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St. David's (Radnor) Episcopal Church
Encyclopedia
St. David's Episcopal Church, often known as St. David’s at Radnor or, less often, as Old St. David's, is a parish of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, founded in the early 18th century and named after the Patron Saint
of Wales
. A Book of Common Prayer, given as a gift to Lydia Leamy in 1854, refers to St. Davids as "Radnor Church". It has grown to be the largest congregation in the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania
, with some 950 active families and 3,000 members. The original church building, built in 1715 and the subject of a Longfellow poem, still stands. It is in nearly the same condition as when it was built, several new buildings having been constructed to house the growing congregation. The adjacent graveyard is a part of the historic site. The church property is divided by the borders of three townships, in two counties, often causing confusion as to the church's location. The church office is located at 763 South Valley Forge Road in Wayne
, Radnor Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
in the colony of Pennsylvania
, the area was settled by numerous emigrants from Wales
, particularly Welsh Quakers
, although Welsh people
of other faiths, drawn by Pennsylvania’s religious toleration
and the opportunity to conduct their affairs in their own language
, settled the area as well. In those days, life on the frontier saw exercise of religious beliefs in a limited way (frequently without houses of worship or clergy), which became a concern to many. The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, in London, sent the Welsh Anglican
Rev. Evan Evans to the area as a circuit missionary. He began holding fortnightly services in private houses, including that of William Davis in the area known as Radnor, in the southern part of the Welsh Tract starting November, 1700. In 1708, John Oldmixon
in his book The British Empire in America noted that
When Rev. Evans returned home in 1706, the Welsh-speaking Anglicans of Radnor sent the Society a 100-signature petition requesting a shipment of Welsh-language prayer books and Bibles, and especially requesting another Welsh-speaking missionary. A complete response was apparently slow in coming; ten years later, upon meeting their new leader, the parishioners “heartily engaged themselves to build a handsome stone church to be named after the Patron Saint
of Wales
”. The cornerstone of the new building was laid on May 9, 1715. In an unusual expression of solidarity between denominations, several other clergymen assisted with the laying of the foundation, including Pastor Sandel of Old Swedes Church
in Philadelphia. The first worship services took place in the new church on Christmas Eve, 1715. The building still stands, and seats 100 in old-fashioned box pews; the current organ is not original, having been built in 1952.
An early pastor, the Rev. John Clubb, who served from about 1707 to 1715, and later the Rev. Robert Weyman, who served during the 1720s, were paid by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts and shared duties between St. David's and Old Trinity Church
, located about 20 miles to the east in Oxford (now part of Philadelphia).
in the colonies, a wave of resentment against the Church of England
(which professed loyalty to the king
) arose among the congregation. A leader of this opposition was Anthony Wayne
, a lifelong member of St. David’s who was later appointed major general of the American forces. The rector, the Rev. William Currie, bound by his oath of duty to the king, resigned his position, which remained officially vacant for 12 years (Rev. Currie performed marriages, baptisms, and the like privately until at least 1783). When the war reached Chester County, the church building provided shelter for soldiers of both sides. While St. David’s left the organization of the Church of England, it remained in the Anglican Communion
, and the church was represented at the first General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States in 1784, after the peace treaty was signed.
The church was formally incorporated and chartered in August 1792. A church school was organized in 1820. The first confirmation services were conducted by Bishop William White
, who became the first Presiding Bishop
. The first physical addition to the church holdings was the fieldstone "Old Rectory" in 1844.
After the construction of the "main line
" of the Pennsylvania Railroad
in 1832, the once-isolated community began to evolve more rapidly, particularly after the railroad built local stations and offered frequent train service in the Philadelphia area. One of the way stations on the Main Line
was named St. Davids
for the church (the station is approximately 3 miles/4km from the church), and a community of the same name grew up around the station. The community has no post office of its own, and is served by the nearby Wayne
post office. As Philadelphians began to live outside the city in the late 19th century, the church’s parishioners became more suburban.
