USA > Washington DC > Washington DC > Centennial history of the city of Washington, D. C. With full outline of the natural advantages, accounts of the Indian tribes, selection of the site, founding of the city to the present time > Part 56
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held May 10, 1857, upon a lot received as a bequest from Rev. Wil- liam Matthews, located on Tenth Street, between F and G streets. This church has cost up to the present time $120,000, and though not completed, it was dedicated in 1884. After the death of Rev. Mr. Matthews, which occur. ed in April, 1854, the pastor was Rev. Timothy J. ("Toole, who, on April 8, 1860, severing his connection with the church, was succeeded by Rev. J. A. Walter, of Baltimore, who is still the pastor.
St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church was organized May 10, 1820, some of the original members being as follows: Rev. William Matthews, Daniel Carroll of Duddington, William Brent, James Hoban, Nicholas L. Queen, James Scallan, Ed. Mattingly, James Spratt, and James Barry. The church building, erected in 1821, after being enlarged from time to time, was torn down in 1889, and the. present marble building erected on the site of the old church, at the corner of Second and C streets Southeast, and it was dedicated November 23, 1890. It cost over $100,000. Out of the territory assigned originally to St. Peter's Church, two other parishes have been formed. The present membership of the church is four thousand. The pastors of this church have been:'Revs. James F. M. Lucas, first pastor; M. P. Deagle, James Hoener, S. Sbeiber, Joseph Van Horseigh, Edmund HI. Knight, F. E. Boyle, Desederius De Wulf, J. O. Sullivan, George W. Devine, and J. M. O'Brien, the present pastor. An event of unusual interest to this congregation occurred in October, 1885, in the elevation of its pastor, Rev. J. O. Sullivan, to the vacant See of the Diocese of Mobile, and his consecration in the venerable sanctuary.
St. Matthew's Catholic Church was established in 1841 or 1842, the church building being consecrated May 15, 1842. The first pastor was Rev. John P. Donelan, who was succeeded by John B. Byrne. Afterward, Rev. James B. Donelan became pastor of the church. Sep- tember 28, 1856, an addition was made to the church building, upon which occasion high mass was said by Rev. E. Lyman, of Baltimore, who had formerly been an Episcopal clergyman, Mrs. C. Young, of Baltimore, being the singer. In 1858, Rev. Charles J. White, D. D., was pastor, with Rev. E. Q. S. Waldner as assistant. Since then the pastors have been Rev. Francis Boyle, Rev. P. L. Chapelle, D. D., and Rev. Thomas L. Lee.
St. Mary's Catholic Church, Fifth Street, near HI, Northwest, was organized in October, 1844, with some twenty families. The ground on which the church stands was furnished by General Van Ness. The
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corner stone of the first house-a brick structure- was laid March 25, 1846, and the house was completed early in 1847, the first services being held August 15. The structure cost $45,000. The present commodious brick edifice was erected in 1891, at a cost of $81,000. On the grounds are a fine brick parsonage and a good, two-story brick building, the lower story of which is used for school, and the upper for ladies' dwelling, purposes. The last-named building was erected in 1866. The membership of the congregation includes one hundred and fifty families.
St. Dominic's Church was organized in 1856, and was situated on F Street, between Sixth and Seventh streets. Rev. J. A. Wilson was pastor. In 1858. Rev. N. D. Young was pastor, and in 1862 Rev. Father Sherman who died that year. In April, 1865, this church erected a great vell weighing 3,145 pounds, which was then by far the largest bell in we District of Columbia. The fine church edifice belonging to this congregation was destroyed by fire March 12, 1885, sad blowsto the members and friends of the parish. The great bell its cooin just before the walls fell in. Scarcely had the smoke ed to rise from the ruins when plans were matured for the erection of another church edifice, which within a short time stood in place of the fold one. Nearly all the Catholics of southwest to St. Dominic's, and hence its membership is very The past at the present time is V. Rev. P. A. Dinahan.
Washington bel large."
Aloysius Catholic Church is located at the corner of North Capitol Avenue and I Street. It was organized in 1859, and its fine church edifice erected during that year. It was so far completed as to be dedicated on Sunday, October 16. The introductory services were conducted by Rev. Mr. Villager, S. J., and the sermon of the occasion was delivered by the V. Rev. John Hughes, Archbishop of New York. The dimensions of the church building were one hun- dred and sixty by eighty feet, and the height of the interior of the audience room was fifty-seven feet. Over the main altar there was hung a portrait representing the first communion of St. Aloysius, by Mr. Brimidi, who had done so much of the decorative work of the Capitol building. There were also busts of St. Ignatius Loyola and St. Francis Xavier. The seating capacity of the audience room was about one thousand two hundred. The building was planned and the plan carried out by Rev. B. Sestini, S. J., the cost of it when con- pleted being about $50,000. The pastor of the church at that time was the Rev. C. H. Stonestreet, S. J.
