USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > Middletown > A brief history of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Middletown, Connecticut : with biographical sketches > Part 7
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It is obviously impossible to list all the gifts received for the beautifying of the church, some of which have become outmoded and have had to be removed as, for example, the beautiful corona fitted out with gas fixtures and taken down when electric lighting was installed. In 1880 a handsome brass pulpit with railings was given in memory of Maria Dana Alsop, wife of Richard Alsop II. In 1890 the marble statue representing Jesus in the Temple was giv- en by the Jackson family in memory of the Hon. Ebenezer Jackson. The beautiful font now in use was given in 1880 in memory of Frank William Russell. In 1898 Mrs. Helena E. W. Russell gave the cover for the font in memory of her two infant children, Frederick W. and Augustus Russell.
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In 1891 the choir stalls were given by members of the church whose names do not appear in the records. The year 1891 was a memorable one in the beginning of a transformation which, eventu- ally, changed the church to one of the most beautiful in New England. That year, the beautiful tiling of the chancel, choir, and aisles of the church was completed. This lovely and costly project was the gift of Mrs. Cornelia de Koven Wadsworth, mother of the late Col. Clarence S. Wadsworth, and was given in memory of her husband, Julius Wadsworth.
That same year, 1891, Mrs. Hugh T. Dickey, a sister of Mrs. Cornelia deK. Wadsworth, gave the beautiful marble altar. This gift was followed by others, the lovely reredos in 1896 and in 1899 the brass candlesticks used on the altar. These gifts were all memorials to Mrs. Dickey's two sons, Robert and Hugh T., who died at a very early age. The subjects represented in the three sections of the reredos are, on the sides, the Law and the Prophet and in the central arch the Fulfillment. The installing of the tiling by Mrs. Wadsworth and these splendid gifts of Mrs. Dickey at once put the church in a special class as regards churchly furnish- ings and beauty. Mrs. Dickey also presented the chime of bells which were first used in 1902.
The handsome brass processional cross was given by Katherine Fearing Hubbard, now Mrs. Clarence S. Wadsworth. The beauti- ful litany desk is a memorial to Lucy McDonough Russell and was given by her mother, Mrs. Henry G. Hubbard in 1893. The in- stalling of electricity in 1893 for lighting the church was the gift of Mrs. Joseph W. Alsop, as were also the electrical fixtures. Mrs.
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"CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY," MIDDLETOWN, CONN.
Alsop at the same time gave a full set of chancel books for the church and for each of the missions. Several years later the Rev. Mr. Acheson installed the electric light switch-board.
J. Peters Pelton, long a member of the vestry, in 1899 pre- sented the parish with a very fine chalice and paten; these are memorials to his wife, Kate Hall Pelton. The brass alms basins now in use were given in 1905 by Richard L. deZeng, long a mem- ber of the vestry and a generous friend of the parish. Mr .. Charles W. Warner presented to the church several handsome brass altar vases and the little Gothic fence, also of brass, used in arranging flowers on the retable. January 6, 1922, Bishop Acheson dedicated the fine Haskell organ, mentioned elsewhere, the gift of Ellen M. Haskell in loving memory of her sister, Harriet T. Haskell. To com- plete the installation of the organ, Mr. Townsend Palmer gave money to cover the cost of the work. The celeste of the organ is a memorial to Clarence E. Bacon who for many years sang in the choir. It was given by his wife. The aeolian was given by Mrs. Kate H. Mills in memory of her husband, Lyman D. Mills, for many years a vestryman of the church. Dedicated at the same ser- vice were the altar service book, the gift of Miss Ellen Murray and her sisters ; the altar prayer book, the gift of Mrs. Arthur L. Allin ; and the Lectern Bible and Prayer Books for the Sanctuary, the last being the joint gifts of the following persons:
Mrs. Charles Clark
Mrs. James Gill Mrs. W. J. de Mauriac
Miss Mary A. Goodwin
Miss Helen M. Hall
Miss Adelaide F. Ritter
Miss Agnes A. Eidenbenz Miss Lillie Say
Miss Elizabeth M. Schaefer
Miss Edith A. V. Bengston Mr. James P. Stow Mr. Louis P. Chaffee
Mr. Edward P. Schaefer
Mr. Frederick L. Schaefer
Mr. William Sparrow
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The prayer books now in use in the sanctuary are the gifts of Mrs. E. C. Acheson and of Miss Elizabeth Medlicott. The Communion Service book is a memorial to Martha French Hoops and Mabel Judson Jennings and was given by the Dorcas Society.
