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Church or body was commenced under the missionary labors of Mr. Gloucester. In 1810 the corner stone was laid, and in 1811 the church was dedicated to the service of God. All this was accomplished in four years, through the assistance of kind friends and the blessings of God.
Before passing on to a further notice of the history of the church, permit me to call the attention of the reader to one or two interesting things connected with the dedication of the church. It would seem upon so interesting an occasion, that Dr. Alexander should lead in the exercises of the day. He had previously removed to Princeton, and was one of the Professors at the Seminary. The people, encouraged and strengthened no doubt by Mr. Gloucester, made so unanimous and earnest an appeal to Dr. Alexander, that he consented to be present and preach the dedicatory sermon, assisted in the other exercises by Drs. Green and Potts. I am unfortunate in not being able to give the passage of Scripture on which the discourse was founded. I am equally so in not being able to give even a faint outline of the discourse, there being no record of the church upon which I can lay my hands to obtain the information. Of one thing we may be assured, it was appropriate and to the point.
Previous to the day of dedicating the house, Mr. Gloucester had the following address circulated among the people, and a copy sent to all friendly to his cause. For the address I am under obligation to Mr. Jacob C. White, Sen., who, very fortunately for the church and posterity, kept this relic in his possession, and which is now through his kindness given to all who may read these pages. It is the production of Mr. Gloucester's own brain.
