¬
vanced step by step from the beginning to the accomplish¬
ment of their ultimate design—the formation of 'The
African Church."
A very important movement in that direction was the
appointment of a Committee whose business, besides that of
calling special meetings and disposing of the moneys in hand
to the best advantage, was to inspect the conduct of its mem¬
bers and to report the same at one of the monthly meetings
of the Society.
From all that appears in the minutes there seems to have
been no devotional exercises at the opening of the meetings.
The first recommendation of the kind was not made by the
Committee until November 15th, 1788.
It is also worthy of notice that shortly after this the
name of Richard Allen no longer appears as an active mem¬
ber among the brethren, though his friendship for Absalom
Jones endured until they were separated by death.
Data in the form of letters shows that there were simi¬
lar societies of Free Blacks in Newport and Boston, though
A BRIEF HISTORY OF ST. THOMAS' CHURCH. 9
The African Church of Philadelphia, latterly known as St.
Thomas', was unquestionably the first set aside for the
specific purpose of worship for colored people.
The next thing worthy of special notice is the proposal
of the Committee for religious meeting, offered for the con¬
sideration of the Society, September 18th, 1790.
After* a few years further existence of the Society we
turn over a new leaf.
The sayings and doings of the old '' Free African Soci¬
ety " as such, now come to a close, and that association
might be left to stand by itself as a solitary but pleasing
reminiscence of the past, were it not so intimately connected
with what still remains in active operation, and into which
it so beautifully merges,—the present St. Thomas' Church.
Watching the progressive movements of the Society has
been exceedingly gratifying; its noble aim in the first place
was to call into active operation the humane and tender
sympathies of the heart towards the sick and needy. It
soon afterward became alive to the importance of the intel¬
lectual and moral improvement of the race, and finally it re¬
organizes for the purpose of promoting the interests of that
Divine plan which is the only true elevator of mankind—
"The Gospel of Christ."
At this incipient stage we now enter upon the task of
recording some of the History of St. Thomas' Church itself.
Under date of February 17th, 1792, it appears from the
title deed that the lots on which St. Thomas' Church origi¬
nally stood, on Fifth street below Walnut, were purchased
"by William Gray, Absalom Jones, Wm. White, William
Wiltshire, William Gardiner and Henry Stewart, of Joseph
B. McKean and his wife Hannah for the sum of .£450, law¬
ful money of the State of Pennsylvania."
The officers and members of the new organization were
styled "Elders and Deacons of the African Church," and
the first business attended to, subsequent to the last meet¬
ing held, was to satisfy all such members who preferred to
withdraw the money they had invested in the old Society to
having it transferred to the funds of the new enterprise.
Plans were then perfected for the building of the first Church
and work began February 17thr 1792. The details respect¬
ing the progress of the work we conceive to be unnecessary ;
10
A BRIEF HISTORY OF ST. THOMAS' CHURCH.
sufficient has been said to demonstrate the great prudence,
energy and perseverance those humble but noble pioneers
displayed in entering upon and carrying on to its comple¬
tion the great and good work they had in hand. It is a still
more inspiring picture to behold the building prepared and
opened for the first time for the purpose of public worship,
July 17th, 1794. The Church property was located on Fifth
street below Walnut, west side. It was the fourth Protest¬
ant Episcopal Church to be built in Philadelphia (within
city limits) and the only one erected between 1761 and
1800.f On the occasion of the opening of the said Church,
the first sermon was preached by the Rev. Samuel Magaw,
Rector of St. Paul's Church,* and prayers were read by the
Rev. Dr. James Abercrombie, Second Assistant Minister of
Christ's Church and St. Peter's.t The African Church,
through the Founders and Trustees, resolved to conform
themselves to the Protestant Episcopal Church of North
America. They dedicated the edifice to the memory of St.
Thomas the apostle, and decreed henceforth that the Church
was to be known by the name and title of St. Thomas' Af¬
rican Episcopal Church of Philadelphia. The Trustees
were nobly assisted by Dr. Samuel Magaw and Dr. Robert
Blackwell.
The name of Absalom Jones, a former slave, but a man
of good report and Christian forbearance, was then pre¬
sented as a candidate for orders. On October 21st, 1794,
Mr. Jones accepted the call and was ordained to the Deacon's
orders by Bishop William White, August, 1795, and was
later reported by Bishop White as Priest in 1804.
The first election of the vestry was held March 28th,
1796, in which John Exeter and William Gray were the
Wardens, and John Emory, Clerk, of the Church. In 1794
the number of members was 246, and in the next year the
names of persons recorded in the aggregate were 427, almost
twice the number of the preceding year.
The Church was incorporated March 26th, 1796, at a
meeting held at the residence of Bishop William White
t Scharf and Westcott. History of Philadelphia. Vol. II, pages
1348, 1349.
* "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light."
—Isaiah 9: 2.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF ST. THOMAS' CHURCH.
