University of Virginia Library

ARTICLE LXXVIII.

Churches in Wheeling, Fairmont, Clarksburg, Weston, Buchanon.

The Rev. Joseph Doddridge was the first Episcopal minister, it is
believed, who officiated in Wheeling. Residing in Wellsburg, he occasionally
visited the few Episcopal families then in Wheeling; but
there was no organization until the 11th of May, 1819. This is to
be ascribed to a visit of Bishop Chase, at whose instance it doubtless
took place. The organization was with the title of "St. Matthew's
Church, Wheeling." The persons composing the first association
were as follows:—John Armstrong, Jr., W. T. Good, W. Gray, T.
H. Armstrong, Joshua Morton, J. Good, W. Perrine, Richard Simms,
P. Ray, J. C. Williams, Josiah Chapline, J. Wilson, Jr., W. Chapline,
Jr., P. Bier, S. Scovill, T. M. Cowles, C. D. Knox, J. M. Smith, R.
C. Thompson, Moses Shepherd, Moses W. Chapline, H. Thornbury,
John Eoff, Samuel Chamberlain. A vestry being appointed, we find
that the Rev. John Armstrong, from Maryland, was chosen the first
minister. In the year 1821, Mr. Noah Zane presented a lot for an
Episcopal church. On the 9th of May, 1821, the corner-stone of
St. Matthew's Church was laid by the order of Masons,—the Rev.
Mr. Armstrong delivering a sermon and the Rev. Dr. Doddridge an
oration. In the fall of that year it was ready for divine service.
Mr. Armstrong's labours continued for seven years, at the end of
which time he died and was buried in the church. He was an
honest, zealous, laborious, and faithful minister. At the building
of the new church his remains were removed to it and now rest
beneath its chancel. His son—the Rev. William Armstrong—
was elected to fill the vacancy, but declined, and recommended the
Rev. Thomas Wheat, who was chosen. In 1832, the Rev. Mr.
Wheat resigned, and the Rev. Wm. Armstrong, being again elected,
became the minister of St. Matthew's Church. The congregation so
increased under his care that it became necessary to build a larger
house. The present one was consecrated by myself on the 26th of
October, 1837. In the year 1849, the question of dividing the
diocese of Virginia having been agitated in the western part of the
State, and being brought before the vestry, it was decided by a
unanimous vote to be inexpedient. In the year 1853, the Rev.

Mr. Perkins was appointed assistant to the Rev. Mr. Armstrong.
In the following year Mr. Armstrong resigned. The vestry and
congregation were so unwilling to part with one who had faithfully
served them for nearly one-quarter of a century, that earnest efforts
were made to prevent his removal from Wheeling or the vicinity;
and, had he consented, provision would have been made for his support
without the performance of the usual ministerial services; but
he felt it his duty to return and spend his remaining days in a small
parish in Maryland, which he had served during the first thirteen
years of his ministry. The Rev. Mr. Perkins was therefore chosen
as his successor, and still continues to be the pastor of St. Matthew's
Church.

Of the high respectability of the above body of vestrymen, under
whose guardianship the Episcopal Church in Wheeling has so eminently
flourished, the citizens of Wheeling, during the term of their
service, would, I doubt not, bear a strong and willing testimony.
Some of them were, and others still are, personally known to me.
Of those who were known to me on earth, and whom I hope to
know again in a higher sphere, and who are specially noticed and
honoured on the records, I may be permitted to mention the names
of Judge Caldwell and Richard Simms. The latter I knew from
the year 1820 to the time of his death,—a few years since,—and
knew him always as the same active, useful vestryman, and consistent
Christian. He helped to build the first church in Wheeling,
when it was in the midst of the woods. He loved, like David, to be
a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord, though from first to last he
was the chief churchwarden. Providence permitted him to experience
great reverses during his earthly pilgrimage, but, through
grace, he knew how to abound and how to suffer need. One thing
he did not know, and that was to be idle and dependent. When, in
extreme old age, he was deprived of all earthly property, but when
both the church and the town would have felt honoured in making

provision for him, he could not endure the thought of being unemployed,
but obtained the place of toll-keeper on the great turnpike-road
from east to west, a few miles from Wheeling, and there, with
his old and excellent companion, who yet survives him, spent the
evening of his days,—still turning the curse into a blessing, and by
the sweat of his brow making an honest livelihood. Mr. Simms
was a native of Maryland, moved to Wheeling in 1816, was married
by Dr. Doddridge, died in Triadelphia in March, 1854. His remains
were brought to Wheeling, and into the church, and from
thence to the East Wheeling Cemetery. Judge Caldwell was a
man of high character and standing in every position in society, but
above all was an humble Christian. Whenever the Holy Communion
is administered, the pastor and the people partake of the emblems
of the Saviour's body and blood from a rich service of plate, costing,
according to the vestry-book, the sum of three hundred dollars,
a present from Mr. Joseph Caldwell, the brother of Judge Caldwell.

