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Chapter XLVI
The Borough Of Media.
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the Doric order of architecture, which proved very effective when the edifice was completed. James W. Haddock, of Media, was the chief contractor. The church was dedicated on Thursday, Oct. 11, 1855, although not entirely finished. A number of prominent ministers were present. On the following Sunday the first regular religious services were held, and were of a very impressive character. Up to this time there had been no individual church organization, but the congregation had existed as a mission of the Middletown Church. On Oct. 1, 1866, the Presbytery of Philadelphia met at Media, according to previous appointment, and organized a church with forty-six members, four elders, and three deacons. Rev. James W. Dale was installed as pastor, and remained until 1868, after which time he served the Middletown Church until 1871, when he was called to the Wayne Church. From 1868 to 1872 the pulpit was supplied by young men from Princeton Seminary, and upon April 17th of the latter year, Rev. E. H. Robbins, who had been called in November, 1871, was ordained and installed as pastor. He still has charge of the church, which is in a flourishing condition and has a membership of nearly two hundred. A parsonage was erected adjoining the church in 1880.
Christ (Episcopal) Church. - During the summer of 1853 the first Episcopalian religious services in Media were held in the court-house, then recently built. The Rev. L. P. W. Balch, D.D., of the Church of the Holy Trinity, West Chester, officiated. From that time until the present church edifice was constructed services were held in the court-house and in the Methodist Church. Among the officiating clergymen were Rev. G. E. Hare and Rev. B. S. Huntington. On Aug. 28, 1854, a charter of incorporation was granted the society by the court of Delaware County, and about the same time the Rev. S. Hazelhurst accepted the rectorship of the church, but remained, however, only about eight months. On Nov. 22, 1857, the Rev. H. S. Getz (deacon) became minister of the parish, but was not ordained as a priest until Dec. 19, 1858. The corner-stone of the present church edifice was laid July 5, 1858, by the Right Rev. Alfred Lee, D.D., Bishop of Delaware. Several members of the clergy, among them the pastor, made impressive addresses. On the 21st of June, 1860, the church was consecrated by the Right Rev. Alonzo Potter, D.D., LL.D., Bishop of Pennsylvania, the Right Rev. Alfred Lee, D.D., assisting. The rectorship of Rev. Mr. Getz having terminated on April 1, 1862, an invitation was extended to Rev. S. Edwards to become pastor in January of the following year. He accepted the call, and assumed the duties of the office on Feb. 1, 1863. Mr. Edwards resigned on June 30, 1866, and on the 9th of December an invitation was extended to Rev. Samuel W. Hallowell to supply the church for three months, which was accepted. When his time as supply expired he was unanimously elected to the rectorship, and served the church until his death, in May, 1872. He was succeeded in the following October by the Rev. W. T. Chesley Morrell, who resigned in March, 1874, to become rector of St. Philip's Church, in Philadelphia. During his term of service Mrs. Mary A. Hoeckley built and presented to the parish the beautiful stone rectory adjoining the church, as a memorial to her late husband. In October, 1875, the Rev. Edward Lounsberry, of the diocese of Iowa, was elected to the rectorship, and continued in office until his death, Oct. 12, 1878. During his term of service the tower was added to the church, at a cost of two thousand five hundred dollars and a pipe-organ was procured. The chancel-rail and marble font were contributed by the young ladies of Brooke Hall. After the death of Mr. Lounsberry the church was supplied until April 6, 1879, when the Rev. De Witt C. Byllesby, previously rector of St. Luke's Church, Roselle, N. J., who had been elected in March preceding, entered upon his duties. He is still discharging the duties of the position. There is a Sunday-school in connection with the church, which occupies a building erected at a cost of five thousand five hundred dollars in 1868. Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin (Roman Catholic). - A mission was established by the Roman Catholics at the house of Edward Dugan, at Upper Bank, in 1858. The Rev. Nicholas Walsh, at that time pastor of St. Thomas' Church, Aston, was in charge of this mission. A little later services were held at the house of Lawrence Forman, in Media. About 1860 the Rev. Thomas Kyle, pastor of the church at Aston, purchased a lot on Franklin Street, Media, and erected the brick building now used as a Sunday-school room. This was dedicated in September, 1862, and was used as a chapel until the completion of the present church edifice. The society remained a mission of St. Thomas' Church until October, 1868, when Rev. Henry L. Wright, who had been pastor of the latter, was appointed to take charge of the Media Church, which then became independent. The brick parsonage on the lot adjoining the church was completed in July, 1869. The lot on which the church stands was bought by Bishop Wood of Menader Wood. The handsome church built upon this lot, at a cost of seventeen thousand five hundred dollars, was dedicated in June, 1882, the ceremonies being conducted by Bishop O'Hara, of Scranton, and the sermon preached by Rev. Father McDermott. The parish numbers the members of about one hundred families among its communicants. The Baptist Church. - On the 26th of June, 1871, the first regular services of the Baptist denomination were held in the borough. After the close of the exercises of worship, the assembly, consisting of twelve persons, was organized, with C. H. Russell as moderator and William Russell as clerk. The question as to the expediency of establishing a Baptist Church | |||