John Churchill Rudd papers

Collection

Identifier: SC-005

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection contains handwritten sermons created by Rev. Dr. John Churchill Rudd, Episcopal priest and Geneva College trustee from 1828-1848. There are 41 sermons in all, and most are between 10 and 15 pages in length.

Twenty-five of the sermons have a number and a title on the front cover and a date on the back. These sermons were written between 1811 and 1837. Most include a note next to the date of creation indicating Rudd's feelings about the sermon or his mood on the day it was written. Each sermon also includes a list of the dates and places where Rudd preached the sermon. They were preached multiple times between 1811 and 1847.

The rest of the sermons do not have titles or numbers nor are they dated. Each begins with a Bible chapter and verse. Most do include a list of the dates and places where Rudd preached the sermon. The dates range from 1796-1833.

Rudd preached these sermons in many cities and towns across the northeast. Some of the place names that he lists are: Auburn, Perth Amboy, Utica, Elizabethtown, Shrewsbury, New Hartford, Trenton, Staten Island, Morristown, Woodbridge, N. York, Rochester, Rome, Holland Patent, Cooperstown, Burlington, East Chester, Philadelphia, Marcellus, Syracuse, Geneva, Seneca Falls, Pompey, Oriskany, Skaneateles, Troy, Oswego, Ithaca, Boston, Palmyra, New London, Batavia, Stratford, Guilford, Litchfield, and Wilton, among others.

Dates

circa 1796-1847

Creator

Rudd, John C. (John Churchill), 1779-1848 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on accessing material in this collection.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright restrictions may apply. Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.

Biographical Note

John Churchill Rudd was born in Norwich, Connecticut. on May 24, 1779. Rudd was raised as a Congregationalist but became an Episcopalian in early adulthood. He was mentored and tutored by Bishop Moore and Dr. (afterwards Bishop) Hobart, and was ordained a Priest in 1806. In May of 1806 he became Rector of St. John's Parish, Elizabethtown, New Jersey. The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him in 1822 by the University of Pennsylvania. After 20 years at St. John's Parish his health was failing and so in 1826 Rudd resigned his charge in Elizabethtown and removed to Auburn, New York. Shortly after he became Rector of St. Peter's Church in Auburn, a post he held for seven years.

Dr. Rudd was induced by Bishop Hobart to start a religious periodical devoted to the interests of the Episcopal Church, and so in 1827 he founded "The Gospel Messenger." In 1828 Dr. Rudd became a trustee of Geneva College, a post he held until his death. He was instrumental in raising funds for the new college and was a close friend of Bishop Hobart's. Dr. Rudd published numerous sermons and a few parish histories. John Churchill Rudd passed away on November 15, 1848.

Extent

0.75 Linear Feet (1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in the following series:

Numbered sermons with titles
Sermons without numbers and titles

Location

Box 1: Archives Storage / Range 22A / Section 1

Provenance

The provenance of these sermons is unknown. They were discovered in the Mss files in the Archives in March of 2015 and were moved to the Special Collections at that time.