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 32
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 32
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 32
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At the Convention 1880, the Bishop's address announced the transfer from this Diocese of the Rev. William E. Snowden to the Diocese of New York. The report of the parish was by the senior warden, J. Clement Atwood.
At an adjourned special meeting of the parish June 22, 1880, the committee to hear Mr. Rogers reported that they found him a man most desirable to be called, and warmly recom- mended him in every way. If the parish should extend a call to him he would visit New Britain to consider the matter and should his impressions prove favorable he would accept it. The meeting voted to call Mr. Rogers and the call is entered in the records, as follows :-
"New Britain, Conn., June 23, 1880.
To the Rev. John H. Rogers,
Dear Sir :- At a meeting of St. Mark's Parish, New Britain, Conn. held on Tuesday Evening, June 22, 1880, you were duly elected to the Rectorship of the Parish.
We take pleasure in communicating to you the action of St. Mark's Parish and invite you to enter upon the duties of said Rectorship at the earliest possible day. We are Revd Sir
Yours very truly,
For St. Mark's Church
J. C. ATWOOD, Sen. Warden. HENRY TOLLES, Jun. Warden."
The Rev. Mr. Rogers declined the call on July 17, 1880, and a special parish meeting on July 28, 1880, unanimously voted to ask him to reconsider the matter, with the following result.
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"Ashfield, Mass., Aug. 9, 1880.
The Wardens of St. Mark's Church, New Britain, Conn.
Dear Sirs :- The unanimous request made by the members of your Parish that I should reconsider the answer returned by me to the invitation to become your Rector, assures me beyond a doubt of the confidence reposed in me by the parishioners of St. Mark's, and I have accordingly given to this matter another very thoughtful and prayerful consideration, the result of which is that I have finally concluded to reverse my former decision and to accept the important office which you and your fellow parishioners have so kindly and courteously urged me to assume, and will enter upon the duties connected therewith on the second Sunday in Sept. next.
Praying God that he may give me strength and grace to minister among you acceptably to Him and to the profit of ail the souls entrusted to me, I am, my dear Sir,
Yours very truly,
JOHN H. ROGERS."
At a meeting Aug. 2, 1880, the vestry voted $1000 per annum with the use of the rectory, as the salary they could offer Mr. Rogers, and we presume that his salary was first fixed at that amount. The annual meeting of the parish April 17, 1881, left the matter of the Rector's salary with the vestry.
At the Convention 1881, the Rev. John H. Rogers was pres- ent and the Bishop's address reported him as Rector of St. Mark's, New Britain, from the Diocese of Albany.
At a vestry meeting Nov. 17, 1881, it was voted to take down the church spire because it was unsafe, and to raise money for repairing the church by subscription. The Rector was made chairman of the committee on repairs, which committee was appointed the month previous.
A vestry meeting April 18, 1882, voted to change the aisles in the church so as to have only two aisles nearer the middle, instead of the one middle aisle and two on the sides, as now arranged. This was reported to be feasible and that the cost would be $100.00. This change was never made.
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Mr. Henry E. Russell Sen. of New York proposed to sur- render his mortgage of $6,000.00 on the church property, (with interest at 8 per cent. from July 10, 1873, amounting to $4,660,) provided the church property be transferred to the "Trustees of Donations and Bequests for Church Purposes." A committee was appointed to consider the matter, and at a special meeting of the parish July 23, 1883, the proposition was accepted, and the Rev. John H. Rogers, Henry E. Russell Jr. and Henry Tolles, were appointed a committee to execute the conveyance of the church property to the said "Trustees," which they did.
The records of the parish meetings and those of the vestry during the Rev. Mr. Rogers' term of office, have frequent reference to various improvements. The last of these were completed so that the church was re-opened for Divine Service on Christmas day, 1885, and in less than one month the guiding hand in all this work was called to his eternal home. The history from 1880 to the close of 1884 was recorded in the parish register No. 2, by the Rev. Mr. Rogers. It has every- thing of importance that can be found in any record, and many things that are not recorded elsewhere. We therefore take substantially the whole of it, as follows :-
The Rev. John Henry Rogers entered upon his rectorship of St. Mark's Church, New Britain, Sept. 12th. 1880, the 2nd. Sunday in Sept. and the 16th. after Trinity. A condition of his accepting the call was that the rectory should be put in good order and that he should have the month of August, each year, for a vacation, and that the Church services during that time should be provided for by the Vestry. The rectory was accordingly papered and painted throughout, new floors laid, a bath room made, a portion of the library partitioned off for a hall and many other improvements were also made, immediately before and after the Rector's arrival.
