USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > Middletown > A brief history of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Middletown, Connecticut : with biographical sketches > Part 5
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It is not within the purpose of this sketch to follow in any detail the history of these three organizations, but to give briefly a few facts about their beginnings. The parish of the Epiphany, Durham, was organized in 1802, but it was not until sixty years later that a church building was erected. In 1862 the cornerstone of a neat and commodious church was laid by Bishop Williams and consecrated by him July 29, 1863. The fund's necessary for the erection of the building were raised principally in Hartford and Middletown. The "Ladies' Missionary Society of Holy Trinity" contributed $326, besides individual subscriptions. Mr. R. L. DeZeng, lay reader and a member of the Church of the Holy Trinity, raised a substantial sum towards the new building. The pulpit and a fine bell were also given by friends in Middletown.
In South Farms, services of our Church were first held in pri- vate homes. In June 1867 the Rev. Dr. Samuel Fuller of Berkeley administered in a private house the first baptism of the Church there. The next year, February 3, 1868, he administered the Holy
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Communion to nine persons. This service took place in a vacant store then used as a chapel. As early as 1868, Mrs. Charlotte K. Fuller, wife of Dr. Samuel Fuller, began church work in the Farms by organizing Mothers' Meetings. Soon after, a Sunday School was started and a lay reader from Berkeley was secured to hold services regularly. July 28, 1869 the parish was formally organ- ized and the Rev. Robert T. Thorne was elected rector. Sub- scriptions had been raised for the erection of a church, largely by gifts from the "Mother Church" which collectively gave $867. In : addition one interested member gave $5000 for the fund.
The church was consecrated July 29, 1869. The Rev. Mr. Thorne served as rector till 1877 when he resigned and was suc- ceeded by the Rev. G. Henry Smith. A succession of rectors which followed includes the Rev. John Townsend, the Rev. George B. Gilbert, Sr. and the Rev. Percy M. Binnington. Mr. Gilbert served there ten years and Mr. Binnington twenty-four years, from Sep- tember 1917 till his resignation August 1, 1941.
The third of the three branches of the parish church, St. Paul's, Middlefield, no longer exists. The cornerstone of the church was laid November 12, 1862, the project being made possi- ble by liberal gifts from members of Holy Trinity. It was con- secrated July 7, 1863. Services there were conducted mostly by students from Berkeley Divinity School with members of the faculty taking the services on special days. There never was a large number of Episcopalians in Middlefield and, gradually, the attendance and support of the church fell off to such an extent that services were discontinued. In the early 80's the church was reopened and for a time services were held regularly, being in charge of Berkeley men. September 1, 1893 the Rev. Joseph Hooper, rector of the Church of the Epiphany, Durham, was also in charge of St. Paul's and held that position until November 1, 1911, when again, for lack of support, the church was closed, this time for good, and the church property was sold to the Middlefield Library Association.
By an interesting course of events, the two existing churches, "off shoots" of the parish, as Dr. Goodwin designated them: Christ Church, South Farms, and Epiphany Church, Dur- ham, are again, after many years, under the direction, care and supervision of the parish church. For, after the resignation of the
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Rev. Mr. Gilbert from Epiphany, where he had served as rector from 1923 to 1940, and the resignation of the Rev. Mr. Binnington from Christ Church, Bishop Budlong appointed the Rev. Clyde D. Wilson, priest in charge of these two churches. Services and all parish activities in both places are now under the immediate care and responsibility of the Rev. Loring L. Emery, a curate of the parish church.
Within the present bounds of the parish two important mis- sions of our own church-All Saints' and St. Andrew's-owed their beginnings and their existence to the fostering care of the Mother Church.
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ALL SAINTS' MISSION
A S early as 1870, during the rectorship of Dr. Goodwin, agita- tion was started for the establishment of a mission of our Church in Staddle Hill. Due to the efforts of Mrs. Harriet Giraud and her sisters, the Misses Jackson, a Sunday School was organ- ized about this time and met regularly at their home at Walnut Grove. The school grew in numbers until every available room in the house was occupied on Sunday afternoons by classes, rang- ing in age from the members of the infant class to those in the Bible class for adults. This latter class was conducted by Mrs. Giraud. After the school session closed, adjournment was made to the parlor for the singing of hymns. A familiar object in this room was the marble statue of Christ in the Temple which now stands near the font in the parish church.
