USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Litchfield > St. Michael's Parish, Litchfield, Connecticut, 1745-1954; a biography of a parish and of many who have served it > Part 10
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Irene Crutch
Arthur D. Deacon
Marion I. Crutch Evelyn Deacon
Dr. N. Lloyd Deming Alexis Doster
Frances E. Hickox
Ernest G. Fritz
Amy R. Thurston
Curtis R. Hatheway
Robert F. Jackson
Charlotte Wiggin Thomas Baldwin
Thomas A. Langford
Sutherland A. Beckwith
Robert K. Munroe
George C. Brewster
Carlisle Page
James Brewster Ludlow S. Bull
Dr. Charles I. Page
F. Wadsworth Busk
Edwin B. Perkins
Joseph R. Busk
Allan T. Trumbull
William B. Clark
Charles A. Whitbeck
Macklin Cunningham
Frederick H. Wiggin
Henry L. Page
On Sunday, September 8, 1918, Dr. Seymour died after a short illness. Since his retirement he had assisted at every service in St. Michael's until within a few months of his death, always reading the Gospel, and on Easter and Christmas taking one of the cele- brations. He had also preached occasionally. At a vestry meeting on September 17 a memorial of thanksgiving "for his priestly min- istrations during the twenty-four-year rectorate" was unani- mously adopted, in which appear the words: "As a man he was universally respected. As a priest he was revered. As a friend he was cherished and loved." It was the sense of this meeting that a memorial to Dr. Seymour should be placed in the church; the rector was appointed chairman of a committee, to consist of three vestrymen and three others, to consider one.
Many facts about Dr. Seymour's life have already been told, but the following are needed to complete the picture. Born at Litch- field on January 24, 1836, he was graduated from Yale College in 1857, studied at the Berkeley Divinity School, was ordered deacon at Middletown, May 22, 1861, by Bishop Williams, and ordained priest, also by Bishop Williams, at St. Paul's, New Haven, on April 15, 1862. He had charge of St. Peter's, Milford, St. Thomas's, Bethel, Trinity, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and Trinity, Norwich,
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from which he came to St. Michael's in 1879. Except for ten years, 1884-1893, when he was rector of Trinity Church, Hartford, the rest of his ministry was spent in Litchfield. He received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Trinity College in 1897. His farewell message to his former parishioners, just before his death, was: "Fight the good fight of faith; lay hold on eternal life." He him- self had set them a shining example.
Early in 1919 Mr. Brewster received an invitation to meet Mr. Henry R. Towne in New York, and there was told of Mr. Towne's wish to give St. Michael's Parish a stone church in mem- ory of his wife, who had died in 1917. His proposal was to give $100,000 toward building the church, while the parish would be responsible for about $75,000 to cover certain parts of the work involved, and would also agree to build a suitable parish house at some time not too far in the future. Mr. Brewster returned and laid the offer before the vestry, who discussed it very thoroughly, finally voting to have the Building Committee make an official and detailed survey of the church property and assets. Meanwhile a committee consisting of the rector and two others was appointed to assure Mr. Towne of the grateful appreciation of the parish, which would gladly accept the conditions of his offer if it were found possible. There followed numerous important meetings. A Building Fund Committee was appointed, consisting of Mr. Seymour Cunningham, Mr. Alain C. White, Mr. Edward W. Seymour, Mr. F. Kingsbury Bull, and the treasurer, to begin to obtain contributions toward a fund to defray expenses for which the parish was to be responsible, and ultimately for a parish house. The name of the committee was later changed to the Storrs O. Seymour Memorial Fund committee, for it had already been de- cided that the new parish house would be a memorial to Dr. Seymour.
The responsibilities which the parish assumed in the building program included removal of the Bronson house, removal of the old church building, changes, if any were needed, in the chapel
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to adapt it for temporary use for services during the months be- fore the new church would be ready, all work on drains, sewers, and so on, removal of the organ from the old building and instal- lation in the new church, removal and storage of stained-glass win- dows and church furniture, and freeing all of the church lot for use of the contractor during construction, except the part oc- cupied by the chapel and a path from it to the street. These assign- ments were carried out promptly. The church was removed, but it was decided to use it as long as the weather would permit, after which the chapel, to be moved to the southern part of the lot, would be used. A plot of land at the rear of the property was deeded to the parish by Mr. Morris W. Seymour and his nephew, E. W. Seymour. Some property was also given by Mr. George M. Woodruff, a member of the Congregational Church, to straighten certain boundary lines on the eastern side. When the church was moved the box under the cornerstone, containing the items care- fully listed in the Episcopal Society's records in 1851, was found and opened. Its contents were, with few exceptions, in very bad condition from dampness.
