Jersey EPISCOPALIAN Contents: Autumn 2005 in Every Issue out and About There’S a Lot Going on in the Diocese of New Jersey

Autumn 2005 Autumn

LORD, in your mercy, lift us up and make New Jersey new.

EPISCOPALIAN Jersey

The Quarterly Magazine of the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey Jersey EPISCOPALIAN Contents: Autumn 2005 in every issue Out and About There’s a lot going on in the Diocese of New Jersey. A three-month calendar highlights key diocesan and parish events, often with contact info so you can find out more. 3

The Mitre Box From George Herbert to Herbie Hancock, dogma to the Dodgers, in each issue you’ll find a reflection by George Councell, the eleventh Bishop of New Jersey. 6 En español 7

Profiles in Grace Throughout the diocese, people are connecting, proclaiming Christ, and doing their level best to love one another. Meet two of those “one anothers.” The Reverend Canon Ronald G. Albury 10 Alicia Graham 12

Since We Last Spoke A quick look at the major issues in the Episcopal Church and around the Anglican Communion in the past few months. 22

Rear-View Mirror The diocese through kings, revolution, presidents, turnpikes, Miss Americas, and bishops. Have a look at a page in our past — and take heart for the future! The Strange Story of Burlington’s Long-Vanished Point House 28

TheBurlington in this issue Convocation d What on earth are convocations? An up-close and personal look at the geographic quilt that com- prises the diocese, focusing on a single convocation in each of the next eight issues. We begin with the mother of them all. Road trip! The Burlington Convocation 14 Convocations: 9 Things You May Not Know 16 The Story of St. Mary’s Hall 18 The Life and Death of a Church 20

From the John 10:10 Turnpike Where Bishop Councell has been on his every-parish-in-three-years’ tour, the new life he’s found — and what’s ahead at the next exit ramp. His Bishop’s Blog tells all. 24

The Last Word Why the Diocese of New Jersey is returning to a 171-year-old communications plan. 30

Think souvenir postcards are just for the New Jersey Turnpike? The Diocese of New Jersey has its own, pic- turing some of the parishes, people, and places visited by Bishop Councell, designed in classic cheesy postcard style. Download one of your own from the web at newjersey.anglican.org/postcard.html Out About Key events in and around& the diocese: September to December 2005

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 3 September 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Rumson At St. George’s- Labor day Trenton At Trinity Ca- by-the-River, take in a A day to remember the thedral, celebrate the Russian vocal ensemble importance of labor ministry of the three new from St. Petersburg, LYRA, and the labor move- archdeacons of the Dio- who specialize in music of ment in American cese of New Jersey and say the Orthodox Church and history. Diocesan goodbye to Archdeacon Russian folk music. 7 pm. House is closed. Carol Stoy. Eucharist; re- Info: www.lyra-online.org ception follows. 11 am.

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Riverton Christ Church’s The diocesan altar Sea girt St. Uriel’s offers Trenton: Homecoming Trenton Bishop Coun- 150th year begins at 10 am guild board meets at ALPHA from 13 Sept. to 22 day with the bishop All cell visits and confirms at with a renewal of vows for St. Barnabas’ Church Nov. 6 pm every Tuesday. clergy in the diocese are St. Peter’s Igbo Church,

all baptized there. A picnic in Cherry Hill at 10 am. For more: urielsg.org. invited to attend this im- where services are in

follows. The Monmouth Lunch at the church. More The woodbury convo- portant time with Bishop Igbo, an African language spoken in a Convocation meets at St. info: Email Nancy Miller, cation at Trinity Church, Councell. At Trinity Cathe- number of churches George’s, Rumson. 4 pm. president, at kfmndm@ Vineland, 7 pm. Bishop dral, 10 am to 3 pm. throughout the dio- The bishop will discuss new aol.com Councell will talk about cese. 3 pm. diocesan developments. diocesan initiatives. 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Trenton Share your ideas The camden convo- House of Bishops The Woodbury Convo- about the Cathedral and its cation meets at Grace Bishop Councell attends cation hosts a potluck next dean. All invited! 11 Church in Haddonfield at the House of Bishops picnic at the Red Bank am. Info: 609 392-3805. 7 pm. Bishop Councell will meeting in San Juan, Battlefield (21 acres, play- WESTFIELD St. Paul’s dedi- be present to discuss new Puerto Rico, from 21 to ground, and more). cates a new sanctuary and diocesan initiatives and 26 September. 11 am to organ. Music begins at developments. 4 pm, 3:30 pm, then a Eucharist, whether rain or shine. with Bishop Councell. 25 26 27 28 29 30 SOMERVILLE At 10:15 am New Brunswick Music St. Michael and at St. John’s Church, pa- for flute and viola by Holst. All angels rishioners won’t have a Trillium at 12:15 pm, Christ An important feast day sermon but instead will Church. Info: christchurch- in the early church and hear a musical drama newbrunswick.org one, alas, often neglected The Complete History of Sea Girt St. Uriel’s offers these days. And just imag- the Old Testament in 20 a fashion show to benefit ine: it celebrates an arch- Minutes. Trinity Academy: Old Mill angel who’s also a saint! ALSO on 25 SEPTEMBER Inn. Info: 732 449-6173.

WILLINGBORO The Men of Christ the King host their Ninth Jazz Luncheon Concert with the Palm- er Jenkins Ensemble. En- joy a delicious luncheon and fabulous music. More info: [email protected] or 609 877-2987. Here There Events in and around the& diocese: September to December 2005

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 Haddonfield On Sat- urday and Sunday, 1 and 2 October, Grace Church hosts the Second Annu- al Great Grace Race (a 5K run). 8 am. For more info and registration form, go to: gracehaddon.org

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Dunellen St. Francis’ Haddonfield Grace The Trenton-Burling- Riverton Christ Church Trinity cathedral com- New Providence At Church offers a Blessing of Church’s Second AnnuOctober- ton Clericus Meets at will join in a Celebration munity day Over 30 par- St. Andrew’s Church, the the Animals in the tradi- al Golf Tournament, pro- Grace-St. Paul’s Church in of New Ministry of the ish foursomes compete for parish will join in a Cele- tion of St. Francis of ceeds to benefit Habitat Mercerville. Email John Rev. Richard Wrede, with the Councell Cup at Moun- bration of New Ministry Assisi. All God’s creatures, for Humanity in Camden. Salmon, Jr. for more info: Bishop Councell presid- tain View Golf Course. The of the Reverend Margaret leashed or caged, are wel- More info on the web: suzannejacksalmon@ ing. 7 pm. Bishop offers the Eucharist Hodgkins. Bishop Coun- come. 12:30 pm. More gracehaddon.org earthlink.net before play begins at 9 am. cell will preside. Wine and info, directions: A BBQ ends the day. Info: cheese reception follows. 732 968-6781. 609 392-3805. 3 pm. 92 11 12 13 14 15 Episcopal Church & The Atlantic convo- The watchung convo- Diocesan Youth Event Episcopal church visual arts new jersey cation Christ Church at cation meets at St. John’s 14-16 Oct. at Camp Leba- women Host Exhibit at Trinity Cathe- Somers Point, 7 pm. The Church, Somerville, at non, for grades 6-12. Info: their Honored dral of the work of pho- bishop discusses new ini- 7 pm. Bishop Councell will newjerseyyouth.org Women’s Lun- tographer William Perry, tiatives. Diocesan Altar be present to discuss new Elizabeth St. John’s cheon. For more who at 96 has captured Guild Eucharist & auction diocesan initiatives and Players offer GODSPELL! info, phone much of the 20th century at the Cathedral, 10 am. developments. on 14-15 Oct. and weekend Nancy Gorman on film. Reception 3 to 5 Open to all on altar guilds. of 21-23 Oct. More: sjnj.org at 856 829-1285. pm at Synod Hall. Info: [email protected] or phone 908 352-1218. 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Mercerville Grace-St. Bloomingdale 17-19 St. Luke the Evangelist Mercerville Hungry? Paul’s Church celebrates Oct. Making a Difference: A Grace-St. Paul’s hosts its the 50th anniversary of Course for Those Who Min- Woodbury Christ Church Famous Roast Beef Din- the 1955 merger of the ister and Serve Others. Info: travels to NYC, to St. ner™ from 4 to 7 pm. $12 two churches that form smrozzelle.stmarksbr@ ver- Thomas Fifth Avenue to adult, $6 child. Phone the the present parish: Grace, izon.net or phone 908 766- hear the Choir of West- church office for more Trenton and St. Paul’s, 0510. Episcopal and RC minster Abbey. Info: 856 info: 609 586-6004. Trenton. laity, priests, and religious 845-0190 or christchurch. lead the course. woodburynj.org 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 New Brunswick At his- St. James of Jerusalem cranford Growing in St. Simon and St. Jude, Wenonah The well- toric Christ Church, you Faith begins at Trinity. Top- APOSTLES known writer and essayist can enjoy the service of ics include Why Read the the Reverend Barbara Sung Vespers, which is Bible?, Early Church His- Crafton will be giving a followed by a 40 min- tory: Christ to Constantine, day of meditations at Holy ute organ recital. And not and Worship, the Work of Trinity, Wenonah. More just this Sunday, but every the People. 1st and 4th info from the church: 856 Sunday at 6 pm, through Wednesdays, 8-9 pm. More 468-0295.

