USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > New Haven > History of St. Paul's Parish, New Haven, 1830-1930 > Part 2
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"We come today with Church and all To visit our Mother-Church of St. Paul, 'The Lord is risen' is the song we sing The Lord is risen, our Saviour and King."
"This model will show with a moment's inspection How St. John's has grown in every direction.
You planted, you watered, God gave the increase, May your love for the Church and your means never cease."
At the close of this Service the Superintendent gave a book to each scholar present, making a distribution of more than 600 volumes!
In 1868, Rev. Mr. Drown resigned because of ill health. He reported at that time 325 families, 559 com- municants, Sunday School 382. Total offerings for mis-
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History of St. Paul's Parish
sionary and benevolent purposes while he was rector (8 years) $60,321.60; for parish support, $62,369- a fair division! From December 1, 1868, to August, 1869, the Rev. Henry Fitch officiated, until his sight gave out on account of sickness, when he was obliged to withdraw.
The parish elected the Rev. Francis Lobdell of Cincinnati, Ohio, as its next rector, and he began work September 1, 1869. Dr. Lobdell's rectorate was marked by the important work of renovating and enlarging the Church. It had been felt for some time by the rector and others in the parish that the chancel was neither churchly, nor convenient in its arrangement. There was land enough back of the rectory and adjacent to the church to make possible the enlargement desired.
At the Annual Parish Meeting in 1875 a vote was passed to enlarge the chancel and to renovate the church, provided no debt should be incurred. The committee succeeded in getting pledges for a sum deemed suffi- cient. While the repairs were going on, the congrega- tion worshiped in the Chapel of Trinity Church in Tem- ple Street, which was kindly loaned for the purpose. At first it was thought $15,000 would be a sufficient sum to cover the alterations, but as time went on it was found that double that sum would be needed.
The chancel was extended in depth about twenty feet and upward to the full height of the ceiling. Two memorial windows were put in, also a reredos and wainscoting of black walnut and ash. The large panels set in the woodwork were painted blue and brown al- ternately and inscribed with texts in gold lettering. The new altar, pulpit, and all chancel fixtures were of black walnut also. The cross and vases of burnished brass were the gift of Commodore Timothy A. Hunt and family.
CHANCEL ABOUT 1875
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History of St. Paul's Parish
A new building on the east side of the church was built for vestry meetings and rector's study, with a room beneath for the primary department of the Sun- day School. Entirely new seats, cushions, and carpets were added. New stained glass windows, all memorials, were placed in the body of the church. A short descrip- tion of these windows published in the Parish Record of November, 1921, may be of interest to the readers of this history:
"On entering the Church, the first window on the right, the subject of which is 'The Benedicite', was given in memory of Stephen C. Bucknall and his wife, Mary E. Bucknall, both devoted members of St. Paul's and foremost in every way in the furthering of the Church's work in the Parish. Mr. Bucknall was for many years organist of the Church, an untiring worker in the Parish, teacher in the Sunday School and for several years its Assistant Superintendent. He died in 1857. Mrs. Bucknall survived him for several years. Their daughter, Nellie, was for many years soprano soloist in St. Paul's choir and married Elliot Kimberley, the tenor soloist in the choir.
"The next window, which commemorates the Conversion of St. Paul and the preaching of that Apostle at Athens, is in memory of John Eaton Smith, Priest, at one time assistant at Trinity Church, New Haven. The family were all members at St. Paul's and the window was given by them.
"The third window, which is in memory of Caleb Mix, one of the building committee of St. Paul's Chapel and one of the foremost organizers of the Parish in 1845, tells the story of Christ's calling of Nathaniel, 'Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile.' Mr. Mix was for twenty- two years a vestryman and for seventeen years treasurer of the Parish.
"The last window on the right. 'The Good Samaritan' is in memory of Charles Hooker, M.D., born in 1799, died 1863, and one of New Haven's most prominent physicians, for many years connected with various public affairs, both in the city and in the state. Dr. Hooker was the descendant of Thomas Hooker, the first minister of Hartford, Conn. He
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History of St. Paul's Parish
was Dean of the Yale Medical School from 1838 to 1862. He was long connected with the affairs of St. Paul's Parish, and was one of the members of the first vestry. He lived in the brick house which stood on the site of the present Parish House. The window was given by his daughters. Dr. Hooker's grave may be seen in the Grove Street Cemetery. There is a fine portrait of Dr. Hooker in the rotunda of Woolsey Hall.
