xt74b853fp5c https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt74b853fp5c/data/mets.xml Craik, James, 1806-1882. 1862 books b92-136-29327132 English J.P. Morton, : Louisville, Ky. : Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Christ Church Cathedral (Louisville, Ky.) Historical sketches of Christ Church, Louisville, Diocese of Kentucky / by James Craik. text Historical sketches of Christ Church, Louisville, Diocese of Kentucky / by James Craik. 1862 2002 true xt74b853fp5c section xt74b853fp5c
HISTORICAL SKETCHES
O1
CHRIST CHURCH, LOUISVILLE,
ipX lo r SAt o f; i g t g g ky'
7 t
Sector.
fouisvlke, up
JOHN P. MORTON CO
1 ES 0 e
Resolution of the Convention of the Diocese of Kentucky, held in
May, 1860.
"Resolved, That the Rectors of Christ Church, Lexington, Christ
Church, Louisville, and Trinity Church, Danville, be, and are here-
by, requested to prepare Historical Sketches of their Parishes, to be
inserted in the 33rd Journal of the Convention of the Diocese of Ken-
tucky; and that the Rectors of other Parishes of the Diocese be, and
hereby are, requested to prepare Sketches of their various Parishes,
to be inserted in the Journals, in the order of the admission of their
Parishes into union with the Convention of the Diocese!'
A like resolution was passed in the session of 1861; and the same
request in regard to Christ Church, Louisville, was subsequently made
by the Vestry of that Church. The following Sketches are furnished in
such obedience to these requirements as the writer has been enabled
to render.
CONTENTS,
fJapttr 1.
From Mffay, 1822, to July, 1829.
Preliminary Meeting, IPage P
Building Committee, ..... ... .... ....
Washington Hall,.-" 11
Archie Allen....".... .... .... .... .... . 11
Galt House, .... .... .... .... .... .... " 12
First Vestry..... .... .... ."... .... .... 12
Spontaneous Movement of the Laity,........ .... 12
Rev. Amos Baldwin."... .... .... .... .... 12
Rev. H. M. Shaw, first Rector, 1824. .... .... " is
Church Building occupied, 1824..... .... " 13
Trouble with the Rector, and his resignation,." 14
Dr. George Chapman, .. . .... .... " 16
Primary Convention, 1829, ." 16
Bp. Ravenscroft in Lexington,.... .... 16
(Qcypttr 2.
Brief Notices of some of the persons engaged in tIe establishsment
of Christ Church.
Peter B. Ormsby,.... .... Page 1 7
Deed to Church lot,. ... ."... .... .... .... . 17
Richard Barnes, .... .... ...18 .... " 8
Mrs. Harriet Barney, .... .... .... .... .... " 19
Mrs. Adele Everett....".... .... .... .... " 19
John Bustard, .... .... .... .... .... .... " 19
Richard Ferguson. .... .... .... .... ."... " 20
4 Content.
Samuel Dickinson,. Page 22
Dennis Fitzhugh,. ... .... .... .... .... 22
Col. Samuel Churchill ." 22
Bequest of Wm. Churchill of Middlesex, in 1711,. ". 22
Col. Wim. Pope..... .... .... .... .... .... " 23
Mrs. Elizabeth Churchill..... .... .... .... 23
Henry Churchill,. 24
Col. Wim. Oldham..... .... .... .... .... 24
Col. Alexander S. Bullitt,. . 24
Mrs. Mary E. Thruston, .... .... .... .... 24
Mrs. A. P. Clark, . ." 25
Mrs. Belle M'Creery,. ....... . " 25
Abby and Thomas HI. Zane, . ...."....... .... . 25
Mr. James Hughes . . " 26
Mr. Wm. L. Thompson, . . " 26
MNr. P. R. Thompson, . . " 27
Mrs. Fanny Strother,. . . 27
Wm. H. Atkinson .." 27
Hancock Taylor, .... .... .... .... .... 27
Mrs. Mildred Lewis, . ... .... . 27
James S. Bate, .... .... . ... .... .... 28
