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Trinity Church San Jose, Cal. 1860-1003
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PFORH
EN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01715 4391
Gc 979.402 SA58T
TRINITY CHURCH, SAN JOSBE, CALIFORNIA, ADVENT 1860 TO EASTER 1903
TRINITY CHURCH
San Jose California
Advent, 1860, to Easter, 1903
PUBLISHED BY TRINITY PARISH GUILD, SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, 1903
Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270
TO
THE
MEMBERS
OF TRINITY PARISH, WITH A
TENDER AND GRATE- FUL REGARD FOR
THOSE WHO HAVE GONE
WITH THE YEARS, LEAV-
ING AS A BLESSED HERITAGE THE FRUITS OF THEIR LOVE AND
SELF- SACRIFICE ; WITH A YEARNING
THAT THOSE WHO LIVE AND LABOR IN
THE PRESENT MAY BE GUIDED ARIGHT; AND WITH THE HOPE THAT THE ASPIRATIONS OF
THOSE WHO ARE YET TO COME, MAY BE FULFILLED
ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, THIS LITTLE BOOK IS AF- FECTIONATELY DEDICATED BY TRINITY PARISH GUILD.
Preface
Although there has been an earnest endeavor to avoid all errors in this compilation, it seems hardly pos- sible that an account extending over forty-three years can be without error.
In case of names and dates, the Church Records have been followed.
Facts for the Parish History have been gathered here and there from sources as nearly reliable as human memory and human records can be. There is a deep consciousness that much more than has here been re- corded has preserved the life of the parish through all these years. Innumerable sacrifices, innumerable acts of love and devotion have passed so gently, so quietly and so naturally into the daily round of the parish life, that they have been recorded only by One who sees all and knows all.
Contents
Parish History 7
Earliest List of Communicants - 25
Baptisms, Advent, 1861 to Easter, 1903
26
Confirmations,
- 39
Marriages,
-
48
Burials,
- 64
Vestries,
82
Vested Choirs, 1903, - -
86
Parochial Organizations:
Trinity Sunday School, -
87
Trinity Parish Guild, 87
Auxiliaries,
89
Twenty Minute Workers, 89
Gifts
- 90
Memorials
91
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Trinity Church, about 1865, 13 Rev. Sylvester S. Etheridge, Founder of Trinity Parish, 1
25
Rt. Rev. William Ingraham Kip, D. D., First Bishop of California, 1853-1890, - - Rt. Rev. William Ford Nichols, D. D., Bishop of of California, - Trinity Church, 1903, 7
39
56
TRINITY CHURCH, 1903
History
To the younger generations that belong to Trinity Parish, it seems hardly possible that there ever could have been a time when the center of the parish life was not the little ivy-covered church on St. John Street. But venerable as this building seems, it is only the last of a series which have served as the home of the parish.
On North Market Street there is, what is now an engine house, at one time the City Hall of San Jose. In one of the lower rooms of this building, the life of the parish began.
There are Communicants of Trinity Church to-day who were present at the first service held in this room, prior to the organization of the parish, forty-two years ago. The officiating priest was the Rev. Sylvester S. Etheridge, a young clergyman who had come to this western coast in search of health, and with a determina- tion to use what strength he had, in founding a parish of the Church wherever need might be.
There were a number of religious denominations al- ready well established in San Jose, and the Roman Catholic Church had for years been doing missionary work. Services of the Protestant Episcopal Church had been held from time to time in the Presbyterian Church on North Second street by the Bishop of the Diocese, the Rt. Rev. William Ingraham Kip; but they were few and far between, as there were no train accommodations from San Francisco to San Jose, passage being made by stage coach.
Mr. Etheridge found but nine Communicants of the Church in the city and vicinity. He gave, however, notice of a service to be held on the first Sunday in Ad- vent, 1860, in the lower court room of the old City Hall.
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When the day came, people crowded into the little court room, and the Mayor himself, who had expressed strong doubts as to the expediency even of this tentative service, occupied a seat in the rear of the room. Mrs. Hayes-Martin and Mrs. Hardy-Gregory had raised, within a few hours, two hundred dollars with which to pay for the melodeon that stood on the platform. Mr. Etheridge served as organist and chorister, as well as priest.