On the last Sunday in the old church on its own foundations, July 6, the rector preached a memorial sermon. The founda- tion work was shortly after begun by the DaRoss Brothers of Litchfield, to whom that part of the contract was sublet by the general contractors, the H. Wales Lines Company, of Meri- den.
At Mr. Towne's request St. Michael's Parish was, with the con- sent of the First Episcopal Society, incorporated as a separate body in order to simplify the signing of contracts which the ves- try was appointed to do in Mr. Towne's stead, he having guar- anteed sufficient funds to carry out all contracts. In incorporating separately it was made clear that St. Michael's Parish was in no way separating its interests from those of the First Episcopal So- ciety, except in so far as they related to the fee of the land on which the new church was to be built. Following are the Articles:
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ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF ST. MICHAEL'S PARISH, LITCHFIELD, CONNECTICUT 1
The subscribers, residents of the Town of Litchfield, in the County of Litchfield and State of Connecticut, remembering with gratitude that as early as 1745 the English Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts established and maintained a mission of the Episcopal Church in Litchfield, and that at the close of the Revolu- tionary War, when the support of that Society was necessarily with- drawn,-to wit, on the 26th day of October, 1784,-the then mem- bers of that Mission met and organized, according to the then Laws of the State an Ecclesiastical Society under the name of the First Episcopal Society of Litchfield, which Society is still in existence; and remembering also the faithful workers, both clerical and lay, who have by their labors and gifts ever since supported said Society, we the subscribers, for reasons satisfactory to ourselves, unite to form and do hereby form ourselves and our associates into a society for public religious worship under and in conformity with the Con- stitution, Canons and regulations of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Connecticut and pursuant to the laws of this State, under the name of St. Michael's Parish, and cause these Articles of Association, certified by the Clerk of the Parish, to be recorded in the Office of the Secretary of State and a like copy to be recorded in the Records of the Town of Litchfield, this third day of September, 1919.
William J. Brewster William Trumbull
Morris W. Seymour Ralph P. Smith
Charles W. Hinsdale Fredk. A. Stoddard
John T. Hubbard Lewis A. Osborn
Alain C. White Philip P. Hubbard
At a parish meeting held on September 10, the following was voted:
WHEREAS it is considered important that St. Michael's parish of Litch- field, Connecticut, should have title to the land on which the new church edifice is to be erected, and in order to receive a deed of the same it is necessary that the said Parish should become legally in- corporated, separate and apart from the First Episcopal Society of
1 This is entered in Litchfield Corporation Records, vol. 2, p. 123, filed in the office of the Litchfield Town Clerk.
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Litchfield, of which it has for a long period of time been a part, and whereas Articles of Association under the Laws of the State of Connecticut have for that purpose been duly executed and filed,
NOW, THEREFORE, the members of St. Michael's Parish together with said incorporators, all of whom were present or have been duly notified, accept, adopt and agree to be a party to said Association and be bound thereby so long as they remain members of said Parish, with the distinct understanding, however, that the affairs of said Parish shall be conducted, in the future, as in the past, according to the Constitution, Canons and discipline of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, and in conformity to the Canons of the Diocese of Connecticut, and further that the present Wardens and Vestrymen together with the present officers and agents of said Parish as it existed before said new organization, be not removed or changed, but are hereby elected and appointed to remain the same in the new organization until the next annual meeting of the Parish, and that the old by-laws as heretofore enacted be continued and in force until changed by action of the new Parish.
And be it further resolved that all of the property and funds here- tofore belonging to St. Michael's Parish are transferred and conveyed over to the new Parish, and that the Treasurer of the old Parish be authorized and instructed to make such transfer as shall be legally necessary.
The laying of the cornerstone of the new church was appointed to take place on June 6, 1920. Plans for the ceremony were laid with care. The vestry of St. Michael's invited the vestries of St. Paul's, Bantam, and Trinity, Milton, to participate in the cere- mony, which was to take place at the morning service. The issu- ing of invitations and the formulation and details of the program were in the hands of the Building Committee, which was author- ized to spend not more than $75 for the purpose. On the appointed Sunday part of the north and south walls and the west end were well advanced. In the ceremony of laying the cornerstone Bishop Brewster was assisted by the rector, Archdeacon Buck of Derby, the Rev. J. C. Linsley of Torrington, and the Rev. A. B. Crichton of Bantam. The contents of the box deposited in the cornerstone were carefully listed by the rector in St. Michael's record. Besides
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the customary contents, connected with the event or with the period, four newspapers, dated 1851, which had been found well preserved in the box in the cornerstone of the 1851 church were replaced in the new cornerstone. The trowel used was presented to Mr. Towne by Mr. Cunningham, chairman of the Building Committee. St. Michael's choir was augmented by the choir of St. Paul's. It was a most impressive ceremony; the gathering was ad- dressed by the bishop and attended by the entire village. After- wards the ladies of St. Michael's, under the chairmanship of Mrs. Charles N. Warner, served tea to about 150 guests at the Play House on West Street.