4 June 2006. info: 908 276-4047. Also on 29 October: 30 Metuchen A St. Luke’s Barnegat Light At St. Point Pleasant Beach group heads to Elijah’s Peter’s-at-the-Light: A St. Mary’s, A Celebration Promise, a soup kitchen in Celebration of New Min- of New Ministry of the New Brunswick to prepare istry of the Reverend Rev. C. John Thompson- a meal for the less fortu- Donald Turner. Bishop Quartey. Bishop Councell nate. Email Lisa Olsen at Councell presides. 11 am. presides. 3 pm. lmolsen1105 @aol.com for more info. Hither Yon Events in and around the diocese:& September to December 2005

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 3 4 5 The burlington convo- Diocesan youth event Trenton Fireweed Evange- cation At Trinity Church, Happening 18: 4-6 Nov. lism: The Rev. David Stout All saints day Vincentown. Bishop Coun- at Camp Lebanon, 9-12 and Canon Elizabeth Geitz. cell will discuss new dioce- grade: newjerseyyouth.org Cathedral, 9:45 am-3:30 pm. san initiatives. 7 pm. Medford St. Peter’s An- Asbury Park St. Augus- Yardville, St. James’ nual Casino Night at Indi- tine’s: A Celebration of Tenth anniversary of the an Springs Country Club. New Ministry of the Rev. Feast of the parish’s Dedi- Info: stpetersmedford.org Andrea Hayden, Bishop cation. 2 pm. or 609 654-2963. Councell presiding. 3 pm. 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 NovBridgeton St. Andrew’sem The Trenton convoca- The northern convo- 20th Cursillo week- Dunellen At 7:30 pm at Episcopal shopping! Church will offer a Cele- bertion meets at Trinity cation meets at Trini- end From 10–12 No- St. Francis’ Church, the SOMERVILLE, ST. JOHN’S bration of New Ministry of Cathedral at 7 pm. Bishop ty Church in Cranford at vember, Cursillistas will Brass Roots Trio will pres- The church holds their fa- 7 pm. Bishop Councell will the Rev. Douglas J. Reans Councell will discuss new celebrate at the Vincen- ent Reflections of Peace, a mous Holiday Bazaar. talk about new diocesan at 4 pm. Bishop Councell initiatives in the diocese. tian Retreat Center in program of Jazz Vespers. Yardville, St. James’ initiatives. will preside. Plainsboro. More info: A wine and cheese recep- The church sponsors a njcursillo.org or send tion follows. boutique themed “Here email to sonshineeditor@ We Come a Caroling.” optonline.net 13 14 15 16 17 19 Dunellen At St. Francis’ No More in My Church: Church at 10 am Bishop An important anti-racism G. P. Mellick Belshaw cele- conference. At Trinity Ca- brates the Holy Eucharist. thedral, 10-3:30. Pre-reg- He was the Celebrant at NO istration deadline Nov. 4. the dedication and conse- Dr. Victor Rodriguez, the cration of the new church keynote speaker, is a note in 1990. Phone for more authority on race, religion info: 732 968-6781. MORE! and politics. 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Haddonfield Grace New Brunswick A free Thanksgiving day Church sponsors a Young lunchtime concert at Grace Church, Haddon- Artists’ Concert with out- Christ Church from 12:15– field, offers a Communi- standing area teenage 12:45 pm. Music of the Ba- ty Dinner at noon, open to performers in solo and en- roque for organ, cello, and those who need a place to semble. For more info, see more: Gavin Black, David go for food and company gracehaddon.org Black, and friends. More: on this holiday. More info: christchurchnewbruns- gracehaddon.org wick.org 27 28 29 30 1 2 3 St. Andrew, apostle SOMERVILLE St. John’s Diocesan youth event parish commemorates TLC Day at The Evergreens World AIDS Day with a me- in Moorestown, for stu- morial Eucharist at 7 pm. dents from 6th to 12th grade. For details, see newjerseyyouth.org

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Haddonfield At the St. Nicholas Festival at Grace Decem Church, explore the origin ber of Christmas traditions. 4 pm. (Image right from stnicholascenter.org, a splendid site for all things St. Nick.) Grand Ultreya At St. Peter’s, Medford. 3 pm. EPISCOPALIAN

What is the most important word in the Christian’s and example of the ever-blessed Virgin Mary. We af- vocabulary? firm God’s plan and say, “Let it be.” But God’s plan in- Love? Faith? Hope? Justice? Peace? Reconciliation? cludes us, as it did Mary, and as it does all the saints in the past. I believe that the most important word in the Christian vocabulary is Amen. Amen means, “Let it be.” We rely upon God for our salvation. But God also relies upon the Church’s and each believer’s Amen so that the We are reminded that “let it be” were the words of Good News of Christ’s saving work may be celebrated Mary, the Mother of our Lord, when she was visited by and shared in every corner of creation. God is counting the Archangel Gabriel. In response to the Annunciation, upon our Amen, as God waited upon the “Let it be” of Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord: let it be Mary. As St. Augustine put it, Without God, we cannot. with me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Without us, God will not. In his book, Peculiar Treasures, the well-known author We are about to begin to discern together God’s will Frederick Buechner imaginatively describes the encoun- and plan for the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of ter between Gabriel and Mary: The Mitre Box She struck the angel Gabriel as hardly old enough to have a New Jersey, through a “visioning process.” It is an awe- child at all, let alone this child, but he’d been entrusted with some task, to be approached with humility, faith, cour- a message to give her, and he gave it. age, confidence, and respect for the labors of those who He told her what the child was to be named, and who he was have gone before us. One of those is the Right Reverend to be, and something about the mystery that was to come George Washington Doane, second Bishop of New Jersey upon her. “You mustn’t be afraid, Mary,” he said. (1832-1859). As he said it, he only hoped that she wouldn’t notice that be- I was put in mind of Bishop Doane as I thought about neath the great, golden wings he himself was trembling with the word Amen in connection with our visioning pro- fear to think that the whole future of creation hung now on cess. When I was a seminarian in the early 1970s, one the answer of a girl. of my professors said that the word Amen could be trans- lated, “Right On!” Doane’s motto for his personal life I am honored to write my firstMitre Box column for the and throughout his episcopate was “Right Onward” — a inaugural issue of Jersey Episcopalian. As I considered this phrase he adopted as his own while a student at Union opportunity, I found myself reflecting on Amen. We say College in Schenectady, New York, in 1818. Amen at the conclusion of prayers and creeds and sermons and blessings. We say Amen when we baptize and What I cherish about Doane’s “Right Onward” motto when we offer the Great Thanksgiving, where Amen is is the missionary spirit that he not only proclaimed but printed AMEN, because it is the great Amen to God’s lived. Doane was indefatigable. During his episcopate saving work in Christ. We are invited to say Amen when- the Diocese of New Jersey grew faster than the state of ever we receive the Body and Blood of our Lord. With every repetition of Amen we are following the pattern EPISCOPALIAN

¿Cuál es la palabra más importante del vocabulario cuando Amén está escrito AMEN, es el gran Amén de la Cristiano? salvacíon de Dios en Cristo. Estamos invitados a decir Amor? Fe? Esperanza? Paz? Reconciliación? Amén cuando recibimos el Cuerpo y la Sangre de nuestro Señor. Con cada repetición de Amén estamos siguiendo Yo creo que la palabra más importante en el vocabulario el modelo y el ejemplo de la siempre bendecida Vir- Cristiano es Amén. gen María. Afirmamos el plan de Dios y decimos, “Así “Así sea.” sea.” Pero el plan de Dios nos incluye a nosotros, como a Viene a mi memoria “así sea”, que fueron las palabras de María, y como a todos los santos del pasado. María, madre de Dios, cuando fue visitada por el Ar- Confiamos en Dios para nuestra salvación. Pero Dios cangel Gabriel. En respuesta a la confia en la Iglesia y el Amén de cada uno de los fieles Anunciación, María dijo, “He aquí la para que las Buenas Noticias de la salvación de Cristo sierva del Señor: hágase en mí con- pueda ser celebrada y compartida en cada parte de la forme a tu palabra” (Lucas 1:38). creación. Dios confia en nuestroAmén , como esperaba el “Así sea” de María. Como San Augustin cuando dijo: “Sin Dios, no podemos. Sin nosotros, Dios no quiere”. Estamos al punto de discernir juntos la voluntad y el plan de Dios para la Iglesia Episcopal en la Diócesis de New Jersey, a través de un “proceso de visión.” Es una The Mitre Box tarea impresionante, y debemos acercarnos con humil- dad, fe, valor y la confianza necesaia para esta tarea. Asi En su libro, Peculiar Treasures, el autor bien conocido mismo,con respeto para la labor de los que nos han pre- Frederick Buechner describe con imaginación el encuen- cedido. Uno de ellos es El Padre George Washington tro entre Gabriel y María: Doane, segundo Obispo de New Jersey (1832-1859). Le parecía al angel Gabriel que María no era bastante grande Pensé en el Obispo Doane cuando reflexionaba sobre para tener hijo, y menos este hijo, pero tenía un mensaje para la palabra Amén en conexión con nuestro proceso de darle, y se la dió. visión. Cuando fui seminarista durante los primeros Le contó como el hijo debia ser llamado, y quien iba a ser, años de la década de 1970, uno de mis profesores dijo y algo sobre el misterio que le iba a pasar. “No debes temer, que la palabra Amén podía ser traducida como, “¡Bien!”. María,” él dijo. El lema de Doane en su vida privada y durante su episcopado fue “¡Bien Adelante!” — una frase que adoptó como Cuando lo dijo, esperaba que ella no se diera cuenta que de- suya cuando era estudiante de Union College en Sche- bajo de las enormes alas de oro estaba temblando de miedo, nectady, New York, en 1818. pensando que el futuro de la creación dependía de la respuesta de una niña. Lo que llama mi atención del “¡Bien Adelante!” de Do- ane es el espíritu misionario que él no solo proclamó, Me honro en escribir mi primera columna Mitre Box para pero también vivió. Doane fue incansable. Durante su el edición inaugural de Jersey Episcopalian. Al consid- episcopado la Diócesis de New Jersey creció más rápida- erar esta oportunidad, he reflexionado sobre la palabra “Amén”. Decimos Amén al concluir los rezos, los credos, los sermones y las bendiciones. Decimos Amén cuando bautizamos y cuando ofrecemos la Acción de Gracias, EPISCOPALIAN