As the congregation grew, the parish expanded accordingly. A parish house (office building), with church school facilities, was built in 1924 and enlarged in 1950. Further growth of the congregation led to heated discussion over whether the parish should accommodate a burgeoning membership or retain its early character; this was resolved by the 1956 construction of a new worship building, several times the size of the original church. In a nod to history, the original building retained the name "church" (sometimes called the "old church" for clarity), while the new building was named the "chapel". As a result, the "church" is the small building, while the "chapel
" is the larger one, to the unending confusion of visitors.
A separate building was built for Sunday school classes in 1965, the year the parish celebrated its 250th anniversary at a service attended by the Bishop of St David's
in Wales. The building is named the Knewstub Building for a former rector of the parish.
Continued growth of the congregation rendered the chapel too small by the time it was 50 years old. A new, larger chapel, seating 650, was constructed adjacent to the old one in 2006. A three-manual, 48-stop, mechanical action organ was installed in 2007. The old chapel, its pews, etc., removed, is now used as the Fellowship Hall, hosting receptions after services and other church-related activities, and serving as a connector between the new chapel and the parish offices.
The church grounds lie at the intersection of three townships
and two counties. The old church building, along with a portion of the graveyard, is located in Newtown Township
, Delaware County; the chapel and offices (and thus the mailing address) are located in Radnor Township
, Delaware County; and most of the graveyard is in Easttown Township
, Chester County.
All of these townships were originally in Chester County
; when Delaware County
was divided out of Chester County in 1789, the dividing line was drawn through the St. David’s grounds. This situation can cause problems for the editors and users of databases and directories.
visited St. David’s. Struck by the peace and quiet of "this little church among its graves", he composed a poem about it: "Old St. David’s at Radnor", which was published later that same year in the collection Ultima Thule. The poem refers to another poet, Welshman George Herbert
, and the small Bemerton
church of which he was rector.
These structures were recorded in the Historic American Buildings Survey
. Numerous photographs were also taken.
The historic graveyard is included with the "old" St. David’s Church on the National Register of Historic Places
. Open to all, it also serves as a quiet sanctuary for anyone who wishes to walk its paths or sit amongst the graves and trees.
As might be expected from a churchyard of such an age, there are a number of prominent people buried at St. David’s. These include:
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of Wales
Saint David
Saint David was a Welsh Bishop during the 6th century; he was later regarded as a saint and as the patron saint of Wales. David was a native of Wales, and a relatively large amount of information is known about his life. However, his birth date is still uncertain, as suggestions range from 462 to...
. A Book of Common Prayer, given as a gift to Lydia Leamy in 1854, refers to St. Davids as "Radnor Church". It has grown to be the largest congregation in the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania
Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania
The Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America encompassing the counties of Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Chester and Delaware in the state of Pennsylvania....
, with some 950 active families and 3,000 members. The original church building, built in 1715 and the subject of a Longfellow poem, still stands. It is in nearly the same condition as when it was built, several new buildings having been constructed to house the growing congregation. The adjacent graveyard is a part of the historic site. The church property is divided by the borders of three townships, in two counties, often causing confusion as to the church's location. The church office is located at 763 South Valley Forge Road in Wayne
Wayne, Pennsylvania
Wayne is an unincorporated community located on the Main Line, centered in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. While the center of Wayne is in Radnor Township, Wayne extends into both Tredyffrin Township in Chester County and Upper Merion Township in Montgomery County...
, Radnor Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
Founding
After the establishment of the Welsh TractWelsh Tract
The Welsh Tract, also called the Welsh Barony, was a portion of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania settled largely by Welsh-speaking Quakers. It covers 40,000 acres to the west of Philadelphia...
in the colony of Pennsylvania
Province of Pennsylvania
The Province of Pennsylvania, also known as Pennsylvania Colony, was founded in British America by William Penn on March 4, 1681 as dictated in a royal charter granted by King Charles II...
