captured and confined on a British ship John, who had joined the British ranks, was sent to examine the prisoners, and the first person he saw was his brother Edward. He succeeded in having him released. Lewis vas a patriot and fell at the battle of Brandywine. There is a large, handsome, marble font in the Church on which is inscribed, "The gift of John Antill, Esq., as a token of his affection to his native place.” The tradition in the family is, it was given by his father, 
Rev. Leonard Cutting was rector 1764-1766. He was followed by Rev. Abraham Beach who was ordained in London and sent to Christ Church, his first parish. The story of his rectorship is the most unique in the history of the American Church. The record of his services embraced in his reports to the society and the register of marriages, births and burials are in the archives of the church. He made a specialty of baptisms on Christmas Day, having scarcely failed to baptize from one to twelve every Christmas in his 18 years of service. He was a man of sterling character, successfull clergyman and diplomat was the only rector of the English church to remain at his post during the Revolutionary War. He was the leader in the organization of the church after the separation of the colonies. He was mildly loyal to the British. Crown, but was faithful in his duty to the church. During the long struggle for independence, he continued to carryon his work through the most trying period of the War. When the news of Lexington reached New Brunswick, he was ministering at the altar. The day the famous horseman from Philadelphia brought news of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Dr. Beach was holding services. While the soldiers of both armies marched in and out of town, he was in his pulpit. 
The victorious army of Washington after the Battle of Monmouth, encamped on the Raritan, July 3, 1778 and celebrated the Anniversary of the Declaration of· Independence, and while the town went wild over the success of the American soldiers, Dr. Beach wrote one of his reports to the society, dated from New Brunswick. By a flag of truce he said he went. to New York to let the society know he still remained at his place and performed his duty as a missionary. He became assistant reetor of Trinity Church, New Yorlc in 1780, but; kept up his interest in this parish. He died in New Brunswick in 1828 and is buried .in the churchyard.