October, 1880. The north end of the church edifice was clapboarded, the chancel and the adjoining rooms were thoroughly repaired outside and in, and painted with two coats of paint.
November, 1880. The Ladies' Society was organized and a Guild, with the Rector, ex officio, President, consisting of three divisions, Women's, Young People's and Children's.
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April 17th. 1881, Easter Day. A special fund for the repair and improvement of the church building was begun with the offerings at the early Celebration, the Rector having found the church edifice in a very neglected and shabby condition.
During the season of 1880 and 1881, the Women's Division of the Guild presented to the Church a very beautiful set of purple altar hangings, with lectern and pulpit hangings, made by the Sisters of St. John the Baptist in New York City, at a cost of $129.00, gave the Rector an Easter gift of a black silk stole elegantly embroidered with gold, paid for various improve- ments in the interior of the church edifice, costing $32.31, and added to the fund for the repair and improvement of the church edifice $223.00 and sent a box of clothing to the Rev. Mr. Mun- ford, missionary in Mississippi, valued at $85.00.
During the season of 1880 and 1881, the Young People's Division of the Guild presented to the Church a very rich black silk stole with embroidered ends, costing $8.15; contributed towards sundry improvements to the interior of the church building $9.03, and to Diocesan Missions $4.34, and contributed articles of clothing to the mission box for Rev. Mr. Munford.
During the season of 1880 and 1881, the Children's Division of the Guild contributed toward chancel improvements $4.08 and gave to the Church for the improvement and care of the church grounds the proceeds of a fair and festival $80.06. December, 1880. Addition to the Sunday School library of 103 volumes, which cost with catalogues, $69.24, said amount having been contributed by the congregation.
November, 1881, the spire of the church having been pro- nounced by competent experts to be unsafe, was taken down to the tower at a cost of $142.00. October, 1881. The east side of chancel roof was shingled. November, 1881. The south side of chapel roof was reshingled.
During the season of 1881 and 1882, the Woman's Division of the Guild paid for new gas piping of a portion of the church $34.29, paid toward new furnace for the church $33.18, sent a box of clothing valued at $65.00 to Mrs. Klujery, mission teacher in Utah under Bishop Tuttle, and paid expressage on the same $4.35.
Duing the season of 1881 and 1882, the Young People's Division of the Guild presented to the Church the glass parti-
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tion, (under the arch,) between the church and chapel, costing $132.64, of which $75.00 was raised by them by means of a supper. It was an Easter gift A.D. 1882.
During the season of 1881 and 1882, the Children's Division of the Guild contributed to the fund for the improvement and care of the church yard, proceeds of annual spring festival $106.91.
December, 1881, the children of the Sunday School presented to the Church a Christmas gift of new windows for the chapel, fitted with tinted cathedral glass, costing $82.00, paid for out of the Sunday offerings. December, 1882, the Sunday School presented to the Church a new chandelier and side brackets for the chapel, costing $50.1I, paid for out of their Sunday offerings.
During the season of 1882 and 1883, the Women's Division of the Guild purchased for use at parish social gatherings and entertainments 5 doz. cups and saucers, $6.20, 5 doz. plated knives, $8.75, and 5 doz. plated forks, $8.80, at a total cost of $23.75.
