USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > New Haven > History of St. Paul's Parish, New Haven, 1830-1930 > Part 4
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The beautiful windows in the Chapel were put in during these years, also the carved oak screen and cre- dence. The windows all show scenes in the life of the Virgin Mary, and were made by Phipps, Ball and Burn- ham of New York. They were gifts of individuals with two exceptions, one, "The Presentation in the Temple", being a composite memorial from many small donors, and a small one, "The Purification", given by the Church School and Campfire Girls. The silver and ebony cross was given in memory of Cecil Gilbert Barnum by her family. The silver Altar Lights were given in January, 1920, by Mrs. E. A. Gessner and the Misses Gessner as a memorial to Marion Elise Gessner, and on All Saints Day, 1921, the silver Altar desk was first used, a memorial to Dr. Treby Williams Lyon. Also in May 1923, Mr. Thomas H. Smith gave the hymn boards in the Chapel.
On June 15, 1918, a service of Recognition and Thanksgiving for members of the parish who had served in the Great War was held in St. Paul's. Eighty-four stars had been placed on our service flag and not one gold star! Death spared all of them, though many of them were with the Twenty-Sixth Division, at the battles of Chateau-Thierry and Seicheprey. Letters from the rector of St. Paul's had been sent to the front in France and prayers constantly offered for the men, also a Roll of Honor had been placed in the church.
The work at the Vacation House was successfully carried on all of this time under Miss Pardee, assisted by Miss Ellen A. Reed. Later, Mrs. Ryce Clarke filled
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History of St. Paul's Parish
the position for several years. Mr. Harte, in 1919, started a Church Normal School for instruction of teachers in the Episcopal Schools of New Haven. This was carried on from October to May with a faculty of ten, and was well attended. The instruction was all in the Christian Nurture Courses. Unfortunately, it was not continued after the first year of its existence.
In 1920, the ninetieth anniversary of the founding of the parish was marked by a service on April 21st, followed by a reception. Bishop Lines and Bishop Perry were both present, and each made an address. The Cele- brant at the Communion Service was Bishop Brewster.
In June, 1919, the Rev. John Wilkins came to be curate at St. Paul's. He came from the Naval Training Station at Great Lakes, Illinois, where he had been one of the Chaplains, but he was a Connecticut man and a graduate of Nashotah Seminary. He stayed until spring of 1922, when he went to be rector of the Church at Stafford Springs. He and his wife made many friends while at St. Paul's.
In January, 1921, the wardens and vestry of St. Paul's voted permission to the people of Forbes Memorial Chapel to become an independent parish, to be known as the Church of The Epiphany. The Vicar, the Rev. Robert Bell, became rector of the new church. The people of St. Paul's, though sorry for the separa- tion, extended congratulations to the new organization and wished it God-speed!
In June, 1923, owing to many urgent conditions, Mr. Harte resigned and left New Haven. He supplied for a few months at Christ Church, Ansonia, and afterwards became rector of the Church of Our Saviour at Syra- cuse, New York. The Parish report in 1922 shows:
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History of St. Paul's Parish
Families 586, Communicants, 1,236, Church School 248.
The Rev. Albert L. Longley was secured as a supply during the months while St. Paul's people were looking for a new rector. He was a man of wide experience in New Jersey and New York parishes and in Indian- apolis, where his health broke down and he came east to recover. He was warmly appreciated while at St. Paul's, and during a critical period did much to hold the parish together. He was particularly good in his work with the Church School.
Bishop Lines at this time wrote a most helpful and encouraging letter to the people. In it he said: "Under changed conditions St. Paul's has, in the place where it has stood so long, an important work to do, in some ways more important than ever before. No challenge to the Church whose servants we are is more definite than that to show its ability to bear testimony for Christ and to heed His command to preach the Gospel in the congested part of our great cities St. Paul's Church is as near the homes of New Haven people as ever it was and there are now new means of communi- cation. There are people and resources to be drawn out. There are abundant reasons for courage and hope. Let the new year's work bring a new sense of consecration and devotion to the service of Christ and our fellow- men, in and from the Parish Church, which means so much in the lives of a great multitude of us for time and eternity."
