USA > Louisiana > The Diocese of Louisiana, some of its history, 1838-1888; also some of the history of its parishes and missions, 1805-1888 > Part 9
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In April, 1887, the chapel was taken down and removed to land near Lamothe's Bridge, kindly donated by Miss Fee Taylor. The first service in the re-built chapel was held May 21, 1888. At this date a Chapel Committee was elected, Messrs. W. L. Sanford. Joseph W. Texada, Clinton Haworth. P. H. Davidson and W. E. Taylor.
LODI .- For some years, Mrs. E. M. Wells had maintained Sunday school at her home, on the St. Philip's place, adjoining Lodi plantation, when, February 27. 1881. the rector of St. James established regular services at Lodi under the name of St. Philip's mission. The attendance was very good. These services were continued until May 20, 1883, when they were abandoned, on ac- count of the removal of a large number of the congregation.
KANOMIE .- On the 29th Jannary, 1876, the Bishop held ser- vice for the neighborhood at Renaissance. the home of Mrs. Clara M. Smith. It was proposed after the service to open a subserip- tion for a chapel. Several hundred dollars were subscribed, and
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the promise was obtained from the rector, Rev. Mr. Ogden. of support.
Subsequently, the Rev. Mr. Wilson, of Cheneyville, began to hold services.
In 1879. the shell of a church was erected on the Chicama plantation of Mr. Thompson, he donating an acre of land and otherwise rendering material assistance. as in the subsequent presentation of an organ.
On the 9th March. 1880. the Bishop held the first service in the new chapel.
Mr. Wilson resigned in 1881, and on the 20 April, the congre- gation decided "to attach themselves to St. James', Alexandria," and adopted as the name of the edifice. " Bishop Wilmer Memorial Chapel."
On the 19th April. 1881. the rector took charge, and cele- brated the Holy Eucharist for the first time.
In March, 1883, the chancel was remodeled. and a vestry room built. "God's Acre" was laid out for burial purposes.
In March, 1887, window sash were procured. Mr. Joseph H. Meeker was. in April, elected treasurer, and Dr. W. H. Hardy and Mr. David S. Ferris were appointed a Building Committee.
MARKSVILLE .- On the 28th January. 1881. the rector of St. James', Alexandria, celebrated the Holy Eucharist in Marksville and established a mission under the name of St. Peter's. Services were maintained until the resignation of the Rev. Mr. Prosser, as assistant minister, July 1, 1882.
In 1886, the mission was visited by the Rev. Mr. Kramer.
SUNNY HOME .- In the winter of 1880-1881, a Sunday school of five teachers and twenty-five pupils was maintained at the Sunny Home plantation, about twenty-three miles below Alexan- dria. on the Red River, under the name of St. Timothy's Mission.
COLFAX .- On the 30th October, 1881, the rector of St. James', Alexandria, established a mission at Colfax, under the name of St. