USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Wethersfield > History of Saint Mark's Church, New Britain, Conn., and of its predecessor Christ Church, Wethersfield and Berlin : from the first Church of England service in America to nineteen hundred and seven > Part 25
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Berlin > History of Saint Mark's Church, New Britain, Conn., and of its predecessor Christ Church, Wethersfield and Berlin : from the first Church of England service in America to nineteen hundred and seven > Part 25
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > New Britain > History of Saint Mark's Church, New Britain, Conn., and of its predecessor Christ Church, Wethersfield and Berlin : from the first Church of England service in America to nineteen hundred and seven > Part 25
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57
The result of the fair is told in a later issue as follows :- "The Ladies' Sewing Society of St. Mark's Church, New Britain, return their heartfelt acknowledgement to the Episco- palians of Hartford and to the inhabitants of New Britain, of the different Christian denominations, for their generous patronage of the recent Fair of which the receipts to the amount of $300, are a substantial testimony of liberality more than anticipated. It must be gratifying to our friends to learn that the avails applicable to the contemplated object will afford relief to our little Parish, struggling as it has been under pecu- niary difficulties of serious moment and result, it is confidently
399
IN NEW BRITAIN.
. hoped, in securing an important amount of spiritual benefit. New Britain, Feb. 14, 1841."
Apparently the men were somewhat stirred up to find the ladies looking after the Church debt and thus at the next annual meeting of the parish, March 19, 1841, appointed S. G. Bucknall, I. E. Smith, L. P. Lee and George Francis "a com- mittee to investigate the pecuniary situation of the Church." The said committee were also instructed to "wait upon Selden Deming and procure the money that belongs to the Society." At an adjourned meeting March 20, 1841, it was "Voted that Hon. I. E. Smith and L. P. Lee Esq. be a committee to call on Capt. Selden Deming of Wethersfield, and receive from him the balance of money in his hands, the avails of the old church, which by provision of the Bishop was to be paid to the first Episcopal Church erected within 3 miles of the old church site, and that they are hereby authorized to give the pledge or security of the parish to save Selden Deming harmless from all costs and claims of the Society or proprietors of the old Church, both for the sum now to be paid by him and for all former payments recd. from him."
The account of E. Russell, Treasurer, has the following entries :- "1838, March 20, Recd. of Mr. S. Deming for which myself and L. P. Lee gave Deming our joint Note on demand as Treasurer of the Old Church.
$56.00"
"1838, Oct. 20, Rcd. of S. Deming for which I gave my rect. as Treasurer of St. Mark's Parish for - $50.00"
These entries of $106.00 received from Capt. Deming before March 20, 1841, account for the "former payments" referred to in the foregoing vote, but we find no record of "the sum now to be paid by him"-and consequently how much money St. Mark's parish received from the old Church (Christ Church, Worthington) is not known. Mr. Deming told Roger Welles Esq. of Newington, that the proceeds of the sale of the old church were paid to St. Mark's Church of New Britain. One hundred and fifteen dollars was the amount received for the sale in 1826, but this would be increased largely by accumulated interest before 1841. We thus find that although St. Mark's
310
THE CHURCH
was a new organization, in less than two years after its forma- tion, it was considered the successor of the old Church.
In the Journal of Convention for the year 1841, New Britain appears to have been represented both by the Rector and dele- gate, although they did not arrive until the second day. The Bishop's address reported the confirmation of 8 persons at New Britain, April 4, 1814, and for the first time in the history of the Church, New Britain was in the list of parishes that had paid their assessment to the convention fund, the amount being $2.25. The missionary society were then paying the parish only $50 per annum instead of $150.00 as formerly. In 1840, the society received from the parish $4.25.
The report of the parish for 1841 is as follows :-
Rev. John Marshall Guion, Minister.
"Families 27, baptism-adults 4, communicants-added by removals 9, anew 3, lost by death 2, removals 4, total 18, con- firmed 8, married 3, burials 4. Sunday School-teachers 4, scholars 30, Missionary and Charitable contributions $19.75.
This Parish which through the disastrous condition of busi- ness, and other circumstances, has encountered difficulties of a severely trying nature, at the present moment appears to give promise of prosperity in both its temporal and spiritual inter- ests. They who have been conversant with it from the com- mencement declare that at no former period were its pros- pects ever so encouraging. To aid in retrieving it from a debt which created much embarrassment, the Ladies' Society held a fair, the avails of which, augmented by the liberality of our friends in Hartford, and amounting to nearly $300. have essentially relieved us from a threatening impediment to suc- cess. The heart of the Rector has been warmed and encour- aged by the zealous efforts of his little flock, with their very limited resources, and in the face of many hindrances, to sustain the cause of the Church, and especially by the manifest interest in vital religion, which has been awakened among them. A comparatively large accession to the number of communi- cants has been anticipated, which it is confidently expected will be made at no distant day."