James C. Johnston, AI. D. .... .... . .... " 28
A Western Romance -. . 29
Frederick W. Grayson, . ... .... .... ."... . 29
Main Street in early times,. ... ."... .... .... . 30
James Harrison, Esq.......... .... .... .... 30
The Zane Family.... .... .... .... .... .... 30
Heroism of Elizabeth Zane,... .... .... .... 31
William Croghan, Jr.... .. ... I .... .... .... 31
G. S. Butler...." .... .... .... .... .... 31
Daniel Wilson, M. D.. .... .." 32
John T. Gray,.... .... .... .... .... .... 32
Mrs. Selina Churchill. . ." 33
Miss Annita A. Galt...." .... .... .... .... " 33
George Keats,. 33
Thomas Prather, .... .... .... .... .... 33
Edward Shippen,.... .... .... .... .... .... 34
John Rowan, .... .... .... 34
James Guthrie ." 34
John Speed..... .... .... .... .... .... 35
Contents. 5
William Chambers, .... .P... .... .... .... age 36
Robert Tyler,.... .... ........ ..... i 36
Robert Ormsby... 37
Abram Hite.......... ... .... .... .... ... .,
The Gwathmey and Clark Families. .... .... .... " 88
Col. Richard C. Anderson,.... . .... .... " 41
Lloyd D. Addison,........ .... .... .... .... " 42
James M'Crum, ..... .... .... .... .... " 48
Dr. Benj. Tompkins, .... .... .... .... . ".... 48
Charles Jabine, ..... ... .... .... .... " 44
Win. H. Neilson, " 44
Daniel R. Southard..... .... .... .... .... " 44
John D. Colmesnil, " 44
David L. Ward, ..... ... .... .... .... " 44
Dr. Galt and Norbonne B. Beall,. ... .... .... " 44
Mrs. Mary 0. Gray ...." .... .... .... .... " 45
Richard Maupin .;. " 46
Mrs. Mildred E. Hening, .... ...... .... " 46
1)1atter I
Frown July, 1829, to May Ist, 1837, including the Ministry of the
Rev. Dr. Page and of the Rev. Mr. Britton.
Chapman's Sermons,. Page 47
Dr. John E. Cooke..... .... .... .... .... 47
Bp. Brownell in Louisville,." 52
Rev. Dr. D. C. Page,.... .... .... .... .... 55
Vestry recommend the Rev. B. B. Smith for Bishop, .... 56
Pews, their sale, .... .... .... .... .... 57
Resignation of Dr. Page ." 59
Rev. Mr. Britton,.... .... . .. .... 59
Rev. Pierce Connelly ." 59
Convention in Christ Church in 1831, .... .... " 60
Election of Bp. Smith,.... .... .... .... .... 60
Rev. B. 0. Peers..... .... .... .... .... 61
Jacob Reinhard, " 63
Silas Field..... .... .... .... .... .... 65
John P. Smith ." 66
John S. Snead,.... .... .... .... .... .... 66
John P. Bull, .... . ... .7.. .. . . s 7
6 Contents.
Mrs. Ellen Shallcross, . . Page 68
Mrs. Sidney Anderson, . . 68
Mrs. Elizabeth Wilson, ............ .. " 69
Capt. Quarrier. ..... ... .... .... .... .... 70
Mrs. Sarah L. R. C. Ewing,, 70
R. N. Miller,.... .... .... .... .... .... .... " 72
Conversion by hearing the Te Deum, .... ... 72
S. K. Grant, .. 73
George Macready ..".. .... .... .... .... . 74
Orphan Asylum, .............. .... .... .... is 75
ZIQ apter 4.
From M1ay, 1837, to October, 1839. The ministry of the Per
William Jackcson.
Rev. Wm. Jackson, .... . ....... .... .... Page 77
Rev. Thos. Jackson, .. ... .... .... .... . 77
Rev. Edward Jackson.. 78
Building of St. Paul's,........ .... .... .... 81
Mrs. Jackson's Memoir,. . 82
(t4apttr 5.
Brief ministry of the Re. amble T. Leacock.
Rev. H. J. Leacock, .... .... Page 83
Dr. Caswall's account of the society in Lexington in 1835, " 84
His visit to Louisville in 1840.. . .... .... . ...." 85
Departure of Mr. Leacock..." .... .... .... " 85
Mrs. Nelly Hart,.... .... ... .... .... .... " 86
(Qalttr 6.