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, EAST WHEELING.

The following account of it has been furnished me by one who
is fully acquainted with its history. St. John's parish, Wheeling,
was organized in the year of our Lord 1849. Previous to that
time St. Matthew's parish embraced the whole of the city of Wheeling,
and was the only Episcopal church in Ohio county.

The location of the church-building was at an inconvenient
distance from the residences of a portion of the congregation.
This, together with the rapid increase of the population and business
of the city, demanded the formation of a new parish. Moved by
these considerations, and an earnest desire to extend the influence
and benefits of the Church, the Rev. William Armstrong, rector of
St. Matthew's Church, on the 31st of July, 1849, called a meeting
of his vestry for the purpose of considering the propriety and expediency
of erecting a church and forming another congregation
in the southern part of the city. The vestry, in pursuance of said
call, met on the second day of August, 1849. The following are
the proceedings of the vestry at said meeting, so far as they relate
to a division of the parish:—

Having obtained the consent of the vestry of St. Matthew's
Church, and being favoured with the hearty support and sympathy
of the respected and beloved rector, the committee promptly called
a meeting of such of the citizens of South Wheeling as were favourable
to the formation of a parish of the Church in that part of the
city. At the meeting so called, the rector of St. Matthew's Church
was present, and, in remarks appropriate and impressive, explained
the object of the meeting. After which, suitable measures were
adopted for the complete organization of the new parish, and provision
made for the erection of a building for the services of the
Church.

On the 6th of August, 1849, the Rev. Jas. D. McCabe was invited
to take charge of the parish as rector thereof, which invitation was
accepted on the 24th of the following month. The rector-elect did
not, however, enter upon the duties of his office until January, 1850.

On the 8th of February, 1850, the building erected by the congregation
was sufficiently near completion to be used, and the pulpit
was, for the first time, occupied on that day by the Rev. Mr. Armstrong.
The services were conducted by the rector, assisted by
the Rev. William L. Hyland. The organization of the parish was
sanctioned and confirmed by the Convention of the Diocese of Virginia,
in May, 1850, as "St. John's Parish, Wheeling." The churchedifice—which
had been erected and completed by the congregation—
was consecrated to the service of Almighty God, by the Rt. Rev. John
Johns, Assistant Bishop of Virginia, on the 1st of November, 1850.

The Rev. Dr. McCabe laboured profitably and acceptably to the
congregation until the 8th of January, 1856, when he removed to
Baltimore, as associate rector of St. Paul's Church, in that city.

The following is part of the proceedings of the vestry of St. John's
parish at the meeting called to act upon the resignation of the
rectorship of the parish by the Rev. Dr. McCabe. This resolution
was adopted unanimously, and heartily concurred in by every member
of the congregation:—

The Rev. George K. Warner was elected rector of the parish in
January, 1856, and took charge of the congregation on the 16th
of March following. St. John's parish was established upon the free-seat
system, which has been found to work satisfactorily. The
rector's salary is provided for by the voluntary subscription of the
members. The incidental expenses, &c. are met by weekly collections
at the Sunday morning services. The parish has a commodious
and convenient dwelling-house, erected in 1855 expressly for the
use of the rector.

St. John's parish has at this time (February, 1857) eighty-six
communicants. The Sunday-school connected with the parish is in
a flourishing condition, and, under the judicious care and management
of the rector, proves an important auxiliary to the Church.

I must add to the above, for the encouragement of others to go
and do likewise, that the rectory mentioned above, and which cost
three or four thousand dollars, was at the sole expense of a very
few zealous individuals. May they be rewarded for it by always
having a faithful minister of God to occupy it!

THE CHURCH IN CLARKSBURG.

The first missionary movement in our diocese was in behalf of
Western Virginia, by the association in the valley, composed of the
ministers in Frederick, Jefferson, and Berkeley, in the early part
of the ministry of the Rev. Benjamin Allen, Mr. Bryan, B. B. Smith,
Enoch Lowe, and the author of these pages. The first missionary
sent into Western Virginia was the Rev. Wm. F. Lee, and the first
point to which he went was Clarksburg and the next Morgantown.
In each of these places he preached repeatedly and acceptably and
did his duty faithfully as a pioneer and explorer. He was soon
followed by his relative,—the Rev. Charles Henry Page,—who imitated
his example in all things. The first effort of a more permanent
character was made by the Rev. Mr. Ward. In a letter from
a friend in Clarksburg, he thus speaks of this effort:—"Mr. Ward
came here in the fall of 1834 or 1835. At first he was the inmate
of the family of Mr. Trapnall, a firm friend of the Church. Mr.
Trapnall dying, Mr. Ward abode the remainder of his time with
Mr. Richard Despard, a devoted friend of the Church from the old
country. I have been informed that Mr. Ward succeeded in awakening