It has presented to the parish 60 posts for a new fence cost- ing $27.31, paid the balance of the bill for new furnace i. e. $67.70, and for the cross on the top of the new spire $42.31 and has also paid to the general fund for the repair and improvement of the church $162.25. During the season of 1882 and 1883, the children's Division of the Guild raised at their annual festival $68.43 for the fund for the care and improvement of the churchyard, and presented to the Church 5 doz. ice cream plates to be used at social gatherings and entertainments, at a cost of $3.50, paid for out of money taken for work done and for dues. May 14th, 1883, the tower of the church building was taken down, which taking down was com- pleted May 19th. In the stone foundation of the wooden but- tress at the south east corner of the tower, a, lead box was found which was removed to the rectory and carefully opened. In the box wrapped up in heavy brown paper were found a Bible bearing imprint Jasper Harding, Philadelphia, 1846; a Book of Common Prayer, bearing imprint, Buffalo, William B. and Charles E. Peele, stereotyped by L. Johnson 1845 : a "Church Almanac" dated 1848, a Journal of the Connecticut Con-
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vention of 1847; a copy of "The Calendar," (a Church news- paper,) dated Hartford, Conn., Saturday, June 17th. 1848; a copy of "The Churchman," (Church newspaper,) New York, Saturday, June 17th. 1848, a copy of "The Southern Church- man" (Church newspaper,) dated, Alexandria, Va. Friday, June 16th. 1848, and also a written list of the officers of the parish elected Easter Monday, 1848; a partial list of the contributors to the building fund and a list of the building committee, in the handwriting of Henry E. Russell, (of New York City, 1883,) parish clerk, copies of which may be found at the end of this register. A note at the end of the register says that "The work of taking down the tower was begun May 14, 1883 and the above said lead box was opened by order of John H. Rogers, Rector, the contents taken out by him May 16, 1883, and this copy made. All the articles contained in the box . . were found to be in a very damp condition and the papers of which copies are here given, crumbled away in part, although all the contents of the box were carefully dried and deposited with the archives of the Parish."
Returning now to the "history" pages of the said register, the tower was found to be in a very decayed condition when removed. At the time the tower was removed, the wooden but- tresses and pinnacles at the corners of the church building were also taken away. On removing the water table the sills all around the church building were found to be in a good and sound condition except on the north side of the chapel and at the northwest corner of the church. These removals were simply preparatory to a thorough repair and rebuilding of the church edifice. The repairs and improvements have been as follows: A new tower has been built on the west side of the Church surmounted by a bronze cross gilded, and through the tower a second entrance has been made. A deep porch has been placed over the old entrance on the front and a large rose window above it, surmounted by deep spandrils, and the rest of the gable covered with shingles. The original walls of the church (outside) consisted simply of matched boards. These have been covered with clapboards. The roof has also been newly shingled, at a cost of $450.00 which includes the new
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shingling of the north side of chapel roof. Dormer windows have been placed in the roof for the thorough ventilation of the church and a wooden cresting on the ridge with a wooden cross, the church building having been without any cross on its exterior previously. Thus the exterior of the church edifice, which was originally built in 1848 A.D., has been literally built over and entirely covered, so that not a square inch of the old exterior is now visible. All of this has been done during the summer of A.D. 1883, except the clapboarding of the north or chancel end which was accomplished in the autumn of 1880, and not only a more comely but also a more substantial building is the result. Besides the making of the vestibule at the south end of the interior, no other improvement has been made inter- nally at this time except so far as the rose and dormer windows add thereto.
The peal of three bells placed in the belfry at this time, (July, 1883,) were made by Henry McShane & Co. of Balti- more, Md. the weights of which are 1195 lbs., 622 lbs., 320 lbs., at a cost with mountings, of $577.68 plus freight, raising, cart- age &c. $69.45. Total cost of bells $647.13. To which amount the sale of the old bell 1994 lbs. (original weight over 2000 lbs. but a piece was cut out after it was cracked,) contributed, (1994 lbs. at 17 cts.) $338.98. The balance $308.15 was made up of the following contributions: Henry E. Russell Jr. Senior Warden, $177.56, Mr. C. B. Erwin, $50.00, St. Mark's Sunday School, $80.59. The musical notes of the bells are the Ist, 3rd and 5th of the scale, G. B. D.
The general plan of the repairs and improvements and the design of the tower were made by the Rector. The spandrils on the front of the church and the general form of the porch, though not its dimensions, were designed by W. C. Brocklesby, an architect of Hartford, Conn. who was consulted to a limited extent. The detail working drawings were made by Mr. A. W. Scoville, architect and builder, of Hartford, Conn. by whom the work was also done in a very thorough and excel- lent manner and to the entire satisfaction of the parish. The church building and chapel, (exterior,) have been painted with two coats of paint, the tints having been prescribed by Mr. E. J. N. Stent of New York, decorative architect. The work
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was superintended and directed by the Rector and the Senior Warden, (Henry E. Russell Jr.). Dr. S. W. Hart greatly helped forward the undertaking by obtaining subscriptions and also by collecting them. During the summer and autumn, (1883,) the whole churchyard was filled in with earth delivered on the ground by Mr. H. E. Russell Jr., Senior Warden. The yard has also been graded, planted and a new drain made. New walks of stone have also been laid costing $167.34, and a new fence built around the whole property. The stable has been removed from its old position near the chancel, to the north east corner of the churchyard and has likewise been repaired and painted at a total cost of about $125.00. The well belonging to the rectory having become permanently dry was covered over at this time and the piazza at the rear of the rectory was enlarged and brought into its present improved form, (1883.) The total cost of the above repairs and improvements has been about $9,000.
