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 33
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 33
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 33
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Other improvements in the church edifice during Mr. Rogers' rectorship and recorded by Mr. J. C. Atwood in the parish register, are as follows :-
"Early in the year 1886, there were presented to and placed in the Church, three stained glass windows as follows :-
One by Mr. Henry E. Russell Senior, in memory of his parents Emanuel and Betsey Russell.
One by Mr. Norris Bailey, in memory of his wife, Roxa Buckley Bailey, and-
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One by Mr. and Mrs. Sherman P. Cooley, to the memory of William and Adaline Bradley, the parents of Mrs. Cooley."
At a vestry meeting Feb. 8, 1886, Messrs. Hart and Atwood reported that they had visited Watertown, Conn .; attended the services there on Sunday, conducted by the Rev. James Stod- dard, and that they recommended him as a candidate for the rectorship, whereupon a special parish meeting was ordered.
The said special meeting of the parish was held Feb. 15, 1886, and they voted to give the vestry power to make choice of a Rector.
At a vestry meeting Feb. 17, 1886, Mr. Stoddard was invited to visit New Britain, on a week day, to confer with the vestry.
At the same meeting Mr. H. E. Russell, Jr. was appointed chairman of the committee on improvements of the interior of the church edifice. He suggested placing a mural tablet in the church as a memorial of the late Rector, Mr. Rogers.
On Feb. 25, 1886, the Rev. James Stoddard met the vestry by invitation and a call was extended to him at an annual salary of $1300.
The following is Mr. Stoddard's letter of acceptance :-
"To Mr. F. G. Guion, clerk of St. Mark's Parish, New Britain, Ct.
Dear Sir :- I hereby accept the invitation extended to me, through you, to become the Rector of St. Mark's Parish, New Britain, Ct. I also designate the first of April next, as the date when I will assume the duties of the position.
In thus accepting the Rectorship of St. Mark's Parish, I believe I am acting under a true conviction of duty. I am not forgetful of the many responsibilities and difficulties before me, but I pray God for his grace to meet and to bear them faith- fully.
I trust the relations between the Parish and myself will always be most harmonious, and marked by mutual confidence and by mutual help. If that is so, I am sure our Heavenly Father will bless all our united efforts for the good of His Church, and will crown them with real and abiding fruit.
I remain faithfully yours in Christ,
JAMES STODDARD.
Christ Church Rectory, Watertown, Conn., March 1, 1886."
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The Rev. Mr. Stoddard entered upon the rectorship of the parish April 1, 1886, and presided over the annual parish meeting April 26, 1886.
The Journal of Convention 1886 reports the Rev. James Stoddard as Rector of St. Mark's, New Britain, and also reports him as one of the committee on "Christian Education." In Mr. Stoddard's report of the parish he says, "The present Rector has been in charge but two months. The report there- fore, practically states the condition of the Parish at the time he assumed charge. During the year, the interior of the Church has been beautifully decorated, and $3,600 has been expended in this and other improvements and in memorials. Credit for all this is due the Rev. John Henry Rogers, who was the Rector until January 24, when he 'fell on sleep.'"
The Bishop's address to this Convention speaks of the death of Mr. Rogers, in connection with another deceased clergyman and says: "With work, abounding work, well done in the past and fields of even better work opening brightly in the future, they were called to end their labors at what seems to us mid- day. We take refuge under such bereavements in the Lord's own words, 'What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter ; ' and to this comfort we add the great thought that 'whether we live or die we are the Lord's.'"
On May 19, 1886, Doctor Samuel W. Hart offered to pre- sent the parish a black walnut case with glass doors, for use as a receptacle for clerical robes, which offer was accepted with thanks.
In June, 1886, a very beautiful brass tablet backed with dark green marble, was placed upon the wall of the church to the left of the chancel arch, in loving memory of the Rev. John Henry Rogers. This tablet was the gift of Mr. H. E. Russell Jr.
On Christmas day, Dec. 25, 1886, a beautiful altar service and brass book rest for the altar were presented to the parish by Mrs. Elizabeth Rogers, widow of the late Rector.
At the service, Easter Even, April 8, 1887, a new marble font was dedicated or blessed. This font was the gift of Mr. John Hanna, and was wrought at his marble works in New Britain, according to designs furnished by E. Stent & Co., New York.
