USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Hartford > A history of Grace Episcopal Church, Hartford, Connecticut : 1863-1938 > Part 4
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IX
THE MINISTRY OF MUSIC
The parish has had some provision for music practically since its origin as a mission chapel. A few of the older surviving members can recall that there was a volunteer choir as long ago as the 1870's. Unfortunately there are no written records of the church music until after the beginning of the Prudential Com- mittee minutes in 1890, and even then the references are very
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scattered and brief. Although music always has been a vital element in the church's life, yet it is startling to discover that the minutes previous to the creation of the parish, in 1912, con- tain only about twenty-five allusions to the subject! Apparently the choir was taken for granted and its affairs left in the hands of the organists and their volunteer assistants, whose efforts un- doubtedly deserved far more praise than they ever received.
The first official mention of the choir occurs in the records of 1890, when the Prudential Committee paid a small bill for Christmas music, and gave the organist a present. In the follow- ing years there are several references to special appropriations for music, in 1897 the tiny sum of two dollars being raised by con- tributions. In 1898 the choir, and especially the "leader" and organist, were thanked for faithful attendance and good work during the past season. A notice of this rather rare appreci- ation was inserted in the parish paper, the "Church Chronicle." In 1901 the organist alone was tendered a vote of thanks by the Prudential Committee, for his faithful services.
For many years the organ was an old-fashioned melodeon or "parlor organ," and stood on the north side of the chancel, about where the choir now sits. Old photographs show it as a rather tall instrument with a top resembling a Victorian sideboard or "what-not." In 1903 the members began agitating for a new organ, and a special committee was appointed to solicit funds. Toward the end of that year they had raised over one hundred dollars and were empowered to buy the organ. In February, 1904, the organ fund amounted to about three hundred and fifty dollars, and the old instrument soon was ordered to be sold for ten dollars for the benefit of the fund.
The Prudential Committee apparently felt so happy over the new organ that in December, 1905, they established the organist's salary at the prodigal sum of twenty dollars a year. In 1907 and 1908 this was raised to fifty dollars. In the meantime the Pru- dential Committee took a long stride forward by installing an electric organ-blower. This event was celebrated by an enter- tainment for all present and former members of the choir, "some time after Easter." A quaint touch appears in the minutes of
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June, 1908, when the Committee solemnly decided to pay the organist's carfare.
As the chapel began to feel an urge toward parish rights, the members began to devote more attention to the music. In 1909 a special committee on music was appointed, and the organist's salary was again increased, to ninety-six dollars a year. In the following year, according to a suggestion by Mr. Alexander, the Prudential Committee voted to have the choir seats made "more comfortable." Three years later the organist was granted one hundred and twenty dollars a year and the Vestry gave the choir a vote of thanks. In the minutes of 1915 we find still another expression of appreciation of the work done by the choir and the choirmaster. In 1917 the choir was allowed not more than six dollars for an Easter breakfast, a custom which might well be revived.
In 1918 the parish entered upon a definite policy of trying to improve the musical service. Many were becoming dissatisfied with the old organ, which had performed for fifteen years, and a committee was instructed to look into the matter of a new one. In May, 1919, while the question was still under consideration, the Vestry appointed the present organist, Mr. H. Lester Marsh. Early in 1922 came the appointment of an organ fund committee, and at the close of that year the parish entered into the contract for the new organ. In February, 1923, the fund had swelled to two thousand dollars, and in May the organ (which is still in use) was installed, this being the last important event in the rector- ship of the Reverend Paul H. Barbour.
The ministry of music is still under the direction of Mr. H. Lester Marsh, who supervises both the Junior and the Senior Choir. The Junior Choir is composed of members of the Church school and leads the singing at matins and at the children's Eucharists. The members all wear blue cloaks and the girls have also black caps. The true value of this choir is that it gives the Church School an opportunity actually to bear a part in the services. It is the best answer to the often repeated charge that young people slip away from church because they have really nothing to do with the services.
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The Senior Choir leads worship at all High Masses, except during the midsummer months. They sing the classic masses of Merbecke, Gounod, Schubert, Haydn, von Weber and Bach, and occasionally the Plainsong Mass in which the congregation easily joins. Hymns are always chosen for their fitness to the season of the church year, and the whole ministry of music is in accord with the sound tendency of the modern liturgical move- ment, by leading the congregation to assist at mass. It is there- fore not wonderful that visiting clergy and laymen notice how, more than in most parishes, the congregation of Grace Church actually makes all the responses and really sings the Creed and the Gloria. The parish is beginning to realize the value of a principle for which some Christian liturgists and musicians have striven for many years - the restoration of worship to the people, in their own mother tongue. Only in this way can they actually live the Christian year in all its beauty of holiness.
X
THE RECORDS OF GRACE CHURCH
Although it has always been a small parish, and for more than forty years was only a chapel, Grace Church has a complete and well kept set of its important records. The most valuable of the permanent records are the two volumes of the Parish Register, which always have been scrupulously kept by the ministers in charge and the rectors. The first volume, dating from 1863 to 1898, contains a list of families connected with the chapel (1864-97), with notes respecting removals; baptisms (1864-98); confirmations (1864-97); marriages (1874-97) burials (1863-97); communicants (1864-97); a record of offerings; and a most useful index. The volume contains entries for 494 bap- tisms, 277 confirmations, 359 communicants, 84 marriages and 189 burials. It has been described as an unusually fine example
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HIGH ALTAR AT CHRISTMAS
CRECHE AT CHRISTMAS
of a parish register. In the spring of 1938 it was deposited in the State Library at Hartford, in return for a beautifully bound photo- stat copy for the parish's constant use. The second volume of the Parish Register, dating from 1898, is still in use and is kept by the present Rector, the Reverend Frederick F. H. Nason. It contains the records of baptisms, confirmations, marriages and burials.
Of lesser value but indispensable to the historian are the minutes of the Prudential Committee and of the parish and Vestry meetings. The Prudential Committee is known to have existed as early as 1873, but no minutes of its proceedings have been found previous to 1890, and it is believed that none were kept, as the meetings were rather informal. There are three volumes of minutes and other records of the Prudential Com- mittee. The first, running from 1890 to 1894, was kindly given to the parish by Mr. James Monks, a former secretary of the Committee. It is a small, thin notebook containing brief records of meetings. The other two volumes were found in the church, and extend from 1896 to 1904 and from 1904 to 1912, respectively. For the most part they are in beautiful, clear handwriting and are much more detailed than the first volume. These three volumes also have been deposited at the State Library, in return for photostat copies. With the first volume is bound a small notebook containing a list of subscriptions for the Rectory, dated 1892, which was given to the parish by Mr. Walter Elmer, the present Treasurer.
The minutes of the Vestry and annual parish meetings up to 1938, filling two large volumes, have been deposited at the State Library, the parish receiving a photostat copy in one vol- ume. The first original volume, covering the period from 1912 to 1920, contains the original petition for a parish, and the official recognition signed by the Right Reverend Chauncey B. Brewster, Bishop of Connecticut. A third volume is now being begun by the Parish Clerk, Mr. Lewis N. Bowers. These vol- umes all contain not only the records of parish and Vestry meet- ings, but also annual financial statements and a considerable amount of miscellaneous historical information, including some reports of various societies.
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One of the most valuable sets of records is the three volumes of the Record of Services, carefully kept from 1920 to the present time. These records are not canonically required, but Grace Church has kept them longer than many other parishes. They include the date, time and character of each service, the officiating clergyman and the number of persons attending. These books show a constantly increasing number of services, particularly celebrations of the Holy Communion on week-days and festivals, and a growing number of attendants at Communion.
Unfortunately, the records of parish societies are very incom- plete, as they are in most churches. In many instances the offi- cers have moved from the parish, others have died, and even some of the recent records have been mislaid or lost because of the usual feeling that they are not important enough to save. Most of the meager information about the many social organizations must be obtained from the minutes of the Prudential Committee and the Vestry meetings, and from the reports to the Diocese and the directories and parish year books.
The existing records of the Church School, consisting mostly of attendance reports, are contained in four notebooks dating back only as far as 1923. The records of the faithful Saint Martha's Guild are in two volumes, from 1924 to 1935. There are also two record books of the Girls' Friendly Society, 1909 to 1912; one of the Grace Church Chapter of Saint Agnes, 1914 to 1929; one typewritten-volume of the Altar Guild of Saint Hilda, 1930 to 1934; one of the Saint Vincent's Acolytes' Guild, 1929 to 1932; a notebook with a few records of the Burnam Athletic Association, 1891; and a large book containing scattered minutes of the Tapawingo Social Club and a Supper Club. It is hoped that other records of parochial societies will come to light, as the lack of them is a serious hindrance to writing an adequate history.
From time to time Grace Church has published accounts of its history and work. Paper-covered directories were issued in 1924 and 1926, containing notices of parish officers, services, the Church School, the choirs and societies, notes on the Church- man's duties, lists of members with their addresses, and brief
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historical sketches written by the Reverend Paul H. Barbour, the second rector. In 1933 the parish published a year book con- taining similar information, an extended historical sketch, and a valuable essay, "The Call of the Catholic Revival," by the Right Reverend Benjamin F. P. Ivins, D.D., then Bishop Coadjutor of Milwaukee.
For the parish's history down to 1913, an indispensable source is found in the Vestry and annual meeting minutes of Trinity Parish. They begin with the organization of that parish in 1859. The references to Grace Chapel are contained in the first two volumes, and start with the appointment of the com- mittee to build the chapel, February 20, 1868. Without these records, this history could not have been written. Another im- portant source of information, concerning the later years as a chapel, is the Year Book of Trinity Parish, published in 1906. This little book, now rather scarce, contains historical notes on the parish and the chapel, brief biographical sketches of the clergy, and a full account of the chapel's life at that date, includ- ing the Sunday School and the societies.
In composing this account the author compiled a sheaf of notes, comprising newspaper notices of the consecration of Grace Chapel, 1868; references in the minutes of Trinity Parish, 1868 to 1913; passages in the Trinity Parish Year Book of 1906; notes from the Journals of the Annual Conventions of the Diocese of Connecticut, 1865 to 1870 and 1912; deeds relating to the land and buildings, transcribed from the Hartford Town Records, at the Town Clerk's office in the Municipal Building. Three type- written copies of these records have been made - one for the author, one for the Parish Clerk and one for the State Library.
XI GRACE CHURCH IN THE COMMUNITY
Grace Church originally was a Sunday School and a mission in a suburban neighborhood which was only beginning to feel the transforming touch of the city. From the records and from the
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recollection of "old-timers," it would appear that in those days Parkville was one community and Hartford was practically an- other in many respects. The mission and the later chapel were a sort of "community church" for a great area embracing all the present Parkville district and the southern part of West Hart- ford as far south as Elmwood.
For about twenty years Grace Chapel was the only house of worship in Parkville, until the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of Sorrows was established as a mission of Saint Joseph's Cathedral in 1887. The chapel was indeed a neighborhood church attended by a group of families including some who still worship there regularly. Many other families, still living in Hartford and surrounding towns but now worshipping in other Episcopal churches, yet maintain an interest in the church's life and welfare. Some of their members have aided in the prepara- tion of this sketch, by their reminiscences or by giving to the author old records in their possession. These courtesies are acknowledged in the preface to this volume.
The list of old families and other vital records in the first volume of the Parish Register are a treasure to the local historian and the genealogist. With other valuable records it has been deposited in the State Library, in care of the State Examiner of Public Records, and a photostat copy has been given to the parish for use in replying to requests for dates of birth, baptism, marriage or burial. It covers the period from 1863 to 1898, and shows that from the first the parish was by no means exclusively Anglo-Saxon, as were so many Episcopal churches at that period. A considerable proportion of the congregation was of German origin, and for many years services were held in German. There was a liberal percentage of Scottish families, now and then a French one, and in the latter part of that period Scandinavian names began to appear. There were also several families bear- ing unmistakably Irish names, being Episcopalians from the north of Ireland. Here and there occurs a name with the desig- nation "colored," but now there are no Negro parishioners. In recent times the parish has become even more diversified in na- tionality by the coming of Armenian, Welsh, English, Belgian
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and more French and Scandinavian families. It is a veritable league of nations, catholic socially as well as in doctrine and ritual.
Grace Church has been absorbed into the life of a modern city. Yet some of the old family names linger to recall the days when Parkville was a half-rural suburb and the chapel was sur- rounded by a wooden fence and approached by a plank walk. As with many Episcopal churches in country towns, vines still shade the windows in summer and in autumn tint them with richer colors. Even the three sentinel hemlocks suggest a way- side church in some remote hamlet.
To the artist's eye, which sees only essentials, the church is still a rural chapel with half modern additions, the whole giving the impression of a tiny parish church in some old country, which has "just growed" from generation to generation. In fact, the older portion, back from the belfry, is the second oldest Episcopal house of worship in Hartford still in use, Christ Church Cathedral being the most ancient. The rambling character of the buildings is the result of several additions over about half a century, and is distinctive among the churches of Hartford.
Although the tide of urbanism has tended to sweep away the ancient, neighborhood qualities of the parish, Grace Church during the past fifteen or twenty years has endeavored to estab- lish a new and not less valuable ministry among the Episcopal parishes of the vicinity. While the Church School has remained largely a neighborhood institution, the adult congregation, with its core of faithful old families, has become a general parish at- tracting persons of Catholic churchmanship from all over the city and from several nearby towns.
Its type of service and devotions interests also many tran- sients and strangers, so that the church has even been described as a sort of "cathedral parish." Although it maintains societies for the children and young people, and furnishes a summer camp, it does not pretend to be an "institutional" or social-service parish. It would rather be a center of devotion to certain defi- nite teachings of the Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Faith, particu- larly the Incarnation as manifested in the perpetual memorial of the Holy Communion.
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In a time when the Christian Faith appears to some to be in danger of a drastic reduction to pure humanism, the existence of such a parish gives to many persons the type of church life which they desire and which they believe should be emphasized. The parish therefore cultivates corporate worship and corporate Holy Communion.
To these ends the whole life of the church is directed, and the services are purposely conducted so that the people may con- form to the sound principle of worship which is now reviving throughout Christendom: that the congregation should not merely attend worship but assist at worship in their own language. The organist conducts the music so that the choir leads the congregational singing instead of merely giving a "sacred concert" for the congregation, and this practice has been the subject of much favorable comment. The daily service of young men and boys at the altar and the organization of a junior choir are in- · tended to counteract the too prevalent idea that Sunday School and church are merely nominal duties accepted passively and perfunctorily for one hour a week.
Preaching and instruction are intended to be not reviews of popular books or lectures on current events, but discourses defi- nitely emphasizing fundamental and essential doctrines of the Christian religion. The Church as an institution is considered and believed to be the continuous historical expression of Christ as the Author and Finisher of our Faith. The members no doubt would feel satisfied that the church had taken its place in the community if the historian could say of it what a devout poetess felt at a general communion, such as the parish frequently cele- brates:
I saw the throng, so deeply separate, Fed at one only board - The devout people, moved, intent, elate, And the devoted Lord.
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CHRONOLOGY
1859- Organization of Trinity Parish, the mother church.
1861-Rev. Pelham Williams, first Rector, Trinity Parish.
1863-First entry in Parish Register, Baker Road mission.
1865-First report on "Trinity Mission," Rev. Francis Goodwin.
1868-Chapel erected, consecrated November 11th.
1873-First Prudential Committee appointed.
1878-Ordination of Rev. John H. Barbour as priest.
1887-Lot for parish hall given by Rev. Francis Goodwin.
1889-Resignation of Rev. John H. Barbour.
1892-Lot for Rectory bought, subscription begun.
1894-Rectory completed.
1898-Second volume of Parish Register opened.
1906- Trinity Parish Year Book, extensive notes on chapel.
1908-1909-Enlargement of church and parish hall.
1909-Largest enrollment of Church School: 250.
1912-Petition for admission as a parish granted.
1913-Parish of Grace Church elected its first Rector.
1920-Election of second Rector, summer camp started.
1923-Election of third and present Rector, Rev. F. F. H. Nason. 1924, Easter-Blessed Sacrament perpetually reserved.
1926 First ten-day mission.
1928-Celebration of sixtieth anniversary of consecration.
1933-Tenth anniversary of present Rector.
1934-Church entirely redecorated, rood beam and other memor- ials installed.
1938-Celebrations, fifteenth anniversary of present Rector, seventieth of consecration.
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MEMORIALS AND THANK OFFERINGS
Baptismal Font-In Memory of Mary Watkinson Barbour, 1884-1885.
Tower Bell-In Memory of Ellen W. Watkinson, April 1, 1826- January 27, 1874.
Sanctuary Window-In Memory of George F. Goodman, Octo- ber 6, 1848-March 24, 1868.
High Altar and Eucharistic Lights-In Memory of John Humph- rey Barbour, Priest and Doctor, May 29, 1854- April 29, 1900.
Altar Cross-In Memory of Nathaniel W. and Emily Vander- grift.
Missal Stand-In Memory of Marie Elizabeth Miller, 1862-1917. Pair of silver Chalices, Paten, and a silver and crystal Cruet- Given by the Reverend Francis Goodwin in June, 1894.
Silver Paten-In Memory of Francis Margaret Hall, 1897-1918- Presented by the Girls' Friendly Society, 1922.
Silver Bread Box-Given as a thank offering by the Reverend Paul Humphrey Barbour, May, 1923.
Pair of brass three-branched Candlesticks-In Memory of Hiram Wells Elmer, 1835-1920.
Pair of Candlesticks-In Memory of Mary Bailey Barbour, 1888- 1914.
Set of Alms Basins-Given by Horace Grant.
Pipe Organ-Installed in May, 1923. Given by members and friends of the Parish.
Gradine on the Lady Altar-Made by the late Bishop William Walter Webb of Milwaukee when a student at Trinity College.
Lectern Bible-Given by the Reverend John T. Huntington, D.D.
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The following memorials and offerings have been given dur- ing the rectorship of the Reverend Frederick F. H. Nason:
Set of six Office Lights-In Memory of the departed members of the Ray family, by the Rays.
Silver Lavabo Bowl and a pair of Torches-In Memory of How- ard Fothergill, 1908-1923.
Oak Tabernacle-In Memory of Emma Irene Abbe, 1856-1923, by her husband.
Silver gilt Ciborium-In Memory of Mary Slack Morton, 1852- 1919. Given by Nina Morton.
Paschal Candlestick-In Memory of William S. Morton, 1854- 1922. Given by Nina Morton.
Pair of Acolyte Candlesticks-Given by Lena Kalber, in memory of her father and mother.
Processional Crucifix-Given by Mrs. Stephen Dix Adams in memory of her father, Gottfried Sauberli, 1856- 1915, and her mother, Ella A. Sauberli, 1855-1916.
Pair of brass Processional Torches-Given by Mrs. Stephen Dix Adams in memory of her son, Stephen Gottfried Adams, 1914-1925.
Holy Water Vase with Sprinkler-Given by Mrs. Stephen Dix Adams in memory of her husband, Stephen Dix Adams, 1875-1935.
Sacring Bell-In Memory of Stephen G. Adams. Given by the Church School.
Sanctuary Lamp-Given by Mrs. Sarah Wilson in memory of her daughter, Sylvia Wilson Scoville.
Pair of Cruets-Given by Mrs. George W. Smith as a thank offering for the recovery of her son, George.
Preaching Crucifix and a brass Censer, as a thank offering. Set of Hearse Candlesticks-In Menory of Daniel O. Abbe, 1855-1925.
Lace for Fairlinen and Credence Cloth-Given by Mrs. George Nichols.
Golden jewelled Monstrance and a gold Censer-Given by Henry Starkel in memory of his wife, Anna Hoffer Starkel, 1855-1926.
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Altar Crucifix-Given by Mr. Starkel in memory of his daughter, Lillian, 1892-1901.
Six Candlesticks-Given by George A. Wellman, Miss Ruth Johnson and Mrs. Frederick Higginson.
Pair of seven-branch Candlesticks-Given by George A. Wellman. Humeral Veil-Given by Stanley Waterman.
Statue of Our Lady of Grace-Given by William Henry McCor- mick.
Pair of large Candlesticks and Stations of the Cross-Given by Henry Johnson.
Sanctus Bell at the High Altar-Given by the Guild of All Souls. An American Missal-Given by his family in memory of Charles Stevenson.
A Missal-Given by Mr. and Mrs. K. Irving Weitzel in memory of their son, Karl Irving, Jr.
Italian cutwork Fairlinen-Given by Mrs. Edward Ray.
Oak Missal Stand-Made and given by Edward Makay Ray. Purple Cope-Given by Mrs. Isaac Russell, Miss Louise Peck, Miss Jackson and Deaconess Trask.
Six Office Candlesticks for the Lady Altar, and Rood Shrine Lamp Given by Mrs. Anton in memory of her husband, Clarence Anton, 1880-1935.
Six Torches-Given by Miss Emily Hamilton in memory of her mother, Emily Hamilton, 1855-1932.
Shrine of Our Lady-Given by Dr. William W. Wright in memory of his mother, Eliza Witter Wright, 1865-1933.
Rood Screen, Pulpit and Lanterns-In Memory of Henry Starkel, 1851-1928, as provided in his will.
Antique Ivory Plaque of the Baptism of Our Lord-Given as a thank offering by Walter Dawley.
Rood Candlesticks-Given by Mrs. William Hodges Mann.
Gold Censer-Given by Lemuel Bartlett Fowler as a thank offering.
Sacristy Bell-Given by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Schmid, as a thank offering for the recovery of their child, Leonard. Vestment Case in the Sacristy-Given by Cadman Greaves as a thank offering.
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Polychrome Processional Crucifix-Given by Mrs. Walter Fow- ler in memory of her father, Samuel McBride. 1841- 1930, and his wife Ellen, 1842-1935.
Pair of Cruets- Given by George W. Smith, Jr., in memory of his mother, Helen Grace Smith, 1889-1926.
Silver Corpus for the High Altar Cross- Given by Mrs. William Porter.
Belgian Triptych for the Lady Altar-Given, by Miss Josephine Kimball.
Credence Table for the High Altar-Given by William Ray.
Credence Table at the Lady Altar-Given by Harry Frank Marsh.
Antique Venetian Lamp-Given by Miss Martha Stevens. Laces and Linens-Given by Miss Martha Stevens.
Fairlinen for the High Altar, Linen Girdle and Albs-Given by Mrs. William Hodges Mann.
Mural of St. Michael the Archangel, painted by Doctor William W. Wright in memory of Thomas Maxwell Hibbert, 1887-1931.
Creche-Given by Miss Ruth Johnson and the Girls' Friendly Society.
Tenebrae Hearse-Made and given by K. Irving Weitzel.
Antique French Statuettes of St. Joseph and the Holy Child and the Mater Dolorosa-Given by Mrs. W. E. Broad- well in memory of her brother, Adelbert McGinnis, Priest, 1867-1937.
Pair of Italian wrought-iron Candle Stands for the Shrine of Our Lady-Given by Miss Adelma Grenier.
Holy Water Font for Sacristy-Given by Morgan C. Odman.
Gold Mass Vestments and Gold Riddle Curtain-Given by Morgan C. Odman in memory of John Stockton Littel, Priest and Doctor.
Red Cope and Mass Vestments, Purple Mass Vestments, Green Cope and Mass Vestments, made by the St. Hilda's Guild. Birthday Offerings.
Requiem Mass Set-Made by the St. Hilda's Guild from the offerings on All Soul's Day, 1930.
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White Festal Mass Set-Made and given by the St. Hilda's Guild.
Rose Mass Vestments, White Mass Vestments, Purple Frontal for the High Altar, Gold and Blue Frontal for the .Lady Altar-Made by the St. Martha's Guild, cost of material from the birthday offerings.
Purple velvet funeral Pall-Given to Rector by John J. Ahern . and given by Rector to the parish.
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