"To the left of the entrance the first window, containing the figures of Ruth and Naomi, is in memory of Fanny Mose- ley, wife of Colonel Moseley, and was given by her husband. Both husband and wife were loyal members of St. Paul's for many years and lived at 213 Wooster Street, the property now occupied by the Neighborhood House.
"The next window, the subject of which is 'The Annunci- ation', is in memory of Harriet Cutler Hunt, wife of James Hunt. The family came to St. Paul's from Trinity when St. Paul's was built in 1830. The window was given by Mrs. Hunt's daughter, Mrs. D. Goffe Phipps, always a loyal mem- ber of St. Paul's.
"The window following, "The Nunc Dimittis', is in memory of John Clark Hollister, who for so many years was the right hand supporter of the Rectors of St. Paul's. The window was given by the members of the Sunday School in loving recognition of his work for them.
"The last window on this side, 'Christ Blessing Little Children', was given by Miss Julia Storer in memory of her sister, Miss Mary Storer, for many years active in the life of the Parish and from 1844-1850 Assistant Superintendent of the Sunday School. The Misses Storer lived on Trumbull Street, and for a number of years conducted a private school for small children.
"Of the Chancel windows, the one on the right, the upper half of which tells the story of The Resurrection and the lower half of which contains the figures of Faith, Hope, and Charity, was given in memory of Harriet, wife of the Rev. Francis Lobdell. The window on the left contains six figures emblematical of the Final Judgement and was given in memory of Mary Ward, wife of Judge Frederick J. Betts. She was one of a family who lived opposite St. Paul's and always attended regularly".
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History of St. Paul's Parish
All this reconstruction was a big undertaking, a much needed piece of work, and its success was due in large measure to the rector, Mr. Lobdell, who led and en- couraged the people.
The church was reopened by Bishop Williams, De- cember 23, 1873. Bishop Littlejohn preached, and thirty-six clergy were present.
It was unfortunate that in the midst of the efforts to secure funds came the financial crisis of 1873, which prevented the payment of many pledges and caused a debt of $10,000. This, added to the stock debt and other liabilities, made a burden of $34,450, which was very discouraging. The Parochial Society, headed by Mrs. D. Goffe Phipps, came to the rescue, and in 1877 organized a "Sinking Fund" to remove the obligations of the Parish. With the aid of two generous bequests, by Easter, 1879, the sum of $10,621 had been raised toward the liquidation of the debt.
An amusing incident, showing Dr. Lobdell's vigor- ous personality, occurred in connection with the Russell School. This large boys' school on Wooster Place was a well-known feature of New Haven, established in 1836. It was both Collegiate and Commercial in the training given and of a decidedly military character. The boys in their neat uniforms attended St. Paul's in large numbers, sitting in the west gallery. The founder and head of the school, General Russell, was baptized by Dr. Lobdell by immersion, as that was his desire, and afterward confirmed. At one time the boys, as boys will, became decidedly obstreperous during sermon time, to the great annoyance of both preacher and con- gregation. Mr. Lobdell, after frowning at them several Sundays, finally took a more severe course. As the giggles grew louder, he stopped his sermon and facing
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History of St. Paul's Parish
the young soldiers in the gallery announced in staccato accents that they might leave the church. Whereupon, as at a military command, they all disappeared below the seats and proceeded to crawl out on the floor, so that the congregation downstairs saw them no more!
In June, 1879, Mr. Lobdell was called to St. Andrew's Church, New York, and left July first. His last report was: families 450, communicants 683, Sun- day School 341. In spite of this healthy growth and of the splendid work of making over the church, it is in- teresting to note that Dr. Lobdell announced on his leaving that "St. Paul's day was over." This pessimistic statement was due to the condition of a changing neigh- borhood. The "new township" of 1850 was now an old story and, with the unexpectedness of city developments, growth here had stopped. New Haven was expanding in a westerly direction. There were two other Protestant churches nearby at this time, one on Union Street and one on Chapel just above Olive Street, where the Rev. Phoebe Hanaford scandalized the conventional element in the city who thought "a woman minister" to be a most outrageous phenomenon. The railroad station was at Chapel and State Streets, a shabby wooden structure. After its removal some years later, an open market occupied the same space for a few years. The neighbor- hood was becoming distinctly less aristocratic, yet many of the old families on Olive and Wooster Streets stayed on for a few years to come in their old homesteads. Some of the parishioners living near St. Paul's were moving away and new conditions were arising. The small-town idea of a parish consisting of people living in the immediate neighborhood of the church was be- ginning to vanish and the big-city situation of a down- town church, drawing from all classes and all localities,
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ST. PAUL'S IN ITS FIRST HALF-CENTURY
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History of St. Paul's Parish
had yet to develop. But St. Paul's had ahead of it, in 1879, the greatest period of its history, and we must re- member that the future developments would not have been possible except for the enlarging and ennobling of the church building under Dr. Lobdell, to whom we should always be grateful for that important step.
