USA > Illinois > Cook County > Oak Park > Thirty years of Grace Church, Oak Park : the same being a brief record of its life and work, illustrated with portraits and such historical views as were obtainable > Part 2
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Now began the necessary question of Church en- largement and at the first Vestry meeting, presided over by the new Rector, a call for a Parish meeting within the next fifteen days was ordered, at which the two following propositions should be discussed :
RESOLVED, That the two propositions, (1) shall or shall we not expend any considerable amount of money (submitting estimates) on the enlargement of present edifice, (2) or shall we relocate the Church on site recommended by the Committee on Church Extension, to be submitted to the congregation.
The Parish meeting was held October 26th and after a free discussion the following resolution was offered by J. E. Tristram :
RESOLVED, That the Vestry be, and is hereby in- structed to proceed as soon as practicable with the enlargement of this Church building according to plans submitted at this meeting, said plans to be changed or modified as to be hereafter determined by the
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Building Committee, the cost of said enlargement, ex- clusive of furniture and fittings, not to exceed $5,000.
T. S. Rattle offered the following as a substitute- seconded by John Carne, Jr .:
RESOLVED, That it is the sense of this meeting that the Vestry be, and that they are hereby instructed to enlarge the Church at a cost not to exceed $3,000; and they are also authorized and instructed to at once make such arrangements for the purchase of the lot situated at the southeast corner of Euclid Avenue and Cedar Street-not to exceed $7,500 for 100 feet, as in their judgment shall be for the best interests of the Parish.
Vote was then taken on the substitute of Mr. Rattle and resulted in ayes 27, nayes 23. Carried.
The substitute motion prevailed and the Bishop was then asked for the canonical consent for removal. The Standing Committee of the Diocese having stated that in their opinion such removal was for the best interest of the Parish, the Bishop acquiesced under date of December 23rd.
In March of the following year a statement of method was made as follows:
WHEREAS, At a Parish meeting of Grace Church, Oak Park, held on the 26th day of October, 1891, the Vestry of said Church was, by a majority vote of said meeting, instructed to purchase a site for a new Church, the site chosen being 100 feet front by 174 5/10 feet deep at the southeast corner of Euclid Avenue and Cedar Street, in the Village of Oak Park; and
WHEREAS, At a meeting of the Vestry of said Church, held on the 5th day of January, 1892, a committee of five was appointed to collect money with which to pay for said site; and,
WHEREAS, Said committee have received and used subscriptions toward the purchase of said site, condi- tioned upon the erection of a Church building within a reasonable time, and that in case a Church build-
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HIRAM COOMBS Vestryman, 1883-1887, 1888-1893, 1898-1906 Senior Warden, 1906 to present time
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THE REVEREND GEORGE B. PRATT Second Rector, 1885-1891
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ing shall not be erected or commenced thereon within a reasonable time from the date of such subscriptions, then the amount so subscribed shall be refunded to the subscribers; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the action of said committee is here- by ratified, and, in order to fulfil the conditions imposed by the subscribers and accepted by the said Committee on Subscriptions, Charles Seabury, Samuel D. Attridge and William M. Luff, be, and they are hereby appointed trustees to take and hold the title to said site, in trust for the following purposes, viz .:
First. If a plan for a Church building to cost not less than thirty thousand dollars shall be adopted by the said Parish and the Wardens and Vestry thereof, and the foundation of such a building shall be built upon the said site within three years from the 1st day of March, 1892, the said trustees or their survivors or successors shall convey the said site to the said Grace Church by a proper conveyance.
Second. In case such plan shall not be adopted, and such foundation completed within said period of three years, the said Trustees, their survivors or successors shall sell the said site for the best price that can be obtained for the same, and apply the proceeds thereof to the refunding to said subscribers of their several subscriptions for the purchase of said site, the same to be applied pro rata if not sufficient to pay said subscriptions in full. And if there shall be a surplus the same shall be paid to the Treasurer of said Grace Church for the use and benefit thereof.
Provided, That upon the request in writing of a majority in number and amount of the subscribers for the purchase of said site residing in Oak Park and Ridgeland on the 1st day of March, 1895, the time for completing said foundation and conveying said site as aforesaid may be extended for such time as said subscribers may request.
