Cokesbury United Methodist Church

The town of Marcus Hook is situated on the Delaware River and was originally settled in 1640 by the Swedes. Methodism in the Marcus Hook actuall predates the birth of the nation due to the efforts of Captain Webb, a well known officer in the British Army. Captain Webb was one of John Wesley’s converts in England and Wesley said of him, “His is a man of fire and the power of God attends his words.”
In 1833, Rev. Brooke Eyer led the first Medthodist class meeting in town. A second class was formed and both classes met in various locations including local taverns, homes, and front lawns. The meeting places of the classes became part of the old Chester Circuit.
As the classes increased in size it became necessary to consider building an official meeting place. In 1837, at the Quarterly conference of the chester Circuit it was decided that a church should be built in Marcus Hook. A committee was appointed to oversee the project and before long a one story building with a simple platform, plain wooden pulpit, and wooden benches was built on Second Street Discord Lane) for a cost of $200. The name chosen for the church was Cokesbury in honor of the first American Bishops, Coke and Asbury. A charter was granted in 1869. The corner stone of the present building, at Market and Plum Streets, was laid July6, 1871. The parsonage was built in 1885. Between 1888 and 1892 member residing in Trainer withdrew their membership and organized the Trainer Church.
Some of the difficulties the church has encountered include the 1975 explostion of the Corinthos, a Greek oil tanker docked (1 1/2 Block from the church) at the BP Refinery. Another oil tanker was turning in the river and struck the Corinthos at the dock. The collision caused a huge explosion and fireball and resulted in some physical damage to the church and many of the homes surrounding the riverfront.
In the 1980’s the Conference decided to create a Co-operative parish in the area by appointing a clergy couple to serve Cokesbury and three other small churches in the area - Feltonville, Price Street, and Trainer. Prior to this time Cokesbury had always had their own pastor. The transition to shared pastors was a difficult one as was the combining of many worship and fellowship events. However, Cokesbury, always willing to give it their best shot, accepted and eventually embraced the arrangement. By the late 1980’s each church again had its own pastor, but the co-operative relationship remained in place until the 1990’s. Due to some loss of membership and overall decline in the community, Cokesbury could no longer support a full-time pastor and has since been served by retired pastors, student pastors, and licensed local pastors.
The 1990’s brought another time of difficulty and uncommon dissension. For a time the church was served by a pastor who created division and animosity between members and families to such an extent that the conference called in the Conflict Resolution Team to try to help mend the rifts. Unfortunately, they were unable to bring about resolution, but the pastor left and Cokesbury began to heal.

Cokesbury United Methodist Church (cont.)
Over the years the town has changed dramatically. Once a bustling seaport, Marcus Hook has seen a demographic shift. At its peak, the population of Marcus Hook was over 5,000, due in part to the local industries including The American Viscose Company which built a model village of Tudor style row homes in the 1920’s for its employees. The company closed in the 1970’s and their office buildings remain, for the most part, vacant.
Surrounded on two sides by oil refineries, many families chose to move out of town when they were able. Consequently, Marcus Hook has become a more transient community with a higher poverty level. Over the years Marcus Hook has been home to pirates, including Blackbeard, and in the 1970’s was home base for the Pagan’s motorcycle club. For many years Marcus Hook had a bar on every corner. However, efforts have been made to improve the community. A riverfront rehabilitation project has resulted in a beautiful riverfront park and new housing. Borough ordinances have resulted in far fewer bars and no more motorcycle gangs.
In spite of the changes in the community, Cokesbury has remained active and involved in the life of the community. Many who are active in the life of the church are also active in the firehouse, local politics, and the community in general. The church has always had a heart for ministry and has opened its doors to embrace and include the community. Over the years Cokesbury has hosted Head Start, Girl Scouts, a Tutoring and Homework program, a lunch time Bible Study for local industry, and currently, a recovery group. We have also always been a polling place. For many years we have run an Emergency Food Pantry which provides non-perishable groceries to families in need. Cokesbury has also responded to needs outside of our immediate community in various ways such as: making emergency kits for victims of hurricane Katrina, donating to the tsunami relief efforts, providing Christmas gifts to a local nursing home, and participating in Operation Christmas Childs shoe box ministry.
Ministering to the children of the community has always been a particular passion for Cokesbury. The church runs a Vacation Bible School each summer which is extremely active, engaging, and greatly anticipated in the community. We have also had an active Youth Program over the years.
The story that most represents our church is found in Matthew 7: 24-27. Because we are hearers and doers of God’s Word, we envision ourselves as a house built on the rock. Although times have changed, difficulties have come our way and we have been hit with literal and figurative rains and floods and winds, we are still here and able to offer God’s love to our community and to the world.