In October, 1923, a call was given to the Rev. Elmore McNeill McKee to become rector of St. Paul's. He accepted, to begin his work January first. He was a young man of fine personality, a graduate of Yale University and of the Yale School of Religion. He had
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History of St. Paul's Parish
also studied at the General Theological Seminary, Berkeley Divinity School, and in Scotland at the Uni- versity of Edinburgh. He was assistant to Dr. Lewis at St. John's Church, Waterbury, at the time of his call. He carefully studied the conditions in the parish and the city, and knew the work ahead of him and its pos- sibilities.
Although the people came from all over the city and suburbs, one condition was an improvement. By 1923, many families owned a car. They were used to coming down town for shopping, theatres, and concerts, -why not for church? Distances of a few blocks meant nothing. The Italian wave which had nearly submerged the neighborhood was subsiding, the members of that nationality, to a large extent, moving out to farms, to Fair Haven and East Haven and other outlying dis- tricts. The restriction of immigration also had its effect. The affection in which St. Paul's has always been held constituted a strong pull on its people, even to the third and fourth generation. For all these reasons Mr. McKee came and, with a real sense of consecration, entered upon his work. Before he came, in December, a social can- vass was made of the entire parish in order to stir up interest in the administration. On Sunday, December 9th, the callers, one hundred in number, met for lunch together in the Parish House and started from there in automobiles. There were at least six hundred families to be visited. This big task was accomplished in spite of rainy weather and did much to unify the parish.
Mr. Longley received a call from St. Paul's Church, Glen Cove, L. I., and entered upon his duties there January first. Mr. and Mrs. McKee were welcomed by a large Parish reception on January 29th.
ELMORE MC NEILL MC KEE NINTH RECTOR 1924-1927
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History of St. Paul's Parish
At the Annual Parish Meeting, January 24th, two women were elected to the vestry, the first women to be chosen in the Diocese of Connecticut. They were Miss Elizabeth C. Hall and Mrs. Frederick Wiggin. The women of the Parish have been represented on the vestry ever since.
Owing to increased activity, more money was now needed both for running expenses and in order to put the property in first-class condition. Mr. McKee im- mediately set to work to arouse the people to the neces- sity for meeting a larger budget. Each year an Every- Member Canvass was held. The people responded splendidly and finally not only raised the budget, paid the full missionary apportionment, paid for new pew cushions and hymnals in the church, but also in 1926, put the free pew system into operation. This last reform was very near to Mr. McKee's heart and has proved perfectly feasible. It certainly helps immensely to bring the right atmosphere into the Church of Christ and is in use in a large majority of Episcopal churches in this country.
In 1925, a survey of the neighborhood was made by a number of Yale students attending St. Paul's. It was found that there were quite a number of Protestant families just moving into the vicinity, and some were added to the parish. Mr. McKee's preaching was of a high order, on a very thoughtful and spiritual basis, and made such a strong appeal that many new members were constantly joining the parish.
In November, 1926, Bishop Dallas held a week's preaching Mission at St. Paul's. He preached every night, to a well filled church, on "The Adventure for Christ" in all its phases. Much preparatory work was done before the Mission, including a general parish
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History of St. Paul's Parish
call by a large committee. There was also a series of continuation services afterwards. A real spiritual quick- ening of the parish was the result. And St. Paul's adopted the mission hymn, Bunyan's Pilgrim Hymn:
"He who would valiant be 'Gainst all disaster Let him with constancy Follow the Master."
Early in his term as rector Mr. McKee began to de- velop the work with the young people. He started an organization which later became the Young People's Fellowship. A large number responded to his invitation and a good majority of them have continued steadfastly in the work. They have met Sunday evenings for light suppers at 5:30, followed by a meeting with speakers, discussions and singing.
When Mr. McKee first took up the work he was assisted by a lay reader, Mr. William E. Sprenger, then a student at the Yale School of Religion. Mr. Sprenger had served overseas for four years, 1917 to 1921, in the Y. M. C. A. He was at Verdun and St. Mihiel with the second French Army until after the Armistice, when he was with the fourteenth Battalion of Indo-Chinese. Later he worked in the devastated regions in Northern France, and in 1920 was sent to Roumania to help organize the Y. M. C. A. in that country. On his return he entered the Yale Divinity School. Mr. Sprenger graduated in June and left to go as a Y. M. C. A. Secretary in Kansas. He was fol- lowed by the Rev. Roger W. Bennett, who served as assistant for two years, when he left to go to St. George's School, Newport, R. I. Upon his departure, Mr. Sprenger, who had in the meantime been on the Cathe-
CHAPEL
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History of St. Paul's Parish
dral staff in Topeka, and had been ordained, was re- called as assistant to Mr. McKee. He began his work in September, 1925, remaining four years, leaving in February 1930, to become rector of Trinity Church in Albany, N. Y.