A.D. 1884. In the early part of the summer of 1884, the exterior of the rectory was painted a dark green tint, the chimneys were rebuilt, the roofs were newly shingled, except the roof of the north side of the addition, the piazza outside the front door was remodelled and improved, the entrance to it changed from the west end to the south side and the walk and gate changed also to correspond. A new cooking stove was also purchased at this time for the kitchen of the rectory and new gutters placed on the south side of the roofs of the rectory. The total cost of these repairs and improvements was $371.33.
Nov. Ist. 1884. On All Saints' Day, 1884, a very beautiful brass eagle lectern was presented to the parish by Mrs. E. Douglas Smith and is inscribed "To the Glory of God and In Memory of Charles S. and Mary A. Douglas," the former being the father and the latter the step-mother of the donor. A folio Bible, bound in red morocco, was also presented by Mrs. Smith, with the lectern and is similarly inscribed. The cost of the lectern was $500.00 and of the Bible $50. Mrs. Mary A. Douglas spent her early life in this parish, being the daughter of Mr. Norman Warner, and in this church she was married. The lectern and Bible were dedicated on the morning of All Saints' with an appropriate service. The lectern was made by J. & R. Lamb of 59 Carmine St., New York City.
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Nov. 30th, 1884. On the first Sunday in Advent, (Nov. 30th, 1884,) a very beautiful brass altar cross was presented to the parish by the Misses Cordelia W. and Henrietta L. Guion in memory of their aunt, Mrs. Mary A. Douglas, and having been put in place was at the morning service on that day duly dedicated to God's glory. The cross was made by Messrs. Cox Sons, Buckley & Co. of London, England, at the cost of $95.00.
In the autumn of A.D. 1884, the Sunday School library was removed from the room on the east of the chancel to the south- west corner of the chapel, which was curtained off for the pur- pose, and a new book case was purchased. The cost of book case and curtain was $36.51 which were paid out of the offer- ings of the Sunday School.
The history entered in the parish register by the Rev. Mr. Rogers ends here and the history for the year 1885 and the early part of 1886 is entered in the handwriting of Mr. J. C. Atwood.
In the year 1885, in accordance with the action of the vestry at their meetings of Nov. I and Dec. 4, 1884, and March 6, 1885, the whole interior of the church was painted and decor- ated in color after design by Stent, new gas fixtures were put in, new colored glass was inserted in the doors opening into the "Chapel," a passage way was constructed from the vestry room to the chapel, the chancel was deepened eight feet and re-modelled at a cost of $500, $400 of which was given by Mrs. F. G. Guion, and $100 by Rev. J. H. Rogers, the church and chancel were furnished with new carpets, and the vestry room was enlarged to adapt it for use for Women's Parish Work, the whole cost of which was $-
A new chancel window, as a memorial of Norman and Emma Warner, parents of the donors, was given, costing $510, one half of which was paid for with money left for the purpose by the late Mrs. Charles S. Douglas, and one half by Mrs. Franklin G. Guion.
A brass chancel rail, as a memorial of Mrs. Charles S. Doug- las, and two Glastonbury oak chairs for the chancel, costing $IIO, were also presented by Mrs. Franklin G. Guion.
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A dossal or curtain, and rod, placed under the chancel window, were presented by the Rev. John H. Rogers.
The church thus renovated, improved and furnished, was ready for occupancy on Christmas day, 1885, when it was re-opened and used for Divine Services.
"On the 23d of January 1886, the Rector, Rev'd. John H. Rogers, died after a brief illness. His funeral was attended on the 26th by Bishop Williams and other clergy, and the inter- ment was made in Providence, R. I. The following preamble and resolutions were adopted by the vestry of St. Mark's Church."
"Whereas it has pleased Almighty God in his wise provi- dence to remove from the care of this Parish our beloved Rector, the Rev'd. John Henry Rogers, therefore,
Resolved: That while we recognize in this great affliction the hand of an all wise providence, we desire to give expres- sion to our deep sorrow in the loss we have sustained.