Marcus Hook
Is located in Delaware County,Pennsylvania. Positioned 8 miles NE of Wilmington, DE and 16 miles SW of Philadelphia, PA, it is known as the “Cornerstone of PA.”
During its early years Marcus Hook was a major Lenape settlement that became a New Sweden trading post in the year 1640. Called “Chammassungh” or “Finland,” the post was on the west side of the Delaware River, between Marcus Hook and the mouth of Naaman’s Creek. In 1653, a larger tract of land was named New Sweden by Queen Christina of Sweden. A few years later in 1679, the Dutch conquered the Swedish authority and called the area “Marretties hooke” or Marcus Hook.
Under William Penn’s administration in 1682, the inhabitants requested that their town name be changed to “Chichester.” The request was approved and documented by William Penn, but the old town name of “Marcus Hook”, had been fixed in the minds of the public, and to this day continues to be its time-honored nomenclature.The borough was officially incorporated on March 7, 1892.
For a more detailed history of Marcus Hook go to marcushookboro.com/new_page_7.htm
Local-heritage.com/marcushookhistory/
Borough of Marcus Hook
At Upland court, in 1678, a record appears acknowledging from Hans Ollsen a deed to William Clayton, for all his land, "right and interest of & to his houses and appurtenances Lying and being all Marretties hooke." In 1682 the ancient name of Marcus Hook was changed by an order of Upland Court to Chichester and for many years the latter name was born in legal documents, but the popular name was so fixed in the public that it would not accept the new name and the village retained the old name Marcus Hook in spite of legislation and executive power. After the coming of Penn in 1682, Marcus Hook grew rapidly, becoming a formidable rival of Chester, the two towns being about equal in size in 1708, each consisting of about one hundred houses. Pirates at an early day came to Marcus Hook, a record of the Provincial Council stating that Gov. Keith in 1716 called their attention to "the great losses which the colony had already sustained beyond any of its neighbors, by our Trade's being blocked up and infested with pirates at the Capes of this river and bay." He further informed them "that one Trench, a noted pirate who has done the greatest mischief of any to this place, has been lurking for some days at this town."

At a meeting of the council at Philadelphia, at which Gov. Markham presided, the minutes show that the town was granted permission to hold "a weeklye market on friday's to be kept in broad St as is desired." Penn seven months later granted a full charter to Marcus Hook as a market town, with all rights and privileges fully set forth. Boat building was an

Borough of Marcus Hook (cont.)
important industry, Peter Kahn, a Swedish naturalist, recording: "they build here every year a number of small ships for sale, and from an iron work which lies higher up in the country, they carry iron bars to this place and ship them." In William Howell, of Marcus Hook, was a leading shipwright. The ancient town Continued prominent in Shipbuilding until the larger vessels required, were beyond the capital or plants of the yards, which restricted the industry in Marcus Hook to small coasting and river craft. The industry gradually died out, although as late as 1884, Samuel J. Barton launched, a large schooner from his yards. William Cranston and Simon Sherlock were noted ship builders.
The Wooden piers of Marcus Hook were erected bt the state of Pennsylvania, prior to the Revolution In 1785, Philadelphia merchants memorialized the state governmant, praying for construction of new piers along the. Delaware in the interest of the commercial supremacy of that city. This agitation resulted in the construction of piers at Marcus Hook. April 28, 1893, Marcus Hook was incorporated a borough, Samuel Vernon being elected the first burgess; Henry A. Lewis is the present incumbent. The United States Pipe Line enters the borough, which is the seat of a large refining interest. The principal plants are the Pure Oil Company, Sun Oil Company, Union Petroleum Cbmpany, Atlantic Refining Company, A. K. Knabb & Co., (barrel factory) American Viscose Company (artificial silk), Hardwood Package Company (barrels). The Episcopal, Baptist and Methodist Episcopal churches all have houses of worship in the borough, there also being an African Methodist Episcopal church. St. Martin's, the Episcopal church, owes its first land to Walter Martin, an embittered Quaker, who donated an acre and one perch of ground or a church and burial place for the inhabitants of Chichester (Marcus Hook), "Quakers and reputed Quakers only excepted." The Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Improved Order of Red Men, Knights of Pythias, and Modern Woodmen, all have lodges, and an excellent public school system is maintained. The State Quarantine Station formerly existing on Tinicum Island, has been in recent years established and is still maintained in Marcus Hook. The Marcus Hook Fire Company is the strong defense of the borough against the fire fiend, and has done excellent service whenever called upon. The population of the borough in 1910 was 1573.