Soon after this service the old church was removed. Church fur- niture, organ, memorial windows, and the few choir benches and kneelers were preserved. The windows were placed in charge of J. & R. Lamb, of New York, to be made ready for the transfer later to the new church; the organ was sent to the Hall Organ Company, of West Haven, the builders; the bell was sent to Meneely & Company, of Troy. A larger bell was cast for the new church, and it was raised to the tower during the following winter. It bears the inscription CAST IN 1920 FOR THE FOURTH ST. MI- CHAEL'S CHURCH, REPLACING THE BELL OF 1855, WHICH IN TURN REPLACED THE FIRST BELL OF 1828. ADESTE FIDELES.
On December 27, 1919, had occurred the death of Mrs. Cor- nelia Lewis Hinsdale, the devoted head of St. Michael's Guild for many years, at eighty-eight years of age. She was the daughter of Dr. Algernon S. Lewis, for many years clerk of the First Epis- copal Society. In her will she left her property to St. Michael's on the death of her husband, Charles W. Hinsdale. He had been identified with St. Michael's for over fifty years, having served as clerk of the First Episcopal Society from 1872 to 1896, as treasurer of the parish from 1871 to 1878, and as vestryman from 1892 to 1907, when he became junior warden. He became senior warden in 1917 and held that office at his death. By his death, which oc- curred on September 8, 1920, the parish became eligible for the
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income from the residuary estate of Mrs. Hinsdale, which in- cluded her house on East Street. The vestry voted to give the use of the house and the income from the bequest to Mrs. Anna K. Lewis during her lifetime. Mrs. Lewis was sister-in-law of Mrs. Hinsdale, and had made her home with her.
The Hon. Morris W. Seymour was elected senior warden to succeed Mr. Hinsdale, but he died on October 27, 1920. Besides his many services to St. Michael's, Mr. Seymour was the first Chan- cellor of the Diocese of Connecticut, and had been deputy to the General Convention many times. His funeral was held at his home, opposite the church, since it was rightly believed that the chapel would not accommodate the number of persons who would at- tend. Bishop Brewster officiated, assisted by Bishop Davies of the Diocese of Western Massachusetts and by the rector.
At a vestry meeting on November 7, two memorial resolutions were unanimously adopted. The first was addressed to Mr. Hins- dale's family and expressed the sense of loss felt at his death, and affectionate and grateful remembrance of his and Mrs. Hinsdale's years of devoted service. The second was addressed to Mrs. Sey- mour and paid tribute to her husband's life of service to his town, his state, and his country, but most of all to his God, which had made possible all the rest.
At this meeting it was also voted to try the free-seat system for one year from the following January 1. This meant abandoning the pew rental system of raising money for parish expenses in effect since 1827. The privilege of free seats was something very close to Mr. Brewster's heart, and this particular time seemed op- portune for such a change. It had Mr. Towne's approval. The rector and treasurer were instructed to prepare and mail to each parishioner a statement about the system, asking for pledges for the next year.
From December 13 to 17, 1920, a mission was held at St. Mi- chael's and St. Paul's, Bantam. Afternoon meetings were con- ducted in one place, followed by evening service at the other. The
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Rev. Dr. George M. Thompson of Christ Church, Greenwich, was the missioner, and in appreciation of his effective work the vestry presented him with a copy of The Apocalypse of John, by I. T. Beckwith, with an appropriate inscription. Some years later, in February, 1927, another mission was held in the two churches in an attempt to bring the Bishops' Crusade to the two parishes. This mission was conducted by the Rev. Dr. Samuel R. Colladay, Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford.
At the annual parish meeting in May 1921, Mr. Ralph P. Smith was elected senior warden, and Mr. W. Jerome Bissell junior war- den. At a vestry meeting that same month the two wardens and Mr. Sutherland Beckwith were appointed a Committee on Hos- pitality, to associate themselves with others to act as ushers and to assist in taking the offerings. The treasurer was authorized to sell the Hinsdale House for $9,000; it was later sold to Mrs. W. H. Sanford. The sum of $25 was appropriated for the care of the Beers and Hinsdale burial lots.
