A history of Christ Church parish, Watertown, Connecticut, Part 1

Author: Scovill, Marion F
Publication date: 1959
Publisher: [Place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified]
Number of Pages: 30


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Part 1



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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY


3 1833 03271 4765


Go 974.602 W319$ Scovill, Marion F. A history of Christ Church parish, Watertown,


1


A HISTORY


of CHRIST CHURCH PARISH Watertown, Connecticut


Marion F. Scovill


A HISTORY of CHRIST CHURCH PARISH Watertown, Connecticut


Marion F. Scovill


Published May, 1959


Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270


CHRIST CHURCH PARISH WATERTOWN, CONNECTICUT


The early history of this Parish is all in Volume VII of Miscellaneous Papers written by Channcey Prindle and copied by Aner Bradley.


For the earliest days I quote from a History of St. John's Church, Waterbury, written by the late Frederick J. Kingsbury of Waterbury, published in 1907, - as we were once a part of Waterbury called Westbury and not till 1780 incorporated as a separate town named Watertown.


"In 1764 twenty persons entered into an agreement to hold public worship in Westbury and to make arrange- ments to build an Episcopal Church." At that date, it was the Church of England and missionaries sent out from London by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts officiated to groups widely sepa- rated and traveled long distances. As early as 1740, we know of a group in Westbury being so served. These were the petitioners:


Asahel Beach


Asa Judd


Seth Blake


John Hickcox


Samuel Brown Joseph Hickcox


Joseph Brown John Prichard


Daniel Brown Eleazar Prindle


Thomas Doolittle Gersham Scott


Jonathan Fulford


Edward Scovil


Jonathan Garnsey


Samuel Scovil


John Judd


William Scovil


Noah Judd


"Westbury, 6th December 1764. The Society of Episcopalians in Westbury being legally warned to form a legal Society met accordingly at the place appointed, viz. the Church Sabbath Day House at 8 o'clock in the morning and made choice of Lieut. Saml. Brown, Moder- ator, and Wait Smith, Society Clerk, and Noah Judd, Treasurer, Messrs. Noah Judd, William Scovil & Wait Smith, Society Committee, David Prindle, Collec- tor of Minister's rates, and Noah Judd, Grand Jurey, Darius Scovill & David Manvill, Tytheing men. Voted that the annual meeting is to be on the first Monday in December - The warning to be in writing by the Committee and sett on the Sabbath House Door and Dismissed the meeting."


Wait Smith, Society Clerk.


1.


"The next year (1765) Captain George Nichols of Waterbury gave them a lot, and by October, through the efficient management of Captain Edward Scovil, they had a building fit to occupy, although not com- pleted." This lot was the corner of Main Street and French Street where the Cities Service Gas Station now is. A boulder marking the spot was placed in 1915 at the time of the 150th anniversary of Christ Church. Rev. Francis B. Whitcome, Rector. It is there in the shrubbery in front of the gas station.


"The Rev. Samuel Andrews dedicated the church and preached the sermon. He was the S.P.G. mission- ary to Wallingford, Cheshire and North Haven." An arrangement was made by which the Rev. James Scovil of Waterbury was to preach every sixth Sunday for twenty pounds per year. This continued till 1771 when the Society had so much increased that Mr. Scovil agreed to give them one third of his time."


The Rev. James Scovil had studied with the Rev. Mr. South- mayd and Rev. John Trumbull and graduated at Yale in 1757. He went to England and was ordained on April 1st 1759 in West- minster Abbey in London, by the Bishop of Rochester. Then he came back to Waterbury as a missionary of the "Ven S.P.G." in charge of St. James Church now St. John's, and of Christ Church, Westbury (Watertown).


In 1779 Captain Edward Scovil left them seventeen acres of land near the church. This was sold and a fund established which still exists (1907). This building served the congregation till 1793 with Rev. James Scovill officiating till 1786 when he sailed from Eaton's Neck L.I. with 209 other Tories in a convoy of ships to Kingston, New Brunswick, where he was Rector of the church and his son and grandson after him.


"December 6, 1792 The Society met according to adjournment at the Dwelling House of David Turner." "Voted to hear the report of the Committee appointed to Procure Subscriptions for Building a new Church House". Report was read by which it appeared the sum of 216 pounds, 10 shillings, 6 pence was subscribed but a place to build was not procured. Voted to adjourn untill Wednesday the 12th day of Instant at one o'clock afternoon at the home of David Turner in West- bury.