The Bishops’ Visitations: Autumn 2005 New Jersey. The 32 parishes of the Diocese in 1832 be- September 11 came 85 by 1859. The number of diocesan priests in- Navesink, All Saints’ Church, 10 am: Bishop Councell creased five-fold. And the number of communicants September 17 rose from 900 to 5,000. Not surprisingly, it was Bishop Trenton, St. Peter’s Igbo Church, 3 pm: Bishop Councell Doane who, at the General Convention of 1835, led the September 18 Linden, Grace Church, 9 am: Bishop Councell m Westfield, St. Paul’s, effort to declare the entire Episcopal Church a mission- 3:30 pm: Bishop Councell ary society and to appoint missionary bishops. To this September 21–26 day, the formal name of our Church is The Domestic and House of Bishops meets in San Juan, Puerto Rico Foreign Missionary Society. October 2 Vineland, Trinity Church, 10 am: Bishop Pettit Whatever else a diocese may be, we are called to be a October 5 missionary society. The Diocese of New Jersey was, in Riverton, Christ Church, 7 pm: A Celebration of New Ministry of the Reverend fact, not begun by a bishop, but was formally organized Richard Wrede: Bishop Councell in 1785 and thus existed here for 30 years before John October 8 Croes was consecrated its first bishop in 1815. New Providence, St. Andrew’s, 3 pm: A Celebration of New Ministry of the Reverend Margaret Hodgkins: Bishop Councell But actually we — the Diocese of New Jersey — were October 9 founded by a church (St. Peter’s in Perth Amboy) do- Clarksboro, St. Peter’s, 10:30 am: Bishop Councell m Vincentown, Trinity Church, 3 pm: Bishop Councell Pitman, Good Shepherd, 10 am: Bishop Turner ing mission, beginning 100 years earlier, in 1685. We m October 16 grew when members of the newly-formed missionary Metuchen, St. Luke’s, 10 am: Bishop Councell group, the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, October 29 arrived from England in 1702 and began to preach and Barnegat Light, St. Peter’s-at-the-Light, 11 am: A Celebration of New Ministry found congregations. We have advanced whenever cler- of the Reverend Donald Turner: Bishop Councell m Point Pleasant Beach, St. Mary’s, 3 pm: A Celebration of New Ministry of the Reverend C. John gy and congregations have preached and listened to the Thompson-Quartey: Bishop Councell Word, celebrated the Sacraments, witnessed to the jus- October 30 tice, peace, and compassion of Jesus. There and then the Burlington, St. Mary’s, 9 am: Bishop Councell m Burlington, St. Barnabas’, Church has flourished, thanks to God’s grace and the 2 pm: Bishop Councell m Willingboro, Christ the King, 9 am: Bishop Pettit people’s Amen. November 5 Asbury Park, St. Augustine’s, 11 am: A Celebration of New Ministry of the Every believer in every age is given the challenge and Reverend Andrea Rose-Marie Hayden: Bishop Councell opportunity to say, “Amen. Let it be to me accord- November 6 ing to your word.” Each of us — and the whole Church Haddonfield, Grace Church, 9:30 am: Bishop Pettit m Bordentown, Christ Church, 10:15 am: Bishop Councell m Bridgeton, St. Andrew’s, 4 pm: A throughout the world — is called upon to affirm, by the Celebration of New Ministry of the Reverend Douglas J. Reans: Bishop Councell grace given to us, the plan of salvation in the mystery of November 13 the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord. Bridgewater, St. Martin’s, 10:30 am: Bishop Councell m Plainsboro, St. Vincent This is God’s plan. And still, today, as it was with Mary, Retreat Center, 3 pm: Cursillo Closing Eucharist, Bishop Councell m Dunellen, St. Francis’, 11 am: Bishop Belshaw m Lumberton, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, God awaits our Amen. 11 am: Bishop Pettit As we work together with our Lord and with one anoth- November 20 Yardville, St. James’, 9:30 am: Bishop Councell Camden, St. Wilfrid’s, er, by the grace and power given to us through the Holy m 3 pm, Bishop Councell m Beverly, St. Stephen’s, 10 am: Bishop Turner Spirit, may this chapter in the history of our diocese be a December 4 living out of our confidence in God’s promise and God’s Hammonton, St. Mark’s, 10 am: Bishop Councell m Paulsboro, St. James’, confidence in us. 3 pm: Bishop Councell December 11 Right Onward! Bellmawr, Holy Spirit–TEAM, 4 pm: Bishop Councell December 16 Riverton, Christ Church, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the parish, 7:30 pm: Bishop Councell EPISCOPALIAN

mente que el estado de New Jer- po está llamado al desafío y la oportunidad de decir, sey. Las 32 parroquias de 1832 “Amén”. “Hágase en mí, conforme a tu palabra.” Cada se convirtieron en 85 antes de uno de nosotros — y la Iglesia en todo el mundo — esta- 1859. El número de sacerdotes mos llamados a afirmar, por la gracia recibida, el plan diocesanos aumentó cinco veces, de salvación en el misterio de la vida, la resurección, y y el número de comulgantes au- la ascensión de nuestro Señor. Este es el plan de Dios. mentó desde 900 a 5,000. Y todavía, hoy, como sucedió con María, Dios espera No debe ser una sorpresa que nuestro Amén. durante la Convención Gener- Al trabajar con nuestro Señor, por la gracia y el poder al de 1835 Obispo Doane fue el líder del esfuerzo para dado a nosotros por el Espíritu Santo en la obra de la Igle- declarar la Iglesia Episcopal una sociedad misionera y sia, hoy decimos “Amen.” Espero que este capítulo en la designar obispos misioneros. Hasta el día presente, el historiá de nuestra Diócesis muestre nuestra confianza en nombre oficial de nuestra Iglesia es La“ Sociedad Domésti- la promesa de Dios, afianzando la confianza de Dios en ca y Extranjera del Misioneros”. nosotros. Una diócesis puede tener diferentes desafíos, pero es- Bien Adelante! tamos llamados a ser una Iglesia misionera. La Diócesis de New Jersey, de hecho, no fue fundada por un obispo, pero fue organizado formalmente en 1785 y entonces existió por 30 años antes de que John Croes fue consa- grado como el primer obispo en 1815. La verdad es que nosotros — la Diócesis de New Jersey — fuimos fundados por una iglesia: San Pedro (St. Peter’s de Perth Amboy) que era una misión, fundada cien años antes en 1885. Crecimos cuando los miembros del gru- po recién formado, la Sociedad para la Propagación del Evangelio, llegaron de Inglaterra en 1702 y empezaron a predicar y instaurar congregaciones. Florecimos cuando el clero y las congregaciones predicaron y escucharon la Palabra de Dios, celebrado los Sacramentos, siendo testigos de la justicia, la paz, y la compasión de Jesús. Así ha prosperado la Iglesia, gracias a la Gracia de Dios y el Amén de la gente. Cada persona de fe en cada tiem-

The Right Reverend George Edward Councell is the eleventh Bishop of New Jersey. EPISCOPALIAN Profiles in Grace The Reverend canon Ronald graham albury A Jersey Episcopalian from birth, he marked out an individual path, with college in Wisconsin and seminary in Chicago. He nearly ran off with the circus and came close to throwing his fate in with the “Chicago Rockets”, but Holy Orders claimed him. And the Diocese of New Jersey is a better place for it.

JE: Have you always been an Episcopalian? me off the train, as I almost missed the wondered about the would-be priest Oh, yes. I’m what is called a “cradle stop. It didn’t help that I didn’t know who may have received my lab report! Episcopalian.” I was born in Cranford, how to pronounce Ripon correctly! I New Jersey, my parents were Episcopa- grew to love the college and the Mid- JE: You broke the New Jersey mold in attending Seabury-Western seminary. lian — and Trinity Church was a 15-min- west, so much so that I was class agent I suppose I did. My rector, a Nashotah ute walk away. for our 50th reunion. graduate, encouraged me to go to his JE: What do you remember of church as a child? JE: Were Holy Orders a gleam in your eye when seminary, but it was just too rural, even I was an acolyte from a young age; you were in college? loving Wisconsin as much as I did. My there were five or six of us boys who Not really. I thought I’d be a phys ed bishop encouraged me to go to Gen- served in that way. The church had a teacher and a coach. But that faded af- eral, but New York City was too urban. young curate, Frank Van Hise Carthy, ter a bit. Then I considered biology, but Seabury was closer to the suburban en- 10 whom many in the diocese will remem- I just couldn’t cut up that cat! Social vironment I knew — and besides, I had a ber. He’d pick us up in his coupe and work appealed for a time, since I’d al- girlfriend in Chicago! we’d all pile in. A few of us in that aco- ways enjoyed helping others. But it was lyte group became priests. Many of us too dry. I’d been involved with the JE: Fast forward: You’re now a young priest in the Diocese of New Jersey. have kept in touch through the years. Episcopal Church at college and one My first position in 1954 was as a cu- day I thought, “Well, why not combine JE: So with all these solid New Jersey roots, you rate at Grace Church in Merchantville, what I like about social work with the chose to attend college in . . . Wisconsin? working under this guy I’d never heard ministry?” So Holy Orders were really It was just after World War ii and there of, Albert Van Duzer. I experienced more a process of elimination for me. was something called the gi bill. Many all that was involved in being a par- nearby colleges were filled to capac- JE: What happened then? ish priest, but from a position where I ity. My rector at the time — that same After college graduation, I had an in- could observe and learn. I worry about young Frank Carthy — had gone to terview with Bishop Gardner, then a young priests tak- Nashotah and was always pushing the physical and a psychological exam — ba- ing on the re- Midwest. He mentioned that Ripon was sically the ink-blot test. The funny sponsibilities a good college and that the president thing was, I failed the physical, since was an active Episcopal layman, on the the urinalysis suggested some sort National Council (today’s Executive of kidney problem. I’d been in good Council). I thought, Why not? health, so I immediately checked JE: It must have been an enormous change, into this. Turned out that some- from New Jersey to Wisconsin. one else’s lab results had been sent It was. It took a long time to get to to the bishop’s office. I’ve always Ripon by train. I must have dozed off at some point; the conductor threw EPISCOPALIAN

earlier. I’ve flown a glider, jumped from a plane, and enjoyed parasailing, on the assumption I’d best do physical things earlier in my retirement. Now I enjoy hiking, auto racing, writing, music (es- pecially boogie woogie), and trains. This autumn I’ll be priest associate at St. Peter’s in Medford, working with my brother-in-law, the Reverend Don Muller, who is rector.

JE: Do you have advice for priests still laboring in the vineyard? Take time to develop interests and hob- bies that you can pursue in retirement. My brush with mortality a year or so Canon Albury from a 1962 Episcopal clerical directory, with other clergy from the Diocese of New Jersey. ago, when a tree fell on me in Maine, convinced me we should all get our pri- of parish ministry straight out of semi- frontation. Not at all! Often you’re orities in order. What those are differs nary. So few parishes can afford to have castigated by people on opposite sides with each of us: Some of us need to get curates any more. I think we’ve lost of an issue. That may mean you’re in ourselves right with God and our neigh- something. the right place. bors by healing our relationships. Or maybe we should get a little less rigid JE: Your first experience as a rector was during a JE: Do you ever wonder what you’d have done if in living by the clock and the calen- difficult time in the Episcopal Church. you’d not pursued Holy Orders? dar. “Putting our house in order” might 11 When I was first ordained, we were There are two things, in the sense of be another goal. Is there a pet project just emerging from the battles of high wondering where they might have taken you’ve left undone? Perhaps it’s time to and low church, both theological and me. One was literally joining the cir- confront some aspect of our behavior liturgical. Then there came the new cus. A college friend and I were hitch- that’s less than Christian. controversial Seabury Series of edu- hiking and were picked up by a colorful cational publications. After that was gentleman named “Dusty Prayer Book revision and the ordination Rhodes.” He asked if we’d like of women . . . But it seems to me that to spend that summer working controversies are always strengthen- with the carnival. Unfortunate- ing to the church; it just doesn’t seem ly, I had to return to New Jer- so when you’re in the midst of them. sey — so the circus remained an I didn’t agree with the ordination of unfulfilled dream. The other lost women at first, yet I never thought of chance was to work with the late Medford leaving the church. Schism seems to me lamented Chicago Rockets, in a My episode with the tree made me to be a spoiled-brat kind of thing. football league that folded. Once again, think about many things, some of The Prayer Book revision was dif- it was the summer and I had to return which I should have considered long ficult for some people, but I didn’t ar- to Jersey. ago. Do I recommend getting hit by a range the services so people could just tree to learn these good things? No! hear what they wanted: I mixed things JE: You’ve been retired for a number of years, but you’ve kept busy. But it’s with joy and hope that I look up, using Rite 2 at the 8 o’clock service forward to the days ahead. I’ve served as a supply priest in 50 dif- and Rite 1 at the 10 o’clock. ferent parishes and I’ve worked as chap- JE: It sounds like a good Anglican way forward. lain to retired clergy in the diocese. I’ve always believed in the via media. I’ve also tried to do all those things I People sometimes think it’s the com- wanted to do, which being an active fortable middle, a way of avoiding con- parish priest and a father didn’t allow EPISCOPALIAN Profiles in Grace Alicia graham She first thought about being a priest ineighth grade. She preached her first sermon at 14. She’s been to three diocesan conventions and at Gen- eral Convention in 2003. She’s passionate about justice and loves the Church from the inside out. Aren’t we lucky she’s a Jersey Episcopalian?