At the close of the service, all interested in founding a parish felt that success was ensured. Every shadow of doubt as to the advisability of "starting a new church" seemed to have left the mind of the Mayor, for hardly had the benediction been pronounced, when he walked down the aisle, and giving Mr. Etheridge a warm grasp of the hand, offered him the upper court room for future services. This room had an air of cleanliness about it that the lower room lacked, and it was larger and better lighted.
Before another service was held, the little melodeon had been moved upstairs and temporary provision had been made for an altar. Altar linen had been provided by Mrs. Hardy-Gregory, and a Communion set had been given by Mrs. James R. Lowe. Though Mr. Etheridge continued to serve as organist, a volunteer choir, led by Mrs. Hayes-Martin and Mrs. Morgan Miles, carried the singing. The growing interest in the services called for immediate organization, and at a meeting held in the City Hall on the evening of February 22d, 1861, the parish was organized and incorporated under the name of "Trinity." Lawrence Archer, James R. Lowe, William Daniels, Mark Hardy, William McCune, Stephen Thorn, and John N. Appleton were elected vestrymen.
At the first vestry meeting, held February 28th, 1861, a constitution was adopted having for its basis the gen- eral constitution of the "California Episcopal Convention
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History
of 1850." The parish boundaries determined upon were the same as those of the county township. The Rev. Sylvester S. Etheridge was unanimously chosen rector at a salary of seven hundred dollars per year, and a for- mal call was extended to him. An organist was engaged for the small sum of eight dollars per month. Prof. and Mrs. Hamm, known in the musical circles of San Jose for so many years, were engaged as choristers.
A Sunday School was organized without delay. Mrs. Jackson Lewis, Mrs. Hardy-Gregory, Mrs. Henry Has- kell, and Mrs. Frances Devine Estee were the pioneer Sunday School teachers.
Though nearly three years passed before a church building was erected, services were regularly held in the City Hall, and the real life of the parish had begun. During the first year a class of nineteen was presented for confirmation. Mrs. Jackson Lewis, Mrs. Hardy- Gregory and Mrs. Redding Speights, all still Communi- cants of Trinity, were members of this class.
During the fall of the same year, the women of the parish put a thousand dollars into the church treasury. In November subscriptions were solicited for a lot and church building. It may be interesting to the older parishioners to speculate upon what might have been, if the first lot that was purchased had been retained. This was the lot on the northwest corner of San Fernando and Fifth Streets. It was held by the vestry for a few months only, and then sold with the prospect of getting what has proved to be a more satisfactory site. This change in the selection of the lot was due to the far- sightedness of James Hart who bought the lot from the vestry that the way might be open for a better choice.
The present site was owned at this time by Major S. J. Hensley, being part of a large property extending north to the vicinity of the Hotel Vendome. It was used as a corral for horses and was surrounded by a high board
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Trinity Church
fence. Fields of golden California mustard stretched away on all sides of this barren spot, but even these armies of mustard stalks, densely crowded as space would allow, standing above a man's height and tossing their yellow heads with assurance, could not shut the blue skies from view and the things that were to be. The lot was purchased for the sum of three thousand dollars.
The same year, 1862, preparations for building were made. Captain James W. Hammond superintended the work, and the result was a pretty little church built of timbers from the native redwoods of California, and finished within with the same natural wood. All parts of the structure had been fitted together with the ship- builder's art, and it has been said, that in time of strong winds or heavy earthquakes, this unique little building swayed like a ship on the seas, built for weathering all storms.
For some time, white muslin tightly stretched, served in place of the stained glass windows which had been ordered from Doremus of New York, to be sent round "The Horn"; the same windows through which the sun- light still glows in such soft rich tones of red and blue and green and gold, to lighten and to beautify Trinity Church to-day.
Grateful acknowledgment was sent to the city author- ities for the use of the City Hall for three years, and the first services were held in the church on Advent Sunday, 1863.
About this time, the organ, the one still in use, built by William Stevens of Boston, was on its way across "The Isthmus." An organ of two manuals and twenty-four stops, from the far east, was a great possession for a pioneer church, and its arrival was hailed with joy. The sum of eight hundred dollars was paid for freight alone. Two hundred dollars, beside this sum, having been remitted by the
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History
steamship company. The organ itself cost twelve or fifteen hundred dollars and was paid for by subscription, a large part of the required sum being given by Mrs. H. S. Ashley and Mrs. Samuel J. Hensley.