E. Curtiss Clerk"


"To buy land either South of Timothy Judd belonging to Sam'1. Southmayd or a little West of the Meeting House in said Westbury belonging to said Southmayd. Voted Messrs. Lieut. John Manville and Capt. Uri Doolittle and


2.


John Castle, Anson Hard and Eleazar Judd, Comm." They finally decided on the Southmayd land-South of Timothy Judd - April 2nd - 1793.


At this meeting they voted to accept Article by Article the Constitution of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of Connecticut as prepared by the Clerical and Lay Deputies in Convention at New Haven on the 6th day of June 1792. And they voted to send a delegate to Convention to be holden in Middletown on the first Wednesday of June next (1793). To send Eli Curtiss Esq. - for a delegate for the support of the Rt. Rev. Dr. Seabury for Bishop of Connecticut. Eli Curtiss Clerk


Quoted from the book (Seabury Centenary, page 6-note at foot of page)


The historic meeting held in the Glebe House, Woodbury Connecticut, of the ten clergymen in the vicinity had taken place on March 25, 1783, when they named The Rev. Samuel Seabury of St. James Church, New London, for Bishop of Connecticut. They met in secret in the study of the Rev. John Rutgers Marshall. *


I happened to be present at Christ Church, Cambridge, Massa- chusetts, on October 14th, 1950, the 190th anniversary of the founding of that parish. The Rev. Gardiner M. Day, the present rector, gave an historical address. He has compiled the history of that parish and among many interesting facts said that the S.P.G. began in 1701.


William III was King of England, and by 1703 had sent 363 clergymen to the colonies in America. A Rev. Mr. Keith to Boston - he is mentioned as being in some places in Connecticut - New London for one in 1702.


*Rev. John Rutgers Marshall - born New York City 1743, Alumnus of


Columbia College Ordained 1771. Died 1789.


The Rev. Daniel Fogg


Native of New Hampshire-Harvard College- Ordained 1770, - Died 1815


The full list includes:


Rev. Messrs. Samuel Andrews Richard Samuel Clark Gideon Bostwick


Wallingford, Conn.


New Milford, Conn.


Ebenezer Dibblee


Great Barrington, Mass. (reckoned ecclesiastically as in Connecticut) Stamford, Conn.


3.


Rev. Messrs. Daniel Fogg


Brooklyn, Conn.


Bela Hubbard Abraham Jarvis


Richard Mansfield John Rutgers Marshall Christopher Newton James Nichols James Scovil John Tyler Robert Viets


New Haven, Conn.


Middletown, Conn.


Derby, Conn.


Woodbury, Conn. Ripton, Conn. (now Huntington)


Plymouth, Conn.


Waterbury, Conn.


Norwich, Conn.


Simsbury, Conn.


The Church was consecrated by Bishop Samuel Seabury as Christ Church On November 18th, 1794. This building faced East - the West line being in line with Mrs. John Buckingham's East fence - (1954, now Dr. Glenn Jackson's property.) A maple tree was planted on its site in October, 1940, the 175th anniversary of the parish, - Dr. Thomas S. Cline, Rector.


This church served the parish until 1854 when it was sold to George Woodruff, who moved the building to Woodruff Avenue, - East side of road, where it was used as a hall for years.(R. C. Church held services there before St. John's Church was built.) It was burned to the ground in late 1890's, the final blaze of a series of fires which made the town decide that it must have a Fire Department. The bell of this church, cast in 1801, was bought by David Hard, Esq. of New Lisbon, New York, and given to the Episcopal Church in Oco- nomowac, Wisconsin.


The Rev. Horace Hall Reid came to be Rector in 1850. It was then that a third church was built, on the East side of the Green. In 1851, the Academy (built in 1846) was moved to the corner where it still stands, and the rectory was built.


In May, 1853, Alanson Warren, George Mallory and Nathaniel Wheeler were appointed a committee to procure a plan for a new Church and on May 29th, 1854, the corner stone was laid by the Rt. Rev. John Williams, Bishop of Connecticut. The finished building was consecrated November 15th, 1855 by him.


This had a tall spire which swayed so dangerously in high winds that it was soon taken down and the metal finial which we remember so well placed as a finish. The bell was given by Augustus Cleve- land of New York (an uncle of Mrs. Reid's); Mr. George R. Chitten- den of London, England, gave the font (a friend of Mr. Reid's - not verified). This building was renovated and the organ brought down from the West gallery and placed in the South East corner shortly after the Rev. Herbert Noel Cunningham came back from Waltham, Mass. where he was for three years while the Rev. John F. Nichols officiated here. Redecorating took place while Mr. Nichols was here.


4.


Mr. Cunningham had succeeded Mr. Stoddard in 1886. Mr. Cunningham wanted a boy choir, so the stalls were built in the chancel. One of the early choir boys is our present Sr. Warden, Walter White, and the four Cunningham sons, Noel, Gerald, Ray- mond and Harold, served for years. Others were Paul Welton, Meritt and Lester Atwood, McLean and Charles Buckingham, Charles Skilton, Dr. Heminway Merriman and William Hungerford of Oakville.


Mr. Cunningham was an Oxford graduate who kept his Oxford accent so we heard the Bible read in that clear diction as we grew up. Mrs. Cunningham, too, was English. Her home was in Worcester- shire, Canon Farrar of Westminster was her uncle; Field Marshall Montgomery was her first cousin.


In 1920, Mr. & Mrs. Meritt Heminway wished to build a new church. Engineers found the old wooden building needed much re- pair especially the floor was unsafe. They started with a gener- ous gift at the Easter service that year (1920) of $1000.00. Mr. Meritt Heminway, who died May 11th, 1920, left $10, 000.00 for the new church. Many meetings were held and much discussion as to the type of architecture wanted.


A committee was formed (from Bulletin of Christ Church - Rev. F. B. Whitcome - 1920) Church Building Committee.


Harry H. Heminway, Chairman


John L. Scott


Charles Skilton, Secretary Alexander J. Campbell Mrs. Bennett C. Atwood


Robert V. Magee


Meritt W. Atwood Frank B. Noble


Mrs. John J. Magee


Mrs. Meritt Heminway


William J. Munson


Mrs. Grace H. Foote


S. McLean Buckingham Walter J. Fox


Miss Gertrude Welton Miss Marion F. Scovill


"Actual Committee in Building


October 15th, 1922


H. H. Heminway appointed the following:


B. C. Atwood


William B. Reynolds John L. Scott William J. Munson


A. J. Campbell B. H. Heminway L. R. Carley S. McLean Buckingham (Nov. 8th, 1922)


This Committee elected B. Havens Heminway, Chairman. M. W. Atwood, Clerk"


5.


Some liked New England meeting house, Georgian brick with white portico. Someone had seen and admired the Chapel at Middle - bury College, Vermont. So, plans were drawn by Mr. Goodhue of Cram, Goodhue and Ferguson, for a stone church. The bare shell with no furnishings and no place for the Church School would cost $100, 000.00. That plan was turned down and Mr. Goodhue had to be paid $1, 000.00 for his drawing though we would not use it. Allen and Collins of Boston who had built the chapel at Middlebury, Vermont, then were asked to design an English Village Church, which is the one now in use. It was built of Roxbury granite by the H. Wales Lines Company of Meriden, one of the best builders in Connecticut. Mr. Lines was a brother of Bishop Lines who used to be Rector at St. Paul's in New Haven and then was Bishop of Newark, New Jersey.


Mrs. Heminway took Mrs. Whitcome and me to see St. Michael's Church, Litchfield, which had just been built by Mr. Towne, of Yale and Towne, in memory of his wife. The architect could spend almost anything there for carved choir stalls and reredos and beautiful details. We went, too, to Ridgefield, where the church was of cobble stones with white pillared portico. No one wanted that.


The upper room of the Academy was fitted for services, held there for a year. The new church was finished for Easter, 1924. The Easter Eve baptismal service was held there. One of the babies was Robert Reade, son of Dr. and Mrs. Edwin Reade. What an Easter Day that was, - three services and the church filled each time. One hun- dred thousand dollars was raised by large gifts and small. Two-thirds had to be on hand before work could start. Mr. Whitcome watched the process of building and every stone in place. Every furnishing in the chancel of the old church was a memorial, and with two altars, many more were needed. These may be found listed in the Book of Remem - brance in the Baptistry of our Church, compiled by Dr. Cline and Miss Helen Mattoon. Bishop Brewster was here for the laying of the corner- stone (snapshots of which I took) May 25th 1923. The dedication took place later that summer.