JE: You were born a Jew, raised in an observant light incense for the service and when family, and then you became a Christian. she walked in, he welcomed her and It’s certainly not the ordinary story! said he was glad she had joined them. My family had gone to synagogue regu- That made all the difference. She start- larly till I was 10. Then my mother felt ed going to the 8 am service at Grace– that synagogue was more about being St. Paul’s after that. a sort of cultural and ethnic Jew rather than being a faithful one; the discon- JE: Did you join her at church? nect bothered her. We stopped going. Not at first; a few months later. She I missed it, because it had been part thought I might like Sunday School, of my life; I loved the singing and the which is held during the 10 am service, chanting. so she started attending at that time. 12 And then some months after that, she JE: What happened after that? decided to be baptized. Dancing en pointe at a younger age. One evening, after we had been at my JE: All this must have been so strange. grandmother’s house for Passover Sed- and history. It was a great experience. At first I didn’t understand, although I er, my mother said out of the blue, “I I looked forward more and more to go- accepted her decision, as did my father. think I’d like to go to an Easter vigil.” ing to church. My father and I were both really as- But my Jewish identity was always a tonished. She started looking through little odd. My father’s grandmother was JE: So you were then . . . what? Ten years old? the only survivor of her Yes. And I really wanted to be an aco- family, all of whom had lyte! It seemed like it would be so mag- been sent to Treblinka. ical to be involved in the service in the So there was a very seri- way that they were. I was a pretty pre- ous and very deep Jew- cocious ten year old! And that was a ish identity on that side problem when I decided I wanted to be of my family. And then baptized, some months after my moth- Hamilton there was what I’d call er was. the newspaper and, as it was late, most the funky and more cultural identity church services had started. She just that existed as well within my family. JE: How did you come to that decision? had time to get to the service at Grace- It’s a funny thing to say, but it just St. Paul’s Church in Mercerville. JE: So you started going to Sunday School. seemed like the logical thing to do. I What did you think? She told us later that she was nervous, was a part of the church; I wanted to In my first Sunday School class I had dressed in jeans and not really knowing become more a part. My mother didn’t the most extraordinary teacher, Amy what she was doing. A man was stand- encourage me or try to stop me, but Davis. She was really able to teach us ing at the front of the church trying to left the decision up to me. the concept of unconditional love. The other woman with whom she taught the class grounded us in Bible stories EPISCOPALIAN

My rector, Father Jack Zamboni, had There were thousands and thousands he took me seriously. So over the next something of a dilemma. He really of Episcopalians and such a sense of year, we talked about that. couldn’t put me into the adult class the Holy Spirit, of the power of the A year ago I was in the diocesan intern for inquirers. Yet I wasn’t a baby, so prayers, of the interconnections of ev- program that lets young people explore I couldn’t be in someone’s arms and eryone, despite our differences. ministry by interning in a parish over taken up to the font. So I ended up be- the summer. I was lucky to work with ing prepared by him. I was able to ask JE: What advice would you give to churches that want to involve youth more seriously? the Reverend Raewynne Whiteley at a lot of questions one-on-one; it was Don’t assume we’re not interested in Trinity Church in Swedesboro; I did ev- probably the ideal way to be prepared youth activities! My friends and I have erything from preach to go on pastoral for baptism. Not long after my bap- found it strange that even priests ac- visits. It was a great experience and she tism I started acolyting. And singing in tive in diocesan stuff forget to mention was very good at making sure I was ex- the Youth Choir. And then I joined the diocesan events, Happenings, Youth posed to all aspects of parish work. Girls’ Friendly Society. Council, EYE, or other things like JE: Do you see yourself going directly into the JE: That’s something most people don’t know that. So many youth I’ve talked to don’t ordination process after college graduation? about it—even devoted Episcopalians! know about any of this. I don’t, at least not at present. I’m in- I describe it to people as sort of Chris- You get such a good feeling when you’re terested in maybe doing graduate work tian Girl Scouts. Actually New Jer- part of something larger and with in library and information sciences, sey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and people your own age. I think parishes earning a master’s degree in that area. Los Angeles are dioceses that have the should make an effort to get the word And I’m considering how I would be largest GFS chapters, but still no one out to their own youth much more ef- able to combine my strong interest in knows about it here. I ended up go- fectively. social justice with ministry. ing to the National Assembly in 2001 ’cause they couldn’t get anyone else to JE: You’re now considering the possibility of I’m majoring in history, with a minor in Holy Orders. How did that happen? political science — I’m passionate about go from New Jersey! I liked seeing the 13 organization from a larger perspective, It’s strange; it’s like I’ve known for a human rights and am president of the getting to know people from all over. long time that was what I wanted to chapter of Amnesty International at my do. When I was in the eighth grade, my school, York College of Pennsylvania. I nearly became a delegate to the GFS mom and I had some sort of argument So I’ll see where all this goes. World Council in Australia that year, and, as I usually do when I’m worried but I couldn’t miss that much school. or upset, I went for a walk. Well, that I ended up — as a sort of consolation summer day it was a three-mile walk prize — going to the Triennial of Epis- and I ended up at my church. My rec- copal Church Women in Minneapolis tor’s office was the only air-conditioned in 2003, which was great. I learned a room in the building, so I went in. We lot about Triennial and General Con- chatted about this and that and then he vention. My favorite moment was at said at one point “What do you want a Convention Eucharist before some to do 10 or 15 years from now?” I important issues were to be voted on. said almost without thinking, “I want to be a priest.” He didn’t laugh or tell me to come back when I was grown up;

If you’d like to sample Allie’s sermons, go to: dragon.ycp.edu/~agraham/Sermons.htm Delair

Vincentown EPISCOPALIAN

What on earth are convocations? The first in an eight-part series. TheBurlington Convocation

A river indeed runs by, if not actually through, many parishes in the Burlington Convocation. Early settlers — Swedes, Quakers, and Anglicans — took to the Delaware and used it as the first superhighway.

Take that river, add two indefatigable Anglican ministers numerous creeks that flow into the Delaware, and the called George Keith and John Talbot, mix in their de- creeks and the majestic river itself are a characteristic 15 termination to spread a reasonable and rational form of feature of this region. Christianity (it was the Age of Enlightenment, after all), Slicing through the convocation are Route 130 — one and you have the beginnings of the Anglican Church of the first state highways — and newer Route 295. It in New Jersey—and the dim outline of what is now the doesn’t take very long at all to drive from geographical Burlington Convocation, an irregularly shaped region of bottom (Medford) to top (Bordentown). 16 churches and missions in the heart of New Jersey. Many of the convocation’s parishes and missions are The Burlington Convocation found along the Delaware River. Burlington — home of is in what is called the Dela- the mother parish of the diocese, St. Mary’s — was the ware Valley, part of the Coastal one-time capital city of the colonial Province of West Plain area. If the convocation’s ge- Jersey and a great “seaport.” As well as the old and new ography is flat, it’s certainly not dull. The land is rich St. Mary’s church buildings, Burlington is also home to and fertile, perfect for agriculture. Farming has been a St. Barnabas’ Church on the east side of the city. mainstay of this region for centuries, and although it’s Riverside, Riverton, Beverly, Bordentown, and Flor- yielded in the 20th century to manufacturing and in- ence all boast Episcopal parishes within a metaphorical dustry (and now service industry-related businesses), stone’s throw of the river, each of which adds its char- you’ll still see farms and produce stands in this center acter to the convocation. of the Garden State. Water is plentiful, owing to the

Above: The “seaport” of Burlington in 1797. The city was more than 100 years old at the time of the illustration. The spire of the first (and still extant) St. Mary’s Church is just visible.

Right: The Reverend George Keith, a bit of an odd fish, but a hard working one. Keith is one of the early heroes of what would become, in 1785, the Diocese of New Jersey. EPISCOPALIAN

Further inland, That stretches nearly all the churches in the convoca- you’ll come tion to ask questions about the relationships of a church across parish- to the community and for whom a church or mission es in a variety exists. There isn’t a “business-as-usual” model in the credit: lisa jones credit: of to(w)ns: Burlington Convocation. If that’s occasionally a diffi- Pemberton, cult thing, it’s also a good thing. Whatever the Gospel is Lumberton, about, it’s surely not “business-as-usual.” and Vincen- Facing outward town. Three From running food kitchens to sponsoring children in Children before first communion, at Christ Church, Ms — Medford, Bordentown, in 2004 Moorestown, developing countries, the convocation is a patchwork of and Mount Holly — along with Delran (think Delaware good work and successful outreach. Here’s a glimpse. River and Rancocas Creek), Willingboro, and Palmyra complete the roll call of the Burlington convocation. The The convocation is filled with historic towns and villag- Burlington es, where, not surprisingly, the oldest Episcopal parishes Convocation are located. More recent communities were formed near d Every Monday evening at St. Peter’s Church in Med- areas of manufacturing and industry or later as bedroom ford, parishioners tap into useful health informa- communities for Philadelphia or Trenton. The appear- tion — including assistance with tricky insurance ance of Episcopal churches in those places — Medford questions — from the team of nurses who staff the thriv- and Palmyra to take two examples — generally occurred 16 ing health ministry in that church. Through Christian not long after the towns were incorporated. Children’s Fund, the parish sponsors two children in Demographics across the convocation are extraordi- needy circumstances. At present, two boys, one from narily diverse. Moorestown was recently listed in Money Brazil and the other from Bolivia, are perhaps the most magazine as the best place to live in the United States, distant “members” of St. Peter’s, Medford, connected but only a few miles away, the city of Beverly wrestles to the parish through letters and cards. Knitters in the with a high level of unemployment. parish — and it’s a growing interest everywhere — have Each church in the convocation must calibrate itself with established a knitting ministry. They meet once a month the neighborhood in which it now finds itself. Some of at the church, but knit for much more time than that, those neighborhoods aren’t what was once thought as creating caps for babies and lap blankets for the sick and traditional Episcopal ground for evangelism and growth. elderly.