The Rev. Edwin S. Lines of Christ Church, West Haven, was elected rector September 15, 1879. He ac- cepted the call and preached his first sermon October 12th. His administration had four outstanding features -- the payment of the church debt, the building of the west tower, the building of the parish house, and the starting of the parish endowment. During Dr. Lines' first year, over $8,000 was raised toward the debt, and at the fiftieth anniversary, April 22, 1880, over $ 16,000 was laid on the altar, which completed the sum neces- sary to cancel the parish debt, with a surplus in the bank of $1,258. An account written at this time says this consummation was due to "a rector with strength and a persuasive tongue." One feels that to be a match- less combination as equipment for the work.
The Semi-Centennial in 1880 was a great occasion for the parish. Bishop Williams was present and all the former rectors. Two large congregations filled the church, morning and evening. Into the second half- century of its life St. Paul's passed, free of debt, and with the earnest resolve to meet the new conditions in the city. Dr. Lines said in his history: "Churches moved away to what are called better neighborhoods. It was always a subject of pride to me that there was no serious consideration of removal of our church; that we felt it our duty and privilege to stay here and fight out our battle and make better our own great neighborhood instead of seeking one supposed to be already made
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History of St. Paul's Parish
better!" In 1883 it was thought necessary to have an assistant minister, and the Rev. John Crockett was se- cured. The Rev. Charles C. Camp followed. After three years the Rev. Andrew L. Sawyer, then the Rev. George A. Alcott, the Rev. Paul Birdsall, the Rev. John Campbell, the Rev. James VanIngen, the Rev. George Phillips, the Rev. Robert Bell, and last, but certainly not least, the Rev. Anson Phelps Stokes, filled the position of assistant at St. Paul's during the twenty-five years of Dr. Lines' rectorate.
During this quarter of a century, 1879-1903, so many things were accomplished that it is difficult to enumerate them all. Dr. Lines, in his quiet, persistent way, seemed to think of one thing after another, and to succeed in putting them all over. It might be the improvement of the Sunday School room under the church, or the purchase of another piece of land; a new floor cover- ing, the tiling of the vestibule or a new roof. The wood- en towers were shabby and a source of danger, so "The Tower Fund" was started and at last, in 1893, there was sufficient to build a reproduction of the west tower in stone at a cost of $6,500. The wooden top of the east tower was removed and also the wooden orna- mental piece over the door. It is unfortunate that stone- work with a stone cross has never been put over the entrance, where it would add greatly to the dignity and beauty of the Church.
By 1885, the need of a Parish House with adequate provision for the Sunday School was very great. There was no place in which to give Sunday School entertain- ments, many of which were very good plays and oper- ettas. They consequently took place in public halls hired for the purpose. When Mr. Lines first came to St. Paul's, he looked with a disapproving eye upon such
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History of St. Paul's Parish
affairs, particularly when they were given to raise money. Later he became less severe, but his aversion for them may be the reason why no real stage or even ade- quate platform was built in the new Parish House. Many and heart-rending have been the struggles to place proper scenery, or to have a well-behaved curtain which did not reveal more than it concealed!
On Easter, 1887, $4,093 was given by Church and Sunday School for a new building. In that offering were $1,000 each from Mrs. Edward Mitchell and Mrs. Thomas Jewett.
A decision was made to take down the old rectory on Olive Street and to place the parish house in con- nection with the church. The entire parish joined in a continuous and strenuous effort to raise the money need- ed, $28,000. In the end the whole sum came, and no debt was incurred. The parish was deeply indebted to Governor James E. English, who not only gave gen- erously of his money but also of his time, in advising about plans and estimates.