Mrs. Meritt Heminway, after her husband's death, gave the side Chapel in his memory, and upon her death on January 4th, 1925, her sons and daughters-in-law added windows and memorials in her memory. The large Processional Cross was given in her memory by the Woman's Auxiliary and dedicated and used for the first time at the midnight service Christmas Eve 1927, The Rev. F. B. Whitcome, Rector. Mrs. Heminway had been for years president of the Auxiliary and never failed to fill her car to go to the Diocesan Meetings in Hartford.


The smaller Processional Cross was given by friends and Church School children in memory of Mrs. S. McLean Buckingham, who had taught in the Church School and had been head of the Girl's Friendly Society.


6.


She died October 18th, 1940. The cross was given shortly after- wards.


On October 20th, 1929, the Consecration took place. The Rt. Rev. E. Campion Acheson, Bishop of Connecticut, officiated. Dr. John N. Lewis of St. John's Church, Waterbury, represented the Mother Church of the parishes in Waterbury and vicinity. Two sons of a former rector, Rev. Raymond Cunningham of Redding Ridge, later of Trinity Church, Hartford, and Rev. Gerald Cunningham of St. John's, Stamford, were in the chancel. The serman was preach- ed by the Rev. Samuel D. McConnell, Rector Emeritus of All Soul's Church, New York. In the congregation were descendants of the original founders of the parish and of the Rev. Dr. William H. Lewis, a beloved former rector.


The 150th anniversary of the parish took place October 16th and 17th, 1915 - Rev. Francis B. Whitcome, Rector. Invitations were sent to everyone thought to be interested. Dr. McConnell, The Rev. James Stoddard, the Rev. John Nichols and Rev. Raymond Cunningham were present. Bishop Chauncey B. Brewster officiated at the service. Dr. Samuel Hart, Dean of Berkeley Divinity School, Middletown, gave the historical address (in Vol. VII of Historical Papers of Christ Church Parish). The tablet in memory of Rev. Herbert Noel Cunningham was dedicated then by Bishop Brewster. The past rectors spoke at the evening service - Mr. Stoddard to the children at an afternoon service (account in scrapbook).


The following is a list of the rectors of Christ Church with their terms of service:


James Scovill


1759-1783


Chauncey Prindle


1788-1804


Russell Wheeler


1805-1814


Frederick Holcomb


1815-1839


Nathaniel Richardson


1839-1845


Frederick Holcomb


1845-1849


Horace Hall Reid


1850-1856


Benjamin Stone


1856-1859


William Lewis D.D.


1860-1874


Rev. William Peck, Assistant, taught in Academy


Samuel McConnell


1874-1876


James Stoddard


1876-1886


Herbert N. Cunningham


1886-1890


John F. Nichols


1890-1894


Herbert N. Cunningham 1894-1912


Francis B. Whitcome 1912-1930


Thomas Sparks Cline, D. D. 1930-1948


Robert Appleyard


1948-1952


Jackson W. Foley Jan. 15,1953-


7.


The Rev. James Scovil was born January 27th, 1732 or 3, son of William Scovil and his first wife, and grew up in Waterbury. He studied under the Rev. Mr. Southmayd and Rev. John Trumbull and graduated at Yale in 1757. He went to England and was ordained on April 1, 1759 in Westminster Abbey, in London, by Zachery Pearce, Bishop of Rochester. Then he came back to Waterbury as a missionary of the "Ven. S. P.G." the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, in charge of St. James Church, Waterbury (now St. John's) and of Christ Church, Watertown. Twenty pounds sterling was offered him per year.


During the Revolution there were twenty ordained clergymen in Connecticut. After the war fourteen. It was a time of great hardship for Episcopal Congregations. Prayer book services were held in secret, as there was a prayer for the King of England. In the ordination service, a clergyman swore allegiance to the King, and country, and so for many a young man in orders, it was difficult to forswear himself and fight against the mother country. Many of them were Tories, James Scovil among them. They were persecuted in various ways; - their cows and horses were taken from them and in some cases all their property was taken by the Colonial Government. Rev. James Scovil was the first resident minister for Christ Church, Watertown, as the tablet in the Church states.


