Foundation laid for church

FOUNDATION STONE LAID FOR NEW METHODIST CHURCH



IN LIVERPOOL — Thursday, March 8, 1866: THE NEW METHODIST CHURCH. The foundation stone of the new Methodist Church, in this town, was laid on Tuesday, 27th. The day was fine and bright, but cold. A large number of persons assembled to witness the ceremony. This church is being built on the site of the one, which was destroyed by fire last September. It is to be 111 feet long — the spire 135 feet high. Mr. Jas. Vanhorn, of this town, is the contractor.

The Rev. Ezra B. More commenced the services at 2 1-2 o'clock P.M. Prayer was offered by the Rev. D.D. Currie, Superintendent of the circuit and the Rev. Edw. Anderson (Baptist) read the 133rd Psalm, and 1st Corinthians III, verses 9-23.

The Rev. Mr. Curry then delivered the address. It fell to his lot to lay the cornerstone, because of the illness of Mrs. Richard Mulhall, of this town, whose services the trustees had sought, but whose health was too frail to admit to her presence. He was pleased to be able to state that Mrs. Mulhall had offered to procure a bell that should be in every way suitable for the new church, at her own expense, and that the trustees had accepted her generous offer.

In the month of October 1766, five Methodists in John Street, New York, were formed in a society by Philip Embury-thus introducing Methodism into the American Colonies. This being, therefore, the centenary year, and some of the men who laid the foundation of Methodism in New York and vicinity having been identified with the beginning of Methodism here, the trustees have unanimously resolved to call their new edifice the Methodist Centenary Church.

Mr. Curry said he thought it would be advisable, on such an occasion as this, to say something about the early religious of Liverpool.

The first place of worship built in this town, was a Presbyterian "Meeting House." It stood on what is now called Stern's Lane. It was built about the year 1760. The first minister who resided here was Rev. Israel Cheever, a Presbyterian. A public meeting was held 28th Aug 1761, at which it was agreed to send to new England for a minister. Mr. Cheever was "called" and on the 19th of September was ordained in Rochester, New England. The minister was to have 85 pounds a year and the weekly collections, together with 500 acres of land that had been reserved by the Government for the first resident minister — and "more if needed." Mr. Cheever lived to be a very old man. He died here and was buried in the Bridge Street Lane burial ground.

The public records show that several town meetings were held in 1774, to consider the priority of building a "Meeting House." A committee was appointed to carry out the wishes of the town. Josiah Marshall, Simeon Perkins, Nathan Tupper, Seth Harding, James McDonald, Simeon Freeman and Elisha Freeman composed that committee: which, however, failing to do anything, was dismissed.

On Nov. 23, 1774, another committee undertook the work; namely, Simeon Perkins, William Dean, and Josiah Christopher. They commenced the work of building immediately and on their own responsibility, expecting remuneration from the sale of the pews. That building is what we now call Old Zion Church. The Old Zion was occupied by the Methodists and "New Lights," as common property for a short time. The "New-Lights" then sold their interest in the building to the Methodists, who used it exclusively for some years as a Methodist church. The "New-Lights" during this time occupied a school room near Old Zion, which is now the dwelling house of Captain Smith. The Methodists then sold Old Zion to the Congregationalists and moved to a private house still standing (1866), opposite the head of Mr. John Campbell's Lane and remained there until 1793.

During this period Rev. William Black occasionally visited Liverpool. He preached in Old Zion, on June 17, 1783, again in April, 1784 and 1785. Freeborn Garrettson preached there in 1785, John Mann in 1789 and William Jessop in 1792.

The Rev. William Black came from the West Indies in April, 1783. Rev. Daniel Fidler was then superintendent of the circuit. They undertook the erection of a new Methodist chapel. They got about 300 pounds subscribed and about one-third of it was paid down. They purchased a part of the lot on which our new church is to be built, from James Whittemore, for 7 pounds, 10 shillings. The land was deeded to Simeon Perkins, Samuel Hunt, William Smith, Bartlet Bradford and John Kirk, in trust. The deed is dated 3rd of May, 1793. In six weeks from the time they commenced to get the frame, they had preaching in the new chapel. On the 24th June, 1799, the trustees bought ten feet of land from Simon Fraser, for 15 pounds, to enlarge the lot. On 2nd November, 1803, they bought a few feet more from the administrator of Whittemore's estate for 9 pounds 15 shillings. Again on the 5th May, 1819, they purchased another piece of land adjoining the chapel, with a building for a mission-house for 271 pounds.

Here have heard the voices of Revds. William Black, John Mann, James Mann, R. L. Lusher, William Smith, William Croscombe, and Richard Knight. Others were: Wm. MacDonald, Samuel F. Avery and Henry Pope, 1st.

The records show a long list of trustees. (Names like Simeon Perkins, Joshua Newton and Robert Barry will long be remembered)

John Thomas, John West, and Thomas Freeman were leading members of the society and active trustees for many years.

In March 1864, the church built during the superintendency of Rev. Joseph Hart was dedicated and on the 14th of September last, the church and parsonage was destroyed by fire.

Since then we have been glad to find a home in "Old Zion" — and the Methodist chapel of '91 uninterrupted use. It is doubtful if on this continent there is another church now used by Methodists, of the same age. John Street, New York, claims to be six years older than this; but John Street has been twice rebuilt. In "Old Zion", however, there are the same old pews, walls and galleries, as when our fathers worshipped there 90 years ago.

(Back to Mr. Curries's address) - Mr Currie at the close of his speech exhibited a box containing a memorandum of leading events in Methodist church history in Liverpool; names of officials and other church members; photographs of the president, co-delegate, and secretary of the Conference of E.B. America for 1865, of ex-presidents, of former ministers on the circuit, and of the present superintendent of the circuit; a copy of the Liverpool Transcript, Provincial Wesleyan, Christian Guardian, London Watchman, Minutes of Conference, 1865, and other documents. The box was deposited in a cavity-the stone was lowered and adjusted upon its permanent position in the wall, when Mr. Curry said: "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Ghost, we lay this corner-stone for the foundation of a house to be built and consecrated to the service of Almighty God, according to the order and usages of the Wesleyan Methodist church, Amen. Prayer was then offered by the Rev. James Melvin (Congregationalist.) After the Doxology was sung, the Rev. Mr. Anderson pronounced the Benediction.