USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > New Haven > History of St. Thomas's Episcopal Church, New Haven, Connecticut, 1848-1941 > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8
He was succeeded by the Rev. Walter H. Larom, who began his duties July 1, 1883, and continued as assistant until April 15, 1884. After serving in several places he became prominent in the Diocese of Albany, working mainly in Saranac Lake. He died December 8, 1934.
As has been already stated, the Rev. Edward W. Babcock had charge of the parish during the absence of the rector in Scotland, and he remained on as assistant until June 1886. When he left the Church of the Heavenly Rest, New York City, he became rector of the Church of the Holy Cross, Troy, N. Y., and Principal of the Mary Warren Free In- stitute. This was the church with which the Rev. John Ireland Tucker, of Tucker Hymnal fame, was so long con- nected. After a rectorship of nearly forty years, Mr. Bab- cock died June 16, 1935.
Even when the parish had no assistant, yet somehow Dr. Beardsley never seemed to lack help in the services. Of course his prominence in the church gave him many friends within the Diocese and without, and when they came to see him, as they so often did, or when their presence in the city was known to him, the invitation to preach was forthcoming at once, and almost invariably accepted. One distinguished clergyman ventured into the vestry room just before the hour of service. He was promptly sent back to his room at the hotel to get a sermon out of his bag.
58
History of St. Thomas's Episcopal Church
And then besides, in his position as an Examining Chap- lain, and as a member of the Standing Committee, he was brought into touch with the young men just entering the ministry. Oftentimes without knowing what he would get he took a chance and gave them the compliment and the encouragement of an invitation to preach. Here is the entry in his diary for June 2nd, 1872, which has an interest quite its own :- "The Rev. C. B. Brewster, a deacon ordained at Middletown on Wednesday last, preached a logical and well written sermon on the text, 'Fear God and keep his commandments,' etc. He promises to make a shining light in the church." The promise was fulfilled. And less than three weeks after his ordination to the Diaconate the Rev. William G. Sumner is mentioned as preaching. It is inter- esting to note that if any comment is ever made it is always kindly and understanding.
One can not fail to be impressed, as he reads Dr. Beards- ley's diary, with a closer fraternal spirit which prevailed among those older clergymen, a spirit, which unfortunately, has to some extent been lost. The men saw more of each other, they had more time to do so, they exchanged oftener, and that too, when an exchange even with a near-by rector, owing to limited transportation facilities, meant remaining away over night.
The reason for this is obvious. It is due in large part to the multiplicity of services and activities, and to their diverse character. After all, there was something fine in that unhur- ried life of the older men, which afforded them the oppor- tunity, not merely to be busy in the more or less inconse- quential things, but to do that which was really worth while.
But now to resume the thread of our narrative. The Rev. Alfred Bull Nichols succeeded Mr. Babcock as assistant. He was a graduate of Yale in the class of 1880, and was serving as tutor in the college at the time. His ministry at St. Thomas's covered about a year, ending July 3, 1887. After
59
Effort to Remove Indebtedness
studying abroad for a time he became an instructor in Harvard University, and later a professor of German at Simmons College, Boston.
Mr. Nichols was never of robust health, and that, coupled with some disappointments in his work, explains his tragic ending. On September 9, 1913, he left his home, and some weeks later his body was found in the woods near Concord, Mass., with a discharged pistol by his side. One of his classmates, writing of him says :- "He was one of those rare spirits, whose high ·sense of honor and idealistic nature com- pleted a personality of great attractiveness to those whom his retiring disposition admitted to his intimacy. He was a brilliant student and possessed a fine literary sense."
Following him came the Rev. Charles Wilbur deLyon Nichols (later spelled Nicholls). He is not listed in the Journal as curate at St. Thomas's, but Dr. Beardsley in his diary has the entry for September 18, 1887, "Mr. Nichols having commenced his duties as temporary assistant was with me both morning and afternoon." His connection with the parish ceased Easter 1888. He was not related to his prede- cessor. He was the author of several books, among which was "The Ultra Fashionable Peerage of America." This was "An official list of those people who can properly be called ultra-fashionable in the United States, with a few appended essays on ultra-smartness." The nature and value of his thought are well indicated when he says :- "The Epis- copal church and the Catholic church are the churches of beautiful manners, and if your birth has placed you under the social ban of being a dissenter, cultivate Episcopal emo- tions and shuffle off the mortal coil of Presbyterianism on as short notice as possible." Mr. Nichols did not continue long in the ministry of the Episcopal Church.