All funds to carry on the S.P.G. stopped at the beginning of the Revolution and inducements were offered to Loyalists in the British Colonies to the Northward. In 1786 after having visited New Brunswick and officiated there for several summers, he moved with his family to Kingston, New Brunswick. Twenty ships in convoy left Eaton's Neck, Loyd's Neck, Oyster Bay and Huntington, Long Island with 209 Tories, listed by name in the Scovill Genealogy, to seek their fortunes on British soil. He had been thirty years with the parishes here, and became Rector in Kingston, N.B. where he died December 19th, 1808, in the fiftieth year of his ministry. He was succeeded by a son and a grandson in the same parish in Kingston. There is a tablet in the church in Kingston, a tablet and memorials in St. John's Church, Waterbury, and a tablet in Christ Church, Watertown, in his memory. There is also a scholarship fund at Berkeley Divinity School, New Haven, in his mem- ory, given by the late Miss Alice Kingsbury of Waterbury, a direct descendant.


Rev. Chauncey Prindle, a nephew of Mr. Scovil , spent sixteen years in the Parish, and was highly spoken of as a parish priest and a friend of the people. "The first one-horse wagon ever owned in Water- town was owned by Rev. Chauncey Prindle in or about 1805." (From Historical Sketch by N. S. Richardson, M. A. Rector of Christ Church, Watertown 1858) (Record of Mortality 1741 to January 1845 and to May 1858 - revised by Frederick Dayton.)


8.


We don't know much about Russell Wheeler.


Dr. Holcomb was a beloved and honored leader of the people. His second wife, daughter of Charles Merriman and Ann Punderson, first married Edward Ethel Porter, who died; then married Dr. Holcomb, who had two daughters by a former marriage. Her elder sister married Dr. Samuel Elton. His son, John P. Elton, moved to Waterbury to engage in the brass rolling works. Three of Mrs. Holcomb's brothers, Charles, Frederick and William Merriman went to Georgia in early life and there died of southern fevers at the ages of 33, 34 and 37.


When I was in Savannah in 1925 and shown the cemeteries, the first stone I saw was Charles Merriman, born in Watertown, Connecticut, died in Savannah. I was extremely interested to know if he was of Miss Mary Merriman's family or Dr. Heminway Merriman's family, and just found out he was Mrs. Holcomb's brother. She had no children, Her husband's elder daughter, Mary Elizabeth, married Mr. Leman W. Cutler, class of 1829 at Yale. The younger married Orin L. Starr. Her name was Martha Maria. Their little son, Frederick Holcomb Starr, died at twelve years of age, and so ended the Starrs. Mrs. Holcomb survived her husband many years and for the Centennial celebration of Watertown in 1880 wrote her "Reminiscences", which are in the archives of many Watertown families. She was 84 at the time. She was a loved friend of our grand- mother, Eliza Porter Scovill (Mrs. Hubert Scovill). Edward Ethel Porter, Mrs. Holcomb's first husband, was related to grandmother.


The sermon on the death of the Rev. Frederick Holcomb D.D. was delivered in Christ Church, Watertown, June 2nd, 1872, by the Rev. William L. Lewis D.D. (The Church Press, M. H. Mallory & Company, Hartford, Conn. 1872. Owned by Jean Bronson Brewster and Bronson family-kindly lent). He was born in Granby, Connecticut, October 13th, 1786; he prepared for Williams College and graduated therein 1809 - for holy orders - under Rev. Asa Cornwall, rector of St. Andrew's Church, Simsbury. Rev. Dr. Tillotson Bronson of Cheshire and Rev. Dr. Kewley of Middletown examined him. Ordained Deacon By Rt. Rev. Abraham Jarvis, D.D. in Trinity Church, New Haven, June 23rd, 1811. Priest by the same, December 20th, 1812. Died after a long and busy life on Trinity Sunday, May 26th, 1872.


Nathaniel Richardson gave historical addresses and wrote the history of Watertown after leaving here. While he was in Bridgeport, he gave one of the addresses at the Centennial celebration of Watertown, Thursday, June 17th, 1880.