considerable interest among the friends of the Church,—that his
Sabbath-school was flourishing, and his public services well sustained."
The same friend continues:—"Mr. Ward was succeeded
by the Rev. Mr. McMechin, about the year 1840. He had previously
been in the Methodist ministry. You are well acquainted
with the course pursued by him and with the unhappy termination
of his ministry." The foregoing remark requires explanation. Other
records of the Church have already made it, but, for the benefit of
young ministers, it deserves a place here. Mr. McMechin, though
of an ancient Episcopal family, had united himself with the Methodist
communion and ministry. During the few years of his continuance
in this Society he was much esteemed. He then entered
the Episcopal Church and ministry. After a short stay in Parkersburg,
he commenced the duties of the latter under very favourable
auspices in Clarksburg. At his own cost he provided a house which
should answer the double purpose of school-room and place of worship.
In this place he preached on the Sabbath and instructed
young females during the week,—deriving his support chiefly if not
entirely from the latter. His pulpit-addresses were very acceptable.
Numbers attended his ministry. His sermons seemed about to be
blessed in the conversion of many, and there was a reasonable probability
that most if not all of them would be united to our Church.
In several successive letters he communicated to me the joyful intelligence,
and the confident expectation of a large class of candidates
for Confirmation when I should next visit Clarksburg, which
was to be after a few months. Before that time arrived, however,
I perceived a change in the tone of his letters. He was less confident
that many would be ready for Confirmation,—was afraid that
he would be disappointed in a number who had promised well. At
length my visit was made. On my arrival, he gave me the following
honest account of the whole matter. After having for some time
earnestly preached the Gospel of salvation to those who attended
his ministry, and having reason to believe that a number were prepared
to make an open profession of religion, and to do it after our
manner and in connection with our Church, he determined to make
the latter sure by a series of discourses on the ministry, the Sacraments,
the Liturgy, and the rite of Confirmation. I do not know
what particular position he took in regard to these, but the effect,
he told me, was to reduce his congregation from Sabbath to Sabbath,
so that, by the time the series was over, a mere handful were left him.
Meanwhile the pulpits of other denominations were denouncing
him and the Church, and tracts and books against Confirmation
and our peculiarities were gotten up and put in circulation through
the place, so that when I reached Clarksburg there was but one
individual who would dare to appear for Confirmation, and sickness
prevented the attendance of that one. Nor did the calamity end
here; for, not long after, Mr. McMechin himself returned, under
the influence of excited feelings, to the Methodist communion as a
lay member. It is, however, proper to state that when that excitement
passed away he resumed his place in the bosom of the Episcopal
Church, but, of course, only as a lay member,—having been
displaced from our ministry. Let young ministers in new parishes
learn a lesson from the foregoing statement, and old ones even in
old parishes not despise it.

The letter of my correspondent continues by saying that "after
Mr. McMechin abandoned the ministry, the Rev. Thomas Smith,
of Parkersburg, gave the little flock such pastoral care as his
distant residence allowed. He called the friends of the Church
together, proposed and caused to be adopted articles of confederation,
and had a regular vestry elected. Until the services of a
regular minister were secured, he paid them several visits,—riding
on horseback the distance of eighty-five miles to supply their spiritual
necessities. The Rev. Mr. Kinsolving was the next settled
minister. He officiated regularly at Clarksburg and Weston, and
occasionally at Morgantown. He remained about a year, and was
not only acceptable to his own people, but popular with all classes.
The Rev. Mr. Tompkins succeeded him at Weston, and preached occasionally
at Clarksburg,—perhaps once a month,—as well as at other
places." To this communication I add that in the year 1852, the
Rev. Robert A. Castleman went to Clarksburg, and was soon after
joined by the Rev. James Page, who, between them, supplied Clarksburg,
Weston, Fairmont, Morgantown, and Buchanon, for one year,
when the former confined his services to Clarksburg and Fairmont,
and the latter to Weston and Buchanon. During the residence of
the Rev. Mr. Tompkins in Weston, and chiefly by his exertions, an
Episcopal church has been built in that place. During the ministry
of Mr. Castleman, one has been built in Clarksburg and one purchased
and repaired at Fairmont. To his efforts in Clarksburg and
his solicitation abroad, we are indebted for the excellent house now
standing in Clarksburg. A few zealous friends in Fairmont are
entitled to praise for what they have done. Although our efforts
have thus far failed in Morgantown, I cannot pass it by without

mention of the pleasant visits made to that place, and the hospitable
reception given me by those worthy members of our Church,—Mr.
John Rogers and Mr. Guy Allen. Could the zeal and liberality of two
individuals have sufficed for the establishment of the Episcopal Church
in Morgantown, theirs would have done it. I have nothing more
to add but that Mr. Castleman is about to leave Clarksburg, and
the Rev. Mr. Smyth, a Deacon, is officiating in Weston.