"The Chronicle of the Church" and its successor, "The Practi- cal Christian and Church Chronicle," was the official organ of
3II
IN NEW BRITAIN.
the Diocese. The Rev. Thomas J. Davis was the New Britain agent for it when he was here, and later Mr. L. P. Lee was the agent. In the issue of Jan. 7, 1842, we find the following :-
"Our readers will perceive the few Churchmen in New Britain are about to make another effort to extricate themselves from debt and we trust it will not be in vain. They have been ener- getic and persevering and deserve, as we trust they will receive, the assistance of the friends of the Church.
FAIR.
Encouraged by their former success the Ladies of St. Mark's Church, New Britain, propose holding another Fair on the afternoon and evening of the 19th. and 20th. of the present month, the avails to be appropriated to the same object as the last, the relieving their Church from debt which they hope by this effort entirely to accomplish. The attendance of friends from neighboring towns is respectfully requested."
After the fair, a card dated Feb. II, 1842, extended thanks "to the inhabitants of Hartford and the neighboring towns and to their friends in New Britain, . to Col. Chapin and the ladies of New Haven, to Mr. Scoville of Waterbury and to the Ladies of Hartford and Glastonbury for their kind dona- tions." The card also stated, "They are most happy in being able to state that the object for which they have labored is at length accomplished as a sufficient sum is now raised to free their Church from debt."
It will thus be seen that the parish is indebted to the ladies for making the Church free from debt for the first time after its formation, and this probably, during the darkest days, finan- cially, that the Church ever had.
The report for the parish of New Britain in the Journal of Convention for 1842 is as follows :-
"Rev. John Marshall Guion, Rector.
Families 33, baptisms, infants 2, communicants added 7, pres- ent number 25, marriages 5, burials 4, Sunday School teachers 5, scholars 40, Missionary & Charitable contributions $22.50.
This parish may now be regarded as prosperous. But for the utter prostration of business, cutting off the pecuniary
312
THE CHURCH
resources of its friends, it might be added that it is prosperous in every respect. Yet even under difficulties pressing with peculiar severity upon a manufacturing community, we have reason to 'thank God and take courage.' The number of fami- lies and communicants is gradually increasing and there cannot be a doubt that the augmentation would be still greater, was it not that the straightened circumstances of both have hereto- fore prevented the pastor from giving to his flock the whole of his time, which experience has shown to be indispensible to the common interest. Our situation too, strikingly illustrates a truth, which it is presumed is a matter of universal observation, that the conservative principles of the Church do not warrant the expectation of rapid accessions to her numbers. The har- monious and exemplary conduct of her members has outlived a large share of opposition, and silenced the reproach of gain- sayers, so that 'having no evil thing to say' former adversaries are constrained to respect, even to favor the cause, they once conscientiously withstood, and many an enquiring eye, and many an approving judgement are turning towards the distinc- tive principles of the 'only united Church.' Still our inveterate predilection for systems consecrated by the supposed authority of revered Fathers, not of primitive, but of puritan times, on the one hand, and a hankering after novelties and excitement on the other, are checks to the progress of truth, which time and circumstances, and above all, the guidance from above promised to the sincere searchers for truth, we may hope will remove. God has dealt very graciously with us as a Parish during the past year, sparing us the pain of a single bereave- ment by death, the funerals reported being all of persons of other denominations or places."
In 1843 there was no business transacted at the annual meet- ing of the parish other than the election of the usual officers. In the Journal of Convention for 1843, the residents of Far- mington, desiring service, were recommended to apply to the minister of the Church at New Britain, thus practically uniting Farmington and New Britain in one cure. In this year the parish was once more placed in the list of those who had not paid their share of the convention fund. The same was true in 1844, but they paid their share in i845-1846 and 1847, failed to
313
IN NEW BRITAIN.