, the area was settled by numerous emigrants from Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, particularly Welsh Quakers
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
, although Welsh people
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
of other faiths, drawn by Pennsylvania’s religious toleration
Religious toleration
Toleration is "the practice of deliberately allowing or permitting a thing of which one disapproves. One can meaningfully speak of tolerating, ie of allowing or permitting, only if one is in a position to disallow”. It has also been defined as "to bear or endure" or "to nourish, sustain or preserve"...
and the opportunity to conduct their affairs in their own language
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
, settled the area as well. In those days, life on the frontier saw exercise of religious beliefs in a limited way (frequently without houses of worship or clergy), which became a concern to many. The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, in London, sent the Welsh Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
Rev. Evan Evans to the area as a circuit missionary. He began holding fortnightly services in private houses, including that of William Davis in the area known as Radnor, in the southern part of the Welsh Tract starting November, 1700. In 1708, John Oldmixon
John Oldmixon
John Oldmixon was an English historian.He was a son of John Oldmixon of Oldmixon, Weston-super-Mare in Somerset. His first writings were poetry and dramas, among them being Amores Britannici; Epistles historical and gallant ; and a tragedy, The Governor of Cyprus...
in his book The British Empire in America noted that
When Rev. Evans returned home in 1706, the Welsh-speaking Anglicans of Radnor sent the Society a 100-signature petition requesting a shipment of Welsh-language prayer books and Bibles, and especially requesting another Welsh-speaking missionary. A complete response was apparently slow in coming; ten years later, upon meeting their new leader, the parishioners “heartily engaged themselves to build a handsome stone church to be named after the Patron Saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of Wales
Saint David
Saint David was a Welsh Bishop during the 6th century; he was later regarded as a saint and as the patron saint of Wales. David was a native of Wales, and a relatively large amount of information is known about his life. However, his birth date is still uncertain, as suggestions range from 462 to...
”. The cornerstone of the new building was laid on May 9, 1715. In an unusual expression of solidarity between denominations, several other clergymen assisted with the laying of the foundation, including Pastor Sandel of Old Swedes Church
Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church National Historic Site
Gloria Dei Church, founded in 1677, and built between 1697 and 1700, is a historic church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The congregation was originally Swedish Lutheran, but has been Episcopalian since 1845.-Background:...
in Philadelphia. The first worship services took place in the new church on Christmas Eve, 1715. The building still stands, and seats 100 in old-fashioned box pews; the current organ is not original, having been built in 1952.
An early pastor, the Rev. John Clubb, who served from about 1707 to 1715, and later the Rev. Robert Weyman, who served during the 1720s, were paid by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts and shared duties between St. David's and Old Trinity Church
Old Trinity Church
Old Trinity Church, also known as Trinity Church, Oxford, is a historic Episcopal church founded in Oxford Township, Pennsylvania, which is now part of Philadelphia....
, located about 20 miles to the east in Oxford (now part of Philadelphia).
Revolutionary and Federal periods
With the coming of the American RevolutionAmerican Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
in the colonies, a wave of resentment against the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
(which professed loyalty to the king
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
) arose among the congregation. A leader of this opposition was Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne was a United States Army general and statesman. Wayne adopted a military career at the outset of the American Revolutionary War, where his military exploits and fiery personality quickly earned him a promotion to the rank of brigadier general and the sobriquet of Mad Anthony.-Early...
, a lifelong member of St. David’s who was later appointed major general of the American forces. The rector, the Rev. William Currie, bound by his oath of duty to the king, resigned his position, which remained officially vacant for 12 years (Rev. Currie performed marriages, baptisms, and the like privately until at least 1783). When the war reached Chester County, the church building provided shelter for soldiers of both sides. While St. David’s left the organization of the Church of England, it remained in the Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
, and the church was represented at the first General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States in 1784, after the peace treaty was signed.