From July, 1840, to Mlay, 1844. The ministry of the Rev. Thos.
C. Pitkin.
Discouragements, ........... Page 87
B. 0. Davis .. .... .... .... . . 87
His efforts to procure a Rector,. . .......... " 88
Call of the Rev. Thos. C. Pitkinj. ........... "4 89
Correspondence.............. .... it 89
Mr. Pitkin's Ministry, . . 91
Mrs. Josephine Preston Rogers,.... .... .... .... 93
Contents. 7
taj. Wm. Preston. .... .... .... .... .... Page 93
Mr. Pitkin's resignation."... " 94
Election of the Rev. James Craik." .... .... 95
(94apter 7.
From August, 1844, to May, 1862. The winistry of the Rev.
James Craik.
Goldsborough Robinson and Arthur Lee . . .. Page 96
Rev. Amos Cleaver, .... .... .... .... .... a 99
Position of the new Rector,.. .. ..... . .... " 100
Enlargement of the Church in 1845.. ... .... .... 102
John Stirewalt,.... .... .... .... ...." 103
Assistance from the Bishop, .... .... .... .... 103
John B. Poe, .... .... .... .... .... .... 104
Cost of living in Louisville in 1844 and in 1860,. 105
Institution of the Rector,..... .... ..... 105
Shelby College ... .... .... .... 106
Henry W. Gray, .. .. .... 106
Henry 0. Webber, .... .... .... .... .... 106
Mliss Susan Noble. ........ .... .... .... 106
Rev. John B. Gallagher, . . 107
St. John's Church..... .... .... .... .... 108
Mr. Iucho,.... .... .... .... .... .... .... 109
lion. Henry Clay..... .... .... .... .... 109
Madame Ablammowitez, .... .... 110
Re-assessment of pews by a meeting of the Congregation, " ill
George W. Brainard, .... .... .... .... .... 112
L. P. Maury ..... .... ...." 112
Henry Maury. .... .... .... .... .... .... 113
An assistant Minister,. .... .... .... .... 113
Rev. F. H. Bushnell, .... .... .... .... .... " 113
Visit to New Haven,. ........ ."... .... . 114
Mission Church designed,... .... .... .... .... " 114
Grace Church, . . " 115
Parochial School,... .... .... .... .... .... " 116
Industrial School, . .... .... .... .... 116
Rented pews and free Churches,.... .... .... .... 117
Decennial Pastoral letter. .... . .... .... " 118
New Organ, .... .... .... .... .... " 119
8 Content8.
Act of Incorporation,. .... .... .... .... Prage 11 9
Mrs. Mary Craik Morris,.... . " 119
Movement for re-modeling the Church building, ....... " 121
C. T. Vennigerholz, . ." 121
Wm. H. Redin, ..... .... .... .... .. " 121
Re-Consecration, . ." 123
Gratifying prospects, ..... .... .... .... 24
Sehon Chapel . . 124
Calvary Church, . ... ........ .... .... 126
Rev. Geo. M. Everhart, . . " 126
Sudden reverse, ..... .... .... .... .. " 126
Dr. Griffith, . . " 127
Dr. N. B. Marshall..... .... .... .... .... 127
Abel Aikin and Mrs. Ross, . ........... .... " 129
Thos. Clayland, . ... ........ .... .... 129
The Choir,.... .... .... .... .... .... ... " 130
John Pintard Johnston, . ........... .... 4 130
John Harrison Johnston, . . 131
John Pintard..... . ........... 131
Dr. John R. Buck,.... .... .... .... .... 132
Mr. John Cowan, . ... ............ .... 132
Mrs. Mary Jane Newcomb, .... .... . .... ...." 133
Mrs. Caroline Fellowes, .... ... .... .... 133
Mrs. Julia Bullitt,.... ... .... ... .... .... 133
Mrs. Sarah Hickman Chambers . . .... .... " 133
Mmrs Cynthia Atkinson. .... .... ... .... .... 133
Mrs. Madeleine Robinson . . .... .... 134
Mrs. Elizabeth K. Crow.... .... .... .... ... " 134
Mr. Willis Stewart..... .... .. . ... .... 134
Mr. Matthew Kennedy .... .... .... .... .... " 135
Mrs. Nancy J. Barnett, ............" 135
Mrs. Caroline Scott, .... .... .... .... .... 136
Mrs. Cates, . .... .... .... .... .... 137
ERRATA.