Market Square
“The Market Square area of Marcus Hook was established in 1699. Governor Markham presented a request to William Penn to have a weekly market and two fairs. In 1700, William Penn referenced Marcus Hook as a Market Town located at Broad Street and Market Lane.”
[Ref: Ashmead p.458-459, see also 1701 map]
Click here for Archaeological results of The Market Square area, River Ramble
2009.
Market Square (cont.)
The beautiful Market Square Memorial Park on the banks of the Delaware River offers sensational views of the river, port activities and the passing ships. This riverfront park is the venue for many special events. It should come as no surprise that Marcus Hook hosts one of the area’s busiest event calendars. The Borough has been hosting special events at Market Square Memorial Park since the establishment of the park in 1986. The Borough regularly welcomes the restored coastal schooner, Pioneer, to the port of Marcus Hook. Crowned the official flagship of the Borough of Marcus Hook, this vessel, built in Marcus Hook in 1885, offers dockside tours and public sails during its return to its maiden port.

The Borough’s Memorial Day Parade is the largest in Delaware County. On parade day Marcus Hook’s main streets are alive and bustling with a variety of marching bands, military units, antique cars, drill teams, all gathering to demonstrate affection for our nation, fellow citizens and the proud inheritance we share. The summer event slate is highlighted by the Marcus Hook Summer Music Festival. Top-notch musical entertainment originates from the Market Square Memorial Park stage on the banks of the Delaware River. Concerts are scheduled on consecutive Tuesday evenings in July and August. Through the generous sponsorship of local business and industry, concerts have been offered free to the public since the program began in 1987. September brings Delaware County’s Riverfront Ramble (first celebrated in 2004) celebrating the revitalization of the county’s riverfront communities. A restaurant festival, musical entertainment, fireworks, tethered balloon rides, fire truck rides, are just a few of the program offerings. October concludes with “The Legend of Blackbeard’s Ghost”, an original Halloween program based on early 18th century folklore when Marcus Hook was reputed to be a notorious haven for pirates.
To usher in the Holidays, the Marcus Hook Holiday Parade and Festival of Lights is a must see. On the Saturday following Thanksgiving the Holiday Parade welcomes the spirit of the season and concludes with the opening of the light display at Market Square Memorial Park. Click here for more information on the Marcus Hook Borough website

St.Martin’s Episcopal Church
“In 1699, Walter Martin, conveyed to the town and inhabitants of Marcus Hook an acre and one perch of ground, for a church and free burial-place for the inhabitants. The church was founded in 1702 and called St. Martin’s which was suggested by Emanuel Grubb as commemorative to Walter Martin, its founder who died in 1719 and is buried in a lot in the churchyard.”
[Ashmead p460]
St. Martin’s Episcopal Church Cemetery
(research under construction)
Emanuel Grubb [Ashmead p462]
Rev.George Craig [Ashmead p462]
Dr.Caleb Smith Sayers, Died December 3, 1799, he is buried under the floor of St. Martin’s Church.
W3R National Trail
Is a 680 mile Historic Trail which French Allied troops and Continental soldiers traveled from Rhode Island to Virginia under the command of General George Washington and French General Rochambeau.
“On the morning of 19 April 1775, a column of British soldiers marching toward the town of Lexington, Massachusetts, found their advance barred by a small band of seventy-seven colonial militiamen. Hopelessly outnumbered, the Americans began to disperse, when suddenly a single shot rang out. The American War of Independence had begun.”
[Reference: March To Victory, Dr. Robert Selig]
On September 5th, 1781, at the town of Marcus Hook, Pa. (Chester County, Pa.), a Revolutionary soldier encampment is highlighted as a point of interest. “Here, General George Washington receives word that the French Admiral de Grasse’s fleet (28 ships and 3, 000 soldiers) had arrived safely in the Chesapeake Bay. Not only is General Washington ecstatic, but until their arrival in Marcus Hook, the allied armies had marched on hope alone that de Grasse would do what he had written in the letter that had reached them in White Plains on August 14, 1781”
[Reference: Rochambeau Papers, vol. 9]
“On 17 October, 1781, Lord Cornwallis surrendered his army at Yorktown, Virginia to a combined force of Americans and French headed by General George Washington and General Rochambeau”
[Reference: March To Victory, Dr. Robert Selig]
“It is important to note that during this war, the march of soldiers through American towns had a solidifying impact on American communities along the route. The small community of Marcus Hook, willingly laid aside local and regional prejudices in order to provide logistical support to the troops, minimize the potential for civil-military friction, and pave the way for decisive victory at Yorktown as well as the creation of an independent American republic.”
[Reference: March To Victory, Intro., Jeffery J. Clarke, Chief of Military History]Photo, Click here: “ General Washington receiving good news at Marcus Hook, Chester County”
Click here for W3R www.w3r-us.org National LinkTo view the 2009 W3R Presentation of Dr. Selig’s Lecture, click here
To order a CD of Dr.Selig’s 2009 Lecture at Marcus Hook, Pa. Donation $20
Please Email mhps1@hotmail.com
Article: Daily Times “Marcus Hook Recognizes Historic Washington Route” 9-6-09