Possibly no one was more interested in the setting up of the organ in the church, than the rector who had played the melodeon in the City Hall three years before. Since that time the little parish had steadily grown, but his strength had steadily failed. He never preached in the new church, and a few weeks after it was opened, he was forced to give up even the reading of the prayers,
On February 18th, 1864, the parish lost its devoted founder and rector. His body, at his request, was laid to rest under the Chancel of the Church. The Church for which he gave his life is his monument. The memo- rial tablet in the south transept, within the space for- merly occupied by the Chancel, was placed in the Church at this time. Until very recent years, fresh flowers lay upon it every Sunday morning.
There are still a few parishioners who can remember the little church building as it looked at this time, standing on a bare, ungraded lot, facing St. John Street, with its steep gable roof, its two straight rows of gothic windows, and its unpainted redwood sides.
But before many weeks had passed, the redwood was painted a stone gray, and little shoots of green ivy began to creep up on the sides. Later the ivy covered sides and roof, and hung in heavy masses round the porch and windows, and even found its way through the weather-boarding to the interior of the church where it wound itself round the supporting beams of the roof and clustered in every corner.
All of this wealth of green came from a slip of ivy brought by James R. Lowe from the classic ruins of Melrose Abbey in Scotland. When the interior of the church was lighted at night, and the beautiful colors of
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Trinity Church
the windows glowed for the outside world through the dark masses of green, there was for the passer-by a vision of "sweetness and light"; and possibly there came to mind another vision, "the ruins gray" of the old Abbey, covered with kindred ivy; ruins that once served to foster the same spirit of love that made little Trinity Church possible.
After the death of Rev. Sylvester Etheridge, the Rev. T. A. Hyland took charge of the parish until May, 1864, when the Rev. Dinsmore D. Chapin was called as rector. During his rectorship, which lasted till January, 1866, there was a class of seven confirmed and sixty-six per- sons were baptized. There were signs of material pros- perity as shown by the facts that gas fixtures were put into the church, a fence was built, and a mortgage on the church lot was removed.
In January, 1866, the Rev. Dinsmore D. Chapin resigned, and services were held by the Rev. H. H. Mes- singer until August, when the Rev. Edward S. Peake came in response to a call given him in April.
During the second year of Rev. Edward Peake's rectorship, the church building was consecrated, July 27th, 1867, by the Rt. Rev. William Ingraham Kip, Bishop of the Diocese.
All debt having now been removed from the church building and lot, the vestry decided to establish a rectory fund. Money for this fund was raised in various ways, but it is especially interesting to note, that the choirs of Grace Church and of Trinity Church, San Francisco, gave two concerts for the benefit of the fund.
Among improvements made about this time, in and around the church building, it may seem hardly worth while, in these days of brilliant electric light, to mention the modest little lamp post that the vestry had placed on the southwest corner of Second and St. John Streets; but it must have meant much to evening church goers at
TRINITY CHURCH, 1865
Mr. Foot's Rectorstup.
By Estelle Grupy.
History
13
a time in the city's history, when lawlessness was com- mon and streets were dimly lighted and poorly guarded.
By this time, Trinity Church was strong enough to help neighboring struggling parishes and missions; and, though this may not be the place to record efforts in this direction, it is interesting as a matter of history to note, that on January 10th, 1870, the offering at the morning service, thirty-five dollars, was appropriated to a fund for putting permanent seats into the new church at Santa Clara.
Some one who visited the parish in March, 1870, writes, "the little church never seemed prettier or more homelike, being as all know, one of the church gems of the coast. The trees about the church have grown finely. The parish has a valuable property, worth pro- bably not less than twenty thousand dollars." Men- tion is made also in this letter of the remarkably good attendance at the services.
Upon the resignation of the Rev. Edward S. Peake in November, 1870, Rev. George W. Foote was called to the parish. He was formally instituted on March 12th, 1871.