Horace Hall Reid was here 1850-1856 when the third church of this parish was built. Dr. Reid died in Switzerland in an accident. He fell over a railing onto a marble floor.


Dr. William Lewis, who was here during the Civil War years,


9.


came from Holy Trinity Church, Brooklyn, N. Y., thinking to lead a restful life, but found plenty to do in this small town. He was interested in the library, which was begun in a room over R. B. Lewis's (F. N. Barton's) store before the De Forests built the library building called Watertown Library.


In the parish in 1870:


Number of families 162 Number of communicants 249 Connected with Sunday School 19 teachers


Sunday School scholars 1:17


Two sons were in the Civil War, Edgar Bartow Lewis, Sgt. Co. D 19th Reg. Connecticut Volunteers (afterward 2nd Conn. Heavy Artillery) died at the house of a friend in Alexandria, Virginia, of diptheria, Sept. 6th, 1863 - aged 19. Buried in Greenwood Cemetery, New York. William H. Lewis, Jr. as recruiting officer under Gov. Buckingham up to July 3rd, 1862, enlisted many townsmen in the 19th Reg. Conn. Volunteers. He was made Lt. of Co. D. then Capt. of Co. B. Of the 850 who were at Camp Dutton in Litchfield, who left September 15th, 1862, only 183 returned. One son Robert Lewis, ran stores in various different buildings. His daughter, Charlotte Lewis, married Mr. Harry Heminway. We all remember her gracious hospi- tality, her lovely garden, her kind deeds and patriotic deeds, for during World War I she opened her house for the Red Cross sewing. We sat on the upper porch overlooking the garden to make those huge blue pajamas and wrappers for the wounded in hospitals.


Dr. Lewis started the Academy. His assistants taught there. The families of Curtis (with one "s") and Curtiss (with two "s") Beers, Scovill and many connected with Christ Church went there to school. Mr. Wilmont Hungerford says his father Judge William Hungerford was a pupil. Mrs. George Smith (Ann Scott) Author.


Mr. Stoddard came here from Westville, Connecticut. Young and unmarried, he lived at the Warren House. There he met Miss Alice Kent, who was with her family from New York. Her family asked them to wait a year before announcing their engagement. They did and then were married and Mrs. Stoddard came to the Rectory as a bride. Mr. Stoddard built up the Sunday School, and was interested in the public schools of the town and in the library. Miss Nancy Bronson and Miss Mary Merriman were willing helpers in the Church School and he and Miss Nancy catalogued the library according to a system of their own. Our Aunt, Miss Jane Johnson, too, was one of his teachers and friend after the Stoddards went to New Britain.


Mr. Cunningham followed. He held services with the help of


10.


St. Andrews Brotherhood in outlying school houses, and started the mission of All Saints in Oakville, which later became a parish. He rode on his bicycle all over the vicinity. Mr. Harry Heminway and Mr. John Scott read services on Sunday afternoons. The boy choir and playground for boys were started by Mr. Cunningham. Mrs. Meritt Heminway and Miss Jane Johnson organized a group called "Ministering Children" which became the Junior Auxiliary. We sewed and made scrapbooks to send to children in Alaska. Miss Jarvis from Middletown, a lovely person, and descendant of Bishop Jarvis, came to talk to us. I remember her especially, and others. Mrs. Meritt Heminway had organized the Woman's Auxiliary, too.


The 50th anniversary of the Woman's Auxiliary of the Diocese of Connecticut was held in Bushnell Hall, Hartford, in October 1930. I think Mrs. Heminway started it here about 1880, as she went to all Diocesan meetings and knew the first presidents. She went to General Conventions, too, and was present at the one in Philadelphia when the U. T. O. was begun.


Mr. and Mrs. Francis B. Whitcome came in 1912 and were here 18 years. Mrs. Whitcome built up the Church School from the beginning by teaching a large infant class. Miss Susan Whitcome, sister, and daughter Louise, were always in the Church School, too. To raise money for the church of 1923, there were food sales, card parties and suppers innumerable. Mr. Whitcome supervised the building. During World War I, Mrs. Whitcome was production chair- man of Red Cross knitting with her friend, Mrs. Harry Heminway, chairman of the sewing.