One of Mr. McKee's new ventures was the forming of a Parish Council, consisting of the heads of the dif- ferent organizations and two members from the Parish at large. This body met with the rector once in two months. It was a great help in correlating the work and has been continued to the present time.
In 1925, beautiful chimes for the organ were pre- sented by Mr. F. Stanley Bradley, long a generous and devoted member of the vestry.
It was Mr. McKee who started the present custom of a Christmas Eve service, combining the children's carol service, the Tree and gift distribution with a beau- tiful Nativity pageant. The pageant was one entitled "The Adoration of The Kings and Shepherds", ar- ranged by Miss Mildred E. Cook. It was first given Sunday, December 23, 1917, during Mr. Paine's rector- ate. Mr. McKee presented it at the close of the Christ- mas Eve Service, which took place at seven o'clock, early in the evening so that family parties might be held afterward. The church has been filled, galleries and ground floor, too, at this service each Christmastide ever since.
The Church School, under Mr. Bennett's superin- tendence grew and flourished. At Mr. McKee's sugges- tion, each Sunday at the opening the entire School marched into the church for service, with an offering taken up by the older boys, lessons read from the lectern by members of the classes and a short address by the rector or assistant. The Church School choir of girls
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History of St. Paul's Parish
in blue vestments was also begun and carried on by Miss Julie C. Uhl. They always march into the church at the head of the School and sit in the choir stalls. In 1926, Mr. George E. Steele became Superintendent of the Church School and has very efficiently filled the position to the present time.
St. Paul's has always, since Dr. Lines' time, laid great stress upon pastoral work among the families. For fifteen years Miss Florence Horne served as Par- ish Visitor and did invaluable work by keeping in close touch with the homes, especially where there were children. Her branch of Little Helpers, the font roll of baptized babies, was quite remarkable and num- bered over a hundred names most of the time. Owing to ill health she resigned her post in 1928.
In 1927 there passed away a faithful servant of God in the person of Henry J. Head, for twenty years sex- ton of St. Paul's Church. Always courteous and kind, hard working and earnest at his job, he was a devout communicant, and when his health broke down his one thought was for the church and its welfare. He was greatly missed by the congregation.
In November, 1927, the beloved Bishop of Newark was called home at the ripe age of 82. After ser- vices in Newark, where a great number of. people showed their affection for him, his body was brought back to his dear parish church of St. Paul's for a final service. No one who was present will ever forget that glorious consummation of a Christian life. The casket was taken up into the chancel and placed before the Altar he loved. The white hangings, the beautiful flowers, the triumphant hymns of Christian faith sung so splendidly by the long line of clergy and laymen,
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History of St. Paul's Parish
all expressed the pure indomitable soul of the leader. The old church seemed to embrace him and to gain it- self an added consecration.
It was a blow to the parish when in March, 1927, Mr. McKee announced to the vestry that he had re- ceived a call from his Alma Mater to become Pastor of the Church of Christ in Yale University. It seemed in the three years of his stay at St. Paul's that he had only begun the great work the people knew he would do. But as he felt his duty lay in the direction of the opportunity offered him, they tried to give him up cheerfully.
The Journal-Courier, in commenting on Mr. McKee's new work, said: "The people of St. Paul's will be sorry to lose him, but in releasing him they are making a fine sacrifice for Yale. It has been a re- markable demonstration of the ability of a church to sustain itself against odds that this historic congregation, which gave Lines and Perry to the bishopric, has made for years. The location in a district encroached upon by business and new-comers seemed highly unfavorable, but with courage and in fine co-operative spirit the people have carried on and the work is vital and strong. The acceptance of his new post is with the hearty ap- proval of Mr. McKee's people."
Mr. McKee left in June and Mr. Sprenger was appointed Minister-in-Charge until a new Rector should be called. His faithful service during the ensuing months was deeply appreciated.
The reports at the close of Mr. McKee's rectorate show, 700 families, 1,369 communicants, and 291 in the Church School. This is an indication of healthy growth during three and a half years, but the deepening of spiritual life and the strengthening of unity in the
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History of St. Paul's Parish
parish cannot be measured by statistics which are un- satisfactory things at best, and particularly so when they concern church life.