11
(still standing", 1908), 309 Walnut street. The Justices of
the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania :
Thomas McKean, Chief Justice; Edward Shippen, Joseph
Yeats, and Thomas Smith, Esqs., having- duly examined
the instrument of writing, passed the conditions set forth
and contained therein as lawful, and with the authority of
the Commonwealth of the State, the Governer, Thomas
Mifflin, affixed his seal of office October 27th, 1796. In
1804 a day school for the instruction of youth was estab¬
lished by the vestry, to be placed under their direction and
control. The expenses of the instruction were first defrayed
from the trust of Rev. James Bray the American Mission¬
ary. The vestry finally gave up the control of the school
and placed it in the hands of Solomon Clarkson, one of its
members.
In 1808 the Rev. Absalom Jones wrote and published
his views against Colonization, which brought forth a reso¬
lution of inquiry, offered by United States Senator Rutledge,
of South Carolina.
In 1809 a society was formed by the leading colored
men of the city for the suppression of vice and immorality
among the people of their own race. It was composed of
members belonging to different denominations of Christians
and brought forth words of commendation from the Hon.
William Tilghman, Chief Justice of the State of Pennsylva¬
nia, and the great American patriot, Benjamin Franklin.
By a certain financial arrangement, truly benevolent, of
William Bradford, Esq., made before his death in 1793, be¬
tween Dr. Benjamin Rush and Bishop White, St. Thomas'
Church secured possession of the parsonage, situated on
Powell street between Fifth and Sixth and Spruce and
Pine, in 1809.
After 22 years of service as minister the Rev. Absalom
Jones departed this life February 13th, 1818, aged 71 years.
Several years before his death in 1812, Absalom Jones,
James Forten and Richard Allen were appointed a commit¬
tee by the Mayor for the purpose of raising a brigade of
soldiers, which they did with considerable success; 3,000
having been mustered in on Independence Square.
During the four years immediately succeeding the death
of Absalom Jones, St. Thomas' Church was without any
12
A BRIEF HISTORY OF ST. THOMAS' CHURCH.
settled minister. Bishop White, Rev. Drs. Magaw, Aber"
crombie and Blackwell, when convenient, kindly supplied
the pulpit by turns. Cato Collins, in the absence of a
clergyman, acted as lay reader, to which office he had been
previously appointed.
January 28th, 1822, Mr. Russell Parrott. a regular com¬
municant member of the Church and a very talented young
man, was by resolution of the vestry taken up as a suitable
person to be recommended as a candidate for orders. He
was licensed as lay reader by the Bishop the following
month. But the selection failed to give the general satis¬
faction desired. Hence, with a view of restoring harmony
in the Church a resolution was passed by the vestry at a
regular stated meeting held April 20th, 1822, to release Mr.
Parrott from any further obligation to serve them in the
capacity of a reader. This promising young man died
August 3rd, 1824. As a tribute to his memory a society
styled '' The Sons of St. Thomas '' (two others co-operating)
had a monumental slab erected at the head of his grave.
March 20th, 1822, the vestry succeeded in obtaining
the clerical services of Rev. James Wiltbank, who continued
in the faithful performance of his pastoral duties up to the
month of February, 1825, at which time he resigned and
accepted a call to the rectorship of St. Matthew's Church,
Francesville.
In the summer of 1826 the Rev. P. Van Pelt, of South
Carolina, was called to the pulpit, but owing to a previous
engagement in the South he did not enter upon his duties
as rector until June, 1827. During the three years of his
administration he was very successful, through the Divine
blessing upon his labors, in promoting true and vital godli¬
ness among the people of his charge In 1829 he presented
to Bishop White 44 persons for confirmation. The Sunday-
school flourished. An organ was introduced in the Church
for the first time at his suggestion and Ann Appo was the
first organist.
In February, 1831, Rev. Jacob M. Douglass was called
to the pastoral charge and resigned August 17th, 1834, to be
succeeded by the Rev. William Douglass September 17th of
the same year. The Rev. William Douglass served faith¬
fully in his pastoral duties up to the time of his death in
A BRIEF HISTORY OF ST. THOMAS' CHURCH.
13
1862. He was the first writer of history and the author
and publisher of a volume of original sermons among col¬
ored people of the United States. He was succeeded in 1862
by the Rev. William J. Alston who served in that capacity
for ten years.
From 1872 to 1882 the Church's spiritual interests were
under Revs. Robert J. Bowen, Henry L. Phillips, P. Fuget,
William Jarrett and William Heaton.
In 1882 John Pallam Williams, a baptized child and a
confirmed member, became rector, serving ten years.
In 1888 the original Church at Fifth and Adelphi streets
was sold and from that time until the present structure was
completed, worship was continued at Durham Hall, 17th
and South streets.
In 1892 the present structure was opened for public
worship.
In 1893 Rev. Owen M. Waller was called to the rector¬
ship and served three years.
In 1894 the Centennial Anniversary of the Church was
celebrated.
The spiritual welfare of the Church was looked after
during the year 1896 by Revs. W. C. Starr and John H.
Simons as priests in charge.
In 1897 Rev. Edward G. Knight came to the parish as
priest in charge and remained five years.
In 1902 Rev. G. Alexander McGuire was called to the
rectorship, serving nearly four years.