Page 68, fifth line from the bottom, for " where she was married," read where
Miss Sidney Boyd was married.
Page 69, for " Julia B. Anderson," read Julia Keith Anderson.
Page 72, line 17, for "1 Mrs. Lewis," read Mrs. Miller.
HISTORICAL SKETCHES
O F
Chrxist thutrh, Irulxrille.
CHAPTER I.
From MAay, 1822, to July, 1829.
THE first record evidence that we have of the beginning of
this Parish is in the proceedings of " a meeting held pursuant to
public notice, at the Washington Hall," in the city of Louisville,
on the 31st day of May, 1822. At this meeting
"John Bustard acted as Chairman, and Samuel Dickinson as Sec-
retary-when it was Resolved to open books of subscription for build-
ing a Protestant Episcopal Church in the Town of Louisville, under
the direction of Peter B. Ormsby, Dennis Fitzhugh, Samuel Chur-
chill, James Hughes, William L. Thompson, Richard Barnes, and
William H. Atkinson."
The above extracts are taken from the first Record Book of
the Parish, kept from the date above until October 16th, 1843,
in the handwriting of Mr. Richard Barnes. Most of the facts
to be hereafter given will be copied literally from the same rec-
ord; and every quotation will be from that book, except where
otherwise stated.
By the census of Louisville for 1821, the population was as-
certained to be-white persons, 1886; blacks. 1126. Total.
3012.
2
Historical Sketches of
The site of the town was the head of the Pond Settlement.
This pond region extended from Beargrass Creek, where it en-
ters the Ohio bottom, nearly to the mouth of Salt River, twenty
miles below. A large proportion of the site of Louisville now
covered with houses was then covered with water. Besides in-
numerable smaller bodies of water, there was one large lake, fa-
mous for its water-fowl, and for its boating facilities, occupying
the space between the present site of St. Paul's Church and
Main street.
Louisville was then dreaded as a very grave-yard. In the sum-
mer and fall of 1822 vast numbers were swept off by a fever of
a very malignant type. The late venerable Robert Wickliffe
informed me that one morning in that season, during his attend-
ance at Court., he was greeted with the intelligence that in every
house in town there was a sick or dead man. This terrible visit-
ation aroused the surviving inhabitants to the necessity of re-
moving the cause of the pestilence, and their efforts were so suc-
cessful that the scourge has never been repeated, and the city
for many years has been one of the healthiest ili the United
States. Mr. Ben. Casseday, in his excellent history of Louisville,
says that this pestilence was " the most terrible blow ever given
to the prosperity of the rising town. Emigrants from abroad, as
well as from this and neighboring States, for years afterward,
dreaded even to pass through the town, and of those who had
already determined to locate here, many were dissuaded from
their purpose by the assertion that it was but rushing upon
death to make the attempt."
The effort to establish the Episcopal Church in Louisville
seems to have proceeded quite as much from the country gentle-
men in the neighborhood as from the residents of the town.
Jefferson County, like several other prominent points in Ken-
tucky, was settled at the very earliest period by a class of highly
educated gentlemen from Virginia. Of course they were all tra-
ditionally Episcopalians, for that had been the established reli-
gion of Virginia. But unfortunately, at the period of this emi-
gration, the coarse blasphemies of Tom Paine, and the more re-
10
Chri8t Church, Louimille.
fined infidelity of the French Encyclopoedists, had taken a strong
hold upon the Virginia mind. The early emigrants brought
with them the taint of these principles, and in many cases the
books from which they were derived. And alas! there was no
Church in the wilderness to counteract these evil influences, and
the new spiritual temptations incident to this breaking off from
the ancient stock and from home associations. The conse-
quence was that this generation lived, and their children grew
up. emphatically, " without God in the world." But religion
of some sort is a necessity for the human soul. The modes of
religion prevalent in the country were revolting rather than at-
tractive to educated men, and therefore when Richard Barnes
and Peter B. Ormsby suggested the formation of an Episcopal
Congregation, the proposal was warmly seconded by the most
influential citizens of the County.