In case of the death, resignation, refusal or inability
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to act of one or two of said Trustees the remaining Trustees or Trustee shall have full power to act, and in case of the death, resignation, refusal or inability to act of all of said Trustees, three new Trustees shall be elected by the Wardens and Vestry of said Parish, with the same powers and duties above expressed. Il' the said Wardens and Vestry shall not elect such new Trustees within thirty days after the death, resigna- tion, refusal or inability to act of all of said Trustees such new Trustees may be elected by the vote of a majority, in number and amount, of the subscribers for the purchase of said site then residing in Oak Park and Ridgeland.
There was evidently a very decided opposition to the removal upon the part of many Parishioners, for at the Easter Monday meeting, 1892, there was recorded the following:
WHEREAS, Certain differences of opinion exist in the minds of the Parishioners of Grace Church, Oak Park, as to the expediency of building a new Church edifice upon the lot situated upon Euclid Avenue; and,
WHEREAS, We are desirous of subserving the best in- terests of the Parish, by mutual concessions, that may result in harmonious thought and action on the part of the entire congregation tending towards the present and future prosperity of our Parish; we therefore mu- tually pledge and bind ourselves to the following con- ditions and agreements, and desire to submit the same to the members of the congregation for their con- currence, believing that if the same is heartily and unanimously given, any irritation that now exists will be allayed; a restoration of the universal harmony that has so long existed among our people be effected, and that we will co-operate heartily, one with another, in laboring for the best interests of our Parish.
Therefore, we pledge ourselves that:
First. No steps shall be taken towards the actual
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HERBERT JAMES ULLMANN Vestryman, 1887-1888, 1894-1898, 1900-1903, 1905-1906
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GERRITT H. WORTHINGTON Vestryman, 1888-1899 Clerk, 1888-1895
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erection of a Church building upon the lot on Euclid Avenue within a period of three (3) years from Easter Monday, April 18, 1892.
Second. That Grace Church corporation, or Parish, shall not be called upon within the time heretofore mentioned to pay or assume any portion of the indebt- edness on the Euclid Avenue lot or any of the interest upon said indebtedness.
Third. That a Vestry shall be selected to consist of one Warden and five Vestrymen who favor the erection of a new Church building, as proposed, and one War- den and three Vestrymen who are not in favor of such project.
We recommend a sinking fund to be erected for an object for which all may willingly contribute; and the disposition of which shall rest with the congrega. tion and such disposition only to be made by a two- thirds (2/3) vote of the legal voters of the congregation assembled at a meeting of the Parishioners, the Trus- teeship herein referred to to be co-equal in time with that hereinbefore mentioned, viz., three years from. April 18, 1892, provided that the personnel of said Trusteeship and its duration may be changed at any Parish meeting by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the legal voters assembled.
Respectfully submitted,
April 14, 1892.
R. S. Worthington
Albert W. Giles
J. P. Sharp Charles Seabury
Frederick Gustorf Hiram Coombs
E. G. Corneau John W. Palmer
A. H. Vilas Geo. W. Melville
A. W. Pebbles G. H. Worthington
R. H. Hennegen R. W. Jennings
A. L. Fitch H. J. Ullmann
M. W. Ketcham T. S. Rattle
F. B. Gibbs John Carne, Jr.
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During the summer nothing is noted as to progress, but the Rector preached a sermon in October (probably upon the subject) and the Vestry requested its pub- lication and that every Parishioner be sent a copy thereof. This action was afterwards reconsidered.
Robert S. Worthington, who from early days had efficiently served the Parish as Treasurer, Junior and Senior Warden, tendered his resignation from the latter office October 26, 1892. Three of his colleagues upon the Vestry and the Rector urged his withdrawal of the same, but the Rector finally reported that all efforts in that direction were fruitless.
Albert W. Giles, who had been identified with the Mission and Parish during its entire existence, was elected Senior Warden at the Easter Parish meeting, and J. Perine Sharp was elected Junior Warden. The names of Samuel D. Attridge, R. W. Jennings and F. B. Gibbs also appear as Vestrymen at this time.
The following year was one of much discussion and seemed to develop almost a split in the congregation regarding the Church site. Thirty-five hundred dollars had been subscribed by a portion of the congregation and four thousand more would soon become due. It seemed beyond reach owing to dissatisfaction and con- troversy. Hiram Coombs in a lengthy communication urged the raising of the balance and the unity of the Parish, even if the Euclid Avenue site were abandoned and another selected. He generously offered $750 towards the required sum, but the Vestry requested, with due appreciation of his generosity, that the.mat- ter rest until after Easter. In his judgment this seemed impossible according to his proposed plan.