In August 1876, because of the increase in members, services began to be held regularly in the North Staddle Hill school house. These were conducted by the rector, the Rev. Walter Mitchell, or by some Berkeley professor or student. It became increasingly evident that some more commodious and fitting place of worship was urgently necessary but the parish could not give much finan- cial help, although several substantial gifts for this purpose were made by loyal churchwomen: Miss Elizabeth H. Woodward, Miss Emily A. Selden, and Mrs. Mütter.
The Rev. Mr. Mitchell was the man who more than any other encouraged the people to raise the needed funds for the construc- tion of a chapel to accommodate the growing congregation. A site on the corner of Butternut and West Streets was obtained and work on the building was begun. Much of it-digging the cellar and work on the building itself-was done by the men and boys of the mission led by Mr. Joseph Gleason, a member of the parish vestry and for many years a devoted worker and supporter of All Saints' Mission.
The women, too, had their share in the building of the chapel.
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After it was completed one of them wrote, "To all appearances, the structure was of wood but that is only on the outside. In reality, it was built largely of aprons, bed-quilts, strawberry festivals and Christmas greens. We had the order for winding greens for Berkeley and the Parish Church."
The cornerstone was laid on All Saints' Day 1875 and, on January 10, 1877, the last debt on it having been paid, the building was consecrated by Bishop Williams. Soon a guild house was built ; then, as that was outgrown a larger one was erected. The work and interest continued to grow and All Saints' became an important center of church and social activities.
From the first, the mission was most fortunate in the charac- ter of the devoted men and women who worked so hard for its success. Two Berkeley professors who took a great interest in the mission and who often conducted the Sunday morning Communion Services were Dr. John Binney and Dr. Thomas W. Coit. Many Berkeley men, either as teachers in the church school or as lay readers, got their first experience in parish work at All Saints'. Among them were several who afterwards were consecrated bishops of our Church; namely, William Morris Barker, Richard Henry Nelson, Alfred Harding, William F. Nichols, William Walter Webb, Robert L. Paddock and William Blair Roberts. Two mem- bers of the parish who afterwards became ordained priests of the Church : the late Dr. Edward S. Travers and Dr. Karl Reiland, as boys, were trained in the Sunday School of All Saints'. A branch of the Girl's Friendly Society was started in the mission in 1889 and for years was a strong factor in promoting fellowship among the young women and devotion to the work of this mission.
While the work at All Saints' was started as a mission, on Feb. 11, 1886 after much legal transaction the ownership of All Saints' was surrendered to the Church of the Holy Trinity. For years the work had flourished beyond the fondest expectations of those interested; but, gradually, great changes came about. The nationality of the residents of that part of the town changed almost completely. The new people who came in were mostly of different faiths and not interested in the services of our Church. Great changes, too, caused either by death or by removal from the neigh- borhood, had come about in the families of many of the most ac- tive supporters of the mission : the Jackson's, the Gleason's three
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generations, the Dunham's and many others. Because of these conditions, the attendance at the chapel fell off to such an extent that only a pitifully small number was left. Extensive repairs on the buidings were necessary. Due to these facts it seemed wise to discontinue the work there and the vestry so voted June 1, 1931.
The land, the buildings, and the bell were eventually sold and the proceeds added to the Endowment Fund of the parish. The furnishings of the chapel were variously distributed. The parish church retained, among other things, the communion service, the altar cross and the candlesticks, all of which are still in use; the cross and candlesticks on the altar in the Primary Department and the communion set is used at Wesleyan in the services held there for the Episcopalian members of the college.
Although All Saints' no longer exists in material form, the principles and ideals inculcated in the lives of the then young people who were trained in Christian living, and in all who wor- shipped there, remain a living and lasting memorial to the devoted men and women who worked so faithfully there for the upbuilding and spread of the kingdom of God.