Resolved: That we hereby bear testimony to his devotion and faithfulness in all the duties devolving upon him as Rector of this Parish, and to the very valuable service rendered during his Rectorship resulting in the entire renewal and improve- ment of the church and parish buildings, which will remain as a monument to his fitness for so important a work.
Resolved: That we tender our most sincere sympathy to Mrs. Rogers, and to the other members of the bereaved family, and beg to assure them that we share with them the sense of a personal loss.
Resolved: That a copy of these resolutions be presented to Mrs. Rogers, and that they be also entered in full upon the records of the Vestry and furnished to 'The Churchman' for publication."
These resolutions also appear in the records of the vestry meeting of Feb. 24, 1886. At a vestry meeting Jan. 25, 1886, Dr. Hart and Mr. Atwood were appointed as representatives of the parish to accompany the remains of the late Rector to the city of Providence and attend the final committal of the body at that place.
The New Britain "Observer" of Jan. 29 says :-
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"The funeral took place at the church on Tuesday afternoon, Bishop Williams read the service and the Rev. Mr. Townsend made the responses. The Rev. Mr. Goodwin of Hartford read the lesson. The bearers were the Revs. F. T. Russell, Water- bury; Baldwin, Boston; Randall, Meriden; Johnson, Bristol ; Seymour, Hartford; Hyde, West Hartford. The remains were taken to Providence, Wednesday, for burial, and were accom- panied by Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Atwood, Mr. and Mrs. S. W. Hart, and Mrs. F. G. Guion."
We take the following from the New Britain "Herald" of Jan. 25 :---
"It is with deep feelings of regret that we make the sad announcement of the death of Rev. Mr. Rogers. It is but a week ago that he officiated at the funeral of Lawrence Pres- singer and those who saw him there could not see any indication of that dread disease to which he succumbed."
"The end came Saturday evening at II o'clock. The mind which had been clouded for hours previous, was clear, and the body racked with pain seemed at rest. With the friends that gathered by his side, at his request he joined in the last service of earth, and with voice clear and distinct, raised his hands and pronounced the words of the benediction."
"At the Church a congregation gathered with sad faces, and joined in a brief service on Sunday morning. At the announce- ment of the Rector's death by J. C. Atwood many were visibly affected. Reference was also made to the sad event by the pastors of all the city churches."
"On the Sunday previous he preached two sermons at the church, besides attending a session of the Sunday School, and a special meeting in the evening; and in addition to all this officiating at a funeral in the afternoon. The fatiguing exer- cises of the day combined, were considerable, and a cold was taken which culminated in pneumonia."
"The deceased during his five years pastorate of St. Mark's Church, endeared himself to his parishioners and made numer- ous friends outside his congregation. It may well be said of him that to know him was to love him. Though he did not aspire to oratory, his sermons were ever full of genuine Chris- tian sentiment and not unfrequently he discussed with ability
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and force questions of theology and ethics. But it was as the silent unobtrusive worker that the deceased clergyman was best known. The conducting of the Sunday School and the visita- tion of the sick and distressed were his delight. His was the welcome visit to the home of distress. Many grief stricken homes were lit up by his cheerful and genial presence and com- forted by his quiet and cheerful conversation."
Notices of his funeral were sent to the one hundred and forty Rectors of this Diocese.
A Providence paper dated Jan. 30, 1886, thus speaks of his work in New Britain :
The success of his labors there are "a worthy culmination of his Christian work. Through his influence the whole church property was conveyed to the committee on bequests and donations of the diocese of Connecticut, in trust for St. Mark's parish, so that it can never be encumbered with debt. The rectory has been put in thorough repair, inside and out, the grounds graded and beautified, and the church edifice renovated, so that the character of both exterior and interior has been entirely changed."
The "Churchman" of New York, June 30, 1886, has the following :-
"His all too brief service of nearly six years in St. Mark's, New Britain, was the work of his ripest years and its fruitage was the ripest. He had wrought out the beautifying of the church edifice on a very extensive plan, had lifted the worship to a more spiritual plane, had welded together the hearts of his people. All this he did by the force of his own life. He was manly and gentle, just and kind. His walk among men was the making of his light to shine before, so that they saw his good works and glorified the Father which is in heaven."
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