About a year later, February 12th, 1872, the following report regarding the financial affairs of the parish was made by the rector. "The financial condition of the parish, although not all that it should be, yet shows cause for encouragement and good hope for the future. A year ago the parish was not only in debt, but its current expenses exceeded its income by about one hundred dollars per month. The income for current expenses during the past year, as taken from the treasurer's report, amounts to $2300.50.
For the eight months since we adopted our present plan of raising funds by a monthly pledged offering, the income has been about $210 per month. This is derived from the pledged offerings of about seventy-five persons,
f
1
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Trinity Church
and from other offerings in church on Sunday mornings. At present, the only debt resting on the parish for cur- rent expenses is one hundred dollars, which would be nearly or quite canceled if all dues were paid into the treasury.
Besides this sum of $2300, raised for current expenses, this parish has done nobly and well; and many must have given, not out of their abundance but from their little, in a true spirit of self-sacrifice. There has been raised to pay off the debt which rested on the church. $1061, the amount of the Easter offering; and notes amounting to $300 have been canceled. For improve- ments on the church building, $652 was raised by sub- scription and $100 by the Guild. Of this sum $150 still remains unexpended, with which to recarpet the church.
The total amount in cash raised for all purposes dur- ing the year is $5154.65.
This note is appended to the report: "We have done very little for diocesan or domestic missions on account of our own debts and pressing needs. We must strive to do more for these objects in the future."
A bright little item in the issue of the Pacific Church- man for April 13th, 1872, headed, "Good news from San Jose," reads as follows: "That others may be encour- aged by our example and may rejoice with us at this happy Eastertide, please tell your readers that the con- gregation of Trinity Church, San Jose, made an offering on Easter morning of $1061 for clearing off a debt that has rested upon the parish for nine years. No sub- scriptions were solicited. The rector urged upon all to make this the object of their Lenten self-denial, and to bring their offerings upon Easter morning. The result has surprised us all and made our hearts very glad. The average attendance at the Lenten services, held every Wednesday and Friday evening and every evening in Holy Week, has been about fifty. We all feel much
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History
encouraged and hope ere long to be able to do our part toward carrying on the Church's work in this diocese." The above was signed by the rector of the parish, the Rev. George W. Foote. 1872
Inthe
During the same year, the rectory was built. In order that expenses might be lowered to meet the demands for full payment of the cost of building the rectory, all expenditure for music was stopped; and it was gratuitously furnished by members of the parish. For three years, Mrs. Edward H. Guppy served as organist and Mr. O. W. Parker practiced regularly with a volunteer choir and led the singing at the services. Other expenses were reduced as might be.
The growth of the church during the first years of Rev. George Foote's rectorship was so rapid, that in 1875 it became necessary to enlarge the church building. For many months plans were discussed by the vestry. At last in the summer of 1876 the work was begun.
In order that the old building might be used to the best advantage, it was literally rent asunder ; one half of it to serve as the south transept, and the other half as the nave of the new building. For days before recon- struction began, the two portions of the little church stood in their respective places, looking forlorn enough in the hot summer sun, with the ivy torn from its roots hanging dry and dead from sides and roof-elements of construction and growth with all the appearance of destruction and decay.
While the church building was gradually emerging from material old and new, services were held in Music Hall on North First Street.
In September, 1876, the building committee reported that the improvements were completed; and on Sunday, September 3rd, the church was formally re-opened by the Rt. Rev. William Ingraham Kip, the Bishop of the Dio- cese. Bishop Whitaker of Nevada assisted at the service.
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3
tohere
1
At this time the rector introduced the weekly celebra- tion of the Holy Communion. Formerly there had been but one celebration a month.
The new church building need not be described, for it is the old church building of to-day. The ivy roots again sent forth a wealth of green to lodge in new cor- ners and to spread over new surfaces in the same lavish mode of the first growth.
The few new windows that were put in, the rose window in the nave and some of those in the north transept, were made in San Francisco.
Most of the trees and shrubs, brought years before by older parishioners to adorn the church grounds, had been carefully preserved during this time of renovation. Each tree and shrub growing round the church to-day has a history of its own; and there are one or two whose stories are still known. The white rose that climbs over the door and roof of the robing room was originally planted at one corner of the little old church building by Mrs. Hardy-Gregory near a memorial win- dow. One of the two palms that stand each side of the Second Street entrance was given by Mrs. S. O. Hough- ton, and the other by John Rock. Both were planted by Rev. George W. Foote.