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At the early service, Easter morning, April 10, 1887, a stained glass window was unveiled. It was the gift of Mr. George R. Post in memory of his wife, who was long a faith- ful communicant of St. Mark's.
On the first Sunday in May, 1887, a new credence table was used for the first time. It was presented to the parish by Mrs. F. G. Guion.
These five gifts above mentioned are recorded under "His- tory" in the parish register.
Again the parish met a great loss in the death of one who had served the Church as a faithful worker, a vestryman and both junior and senior warden. The vestry meeting of June 9, 1887, passed proper resolutions "on the death of our beloved brother, William Parker."
The Journal of Convention 1887 again reports the Rector of St. Mark's, the Rev. James Stoddard, on the committee on Chris- tian Education and also reports him as one of the Trustees of the Episcopal Academy. This latter office he held until he was elected vice president and principal of the Academy in 1892.
The "History" in the parish register for the last of 1887 is as follows :-
"New cushions were provided for the church and were used the first time on Sunday, Sept. 4, 1887. The cost of the cushions was $325. The money was raised in part by the Benevolent Society, in part through a festival and in part by subscription."
There are many in New Britain who have a vivid recollec- tion of the terror of the great blizzard of March 12, 1888, while others will never forget the Christian cheerfulness and heroic acts on that day of the Rev. James Stoddard, Rector of St. Mark's. Before noon the snow was so deep and the storm so furious that it was impossible for horses or any beast to travel, and none but human beings were seen moving on the streets. Of these, with but one exception, none ventured out except to reach home, or other comfortable place of shelter. From early in the forenoon until late at night, Mr. Stoddard was out in the storm, away from his comfortable fireside, looking for some one that he could help in reaching a place of shelter. It mattered not to him of whose flock they were, but like a true Shepherd, he
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was ready to give his services to any man, woman or child that could be benefited thereby. Leaving them in the snow and asking them to rest a few minutes, he would tramp on ahead a short distance and return, not merely walking through the snow, but with oft repeated short steps trampling it down to make somewhat of a path, then lead them on as far as he had tramped, then leave them to rest again, and so on repeatedly until they were safely housed. But there was no rest for him so long as any human being was struggling in the storm, into the fury of which he immediately returned, looking for others whom he might assist by his labor and cheerful presence. There were few men who had the strength to endure the struggles that he endured for others on that day, and we know of none other who had the strength and was willing to give it. We believe that no other person in New Britain walked half as far in the snow that day, as did the Rector of St. Mark's. There are those not of his flock, who were never before so ten- derly moved by the acts of any minister, as they were on that day by the loving kindness of the Rev. James Stoddard.
At a recent meeting of a Charity Organization of New Britain, the fact was brought out that the Rev. Mr. Stoddard was the first person to move towards its formation. He dis- covered that he had been imposed upon by a woman who had received aid from him. Upon reporting this to his friend and neighbor, the Rev. Dr. Cooper, he found that the same woman had also imposed upon him. The next day they conferred with the pastors of the Baptist and Center Churches and found that the same imposter had deceived them. They decided that it was high time that the Churches took concerted action. This resulted in the formation of the present Charity Organization.
The last one of the many Rectors of St. Mark's that were educated at Trinity College was Mr. Stoddard. The Rev. F. T. Russell during his rectorship of St. Mark's recorded the following in the parish register :-
"The parish is greatly indebted under God to a long continu- ance of nursing care and protection furnished by Trinity Col- lege. With but two exceptions, all who have been connected with the parish as lay readers, ministers or Rectors, have been also identified with Trinity College, as students, officers or
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graduates." Of the ministers there was but one exception, the Rev. Mr. Guion, and we presume the other exception was the lay reader Mr. George Winchester. The Rev. Mr. Baldwin, who followed Mr. Russell as Rector of St, Mark's, was a Trinity graduate, while his most valuable assistant, the Rev. Prof. Simonson, who worked here among the Germans, was connected with Trinity College, so that in 1870 the ministers of St. Mark's Church, for twenty-seven years out of thirty-four, were those who had been identified with Trinity College. After Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Stoddard is the only Rector that has been identified with Trinity College.
Quoting again from the parish register:
"Just before Lent, 1888, the interior of the chapel was painted and the walls tinted and decorated to correspond with the rest of the church. The ladies of the parish at the same time raised by subscription, money for the purchase of a new carpet for the chapel and this carpet was laid at Easter tide. The cost of these improvements was $125.00."