The church was formally incorporated and chartered in August 1792. A church school was organized in 1820. The first confirmation services were conducted by Bishop William White
William White (Bishop of Pennsylvania)
The Most Reverend William White was the first and fourth Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, USA , the first Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania , and the second United States Senate Chaplain...
, who became the first Presiding Bishop
Presiding Bishop
The Presiding Bishop is an ecclesiastical position in some denominations of Christianity.- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America :The Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is the chief ecumenical officer of the church, and the leader and caretaker for the bishops of the...
. The first physical addition to the church holdings was the fieldstone "Old Rectory" in 1844.
Suburbanization
Main Line (Pennsylvania Railroad)
The Main Line of the Pennsylvania Railroad was a rail line in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, connecting Philadelphia with Pittsburgh via Harrisburg...
" of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
in 1832, the once-isolated community began to evolve more rapidly, particularly after the railroad built local stations and offered frequent train service in the Philadelphia area. One of the way stations on the Main Line
Pennsylvania Main Line
The Main Line is an unofficial historical and socio-cultural region of suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, comprising a collection of affluent towns built along the old Main Line of the Pennsylvania Railroad which ran northwest from downtown Philadelphia parallel to Lancaster Avenue , a road...
was named St. Davids
St. Davids (SEPTA station)
St Davids Station is a commuter rail station located in the western suburbs of Philadelphia atChamounix Road & Glynn Lane, Wayne, Pennsylvania. It is served by most Paoli/Thorndale Line trains....
for the church (the station is approximately 3 miles/4km from the church), and a community of the same name grew up around the station. The community has no post office of its own, and is served by the nearby Wayne
Wayne, Pennsylvania
Wayne is an unincorporated community located on the Main Line, centered in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. While the center of Wayne is in Radnor Township, Wayne extends into both Tredyffrin Township in Chester County and Upper Merion Township in Montgomery County...
post office. As Philadelphians began to live outside the city in the late 19th century, the church’s parishioners became more suburban.
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
" is the larger one, to the unending confusion of visitors.
A separate building was built for Sunday school classes in 1965, the year the parish celebrated its 250th anniversary at a service attended by the Bishop of St David's
Bishop of St David's
The Bishop of St David's is the ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of St David's.The succession of bishops stretches back to Saint David who in the 6th century established his seat in what is today the city of St David's in Pembrokeshire, founding St David's Cathedral. The current Bishop of St...
in Wales. The building is named the Knewstub Building for a former rector of the parish.
Continued growth of the congregation rendered the chapel too small by the time it was 50 years old. A new, larger chapel, seating 650, was constructed adjacent to the old one in 2006. A three-manual, 48-stop, mechanical action organ was installed in 2007. The old chapel, its pews, etc., removed, is now used as the Fellowship Hall, hosting receptions after services and other church-related activities, and serving as a connector between the new chapel and the parish offices.
The church grounds lie at the intersection of three townships
Civil township
A civil township is a widely used unit of local government in the United States, subordinate to, and geographic divisions of, a county. Specific responsibilities and the degree of autonomy vary based on each state. Civil townships are distinct from survey townships, but in states that have both,...
and two counties. The old church building, along with a portion of the graveyard, is located in Newtown Township
Newtown Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Newtown Township is a township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States . Newtown Township is the oldest township in Delaware County. The population was 11,700 as of the 2000 census.-History:...
, Delaware County; the chapel and offices (and thus the mailing address) are located in Radnor Township
Radnor Township, Pennsylvania
Radnor Township is a township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 30,878. Radnor Township lies along the Main Line, a collection of highly affluent Philadelphia suburbs....
, Delaware County; and most of the graveyard is in Easttown Township
Easttown Township, Pennsylvania
Easttown Township is a township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 10,477 at the 2010 census.-History:The land that eventually became Easttown Township was once part of the Welsh Tract, a large expanse of land promised by William Penn to a group of Welsh Quaker...
