St. Paul's Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> St. Paul's Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Church finance]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Episcopalians]]> Episcopal Church]]>
The practice of renting pews was common in 19th century churches; members paid a fee for the right to occupy a particular pew every week. Pew holders are listed by name, which are not entered alphabetically. Each entry spans two pages, recto and verso, and includes dates, numbers of seats rented, and sums paid.

General accounts of the church start on page 65a, and include salaries for church employees, collections, investments, legacies, mortgages, ground rents, and payments toward an organ for the church.]]> Account books]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> Gloria Dei Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Gloria Dei Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Church records and registers]]> Lutherans]]> Marriage records]]> Burial records]]> Indians of North America]]> Sweden]]> Netherlands]]> Land Settlement]]> Colonies]]> African Americans]]> Rudman, Andrew, 1668-1708]]> Church buildings]]> Cemeteries]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Church finance]]> Registers of births, etc.]]> Church fund raising]]> Poor]]> Charity]]> Clergy]]> Lutheran Church]]>
Meeting minutes for the general parish and church council of Gloria Dei are interspersed with these personal accounts, as well as copies of letters to and from various kings, queens, bishops and archbishops in Europe. Topics covered include: land purchases; the building and upkeep of churches, including Gloria Dei and its cemetery; the need for new ministers and the struggle to house and pay them; the establishment of standards for religious practices in the new land; listings of Swedish families, including information on births, deaths, and marriages; and ongoing relations between the Swedes and their Indian, Dutch and English neighbors, including Quakers and the leaders of Christ Church.

The last third of the book consists of financial accounts kept by Gloria Dei. Sums recorded include Sunday collections, special fundraising efforts, and expenditures for church repair, ministers' travel, and support of the poor and sick in the congregation.

Note: The vast majority of records in this book run to 1760, but several documents at the back of the volume date from the early 1800s.]]> Minutes (Records)]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Parish elections]]> Church records and registers]]> Church finance]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Church management]]> Church fund raising]]> Church schools]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Church of England]]> Episcopalians]]> Corporate minutes]]> Episcopal Church]]>
Note: Page 92 was blank and was not scanned.]]> Minutes (Records)]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> First Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> First Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Church records and registers]]> Presbyterians]]> Corporate minutes]]> Church management]]> Church finance]]> Church fund raising]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Church buildings]]> Church committees]]> Presbyterian Church]]> Minutes (Records)]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> Second Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Second Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Church records and registers]]> Church finance]]> Church management]]> Church discipline]]> Presbyterians]]> Church buildings]]> Cemeteries]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Corporate minutes]]> Church committees]]> Church membership]]> First Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]>
Entries note the date and place of meetings, members present, and business discussed. Topics include but are not limited to: the purchase of new grounds and building of a new meeting house; the assignment of pews and pew rents and later a rise in pew rents to help the church out of debt; fees for baptisms and terms for burials; the choice of a new minister; discipline of members for ill behavior; and application for a charter.]]> Minutes (Records)]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> St. Michael's Church (Trenton, N.J.)]]> St. Michael's Church (Trenton, N.J.)]]> Episcopalians]]> Episcopal Church]]> Corporate minutes]]> Baptismal records]]> Marriage records]]> Burial records]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Church finance]]> Church membership]]>
The register portion of the document begins on image 98 with an undated
alphabetical list of church members, notated for communicants, contributors, and removed or deceased members. Christenings, marriages and burials are then listed in chronological groupings starting with image 105, beginning in 1769 and ending in 1855. Entries include dates, names, and other relevant data. Black persons are marked as "negros."

The next portion of the manuscript includes an account of communion collections on image 190, a list of pew holders as of December 1836 on image 202, and a list of communicants from 1840 on image 206. An index of the register entries from 1818-1822 appears on image 209, and the final pages of the manuscript contains a map and listings of interments in the St. Michael's burial ground.]]> Manuscripts]]> Minutes (Records)]]> Registers (Lists)]]> ]]> First Baptist Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> First Baptist Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Church records and registers]]> Corporate minutes]]> Baptists]]> Church finance]]> Church buildings]]> Church discipline]]> Church membership]]> Church management]]> Poor]]> Charity]]> Church fund raising]]> Church committees]]> Pews and pew rights]]>
There is an alphabetical index of church members' names at the back of the book.]]> Minutes (Records)]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Episcopalians]]> Episcopal Church]]> Manuscripts]]> "Charts]]> diagrams]]> etc."]]> ]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Parish elections]]> Church records and registers]]> Church finance]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> St. Peter's Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> American Revolution (1775-1783)]]> Church buildings]]> Church committees]]> Church discipline]]> Church fund raising]]> Church management]]> Church of England]]> American Revolution (United States : 1775-1783)]]> Corporate minutes]]> Episcopalians]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Frontier and pioneer life]]> Indians of North America]]> Charters]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Poor]]> Charity]]> African Americans]]> Kearsley, John, 1684-1772]]> Episcopal Church]]>
Other important events and topics include:

The opening of St. Peter's and the establishment of the United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's in 1761, with shared government and finances. Minutes include draft and final versions of the charter for the United Churches.