In 1936 the church received by the will of T. McDonough Russell the sum of $1000 which was used towards installing a much needed new heating plant.
The year 1939 was another memorable one in the history of gifts to the church. First among them was the Rt. Rev. E. C. Ache- son Memorial. This consisted of the redecoration of the entire church and the gift of the sanctuary lights by Mrs E. Campion Acheson and her children, Dean Gooderham Aicheson, Margaret Acheson Platt, and Edward Campion Acheson, in loving memory of the Rt. Rev. E. C. Acheson, sixth bishop of Connecticut and Rector of this parish from 1892 to 1915. This gift included the complete redecorating of the chancel, sanctuary, and vestibule, and the re- decorating and refurnishing of the sacristy and the connecting hall between the sacristy and the choir room. Included also in the gift were pictures of the bishop, an electric clock, and other appur- tenances, and a great deal of labor.
These gifts were dedicated April 16, 1939 by Bishop Budlong in a combined dedicatory and confirmation service which was at- tended by seven hundred and fifty people, among them the Governor of Connecticut, Raymond E. Baldwin, from his boyhood up a mem- ber of the parish. At the same service sixteen memorial lanterns were dedicated. The installation of these changed completely and greatly improved the lighting of the church.
A list of the givers of the lights follows :
The sanctuary lights are the gift of the Acheson family in loving memory of the Rt. Rev. Edward Campion Acheson, sixth bishop of Connecticut and rector of this parish from. 1892-1915.
The chancel lights are a memorial to William Butler Davis, organist and choirmaster in the parish for thirty three years, a gift from the choir men and boys who had served under him.
The Nave Lights
Two are given in loving memory of Mariea Annin Bacon, a gift of her husband Frederic S. Bacon.
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Two were given in loving memory of Clarence Alvin Bengston, a gift of his parents and his sister, Mr. and Mrs. John C. Bengston and Edith A. V. Bengston.
Two were in loving memory of Catherine Sedgwick Bacon and Clarence Everett Bacon, a gift of their children, C. Everett Bacon and Katherine Bacon Turrentine.
One was given in loving memory of Grace King Ingersoll, a gift of her daughter, Henrietta I. Russell.
One was given in loving memory of Andrew Thompson Tall- madge, a gift of his daughter Orton Tallmadge Sweet.
One was given in loving memory of Henrietta Glover Jones, a gift of her son and her daughter, Walter Clinton Jones and Mary Glover Jones.
One is in loving memory of Catharine Snyder Stueck, a gift of her husband Jacob W. Stueck.
The Vestibule Lights
The light in the tower was given in loving memory of Marion- ette Arnold Hadley, a gift of the Girls' Friendly Society.
The light in the north entrance was given in loving memory of Sarah Emily Tyler Baldwin and Lucian Earl Baldwin, a gift of their children, Governor Raymond Earl Baldwin, Helen Baldwin Hoops, and Arabel Tyler Baldwin King.
The light in the south entrance is a gift of Miss Grace Gabrielle in loving memory of her Church School Class of 1896:
John Bliss
Abraham Crosley
Paul Sheldon
Albert Schaefer
Clifford LeG. Waite
Albert O. Clark
William L. Chapman
Arthur Warmsley
James P. Stow
Robert Hartman
Arthur V. McDowell
Clifford Young
Elton E. Clark
De Wolfe de Mauriac
William Egbert Hulse Frank Trantum
Scott Foote
The lights in the center entrance were given, one in loving memory of Jonathan Peters Pelton, a vestryman and a warden in this Parish from 1883-1917; and the other in loving memory of
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Sarah Ewing Jackson, both memorial gifts of Mrs. E. Campion Acheson.