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ST. ANDREW'S MISSION
SEVENTY years ago, and more, there were many German fami- lies living in the southern part of the town who were without spiritual ministrations in their own language, the only language well understood by the older people. Dr. Goodwin, then rector, was much concerned at the needs of these people and during his rector- ship services in the German tongue were begun there. Later, the Rev. Walter Mitchell, the assistant rector and the Rev. A. D. Miller and other clergymen preached to the people in their own language.
The exact date of the first service is not recorded but entries do show that at a meeting of the wardens and vestry of the parish church, held after the morning service September 8, 1872 Rev. Walter Mitchell, now rector, asked permission to use benches then in the church basement for a mission to be started on Warwick Street. As time went on the German language was used less and less in the service. Records show that from 1874 until. 1896 regular services in the English language and a Sunday School were held in a small hired building still standing on War- wick Street, nearly opposite Oak Street. A group of young men, most of them connected with the mission, organized themselves into a society called St. Andrew's Club. They hired a room where they could hold their meetings and became an important, helpful factor in promoting the work of the mission in the early days.
As it was not convenient for the Woman's Guild to meet for sewing and social purposes in the little room used as a chapel, they met regularly Friday evenings at the homes of members: Mrs. E. C. Acheson, Mrs. F. D. Edgerton, Mrs. Elizabeth Wilcox, the Misses Gabrielle, Mrs. Ebor Lines and others. After the sewing was completed, refreshments were served and a social time enjoyed. Whether the spirit of Christian fellowship and cooperation, which has been traditional through all the years at St. Andrew's, had its origin in these early meetings, one cannot say. But it may
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well be so. At any rate, it has been and is a marked characteristic of the workers there and accounts largely for their successful accomplishments.
The work of the mission grew and larger quarters were neces- sary. In 1886 a lot on the corner of High and Warwick Streets was purchased, largely with special gifts of money. Plans for a building were started but it was not erected till 1895 when, again, this was made possible by the gifts of devoted church women: Mrs. Henry G. Hubbard, Mrs. Elizabeth Wilcox, the Misses Gil- man, and Mrs. C. S. Wadsworth. But all the money necessary for the building was not obtained by gifts. The Woman's Guild worked long and incessantly on money-making projects, among them fairs, basket sales from house to house, and Miss Alice Jackson's and Mrs. Edgerton's little red and blue bags circulating in friendly com- petition among their friends for the Building Fund, and other pro- jects. It is a favorite St. Andrew's story that the first contribution for the building fund was a penny found on the floor of the tem- porary chapel by the rector, Mr. Acheson, and given by him to Mrs. Edgerton, treasurer of the Building Fund. The moving from the little old building to the new one across the street was a joyous occasion-old and young, men and women, including Mrs. Acheson and Mrs. German helped to carry over books, cushions and other belongings to the new building which was formally opened January 3, 1896.
It was a notable occasion. The rector, Mr. Acheson, presided. Bishop Williams preached the sermon. Other clergy present were the Rev. John Binney, the Rev. Elmer T. Merrill, the Rev. William A. Johnson of the Berkeley Divinity School, the Rev. John Town- send of Christ Church, South Farms, and the Rev. F. F. German, assistant of the parish who was in charge of the mission and who had worked so enthusiastically for its success. The chapel was crowded. The vested choir of the parish church, with Edward S. Travers crucifer and William B. Davis organist, sang. Before Bishop William's address and the dedicatory service conducted by him, Mr. Acheson read letters of regret and others of congratula- tion from the Rev. Dr. W. H. Vibbert of Trinity Church, New York, who with Mrs. Vibbert, was interested from the beginning in the work at St. Andrew's; also from the former rectors, Rev. J. Lewis Parks and the Rev. Dr. S. D. McConnell, both of whom,
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while serving the parish had been in charge of the mission and had labored untiringly for its success. Mr. Acheson also read a list of the gifts to the mission, with the names of the givers, which included the seats, a screen, and the library for the Sunday School from Mrs. Henry G. Hubbard; the belfry, the bell, and the altar cross from Miss Elizabeth H. Woodward; the altar desk from the Rev. and Mrs. Elmer T. Merrill in memory of their daughter; the Bible lectern, prayer books and hymnals from Mrs. Acheson ; dishes for the parish house from Mrs. Elizabeth Wilcox; and a furnace from Lyman D. Mills.
