CHAPTER XIV. THE NEW CHURCH. 1748-1754. ITH Mr. Caner's accession to its ministry, the parish evidently felt that a new era had begun, and the strong hand of an able, energetic man was soon perceived to be shaping the policy of the church. He had been inducted in April, 1747, and within five months the idea of building a new churchwas actively stirring the good-will of his people. The plan did not, however, originate with Mr. Caner. It had already been proposed six years before, as the church was dilapidated from fifty years' service, to rebuild it of stone. A subscription was set on foot, headed by William Shirley, Esq., Senior Warden, who was about the same time appointed Governor of the Province, and Henry Frankland, Esq., Collector of Customs; while Peter Faneuil, Esq., who was at this time erecting his munificent free gift to the town of Boston of a public market-place and hall (to be later known as "the Cradle of Liberty "), was chosen treasurer. But little more than half of the requisite sum had been subscribed when Mr. Faneuil died, and the affair stood still until Mr. Caner woke it to life. Through opposition, financial embarrassments, and baffling delays, Whirly the plan steadily moved forward to completion, and a special record was kept for the benefit of posterity. This interesting document deserves to be reproduced here, omitting only such portions as are merely repetitions. A Record of Votes, Resolutions, etc., together with some brief Memoirs of the Transactions relating to the rebuilding King's Chapel in Boston. King's Chapel in Boston, first erected of Wood in the year of our Lord 1688, and afterwards enlarged Anno 1710, being found in the year 1741 in a State of considerable decay, it was proposed to rebuild it with Stone. The Revd Mr. Roger Price was at that Time Minister, and Will Shirley, Esq. (about the same Time also appointed Gov! of the Province), and Mr. Sam! Wentworth, Wardens. A voluntary Subscription was to this Purpose set on foot, and Peter Faneuil, Esq, chosen Treasurer for receiving and paying the Sums that should be collected for the new Building. A Copy of said Subscription is as follows, viz!: A List of the Subscribers towards rebuilding the King's Chapel in Boston; the Subscription Money to be paid into the Hands of Peter Faneuil, Esq, in three equal Payments; the first Payment to be made when £10,000 shall be subscribed, the second in six Months after the Work is begun, the third in Six Months after the second Payment. The Building to be of Stone and to cost £25,000, in Bills of Credit of the old Tenor. William Shirley, Esq', Sterling money £100 50 100 200 200 200 100 200 200 100 150 100 200 Cha Paxton, old Tenor . Sam! Wentworth, old Tenor Peter Faneuil, Two hundred Pounds Sterling. 200 As the Conditional Sum for entring upon the Building was not at this Time fully subscribed, a Neglect to prosecute the Affair with suitable Vigor, The Death of the Treasurer, which soon after followed, and from whose Abilities considerable Expectations had been form'd, put a Damp upon the good Design and occasioned its being laid aside for some Time. In the Year 1747, M: Price having resign'd and M Caner chosen to succeed him, the Affair was again resum'd. Some were of Opinion that rebuilding was now quite necessary, as the Chapel was now much more gone to Decay; that it would be throwing away Money to attempt to repair it. Others objected it would be better to tarry till a Peace, as the War had raised the Price of Materialls, and rendered building very ex pensive. To this it was reply'd that the. great Number of Officers of the Army and Navy who reside here during the War would more than balance that Difficulty, as they might reasonably be expected to lend their Assistance. In order to a prudent Judgment how far the Congregation might of themselves be able to go on with the Work, M: Caner, M: Apthorp, and D Gibbins made two private Lists of Subscriptions which they supposed the People might be able and would be willing to comply with. This amounted to about £20,000, wch Sum it was imagin'd might accomplish the Walls of a Brick Building, and the Assistance that might be expected from abroad it was thought would bring it to a Condition fit for Use; and as to the finishing, that might be very well left to Time and future Ability. Henry Caner H. Frankland Egd Tyng John Gibbins After communicating this to the Wardens, sundry of the Vestry, and others, a Meeting was proposed, to which also his Excellency Gov! Shirley concurr'd and advis'd, in order to agree upon a Method of reviving and prosecuting the old Subscription. Accordingly a voluntary Meeting was agreed on and held at the House of the Revd Mr. Caner, at which were present His Excell! Gov! Shirley, S Henry Frankland, The two Wardens, Eliakim Hutchinson, Thos. Lechmere, and Charles Apthorp, Esq, Dr. Silvester Gardiner, and M: James Smith. M: Caner having previously drawn up a Subscription, after some Amendments it 1 These autographs are taken from the petition of the Minister, Wardens, and Vestry to the Freeholders of the town, March 14, 1747/8, and are given here by the courtesy of the publishers of the "Memorial History of Boston." |