A month after the preliminary meeting above mentioned, the
Parish record tells us:
"Another meeting was held at the same place (Washington Hall),
on the 1st of July, 1822. when the following persons -were added to
the Committee above named: Hancock Taylor, James S. Bate, Rich-
ard Ferguson, James C. Johnston, and William Croghan; and the
name of the Church contemplated to be built called Christ Churcb,
and Richard Barnes was elected Treasurer of the same."
The printed account of these two meetings shows that they
were conducted in a very formal and official style. In each case,
after the passage of the other resolutions, the Chairman vacated
the Chair, and a resolution of thanks to him was offered and
passed; and the publication of the proceedings was requested
in the "Morning Post, the Public Advertiser, and the Kentucky
Herald." A copy of these publications, and the original sub-
scription book, are now in the possession of the Vestry of Christ
Church. The subscribers number 182, and the amount sub-
scribed is 6354.
The Washington Hall where the meetings were held was not
the house on Fifth street more recently known by that name,
but the admirable hotel kept by the prince of landlords, Archie
Allen, on the south side of Main street, between Second and
11
2iBstorical Sketches of
Third. The celebrated Galt House is the direct successor of
Washington Hall; and one of the distinguished gentlemen who
have given a world-wide reputation to the Galt House, Mr.
Isaac Everett, learned his first lessons from Archie Allen.
Major Throckmorton and Mr. Everett were the first proprie-
tors of the Galt house, which was opened to the public in 1836.
Our Parish record continues:
" May 8th, 1823.
"The plan offered by Graham and Ferguson was adopted, and
Peter B. Ormsby, James Hughes, and Richard Barnes were appointed
to contract for materials and the building said Church. In pursuance
of said resolution a contract was entered into with Benjamin Cawthon
for bricks, with Frederick Geiger for stone, with George Keats Co.
for scantling, c., with Jonas Grubb for doing the stone and brick
work, and with Graham and Ferguson for the carpenter's work, so far
as enclosing the building, and a call made on subscribers to pay their
respective subscriptions. The following persons were elected a Vestry
of said Church, viz: Richard Barnes and G. S. Butler, Wardens;
P. B. Ormsby, John Bustard, John T. Gray, Daniel Wilson, Daniel
M'Calister, Richard Ferguson, Hancock Taylor, and Sam'l Churchill,
Vestrymen."
Up to this time it does not appear that any Episcopal Clergy-
man had visited Louisville. with a single exception two years
before. The movement was a spontaneous one on the part of
the people, induced by a sense of the necessity of religious ser-
vices different from those which were then accessible to them.
The same feeling led them patiently to persevere in this well-do-
ing for two years without any aid or encouragement from abroad,
and without the help of missionary or other form of ministerial
effort. One devoted minister had visited Louisville two years
before the commencement of this enterprise. The Rev. Asa
Baldwin, who was associated with Father Nash, one of the pio-
neer Missionaries of the Church in Western New-York, trav-
eled as far as this point, and possibly beyond. He preached
here in 1820, or thereabouts, baptised, and probably gave the
first impulse to the desire for an Episcopal Church. Although
this movement was in the same year with the sickness and mor-
tality already spoken of, yet it was not prompted by that ter.
rible calamity, for the first meeting was in May, and the second
12
Christ Church, Loui8ville.
in July. The pestilence began near the close of the summer,
and by its desolations and its discouraging influence upon the
prospects of the place, retarded the work of making subscrip-
tions and collections.
The next entries are:
'" L'farch 11th, 1824.
"At a meeting of the congregation of Christ Church held this day
at the W ashington Hall, the Rev. Henry M. Shaw was elected Rec-
tor of said Church, and his salary fixed at 1200 per year in Com-
monwealth paper, equal to 600 in specie."
"1 April 19th, 1824.
"The following persons were elected a Vestry for the ensuing year:
Richard Barnes and G. S. Butler, Wardens; P. B. Ormsby, John
Bustard, James Hugyhes, Hancock Taylor, Samuel Churchill, L. D.
