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Parish register

Christ Church, Reading — Candidates for Holy Orders

Candidates for Holy Orders from the Parish of Christ Church, Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania (ordained 1840–1847) — memoranda from the private parochial register of Rev. Richard W. Morgan, D.D., recording the deaths of three of the four candidates.

Memoranda headed "Candidate for holy orders from the Parish of Christ Church Reading Pennsylvania as commended by the Rector and Vestry [?] the Rectorship of Rev R W Morgan", recording four candidates with their ordinations and, for three, their deaths. The register adds: "Mr Bowens and Mr Russell studied theology under the direction of the Rector. Mr Burcker & Mr Gries pursued their studies at the General Theological Seminary New York. Mr Burcker graduated at the Seminary." The source is described on the page as: "The Private Parchoial Register of Rev Richard W Morgan DD containing the REcord of Baptism Burial Marriages performed by him commencing with his ministry May 8 1822 Also some memoranda. Copied by R R B 1902." Unclear source readings preserved with [?] and [unreadable].

Name index · Register entry

Transcribed names
Register entry
Bowens [?], William Henryordained Deacon Nov. 23 1842; d. Dec. 15 1851, in his 41st year(native of Ireland) ordained Deacon by Rt Rev Bishop Anderdonk November 23rd 1842 in Trinity Church Pottsville Presented by Rev R W Morgan | Died of Pulmonary disease at Huntingdon Penn in charge of St Johns Church December 15th 1851 in the 41st year of his age
Burcker, Georgeordained Jul. 21 1840; d. Jun. 7 1847Ordained in Christ Church Reading by Rt Rev Bishop Anderdonk[?] July 21st 1840 Presented by the Rector | Died suddenly at Flushing New York in charge of St. Georges Church June 7th 1847 aged 32 years
Gries, William Richardordained Deacon Sep. 5 1847Having been at his own request transferred to the Diocese of North Carolina was ordained Deacon by Rt Rev Bishop Ives September 5th 1847
Russell, Peterordained Deacon Mar. 28 [year not stated]; d. [date unreadable]Ordained Deacon by Rt Rev Bishop Anderdonk in Christ Church Reading March 28th Presented by the Rector | Rev Peter Russell Dec [?] [unreadable] at the house of his son in [unreadable]shall White Haven Pennsylvania aged 62 years He was at the time of his death Rector St Peters Ch Hazleton Pennsylvania

Four candidates transcribed verbatim, spelling and transcriber's doubts as found — including "Anderdonk[?]" (historically Bishop Henry Onderdonk of Pennsylvania) and the partly unreadable death memorandum for Peter Russell. Three of the four candidates' deaths are recorded: George Burcker (1847, Flushing, New York), William Henry Bowens (1851, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania) and Peter Russell (date unreadable, White Haven, Pennsylvania). No death is recorded for William Richard Gries, who transferred to the Diocese of North Carolina.

Related records

The register records from this page were copied from the private parochial register of Rev. Richard W. Morgan, D.D., which travelled with his ministry across several Pennsylvania parishes.

More from the archive

Matched automatically from the archive’s name and place indexes — research leads, not confirmed relations.

Source & Citation

Candidates for Holy Orders from the Parish of Christ Church, Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania (ordained 1840–1847). Memoranda transcribed from the private parochial register of Rev. Richard W. Morgan, D.D., copied by R. R. B. in 1902.

Last verified: 2026-07-14

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