The cornerstone of the Parish House was laid by Bishop Williams on September 14, 1889, and the bless- ing of the completed structure followed on June 18, 1890. The sermon on the latter occasion was preached by the Rev. Cornelius B. Smith, who had been brought up in the Parish in Dr. Cooke's day, and who, with his brother, Bishop Mackay-Smith, placed in 1880 upon the wall of the church a tablet to the memory of their father, Hon. Nathan Smith, one of the first Wardens of St. Paul's.
It now became necessary to provide a new rectory, so the Mitchell house, 221 Wooster Street, was pur- chased and served that purpose for many years.
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History of St. Paul's Parish
Another improvement in the interior of the church took place. There was a desire to have the choir and organ in the chancel instead of in the gallery. First the choir was moved into new stalls placed in the chancel and finally a new organ was purchased and installed. The mixed choir at this time was quite famous and the music, under Mr. Fowler, Mr. Woodstock, Mr. Weld and Mr. Bingham, was beautiful and reverent.
On the removal of the organ to the chancel the big north window was filled with golden tinted glass which added greatly to the lighting of the church. This was done by the bequest of Mrs. D. Goffe Phipps, who loved St. Paul's and worked for it all her life.
It was during Dr. Lines' rectorship that the Endow- ment Fund was started, and the church has ever since profited by his wisdom and foresight in sensing the future needs of this downtown parish. The beginning of this important project was a five dollar gold piece given Dr. Lines by Miss Susan A. Pardee, a "shut-in", whose love for St. Paul's was great, but who because of illness could do no active work. The new Endowment Fund was suggested at every Easter as one object for offerings and has been ever since.
Miss Eunice F. Gilbert, dying in 1887, left her property to the Church, and its sale brought $2,000, which was added to the Fund. Mrs. Hannah Wood- ward, in 1891, left property valued at about $ 10,000 to the same object. In 1900, Miss Susan V. Hotchkiss established a fund as a memorial of her father and of the family. Two anonymous givers added $ 1,000 each. On Easter Day, 1901, Mr. Henry F. English estab- lished the James E. English Memorial Fund of $ 10,000, in memory of his father. Many smaller be- quests were also made. Dr. Lines' words concerning
NORTHERN END OF CHURCH ABOUT 1875
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History of St. Paul's Parish
the endowment are appropriate here: "The great en- dowment which takes away the need of exertion from the people may be an injury to the parish. But every- one knows that if St. Paul's is to stay here where it ought to stay, a partial endowment is necessary I have been ambitious to make the church strong to face the future and to do the Lord's work in this great field under the new conditions."
The St. Paul's Church Home for Aged Women was established during this rectorate. Mrs. Betsy Bradley, of East Haven, a loyal parishioner, left two-thirds of her estate of $360,000 to St. Paul's, one-third for a Home for Aged Women, and one-third for Forbes Memorial Chapel to be placed on the site of her old home. The large house at 600 Chapel Street was bought for the Church Home, which began its useful and blessed work of caring for women of advanced years. It is a most comfortable, well-run establishment, and can accommodate ten or twelve occupants besides a matron and a nurse. Mrs. Robert Bell, a deaconess of much experience in the Church of England before coming to this country, was the first matron. She and her family lived at the Home and were much beloved. Rev. Robert Bell was chaplain of the Home besides doing a large and active work as Assistant Minister. Tribute should be paid to the dear memory of Mrs. Bell and her wonderful work as deaconess in the parish. She visited constantly, ran a very successful sewing school before the time when sewing was taught in the public schools, started a Mothers' Guild, of which Mrs. W. O. Pardee was the very efficient President, and also ran a summer work at "Playridge" in Woodmont, the City Vacation House given by Mrs. Francis Bacon, of which St. Paul's had the use for a month each year.
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History of St. Paul's Parish
In 1903 another house and lot at 213 Wooster Street, the home of Mrs. William Low, was purchased by the Church and later used as a rectory.
The brass pulpit and the brass lectern were given at this time as memorials, the former in memory of Mrs. Charles Osborn by her family, in 1891, the latter to the memory of Dr. Henry A. DuBois, by his daughter, in 1894. The hymn boards in the Church were given by Mrs. Charles L. Mitchell in memory of her little child. The service books were given in memory of Mrs. Edward E. Hall and Miss Cornelia Hall, both devoted, saintly women, faithful in their service to the church.