CHAPTER VIII
ERECTION OF PARISH BUILDING.
When the parish had acquired its fine new church, and was able to put upon its records the statement which reflected the joy and satisfaction which it felt, that it had "reached with the blessing of God that happy point in our history, aimed at since the erection of the church, where we can say we owe no external debt," they had little thought, perhaps, of the need which would soon manifest itself as essential to the better carrying on of the activities of the parish.
They were all fixed now as regards a place in which to worship, and while that, of course, is the important thing to be considered, yet there are other things, which, though they may not be of equal importance, do have their place in the life and work of the parish. Even though the organiza- tions may be few, and the church in no sense an institutional church, yet there is need in every parish for some accommo- dations for meetings and gatherings of one kind or another which are not strictly religious in their character.
The parish soon realized that here was an urgent need. It was always possible to meet in the houses of the par- ishioners, vestry meetings could be held in the rector's house, and the ladies, if their zeal contemplated a fair or bazaar, and it not infrequently did, much to the financial advantage of the parish, could rent a suitable hall, such as Loomis' Temple of Music. But this was simply making the best of the situation as it was. There was something else the parish could do, and it soon had a mind to do it.
61
Erection of Parish Building
In the annual parish meeting held April 2, 1888, a vote was passed which indicated what was in the mind of the parish, or at least what was in the mind of some of the parishioners, for all were not at first enthusiastic about the proposal, as the very cautious vote would suggest. That vote was :- "That the parish erect a parish building after the plans made by Henry Dudley the architect of the Church, but that no expense be incurred therefor, except what may be necessary to obtain estimates of the cost, until the entire sum necessary to erect the same be subscribed or otherwise provided for." The memory of the debt incurred in building the church was too fresh in mind, and the heroic efforts required to slough it off, for them too readily to run into another debt.
But where could such a building be placed? At the south- east corner of the church lot there was a small plot of ground, which could be utilised, but it was not large enough to warrant the expense of building on it alone. However, there was a jog in Dr. Beardsley's lot ten feet wide, which went back twenty-seven feet to the south line of the church lot. This he gave to the parish, and here was built the parish building.
Somehow it always went by that name instead of the more common designation "parish house," perhaps it was because that was the phrase used in the original motion. Every inch of ground was occupied, and when the city built its new Hall of Hearing in 1929 it blocked out completely the win- dows of the parish building. In digging for the foundation of the Hall of Hearing a copious spring of clear cold water was uncovered at the southwest corner of the parish build- ing, and days of steady pumping failed to lessen its flow. It was sealed and the work went on.
The parish, having voted to erect a parish building with the understanding that no debt be incurred, then voted that the matter of the erection of said building with all its details
62
History of St. Thomas's Episcopal Church
be referred to the Wardens and Vestrymen with power to act. The money needed, about $6,000, was promptly pro- vided, and the work started. The corner stone was laid by Bishop Williams May 21, 1888, in the presence of a number of the clergy, and "quite a concourse of people."
Among other things there was deposited in the corner stone the following statement :
"The corner stone of this addition to St. Thomas's Church was laid in Whitsun week, 1888, by the Rt. Rev. John Williams, D.D., LL.D., Bishop of Con- necticut, Rev. E. E. Beardsley, D.D., LL.D., rector of the parish; Harry Prescott and Charles Shelton, wardens; John L. Treat, John E. Earle, Tilton E. Doolittle, Henry S. Johnson, George Rockwell, John D. Shelley, Jonathan W. Pond, Benjamin C. Lum, Daniel C. Eaton, Joel A. Sperry, Edward M. Reed, Charles A. Lindsley, Burton Mansfield, Frank H. Sperry, vestrymen; the rector, John E. Earle, Charles A. Lindsley and Frank H. Sperry, build- ing committee; George Rockwell, contractor, and George M. Grant, master mechanic."