The same Vestrymen were re-elected at Easter with the exception of R. W. Jennings, and Charles L. Cheno- weth was elected in his stead and also as Clerk. He retained both offices until May, 1899. This Vestry favored the enlargement of the Forest Avenue edifice
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ARTHUR GUSTORF Vestryman, 1888-1904
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JAMES CAMPBELL ROGERS Vestryman, 1888-1889, 1902-1906 Junior Warden, 1906 to present time
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and the creation of a fund for a new Church in the following words :
RESOLVED, That a building fund for a new church be established and that a committee of five be appointed by the Chair to secure pledges for said fund. Time period, five years; payment in semi-annual install- ments; first payment due November 1, 1894.
When the amount pledged reaches the sum of $5,000 the present Church edifice be temporarily enlarged at a cost not exceeding $2,500, the funds for said tem- porary enlargement to be raised by mortgage on present Church property.
That a committee of three be appointed by the Chair to secure plans and estimates for said temporary enlargement.
Plans were drawn and bids received for the enlarge- ment of the Church. Vigorous protests against this action, however, were received from members of the congregation and the Rector sent a communication of four closely written pages, stating his position most clearly and emphatically, from which we quote:
"But feelings have changed on this subject recently. I believe it is now possible for the Vestry to unite on a site that will unite the whole congregation. If this can be done, it ought to be done, and done at once. It is either do that or do nothing, for you gentlemen are not made of that kind of stuff that will hold up your hands for doing nothing. The time is ripe for definite action. We are wasting time, energy, good feeling and money by our timid delays, by our dis- agreements and misunderstandings, when a united purpose would bring together our hearts and hands, our energies and purses. I believe a site can be found that will accomplish this."
Then the action regarding enlargement of the old Church was reconsidered and rejected; and action pro- posed in harmony with the Rector's letter. The com-
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mittee appointed to secure location recommended the lot upon which the present Church stands. They say : "It has 823 feet frontage on Lake Street by 309 feet deep, being immediately east of and adjoining the League Hotel. This lot is about the center of the block, and is directly opposite the Presbyterian House of Worship, and midway between the Methodist on the west and the Congregational on the east. Mr. Smith's price was $150 per front foot, but he has offered it to our Parish at $135 per foot, and we have reason to think that an offer of $125 per front foot would not be refused. He requires no cash payment, but will give ten or twenty years' time at 6% interest, any cash payment made during this time to be not less than $500. The many advantages in favor of this lot are apparent, viz. :
"1. It is certainly located on the most prominent street in Oak Park.
"2. The great depth of this lot (over 300 feet) would give ample space for Parish house, Guild rooms, Chapel, S. S. buildings, etc., as the Parish might re- quire.
"3. The reasonable price and the favorable terms offered.
"4. The great depth of the lot enables us to set the Church buildings far back from the street, removing them at once from the noise and dust of the street; and giving us a beautiful frontage of 50 feet to building line. "'
This was agreed to and the net price stated, $10,500, subject to favorable action of a Parish meeting. At that Parish meeting, November 7, 1894, the following action was taken. The vote was unanimous and every one stood in signification of his vote.
The Rector stated the object of the meeting to be to take action looking to the securing of a new Church site.
He then read the portions of the canons relating to
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JOSEPH PERINE SHARP Vestryman, 1891-1893, 1899-1904 Junior Warden, 1893-1895
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THE RIGHT REVEREND CHARLES PALMERSTON ANDERSON, D. D., BISHOP OF CHICAGO Third Rector, 1891-1900
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the qualification of voters, and rehearsed briefly the facts in connection with former attempts made to pro- vide a new Church site; and also quoted extracts from letter written by him August 28, 1894, to the Vestry in relation to this matter.
The Secretary read the recommendations to the Vestry of Committee on Church Site, dated October 24, 1894; also the action of Vestry at their meeting of October 31st concurring in said recommendations; and also presented and read the offer of J. W. Smith to sell his lot to the Parish at a net price of $10,500. On motion of G. H. Worthington, seconded by Hiram Coombs, the following resolution was read and adopted by a rising vote, there being no votes in the negative:
RESOLVED, That the action of this Parish at meeting held October 26, 1891, selecting the lot southeast corner of Euclid Avenue and Cedar Street as the site for the new Church be rescinded, and that the Wardens and Vestry be instructed to purchase for the new Church site the lot 823 x 310 feet, situated on the north side of Lake Street, lying between the League Hotel and the Gerts residence, upon the terms contained in the written offer of J. W. Smith presented at this meeting.