The Rector's report is embodied in full in the record of the annual parish meeting of April 2, 1888.
At the Convention in 1888, Morning Prayer was read by the Rev. Mr. Bailey and by the Rev. James Stoddard, Rector of St. Mark's, New Britain. The parish was also honored by having its Rector placed on the committee to fill vacancies in the Diocesan Boards of Trustees. -
The vestry meeting of April 17, 1889, passed resolutions on the death of one of their brother vestrymen, William L. Huma- son. He was senior warden in 1878 and had been one of the vestry repeatedly since his first election to that office in 1853. No greater compliment to his faithfulness, ability and worth could be given than the election of his son, William L. Huma- son, Jr., April 22, 1889, to take his place in the vestry.
On May 10, 1889, the vestry authorized the treasurer to receive from the executors of Mr. Erwin's estate the income of the $5,000 bequeathed to the parish. Mr. Stoddard's report of the parish in the Journal of Convention, 1889, says: "Under the head of 'Endowment for Parish Support' the sum of $5,000 is reported. This is a bequest from the late C. B. Erwin, (a Congregationalist,) and has become available during
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the last year. It is in the form of a Trust Fund; the income to be used for the Sunday School Library."
Motive power for the organ was voted by the vestry Sept. 29, 1890, and probably introduced soon after.
The Journal of Convention 1890 reports a meeting of the Hartford County Archdeaconry at New Britain, since the sit- ting of the previous Convention. A like report is in the Journal of Convention, 1892.
The Bishop's address to the Convention 1892 has the following :--
"Turning now to a subject of local interests, I have a few words to say in regard to our oldest Diocesan Institution, the Episcopal Academy of Connecticut. The Rev. Dr. Horton, after a faithful and generous administration, retires from its principalship and the Rev. James Stoddard has been elected his successor with a unanimity on the part of the electors, and of approval of the choice from all quarters, that argues well for the future of the Institution."
The resignation of the Rector was presented to the annual parish meeting April 18, 1892, and is as follows :- .
"To the Wardens, Vestrymen and members of St. Mark's Parish, New Britain, Conn.
Gentlemen :- I herewith tender to you my resignation as Rector of St. Mark's Parish, the same to take effect upon the first of July 1892.
The reason for this action is that having been elected Princi- pal of the Episcopal Academy, at Cheshire, Conn. it seems, after careful consideration, right and best for me to assume that responsible position.
Though I do not enter upon its duties until the first of July, I present my resignation at this time that you may have ample opportunity to prepare for the needs of the future before my official connection with the parish shall cease.
The relation between us which has existed more than six years, will not be dissolved without many regrets on my own part, regrets at parting from true and proved friends, at break- ing up many associations which have made my life fuller and
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richer, at laying aside a work which has so long claimed my best of thought and effort. I cannot trust myself to express all my feelings, and will only add, that as the change has come unex- pectedly to us all, so I hope and believe our Heavenly Father will bless us in it, and that as the years go cn, we shall each and all find cause to thank Him, that through His Providence we have been permitted to sustain the relation of Pastor and People in His Church.
Ever your sincere friend, JAMES STODDARD.
New Britain, Conn., April 18, 1892."
The resignation was accepted and the vestry were authorized to select and nominate a Rector for action by a parish meeting.
At a meeting of the vestry July 13, 1892, the following resolutions were offered and adopted :-
"With sincere regret we have come to the close of six years association with the Rev. James Stoddard. In terminating the relation of pastor and people, a relation so sacred and supremely important, the Vestry of St. Mark's Parish deems it proper to spread the following minutes upon its records.
That the acquirements, strong character, and singleness of purpose of the Reverend James Stoddard have commanded universal respect and universal confidence in him as a minister of the Gospel.
That his efficient and faithful labor and personal influence have lent substantial aid to practical and progressive Chris- tianity in this community.
That we shall hold in lasting and affectionate remembrance his catholic spirit, and his faithful ministration in the manifold and exacting offices of our church.
In parting with him, we express our entire confidence that his stay here, full of activity, full of useful work, full of study and thoughtful progress, full of kindly sympathy with men and with truth, full of love for children and intelligent interest in their welfare and education, full of the affection and confidence of his people, full of success and honorable reward, gives prom-
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ise and potency of reward and larger success in the new station so important and influential, to which, under God, he has been called.