St. Aloysius, the patron saint of this church, was born in March,
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1568, in the Castle of Castiglione, in Lombardy, very near the spot upon which was fought the great battle of Solferino, in June, 1859, and died in Rome, June 21, 1591.
In connection with the church, and under direction of its pastor, Rev. C. Gillespie, is Gonzaga College, a brief sketch of which is given elsewhere.
The Church of the Immaculate Conception, located at the corner of Eighth and N streets Northwest, was begun in 1864. The edifice erected in 1865 was a two-story structure, forty-three by seventy-five feet in size, and was dedicated Sunday, July 2, 1865, by Archbishop Spaulding. A schoolhouse was erected at the same time, and a second one for girls within the last few years, the latter building being a fine brick structure four stories in height, on P Street. The present pastor is Rev. S. F. Ryan.
St. Stephen's Catholic Church, located on the corner of Pennsyl- vania Avenue and Twenty-fifth Street Northwest, was organized October 22, 1865, at which time it was decided to erect a church worth $30,000. The corner stone of this new structure, built in the Byzantine style of architecture, of pressed brick, and fifty three by offe hundred and fifteen feet in size, was laid June 3, 1866, by Rev. C. L. White, and on December 29, 1867, the basement story was completed and dedicated. The church edifice, finished at a cost of $60,000, was dedicated December 27, 1868, by V. Rev. Thomas Foley The member- ship of the church is now about three thousand thise hundred The pastors of this church have been Revs. John MeNally and John Gloyd.
St. Augustine's Catholic Church commenced in a two-story brick building erected for school purposes, with less than one hundred com- municants, in the year 1866. Their new church building was erected in 1874. The building is sixty-five by one hundred and thirty-five feet, and the ceiling is fifty-five feet in the clear from the floor. There were placed high up around the altar likenesses of three of the patrons of the church, the most prominent of which is St. Augustine, after whom the church was named. On the right is the portrait of Martin de Porras, after whom the church was originally named, the change of name being made according to the necessities of canon law, which declares that only saints can be patrons of the churches. On the left is the portrait of Peter Claver, whose memory is revered by all good Catholics. The seating capacity of the church is one thousand five hundred. The building was dedicated June 11, 1874. This has been a prosperous church organization, and its pastor at the present time is Rev. Michael J. Walsh.
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St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church is located at the corner of C and Second streets Northeast. The parish was organized by Rev. B. Wiget, October 25, 1868, and the corner stone of the church building was laid the same day by Bishop Gibbons, of North Carolina, who also delivered an address in English, after which an address was delivered in German by Rev. F. X. Weininger, S. J. The church, which was designed only as a temporary structure, was partly of brick and partly of wood, and was of the Gothic style of architecture. The projector of this enterprise was Rev. Mr. Wiget, president of Gonzaga College. The plan of the building was copied from the Cathedral of Cologne. There were also erected a parochial schoolhouse and a pastoral residence. Rev. V. F. Schmitt, who had been pastor at Frostburg, Maryland, for over eighteen years, was appointed to St. Joseph's Church October 7, 1886. To aid him in the reorganization of this parish, which from a German congregation had become an English one, the Rey J. F. Douahue, of St. Peter's Church, was assigned as his assistant? A new parochial schoolhouse, forty feet by one hundred feet in size and two stories high, was erected in 1887. In the spring of 1888 the present fine brown-stone church edifice was begun, finished in January, 1891, and dedicated on the 18th of that month by Cardinal Gibbons, the Rey. J. J. Keane, rector of the Catholic University, Hreaching the dedtatory sermon, and Rev. Dr. Chappelle, the present coadjutor Bishop of Sante Fe, New Mexico, celebrating the first solemn high mass. The present fine Gothic church building, with its elegant interior finish, new marble altars, and a large three-manual organ, is second to none in the city of Washington. The building is seventy-five feet by one hundred and fifty-six feet in size, has a seating capacity of twelve hundred persons, and cost $80,000. The church is at the present time very prosperous.
St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church, located at the corner of Fifteenth and V streets Northwest, was organized December 25, 1886. The first pastor, who is still pastor of the church, was Rev. James F. Mackin. The brick chapel cost $15,000, and was dedicated May 19, 1887, by Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore. The original membership was about six hundred, and the membership in February, 1892, was about one thousand, nine hundred and fifty. The church was begun as a mission of St. Matthew's Church in 1886, and became an independent church September 1, 1889.
The Holy Name Catholic Church was organized in a private house, 716 H Street Northwest, February 1, 1891, by Rev. J. T. Delaney. It is a colony from St. Aloysius' Church, and the member-
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ship at this time is one thousand. A two-story brick church edifice was erected in 1891 on a lot on the corner of Eleventh and K streets. The dedication of this new building took place June 12, 1892.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Rock Creek Parish, is the pioneer Episcopal church of this region. Its origin is traced to 1719, when Rev. John Frazier, rector of St. John's Parish, was instrumental in erecting a small chapel on the site of the present structure. One of the contributors to this enterprise was John Bradford, of Prince George's County, Maryland, who gave one hundred acres of land and one thousand pounds of tobacco for the purpose. In 1729, St. Paul's Parish was formally separated from St. John's, and Rev. George Murdock was chosen rector. The second rector was Rev. Alexander Williamson, who served from 1761 to 1776. About this time, or prior (perhaps 1775), the present edifice was beguns- the size being forty by sixty feet.
The succeeding pastors were: Rev. Thomas Reed, 1776-1814; Rev. C. C. Austin, 1820; Rev. William McCormick, 1828; Rev. R. Ash 1830; Rev. Christian Wiltburger, 1831; Rev. B. M. Miller, 1837; Hey. K. J. Stewart, 1839; Rev. W. A. IIarris, 1841; Rev., Wood, 1849; Rev. Kerr, 1851; and Rev. James A. Buck, present incumbent, since 1853.
The original building was decided, in 1820, to be too large, and walls were erected within the walls; in 1850, however the interior walls were removed, and the house restored to its original size. During the rectorship of Mr. Buck, many changes and improvements have been made to the property, adding artistic to historic interest
Christ Church, Protestant Episcopal, of Washington Parish, was organized in 1794; or, stated more precisely, Washington Parish was then organized, and covered the entire territory of the city. During the continuance of the Revolutionary War, there was a modest frame building standing on what is now New Jersey Avenue, near D Street Southeast, which had been used as a barn. In this frame building religious services were held, and the little congregation was attached to St. John's Parish, in Prince George's County, Maryland. It was known as Christ's Church, and many of the prominent men of this part of the country worshiped therein. This little building was used for nearly thirty years, and Rev. A. T. McCormick held services in it as late as 1807, the year in which the present Christ Church was organized. The church on the present site, however, was not used until August, 1809, nor formally dedicated until October 7, following, the building being dedicated by Rt. Rev. Thomas John Clagget, Bishop of Maryland.
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On May 25, 1795, the first vestry was elected, and the Rev. George Ralph chosen rector. In electing Mr. Ralph reetor, the vestry reserved the right to elect a rector for that portion of the parish within the limits of Georgetown, and subsequently elected Rev. Edward Gant to that position.
In 1795, James Greenleaf presented the vestry with a lot on Square 456, east of the post office, and Samuel Blodgett presented the church with the timber necessary for the erection of its building.
On May 11, 1806, Mr. William Prout gave the land on which the present church is situated,-Nos. 6 and 7, Square 877, on the north side of G Street, between Sixth and Seventh streets, Sontheast, the condition being that the church should be erected within a year. On May 4 Rev. A. T. McCormick was elected rector, and the church was opened, for services on Sunday, August 9, 1807. The name was then changed from Christ's to Christ Church, the old one on New Jersey Avenue being known by the former name. Square 1,026, on H Street, between Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets, South- east, was purchased for a burial ground; but proving too low for such purpose, its use was abandoned, and in March, 1808, Square 1,115, between E and G, and Eighteenth and Nineteenth streets, Southeast, purchased for $200, and named "Washington Parish Burial Ground." According to the original rules, no person of color, nor anyone "known to deny a belief in the Christian religion," is allowed to be buried therein. In 1816, the vestry set apart one hundred grave sites for members of Congress, and subsequently three hundred more, and the privilege was extended to heads of departments and their families, and to the families of members of Congress.
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Rev. Mr. McCormick officiated as pastor until 1823, when he was succeeded by Rev. Ethan Allen, who resigned in 1830. Since then the rectors have been Rev. Henry H. Bean, who resigned in 1835; Rev. W. Hodges, who resigned in 1855; Rev. Joshua Morsell, Rev. Mark Olds, 1865; Rev. C. II. Shield, to 1869; Rev. William McGuire, until 1872; Rev. C. D. Andrews, until 1887, and then Rev. Gilbert F. Wil- liams, until the present time. The church is in a very prosperous condition. It has one general society, called "Christ Church Guild," and the Sunday-school is remarkably large and active in its work.