The BURLINGTON CONVOCATION: ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

Beverly, St. Stephen’s Church Bordentown, Christ Church Burlington, St. Barnabas’ Church Burlington, New St. Mary’s Church Burlington, Old St. Mary’s Church EPISCOPALIAN

Convocations: 9 Things You May Not Know St. Mary’s Church in Burlington began a rousingly successful weekly free dinner for the community called 1. Their origins lie in church politics. Within the Anglican church, convoca- the Ladle of Love. As word has spread about the warm tions were formed by the beginning of the 15th century. They were essentially welcome and the good food, a long queue of folks are heavy-hitting power brokers in the dispute between the ecclesiastical centers of Canterbury and York and could operate like strong political action committees in ready to eat when the doors open every Wednesday af- early Christian England. The convocations had no lay members at all. ternoon at four. 2. In England, canon law was made by the convocations. It wasn’t until 1970 St. Barnabas’ Church in Burlington maintains a that some of their traditional powers were replaced by the General Synod. And at that time — the first in English history — a House of Laity was formed to serve as a lively ministry to the east end of the city, offering ser- parallel body to the Canterbury and York convocations. Now on to New Jersey . . . vices in Spanish for the large number of Spanish-speak- 3. There can’t be fewer than four. By canon law in the Diocese of New Jersey, we ing residents in the area. They take pride in the variety cannot have fewer than four convocations. And they have to be contiguous. No of ethnic backgrounds of parish members. And at the skipping the Pine Barrens! (Canon 30, Section 1) And the convocations must meet well-known annual Wood Street Fair in Burlington, St. twice a year, in the spring and the autumn. Barnabas’ always commands a central booth for their fa- 4. You’re a member. Every communicant of each parish and organized mission has mous pierogies. a seat and voice at the meetings of the Convocation: So says Section 1 of Canon 30 of the Diocese of New Jersey canons. In Moorestown, Trinity Church is changing the face 5. With permission, convocations can do a lot. If your convocation wants, for ex- of housing by partnering with Habitat for Human- ample, to start sailing ships down the Delaware to evangelize boat houses, those ity to purchase, renovate, or build single-family hous- “programmed activities shall be subject to the approval of the Bishop.” But if you es. This helps attack the inadequate supply of housing get that approval, your efforts may include “all phases of Missionary activity and interest within the Convocation, youth training, education, teachers and leaders in Burlington County. And the parish is working with training, surveys . . .” (Canon 30, Section 2) MEND — Moorestown Ecumenical Neighborhood De- 6. Only priests can be deans. Deans of convocations — and every convocation has velopment — which provides more than 200 low-to- a dean — can only be drawn from the ranks of presbyters. Presbyter is an uncom-17 moderate income housing units. In Moorestown, the mon term for a priest, but one beloved in canon law. (Canon 30, Section 5) Episcopal Church isn’t just about steeples, it’s about 7. But laity can be secretaries. By diocesan canon law (our old friend Canon 30, roofs, too. Section 5), only members of the laity can be secretaries of convocations. But an old adage has it that the person who takes minutes controls history! Christ Church in Bordentown is connected to the 8. Every parish has six votes. Each parish elects six delegates to represent it at community through its work with Home Front, an orga- convocation meetings. nization that finds temporary shelter for the homeless in 9. Five dollars will cover it. That’s all that churches pay to the secretary of a local motels. Christ Church parishioners cook full meals convocation once a year (make that canonical and pay it, please, at the spring for the dislocated families and deliver them to the door. meeting) “to cover the essential expenses of postage, etc., involved in the work of And when they’re not cooking, their building houses! calling meetings, etc.” Five dollars? Hmm. (Canon 30, Section 8) Christ Church is one of the most active members of Habitat for Humanity in the Bordentown area.

Delran, Trinity Church Florence, St. Stephen’s Church Lumberton, St. Martin-in-the-Fields Medford, St. Peter’s Church Moorestown, Trinity Church EPISCOPALIAN The The Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Lumberton, BurlingtonConvocation has become known for its monthly dinners and Saturday d hoagie sale, which the parish uses as a way to edifice of Christ Church, Riverton. When that parish finance outreach projects in their neigh- decided to build a larger church, the original building borhood. The severe damage their par- was moved from Riverton to Palmyra in 1884, which ish hall suffered in the floods of July2004 took a biblical 40 days. Some 120 years later, in that disrupted things for a while, but now the same building, Christ Church offers a rare Monday eve- kitchen is back and better than ever. (See the story of ning service, followed by a supper, for those in the com- the floods on page20 .) munity for whom traditional Sunday service times are The people of Grace Church in Pemberton are busy impossible. with Interfaith Hospitality, a program which offers shel- St. Stephen’s, Riverside, a modern brick church built ter and food to homeless people throughout Burlington in 1967 by a parish founded in 1881, shares a coopera- County. Volunteers serve dinner (and clean up), help tive ministry with Christ Church, Palmyra; one priest children with homework, talk with adults about their oversees both churches in the Riverfront Team Ministry. day, and join in recreational activities. Entire Grace From taking part in the Souper Bowl of Caring to provid- families participate in this initiative, so children learn, ing items for newborns in Camden through the Advent early on, the difference they can make in their commu- Gifts for the Baby Jesus program, St. Stephen’s has woven nities. And this small but very active parish hosts Tues- itself into the larger community through its service day’s Child Preschool, which provides full-day preschool and outreach. to 60 three-year-olds and “wraparound” care from 6:45 From River(side) to River(ton) is just a few miles 18 am to 6 pm. Many are children of military families, south. Riverton has been recently described as some with parents deployed in Iraq. The preschool re- “one of New Jersey’s best-kept secrets. A small ceived national certification township of around 2,000 souls, it’s a perfectly from the National Association preserved Victorian enclave, complete with gas-fired for the Education of Young street lighting. On the banks of the Delaware River, it is Children, the highest and best a fairly short drive from Philadelphia, on the other side that can be awarded to a pre- of the river.” Christ Church, Riverton, shed its small school in the US. white church for the massive stone building it’s called Christ Church, Palmyra, is a lovely little white wooden home since 1884. The parish starts the celebration of church just a few blocks from the center of, well, Pal- the 150th anniversary of its founding with a Eucharist myra. The church building, in fact, was the original in which all who have been baptized at the church are invited to return to renew their baptismal vows.

The BURLINGTON CONVOCATION: ROLL CALL CONTINUED

Mount Holly, St. Andrew’s Church Palmyra, Christ Church Pemberton, Grace Church Riverside, St. Stephen’s Church Riverton, Christ Church EPISCOPALIAN

The Story of St. Mary’s Hall In Willingboro, Christ the King parish was founded in 1959 during the growth boom in NO ONE CARED MUCH about the education of girls in 1836. Most boys were lucky to be educated through a private schoolmaster; public education was non-ex- what was one of the original Levittowns. It istent. Girls had no place in the world is a welcoming, multicultural parish with a outside their own home. But that was strong African-American tradition. They of- the point. And the second Bishop of New fer a full host of parish activities, from Episcopal Church Jersey, G. W. Doane, knew it. Since most women were likely to marry and have a Women to a new health ministry. And they’ve launched family, it was important for them to be a handsome new web site and email list for the parish to highly educated: as Christian women, better communicate amongst its own members and to who could live whole and complete lives; as mothers of children, who would shape the larger world. young character; and as companions to their husbands, able to discuss history, It’s said that the tower of St. Stephen’s, Beverly, was philosophy, and literature rather than just colicky babies and local gossip. once used as a guide for ships on the Delaware, so close %A hard slog at the start Bishop Doane planned to open the school in 1837, but to the river it is. It’s been a fixture on that river for 150 a severe financial depression hit the young United States and money dried up. St. Mary’s Hall carried on and opened, funded through years: the parish is celebrating that architectural history the bishop’s personal funds and through the dona- by embarking on a capital campaign to raise funds and tions of a few believing friends, but it wasn’t on firm ensure that the church will be on the river for centuries footing until well into the mid 1840s. to come. The original part of St. Stephen’s was designed %Years of triumph The school’s reputation grew and built locally in 1855, but it shows influence of the quickly, and many prominent Episcopalians sent their daughters to the Hall. Even with difficult travel in growing popularity of the “new” (to the United States) the mid-19th century, the names of girls from New Gothic style, so the builder — whoever he was — kept an Orleans and Chicago, Boston and Richmond ap- eye on the coming style. peared on the rolls. They all lived together in a plain19 dorm, rose every morning at 5:30, and prepared for There are two “hidden churches” in the Burlington Con- a rigorous day, studying everything from geometry, vocation, the Chapel of the Holy Innocents at astronomy and history to Greek, Latin, Italian, and French. Chapel morning and St. Mary’s Hall in Burlington (see the sidebar at right) evening was required and in 1844 Bishop Doane built what is thought to be the first Gothic-style church building in the United States for worship. The Chapel of and the Emilie Williams Chapel at The Evergreens in the Holy Innocents stands today, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Moorestown. This highly regarded continuing-care re- %Through good times and bad Bishop Doane’s attempt in the 1840s to establish tirement community has been associated with the dio- a similar boy’s school, Burlington College, caused headaches. Although success- cese since 1919. It began in Bound Brook with the gift ful at first, it was wobbly when Bishop Doane died in 1859. The next Bishop of a large estate to provide a home for retired diocesan of New Jersey, W. H. Odenheimer, carried on, but by the late 19th century, Burlington College had closed. clergy. Relocated to Moorestown in the 1930s, it’s now St. Mary’s Hall remained a diocesan institution an attractive complex of apartments and longer-term through the 1930s, but the frequent financial care facilities. And it remains staunchly Episcopal in its drain on the diocese became too much and the Hall became an independent institution. Still tradition, with full-time Episcopal clergy on staff. highly regarded as a prep school for young women, by 1950 it was a “country day school” rather than a boarding school. In 1970s, the Trustees founded a parallel school, Doane Academy, to admit young men. The . . . and ENDED! name lives on today, but now the Hall is coed, with day students from kindergarten to grade 12. %Right onward After some tough financial times in the 1990s, St. Mary’s Hall-Doane Academy is now on firm footing. The increasing number of students, their abilities, and the colleges they’re attending after graduation are being noticed. The energy and commitment of the faculty, staff, and students, along with their devotion to the 168-year-old Episcopal school, would make the founder proud. We’ll bet he’d like the web site, too: thehall.org