In his address Bishop Williams emphasized the fact that this service was not one of consecration, but rather a service of blessing upon the building which was to be used for all of the activities peculiar to modern parochial life. He then spoke of the social side of parochial life for which this building stood, and said that while it was not the whole of parish activity it was an important part as it tended to bring people of all minds closer together. He concluded with an exhortation to continue the work so well begun and hoped that it would increase under God's blessing. The Rev. Dr. Binney then spoke on the history of St. Andrew's Mission from its infancy. Because of his interest in the work and his intimate knowledge of its growth, his address was most interesting and in- formative. It is to be seriously regretted that no permanent copy of it has been preserved.
Due to the growing needs of the mission, the new building soon proved to be too small to accommodate its activities and in 1912 it was enlarged and the altar was moved to the south side of the chapel. These improvements made it more suitable not only for a place of worship but also for all kinds of secular activities. In order to make these changes it was necessary to mortgage the building. Due largely to the efforts of the Woman's Guild, the work of raising money to pay off the mortgage was completed in 1919 and, at another largely attended meeting, the mortgage was burned.
St. Andrew's, like the parish church and All Saints', for many years was very fortunate in having the services of Berkeley men who, either in charge at the mission, or assisting in the Sunday School, or with the music, got their first experience in parish work. Many of these men later became outstanding priests of the church.
For many years it has been the practice for one member of
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the vestry to have immediate supervision of the building and grounds at St. Andrew's. Members who have acted in this capacity in recent years and who conscientiously and efficiently looked after the needs of the mission are the late Edward P. Schaefer, the late John P. Bacon, and Thomas Hoops, the latter serving in that capacity at the present time.
Even a brief account of the history of the St. Andrew's Mission would be incomplete without special mention of the work of the Woman's Guild. From the beginning, the women have worked with eager interest and efficiency to further the success of the mission. Obstacles have been overcome and important projects carried out. Among the latter in recent years are the purchase of a new furnace, a vacuum cleaner, the repairing and redecorating of the interior of the chapel, and the donation of $100 toward the repairs in the kitchen at the parish church. These objects were accomplished by suppers, plays, fairs, sewing, and more sewing. The men connected with the mission gave their time and labor and painted the chapel.
As has been said, an important characteristic that has always been a feature of the work at St. Andrew's is the strong feeling of fellowship that has existed and still exists among its members. This, of course, originated and has been fostered by their working to- gether for common projects and by the social "get-togethers": pic- nics, boat rides, card parties, Christmas parties, trips to the shore, frankfurter roasts, and other social meetings, participated in by old and young.
At the present time, besides the Church School, a service of evening prayer and sermon is held every Wednesday evening with the Rev. Harry W. Heermans in charge. There is a vested choir of twenty girls who, besides singing at the Wednesday evening and other services, sing with the male choir at the Family Service of the parish church the first Sunday of each month. There is an enrollment of 74 pupils and 12 teachers in the Church School, of which William Mantel is the superintendent, a position held by Mr. Seth H. Hubbard most acceptably for many years. The Woman's Guild, a very active organization, meets each week to work for the Middlesex Hospital, the Red Cross, and for their own fairs and other projects.
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OLD RECORDS
A READING of the old church records, with their notations and references to out-moded customs and practices, impresses on one the fact that the Church of the Holy Trinity had its begin- nings in a far distant and sterner day than ours.
Although the first church building was erected in 1755, the records show that it was not till 1809 that it was in any way heated by a fire. Then two stoves were put up. A statement, almost apologetic, of this innovation explains that, because of advanced years and the fact that he had previously lived in a warm climate, the rector was very sensitive to cold.