Rev. A. C. V. Cartier was priest in charge from May
1st, 1905. Called to rectorship January 1st, 1906. Present
incumbent.
In the 114 years of church life there have been many
virile movements.
The first Sunday-school of its own was in 1828, with
Robert Gordon as superintendent.
The Rev. Dr. Alexander Crummell was in charge of
the parish during the absence in Europe of Rev. William
Douglass, the rector.
The Church was always catholic, and the lecture-room
in the old building was freely given to the public for anti-
slavery meetings, library, musical and other like purposes.
14
a brief history of st. thomas* church.
Few churches possess such relics of antiquity, connecting
them with their early history, as St. Thomas', among which
may be mentioned:
The first communion table.
The christening bowl used by the first rector.
Old chairs and settee used at the opening in 1794.
Church records from 1787 to date (nearly complete).
Written and printed matter of the Free African Society.
The instrument of ordination by Bishop White in 1795.
The ancient chair used by the presiding officer.
Sons of St. Thomas, and other rare curios.
The Church is well supplied with memorials, and among
the donors are the Rev. Herman Batterson, Mrs. Amy Cas-
sey, Mrs. John C. Bowers, Mrs. Isabella Iy. Stevens and
sisters, Mrs. Blanche Warrick Cardoza, Miss Susie Cook,
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. P. Allmond, Mrs. Irvin, Miss Mary
Frances Cole, Miss Ellen Moore, Miss Helen Stevens, Miss
Henrietta Edwards, the Sunday-school, Richard E. D. R.
Venning, Mrs. Celestine Thomas, I^ewis M. Mintess, Sam¬
uel Venning, various Confirmation Classes, Wm. A. Potter,
Sr., Mrs. Virginia Dorsey and family, William C. Bollivar,
and others.
The Church Organizations are:
The Altar Guild—Organized in 1886; Miss Amelia E.
Mills, President. Miss Daisy Christiansen, Pres., 1908.
St. Thomas' Guild—Organized 1890 by Rev. J. P. Wil¬
liams, Rector. S. Clifton Moseley, President, 1908.
King's Daughters—Organized 1890. Mrs. Mary Mon¬
ti er, President.
The Women's Auxiliary—Organized June 2, 1894; Rev.
O. M. Waller, President. Mrs. M. J. Burr, Pres., 1908.
St. Thomas' Chapter, Brotherhood of St. Andrew—
Organized 1893; George P. Titus, Director. Ferdi¬
nand Bell, Director, 1908.
A brief history of st. thomas' church.
15
The Junior Auxiliary — Organized 1902. Miss l. C.
Miller, Leader.
Acolytes' Guild — Organized 1907. Harold Trulear,
President.
Choir Organization—Organized 1907. Matthist Givens,
President.
AMONG THE MANY FAITHFUL WHO HAVE ASSISTED IN
ADMINISTERING TO THE WELFARE OF THE PARISH,
MAY BE MENTIONED THE FOLLOWING:
JAMES FORTEN. nearly half century as Warden
JOHN EMORY ) _ . „ ,
SOLOMON CLARKSON } Church Clerks 0ver 20 ^
JOHN BOWERS Warden and Vestryman 40 years
CATO COLLINS
JAMES NEEDHAM, SR
SCIPIO SEWELL
JOHN HART
JOHN C. BOWERS, Organist
MORRIS BROWN, Chorister
WILLIAM P. PRICE
JOHN MILLS, Organist and Choir Master.
Alfred Cassey, Edward W. Venning,
Julia Bolivar, Teacher, Hiram Montier,
Margaret Oakley,
Jas. G. Davis,
T. J. Bowers,
Edw. Collins,
Franklin Turner,
Amelia E. Mills,
Clayton Miller,
Octavius V. Catto,
James Dover,
Edward E. Venning,
David Bowser,
Hamilton Wilson,
U. B. Vidal,
Isaiah Miller,
Geo. W. Bordley,
Robt. Williams,
Geo. Titus,
Edward Banton.
E. A. Bouchett,
Wm. P. Allmond,
40
40
40
30
40
40
50
Wm. Warrick,
James Douglas,
Dr. E. C. Howard,
T. J. Minton,
Chas. McBee,
Dr. James Howard,
John Blasdale,
Dr. Wm. Slowe,
Jas. S. Ashe,
J. T. Seth,
Stanley Gilbert,
A. F. Stevens, Jr.
16 A BRIEF HISTORY OF ST. THOMAS' CHURCH.
Dr. W. E. Burghardt Dubois says: "There is no ques¬
tion but that St. Thomas' is the oldest legally organized
body among colored people in the world.''
1908
A. V. C. CARTIER, RECTOR.
LEWIS M. MINTESS, Rector's Warden.
RICHARD J. WARRICK, sr., accounting warden.
JAMES H. WILLIAMS, secretary.
JOHN W. JONES, S. CLIFTON MOSELEY,
JOHN W. HOLLAND, LOUIS A. POTTER,
LOUIS KING, C. PRESTON SLOWE,
JOHN W. LOVE, JAMES F. NEEDHAM,
WARLEY BASCOM.