Vincentown, Trinity Church Willingboro, Church of Christ the King EPISCOPALIAN

The aLife and Death - of a Church Now that you’ve had a whirlwind tour of the Burlington Convoca- YOU COULD ALMOST SAY that the fate of Holy Trinity, Delair, was sealed from the start. A tion with its 16 churches (and a mere one mile away from Christ Church, little more), read on to see what Palmyra, it was founded by a small group of hit this area of the Diocese of people in 1889 in what appears to have been a state of unthinking exuberance. It’s tempt- New Jersey just a little more than ing to assume that Delair was started as a re- a year ago. sult of theological controversy within Christ Church, but as the Palmyra rector served as The floods of July 2004 The main street of Lumberton in July the missionary to Delair, that theory won’t July seemed like an ordinary 2004, where St. Martin’s is located. wash. month, if a slighter wetter one than normal. No one The exuberance of the Delair founders spilled over into financial aspects. With $1500 in hand, they were ready to build in just could have imagined how the usually placid Ranco- over three months after incorporation. On 4 May 1889 Bishop Scarborough laid the cas Creek would swell to become a raging river that cornerstone. But it wasn’t until 15 years later, in May 1904, that the building was wreaked destruction on two picture-book parishes of consecrated, erected for a cost of $3,000 (about $63,000 in today’s dollars). the Burlington Convocation. This long period between cornerstone and consecration signified problems. A mere six Between 12 and 14 July 2004, in just over 12 hours, 13 years after consecration, the rector of Christ inches of rain fell. The massive amount of water caused a Church, Riverton, who had been taking number of dams to break in the area. services in Delair, summarized the situation grimly, indicating that there had never been The Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Lumberton The a resident clergyman and the average at- church was terribly hard hit, with three feet of wa- tendance was 10 and 20 communicants. He 20 wrote piteously: ter in its parish hall and church building; the sanctuary was relatively unscathed. The “. . . if I give up the work, I would like to know that the title to the property was secure for the church might again be closed & the Vestry forget that they were a Vestry and no St. Martin’s rectory and a elections be held.” church-owned house were Bishop Scarborough agreed it was best to transfer the mission to the Trustees of badly damaged. E-coli bac- the Diocese. So in April 1910, Holy Trinity, Delair, became the property and the teria in the flood water concern of the Diocese of New Jersey. Ruined books from the parish library, carted out in a wheelbarrow. limited salvage efforts From then on, the small mission was often under the care of ordinands, serving as to items that hadn’t ab- a sort of training facility for priests-to-be. Closed for long stretches of time, it was sorbed water and could be treated with disinfectant, occasionally reinvigorated by a fresh-faced young deacon. Rectors of Palmyra and Maple Shade sometimes took services, but by the late 20th century, the fact that so everything from vestments and books to computer there was no sound reason to have a church in Delair couldn’t be denied. equipment and Sunday School furniture had to be rub- It’s always hard to give up on a church, no bished. The parish had no flood insurance. matter how shaky its foundations. But in 2005, at the 221st Convention of the Diocese of New Jersey, a room of almost 1000 people stood for a minute of silence at the announcement of the formal closing of Holy Trinity, Delair, which had existed as a cor- porate body — even one with a very faint pulse — for 116 years. Requiescat in pace. A happy footnote: A Christian denomina- tion in Pennsauken has expressed an interest in buying the church building. So the Word of God may continue to be preached in this little old church in Delair.

The Star-Ledger’s photo showed the Reverend Anna Powell of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, with Deacon Margaret Smyth, trying to salvage what they could. EPISCOPALIAN

Trinity Church, Vincentown The small white wooden was raised from church was battered terribly by the flooding, with five all sources; the feet of water in the sanctuary. The organ and most altar diocese was able and priest’s vestments were lost. The damage was esti- to cover about 75 percent of the losses the churches suffered. Mill Street, Vincentown in 2004. Trinity Church is After months of just visible behind the submerged utility pole. repair and rebuilding, there was a happy ending to the flood’s ravag- es. Trinity Church, which suffered the most devastation, was able to hold Easter services in the church in April 2005. Channel 10 News was there to celebrate, along with the Burlington County Times. Even the contractors who worked on the church sent flowers! St. Martin-in-the-Fields was fortunate to not have need The inside of Trinity Church, Vincentown, as repairs began. Note that the entire to suspend worship in the church. The parish hall and floor had to be torn out. rectory were repaired and rebuilt, now in better shape mated at $300,000. Trinity had flood insurance, with a than they had been for years. They were ready for habi- $7,500 deductible. The homes of two parishioners had tation in October 2004. to be vacated because of damage; the church sent $1000 21 to each member. “Many waters cannot quench love” A convocation links churches in a geographic area. As a St. Bartholomew’s Church, Cherry Hill The church suffered result, similar natural disasters can bind them together damage to flooring; they saw themselves as fortunate in a way that churches outside may not know. Convoca- compared to their neighbors. The parish had no flood tions are a small community of shared circumstance, insurance. despite demographic differences, with personality and As soon as Bishop Councell became aware of the devas- presence. tation, a call for help went out across the diocese. Dea- But beyond those bonds are the deeper connections cons from the diocese cancelled their annual Deacon’s found within the Diocese of New Jersey. From Alexan- Day and showed up at Lumberton to help clean up on dria to Cape May, a vast number of peo- 17 July. On Sunday morning, 25 July, Bishop Councell ple and parishes came to the rescue travelled to the area to meet with both parishes and in- as soon as they knew of the hurts spect the damage. suffered by churches in the dio- Gifts from $25 to $10,000 (and that last from a small cese, quick “to bear each other’s parish!) poured in. Episcopal Relief and Development burdens and so fulfill the law of provided a $5,000 grant for humanitarian assistance and Christ.” $3,000 from a diocesan flood-relief fund released more May it always be so within our monies for rebuilding and rehabbing. Nearly $53,000 boundaries.

Pulling up ruined flooring from the kitchen at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Lumberton. EPISCOPALIAN

Much of what has made news lately is rooted in dis- agreements about the governance of the Anglican Com- munion. Since individual entities of the Communion (often referred to as “Provinces” or “national churches” when not referred to by their names) are autonomous, no province can interfere with another’s governance. Since We Last Spoke Recent issues in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion

That leaves discussion as the only option. In the last six tissue, but they have no canonical or juridical authority. months, there has been much discussion. Since the release of the Windsor Report, much Anglican For decades, membership in all mainstream denomina- news has concerned attempts by some parts of the Angli- tions in North America, Europe, Australia, and New can Communion to cause change to the behavior of other Zealand has shrunk, while church membership in devel- parts. In the selection from the Bishop’s Blog on page 25, 22 oping countries has grown. As a result, the dominance you can read Bishop Councell’s perspective on the report of things Anglican by English culture is being challenged from meetings he has attended at the House of Bishops. by the various non-English cultures. When the Episcopal Issues of church governance Church approved the ordination of a bishop who was also Among many recommendations, the Windsor Report re- a homosexual, opposition flared in a number of areas of quested that the Anglican Church of Canada and the the Communion, but in several African countries in par- Episcopal Church absent themselves from the Anglican ticular. People in the US who objected to the actions of Consultative Council (acc), one of the “instruments of General Convention found themselves aligned theologi- unity,” for three years. (Only General Convention and cally with churches and Provinces in Africa. Some priests Canada’s General Synod can act on this recommenda- and churches began dissociating themselves from their tion.) When the Anglican Primates (another “instrument dioceses and announcing affiliation with other dioceses, of unity”) met in February 2005, they asked the Ameri- at times withdrawing from their own Province. can and Canadian churches to abstain from voting at the The Archbishop of Canterbury formed a commission to acc meeting, to be held in June in Nottingham, England. study these issues, which resulted in The Windsor Report, The US and Canada did withdraw from official participa- released in October 2004. (You can download it as a pdf: tion, with one result of their absence that the acc voted anglicancommunion.org/windsor2004/downloads) to increase its membership to include all Primates of all Implementing recommendations from any pan-Anglican Provinces of the Communion. (Previously its member- body is complex, since each member Province governs ship had included only six Primates.) This would not have itself. Four “instruments of unity” serve as connecting passed if the US and Canada had been able to vote. There is widespread disagreement among news watchers as to whether this change in the structure of the acc actually means anything. EPISCOPALIAN

At that acc meeting, the US and Canadian churches were A tradition of dissent invited to present their theological reasoning for actions In several places in the US, individual parishes or their taken in their churches regarding homosexuality. Frank clergy have taken public stands opposing their bishops Griswold, Presiding Bishop, said that “Although certain and in some cases have declared that they’re no longer actions by the Episcopal Church have deeply distressed a part of the Episcopal Church. Six priests in Connecticut number of you, we have not come to argue. I want to be defied the authority of their bishop because of disagree- clear that the Episcopal Church has not reached a comments over the church’s policy on sexuality; the bishop mon mind. However, it is our desire to be faithful to canonically inhibited one of them as a result of his ac- scripture. It is my hope that in the tradition of classical tions. In the Diocese of Los Angeles, three parishes with- Anglicanism we will be united in Christ’s love and called drew their affiliation with the diocese, announcing that to serve the world in Christ’s name.” they are now part of the Diocese of Luweero in Uganda. That dispute quickly ended up in civil court and the out- An alternative Communion? come isn’t yet certain. The Bishop of Eastern Michigan At a meeting of the Council of Anglican Provinces of Af- deposed a priest for various rebellious actions too com- capa agi rica ( ), the Anglican Global Initiative ( ) was pre- plex to summarize. sented. Taken at its word, it’s a proposal to replace the Anglican Communion with a parallel structure, likely Reporters note that dissidence is a long-standing tradition based in Nigeria. Its members would be from Provinc- in the Episcopal Church and that the Anglican Church it- es whose leadership found association with the American self originated in a climate of dissidence. Alas, reporters and Canadian churches distasteful. generally haven’t noted that only a handful among thousands of Episcopal parishes are fighting or withdrawing. In August 2005, Peter Akinola, Archbishop of Nigeria 23 and principal architect of the agi, called for the Church Christian Unity of England itself to be expelled from the Anglican Com- Some years ago, the Anglican-Roman Catholic Inter- munion because of the United Kingdom’s new laws in national Commission (arcic) was formed to discuss support of civil partnerships. The cry for expulsion seems issues dividing the two Communions. arcic meets ev- mysterious, because the meaning of “The Anglican Com- ery few years and issues a statement. In June 2005, munion” is those provinces in communion with the Arch- arcic released Mary: Grace and Hope in Christ (the Seattle bishop of Canterbury, who is undoubtedly in the Church Statement) that expounds on the doctrine, role, and iden- of England. tity of Mary in worship. One commentator noted that A number of Episcopal diocesan and retired bishops have “[Roman] Catholic convictions of faith and devotional formed the Network of Anglican Communion Dioceses and practice seem to have little resonance in the churches and Parishes (nacdap) whose purpose isn’t entirely clear, but communities whose faith and life was shaped by Refor- whose critics have suggested was created to become the mation.” The report will prompt much discussion. US representative to the Anglican Communion in case In a related issue, the Methodist Church in England is the Episcopal Church were “expelled” and the church di- moving closer to re-uniting with the Church of England, vided into schismatic factions. A similar number of bish- from which it was formed two centuries ago. At its annu- ops formed another organization called Via Media, whose al conference, the English Methodist church announced purpose seems to be to prevent expulsion and schism. a plan to begin consecrating bishops in Apostolic Succes- Time will tell if either of these has any effect. sion, with a long-term goal of sharing services, clergy, and other resources.