In July, 1927, a call was given to the Rev. Howard R. Weir, rector of Grace Church, Salem, Mass. He was a graduate of Hiram College, had done post- graduate work at Yale, graduated from Union Theo- logical Seminary and was ordained immediately after- ward in 1913. He served as Assistant to Dr. Slattery in Grace Church, New York, for four years, then went to be rector at Grace Church, Salem. Mr. Weir ac- cepted, but was unable to come until February Ist, 1928. He had been ten years at Salem and was greatly loved by his people. They were just erecting a new church and he felt he must see the enterprise finished before leaving. The wardens and vestry of St. Paul's decided that it was worth while waiting to get a man of his calibre, and Mr. Sprenger carried on the work very successfully in the interim.
Just at the close of Mr. McKee's ministry in 1927, the Chapel was at last completed by the gift of the reredos, a memorial of Miss Mary J. Hotchkiss, by her sister, Miss Elizabeth Hotchkiss. The original plan was for a triptych set in a carved oak screen. Miss Hildreth Meiere of New York, a well-known artist, was engaged to paint it. There are three pictures, the central one of The Nativity; right, The Meeting with Simeon and Anna in the Temple; left, The Annuncia- tion. The whole subject is treated in Florentine style and is a very beautiful work of art. The carved oak screen and doors are the work of Mr. Wilfrid G. An- thony. The Chapel as it stands today is perfect in every detail and is often visited by strangers who have heard of its beauty. At this time the Memorial Stone Arch,
PAINTING FROM THE TRIPTYCH IN THE CHAPEL
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History of St. Paul's Parish
leading from the church to the parish house was also finished and consecrated. It was the gift of the Parochial Society, which thus used to the memory of departed members a long standing fund started by Miss Fanny Baldwin.
When Mr. Weir arrived in February, 1928, with his mother, he moved into the comfortable new rectory at 197 Edwards Street, which the parish bought at this time. The people soon discovered that they had a preacher of great ability and a parish priest who would endear himself to the families in their homes. St. Paul's has indeed been fortunate to secure a man of such spiritual power as tenth rector of their historic parish.
The present report shows 821 families, 1,556 com- municants, 327 in the Church School with 100 in the Font Roll. This is the largest number of communicants ever reached at St. Paul's. As has been true throughout most of its history, people are coming from all over the city and suburbs. Sunday mornings the motor cars line the surrounding streets and it has been necessary to have a traffic policeman placed at the corner of Olive and Chapel Streets at service time. A map of New Haven hangs in the office which shows where each family lives, and the web spreads all over the city. Mr. Weir has introduced a zoning system and neighborhood meetings are held in various sections. The number of young children coming to Sunday Kindergarten at eleven o'clock has increased and while this matter of reaching the youngest is a problem, it may be solved by parents bringing the children to church with them, instead of to Church School. This is done now in many families. In the summer, a short talk for children is given before the regular sermon.
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History of St. Paul's Parish
In 1928, a director of religious education, Miss Jeanette Benson, was appointed who also has charge of the recreational work with the young people. The Church School is in excellent condition. An interest- ing feature is the Church School Council, which gives an opportunity for self-government. It was organized in November, 1927, with ten student members and seven advisory ones. It meets monthly and recommends plans to the School for social life, and service activities, also edits the School bulletin. It plans special services of worship and also methods of raising money for missionary offerings. The President at this time is Miss Dorothy Sperry. There is a Church School Choir Guild and also a Junior Altar Guild. The latter cares for the Altar at the time of the Communion Service which the School celebrates occasionally for the instruction of the children. The offerings of the Church School for missions at Easter have steadily increased. In 1929, $700 was given in at the Diocesan meeting in Hartford, and other missionary offerings during the year brought the total up to $1,000. Mr. Weir is a member of the Diocesan Board of Religious Education. The mission- ary apportionment is paid each year in full. The Wo- man's Thank Offering of the Auxiliary is this year more than double the usual amount. Since Mr. Weir came he has sent numerous delegates to the summer conferences, to St. Paul's, Concord, the Diocesan Con- ference, and six or eight to the large one at Wellesley. The results show in renewed zeal and consecration of the leaders.
An electric, pneumatic console, connected with the great organ in the Church, has been placed in the Chapel and an opening has been made from the organ itself through the rear wall of the Chapel, making it
BAPTISTRY
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History of St. Paul's Parish
possible for the church organ to be used in the Chapel services. It is the gift of Mrs. Frederick C. Rowland, in memory of her sister, Jennie Rowland, who for eighty-two years was a loyal member of St. Paul's.
