Mathews Episcopal Church, a neat structure of brick, erected in 1807, by public subscription.

Bedford originally constituted one of the three districts of Ryo parish, having been annexed thereto by the general acts of assembly, passed in 1693, 1696 and 1700. The first rector of the parish was the Rev. Thomas Pritchard ;b from a letter addressed by this individual to the Venerable Propogation Society, dated November 1st, 1704, we learn that the Rev. Mr. Stewart was laboring as a missionary at Bedford. V '

The quota furnished by the Bedford precinct towards the

Rector's tax in 1725 was £16, 2s. Od, in 1745, £30,

throughout the year 1728. Tiie Rev. Timothy VVetmore officiated here, and the Rev. Mr. Lampson in 1745; at this date there appear to have been four hundred families within the two precincts of Bedford and North Castle. In 1753, the Rev. Timothy Wetmore informed the Propogation Society, ''that the congregations at Bedford and North Casile were large and flourishing."

In the spring of 1762, the precincts of Bedford and North Castle were visited by the Rev. George Dibble and St. George Talbot, Esq. The latter gentleman, (says Mr. HuQ)phreys,) willing to know the religious state of the people, desired Mr. Dibble to accompany him to Bedford, Crumpond and Peekskill, and to return by way of Croton and White Plains, which he did, and preached

* The earliest meeting of the Presbytery in America, is supposed to have taken place in 1705. , a

b See Rye. ' ' ?