During the summer of 1939 Mrs. W. W. Wilcox, Jr. re- decorated and, in part, refurnished the parish house as a memorial to Mr. Wilcox's sister, Elizabeth Wilcox Ingersoll, who died in Florida April 6, 1939. This memorial included the repainting of the parish house, the furnishing of draperies and rugs, new equip- ment for the office and also for the rector's study, besides other equipment and labor. In 1940 Mrs. Wilcox gave a substantial sum of money to found a W. W. Wilcox, Jr. Music Memorial Fund in memory of her late husband. The income of this fund is available to secure suitable soloists at regular and special services in the church. Mrs. Wilcox also gave (three electric sewing machines for use in the parish house.
During 1939 the parish kitchen was furnished with new equip- ment provided by the proceeds of a garden fête promoted by the 1 women of the church. This sum was augmented by a gift of $100 from the Woman's Guild at St. Andrew's, and also by some fur- nishings given by Mrs. W. W. Wilcox, Jr. The next year Mrs. James C. Fox gave two handsome walnut chests in which to keep the table silver belonging to the church.
In September 1939 Mrs. James C. Fox provided as a memorial to her mother, Mary Curtiss Becker, a wooden superstructure to enclose the pulpit. As an additional memorial to her mother, Mrs. Fox gave approximately $300 to purchase badly needed cassocks for the choir.
In November 1939 Mrs. Edward A. Smith and the Misses Madeline and Marjorie Smith gave to the church the beautiful American and State flags now in use. These are a memorial to her husband and their father. These flags replaced two beautiful silk flags which formerly hung in the body of the church and were given-the State Flag by, Mrs. E. C. Acheson and the National Flag by Mr. T. M. Russell. A handsome American flag had also been presented earlier by Dr. O. S. Watrous.
Four lovely brass altar vases were presented by Mr and Mrs. Guy Cambria and were dedicated February 2, 1941. The same month Miss Marietta Edgerton gave $100 in memory of her mother, Ellie Mansfield Edgerton. With this money a new funeral pall was purchased and the balance put in the Altar Fund. In
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November 1941 a beautiful Episcopal Church Flag was presented to the parish by Miss Helen E. Cutts, Miss Abbie M. Gilbert, and Mrs. E. C. Acheson.
Besides the larger gifts and memorials there are many others, though smaller, very valuable and useful but too many to be listed. There are, too, a number of memorial and thank offering funds, the income of which is paid each year to the treasurer and is used towards the current expenses of the church. All testify to the generosity and loving interest of members of the parish.
That much more can be done to extend the usefulness of the church and to add still further to its beauty can be seen in "The Rector's Suggested Improvements."
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MEMORIALS AND IMPROVEMENTS SUGGESTED BY THE RECTOR
O NE of our great needs is for a small chapel which could be used for funerals, small weddings, daily services, and for private meditation. It would be possible to have such a chapel by remodeling the choir room or the sacristy. Estimated cost $5,000.00.
The present clerestory windows could be replaced with stained glass at an estimated cost of $250 per window. They would make lovely memorials.
In the sanctuary we have long felt the need for an aumbry where the consecrated Bread and Wine for distribution to the sick could be kept. The minimum cost would be about $100.00.
'We have need for a set of purple stoles to match the purple altar hangings. These would cost about $6000. The red altar hangings also ought to be restored on new material as they are becoming badly worn. Estimated cost about $200.00.
A new missal is needed for the altar which would cost about $30.00, a very inexpensive memorial.
Ever so many people in the parish sincerely hope that some day a crown may be added to the present church tower. This would add greatly to its beauty and give the structure a more finished appearance. This improvement would cost approximately $5,000.00. The tower bells could be electrified at a cost of about $3,500.00. This would make possible the playing of the bells from the organ console.