Of other trees and shrubs, since those who planted them have gone away or been forgotten, it can only generally be said that they are expressions of some indi- vidual thought or feeling on the part of those who planted them.
With the enlargement of the church, four hundred sittings had been added, making the entire seating capa- city of the church about six hundred. The vestry resolved that the rector be authorized to assign seats to church members in the order of their connection with the parish, as shown by the names in the parish register, with the understanding that the church was to be a free
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History
church, assignment being made for the sake of order and convenience only.
The following notice, copied from the Parish Guide, a leaflet published by the rector, shows how it was hoped that the church might be supported: "This church is free to all. It is supported entirely by voluntary offer- ings. To systematize these offerings, a card is sent to every member of the congregation, which he may fill out, promising to make a stated monthly offering. This card is returned to the treasurer of the parish, who then sends twelve envelopes in which the offering may be enclosed and placed in the alms basin of the church on the second Sunday of every month. When the offering pledged is not received during the month, the collector calls for the amount due.
At this time the church began to feel the general financial depression of the times. Notes that had been given for payment of expenses incurred in enlarging the church, and in building the rectory, could not be redeemed. The burden of a church debt was inevitable.
It was the earnest desire of the rector to keep the church a free church, even at a time of heavy indebted- ness, and he personally showed his people how he thought the church should be supported, by authorizing the treasurer to withhold twenty-five dollars per month from his salary. Mrs. Foote gave her services as organ- ist. Later the rector's contribution to the church was doubled and the rectory offered for rent; but as the neces- sary funds for paying indebtedness and current expenses were not forthcoming, the vestry decided to rent the church pews in order to secure a permanent income. This method of obtaining money for the support of the parish has been followed without intermission up to the present fime.
The Sunday School had grown with the Church, and by this time was having its own morning service, as is
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shown by a notice in the Parish Guide. "The time of the morning service has been changed to half past nine o'clock.
At this early service the members of the Sunday School are expected to be present, and all others are invited. The design is to make this a children's service where they may learn to worship God, and to give an opportunity to attend church to those who cannot come at the later hour."
X
For six or seven years the Sunday School offerings had been devoted to a fund for putting a chime of bells into the church tower; and at last one Sunday morning in 1879, the Sunday School children listened in wonder to the ringing of the bells which for so long had made music only in their dreams.
About a thousand dollars had been given by the children toward getting the chimes, and the rest of the required sum had been made up by subscriptions.
The bells were made by the Meneely Company of Troy, New York.
In the mean time, the services of Frank Loui King as organist, had been secured, and the choir enlarged and improved. Upon the resignation of Mr. King, in 1883, Clarence T. Urmy was elected by the vestry to the posi- tion of organist, which position he has held, with the exception of a few short absences, up to the present time.
In 1884, after a ministry of nearly fourteen years, Rev. George W. Foote tendered his resignation. Fortunately for the parish he remained its rector all through the formative period of its growth.
Until the coming of Rev. John B. Wakefield, who was called to take Rev. George W. Foote's place, Rev. George H. Jenks, assisted by Rev. Edward S. Pidsley, had charge of the parish.
Rev. Edward Pidsley had become a familiar personage in the Chancel, as he had constantly assisted Rev. George
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History
Foote in the Church services. For years there had always appeared at the Christmas and Easter festivals, a little white vision with snowy locks and vestments, mov- ing gently and quietly among the Christmas greens or the Easter lilies. The active years of his life had been passed in other parishes, but he brought to Trinity a beauty and loveliness of personality that left a lasting impress upon the lives of those who knew him.
Rev. John B. Wakefield entered upon his duties as rector in November, 1884. During his rectorship impor- tant improvements were made in the church building and in the interior furnishing of the church. The bell tower was raised and finished with a spire, and the little Eng- lish porch was built. The Altar, Altar Cross and vases, a new Communion set, the alms basin, the Chancel chairs, the lecturn and the pulpit, were all given as memorials or as Christmas and Easter offerings by Sunday School classes.
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