| To contact us: frbobg@comcast.net Calvary Episcopal Church 667 Mount Road Aston, PA 19014 610-459-2013 OFFICE 610-358-3571 RECTORY |
| 667 Mount Road, Aston, PA 19014 610-459-2013 |
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| HISTORY of Calvary Episcopal Church |
| 667 Mount Road, Aston, PA 19014 610-459-2013 |
| Small Parish - Big Heart - Inclusive Come and worship with us! All are welcome! |
| Our Mission: To worship the Lord To serve the community To grow the church |
| A History of Calvary Episcopal Church, Rockdale |
In the Beginning ...
Early 1830's - Richard Somers Smith, a Philadelphia merchant, acquired a property known
as the "Old Sable Works" in Rockdale, Penns Grove, Delaware County, PA. This was a
nail-splitting and rolling mill. The site also housed the power plant of the Penn Tapestry
Company.
1833 - Mr. Smith decided to make his summer home here. He moved his family from
Philadelphia and established residence.
Mr. Smith, his wife Elizabeth, and this daughter Clementia wanted to establish a Sunday
School in a vacant room of the factory building. Inclement weather often prevented them
from riding the five miles to the nearest Episcopal Church in Concord. The Sunday-School
began with an attendance of twenty children, which soon increased to one hundred.
As the Sunday-School grew, so did the desire and need for regular services. Steps were
taken that led to the organization of the Parish.
1834 - Bishop Onderdonk licensed Kingston Goddard, a student of Theology, to hold
services in the Parish. That November, a constitution was adopted. The Reverend Mr.
Marmaduke Hirst was detailed as missionary by the Society for the Advancement of
Christianity in Pennsylvania.
1835 - The Bishop suggested the name Calvary Church and admitted the Parish to
representation in the Convention.
1836 - On July 24, Sarah Newlin offered the Vestry a lot for the sum of one hundred dollars
which was to be used for the erection of a church. A building in the Gothic Style was
designed by John Henry Hopkins, Bishop of Vermont, who was a friend of the Smiths.
On July 29 a contract was made with Mr. Jesse Palmer for the carpentry work, to include a
two-story building, 45 by 30 feet, with a tower 10 feet square. Mr. Palmer agreed to finish two
rooms in the basement, lay the windows and doors in the second-story of the church and
tower, the floors of the same, and to put on the roof, for $250.
The cornerstone of the church was laid on August 17, 1836 by the Right Reverend H. J.
Onderdonk with appropriate ceremonies. In the stone were placed a Bible, prayer book a
glass jar containing the Charter of the Church, a copy of the minutes of the first meeting which
organized the congregation, two numbers of the "Episcopal Recorder", containing an account of
the last moments and the funeral of the late Bishop White, and a few silver coins of that year.
After the service an offering was taken which amounted to $27.78.
On Christmas Eve, the first unit of the present church edifice was completed sufficiently to
house comfortably a large congregation. The Reverend Mr. Hall, of Chester, conducted the
service.
1837 - On April 12, the Reverend Mr. Marmaduke Hirst, who up to this time had been
serving as missionary, was appointed Rector. His salary was $200 per year.
1838 - In June, Mr. Hirst resigned and Mr. Alfred Lee became Rector. Mr. Lee was later
elected the first Bishop of the Diocese of Delaware. Mr. Lee was known for his unselfish
devotion to Calvary Church. We are told that he donated his entire salary, about $900,
towards defraying the cost of completing the upper portion of the building.
1839 - On November 24, the church was consecrated to the service of Almighty God by the
Right Reverend H. J. Onderdonk, Bishop of the Diocese.
| Rectors who have served Calvary Church and their Years of Service |
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