Work on the church had been progressing during this time. In the early winter of 1920-1921, when the tower was finished, the rector placed the last stone on the tower coping, in the presence of the workmen, with the words: "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." Then the interior work was rushed, and finally in July, 1921, the structure was ready for consecration. On July 7 the vestry authorized the filing of an Instrument of Donation by which the new church was de- clared devoted to the service of Almighty God and the Bishop was requested to consecrate it and "separate it from all unhallowed, worldly, and common uses." The senior warden was authorized to present the Instrument of Donation to the Bishop.
The day set for the consecration of the church was July 13, 1921. The previous day the Misses Alice and Edith Davies Kings- bury had a tablet placed in the north transept in memory of their ancestor, the founder of the parish, John Davies, his son John Davies, and his grandson, the Rev. Thomas Davies. This tablet
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was specially blessed on another occasion, but it was fitting that it should be in place on the day of the consecration of the new St. Michael's.
At the early celebration on July 13, at 7: 30 that morning, the celebrant was the Rev. Gouverneur Morris Wilkins, the only former rector of St. Michael's then living. At 10:45 the service of consecration took place. The Bishop was consecrator. In the chan- cel were also Bishop Cortlandt Whitehead of the Diocese of Pitts- burgh, and many clergy of this Diocese. The sermon was preached by the Rev. John F. Plumb, rector of St. John's, New Milford, a native of Litchfield, son of the Senior Warden, John L. Plumb, who had died in 1906. A large congregation was pres- ent. At the singing of the hymn "Blest are the pure in heart" the Bishop, Mr. Towne, and the rector, proceeded to the rear of the church where the memorial tablet was blessed. The inscription on the tablet is as follows: THIS BUILDING/ DEDICATED TO THE SERVICE OF GOD/ IS PRESENTED TO ST MICHAEL'S PARISH/ IN LOVING MEMORY OF/ CORA W TOWNE/ 1844 1917/ WHOSE LIFE WAS A BLESSING TO ALL/ WHO CAME WITHIN ITS GRACIOUS INFLUENCE/ BY HER HUSBAND/ HENRY R TOWNE/ 1919.
Following the service a luncheon was served to the guests at the Play House, which was followed by speeches. Mr. Brewster adds at the end of his description of the event, "It was a wonderful day for St. Michael's Parish." It was, indeed, and to his effort and in- defatigable attention to detail much of the credit was due.
Many memorials were offered to the church immediately after its consecration. Of some of them mention will be made in a later chapter. A few should be spoken of here, however.
In October, 1922, there was placed on the north wall of St. Mi- chael's Chapel, by Mrs. Morris W. Seymour and her son the Hon. Origen S. Seymour, a tablet in memory of four generations of the Seymour family, for over 100 years pillars of St. Michael's parish. It was inscribed as follows:
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TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ & IN LOVING MEMORY OF / MAJOR MOSES SEYMOUR/ 1742 1826/ TREASURER OF THE FIRST EPISCOPAL SOCIETY & SENIOR/ WARDEN OF THIS PARISH FOR MORE THAN 17 YEARS . CAP- TAIN/ IN THE FIFTH REGIMENT CONNECTICUT MILITIA & MAJOR/ OF SHELDON'S HORSE DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
OZIAS SEYMOUR/ 1776 1851/ CLERK OF THE FIRST EPISCOPAL SO- CIETY 1802-1816/ VESTRYMAN OF THIS PARISH IN 1824 & 1837- 1840.
ORIGEN STORRS SEYMOUR LLD/ 1804 1881/ VESTRYMAN AND CLERK OF THIS PARISH . DEPUTY TO THE GENERAL CONVENTION 1868-1879 · CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OF ERRORS & APPEALS OF CONNECTICUT.
EDWARD WOODRUFF SEYMOUR MA/ 1832 1892/ VESTRYMAN & SENIOR WARDEN OF THIS PARISH DEPUTY / TO THE GENERAL CONVEN- TION 1887 · JUSTICE OF THE/ SUPREME COURT OF ERRORS & APPEALS OF CONNECTICUT.
REVD STORRS OZIAS SEYMOUR DD/ 1836 1918/ RECTOR OF THIS PARISH 1879-1883 & 1893-1916/ RECTOR EMERITUS 1916-1918 · PRESIDENT OF THE/ STANDING COMMITTEE 1876-1918 · DEPUTY TO THE GENERAL CONVENTION 1871-1874 & 1901-1907.
MORRIS WOODRUFF SEYMOUR LLD/ 1842 1920/ VESTRYMAN & SENIOR WARDEN OF THIS PARISH DEPUTY / TO THE GENERAL CONVEN- TION 1899-1907 . FIRST/ CHANCELLOR OF THE DIOCESE OF CON- NECTICUT/ 1910-1920.