Addison, Daniel Wilson, and William L. Thompson."
s "May 1st, 1824.
4 The Rev. Henry Moore Sbawr accepted his appointment as Rec-
tor of Christ Church, and commenced his ministerial duties in a tem-
porary building, provided for that purpose, until Christ Church should
be finished."
This temporary building was a frame house on the present
Court-House lot, on Fifth street,- near the corner of Jefferson
and Fifth.
From the first meeting in Washington Hall, May 31st, 1822,
to this date, May 10th, 1824, the enterprise had been conducted
without the presence of a Minister, and without even an occa-
sional service. It is said that the honest and determined Trea-
surer never permitted the work to be in advance of his collec-
tions. As soon as these were expended he covered up the walls
and dismissed the workmen until funds were again in hand to
pay for the work as fast as it was done. A similar honest poli-
cy pursued in all cases would have saved to the Church in this
country much scandal, disgrace, and pecumary loss. Besides
the moral benefits of this course, it is undoubtedly one cause, in
the present instance, of the remarkable firmness and solidity of
the walls of Christ Church.
The Church must have been completed by the close of this
year, 1824, for the next entry to the foregoing is
13
Historical Sketches of
"February 21st, 1825.
"The unsold pews are authorized to be rented subject to sale, and a
sexton appointed to keep the Church in order, c."
April 4th, 1825, the late vestry was re-elected, and John Muir
added to their number. On the 12th of September, 1825, there
was a meeting of the vestry, to take measures for procuring an
organ, and some other items of church furniture.
The Bishop of the diocese has kindly furnished the following:
"The Bishop is under the impression that the effort to procure an
organ resulted in the purchase of a very small parlor organ of three
stops, without gilded pipes, which, at the prices which then ruled,
might have cost 250 or 300. Upon his first visit to Louisville, in
company with Bishop Meade, in the spring of 1831, he found such an
organ in the Church, and learned that, subsequently, upon the pur-
chase of a better instrument; durinn the ministry of the Rev. Mr.
Page, it was sold at a greatly reduced price to Christ Church, New
Albany. Not many years since, being again displaced by a finer in-
strument, the Bishop saw it in the vestry room of the Church, and
called the attention of the Rev. Mr. Cowgill, of St. Paul's Church,
Hickman, to it, who obtained possession of it for a very small sum, and
after considerable repairs it was forwarded to its destination, but in-
jured in its removal, it now stands a silent monument of former times,
in that edifice.
There is an interval here of a year and a half without any
entry on the Parish record. The first entry after this interval
records the holding of a Vestry meeting, May 15th, 1827, from
which it appears that in the meantime R. N. Miller and Wm.
F. Pettet had been elected to the Vestry. Again there is a long
interval until August 12th, 1828, when the Vestry met at the
request of the Rev. H. M. Shaw. The following resolution, of-
fered by Mr. Churchill, was adopted:
"Resolved-That the male pew-holders of this Church be called to-
gether at this place, on Thursday, the 14th inst., at 3 o'clock P. M., to
take into consideration matters touching the interest and welfare of
said Church."
It seems that certain grave scandals were in circulation in re-
gard to the rector, the Rev. Mr. Shaw. The object of this
meeting of the pew-holders was to pass some white-washing res-
olutions, with the understanding that Mr. Shaw was then and
there to resign,-all of which was accordingly done.
14
Chn8t Church, louzvilie.
From this last sad entry there is a significant hiatus in the
Parish record of three years and eight months, from August
14th, 1828, to April 23d, 1832. At the date last mentioned the
following entry appears:
"This beina the day for electing Wardens and Vestrymen for this
Church, a portion of the pew-holders met, and elected the, following
persons: Richard Barnes and Thomas H. Armstrong, Wardens; Joh1n
Iustard, John S. Snead, L. D. Addison, R. N. Miller, J. P. Smith,
lVin. F. Pettet, Samuel Gwathmey, John P. Bull, Thomas H. Que-
nan, B. R. McIlvaine, Vestrymnen. Adjourned to meet on 2d Mon-
day in May next. DAVID C. PAGE,
Rector of Christ Church."