St. Paul's Chapter of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew was organized early in Dr. Lines' time and continued for many years. The Daughters of the King, under Mrs. Joel Peck's leadership, formed a very strong chapter. A Men's Club was organized with a meeting of one hundred men on March 17, 1893. The Young Men's Society began in 1883, with Charles L. Pardee as first President, and prospered for many years.
The Sunday School during this period of twenty- five years was a very important feature. The enroll- ment grew from 310 in 1880 to over 500 in 1904. During most of this period Mr. John C. Hollister was Superintendent and Miss Elizabeth P. Hall Associate Superintendent. Mr. Hollister had the remarkable rec- ord of fifty years as Superintendent. His whole heart was in his work and he was almost never absent. He published an excellent Sunday School Hymnal, which was in use for many years. Dr. Lines was much amused by the remark made by a woman member of the parish at the time he began his work, to the effect that she "was glad Mr. Lines was coming to St. Paul's because
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History of St. Paul's Parish
she thought he would be such a help to Mr. Hollister!" Miss Elizabeth P. Hall was a very gifted and conse- crated woman, for many years the head of an excellent private school, and, in spite of her busy life, acting as associate superintendent of the Sunday School. All dur- ing Dr. Lines' rectorate she did much visiting among the families of the church and brought many to baptism and confirmation, literally hundreds of children.
There was a Sunday School library, with six men librarians in charge. At the end of the period there were fifty teachers in the School. The children came from all over the city and were of all classes. In 1883 the Easter offering was $771.44, which at that time was given for various objects and included most, but not all, of the year's offerings. The custom of giving plants to the pupils at Easter was begun by Dr. Lines, and for several years flower-shows were held in the fall to show how well the plants had been cared for.
One of Dr. Lines' delights was the Singing School held through the winter for hymn practice, on Monday evenings, under a good leader. It was especially large at Christmas and Easter, but had a fair attendance at all times, and excellent singing in the Sunday School was the result. Dr. Lines usually attended with a large bag of hard candy in his overcoat pocket, said candy finding its way surreptitiously into the hands of the eager little ones! An important part of the Easter cele- bration at this time was the early service at 6:30 A. M. -not a communion service but morning prayer, with full choir and the carols splendidly sung by the Sunday School pupils, five hundred of whom were seated in the galleries. From all over the city people came hurry- ing to that service until the church was packed. They came especially to hear the carol singing, which was truly
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History of St. Paul's Parish
thrilling. Dr. Lines' words, spoken in a reminiscent ad- dress in 1905, may be appropriately quoted here: "St. Paul's has been made the church home of a great com- pany of people, with worldly distinctions largely over- looked. Not much has been said about rich and poor people, as if they were two different kinds of God's children, and I think that in rather a marked way we have kept the ideal of one family in Christ. The Sun- day School has been absolutely democratic. The great company of children in St. Paul's may forget much that we have taught them, but they will not forget our friendship. We have lived and worked here as if all men and women and boys and girls were God's children equally dear in His sight. I believe that is what the Church needs everywhere."
No account of Dr. Lines' life in New Haven would be complete without reference to his unique position in the city. He was for years President of the Board of Directors of the Public Library, also held the same position for the Organized Charities and served on many committees of a civic and patriotic nature. In 1897 he was given the degree of Doctor of Divinity by his Alma Mater, Yale University. He was beloved and respected by all citizens of whatever creed, color, or social position. Some of this light from a true Christian leader reflected upon St. Paul's Church, to its everlasting benefit in the eyes of the community. When, in 1903, he was called to be Bishop of the diocese of Newark, an editorial in the Journal-Courier truly said he was already Bishop of the entire city of New Haven, and President Hadley characterized him as its "first citizen". He was consecrated Bishop of Newark, November 18, 1903. At that time the Parish reported 900 families; 1,050 communicants; Sunday
EDWIN S. LINES FIFTH RECTOR 1879-1903
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History of St. Paul's Parish
School pupils 500; Sunday School officers 60. Dr. Lines left in November, 1903. In April, his successor was chosen, the Rev. James DeWolf Perry, Rector of Christ Church, Fitchburg, Mass. Rev. Mr. Perry ac- cepted the call, and preached his first sermon at St. Paul's in June, 1904.
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