Another memorial to be mentioned is the beautiful Davies tab- let, an illustration of which is found in this book. These two me- morials were blessed on October 26, 1922, by the late Bishop Davies of Western Massachusetts, who was a direct descendant of the founder, John Davies, and a lifelong friend of the Seymour family.
In the summer of 1922, Mrs. W. H. K. Godfrey and her sister
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Miss Ella S. Coe asked the rector to suggest a gift for the church. After more modest suggestions he mentioned an altar, and the sisters resolved to give not only a marble altar, but a carved oak reredos as well, their combined cost being $20,000. This gift was installed and blessed by Bishop Brewster on July 8, 1923.
In December, 192 1, it was voted to appropriate $25 toward a fund for a stone to mark the site of the first Episcopal church building in Litchfield. The marker may be seen beside the road about a mile west of the village.
On October 15, 1924 Mr. Towne died, and at a special meet- ing of the vestry on Sunday, October 19, the following was voted: RESOLVED, That the Rector, Wardens and Vestrymen of St. Michael's Parish hereby express their deep sense of loss in the death of Mr. Henry R. Towne, and their sincere sympathy for the members of his family. Mr. Towne's generous public spirit was manifested in many ways for the benefit of the Village of Litchfield. In particular this Parish owes to him the gift of the present beautiful Gothic Church, dedicated to the memory of his wife Cora White Towne, and consecrated on July 13, 1921. During the construction of the Church, and since its completion, in all matters connected with its maintenance, Mr. Towne gave untiringly of his loving care, experienced advice, and most generous support. Through his death the Parish loses a very true and valued friend.
In the afternoon of the same day a memorial service was held in St. Michael's which was attended by many friends and relatives. The interment was in the East Cemetery. In his will Mr. Towne left for the benefit of St. Michael's Parish his interest in the Litch- field Land Company.
In January, 1926, Mr. John H. Towne asked to give the chan- cel window in memory of his father, Mr. Henry R. Towne, an offer gratefully accepted by the vestry. The window was made by Reynolds, Francis and Rohnstock, of Boston, and was blessed by Bishop Brewster on the morning of October 30 in the presence of a large congregation.
In October, 1926, Mrs. W. H. K. Godfrey died after a lingering
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illness. A generous supporter of the parish, she left $5,000 to St. Michael's.
In 1924 Mr. and Mrs. Seymour Cunningham had had the Rec- ord of St. Michael's Parish, which was begun by Mr. Payne in 1844, beautifully copied in script and handsomely bound in yel- low vellum. The transcription stops with the year 1924.
At the annual parish meeting held on May 20, 1926, a sustained attack was begun on the matter of the parish house.2 The original plans for the building by Messrs. Rossiter and Mueller had been unsatisfactory, as was their second set of plans. Both called for a two-story building which seemed too extensive for the Parish's needs, and too costly. After several futile attempts to progress beyond this point, Mr. Samuel H. Fisher was appointed chairman of a Parish House Commitee which he was himself to choose. Mr. F. Kingsbury Bull undertook to raise more money than was at hand, so that work might start as soon as satisfactory plans were made. An understanding with the architects was reached, and on payment of $2,000 the way was cleared to try another architect. First, however, Mr. Fisher got from committees of the active or- ganizations suggestions of their needs, all of which were worked over and brought into a single plan. When approved by the vestry it was submitted to Mr. C. Z. Klauder, of the firm of Day and Klauder, of Philadelphia, an architect of Mr. Fisher's choosing. At the annual parish meeting in May, 1931, Mr. Fisher reported on the approved plans and assured the parish that their eager antici- pations would soon be realized. On July 9, in the presence of a large number of people, ground for the parish house was formally broken, each person present digging a shovelful of earth. Prayers and a benediction ended the ceremony.
The contract for the building was given to the Tracy Brothers Company, of Waterbury, whose price was $27,000. The plans called for a one-story building with basement, an auditorium with folding doors to divide it into two rooms if necessary, stage, class
2 See page 114.
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rooms or dressing rooms, and kitchen. The basement was finished and given over to choir-vesting rooms with all conveniences. On September 13, Bishop Brewster laid the cornerstone and delivered an appropriate address in memory of Dr. Seymour, for whom the building was named the Seymour Memorial Parish House. On De- cember 13 it was formally dedicated by the rector. Before the dedication service a pageant was presented by officers and chil- dren of the Sunday school, written and directed by Mrs. James H. Brewster, one of the heads of the school. The prayers used in the dedication follow:
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