In August, Coleman Memorial Chapel in Brickerville recognized its 150th anniversary, a celebration that included the opening of a time capsule that was sealed in the church walls 150 years ago. Cornwall Borough resident Bruce Chadbourne looks at the church’s plan as it puts the time capsule back into the cornerstone for another 150 years.
That’s some planning ahead!
So, what would you put into a time capsule to be left for the next 150 years? That’s the question members of Brickerville’s Coleman Memorial Chapel wrestled with these last three weeks since their 150th anniversary celebration.
Given the Coleman history of the 19th century and how things have changed since then, we can only wonder, “what property, structures and people will even exist 150 years from now?” What documents and trinkets will give a meaningful sense of what kind of people and culture we are?
Practically speaking, given that the paper items didn’t survive 150 years, consideration was also given to how to prepare and preserve the items for this next time. Will digital media on USB drives be any more effective in surviving the coming years? Would it be better to carve memories in stone, as has been done for millennia?
Preparation and commitment
Foremost, credit is due to the pastor and congregation of Coleman Memorial Chapel for the faith they express in themselves, in society and in their Lord that there will be something to celebrate in 2174.
On Sunday, Sept. 15, the congregation held a service and committed the selected items to a new metal box that had a proper gasket for sealing out the elements. Items selected were some coins, an old baseball, paper accounts of the 150th anniversary, and a history of James Coleman and the marble angel baptismal font that had been created in his memory.
This time the items were placed in plastic sleeves and zip-lock plastic bags. Digital backup copies of the documents were included on USB memory sticks. The new box was then placed in the original 150-year-old lead box and soldered shut.
On Tuesday morning, in an informal ceremony the box was placed back in the cornerstone and the chapel foundation was restored by stonemasons.
Sister chapels and the angel
When the Lebanon Daily News reported the laying of the first capsule in August 1874, the work of Debbie and G. Dawson Coleman was explained in great detail. Their son James had died tragically in March 1874, and over several months’ time they committed to building the chapel in his memory.
The Coleman’s lived on their Mount Lebanon estate (now known as Coleman Memorial Park on West Maple Street) near their furnaces in north Lebanon, as well as maintaining the Elizabeth furnace and farm in Brickerville.
In 1856 they began a Sunday school for their furnace workers and families. By 1870 the school had flourished, and they laid the cornerstone of Christ Chapel, which in a few years became Christ Presbyterian Church.
Within 36 months of its opening, the Colemans were building a new chapel in Brickerville near the place their son had died. The exteriors of the two edifices differ in various aspects but the interior architectures seem quite similar.
The history in Brickerville also shared similar characteristics with north Lebanon. According to the history in the 1874 Lebanon Daily News article, the first building had been erected in Brickerville by Harriet Coleman (residing at Elizabeth Furnace) in 1848 for the families of the Elizabeth furnace workers as a place of worship and for Sunday school. In 1871, the year after Christ Chapel was established, this was continued by her daughter-in-law Mrs. G.D. “Debbie” Coleman, who supplied books and hymnals from Christ Chapel. The pastor of Christ Chapel frequently made the 14-mile journey after his own services to preach there. Members of Christ Chapel turned out in number to support the dedication of the new Memorial Chapel in 1874.
The James Coleman angel
In addition to building the chapel in Brickerville, a few years later the Colemans commissioned a baptismal font, a marble sculpture of an angel to adorn their own Christ Chapel, in memory of their son James.
The statue, by Richard Greenough from his studio in Rome, Italy, was carved of marble from the Carrara quarries, world-famous for its pure white marble. The angel holds a shell for the baptismal font; the shell is both the symbol of the disciple James, and the early Christian symbol of baptism. The base of the pedestal reads “In Memoriam.” It is said that the facial features are those of James taken from a picture.
The story of the angel has taken on a life of its own. It remained a treasure of Christ Presbyterian Church for almost 140 years until it closed its doors in 2020 (the building has transferred to True Life Youth Ministries of Lebanon). The baptismal font has been moved to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Lebanon, and appropriately so.
The Coleman family is known for a long history of supporting many churches in greater Lebanon.
Read More: The real story of Robert H. Coleman, his Cornwall mansions, and St. Luke’s
George Dawson Coleman had been on the vestry of St. Luke’s since 1861 helping to ensure completion of its building project in 1863. Given outstanding construction debts the church could not be consecrated until paid for in full. The day was saved when the deficit was covered by George Dawson Coleman and his mother, Harriet Dawson Coleman.
The angel has been temporarily placed, but according to Dr. Terry Heisey – St. Luke’s principal organist and director of music, who provided those historical details – the angel statue will be installed in the new glass-enclosed tower porch.
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Rev. Karen Bachman and committee of Coleman Memorial Chapel, Craig Coleman for his assistance with this article, Carol Holt of Christ Presbyterian Church, and Dr. Terry Heisey of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.
See you all in 150 years!
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