1918 History of the Episcopal Church
History of the Episcopal Church in Edwards County, Illinois.
Mrs. E. S. Barkdull.
When we look at the magnificent churches in the city of Chicago, with
the fine choirs and crowds of dignified worshippers, it seems almost an
impossibility that down in little Albion, the county seat of Edwards County,
the services of the Episcopal Church were held long before Chicago or Cook
County were in existence. Yet such is the fact. Cook County used to be a
part of Edwards County, with Albion as its capital. The exact date on which
the first services were held there is uncertain, but it is a fact on record
that lay services were held in the log cabins of the pioneers before the
year 1819.
George Flower, one of the founders of the city of Albion, says in his
volume, "The English Settlement": "A native of the Island of Guernsey, Mr.
Benjamin Grutt, read the Episcopal service in a room set apart for a public
library. The religious service commenced in Wanboro and Albion in the early
part of the year 1819." He also says: "If I remember rightly, it was in the
following year that the Rev. Mr. Baldwin, an Episcopal missionary, preached
several sermons in Albion and gathered the Episcopal members together and
organized a church, designated as St. John's Church. Mr. Pickering was an
active member and gave efficient aid to this early Episcopal organization."
We read again in "Two Years' Residence in English Prairie, Illinois," by
John Woods (1822): "The Rev. Thomas G. Baldwin, in his organization of St.
John's Church, * * * was encouraged by William Pickering, Judge Wattles,
John Woods, Benjamin Grutt, Daniel Orange, James Carter, William Funks,
David Hearsum and others.
"In 1820 it was agreed to have public worship at Wanboro, and Sunday, 25th
of April, divine service was first held in a log cabin that was built for a
school room. Prayers from the service of the Church of England, with a few
omissions, were read by one of the inhabitants, and a sermon by another.
This meeting was well attended, and has been continued every Sunday in the
forenoon at 11 o'clock, and those of the Church of England and Quakers both
attend it.
"At Albion there is a place of worship in part of the market house, in which
divine service is performed every Sunday in the forenoon. Prayers and a
sermon are read by one of the inhabitants. I twice attended. The service was
from the Church of England, with variations. I think they style themselves
Unitarians."
It may have been within two years later that the Rev. Mr. Baldwin came — say
in 1821 or 1822 — when he tarried six weeks in the house of Mr. John Woods,
Sr., who had previously read the service of the Episcopal Church himself.
The Rev. Dr. James Craik, late rector of Christ Church, Louisville,
Kentucky, in his little book entitled, "Historical Sketches of Christ
Church, Louisville," says: "One devoted minister visited Louisville two
years before the commencement of this enterprise (namely, the beginning of
the church in 1823). The Rev. A. G. Baldwin traveled as far as this point
and possibly farther. He preached in 1820 or thereabouts."
A history of the beginning of the Episcopal Church in Edwards County would
by no means be complete without prominent mention of the Rev. Benjamin
Hutchins, who was rector of St. John's Church, Albion, for over fifty years.
He came here from Philadelphia in the spring of 1838, labored most
energetically all his life, suffered unheard of trials, spent a fortune in
the work of the church, and lies buried with his family in the old Albion
cemetery. His resting place is marked with a beautiful celtic cross, the
only Christian monument in the old historic burying ground. In his honor was
built a beautiful brick rectory, that is inhabited by his successors.
The Rev. Benjamin Hutchins was a brilliant preacher, a talented scholar, and
a faithful parish priest. He baptized over 400 persons during his rectorship
and buried almost 500 persons. He had a large family of beautiful children,
but they had a tragic death. In April, 1857, malignant scarlet fever was
contracted, and in one week's time six of the beautiful children of the Rev.
and Mrs. Hutchins were taken away by the cruel monster, and two others a
week later. It is said that the dread disease was contracted from a box of
new books that had arrived from Philadelphia. All of the children were
buried by the Rev. William Armstrong.
The Rev. Mr. Hutchins was induced to leave his work in Philadelphia through
reading of the great scarcity of laborers in the vineyard of the Lord in the
Illinois wilderness. He had read of the efforts of the Rev. Mr. Baldwin in
organizing St. John's Church, Albion, and that the effort was likely to be
given up, for the reason that the missionary board had been unable to do
anything towards sustaining a rector. In 1838 Mr. Hutchins decided to locate
in Edwards County. He had several services in the court house, but not being
able to secure a dwelling place he left and went to Vincennes, Indiana. He
lived there for five months, visiting Albion once or twice each month for
Sunday services.
A revival and reorganization of St. John's Church soon followed, and some
who were present when the Rev. Amos G. Baldwin made his visit twenty years
previously rallied around the church banner and remained faithful to it
until they died. Removals and death had lessened the number, yet William
Pickering, James Carter, John Tribe, Samuel N. Dalby and others were still
living and were among the faithful. Benjamin Grutt, in the Church de Esprit,
New York City, was among the little band in spirit and membership. Children
and grandchildren of the early members of St. John's were baptized in
families. Services were held in the old court house and a Sunday School was
instituted.
At a public meeting of the friends and members of the church held March 28,
1842, there were present the Rev. B. Hutchins, H. J. Hutchins, David
Hearsum, F. B. Thompson, M. D., Joel Churchill, John Brissenden, James
Carter, Sr., John Richford, Joseph and Robert Williams, Bryan Walker, W. C.
Mayo, H. Ronalds, and George Ferriman. At this meeting the following were
elected vestrymen: Henry J. Hutchins, Joseph Williams, George Ferriman, John
Pitchford, James Carter, Sr., David Hearsum, Joel Churchill, Robert Naylor,
and Samuel N. Dalby.
In September, 1842, the cornerstone of a brick church was laid on a lot
given by George Flower and his wife, Eliza Juliet. The Rev. B. B.
Kettenetty, rector of St. James Church, Vincennes, Indiana; Rev. B. Halsted,
rector of St. Stephen's Church, New Harmony, Indiana, and Rev. B. Hutchins,
rector of St. John's, Albion, were the officiating ministers. Within the
cornerstone was placed a box containing record and prayers. The Rev.
Kettenetty laid the stone with the usual words and ceremony in the name of
the Blessed Trinity. The church was built and was consecrated on June 24,
1843, by the Rt. Rev. Philander Chase, D. D., Bishop of Illinois. On the
same occasion fifteen children and adults were baptized and twenty-four were
confirmed. The building had a vestry room attached to it and was furnished
within the chancel with a reading desk, baptismal font, pulpit and altar.
The structure was entirely free from debt. Very soon after an addition was
made in front, of brick also, being a tower with vestibules, gallery and
belfry, having likewise a bell and an organ. A bishop's chair was placed in
the chancel. And now began a succession of rectors, beginning with that of
the Rev. Benjamin Hutchins, who became rector emeritus, on through many
years. The Reverends Benjamin Hutchins, T. S. Brittan, G. P. Comings, W.
Clatworthy, Robert Ryall, William Morrall, Henry Humphries, W. H. Tomlins,
J. B. Blanchat, J. N. Chestnut, Angelo A. Benton, D. D., W. J. Datson, W. B.
Thorn, T. W. C. Cheeseman, George Harvey Trickett, Edward Simpson Barkdull.
Extracted 28 Mar 2020 by Norma Hass from "History of the Episcopal Church in Edwards County, Illinois" article published 01 Jul 1918 in the Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society.