For more: If you’d like further details about any of these items, see the News Centre archives of Anglicans Online: anglicansonline.org/news/archives/. Releases from Episcopal News Service (episcopalchurch.org/ens) and the Anglican Communion News Service (anglicancommunion.org/acns) are also available online. EPISCOPALIAN

The TheJohn Bishop of New 10:10Jersey reports in fromTour the road.

In February 2005, Bishop Councell A highlight was the 46th Annual Bishop’s began a monthly blog ( short for Ball, also at the Cathedral. (Did you web log ). These next four pages know that the Cathedral hosted over 60 are a condensed version of six diocesan events in 2004?) I played my new months’ of blogging and give you conga drums on one number. a sample of life of the bishop’s life the road. For the full story, have a look at: February 2005 newjersey.anglican.org/bishop/blog.html At the Fifth Annual Acolyte Festival at the Cathedral, with 275+ acolytes and advisors, I was moved to tears to see January 2005 acolytes representing the glorious diversity of New Jer- I attended the House of Bishops in Salt Lake City for the sey carrying the Cross and leading their parish groups, purpose of beginning our discussion of the Windsor Re- accompanied by torches, banners, and thurifers. port of the Lambeth Commission on Communion. 142 bish- The Church of the Advent, Cape May, provided hospi- ops were present. We saw a breadth of participation that tality and lovely accommodations for a parish visitation. I’d not witnessed in meetings in 2004. And I enjoyed my visit to St. Barnabas’, Monmouth 24 It was my joy to ordain to the priesthood the Rev. Petri- Junction, whose congregation includes people born in na Pyatt, the Rev. Valerie Redpath, and the Rev. Nancy more than 25 different nations! Hite-Speck. Nancy’s ordination at St. Mark’s, Basking Canon Leroy Lyons and the people of St. Mark’s, Plain- Ridge was on the day following a blizzard. field welcomed me for a Visitation. The young people of the parish are doing a different drama each week on the January also saw the Seating of the Very Rev. Diane theme, “Whose Cross Is It Anyway?” It was powerful. Nancekivell as Dean of Trinity Cathedral. It was a cel- I enjoy listening to music while I drive, this ebration of Diane’s strong, loving, and wise leadership. month a number of Grammy award-win- It was an honor to preside at the Celebration of a New ning CDs: This Is Your House, by the Brook- Ministry between the people of Trinity, Cranford and lyn Tabernacle Choir; Nothing Without You, the Rev. Patricia Eustis. by Smokie Norful; Raise Your Spirit Higher, by I made my first official visit to St. Paul’s, Westfield, on Ladysmith Black Mambazo; Los Lonely Boys, January 30. They’re in the final stages of a beautiful ren- by Los Lonely Boys; and Illuminations, by Mc- ovation of their worship space. Coy Tyner; and Across 110th St., by the Spanish Harlem Orchestra. EPISCOPALIAN

March 2005 the Holy Spirit was at work through this group to offer The 221st Convention of our Diocese lived up to its us common language and a strong center around which name: New Life, New Mission, New Jersey. We wor- we could covenant together and communicate our desire shipped, prayed, sang, learned, and laughed together. to live in communion with the Anglican Communion. In We were blessed by the presence of Horace Clarence my view, the Covenant Statement offers us a way forward Boyer, our keynote speaker. We welcomed the Youth in unity of spirit, to remain focused our common mis- Choir of the diocesan choir camp. We commissioned sion in Christ and for Christ’s sake in the world. our Anti-Racism Commission and team. We wrestled In all of this, I share the view that we are still becom- together with the challenges facing the Anglican Com- ing a Communion. The four Instruments of Unity (the munion. We were graced by learning opportunities and Archbishop of Canterbury; the Lambeth Conference; the by ministries in music, visual art and architecture. Anglican Consultative Council; and the Primates’ Meet- We received an offering for Episcopal Relief and ing) are still evolving. Our various understandings of Development of over $5000. At the banquet we what it means to live in Communion are under discus- laughed ourselves silly, thanks to Mark Mac- sion. Whatever the Anglican Communion once was, it is Gougan, “liturgical comedian.” I thank God for becoming something new. As our Presiding Bishop told the wondrous privilege of serving as the Bishop the House, we’re no longer polite cousins in a loose and of this great Diocese. undemanding fellowship in which the West calls all the I attended my first meeting as a member of the shots. We are being called to live the mystery of Com- Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Fi- munion at a much deeper level. nance. I’m told this is the most time-consuming com- Upon my return home to New Jersey (I really mittee of General Convention, whose members are like the sound of that!), I led a Quiet Day for 25 seldom seen outside of their assigned meeting space. clergy at Trinity Cathedral. I offered two ad- Sigh. But somebody’s got to do it, right? dresses on friendship, based on a text from a I then attended the House of Bishops meeting in Texas. favorite hymn (The Hymnal 1982, My song is love It’s not easy to come together and work together in the unknown). On St. Joseph’s Day it was a delight to wel- midst of our current struggles and tensions in the Epis- come vestry members from churches all across our Dio- copal Church and in the Anglican Communion. But cese to a Vestry Day at the Cathedral. more than 150 bishops affirmed the Covenant Statement April 2005 of March 15, in response to the Windsor Report. (See I had the delight of a first visit to Christ Church, Magno- www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_60016_ENG_HTM.htm) lia on Palm Sunday, a small but vital congregation. The turning point was a presentation by a self-orga- On Good Friday, I visited the Church of the Holy Spirit nized group of 15 to 20 bishops, representing the entire in Lebanon. This congregation has scheduled a parish day breadth of views. Most of us were convinced that God of service on Good Friday for the past 15 years. EPISCOPALIAN

During Easter week I confirmed several members of Get It, by Jim Wallis; Whose Bible Is It? by Jaro- St. Luke and All Saints’ in Union. Filipino members wor- slav Pelikan; and Anne Lamott’s Plan B: Further ship on Saturdays, so we met on Saturday in Easter Week Thoughts on Faith. On my desk: The Dignity and then enjoyed a festive meal, including a roast pig! of Difference, by Jonathan Sacks and The First We had a good crowd at the Cathedral for this year’s Christian: Universal Truth in the Teachings of Service of Black Witness. I’d like to see more white folks Jesus, by Paul F. M. Zahl. at this celebration in years to come. We need to dem- Random remark of wisdom: “You can tell you have onstrate that we uphold the vital witness of the black created God in your own image when it turns out that members of our diocese. It’s a glorious service, building he or she hates all the same people you do.” Anne Lamott on the African, African-American and Caribbean enrich- ments of Anglicanism. May 2005 I had an excellent visit to St. Stephen’s, Waretown and 20th It was a joy to celebrate the anniversary of the first confirmed and received a large class of Candidates. This class of Vocational Deacons in the Diocese. Many mem- is a thriving parish. I love that bell choir! bers of that class were present, with a number of current Vocational Deacons, to renew their ordination vows. We’re blessed in this Diocese that the Procter Foundation supports campus ministries at Princeton and Rutgers. 5 On Easter , I spent the morning at St. Thomas’ in Glass- Campus ministry has been called “our greatest domestic boro. I had fun with the children in Sunday School, who missionary territory.” Anyone who knows Episcopal stu- had lots of questions about bishops and the Church. They dents, please contact the chaplains, who will welcome kept me on my toes. them to the Episcopal Church in their university. 26 I struggled through South Jersey traffic (sheesh!) and was I spent a day at the Seamen’s Church Institute, accom- a few minutes late to the Church of the Annunciation, panying the Rev. Francis Cho on a ship visit. He’s been Lawnside. Seven year-old Gary was the most eager bap- a chaplain and ship visitor for 20 years. Now retired, he tismal candidate I have ever met! maintains some long-standing pastoral relationships with On April 27 I took part in a videotaped dis- seafarers from around the world. As one told me, “We cussion on our efforts in anti-racism and in the love him from the bottom of our hearts.” recruitment of persons of color in the ordina- St. Luke’s, Gladstone, at their annual dinner and auction tion process. We talked candidly about what we as a in support of mission and outreach generously raised Diocese are doing and could be doing to recruit, train, nearly $12,000 for the support of our Cathedral and a ordain and support men and women of color for or- gift of $10,000 for Trinity Episcopal Academy. dained leadership in the Episcopal Church. I visited San Jose in Elizabeth and Holy Cross in North Friendship: Interpreting Christian Love, During Lent I read Plainfield. I can’t hold up my end of a conversation in Living the Truth, by Liz Carmichael; by Alan Jones; and Spanish, but our Latino churches tell me they can at Godless, God’s by Pete Hautman. Currently in process: least understand me when I read their language. Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t EPISCOPALIAN

On Pentecost, I visited All Saints’ Parish in Princeton. Croes (ancestor of Rod Croes, now in his 29th year as A beautiful Liturgy included a marvelous offering of the Rector of St. Peter’s, was elected first Bishop of New Vaughn Williams setting of George Herbert’s poem, Let Jersey. In 1698, the Rev. Edward Portlock, first Rector All the World in Every Corner Sing. Then to the Church of of St. Peter’s, conducted services in neighboring Wood- the Holy Trinity, Ocean City, on Trinity Sunday. Young bridge, leading to the founding of Trinity Church. people read, sang, and danced as part of the Liturgy. It I then drove to Woodbridge, wondering how long it was a radiant day. took the Rev. Mr. Portlock, 307 years ago. I greeted another very full church. The Confirmands wrote a psalm Paul called the Church in Corinth a Letter of Christ, writ- whose verses were placed in a ceramic jar marked Prayers ten on the heart. The Diocese of New Jersey is written that now sits on the mantle in my office. A favorite: The on my heart. If, at times, I find this ministry daunting holy flame of God will keep the faithful warm. Amen. and discouraging, I receive the amazing grace of encour- agement from the saints with whom I am privileged to Recently read: Understanding the Windsor Report: Two serve and from those who have gone before us. Leaders in the American Church Speak Across the Divide, by Ian T. Douglas and Paul F. M. Zahl. These two brothers June 2005 show us the reality of the “divide” and the bonds of af- I made my first visitation to Holy Trinity, Collingswood. fection that bind them. Reading: Fireweed Evangelism, by A great acolyte team served, including a liturgical leap Elizabeth Geitz. Waiting to be read: Why Study the Past? by one of the torchbearers! The Quest for the Historical Church, by Rowan Williams. I celebrated and preached at a Eucharist for the 175th On the CD changer: Motets of Guillaume de anniversary of the founding of St. Paul’s, Camden. In a Machaut, by the Hilliard Ensemble: 14th cen- city described as one of the poorest and most dangerous tury motets of a beauty that pierces the heart. in our nation, in circumstances akin to those in devel- 27 Nebraska, by Bruce Springsteen: Recorded in oping nations of the world, St. Paul’s and their Rector, ’82 and still a great album. “At the end of ev- Martin Gutwein, carry on faithful ministries of care and ery hard earned day people find some reason compassion, in the name of Jesus. to believe.” Yeah. On 4 June at the Cathedral, it was my delight to install Haunted Heart, by Renee Fleming: A great voice singing the members of the diocesan Senior Staff as Canons of great love songs. our Diocese. The Rev. Martin Gutwein was also in- stalled as an Honorary Canon of the Cathedral. I Feel Like Goin’ On, by Ronnie Earl: “Through floods and storms/whether people do me right or wrong/I’m Christ Church, Woodbury, welcomed their new Rec- not always strong/but still I feel yes, I do like goin’ on.” tor and his family at the Celebration of a New Ministry on June 9. A glorious reception followed and I recalled Bare, by Annie Lennox: Two years after its release, it’s the advice I received at the College for New Bishops: still “Wonderful.” “Watch out for the sheet cakes!” New Jersey, nearly two years after moving here — it’s June 12 started at Perth Amboy, where the first An- still wonderful, too. glican service was held in 1685, 130 years before John EPISCOPALIAN