The front outside wall of the extension is built of East Haven stone, while the other walls are of brick. The build- ing was blessed and dedicated on February 3, 1889, by Bishop Williams when he visited the parish for confirmation.
This addition furnished much needed accommodations for parish work, rooms in which the various societies could meet, a room for the gathering of the Sunday School, which could also serve as a chapel when occasion required, and a choir room.
And it was not long before it was put to this last use. The rector had had in mind for some time the introduction of a vested choir of men and boys. He had seen them in the churches in England and liked them, dreamed, perhaps, of
63
Erection of Parish Building
the day when such choir could be introduced into St. Thomas's. Now it was possible to do so, and the entry in Dr. Beardsley's diary for May 5, 1889, reads :- "A pleasant day and very large congregations morning and afternoon. The introduction of a vested choir attracted much attention, and was eminently successful. Few failed to value its churchly music in preference to that of the quartette choir to which the church has been accustomed since its erection." There is no criticism intended there, but merely the expres- sion of his preference.
It was no small thing for the rector at his time of life, and with his well-known conservatism, to make this somewhat radical change. Indeed there were some among his more intimate contemporaries who were a bit inclined to rally him on his ritualistic tendencies. In those days vested choirs of men and boys were more and more coming into vogue, and really no ritual, as such, was involved. Trinity Church choir was organized in 1885, and Christ Church in 1887.
When the addition was completed, and it was proposed to introduce a large vested choir, large, that is as contrasted with a quartette, or even a double quartette, it was realised that changes in the arrangement of the chancel would be necessary, and consequently it was voted that the building committee be authorized to make such changes in the church and chancel as they deem proper and necessary, under the direction and advice of the rector.
To accommodate thirty men and boys, which has been the normal number of the choir, it was necessary to remove the front row of pews, and build out the chancel platform, thus making room for the choir stalls. At the same time the "Amen seats" went. This enlargement and refurnishing of the chancel was a memorial to Charles Shelton, a gift of his widow. Mr. Shelton was Junior Warden from 1884 to 1888, and Treasurer at the time of his death.
When Mr. Nichols (Nicholls) terminated his connection
64
History of St. Thomas's Episcopal Church
with the parish, Dr. Beardsley did not immediately get another curate. His nephew, William A. Beardsley, was at the Berkeley Divinity School, Middletown, Conn., prepar- ing to enter the ministry. He had him come each week to act as lay reader and assist in the Sunday School. This arrangement continued for two years, until he was ordained a deacon.
But the rector was not wholly without clerical assistance during that time. From March 1, 1888, to July 1, 1888, the Rev. A. Douglas Miller assisted regularly, doing a full share of the preaching. Mr. Miller was an interesting and charm- ing man, and a rare preacher. A characteristic note about his preaching was the element of surprise. One never knew just what was coming, but when it came the point was crystal clear.
Prior to the establishment of the cathedral at Hartford, the Convention of the Diocese met in different cities. When it met in New Haven it met in Trinity Church, St. Paul's, or St. Thomas's, coming to each once in about nine years. In those days there was a full service with sermon. At the Convention held in St. Thomas's June 11, 1889, there was an interesting feature worthy of mention. Dr. Beardsley in his diary says :- "The musical part of the service was rendered by some twenty clergymen occupying the stalls in surplices and led by the Choirmaster of the parish. It was universally approved and pronounced unsurpassed by any music which we have ever had at a Diocesan Convention." Those are generous words and well-deserved, for the men responded graciously to the invitation to sing, and willingly came ahead of time for the necessary rehearsal.
On June 4, 1890, Mr. Beardsley, who had been serving as lay reader for two years, was ordained Deacon in Middle- town by Bishop Williams. He entered at once upon his duties as curate in the parish, preaching his first sermon June 8.
65
Erection of Parish Building
At the end of his year in the diaconate he was ordered Priest in St. Thomas's by Bishop Williams, May 18, 1891, who preached the sermon. Ordained with him were the fol- lowing members of his class at Berkeley :- The Rev. Paul H. Birdsall, Rev. Frank I. Paradise, Rev. Lucius W. Shey, and Rev. Francis B. Whitcome. Thus three of the curates of the parish were advanced to the priesthood in St. Thomas's, Mr. Beckwith and Mr. Buck being the other two. There have been other ordinations in the church, but the men were not working in the parish at the time.