, Chester County.
All of these townships were originally in Chester County
Chester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
; when Delaware County
Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 558,979, making it Pennsylvania's fifth most populous county, behind Philadelphia, Allegheny, Montgomery, and Bucks counties....
was divided out of Chester County in 1789, the dividing line was drawn through the St. David’s grounds. This situation can cause problems for the editors and users of databases and directories.
Longfellow poem
In March 1880, the poet Henry Wadsworth LongfellowHenry Wadsworth Longfellow
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was an American poet and educator whose works include "Paul Revere's Ride", The Song of Hiawatha, and Evangeline...
visited St. David’s. Struck by the peace and quiet of "this little church among its graves", he composed a poem about it: "Old St. David’s at Radnor", which was published later that same year in the collection Ultima Thule. The poem refers to another poet, Welshman George Herbert
George Herbert
George Herbert was a Welsh born English poet, orator and Anglican priest.Being born into an artistic and wealthy family, he received a good education that led to his holding prominent positions at Cambridge University and Parliament. As a student at Trinity College, Cambridge, Herbert excelled in...
, and the small Bemerton
Bemerton
Bemerton, once a separate village to the west of Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, is now virtually a suburb of that city. George Herbert was Rector of Fugglestone with Bemerton and is buried at Bemerton....
church of which he was rector.
Historic Structures
The "old" church building, constructed 1715, was added to or modified a number of times, in 1767, 1771, 1786, 1813, 1830, and 1907. These modifications included the relocation of the altar, the addition of an enclosed stair to the choir loft, the addition of a vestry room to the north, and the construction of an enclosure for the main entry door. A horse shed was built in 1850, and added to in 1871.These structures were recorded in the Historic American Buildings Survey
Historic American Buildings Survey
The Historic American Buildings Survey , Historic American Engineering Record , and Historic American Landscapes Survey are programs of the National Park Service established for the purpose of documenting historic places. Records consists of measured drawings, archival photographs, and written...
. Numerous photographs were also taken.
Graveyard
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. Open to all, it also serves as a quiet sanctuary for anyone who wishes to walk its paths or sit amongst the graves and trees.
As might be expected from a churchyard of such an age, there are a number of prominent people buried at St. David’s. These include:
- Anthony WayneAnthony WayneAnthony Wayne was a United States Army general and statesman. Wayne adopted a military career at the outset of the American Revolutionary War, where his military exploits and fiery personality quickly earned him a promotion to the rank of brigadier general and the sobriquet of Mad Anthony.-Early...
(1745–1796), general in the American RevolutionAmerican RevolutionThe American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
; he died in Erie, PennsylvaniaErie, PennsylvaniaErie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
, and was buried there. His son Isaac, wishing to bury him at his home church, traveled to Erie in 1809 and had the body exhumed and rendered to separate the bones from the flesh. All the bones that would fit in Isaac Wayne’s luggage were brought to St. David’s and buried in the Newtown Township portion of the graveyard. - Isaac WayneIsaac WayneIsaac Wayne was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania, son of General "Mad" Anthony Wayne, and grandson of Isaac Wayne....
(1772–1852) Anthony Wayne’s son, U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania, 1823–25. - George W. PepperGeorge W. PepperGeorge Wharton Pepper was an American lawyer, law professor, and Republican politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
(1867–1961), U.S. Senator 1922–1927. He is said to be buried in the Easttown portion of the graveyard. - William W. AtterburyWilliam W. AtterburyWilliam Wallace Atterbury was a Brigadier General during World War I. He was instrumental in reorganizing railroad traffic during the war for more efficient transportation of troops and supplies for the American Expeditionary Forces. After the war, he became the 10th president of the...