The response of the United Churches to the 1763 "Indian invasion" of the "back provinces" of Pennsylvania and subsequent correspondence with church officials from York and Cumberland Counties on behalf of "families on the frontier."

The 1763 review and approval of Reverend William Sturgeon's fulfillment of his duty as the "Catechist to the Negroe Children for the Society for Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts."

The 1772 bequest from Dr. John Kearsley that funded the development of the Christ Church Hospital for poor women and widows.

The American Revolution. Minutes from the Vestry meeting of July 4, 1776, when the Vestry resolved at the onset of the American Revolution: "Whereas the Honorable Continental Congress have resolved to declare the American Colonies to be free and independent States, In consequence of which it will be proper to omit those Petitions in the Liturgy wherein the King of Great Britain is prayed for, as inconsistent with the said Declaration. Therefore Resolved, that it appears to this Vestry to be necessary for the peace and well-being of the Churches to omit the said Petitions, and the Rector and Assistant Ministers of the United Churches are requested in the Name of the Vestry and their Constituents to omit such petitions as are above mentioned." (p. 338)

Subsequent minutes reveal effects of the war, including the loss of pew rents after many parishioners fled the city during the British occupation, the damage to church property caused by the British army, and the departure of Reverend Coombe, who could not tolerate the conflict of serving revolutionary subjects while ordained and governed by the Church of England.]]> Minutes (Records)]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> St. Michael's Church (Trenton, N.J.)]]> St. Michael's Church (Trenton, N.J.)]]> Episcopalians]]> Episcopal Church]]> Church finance]]> Church fund raising]]> Church buildings]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Corporate minutes]]> Church management]]> Manuscripts]]> Minutes (Records)]]> ]]> St. Paul's Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> St. Paul's Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Church records and registers]]> Church of England]]> Episcopalians]]> McClenachan, William, 1714-]]> Church buildings]]> Church committees]]> Church finance]]> Church fund raising]]> Churchwardens' accounts]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Cemeteries]]> Episcopal Church]]> Minutes (Records)]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> Gloria Dei Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Gloria Dei Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Corporate minutes]]> Church records and registers]]> Lutherans]]> Church management]]> Charters]]> Wrangel, Carl Magnus, -1786]]> Poor]]> Charity]]> Church finance]]> Church discipline]]> Sweden]]> Church committees]]> Cemeteries]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Lutheran Church]]> Minutes (Records)]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> First Baptist Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> First Baptist Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Church records and registers]]> Corporate minutes]]> Baptists]]> Church management]]> Charity]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Church finance]]> Church membership]]> Church fund raising]]> Church discipline]]> Church committees]]> Church buildings]]> Poor]]> Minutes (Records)]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> Third Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Third Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Church records and registers]]> Corporate minutes]]> Presbyterians]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Church finance]]> Church committees]]> Church management]]> Church discipline]]> Charity]]> Presbyterian Church]]>
Topics of the meetings generally include the collection of pew rents, settlement of financial accounts, improvements to the buildings and grounds, and management of charitable funds, as well as more specific entries such as the seasonal adjustment of service times and adoption of a new version of the Psalms. Of particular interest are the minutes pertaining to the call for George Duffield to serve as their new pastor, and the resulting rift with First Presbyterian Church.

The bulk of the minutes end on page 168, and pages 174, 175 and 176, which list the books and verses read from during services, are written upside down, so run in reverse chronological order.