The addition of a few more trees, evergreens, and shrubbery would contribute much to the beauty of our church property.
The church should be provided with sound re-inforcing equip- ment. There is no excuse for the hearer or the speaker being under the slightest strain when the expenditure of a few hundred dollars will correct our faulty acoustics.
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Our church school ought to have a good movie projection machine with sound attachment. A large number of religious and educational movies are available for use in the church school. Per- haps some one particularly interested in education would make this gift possible.
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PRESENT CHURCH ORGANIZATION
The Rev. Clyde D. Wilson, Rector
The Rev. Loring L. Emery, Curate
The Rev. Harry W. Heermans, Curate Mr. Sidney Capper, Lay Reader
Mr. Robert S. Brawley, Organist and Choirmaster
Miss Adah M. Bielby, Parish Secretary Mr. Paul Gleisberg, Sexton, Parish Church. Mr. William Mantel, Sexton, St. Andrew's
Wardens
Thomas Hoops
Randolph S. Lyon
Vestry
Herbert B. Avery Samuel A. Longworth
Frederick C. Ecker
Ernest L. Mccutcheon
Royden K. Greely John W. Spaeth, Jr.
Ivar F. Hall Philip J. Stueck
James M. Worthington Guy Cambria, Parish Treasurer Sidney Capper, Parish Clerk
Church Organizations
Sea Scouts
Boys' Choir
Sigma Sigma
Junior Choir
Altar Guild -Ushers' Guild
Church School
Acolytes' Guild
Missionary-Dorcas Society Girls' Friendly
St. Andrew's Guild
Woman's Auxiliary
Daughters of the King
Evening Br. W. A.
Young Married Group
Long Lane Br. W. A.
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THE PRESENT STAFF
THE Rev. Loring L. Emery was born in Winchester, Massa- chusetts. He is a graduate of Harvard University and of the General Theological Seminary. Before studying for the ministry, Mr. Emery taught for eighteen years in preparatory schools in Connecticut-thirteen years at Pomfret and five years at the Gun- nery School. He was ordered deacon June 11, 1941 in Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford, and ordained priest December 12, 1941 in St. James' Church, New London, Conn. In addition to his duties in the parish, Mr. Emery is also vicar of Christ Church, South Farms, and of the Church of the Epiphany, Durham.
The Rev. Harry W. Heermans was born in Ludlow, Massa- chusetts. His father is the Rev. Nile W. Heermans, formerly of Christ Church, New Haven, Connecticut, now retired and living in Hamden, Connecticut. His grandfather was the Rev. Nile Wyn- coop Heermans. By an interesting coincidence it was during his grandfather's rectorship in De Kalb, Illinois and through his efforts that St. Paul's Church there was built. This, later, was the church in which our present rector began his ministry. The Rev. Harry W. Heermans was educated at Wesleyan University and the Vir- ginia Theological Seminary, graduating from the latter May 30, 1942. He was ordered deacon in June 1942 and ordained priest at the Cathedral in Hartford, Dec. 11, 1942. In addition to his duties as assistant to Mr. Wilson, he is also assistant pastor at Wesleyan University, dividing his time equally between the two institutions.
Mr. Robert S. Brawley, B.A., organist and choir master, who began his duties in the parish September 1. 1942 was born in Gastonia, North Carolina. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, 1940 and also spent two years in post graduate work there. He was formerly organist and choir director at the Episcopal Church in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and organist at the University. In connection with his present work in our parish, he is doing graduate study in Music at Yale University towards the degree of B. Mus.
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Miss Adah M. Bielby, the parish secretary, was born in Mystic, Connecticut, while her father, the late Rev. William F. Bielby, a graduate of Berkeley Divinity School, was rector of St. Mark's Church there. Miss Bielby is a graduate of St. Agnes' School, Albany, New York. Before beginning her duties as Parish Secretary in January 1942, she had already served very acceptably for a year and a half as Parish Visitor.
No list of the staff of workers of the Church of the Holy Trinity would be complete without mention of Mr. Paul Gleisberg, for twenty-five years a faithful and efficient sexton of the parish. January 15, 1920 Mr. Gleisberg was appointed sexton of the Parish Church; before that he had served for some little time as sexton at All Saint's Mission. In all these years in caring for the church property he has served the parish faithfully and well. The orderliness and neatness of the buildings and grounds are a constant testimonial to his conscientious care, and are a matter of pride with the parishioners, and a subject of favorable comment by outside visitors. His ready cooperation, too, in arrang- ing for meetings of various kinds is thoroughly appreciated by the different organizations.
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"CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY," MIDDLETOWN, CONN.
WARDENS AND VESTRY
F ROM the earliest days down to the present time there have always been found in the parish interested and efficient men who have been willing to serve as wardens and vestry and to help promote the spiritual and material welfare of the church. The records show with what solicitous care the affairs of the parish were looked after in the past. We find such entries as, "The committee on the new rectory building reported on its completion "that the work has been done promptly, thoroughly, and cheaply." Again, the committee on music was enjoined, "to make the music as perfect as possible." When horse posts were to be set up in front of the church, the men in charge of the project were told, "to buy them at the lowest price and have the work of setting them done well."
An interesting note appears of the appointment of Thomas MacDonough, vestryman of the church (ancestor of a recent mem- ber of the vestry), and hero of the battle of Lake Cham- plain, to the committee on the rectory building and the care of side- walks and repairs. The report of the careful performance of his duties gives mute testimony to the fact that to a truly great man "the common task" is not beneath his interest and dignity. The condition of the church property today testifies to the care and thought given by the present vestry and those of the recent past. Special mention should be made of the wardens, Thomas Hoops and Randolph S. Lyon, both of whom have given long years of de- voted and efficient service to the church. Mr. Hoops came on the vestry in 1917 and, with the exception of one year, has served con- tinuously since that date and has rendered the parish invaluable service as has Mr. Lyon who became a member of the vestry in 1927 and has served for the past fifteen years.
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OUR HERITAGE
T' HE Church of the Holy Trinity has been singularly blessed in many ways in the past-in the devout and able rectors who have served in the parish; in its relation with the Berkeley Divinity School; and in the men and women, generous givers and workers, whose names appear again and again on our records, donating money for important projects or giving their personal services. It is inspiring to read of family after family, as well as of individuals, to whom the welfare of the church was and is dear.
One of the greatest blessings that our church has enjoyed is the long terms of office of several of the clergy and other indi- viduals connected with the parish. In the one hundred and ninety years since Ichabod Camp, its first rector, was called to the parish the terms of four able men have covered one hundred and six years of this period. Dr. Jarvis, later bishop, served thirty-five years; Dr. Goodwin, twenty-seven years; Bishop Acheson, twenty- three years; and Dr. German, twenty-one years. The long terms of these men gave opportunity for continuity to their work, time to establish standards and to carry out special undertakings, all of which has resulted in the stamping of permanent characteristics on the life of the parish. We of the Church of the Holy Trinity can humbly claim this blessed heritage. We can also take a just pride in the beautiful building in which we worship, with its dignified and lovely setting, bringing, as Milton: says, "All heaven before mine eyes."
As our rector neared the completion of his fifth year of ser- vice in the parish, he sent out on a recent bulletin a serious message which seems so applicable here that it is quoted :
"We are proud of the improvements that have been made both organically and physically. But we need constantly to remind our- selves that the integration of these material and human values into the life of our Parish does not fulfill the primary purpose for which the Church exists.
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"What makes a church illustrious? Certainly not the beauty of its buildings, nor its music, nor its liturgy,-not even its tradi- tions. Only one thing justifies the existence of a Church, and that is its people-people, however, who are able to say of a Church. 'I found God there.' That is the sort of experience which makes any place not just renowned, but Holy. Men build altars where they find God.
"The importance of a Church to a Community lies in the knowledge that here within these walls of sacred memory ordinary folk like ourselves have learned to walk with Christ and hope expectantly for that Great Day when they shall see God 'face to face.' "
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