In March, 1929, on Palm Sunday evening, a very remarkable event was the production of the old moral- ity, "Everyman", in the chancel of the Church, under direction of Professor Jack Crawford of the English Department at Yale. It was a very solemn and beautiful production. The students at Berkeley Divinity School took part and several of the clergy. The Church was filled, many were turned away and all the large audi- ence of twelve hundred appeared to be deeply im- pressed.
So St. Paul's reaches its hundredth birthday full of vigor, with every reason for courage and hope. New members are constantly being added to the parish, financial conditions are sound, harmony prevails. There is a healthy growth in all of the organizations. The people are giving generously for the extension of Christ's kingdom both at home and abroad. As we look back over the years, we see that the Church has, like its patron Saint, "fought the good fight" in the face of difficulties and dangers. To those of us who love it, it is a rock-like witness to the everlasting Truth of the Master's teaching.
There can be no more fitting words for closing this history than those of Bishop Littlejohn's sermon on the Fiftieth Anniversary in 1880: "Your faith, pa- tience, and courage have been tried more than once, shadows have now and then fallen which you could not pierce; and yet today you are the stronger for the schooling God has given you. Is it not true and will it not be admitted by all, that the times of your greatest
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History of St. Paul's Parish
activity have been the times of your greatest joy; that the years in which you were most enterprising and aggressive in the Master's work were the years of your strength; and that when you gave most and did most and prayed most and stood closest shoulder to shoulder, you were happiest? As it has been, so it shall be. When another fifty years shall have passed, this parish, if it survive, under God will present the same chequered existence of growth that it has shown in the past. May God give you strength ever to close the ranks and march on to a new victory!"
A Prayer For The Parish
O God our Father, who hast been pleased to have in Thy gracious keeping the life of this parish, we thank Thee for the rich heritage which is ours in com- munion with those who have made this work possible. Help us to be of the company of brave saints who have worshipped here in spirit and in truth. We thank Thee for their labours, into the fruit of which we have entered. Help us, as we strive to carry on their work, to be of one mind and purpose in all our undertakings, and to hand on the light undimmed to coming generations. Grant to us the vision that sees Thee in all men. Help us to labour so unselfishly for the coming of Thy King- dom upon earth that Thou canst bless us in all our ways. Be with us in the coming years that we may plan wisely, labour faithfully, and live gloriously in the faith which is revealed to us in the life of Thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
H. R. W.
HOWARD R. WEIR PRESENT (TENTH ) RECTOR 1928 ---
6 1
History of St. Paul's Parish
List of Rectors
1845-1851
SAMUEL COOKE
1851-1860
ABRAM N. LITTLEJOHN
1860-1868
EDWARD S. DROWN
1869-1879 FRANCIS LOBDELL
1879-1903 EDWIN STEVENS LINES
1904-19II
JAMES DEWOLF PERRY
1911-1918 GEORGE LYMAN PAINE
1918-1923 HENRY SWINTON HARTE
1924-1927
ELMORE MCNEILL MCKEE
1928-
HOWARD ROBERT WEIR
The Three Bishops given to the Church
BISHOP LITTLEJOHN OF LONG ISLAND BISHOP LINES OF NEWARK, N. J. BISHOP PERRY OF RHODE ISLAND
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History of St. Paul's Parish
List of Wardens
1845-1854
NATHANIEL F. CLARKE
1845-1850
NATHAN SMITH
1853-1903
JOHN C. HOLLISTER
1851-1852
ENOS CUTLER
1855-1868
JOHN B. ROBERTSON
1869-1877
SAMUEL EBEN BARNEY
1878-1883
ELIAS PIERPONT
1884-1910
BENJAMIN R. ENGLISH
1904-1909
EDWARD E. BRADLEY
1910-1920
HERBERT W. SNOW
19II- WILLIAM O). PARDEE
1920-1922
ARTHUR H. JACKSON
1922-
JOHN W. HUTT
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History of St. Paul's Parish
Vestrymen, 1830-1930 With the date of their first election 1845 1851
James F. Babcock
Charles L. English
William H. Elliot
Samuel B. Gorham
John C. Hollister
Timothy A. Hunt
Russell Hotchkiss
William H. Stanley
Charles Hooker
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