It being understood that this resolution is adopted subject to the approval of the Ecclesiastical authorities of the Diocese of Chicago.
On motion of Arthur Gustorf, seconded by T. S. Rattle, the meeting adjourned.
CHARLES L. CHENOWETH, Secy.
Henry R. Pebbles then tendered his services in the matter. He investigated records, abstracts of title, etc., and drew up all the legal papers necessary to the transfer, which was completed February 6, 1895, when Grace Church became possessed of a site for its new building. A plan was then developed for the raising of the interest upon the lot indebtedness, which would amount to $630 each year, and that the Men's Club,
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recently organized "for the welfare of the Parish," would solicit subscriptions from its members for the payment of the amount.
A committee to secure sketches, rough plans and approximate estimates for the new Church was ap- pointed by the Rector and comprised T. S. Rattle, Hiram Coombs, A. W. Giles, C. P. Thomas and the Rector. Then the Trustees of the Enclid Avenue lot presented a signed letter from all subscribers to that fund directing its Trustees to sell that property and pay net proceeds to the Vestry to be used for the erec- tion of a building upon the Lake Street lot.
Several changes appear in the personnel of the new Vestry, for William Ritchie, F. J. C. Borwell and S. W. Wetzel were elected to serve as Vestrymen and Charles Seabury as Junior Warden, the latter to fill the vacancy caused by the declination of J. Perine Sharp. The work of raising money was carried on with vigor, for by January 1, 1896, $2,543.32 was in hand; and a build- iug fund treasurer, H. J. Ullmann, had been duly appointed.
Then came a proposition to complete the payment of the Euclid Avenue lot from the building fund, which then exceeded $5,000 (June, 1896), if the consent of the Bishop could be obtained. This was accomplished and by the end of July the Treasurer of the building fund had paid $4,190, which made the lot the property of the Parish free from all encumbrance.
It is interesting to note that the Parish recom- mended Webster Hakes as a fit person to receive Holy Orders to the Bishop in March, 1897. Mr. Hakes was the first candidate for Holy Orders in the Parish and was subsequently ordained by the Bishop of the Dio- cese.
At the following Parish meeting three of the Vestry- men elected, Harry B. Noyes, F. J. C. Borwell and H. J. Ullmann declined to serve, but at a subsequent
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FLETCHER B. GIBBS Vestryman, 1893-1895
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WILLIAM RITCHIE Vestryman, 1895-1898, 1903-1908
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Parish meeting held within a week the services of H. J. Ullmann were insisted upon, by vote, and W. R. Pat- terson and Richard C. Coombs were elected to fill the other vacancies.
In October, 1897, some thieves entered the Church and carried away the Communion silver and brass alms basin. The Vestry offered a reward for the re- covery of the same, but all efforts to do so were fruit- less.
The Committee on Plans for the new Church made the following report in March, 1898:
"The Committee on Plans for the new Church beg leave to report that they have held several meetings; they have examined a large number of photographs, sketches and plans, exterior and interior views, of Parish Churches, built for Parishes somewhat similar to our own; they have had before them several sets of plans made especially for our new Church, which plans were obtained by individual members of the committee without expense; they have carefully considered the present and future needs of the Parish; they have ob- tained approximate figures as to the cost of a Church, and as a result of their deliberations so far are unani- mous in the following general outline as a basis of procedure :
"The committee is in favor (1) of a Gothic Church, (2) with a seating capacity (when completed) of seven hundred and fifty, (3) the material to be of stone, (4) the Church to be built gradually, beginning with the nave, (5) the cost of the nave to be approximately $25,000."
The lot having now been secured and a general out- line of building approved, attention was called to the fact that the ground was not upon a corner, and also that there was no alley or entrance to the rear; and therefore the building would be in danger of complete inclosure in the future. An effort was made to open
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a new street from Lake to Ontario Street, upon the west of the Church lot, but the neighboring property owners were not sufficiently interested to give their consent and this project was necessarily abandoned.
The Men's Club was shortly after this compelled to ask release from their obligation respecting the in- terest upon unpaid Church lot, because they found it impossible to secure sufficient paying subscriptions, but the Vestry requested them to perform a portion of that duty in any way they deemed advisable.
