Before the Revolutionary war the Manor of Fordham was considered as joined for all ecclesiastical purposes to Yonkers, which formed one of the three precincts of the parish of Westchester; and we have already seen that at least one of the Lords of the Manor, was a vestryman of that ancient parish. Still Fordham like Morrisania, continued to be associated with Westchester, even after the Revolution, in the support of a minister, until the year 1S53 when the present parish of St. James was orgar ized under the following circumstances: -- "Numerous residents of the Manor experiencing much inconvenience in attending Episcopal services on account of having no place of worship ; and considering moreover in the great increase of population, that the cause of the Church might suiTer by having no spiritual pro\'ision made for her members where the wants of other Denominations are so amply considered, called a meeting -- ^T\-hich assembled at the house of William Alexander Smith, Esq., on the 5th of July, 1853 -- for the purpose of organizing a parish, and adopting such measures as would most eftectually conduce to the

a The foUowinsr l;l^^'^lption w lakon from a stone in mo Valcuttno houso ailjoiiiiug tUe site of the old c'lur*'!! : " H. il. K., ITW." TUe iniaiila stand for Uout y and .Mary Kier.

522 HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.

same. Oswald Cammann, Esq., in the Chair ; ^V'illiam Watson Waldrj-. acting as Secretary. It was then and there,

Eesohfd: "That the persons present do proceed to incorporate theaiselrcs as a religious Socisty in Communion with the Protestant Episcopal Church in tL'^' United States of America ; and that tlie said Church and Cont^resatlon he know.; in la-.v, by the name and title of the Rector, Wardens and Vestrymen of St." James* Church in the ]Manor of Fordham, town of West Farms, County of Wts'- cliester.