A part of this long and melancholy interval in the history of
the parish can be supplied from other sources.
It is not difficult to conjecture the effect of the excitement
and scandal growing out of the conduct of Mr. Shaw upon the
religious character of the whole community of Louisville, and
especially of the class of persons who had taken an interest in
the establishment of Christ Church. Of many of them this was
their first effort in any religious enterprise, and the first occasion
in which their religious nature had been permitted to assert it-
self, and to make its claim upon their mind and conscience.
The showy qualities of Mr. Shaw in the desk and pulpit, as a
fine reader and an eloquent preacher, were well adapted to grati-
fy and develope this newly awakened feeling of religious sensi-
bility, affording to the Church the fairest promise of deep and
extended usefulness. For this first religious effortto end in bit-
ter and mortifying disappointment-to find the chosen minister
of religion and the persuasive exponent of Christian holiness
false to his profession, and less a man of God than themselves,
were well adapted to destroy the partially aroused susceptibility
to eternal realities, and to send these men away from the gra-
cious Bishop and Shepherd of their souls, never to return. Thus
to destroy the souls of men by the proved or supposed unworthi-
ness of Christ's Ministers is one of the favorite devices of Satan.
The long break which this event produced in the history of
Christ Church is one proof of the disastrous influence of these
15
historical Sketche.
proceedings; and another is found in the fact that some of the
most prominent names connected with the foundation of the
parish do not reappear in any form in its subsequent history.
We learn from the diligent collections of the Rev. R. McMur-
dy, D. D., that on the 7th of June, 1829, the learned Dr. George
Chapman, Rector of Christ Church, Lexington, preached in
Christ Church, Louisville, and induced the Vestry to elect Del-
egates to a primary Convention of the Diocese, to be held at Lex-
ington. The Delegates appointed were Richard Barnes, John
Bustard, and John P. Smith. Dr. Chapman had previously
visited Danville, organized a church there, and procured the
appointment of Delegates. These three parishes, of Lexington,
Louisville, and Danville, constituted by their Delegates the Pri-
mary Convention of the Diocese of Kentucky, which assembled
in Lexington, July 8tb, 1829. Dr. Chapman was elected Presi.
dent, the Rev. Benjamin 0. Peers Secretary, and John Bustard
Treasurer. Soon after the adjournment of the Convention,
Bp. Ravenscroft of North Carolina made his memorable visit to
Kentucky, and confirmed in Lexington 91 persons, on two oc-
casions in July, 1829.
From a loose memorandum in my possession of questions put
by some collector of statistics in 1851, and answered, apparent-
ly by Mr. Richard Barnes, it appears that at the organization
of the parish in 1823, there were fifteen persons recognized as
communicants.
16
CHAPTER 2.
Brief notices of some of the persons engaged in the
establishment of Christ Church.
Tins interval in the progress of the parish will be a fit op-
portunity to mention more particularly the names of some of
those who were most active in its foundation.
Prominent among the persons engaged in these early efforts
and sacrifices for the establishment of Christ Church is PETER
BENSON ORMSBY. This gentleman emigrated from Ireland and
settled in Louisville in 1797. His daughter and only child, so
long and now the venerated mother of our congregation, and the
ever liberal benefactress of the Church, Mrs. Mary 0. Gray,
was then twelve years of age.
Mr. Ormsby frequently visited Ireland after his settlement
here. During one of these visits the war of 1812 broke out
and prevented his return to America until the restoration of
peace.
M1r. Ormniby was the first to propose the erection of an Epis-
copal Church, and he gave the land upon which it is built.
This land was part of a five-acre lot, and Mr. Ormsby told
the Senior Warden to survey and fence off just as much of the
lot as might be desirable, and he would execute a deed for it.
Amid the cares and perplexities of his numerous duties the
Senior Warden neglected this important matter, until, by one of
those financial revulsions so common in this country, the whole
of Mr. Ormsby's real estate passed out of his own control; and
Written a few months before the death of Mrs. Gray.
i8torical Sketche8 of
when the deed was actually made, on the 1st of May, 1824, no
more land could be secured to the Church th