 During the war, the Reverend William White (1748–1836), rector of Christ Church, served as Chaplain to both the Continental Congress and the United States Senate.In September 1785, clerical and lay deputies from several states met in Christ Church and organized as a general convention, of which White was chosen president.He prepared a draft constitution for the church as well as an address to the archbishops and bishops of the Church of England, asking for the episcopate at their hands.