Voted, That a copy of the resolutions be sent to Mr. Stod- dard, to the Bishop, and that his resignation and the resolu- tions be published in the daily 'Herald' and 'Record' of this city."
The longest vacancy in the rectorship of St. Mark's prior to this time was that of eight and one half months, between the rectorships of the Rev. Messrs. Baldwin and Middleton. But between the rectorship of Mr. Stoddard and that of his suc- cessor, the Rev. Henry N. Wayne, there was a vacancy of one year and three months.
At a vestry meeting Dec. 7, 1892, it was stated that twenty- nine names had been presented as candidates for the vacant rectorship and that fifteen of them had preached here. The vestry voted to nominate the Rev. Frederick Gardiner Jr. of Pomfret, Conn. for a special parish meeting to act upon.
The said special meeting was held Dec. 27, 1892, and in addition to the name of the Rev. Mr. Gardiner Jr. the name of the Rev. John D. Skene, of Brooklyn, N. Y. and of the Rev. Robert Graham of Columbus, O. were presented, with letters of recommendation. The Rev. Mr. Skene had eighteen votes out of twenty-eight and was declared elected. The vestry were authorized to fix his salary at $1500 a year with use of rectory, allowing the Rector a vacation of four weeks, during which time the parish would provide an officiating minister. A motion to make the call of Mr. Skene unanimous was lost. The Rev. Mr. Skene declined the call, and was soon called again.
At a vestry meeting April 19, 1893, Messrs. Norris Bailey, I. D. Russell and C. F. Chase, reported that they had attended service at St. Paul's Church, Brooklyn, N. Y., conducted by the Rev. John D. Skene and that they recommended him for Rector.
At a special parish meeting April 26, 1893, the names of the Rev. Messrs. Skene, Graham, Smyth, and Chase, were nomi- nated to the vacant rectorship. An informal ballot gave Mr. Skene thirteen votes out of twenty-two. This was made formal
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and a committee appointed to notify the Rev. Mr. Skene of his election.' It is understood that Mr. Skene declined these calls because he was informed that they were not unanimous.
Mr. I. D. Russell and Mr. C. F. Chase reported to the vestry, June 22, 1893, that they had attended Divine Service at West- port, Conn., conducted by the Rev. H. N. Wayne, and they recommended him as Rector of this parish. A letter recom- mending Mr. Wayne was received from Bishop Williams, and on July 3, 1893, the vestry nominated him to that office for the action of a special parish meeting. The said meeting was held July II, 1893, when a ballot of twenty-five votes showed twenty- one votes in favor of Rev. Mr. Wayne, and four blanks.
The Rev. Mr. Wayne met the vestry here on July 24, 1893 and inade a few remarks concerning the duties of Rector and people. His salary was fixed at $1300 a year with use of the rectory and a promise that the salary should be increased when the parish have an increased income. After May I, 1895, his salary was fixed at $1500, per annum.
The following letter was read at a vestry meeting, July 31, 1893 :-
"Westport, Conn., July 26, 1893.
"Mr. F. Guion, Clerk of the Vestry, St. Mark's Church, New Britain, Conn.
Dear Sir :- Yours of the 25th. inst. conveying to me the result of the vestry meeting held July 24, 1893, is received. In reply I would say that I accept the terms offered and God will- ing will enter upon my duties as Rector of St. Mark's Parish, Oct. 1, 1893. May the Almighty Father bless the step the Parish and I have taken, so that through us the Glory of God and the welfare of His Church may shine forth before men.
Very truly yours, H. N. WAYNE."
In but little over a month after Mr. Wayne began his duties as Rector of the parish, viz: on Nov. 11, 1893, he suggested that the vestry take action as to enlarging the chancel so as to give room for the organ and choir stalls, and that a choir of boys be organized and a choir master employed for training them.
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He also suggested action looking towards the erection of a new church edifice.