CHAPTER IX
DEATH OF DR. BEARDSLEY ; CALL OF NEW RECTOR ; MEMORIAL ENDOWMENT FUND.
Mr. Beardsley's curacy was of short duration, for on St. Thomas's Day, December 21, 1891, the rector died after a very brief illness. The last entry in his diary is for December 6, and reads :- "Another pleasant Sunday. I preached in the morning, and administered the Holy Communion to a larger number than on the preceding Sunday." And that was only two weeks before his death.
And thus ended one of those long rectorships for which the Church in Connecticut is noted. Bishop Williams preached a beautiful memorial sermon, January 24, which was printed, from the text, Psalm LXXXIV, 5, 6, 7. "Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee ; in whose heart are the ways of them; Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God."
It was that phrase "from strength to strength" around which the Bishop's thought hovered. "Look," he says, "at his personal life or his official life the story is still the same, 'from strength to strength'-blessed be God that we may add those other words, which tell that he has appeared in Zion before God !"
Dr. Beardsley's rectorship fell just short of forty-four years. The parish was now confronted with the task, a task in regard to which they had had no experience heretofore, the
REV. WILLIAM A. BEARDSLEY, D.D.
67
Death of Dr. E. E. Beardsley
task of calling a rector. They turned to the young curate and gave him the call. He accepted and became the second rector of the parish Easter 1892. That same fine loyalty which the parish had exhibited towards their rector all those forty-four years was now transferred to the new rector. But for that the ministry now beginning would not have been the long and happy one which it turned out to be.
With no experience in the guidance of a parish, and not quite a year in the priesthood, the young rector entered upon his duties. It is a question whether in the long run it is well for a clergyman, youthful and lacking in experience, to assume too heavy responsibilities. But the time to make such reflection is when he is taking on those responsibilities, and not long after he has laid them down. One thing is certain, that without the sympathetic support of his people he will break. Dr. Beardsley had trained his parish in the ways of loyalty, given it stability, and in one sense it was easy to carry on. In another sense it was hard to step into the place of one who through long years of service had planted in the hearts of the people a flame of love which remained undimmed to the end.
The new rector took up and carried on the work alone, and it was not until far along in his rectorship, June 1917, that he asked for assistance, which came in the person of the Rev. J. Gordon Carey. He remained as curate until the middle of December 1918. During this time the Church of the Ascension was without a rector, and the clergy of St. Thomas's took charge of it for eleven months.
Fortunately, there were not many organizations in St. Thomas's to claim the rector's attention and drain his strength. The nature of the work was a bit old fashioned, no doubt, preaching and systematic parish visiting. At first there were two sermons, morning and afternoon. The after- noon service had long been a tradition in the parish, and it seemed only right to adhere to that tradition, particularly, as
68
History of St. Thomas's Episcopal Church
St. Thomas's was the only Episcopal church in the city to have an afternoon service regularly. It was felt that there should be some church where those with Episcopal inclina- tions, or any inclinations, for that matter, might go to say their prayers.
It will have to be admitted that no overwhelming number had those inclinations. Yet there were always a few who came, and seemed to enjoy the privilege. To the end of his rectorship the Sunday vesper service continued with full vested choir present. The sermon, however, had long since been abandoned. Modern ways of life have had a devastat- ing effect upon church going, and upon parish visiting. Lacking in that nice sense of the fitness of things is the parson who is so unheeding as to drop in on his people and cause them to miss the thrilling point in some slow-moving radio story, compared with which the glacier is a speedboat. Verily the methods of parish work have undergone a change. And that, of course, was to be expected.