pay in 1848 but after that they paid regularly. The Rev. Mr. Guion's report of the parish to the Convention of 1843 was as follows :-
"Families 26, baptisms-infants and children 6, communi- cants-added by removals 2, anew 5, total 7, present number 32, marriages I, burials 5, missionary and charitable contributions $17. The condition of this Parish is much the same as that represented in my former reports; modified by the accumula- tion of pecuniary embarrassments, arising out of the business derangements of the place, not uncheered however, with an especial degree of religious seriousness, and by the exemplary walk, cordial unanimity and persevering zeal of our little flock. With mingled emotions we can well appropriate the lan- guage of the confiding apostle: 'troubled on every side yet not distressed ; perplexed but not in despair; cast down but not destroyed.' The diminution in the number of families reported, as compared with the preceeding year, is mainly owing to several who then with the stronger reasons were counted as permanent accessions, having betaken themselves to a new and more popular place of resort. (The South Congregational Church was organized July 5, 1842.) A very encouraging number of persons are awaiting the rite of confirmation. The funerals reported were all of persons disconnected with the parish, with the exception of an infant, through a gracious Providence, the only instance of mortality within our flock for more than two years. Peculiar circumstances have occasioned a temporary disappointment in the re-organization of the Sunday School.
This whole region seems to present a most propitious field for missionary labor, embracing several isolated families of Episcopalians, and a mass of individuals ever prompt to lend a favorable ear to the word dispensed in the Church, and whom the notoriously distracted state of the various sects, would doubtless dispose to seek refuge in the 'opened door' of the ark of security and peace. On a few occasions I have ministered with much gratification to myself, and I trust with acceptance to different assemblages, and feel with pain the restraint of circumstances which interferes with a constant and systematic course of action upon ground so inviting."
314
THE CHURCH
This report indicates that Mr. Guion did not devote all of his time to this parish because it was necessary for him to preach elsewhere a part of the time in order to receive a salary sufficient to his support.
"At the Annual (adjourned) Meeting of the Society of St. Mark's Church," April 15, 1844, "S. G. Bucknall, Hezekiah Seymour and H. E. Russell were appointed a Committee to call upon Rev. J. M. Guion to learn his disposition as to remaining our Spiritual Charge for the ensuing year provided a sufficient sum can be subscribed to tender him."
Our only record of the result of this vote is found in Mr. Guion's report of the Parish to the Convention of 1844, as follows :-
"Baptism-infants 2, marriages 3, funerals I, communicants- lost by removal I, present number 31.
My report of this Parish at the last Convention is applicable to its present condition and members. Their inabilty to sustain the entire services of a Clergyman has induced me to devote a portion of my time to other vacant Parishes, and during the past year about one third has been given to Wolcott. Four Sundays I have officiated at Essex borough. The residue of my time has been employed at New Britain, which is now my sole Cure.
The reasons why no additions are reported is that several who would be classified as such, are awaiting the rite of con- firmation to seal their union with the Church. The necessi- ties of the Parish have been such as to prevail with me not to press the usual parochial collections."
There was no minister or delegate present at the Convention 1844.
In the "Calendar" of Hartford, Jan. 4, 1845, the ladies of this parish advertised to hold a fair on the afternoon and evening of Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 29 and 30, saying: "The attendance and patronage of all who feel interested in the wel- fare of this little band of Churchmen is earnestly and respect- fully solicited." The success of this fair is not known.
315
IN NEW BRITAIN.
At the annual meeting of the parish, Easter Monday, March 24, 1845, it was "Voted that the following be communicated to the Revd. J. M. Guion.
That we the members of St. Mark's Parish, sensible of the high and important Services which the Revd. J. M. Guion has so faithfully rendered the Parish for the many years he has been our Pastor, and deeply grateful to him for those Services, we hereby wish to express to him our fervent gratitude and our thanks, but taking into consideration his very engrossing Employment in another Town, we believe the interests of the Parish will be better promoted by Employing as speedily as possible some active young man who can devote his whole time and services to the welfare of the Parish."
The "engrossing Employment in another Town" was teaching a private School at Hartford, as is shown by the following advertisement in the "Calendar" issue of Jan. 18, 1845.
"Classical and English School.
The Subscriber has been induced to open in this city a school for instruction in the Classics, Mathematics and the various branches of a liberal English education. For this purpose he has engaged commodious and agreeable apartments at the rooms No. 182-1-2 Main St. at which place the terms and other particulars will be made known."
Signed, John M. Guion.
The editor also called special attention to this advertisement, saying that "Mr. Guion is an estimable clergyman, and a graduate of Columbia College, New York. We understand that the use of philosophical and chemical apparatus of the College will be afforded to Mr. Guion in instructing his pupils."
Mr. James J. Goodwin of Hartford and New York was one of Mr. Guion's pupils at this school in 1845.