Note: Prior to 1797, the Trustees were called "the Committee."]]> Minutes (Records)]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> Second Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Second Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Church records and registers]]> Corporate minutes]]> Presbyterians]]> Church finance]]> Church management]]> Church buildings]]> Church membership]]> Church discipline]]> Cemeteries]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Church committees]]> Presbyterian Church]]> Minutes (Records)]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> Third Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Third Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Church finance]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Presbyterians]]> Church records and registers]]> Presbyterian Church]]> Account books]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> First Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> First Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Church records and registers]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Church finance]]> Church committees]]> Presbyterian Church]]> Minutes (Records)]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Church finance]]> Episcopalians]]> Episcopal Church]]> Account books]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Church finance]]> St. Peter's Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Episcopalians]]> St. James's Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> United Churches of Christ-Church, St. Peter's, and St. James's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Episcopal Church]]>
This document lists pew holders at Christ Church from page 1 to 46, St. Peter's from page 47 to 98, and St. James' from page 99 to 150. Large spans of blank pages were not scanned, which accounts for gaps in page numbers. Dates begin as early as 1778, but the bulk of dates fall between 1809 and 1825. Entries are listed by pew number and include number of seats rented, rate, to whom let, when let, and when "given up, relinquished or forfeited."

Pew maps for each of the three churches appear at the end of the book, followed by an alphabetical index.]]> Account books]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> Third Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Third Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Church finance]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Presbyterians]]> Church records and registers]]> Presbyterian Church]]> Account books]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Church finance]]> Episcopalians]]> Episcopal Church]]> Pages after page 17 are blank and were not scanned.]]> Account books]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Church finance]]> St. Peter's Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Episcopalians]]> Episcopal Church]]> Account books]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> First Baptist Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> First Baptist Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Church records and registers]]> Corporate minutes]]> Baptists]]> Church finance]]> Church management]]> Church discipline]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Church membership]]> Church fund raising]]> Church committees]]> Church buildings]]> Poor]]> Charity]]> Minutes (Records)]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Church finance]]> Episcopalians]]> Episcopal Church]]> Account books]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Church finance]]> Episcopalians]]> Episcopal Church]]>
The journal entries are formatted such that they carry across both leaves of the book opening, and instead of pages being numbered, the openings (called "folios" in the book) are numbered. Both left and right leaves have been scanned together.]]> Account books]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> Second Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Second Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Church records and registers]]> Church finance]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Presbyterians]]> Presbyterian Church]]> Account books]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Church finance]]> Episcopalians]]> Episcopal Church]]> Account books]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> Land, H. (Henry), 1723 or 1724-]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Church finance]]> St. Peter's Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Episcopalians]]> Episcopal Church]]> Account books]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Church finance]]> St. Peter's Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Episcopalians]]> Episcopal Church]]> Account books]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Church finance]]> St. Peter's Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Episcopalians]]> Episcopal Church]]> Account books]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Church finance]]> St. Peter's Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Episcopalians]]> Episcopal Church]]> Account books]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Church finance]]> St. Peter's Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Episcopalians]]> Episcopal Church]]> Account books]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Church finance]]> St. Peter's Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Episcopalians]]> Episcopal Church]]> Account books]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> First Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> First Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Church finance]]> Church records and registers]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Presbyterians]]> Presbyterian Church]]> Account books]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> Second Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Second Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Church records and registers]]> Church finance]]> Presbyterians]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Presbyterian Church]]> Account books]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Church finance]]> St. Peter's Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Episcopalians]]> Episcopal Church]]> Account books]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Church finance]]> St. Peter's Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Episcopalians]]> Episcopal Church]]> Account books]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Church finance]]> Episcopalians]]> Episcopal Church]]> Account books]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Church finance]]> Episcopalians]]> Episcopal Church]]> Account books]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Church finance]]> St. Peter's Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Episcopalians]]> Episcopal Church]]> Account books]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Church finance]]> St. Peter's Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Episcopalians]]> Episcopal Church]]> Account books]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Church finance]]> St. Peter's Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Episcopalians]]> Episcopal Church]]> Account books]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> Third Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Third Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Church finance]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Presbyterians]]> Church records and registers]]> Presbyterian Church]]> Account books]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> First Baptist Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> First Baptist Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Church records and registers]]> Corporate minutes]]> Baptists]]> Church buildings]]> Church finance]]> Church management]]> Church membership]]> Church discipline]]> Poor]]> Charity]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Church fund raising]]> Church committees]]> Minutes (Records)]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> First Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> First Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Church finance]]> Church records and registers]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Presbyterians]]> Presbyterian Church]]> Account books]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Church finance]]> St. Peter's Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Episcopalians]]> Episcopal Church]]> Account books]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Church finance]]> St. Peter's Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Episcopalians]]> Episcopal Church]]> Account books]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> Third Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Third Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Church finance]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Presbyterians]]> Church records and registers]]> Presbyterian Church]]> Account books]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Church finance]]> St. Peter's Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Episcopalians]]> Episcopal Church]]> Account books]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Pews and pew rights]]> Church finance]]> St. Peter's Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Episcopalians]]> Episcopal Church]]> Account books]]> Manuscripts]]> ]]>