Then followed the Rev. Thomas Sparks Cline, D.D., a won- derful teacher. He had all the Deans of Seminaries here for a series of talks, primarily for the parents of school-age children; Dean Weigle of Yale Divinity, Dean Ladd of Berkeley Divinity, Dean Robbins Barstow of Hartford Foundation, President Ogleby of Trinity College, a friend of his. Normal classes for teachers in the Church School were held every year. The last study group followed a book edited by Bishop William Scarlett of Missouri, "Christianity Takes a Stand". With chapters written by Angus Dun, Bishop of Washington, D. C., W. Russell Bowie, Reinhold Niebuhr, Stringfellow Barr, Sumner Wells, Arthur Compton, Frances Perkins, etc. Dr. and Mrs. Cline went to live with their eldest daughter and her husband in their newly built home in Woodbridge, near New Haven, where Dr. Cline is Librarian at Berkeley Divinity School, and gives one course in the School-Moral Theology.


Rev. Robert Appleyard, his wife, Kate, and sweet little Robbie came in 1948. Soon there were two more, Jonathan Driggs and little Matthew. The first time in fifty years that there was a pram in the Rectory except for visiting Cline grandchildren. Their stay was all


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3 1833 03271 4765


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11.


too short, for in 1952 he was called to Christ Church, Greenwich, to build up that parish. In the four years he was here, the attendance at Church and the number of children in the Church School increased 'tremendously.


With the coming of Rev. Jackson W. Foley, January 15, 1953, we were again blessed, and if anyone wishes to "come and see", let him come to Family Sunday as of February 21st, with all the little girls in the Choir and many children with their parents. It would seem that old Christ Church is still alive. At the Family Sunday service, June 13th, 1954, when the children received awards for improvement in attitude as well as attendance, the church was filled, chapel and gallery - an inspiring service.


Mr. Harry Heminway, Superintendent of Sunday School for 22 years, appointed by the Rector.


Woodwards, Warrens, George Mallory, Agent, year after year, Merrimans, Bronsons, David Norton, Woodruffs, Heminways, Buckinghams, Nobles, Atwoods, Skiltons were vestrymen and Wardens.


Forgive me if I note that from the very first, William Scovill, Darius Scovill, Selah Scovil, Hubert, Alfred Hubert Scovill, our father, vestryman for years - agent - Jr. Warden and Senior Warden 22 years and our brother Alfred Hubert, Jr., under Mr. Whitcome served too, as vestryman. For 194 years, the family has done its bit to help along the best organized influence for good on this earth - the Church of God.


In the early days, the women raised the money for gold leaf for the spire of the church of 1784. "Of devout women-not a few".


Pounds


Shillings


Pence


Patty Porter


0


3


0


Philomela Southmayd


0


3


0


Dotha Cutler


0


6


0


Ann Bradley


0


2


0


Agnes Wise


0


3


0


Lucy Bryan


0


2


0


Anna Merriman


0


2


0


Submit Leavenworth


0


2


0


Anne Castle


0


2


0


Rebeckah Judd


0


3


0


Sarah Judd


0


1


6


Rosana Prindle


0


6


0


Margery Woodward


0


2


0


Sarah Smith


0


3


0


Elizabeth Osborn


0


3


0


12.


(Cont'd)


Pounds


Shillings


Pence


Phebe Scott


0


2


0


Sarah Matthews


0


1


6


Lucy Elton


0


1


6


Mary Curtiss


0


3


0


Hannah Hanson


0


3


0


Sarah Scovill


0


3


0


Martha Scovill


0


6


0


Ruth Hickcox


0


3


0


Welthy Bronson


0


3


0


3 pounds


7 Shillings


0 Pence


Think of the linen and woolen they must have wove and the cheeses and butter they must have made to find this money in cash! Chauncey Prindle Accounts:


1790 - 1 years sallery 30 0 0


1791 - 1 years sallery 30 0


0


They charged him for one day's absence 1 3


1


Episcopal Society to Sylvia Freeman, Dr.


December 29th, 1834 - Sweeping Church 1 year $3.00


Received Payment of


Aner Bradley, Treas.


13.


7 -


HECKMAN BINDERY INC.


JUNE 98


Bound -To-PleasĀ® N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA 46962





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