In the late 17th centu- was talk of founding a ry, Anglicans in Amer- college near the “pal- ica longed for a bishop. ace.” Yet years passed In West Jersey, a chaotic and the house remained marketplace of Quakers, Lutherans, Baptists, and other vacant. By 1715, John Talbot was using it as a place to muddled affiliations, Anglican missionaries slogging it store his books “because nobody would occupy it without in the religious wilderness thought that a resident out being paid for the trouble.” The SPG was told in bishop would allow them to gain market share in con- 1720 (a mere nine years after purchase) the “outhouses verting the wrong-thinking. were old and leaky, the cellar was rotten, the underpin- ning had decayed, that everything would blow down if If we buy it, he will come . . . something were not done ‘speedily.’” In 1701, the Society for the Propagating of the Gospel (SPG) in Foreign Parts was established. And in 1702, “An appalling mess” Anne, a devout “daugh- In 1722, the SPG decided it needed a third-party opin- ter of the Church,” ion on the state of the house. It sent two men, Daniel became queen. The Coxe and William Trent, to report. They found an ap- Reverend John Talbot, palling mess. Fences were down, rails rotted, and fruit missionary in Burling- trees destroyed. All windows were broken and “the ton, thought a bish- rooms below stairs had been used as a sheep refuge, the op in the near future floors were inches deep in manure, and the walls cov- looked like a good bet. ered with lewd scribbling. The well was full of sheep 28 How better to con- skeletons. Doors were broken; chimney pieces and ceil- vince the first Bishop ings ripped out. The cellars and offices were “one con- A detail from a 1696 map of Burlington. The site of in America to reside in tinued Heap of Dung and Nastiness.” Quixotically, they Point House is marked in yellow. Burlington than a good decided to recommend the repair of the palace and palace? Luckily something that could pass for one was persuaded the deputy secretary of the Province of for sale on the Delaware, just down from High Street. New Jersey, one Samuel Bustil, Built circa 1690 by a wealthy English settler, one John to live there. Tatham, “Point House” was described as “the Sweet- Tenants in common est Situation in the World, a very healthfull Air, and a well built large House . . . I know no better place.” Bustil apparently turned The governor of the Province, Robert Hunter, acted as much of Point House into a intermediary for the SPG and on 29 October 1712, for stable and then wouldn’t leave. He even asserted that 1730, £600, the house was theirs. the SPG owed him for repairs. In enter the Rev- erend Robert Weyman, the new SPG missionary at Bur- Homeowner headaches lington. He wanted to live there — as St. Mary’s had no As the house had not been lived for a time, straightaway parsonage — until the SPG could find a paying tenant. To £226 of repairs were required. Not content with merely get Bustil out, the SPG gave Weyman power of attor- a house, Anglicans bought acreage around Burlington to ney. After months of being pestered, Bustil left. Wey- use as an endowment for the bishop-to-come and there man, wife, and six children moved in. He took in hand

Rear-view Mirror The strange story of Burlington’s long-vanished Point House EPISCOPALIAN

some of the endless window repairing and glazing, as he ours to quench it, burnt down to the Ground; and little promised the SPG he would keep the place from ruin. or nothing saved but some old Iron & the Bricks. I hap- Then the town of Burlington eyed some of the Point pened that day to be burying a man at Bristol but was House land for a road, but Weyman, with the Gover- told when I returned that it was impossible to save it, the nor’s assent, closed the abortive right of way. He fenced shingles being so old & dry; the Society are cer- the land and made yet more unspecified repairs, sending tainly at no great loss by this Accident; the SPG a bill for £26, nearly one-third of what was paid altho’ I’m heartily sorry it happened; to him as his annual stipend. because I from time to time acquaint- ed them of its ruinous condition and Widows and walking distance would have fallen to ground of it- Weyman died in 1737, leaving his widow and six chil- self in a year or two more . . .” dren “in very low circumstances.” She stayed in Point House, but “let part of it to an old woman and some free Buttonwoods and willows Negroes.” The confused commune annoyed the Rev- “Old men among us still remember a cellar, erend Colin Campbell, the new SPG Burlington mis- which was said in their boyhood to belong to this house. sionary, who thought that Point House would be a fine This cellar was filled up when improvements were made parsonage. Continuing to write complaining letters to some years ago in that quarter. The huge buttonwoods the SPG, he joined the long roster of people who fixed and willows in that vicinity are possibly the only survi- broken windows and repaired overthrown fences. vors of its trees,” lamented the Reverend William Allen Johnson, rector of St. Mary’s, Burlington, in an 1870 Despite this, by 1740 Point House was nearly in ruins. lecture. As it was a good walking distance from High Street, 29 Campbell argued that no one would rent it, but in a What did Point House look like? strangely optimistic moment, wrote that perhaps Gover- The short answer: We don’t know. Contemporary de- nor Lewis Morris might want it for a home. scriptions aren’t detailed enough to be useful. Evidence At last, in 1745, the SPG wrote to Campbell enquiring shows there was brick-making near Burlington, so it’s about the house and mentioning a possible purchaser. He conceivable that replied that the “Palace” would likely collapse within a Point House was few years and he could see no point in spending money constructed of brick. on it. In 1747, the SPG wondered piteously if anyone But it’s equally pos- would take the house without rent just to care for it or sible to assume it whether it could be demolished for the materials. was primarily timber and plaster. William The last day of the “House at the Point” Trent’s 1719 house, “I’m sorry to acquaint you that on the eighth day of built in Trenton March last,” wrote Colin Campbell to the SPG, “the some 30 years after A drawing of Trent House (1719) in Trenton, New Jersey, which has been restored to its original condition. wind strong at the N. West, a poor man liveing in the Point House, may Societys House either by his carelessness not sweeping resemble it in some way, but we shall never know. Just the Chimneys or by some other Accident unknown the as it remained elusively unoccupied by the first Bishop of House at Midday catch’d Fire and marr’d all endeav- America, so it will remain elusively unimaged for us. And now even the buttonwoods and willows are gone.

Opposite page, in rear-view mirror: Burlington’s “Green Bank” in 1797, some Rear-view Mirror 50 years after Point House was destroyed. Sources for this article include The History of the Church at Burlington, George Morgan Hills, 1885 and The Anglican Church in New Jersey, Nelson R. Burr, 1954. EPISCOPALIAN the las† word We hope you’ve enjoyed the inaugural issue of the the people, places, and parishes of the Diocese of New Jersey Episcopalian, the new quarterly magazine for and Jersey. We’ll include in each JE a brief overview of na- about the people, places, and parishes of the Diocese of tional and international news, but for the most part the New Jersey. magazine will be about Diocese of New Jersey. Diocesan communication goes back a long time here in Why focus on New Jersey? Well, access to national and New Jersey. In 1834, Bishop Doane began to publish a international church news is readily available online or weekly folio-sized newspaper of four pages, called The through one of the national independent weeklies, such Missionary. He wrote in the first issue: as The Living Church. Similarly, Episcopal Life can be read “The Missionary owes its origin immediately to the Convoca- online or subscribed to inexpensively. But finding news tion of the Clergy of the Northern Visitation of the diocese of about a parish in Lebanon when living in Salem is vir- New Jersey, held at Morristown. Desires were expressed gen- tually impossible. With 2 Times a Month (a two-page erally in all the parishes, both by the Clergy and Laity, for quick-read newsletter, published on the first and third some organ of communication which represented, more fully Wednesday of every month) and the Jersey Episcopa- than any outside paper could, the local interests of the diocese lian, along with a frequently updated diocesan web site and that by its nearness and cheapness, should be brought (newjersey.anglican.org), we very much hope we’ve got within the ready reach of all. Episcopal Jersey covered for you. That four-page, hand-set, weekly newspaper (how ever 2 Times a Month and the Jersey Episcopalian aren’t perfect — nor, this side of heaven, will they be! — so do be 30 did they do it?) continued till 1837, when a severe eco- nomic depression shut it down. It surged briefly into life patient with us as we tinker with and refine them over again in 1847 and persisted through 1851. the coming year. And please know that we welcome your comments and suggestions for ways to make com- Later in the century, a magazine called The Diocese of munications in the Diocese of New Jersey ever better. New Jersey (a remarkably unimaginative name) was pro- duced, under Bishop John Scarborough. That morphed After all, they’re for you. in the 20th century into The Church News magazine, which in the 1980s became the Via Media, a newspaper wrapped around Episcopal Life, the national Episcopal Church newspaper. In the Jersey Episcopalian, we’re now returning to a degree to the communications plan sketched by Bishop Canon Cynthia McFarland is Director of Doane so long ago: to produce a magazine for and about Communications for the Diocese of New Jersey.

The Jersey Episcopalian is a quarterly magazine for and about Special thanks to the Right Reverend George Councell for the Diocese of New Jersey. It is published annually in au- taking photos on the road and to Frederic McFarland for tumn, winter, spring, and summer. The current issue is avail- photos of Burlington Convocation churches. The photogra- able on the web: newjersey.anglican.org/JE/current.html phers of a number of images are unknown. Thanks also to Publisher: The Right Reverend George E. Councell, Bishop the Reverend Canon Servio Moscoso for assisting with the Spanish translation of The Mitre Box. of New Jersey, [email protected] Managing editor, writer, designer: Canon Cynthia McFarland, Peet’s coffee helped a lot with this issue, too. Director of Communications, [email protected] © Diocese of New Jersey 200608 rp 20m The Delaware River at twilight EPISCOPALIAN The Quarterly Magazine of the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey