USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > A narrative and documentary history of St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church (formerly St. James) of Waterbury, Connecticut > Part 8
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The town began to grow and the church began to grow. A few years later, Mr. John P. Elton and Mr. S. M. Buckingham came here from Watertown and engaged in business. They took an active interest in church work. Mr. Leonard Platt, educated as a Baptist but joining the Episcopal Church, was immersed at his desire by Rev. Mr. Barlow.
Dr. Daniel Porter was immersed at the same time. This took place in the Naugatuck river, just below the West Main street bridge. Mr. Platt became a very active member of the church. He was a warden and often acted as lay reader in the absence of the clergyman and was very efficient in all church affairs.
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THE LAITY.
· Mr. Austin Steele was a churchman and a man of great taste and had considerable experience in building. Soon after the new church began to be talked of in 1847, he happened upon a large lot of black walnut for sale. He bought the whole of it and the church was finished with it. He also had an eye on the construction and was instrumental in getting the great Chancel window of St. John writing the Apocalypse.
It was mainly these men who built the church of 1848, the first stone church, and who were also responsible for the extensive alterations and improvements of the old church in 1831 and 1837, and this brings us down to the era of people now living.
It is worthy of note that there has never been anything in St. John's Church like a church quarrel. Never any serious dis- agreement on any subject, whether material, doctrinal or liturgi- cal. They have all been of one mind. When Trinity Church was formed all were agreed, all helped. It is a praiseworthy fact in the church's history.
The life of a church both corporate and spiritual is largely dependent on its female members, but their names and labors are seldom preserved unless it may be in the evanescent records of temporary organizations. Still year by year their power for good in the church is more and more felt and they are making for them- selves a name which may be capable of being recorded.
Of women of this sort St. John's Church had its full share, but we can only quote St. Luke and say "Of honorable women not a few."
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.
CHAPTER VI.
MUSIC.
A T a meeting of the Vestry in 1761, Ebenezer Warner, Samuel Brown, Hezekiah Brown, Siba Bronson and William Scovil were appointed to assist in tuning the psalms. The same persons appear to have been continued until 1773, when Isaac Benham and Ephraim Warner are added, some of the others having died or dropped out; they are then spoken of as "Quoir- isters." Stephen Welton is added in 1780. Thomas Miles Culver, in 1783, and John Dowd and Thomas Dixon, in 1785, Bennet Humiston, in 1786, Asa Beach and Joseph Tirrell, in 1787-when they are called "Choristers." John Clark, Reuben Prichard and Azor Bronson are added in 1790, Samuel Welton, in 1792, and Herman Bronson, Abram Hickox and Preserved Hickox, 1793. John Clark, Jr., Obadiah Warner and Henry Benham, in 1794, Preserved Hickox and Seymour Wilson in 1795.,
In 1797 it is voted to pay what is wanting to settle with Mr. Benham for singing at the dedication.
Nothing more appears on the record until 1811, when it is voted to employ some suitable person to teach singing at an expense not to exceed twenty dollars and to solicit subscriptions for the same.
1828 it is voted to pay Samuel Cook thirty dollars for singing the ensuing year.
Samuel Cook was quite a musician; he led the choir for many years; he played at times, the tenor viol, bass viol and double bass.
About 1836 a singing school for all denominations was opened here by a Mr. Carter from somewhere in Litchfield County. He was an accomplished teacher, spending much effort on the train- ing of the pupils in time and gradually advancing them as they seemed to show ability.
He was a rigid disciplinarian, and if he found a boy misbe- having or provokingly inattentive, he did not hesitate to box his ears with the long, old-fashioned tune book in a way that would be very apt to impress itself on a boy's memory.
76
·
MUSIC.
In 1834 it was voted to appoint a committee to purchase an organ and to make the necessary changes (for placing it) in the gallery.
1837, January 28, voted to contract with John Rowley, as organist, and John Sandland, Jr., as chorister.
Before the purchase of the organ, several instruments, as the viols, flutes, clarinet and trombone were used as adjuncts in the choir and played by various people. Until 1892 the choir was a mixed choir of male and female voices. Elisha Rice was for several years quite prominent in the choir, frequently assisting in the rehearsals or singing schools, as they were called, also some- times leading the choir on Sunday. There was a Merriam family, who were conspicuous in the choir: Joseph, Abby, afterwards Mrs. John H. Sandland; Mary Ann, afterwards Mrs. Charles Perkins, and Maria, known as Miss Brainard, she having been brought up from a child by Mr. Brainard of Farmington, and having taken his name. She is still living, and although no longer a resident of Waterbury, has sung in the choir here not many years since. She became quite distinguished as a concert singer in New York.
Almira Hoadley (afterwards Mrs. Nathan Merrill), was a lead- ing soprano for a long time and was paid a salary. She was suc- ceeded by Emma Hurlburt, afterwards Mrs. George L. Townsend. She was a salaried singer for many years, receiving at one time $400 a year. She sang in St. John's until Trinity was formed, and sang there for some time. John W. Smith was leading basso for twenty-five years. He later became a member of Trinity, but I think gave up singing before he left St. John's. Miss Ellen Monson was for a number of years the leading contralto. Theo- dore I. Driggs became organist in 1848, and although occasionally obliged to suspend on account of ill health, he was practically the manager of the music of the church until about the time of his death.
At one time a quartette consisting of John W. Smith, bass; John H. Sandland, tenor; Mrs. George L. Townsend, soprano, and Miss Ellen Monson, contralto, under Mr. Driggs's leadership, was regarded by good judges as the best quartette in the State.
John Henry Wilcox, afterward a distinguished organist in Boston, and Lewis T. Downes, a native of Waterbury, and for
77
S
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.
many years a prominent citizen in Providence, R. I., each had charge of the organ for a while, about the time that Mr. Driggs came here.
In 1892, under the auspices of the Rev. Dr. Rowland, it was decided to introduce an entire male choir, the soprano and alto being carried by boys' voices and all the choir to be uniformly dressed in cassocks and cottas. The changes were reported to the vestry January 18, 1893.
About the same time the parish received from Mr. H. H. Peck (although for some years the donor was unknown) the gift of a chan- cel organ. This organ, built by Farrand & Votey, was placed in the north gallery with a console in front of the chancel, stalls being placed there for the choir. This necessitated taking out two rows of seats from the body of the church, but the choir seats accommodated as many persons.
Joseph E. Bartlett, as organist took charge of the music. He was succeeded by William H. Minor, who is still in charge. A full choir consists of about forty-two members. The boys are paid five cents for each appearance, whether for service or rehearsal, and the leading singers, bass and tenor, are paid various amounts, as may be agreed from time to time, the whole matter being in charge of a committee on music appointed annually.
At the last parish meeting $2500 was appropriated for music, also the Sunday evening offering. As late, certainly, as 1850, and perhaps later, the choir might be considered one of the social functions of the parish. The evening rehearsals were attended by the young men and the young women, and the young men saw that the young women were returned in safety to their homes, and the rehearsals were quite popular. On Sundays the choir sat in front of the organ in the gallery. I remember once when we were discussing a plan for a new church and the question was whether to have a gallery, one man remarked, "If it hadn't been for the gallery I should not have been in the church." Another said, "With me, it was rather the 'gal ' than the 'gallery', but the result was the same."
I do not know how such affairs are managed now. Matters seem to progress very much after the old way; they no longer have the singing school to help them-but the result is the same.
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1
CHAPTER VII.
TRUST FUNDS.
O LIVER WELTON'S gift, February, 1744-5, was for a glebe. This tract of land was subsequently leased for 990 years and the fund appears to have been used for the general pur- poses of the church.
John Judd's gift of six and three-quarter acres (April 19, 1745) was for a glebe for the use of said church, in said place, forever. This was sold in 1897 by the permission of the Legislature and the proceeds are kept separate for the purposes of the gift.
Thomas Barns's gift of nine acres and eighty rods (in same deed with John Judd) was leased for 990 years to Reuben Adams, April 19, 1784, for a payment, considered doubtless the full value of the land. The gift seems to have been for the same purpose as John Judd's and is included in the same deed, but the money re- ceived, so far as appears, was used for the general purposes of the church.
The deed of eight acres on the south side of West Main Street from the Church Company, was without restriction.
Mrs. Cotton's gift of $1,000 was without restriction.
Charles Scott's gift of $5,000, received under his will July 20, 1894, was without restriction, but is kept as a separate fund. He gave the same amount to Trinity Parish.
May 20, 1903, Mrs. Mary E. Burrall gave $5,000, the income to be used for repairs or improvements in the church or rectory. This is kept as a separate fund.
September 26, 1903, Miss Sarah Merriman left $1,000 to the church without restriction.
$200 was given from the estate of Rev. Dr. W. A. Hitchcock for the endowment fund.
Samuel W. Hall died March 5, 1877.
In addition to a handsome bequest for a soldiers' monument and
79
O
I
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.
$15,000, which was the initiative of Trinity Church, he left the following bequests to St. John's Parish.
From his will:
SECTION TWENTY-THIRD.
I give and bequeath the St. John's Parish, of Waterbury, Five thousand dollars as a perpetual fund to be kept and managed by the legally constituted authorities of said parish, and the income of said fund and that only shall be used to repair, alter or add to the church edifice of said parish, and for no other purpose whatsoever.
SECTION TWENTY-FOURTH.
I give and bequeath to St. John's Parish the further sum of three thousand dollars as a perpetual fund, to be kept and managed by the legally constituted authorities of said parish, and the income of said fund and that only, shall be used to maintain the parish library of said parish, and for no other purpose whatsoever.
SECTION TWENTY-FIFTH.
I give and bequeath to said St. John's Parish, of Waterbury, the further sum of ten thousand dollars for the establishment of a fund to be known as the "Hall Fund," for the benefit and relief of the poor of said parish. Said fund shall be kept and managed by the legally constituted authorities of said parish, shall be a perpetual fund, and the income thereof, but no part of the principal sum, shall be expended in carrying out the purposes of this bequest. No payment of said income or any part thereof shall ever be made but upon orders drawn upon the treasurer of said parish, signed by the rector or assistant rector and at least one each of the wardens and vestrymen of said corporation.
SECTION TWENTY-SEVENTH.
I give, devise and bequeath to James S. Elton, John C. Booth, Scovill M. Buckingham and Isaac E. Newton and their heirs, a legacy of ten thousand dollars, in trust, "to erect or purchase and maintain a suitable home for the widows and other indigent females of St. John's Parish, of said Waterbury, to be known as the St. John's Church Home."
The legacies under Sections 23, 24, and 25 were paid to the parish and are held for the purposes for which they were given.
The $10,000 given to certain individuals and their heirs in trust, it was thought would result in making the heirs trustees, which would be embarrassing. An agreement was therefore made with Mr. Hall's residuary legatees by which the gift was allowed to lapse and was then made over by the residuary legatees to St. John's Parish for The Church Home and Charity Foundation.
80
1
5
TRUST FUNDS.
This is all set forth in the following contract:
Whereas, Samuel W. Hall, late of Waterbury, Conn., deceased, in a Will which bears date the 3d day of March, 1877, and was admitted to probate March 13th, 1877, by the twenty-seventh clause in said will, devised and be- queathed to James S. Elton, John C. Booth, Scovill M. Buckingham and Isaac E. Newton, and their heirs, a legacy of ten thousand dollars in trust "to erect or purchase and maintain a suitable home for the widows and other indigent females of St. John's Parish, of said Waterbury, to be known as the St. John's Church Home, which legacy was also devised and bequeathed on certain con- ditions within three years to be fulfilled" by the members of St. John's Parish.
And whereas the Rev. Joel F. Bingham, on the 17th day of December, 1877, conveyed by good and sufficient deed to the St. John's Parish of Waterbury, which deed is recorded in the land records of the Town of Waterbury, Vol. 96, p. 326 and 327, certain real estate therein described, in trust for the purposes of the St. John's Church Home and Charity Foundation as it is to be adminis- tered by said parish by the terms of said deed-a reference to which is hereby had for a full description of the purposes thereof.
Now therefore, in case for any reason whatever, the said legacy of the said Samuel W. Hall shall lapse and revert to us, then and upon that condition we do subscribe hereby and agree to pay over to the said St. John's Parish, in trust for the purposes of the said St. John's Home and Charity Foundation, the amount of money, be it more or less, which may so revert to us under the conditions of said will.
And it is understood, and this subscription is made on the further condition that at the end of the said three years there shall have been contributed and shall be in the possession of the said St. John's Parish, in trust for the purposes of the Home and Charity Foundation above named in money or other property, a value of not less than ten thousand dollars, and otherwise this subscription shall be void and of no effect.
In witness whereof, we, the residuary legatees, in said will, have hereunto set our hands and seals at said Waterbury, the twenty-first of February, 1878.
Signed:
FLORENCE HALL,
BARTOLO L. D'AUBIGNE,
CLARA M. BURRITT,
MARGARET W. HILL,
ANGELO C. BURRITT, JOHN W. HILL.
SARAH L. D'AUBIGNE,
At a meeting of the Rector, Wardens and Vestry of St. John's Parish, held in the Chapel, March 3rd, 1880, the following was offered by F. J. Kingsbury:
Whereas: John W. Hill, Margaret W. Hill, Angelo C. Burritt, Clara M. Burritt, Bartolo L. D'Aubigne, Sarah L. D'Aubigne and Florence Hail, resid- uary legatees under the will of the late Samuel W. Hall, have given to this parish the sum of ten thousand dollars, upon certain considerations, for cer-
81
7
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.
tain purposes and upon certain conditions, as set forth in a certain agreement and writing dated February 2d, 1878, and recorded in the records of the par- ish; one of the said conditions being, "that at the end of three years from March 3, 1877, there shall have been contributed and shall be in possession of said St. John's Parish in trust for the purposes of the Home and Charity Foundation above named in money or other property, a value of not less than ten thousand dollars," which condition has been complied with; therefore,
Voted: That this parish accept said sum of ten thousand dollars contributed by said residuary legatees, and said further and other money and property, in trust for the purposes named or referred to, in said agreement and writing.
On motion, the preamble and vote was unanimously adopted.
On motion, voted that the clerk be instructed to transmit a copy of the foregoing preamble and vote, to each of the Executors of the late S. W. Hall, deceased.
On motion, adjourned.
Attest: NELSON J. WELTON, Clerk.
This may certify that I left at the usual places of abode of James S. Elton, Angelo C. Burritt, Executors of the late Samuel W. Hall, deceased, true copies of the foregoing preamble and vote, this 3rd day of March, 1880.
Attest: NELSON J. WELTON, Clerk.
At a meeting of the Wardens and Vestry of St. John's Parish, held in the Church, December 25th, 1877, the Rev. Joel Foot Bingham, Rector of said Parish, presented for the acceptance of the Parish, a deed, conveying to this parish certain lands therein described, in trust, for the purpose of owning and supporting within the limits and jurisdiction of this parish, a church home, orphanage, hospital, chapels, schools and other religious and chari- table agencies, which are appropriate to the intentions of said trust.
Therefore, Resolved: That said deed be and is hereby accepted by this parish, including the trusts therein designated, and the thanks are due, and are hereby most cordially tendered to the Rector and such other benevolent persons as have contributed to such charitable and religious purposes.
Copy of deed accepted by the Wardens and Vestry in behalf of the parish, December 25th, 1877.
To all people to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting:
Know ye, that I, the Reverend Joel Foote Bingham, Doctor in Divinity, rector of St. John's Parish, Waterbury, Connecticut, and Pastor of the Congre- gations thereto belonging, in consideration of the needs of the destitute, the sick and the friendless in the said congregations and city, and in consideration of my desire and purpose to alleviate said need and suffering and in further
82
TRUST FUNDS.
consideration of the convenient organization and lawful capacities of the said parish, but receiving from the said parish neither directly nor indirectly there- for any money, profit, emolument or other valuable consideration, except the hope and prospect of the faithful and gratuitous fulfillment of this trust, do give, grant, bargain, sell and confirm unto said St. John's Parish, an ecclesias- tical corporation located in the city of Waterbury, New Haven County, State of Connecticut, in trust, the following pieces or parcel of land lying in the said city of Waterbury, situated south westerly from Center Square at Brook- lyn, so called, on the corner of Leonard and Dodd Streets; bounded northward one hundred and sixty-five (165) feet on land of John C. Booth and Nelson J. Welton; easterly one hundred and fifty-three (153) feet on Leonard Street; southerly one hundred and sixty-five (165) feet on Dodd Street, and westerly one hundred and fifty-three (153) feet on land of John C. Booth and Nelson J. Welton. The corners being right angles. Being lots Nos. 87, 88, 89 and 93 on Booth and Welton's survey of the Porter farm; for the purposes of owning and supporting within the limits and jurisdiction of said Parish, a Church Home, Orphanage, Hospital, Chapels, Schools and any other religious and Charitable Agencies which are appropriate to the intention of this trust. Being the same premises lately conveyed to me from John C. Booth and Nelson J. Welton, purchased with money deposited with me in trust by sundry and divers benevolent persons, to be used in my discretion for the aforesaid chari- table and religious purposes.
To have and to hold the above granted and bargained premises with the appurtenances thereof, unto the said Grantee and its successors forever, to it and their proper use and behoof for the purposes aforesaid. And also I, the said grantor, do for myself, my heirs, executors and administrators, covenant with the said grantee and its successors, that at and until the ensealing of these presents I am well seized of the premises as a good, indefeasible estate in fee simple and have good right to bargain and sell the same in manner and form as is above written, and that the same is free from all incumbrances whatsoever.
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 18th day of December, A. D., 1877.
Signed, sealed and delivered
In presence of: J. W. WEBSTER, WM. W. BONNETT.
(Signed) J. F. BINGHAM,
SEAL
NEW HAVEN COUNTY, SS :
WATERBURY, December 18th, 1877.
Personally appeared Joel Foote Bingham, signer and sealer of the foregoing instrument, and acknowledged the same to be his free act and deed before me. JOHN W. WEBSTER, Notary Public.
The above is recorded in Waterbury Land Records, Vol. 96, Pages 326 and 327.
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HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.
To the Parishioners of St. John's Parish in annual meeting assembled:
Gentlemen :- I transmit herewith my annual abstract of the various charita- ble accounts which are kept under my hand, and also the approximate inven- tory of the moneys and property held by me and by the parish, in trust for the St. John's Church Home and Charity Foundation.
During the year, acting on my best judgment, and with the advice and concurrence of the trustees named in the 27th clause of the will of the late lamented Mr. S. W. Hall and of the Wardens and Vestrymen of St. John's Parish and with the approbation of the Bishop of the Diocese, I have selected, purchased and conveyed to the parish, in trust, a very cligible site on South Leonard St. (West Side) for the future buildings of the Home and Charity Foundation of the congregations belonging to this parish.
As will appear from the appendix to the enclosed inventory, I have in subscriptions, conditional and otherwise (besides the subscription of the residuary legatees of Mr. Hall, based upon the 27th clause of his will, which subscription will be presented and read to the meeting of the executors of that will) a considerable amount given especially for the erection on the above mentioned lots of a suitable chapel, as the first in a series of future erections to include beside the Home proper with its chapel for the accommoda- tion of both sexes, also in time, an orphanage for both sexes, and a creche, or day-nursery, with the attendant church schools, and a General church hospital. Beside the ground, (which we have) this will eventually involve, in the cost of buildings and in funds invested for its support, not less than $100,000, which I hope and believe will be realized, though we may not see the day.
The amount of property already in the trust of the parish; the invested funds now in hand; the subscriptions for the chapel lying on call; the condi- tional subscriptions on Mr. Hall's legacy; and at least two considerable legacies, still future, of which the rector has been notified and which are liable at any time to fall in; constitute together a charge so important that I recommend and request the appointment by the parish at the present annual meeting, of a committee of two or three to carry forward in conjunction with the rector, the necessary subscriptions and the general management of the whole trust.
Respectfully and faithfully yours,
J. F. BINGHAM, Rector.
Easter Monday, A. D., 1878.
The parish did not deem it desirable to pursue Dr. Bingham's plan of building in the Brooklyn District, and it was voted that he be asked to execute a release of any claim he may have on said land, he having taken the title in his own name and executed a deed of trust to the parish.
This deed was subsequently given by Dr. Bingham April 28, 1884, and the title is now clear in the parish, and several pieces of the land in the Brooklyn District have been sold,
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TRUST FUNDS.
The constitution of a board of managers for the Hall Funds will be found in the Extracts from Church Records, Chapter VIII.
TRUST FUNDS.
The Hall Poor Fund,
. $10,000
The Hall Repair Fund,
5,000
The Hall Library Fund, .
3,000
The Glebe Fund,
30,500
The Charles Scott Fund, .
5,000
The E. M. Burrall Fund,.
5,000
The Sarah Merriman Fund
1,000
The W. A. Hitchcock Fund,
200
The Endowment Fund,
605
60,305
SOURCES OF YEARLY INCOME, 1906.
Pew Rents,
. $5,979.50
Envelope Fund, .
.
.
1,800.00
Other Donations,
.
610.53
Interest Account,
·
.
2,404.49
10,794.52
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH EXPENSES, 1906.
Clergymen's Salaries,, .
$4,500.00
Organist and Musical Expenses,
3,000.00
Sexton, etc.,
950.00
Lighting
370.00
Heating,
540.00
Insurance, .
500.00
Repairs,
900.00
Water,
165.00
Convention Fund,
71.22
Bishop's Fund, .
94.96
11,091.18
INVENTORY OF CHURCH PROPERTY.
St. John's Church of 1873 and land
$200,000.00
Parish House and land of Mrs. Buel,
25,000.00
State Street Lot .
7,000.00
Rectory,
25,000.00
Land in Brooklyn District,
5,000.00
Land in Park
200.00
Mortgages and Savings Bank deposits, mostly repre- senting trust funds,
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