(1866–1935), Brigadier General in World War I, and President of the Pennsylvania RailroadPennsylvania RailroadThe Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
1925–1935. - Helen Hope Montgomery ScottHelen Hope Montgomery ScottHelen Hope Montgomery Scott was a socialite and philanthropist who Vanity Fair once called "the unofficial queen of Philadelphia's WASP oligarchy." She is most famous as the inspiration for Tracy Lord, the main character in the Philip Barry play The Philadelphia Story, which was made into the film...
(1904-1995), inspiration of "The Philadelphia StoryThe Philadelphia StoryThe Philadelphia Story is a 1940 American romantic comedy film directed by George Cukor and starring Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, and James Stewart. Based on the Broadway play of the same name by Philip Barry, the film is about a socialite whose wedding plans are complicated by the simultaneous...
" and its leading character, Tracy Lord; and her husband, Edgar Scott. - Rose BamptonRose BamptonRose Bampton was a celebrated American opera singer who had an active international career during the 1930s and 1940s. She began her professional career performing mostly minor roles from the mezzo-soprano repertoire in 1929 but later switched to singing primarily leading soprano roles in 1937...
(1907–2007), opera singer. - Edward Lowber Stokes (1880–1964), US Congressman.
- R. Norris WilliamsR. Norris WilliamsRichard "Dick" Norris Williams II , generally known as R. Norris Williams, was an American male tennis player.-Biography:He was born in Geneva, Switzerland....
(1891–1968), professional tennis player and Olympic athlete.
Rectors
The missionaries (to 1714) and rectors (thereafter) of St. David's, with their years of service:- Evan Evans, D.D., 1700–1704
- John Clubb, ca. 1707– ca. 1712, 1714–1715
- Evan Evans, D.D., 1716–1718
- John Humphreys, 1718–1719
- Robert Weyman, 1719–1730
- Richard Backhouse, 1730–1732
- Griffith HughesGriffith HughesThe Reverend Griffith Hughes , FRS, was a naturalist and author. Hughes wrote The Natural History of Barbados, which included the first description of the grapefruit...
, 1732–1736 - William Currie 1737–1776 (officially), 1776–1785 (unofficially)
- Slator Clay, 1786–1821
- Samuel Crawford Brinckle, 1818–1832
- Simon Wilmer, 1832–1833
- William Henry Rees, D.D., 1833–1838
- Willie Peck, 1838–1845
- Breed Batcheller, 1845–1847
- Thomas Greene Allen, 1847–1848
- John Albemarle Childs, D.D., 1848–1850
- Henry Brown, 1851–1855
- Richardson Graham, 1856–1861
- Thomas Green Clemson, Jr., 1861–1866
- William Frederick Halsey, 1866–1882
- George Alexander Keller, 1882–1902
- James Hart Lamb, D.D., 1902–1918
- William Cunningham Rodgers, D.D., 1919–1922
- Crosswell McBee, D.D., 1922–1945
- John Cecil Knewstub, 1945–1966
- Richard Walton Hess, 1967–1983
- Stephen Kent Jacobson, D.Min., 1984–1996
- W. Frank Allen, 1997–
External links
- St. David’s Episcopal Church website
- Longfellow’s poem about St. David’s
- Video of the church and Longfellow’s poem: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Old St. David's at Radnor; read by Grover Gardner. Youtube: West Production Services.
- "Mad" Anthony Wayne: His Body Did Not Rest in Peace. Hugh T. Harrington and Lisa A. Ennis.
- Google Street View
- Old Saint David Church Cemetery at Find A GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...
- The St. David's Church (Radnor, Pa.) Records, spanning 300 years, are available for research use at the Historical Society of PennsylvaniaHistorical Society of PennsylvaniaThe Historical Society of Pennsylvania is a historical society founded in 1824 and based in Philadelphia. The Society's building, designed by Addison Hutton and listed on Philadelphia's Register of Historical Places, houses some 600,000 printed items and over 19 million manuscript and graphic items...
.