At the Convention in June, 1845, Mr. Guion and a delegate from St. Mark's were present and among the visiting clergymen was the Rev. Thomas J. Davis of Philadelphia, a former Rector of the parish. The Bishop's address to the Convention reports the confirmation of 17 persons at New Britain, June 8, 1845, while Mr. Guion makes only 15. His report to this convention is as follows :-
316
THE CHURCH
"Families about 30, communicants-removed I, added 6, total 36, baptisms-adults 3, infants 9, total 12, confirmed 15, marriages 3, funerals I.
The spiritual prosperity of this Parish, it is believed, was never so encouraging as at the present very auspicious period, while its pecuniary interests would seem to be gradually improving."
The parish being unable to pay a minister for full time, and still unwilling to have him use his time elsewhere, Mr. Guion was compelled to resign, which he did Dec. 20, 1845. On Dec. 29, following, his resignation was presented and read at a parish meeting, when it was "Resolved, that the Parish accept the resignation of the Rev. Mr. Guion, and that with a deep & abiding sense of the kindly feelings expressed by him in his letter of resignation, and which heretofore have been so often exhibited to us individually and collectively, (as well as for his many years of ministerial Labor among us) we tender him our most grateful thanks, and reciprocating his kind wishes, we pray heaven to bless him (and his Family) with rich blessings, both temporal & Eternal.
Resolved, that a copy of the foregoing resolution Signed by the Wardens of the Parish be transmitted to the Rev. Mr. Guion.
Hezekiah Seymour. Wardens of
S. G. Bucknell. St. Mark's Church.
Voted that the Society Engage Mr. C. R. Fisher to officiate for us as our Clergyman until Next Easter provided we are enabled to pay him the sum he required."
Mr. Guion was a land owner in New Britain, and so well established here that it was not an easy matter to remove. How long he continued his school at Hartford we do not know but we presume he discontinued it during the year 1846. Mr. Fisher officiated here for the three months for which he was engaged, but continued to reside in Hartford. In the Bishop's address to the Convention of 1846, we find that Charles Rich- mond Fisher was ordered a Deacon Dec. 21, 1845 and had been transferred to the Diocese of Massachusetts. The address also says that "The Rev. John M. Guion has resigned the rector-
317
-
IN NEW BRITAIN.
ยท ship of St. Mark's Church, New Britain. The Standing Com- mittee reported that Alexander Capron from the graduating class of 1845 had been "recommended as a Candidate for Orders." Mr. Capron became the first Rector of St. Mark's after the completion of the present church building on West Main St.
Mr. Fisher's report of the parish to the Convention of 1846 is as follows :-
"I took the temporary charge of this Parish immediately after my ordination in Dec. last, but the condition of the Parish at that period and the shortness of the time during which I had charge of it, prevent me from making such a report as the Canon requires.
Families about 25, baptisms-6 children, communicants- added anew I, whole number about 40, marriages I, burials I. Sunday School-teachers 5, scholars about 20.
The children were catechized almost every Sunday, in the Church immediately after the morning service. The Holy Communion was administered on the Festival of the Nativity by the Rev. Dr. Jarvis, and in the three following months by the Rev. H. H. Bates, the Rev. Dr. Totten and the Rev. John M. Guion, former Rector of the Parish, and on Easter Sunday by the Rev. Wm. Payne. I thrice assisted in the administration. The average number of communicants at any one time is about 20. The average attendance on public worship on the after- noon of Sundays is about 75. My charge of this Parish closed at Easter."
This report shows that Mr. Fisher took charge of the parish shortly after Dec. 21, 1845 and as Mr. Guion's connection with the parish was not fully dissolved until Dec. 29, that date may be considered as the beginning of Mr. Fisher's term. He was not however a stranger to the parish, for he officiated here once or twice a month during the last five months of Mr. Guion's rectorship. By the kindness of Mr. Fisher's daughters, now residing at Hartford, Conn. we are permitted to make the fol- lowing excerpts from his diary.
"12th. Sunday after Trinity 1845 (Aug. 10,) I officiated at St. Mark's, New Britain. Dinner at Mr. Russell's, tea at Mr. Seymour's. Reached home at 8 o'clock in the evening.
20
318
THE CHURCH
16th. Sunday after Trinity, (Sept. 7, 1845.) Officiated at New Britain. Tea at Mr. Bucknall's and returned in the evening. Staid Saturday night and Sunday noon at Mr. Rus- sell's. Vestry meeting after service in the afternoon.