St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church, of Georgetown, was organized as early as 1796, through the efforts of Rev. Walter D. Addison, assisted by Rev. Dr. Balch, a Presbyterian divine. Rev. Mr. Addison was then settled in the parish of Broad Creek, Prince George's County, opposite Alexandria. Upon visiting some Episco-
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palians living in Georgetown, he was invited to hold services in Dr. Balch's church, and was by him assisted to organize this church. Colonel William Deakins donated a lot for the church edifice to stand upon, and $1,500 was collected toward its erection. This sum carried up the walls to the first range of windows, and it remained in an unfinished condition for six or seven years, and it was not until 1803 that a meeting of the citizens of Georgetown was held to take measures for completing the building, which resulted in sufficiently finishing the building to allow of public worship therein. Early in 1804 the trustees advertised for a rector, and in April Rev. Mr. Sayres was chosen rector, and at once entered upon his duties. The church was in excellent condition until 1809, when Rev. Mr. Sayres died. It was attended through his ministry by the fashionable people of the place.
In January, 1809, Rev. Walter D. Addison became rector of this church, at which time it was as largely attended from Washington as from Georgetown, there being at that time no church in Wash- ington except Christ Church, at the Navy Yard. In, 1811, owing to the large congregations, it was deemed necessary to enlarge the building. The plan failed, however, because of the difficulty of raising the necessary means, and because the pew holders would not consent to retain their pews at the same price as they had been paying and at the same time be at a greater distance from the pulpit, as would be the case in consequence of the enlargement of the church. Front this period until 1817, the church continued in operation, but with a moderate measure of prosperity. Rev. Mr. Addison was furnished with an assistant in May, 1817, in the person of Rev. Ruel Keith, who remained in this position until the organization of Christ Church, Georgetown, when he was chosen rector of the new organization. From this time, St. John's was in a feeble condition, and in 1821 Mr. Addison resigned, and took charge of Rock Creek Church and Addison Chapel, near Bladensburg, and was succeeded in the rectorship of St. John's by Rev. Stephen S. Tyng, who remained until 1823, and then removed to Queen's Parish, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Rev. Mr. Addison was then recalled and remained rector until 1827, when, owing to the complete failure, he again resigned. He was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. James, who remained with the church between one and two years. Then came, for a short time, Rev. Sutherland Douglass, who was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Addison, who, though totally blind, held an occasional service until 1831, when the church was finally abandoned to the possession of a sculptor and the birds, and thus acquired the name of "The Swallow Barn."
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In 1838, the property was sold for taxes, $50 being paid; it was repurchased and refitted for church purposes. Rev. Dr. Alexander M. Marbury was chosen rector, remaining until 1841, when he was succeeded by Rev. C. M. Butler. Governor Cooke and his brother, Jay Cooke, contributed largely toward the rebuilding of the church, the organ being a present from the Governor. Rev. Mr. Butler's successor was Dr. John S. Lindsey, who officiated until 1888, when he was succeeded by the present rector, Rev. J. A. Regerter.
St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church, of Washington, was pro- posed in 1814 or 1815, the corner stone of the building laid with public ceremonies February 16, 1816, the parish organized and set off from that of Christ Church, Washington, July 17, 1816, and the first wardens, W. W. Seaton and David Easton, were elected August 5, 1816. The original edifice was erected from designs furnished by Benjamin HI. Latrobe, one of the architects of the Capitol, in the form of a Greek cross, but so arranged as to admit of enlargement on the plan of a Roman cross. This building cost $25,000, and was opened for religious services in December, 1816. This church was lighted by means of a lantern on the dome, and by means of semi- circular windows in each arm of the cross, and by windows above and below on each side of each arm. In 1821, the west transept was added, and also a portico and steeple; and in 1883, the building was enlarged and improved. The church as originally erected was conse- crated December 27, 1816, by Rt. Rev. James Kemp, D. D., Bishop of the Diocese of Maryland. Rev. William H. Wilmer was the first rector, serving until April, 1817, when he was succeeded by Rev. William Hawley, who remained rector until his death, which occurred January 23, 1845. He was succeeded by Rev. Smith Pyne, who had been his assistant rector, and who was rector until November, 1864, when Rev. John Vaughn Lewis succeeded him. Ile, in turn, was succeeded by Rev. William A. Leonard, who resigned when elected bishop, and was succeeded by Rev. George William Douglass, who entered upon his duties November 1, 1889. IIe was assistant rector of Trinity Church, New York City, when called to this rectorship. This church is very prosperous, and contributes annually for all purposes about $50,000. The President's pew, set apart December 7, 1816, was occupied by every President of the United States down to the time of President Lincoln, and subsequently by President Arthur.
Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church, at the northeast corner of Third and C streets Northwest, was established in 1828, and its church edifice erected the same year. It was located on Fifth Street,
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between D and E streets, facing Judiciary Square, and was dedicated in 1829. Rev. Henry Vandyke Johns was the first rector. As time passed, the membership of the church grew to large proportions; the church on Fifth Street became too small, and it was decided to erect a new building. In the meantime, however, there had been several rectors, succeeding Rev. Mr. Johns, who, on February 16, 1832, ac- cepted a call to a church in Rochester, New York. IIe was succeeded by Rev. Chauncey Cotton; and on December 1, 1833, Rev. William F. Chesley, the successor of Rev. Mr. Cotton, preached here for the first time. Rev. John Owens was rector of this church in 1839, and Rev. II. Stringfellow in 1844 and 1846. At the time the present site of Trinity Church was chosen, the rector was Rev. Clement Butler. The corner stone of the new building at this location was laid April 2, 1850, by the rector, and interesting addresses were delivered by Rev. Mr. Tillinghast, Rev. Mr. Gilliss, and others. An address was also delivered by Hon. Mr. Berrien. The new building was opened for religious services March 9, 1851, Rev. Dr. Butler preaching the sermon. Rev. Dr. Butler remained with this church until September, 1854, his rectorship having lasted seven years. He was succeeded by Rev! G. D. Cummins, who remained until July, 1858. After Dr. Cummins left, Rev. Henry J. Kershaw acted as rector for several months. About January 1, 1859, Rev. Dr. Butler was recalled, and was succeeded by Rev. R. J. Keeling, who was rector during the War. He was succeeded May 12, 1867, by the present rector, Rev. J. G. Addison, D. D. There are about four hundred communicants in this church, and it has a large and flourishing Sunday-school, of which Dr. Ilickling is the superintendent. Henry Clay and Daniel Webster were both commn- nicants of this church.
The Church of the Epiphany originated in a mission enterprise in 1841, under charge of Rev. John W. French, formerly chaplain to the House of Representatives, and afterward city missionary. Ou January 6, 1842, the day of the Feast of the Epiphany, at a meeting of about thirty persons held at the house of Mrs. Easton, on the corner of I and Nineteenth streets, it was decided to organize a new congregation and to adopt the name of Epiphany Church. A vestry was elected August 10, 1842, and the new parish admitted by the Convention of the Diocese of Maryland in May, 1844. The corner stone of this church building was laid August 12, 1843. The edifice erected was a plain, rectangular structure, with low ceiling and pointed windows, upon a lot given by Miss Harrison, and dedicated in June, 1852. After the retirement of Rev. Mr. French, in 1856, he
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having been appointed chaplain to the military academy at West Point, various ministers preached occasionally for this church, among them Rev. Dr. Harold, acting missionary of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Washington; but on Christmas day of that year, Rev. C. II. Hall began his ministry as the regular successor of Rev. Mr. French, He remained until 1869, when he left to take charge of Holy Trinity Church, Brooklyn. In 1857 and 1858, the transepts, tower, and a chancel were erected, and a new altar and a new font provided. In 1869, Rev. Dr. Hall was succeeded by Rev. Thomas A. Starkey, D. D., now Bishop of Northern New Jersey, who remained until 1871. During his ministry, a recessed chancel was erected. Rev. Wilbur F. Watkins succeeded Dr. Starkey, being installed January 5, 1873, and remained until 1875. During his ministry, the building was so rebuilt and remodeled that but little of the original structure remained, the cost of the improvements being more than $50,000. In 1875, Rev. William Paret, D. D., became rector, remaining until 1884, when he was consecrated Bishop of Maryland, but during his ministry here the remainder of an old building debt was paid off, and hisfirst act as bishop was to consecrate the reconstructed church, January 14, 1885. Rev. Dr. Samuel HI. Giesy then became rector, and remained until his death, in 1888, when he was succeeded by the present rector, Rev. R. H. MeKim, D. D., who was called from Trin- ity Church, New Orleans. A mission house and chapel was erected in 1891 at the corner of Twelfth and C streets, at a cost of $30,000.
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