At the beginning of the Parish year, which was to be that in which the building should be commenced, certain changes in Vestrymen were made. Henry D. Pierce, Henry R. Pebbles were elected and Hiram Coombs and Thomas Rattle were brought again, by the votes of the Parish, to their former positions of service. The Parochial Guild gave an offering that Easter of $1,400, which, with other moneys, brought the building fund balance to $12,805.
This seemed sufficient to warrant a beginning; and an architect was selected and engaged, according to the following resolution :
The Committee on Plans begs leave to report that in accordance with instructions given them and power conferred upon them at the Vestry meeting of March 2, 1898, they have engaged Mr. John Sutcliffe of Chi- cago as the Architect of the new Church.
C. P. ANDERSON, Chairman.
But the size of the lot was again in question and having been unable to open a street upon the immediate west, an effort was made through H. R. Pebbles to purchase ten feet of the adjacent ground there. This effort, however, failed of its fulfilment.
Plans were adopted and the following outline of Church promulgated.
"The style of architecture is fourteenth century English Gothic. It will be a clerestory Church, with -
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S. W. WETZEL Vestryman, 1895-1897
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RICHARD C. COOMBS Vestryman, 1897-1898
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nave, aisles and transepts. Gothic is the climax of ecclesiastical architecture.
"The nave of the Church, including the spacious narthex, is 111 feet long and 65 feet wide from aisle-wall to aisle-wall. The chancel is forty feet deep and of the same width and height as the nave, the line of the nave arcading continuing through the chancel. It is marked off from the nave by a chancel arch within, and without by a stone coping over the roof. The front of the Church facing south has a tower on its west side, nineteen feet square and ninety feet high. The main entrance is through this tower. The tower is massive and handsome, and is designed for a chime of bells. On the east side of the south front is an entrance porch. Between the tower and porch is located the baptistery, octagonal in shape and form- ing a prominent feature of both the exterior and in- terior architecture.
The exterior walls of the Church will be built of Joliet limestone with Bedford stone trimmings. The interior walls will be of Roman pressed brick with portage sandstone arches and trimmings. The nave arcade will be supported by polished red Tennessee marble monoliths with molded portage stone caps and bases. The chancel consists of three bays with portage stone arcades opening into ambulatories, communi- cating with the Chapel on the west side and with the choir rooms and sacristy on the east side. The north bay (i. e., the ecclesiastical east bay) of the chancel forms the sanctuary, and is paneled with oak panel- ing, forming the reredos. The Altar will be raised nine steps above the nave floor. The reredos will ad- mit of future enrichment by historical paintings in the way of memorials. Over the Altar is a large four-light window with stone tracery heads. The en- tire structure is designed to admit of stone tracery in aisle, transept and chancel windows; though this is
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not included in the present design, except in chancel window over the Altar, and the large window in south gable over the baptistery. The chancel will contain stalls for fifty-four choristers and will be separated from the nave by an imposing carved oak rood screen twenty-nine feet wide and twenty-two feet high, sur- mounted by the rood, the apex of which is thirty-five feet above the nave floor. The organ will be located on the east side of the chancel, separated from the chancel and from the east transept by open oak arcad- ing and wrought iron grilles.
"The Church will have sittings for about 760 per- sons in the permanent pews, while on special occasions sittings can be provided for 1,000 without discomfort. The extra seating capacity is obtained by utilizing the side aisles, which, ordinarily, will be used simply as aisles. The spaces throughout the entire building are generous and will add greatly to the dignity of the Church."
According to authority given to the Building Com- mittee numerous changes have been made as the build- ing has gradually been erected. This can be readily seen when comparison is now made with the above outline, but the general plan has been adhered to.
It was then decided to excavate to a depth of four feet; to build the foundation of the entire structure up to the water table; to construct a temporary roof over the same, so that it could be used for services be .. fore winter. The contract was let for this work for $7,085. We quote from the ITEMS:
"The first sod was turned by Mrs. Borwell, Presi- dent of the Parochial Guild, on Wednesday, September 7, 1898, 8:30 A. M. The spade was furnished and the sod cut by F. R. Bagley, President of the Men's Club. This honor has been bestowed upon these two officers of these organizations for two good reasons. First, as a symbolic act of gratitude and appreciation for
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