18th. Sunday after Trinity, (Sept. 21, 1845.) At New Britain. Read the 6Ist. and 62nd. sermons of 2nd. Vol. of Bishop Dehon. Met the choir on Saturday evening. Called on Mr. Guion in the evening and Judge Smith in the morning.
Saturday, Oct. 4, 1845. Left home for New Britain at 3 o'clock. In the evening, met the choir at Mr. Bucknall's where I stopped.
22nd. Sunday after Trinity, (Oct. 19, 1845.) At New Britain. Read two sermons from the Church of England Magazine. Mr. Thomas R. Pinchon went with me. Tea at Mr. Todd's.
24th. Sunday after Trinity, (Nov. 2, 1845.) At New Britain. Read the 10th. and 12th. sermons of Bishop Griswold.
Sunday, Nov. 16, 1845. Prof. Stuart went with me to New Britain. Dinner at Mr. Wooley's and tea at Mr. Todd's. The congregation numbered nearly 80 today, being much larger than on any former occasion when I have officiated in this church. I catechised the children as usual.
At New Britain again Nov. 30, 1845, and stopped with Mr. Todd.
On Tuesday evening Dec. 23, 1845, the Parish of St. Mark's, New Britain, voted to give me a call to take the pastoral charge until Easter next and agreed "to make me as liberal a compensa- tion as the condition of the Parish will possibly admit." All the Parish is able at present to pay is at the rate of $300. per annum. On Christmas Eve, by special request, I preached in St. Mark's. The Church was full to overflowing."
This was only three days after he was made a Deacon, and as he had no right to preach before that, it was his first sermon in this parish. There is no parish meeting of record between March 24, and Dec. 29, 1845, at which latter meeting the engagement of Mr. Fisher is recorded.
Again turning to his diary :-
"Feb. 15, 1846, Preached once at the house of Mr. S. G. Bucknall, a most violent snow storm prevented almost any man from moving out. My Senior Warden, old Mr. Hezekiah Sey-
319
IN NEW BRITAIN.
mour came to Mr. Bucknall's in the morning and said it would be of no use to open the church for it was as much as a man's life was worth to try to get out. I thought best not to go to the church but to preach where I was."
Feb. 16. Attended the funeral of Mr. George Dewey, aged 3I, from the church. There were nearly 300 persons present notwithstanding the great depth of snow.
March 15, 1846. Rev. Mr. Guion administered the Holy Communion for me at New Britain. I preached at Cabots- ville, Mass. where I performed the m- service of the Church for the first time that it was ever performed in that place.
Easter Sunday, 1846, (April 12.) Rev. Mr. Payne of Union- ville preached and administered the Holy Communion for me in my Parish. The Hon. Ira E. Smith received the Holy Com- munion for the first time. There were 26 that received the Communion."
This closed the ministry of Mr. Fisher in this Parish.
Mr. Guion's report to the Convention of 1846 shows that he resigned on Dec. 20, three days before the Parish voted to call Mr. Fisher. The report is as follows :-
"I resigned the Rectorship of St. Mark's Church, New Britain, on the 20th. Dec. last, since which date my services have been rendered to destitute Parishes wherever required. I have officiated in New Britain twice, three times in Bristol and since June 1845, once a fortnight in St. Matthew's Church, Plymouth, until Easter when the Parish were enable to secure the services of their present Pastor. I have solemnized the marriage rite three times in St. Mark's Parish, and attended one funeral in St. Matthew's. This last Parish, though from vari- ous causes much depressed, I left in a state of harmony. In New Britain there continues a little band of pious and devoted ones struggling with praiseworthy zeal, though under many discouragements, to sustain the cause they love ; for them the prayer of every Christian heart must be "for my brethren and companions sake I will wish thee prosperity.'"
Mrs. Francis records that the Rev. Abner Jackson officiated from April 19, 1846, but the parish has no record of when he was first engaged. His report to the Convention for 1846 says "Since the Sunday after Easter, I have had charge of St. Mark's Church, New Britain.
320
THE CHURCH
I find in this Parish about 25 families and 29 communicants."
This shows that Mr. Jackson's services immediately followed those of Mr. Fisher, the first Sunday after Easter of that year being April 19.
At the annual parish' meeting April 7, 1847, it was "Voted to engage the services of Revd. Mr. Jackson for the ensuing year as Rector of the Parish." Two weeks later a meeting of the Parish was held at the church "for the purpose of devising means for either removing the old or for building a New Church for the Parish.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.