In the years immediately following the advent of the new rector the record is merely that of quiet uneventful progress. As the fiftieth anniversary of the parish approached it was felt that there should be some worth-while recognition of it, a recognition made not just at the moment, but continuing into the future. And that recognition took the form of an Endowment Fund. At a meeting of the Wardens and Vestry of the parish, held on Monday, March 28, 1898, the following preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted :
"Whereas, the Parish of St. Thomas's Church, New Haven, will have reached, on the coming Easter, the Fiftieth Anniversary of its organization, free of debt; a result largely due, under God, to the faithful labors of its first Rector, who for forty-four years presided over its affairs and ministered to its wants and to the wants of its people : and
Whereas, it is desirable that such an event, under such circumstances, be appropriately recognized, and that the Parish, at the same time, express its gratitude for the prosperity with which during its half
69
Death of Dr. E. E. Beardsley
century of growth, God has blessed it, in some permanent and sub- stantial way, therefore
Resolved, that, led by these motives, the Parish create a fund, which shall be unlimited in amount, and shall be known as 'The Endowment Fund of the Parish of St. Thomas's Church,' in memory of its late Rector, the Reverend E. Edwards Beardsley, D.D., LL.D., the income of which shall be devoted to the uses and purposes following :
1. That all income therefrom, until said fund shall amount to the sum of five thousand dollars, shall be added to the principal.
2. That whenever said fund shall amount to the sum of five thou- sand dollars, either by accretions of interest or by gifts and additions from other sources, the income therefrom shall be devoted to the uses and purposes of the Parish.
Resolved, that the collections on Easter next be devoted to this object, and that the Parish be asked to raise not less than one thousand dollars at that time.
Resolved, that the rector be requested to take up at least as often as once a year a collection for this fund.
Resolved, that our people be urged to add to this fund, by will or gift, from time to time, which additions shall be made and accepted upon the terms and for the purposes contained in these resolutions.
Resolved, that a copy of this preamble and of these resolutions be mailed to the persons worshipping in this church, and that they be invited to contribute as liberally as possible to the fund on Easter next."
And thus was this Memorial Endowment Fund established. Those first offerings on Easter amounted to $809. Gifts and legacies and the annual offering steadily increased it, until in 1909 the Lucy H. Boardman legacy of $5,000 raised it beyond the figure required by the resolution before the income was available for parish purposes. With all the various objects appealing for help, it was never the purpose to press this fund, but each year as the birthday of the parish came around the attention of the people was called to it, and oppor- tunity was given to make contributions to it.
During these years, the church and parish building com-
70
History of St. Thomas's Episcopal Church
pleted and paid for, there were no changes nor additions to the physical plant. There came very near being an addition to the property in 1897. As it has been stated the parish never owned a rectory until quite recent years. On June 23, 1897, the rector married, and the parish anticipating that he would need a house of his own began negotiations to acquire the little house adjoining the parish building on Orange Street, known as 230 Orange Street. It could be had for about $9,000. Extensive repairs were to be made, and because of its nearness to the church adjoining it, in fact, it seemed desirable for the parish to own it. However, the negotiations fell through. In the light of later events, one might say, providentially, if Providence is ever concerned with real estate transactions.
In 1907-1908 an improvement was made which had been in the minds of the people ever since the introduction of the vested choir. Originally, the organ was in the gallery at the rear of the church, and there, of course, was where the quartette choir was. But now the vested choir of men and boys was in the chancel at the other end of the church. This was an arrangement quite unsatisfactory from the musical standpoint. Perhaps there was a place midway between the two where the sounds met and blended, but not all the congre- gation could be in that place at once.
In 1907 it was decided to move the organ down to the chancel. That meant adding to the chancel. On the west side there was a little vestry room, as it was called. This was enlarged and the roof raised, and a suitable and adequate room made in which to place the organ. This was rebuilt and installed by H. Hall & Co. of New Haven. Always a fine toned instrument, it was even better after this remodeling and enlarging process. These changes were made at a cost of $7,394.47, and the parish did not incur any debt because of them.
This organ, which was removed to the chancel and
71
Death of Dr. E. E. Beardsley
remodeled, was placed in the church in 1869. It was made by Steer & Turner of Westfield, Mass. Dr. Beardsley's diary carries this entry for May 28 of that year :- "Friday evening-Grand exhibition of the new organ, in St. Thomas's church. Edifice filled notwithstanding the weather was unpleasant."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.