It was estimated that the chancel improvements would cost $1300, and the vestry on March 12, 1894, ordered the said improvements. The ladies of the parish met the vestry on June 29, 1894, to talk over certain improvements and on Oct. 15, 1894, the vestry voted to leave the matter of setting the organ in the hands of the Rector. The chancel and vestry were enlarged and a sacristy added. A new pulpit, presented by one of the members of the parish, should also be mentioned in con- nection with the chancel improvements. The organ was repaired and removed from the gallery to its new position in the chancel, and general repairs were made in the interior of the church edifice. A new carpet was laid in the center aisle, and a litany book and desk provided. The choir of boys was organized and the ladies furnished the vestments. The parish report in the Journal of Convention 1895 says :-
"During the past year extensive alterations have been made in the chancel of the Church to permit the introduction of a vested choir, which sang its first service on the 22d Sunday after Trinity, 1894.
On Rogation Sunday, an offering was made by the Parish of money, old gold and silver and jewels, for the purpose of obtaining a solid silver paten and chalice, to take the place of the set of base metal now in use. The offering will yield about $140, with which it is hoped a handsome set can be purchased."
The set was soon after purchased.
At the Convention of 1895, Mr. Howard C. Noble of St. Mark's Parish, New Britain, was one of the committee on the admission of new parishes.
Four ladies of the parish,-Mrs. J. Clement Atwood, Mrs. Willard E. Stevens, Mrs. George M. Parsons, and Mrs. F. G. Guion, wrote to the vestry Dec. 1, 1894, with reference to building an addition to the church and chapel for use as a parish house, and desired permission of the vestry to prepare plans and obtain estimates of the cost. The vestry replied Dec. 3, 1894, that they would be pleased to have the ladies submit the said plans and estimates for the further consideration of the vestry. The proposed improvements were not made.
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Pledges for parish expenses were circulated in 1895, and it was reported to the annual meeting, April 15, 1895, that the pledges thus far received represent an income considerably in excess of that realized from the sale of slips in 1894, and there- upon the pledge system was adopted.
The record of the annual meeting, April 6, 1896, says that Mr. Hicks presented the Rector with an envelope which had been handed him to deliver. We are told, outside of the record, that it contained $50.00 from anonymous friends.
A communication from the town and city of New Britain was presented to a special parish meeting Jan. 18, 1897, in regard to selling the Church property to them. The necessary two-thirds to decide the matter were not present but an infor- mal ballot of thirty-five votes gave twenty-two in favor of a sale and thirteen opposed. A committee of six was appointed to prize the church property and the average price set by them was $81,765.
On Sunday, March 21, 1897, the Rector gave a historical address, with particular reference to Christ Church, Worth- ington, as the beginning of the present parish and recommended a suitable celebration of its centennial anniversary on the fourth of September next. At the annual meeting April 19, 1897, the matter was again spoken of and a new altar was proposed as a fitting memorial. It was voted and the matter of raising the money to meet the expense was left with the vestry. The new altar was not provided.
At a vestry meeting Nov. 23, 1898, Messrs. Norris Bailey and Isaac D. Russell were authorized to transfer the Erwin fund of St. Mark's Parish to the Trustees of Donations and Bequests for Church Purposes, which transfer was duly made.
At the Convention 1898, Mr. Charles F. Chase of St. Mark's Church, New Britain, was reported as one of the committee to prepare the roll of lay delegates, and at that Convention he was elected on such committee for the next Convention. He has served on that committee continuously up to the present time.
A special parish meeting Oct. 20, 1898, considered the resig- nation of the Rev. H. N. Wayne, and voted not to accept it. At the annual parish meeting, April 13, 1899, the Rector's
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letter of resignation, dated April 3, 1899, to take effect July Ist was accepted.
At an adjourned annual meeting April 17, 1899, a committee was appointed to ask the Bishop to appoint a Rector of St. Mark's Parish, at a salary of $1000, with use of the rectory. At a special parish meeting June 19, 1899, the committee to confer with the Bishop reported the nomination of the Rev. Harry I. Bodley of Mount Vernon, N. Y. Mr. Bodley was unanimously elected and requested to take charge on Aug. Ist. The committee appointed to notify the Bishop of the call extended to Mr. Bodley, were instructed by the vestry to state that the salary of the Rector will be one thousand dollars a year and the use of the rectory, the hope being expressed that at the end of a year, or sooner, an additional two hundred can be given.
On June 29, 1899, the vestry proposed that Mr. Bodley assume the duties of the rectorship at a yearly salary of $1200, with additional compensation to be paid whenever the income of the parish will justify it.
All the members of the vestry met Mr. Bodley July 6, 1899, and discussed with him the financial condition of the parish. After Mr. Bodley withdrew, the vestry voted to adhere to their call.
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