Money used in the early days was, of course, English money . and entries show that, "At a meeting of the professors of the Church of England holden March 21, 1763 it was voted that a rate of three pence on the pound on the list of 1762 shall be forthwith collected and paid to the wardens, to be applied to defray the charges of Mr. Abraham Jarvis in his going to England to take Orders and that, if the money raised falls short of the necessary forty pounds sterling, the wardens be empowered to borrow the balance of some person who will lend it." Another notation states that the cost of cleaning the church is to be paid in hard money, or other money at the current exchange. Again, it was voted to lay a "bait", or tax, of six pence on the pound to pay the minister's salary.
Annual references are made to the appointment of a bellows blower with the salary, at first, of $16.00 a year. This amount was raised gradually until it reached the sum of $40.00 annually. Regu- lar appointments were made, even down to a late date, of a tything man who was required to take an oath before a justice of peace that he would faithfully perform his duties. These consisted, mainly, in helping to maintain order in the church services and. waking any who fell asleep. This latter task was accomplished in early days by the aid of a long, light pole with which the tything
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man gently tapped the sleeper. The records indicate that the prac- tice of appointing such an officer was discontinued about ten years ago but, long before this, the performance of his duties had become, "A custom more honored in the breach than the observance."
January 25, 1845 there is the record of the adoption of a mo- tion that, "No person shall officiate in the church building of this Parish unless he be a minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church." Many years later this motion was, of course, rescinded. For some time the compensation of the organist was a pew in the church and exemption from church rates, the rates being collectible by law. After repeated complaints at one time of the untidiness of the church, several women signified their willingness to dust it every week. The vestry gladly accepted their offer and proposed that one married and one single lady be appointed to attend to the matter each week. One wonders at the connection of celibacy with the work to be done. A vote is recorded, "That the whole congre- gation be a committee to seat strangers on the Sabbath." It is on record, too, that on the death of Gen. U. S. Grant, August 3, 1885 it was arranged to drape in black the main entrance of the church. As late as 1892 the vestry was considering lighting the church by electricity.
Formerly, the rector had no "seat" in the vestry. He was em- ployed by the parish to perform certain specified duties for the spiritual welfare of the people and was re-elected annually. In 1875 Rev. Walter Mitchell, rector, protested against this practice, and July 17, 1876, just before Dr. McConnell's rectorship began, this annual election was abolished. The agreement between the rector and the officers of the parish was then made that four months' notice should be given if either party wished to break off the existing relations. Reference has already been made to the custom of assigning the pews by an annual auction. Records show that in the Rev. Mr. William F. Nichols' time he was engaged to assist the rector "set a price on the pews." Again, one of the vestry, or some other person "well skilled", was to act as auctioneer.
Among the many old-fashioned and now obsolete terms appearing in the records, is the word "glebe", meaning land belong- ing to a parish. Miss Jessie Alsop tells an interesting story in connection with the glebe property, corner of Church and South Main Streets, once owned by the parish and now owned and occu-
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pied by Mr. Leo Santangelo. A few years ago at the time of the Tercentenary Celebration in Middletown when old houses and sites were marked with the dates, a marker with the words, "Site of the Glebe" was placed on the Santangelo property. Strangers in Middletown for the celebration, thinking the house was a public house stopped and inquired for accommodations there.
The church records cover a period of over 175 years and in them we see reflected the life of the times and, as the years pass, the gradual change from a simpler, sterner, more leisurely way of living to our own swiftly-moving, complicated, modern life. We i see changes in customs, in modes of speech, in men's ideas and attitudes toward important questions. But, by the blessing of God, "through all the changes and chances" of the passing years the Church of the Holy Trinity has remained steadfast in the faith and has prospered greatly. This prosperity is seen in the material equipment of the parish, the number of members, and in the worth- while projects carried on by it. Back of all the more material proofs of its growth there is, we are sure, a love for the Church and a devotion to it no less strong than that of the little group who, nearly two centuries ago, had the vision and the determination, even in the face of almost overwhelming difficulties, to erect hopefully the little church edifice on the Green.
The records show that the present number of families in the Parish is 474; the number of individuals not in families is 175; the number of baptized members 1,483. The number of teachers in the Parish Church School is 12; the number of pupils 120. The present superintendent of the school is Mr. Herbert B. Avery, who has served most faithfully in that position for several years.
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