Untitled Document

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The first clergyman of the . Protestant Episcopal church who performed mission labor in Preemption township. was Rev. Jacob S. Chamberlain, who was called in the month of December to minister to the spiritual wants of Mrs. Rachel Johnston, the wife of Joseph Johnston, Jr., who was at the time on her death bed.

This was his introduction as missionary in this field. Early in the spring of 1868, Rev. Chamberlain commenced active missionary work, which resulted in 1869 in the erection of the present church building on land deeded by Robert Foster and wife to James Johnston, William Johnston, Thomas Armstrong, and Thomas Doonan, trustees, and described as a part of Sec. 4, T. 15, R. 2 W., bearing date of June 1, 1869; consideration $100. Rev. Chamberlain closed his labors in this field, as missionary, in August, 1871.

In October, 1872. Rev. Wm. Thomas Currie was appointed missionary in the same field, and continued his labors Until October 1, 1875. On September 6, 1874, permission was obtained from the standing committee of the diocese of Illinois to organize a parish, and on October 19, 1874, a meeting was held in the church, a parish organized, and officers duly elected. consisting of wardens and vestrymen, as follows

: William H. Johnston, John Manes, and Thomas Doonan, wardens ; Thomas L Johnston, George Clark, and Robert Hix, vestrymen. The organization to be known as St. John's Parish, of Preemption, Illinois.

Shortly after the termination of the labors of Rev. Mr. Currie, as missionary, the Rev. T. M. Thorp was called to the rectorship of the parish, but resigned in the spring of 1877. Rev. N. P. Chariot was elected as the rector by the wardens and vestrymen in May, 1877, and entered upon his duties as such July 1, 1877, and resigned, after a labor of five years, on July 1, 1882. The present membership is small, and but little interest seems to be manifested by them in matters pertaining to religion.

History of Henderson and Mercer Counties

Illinois Ancestors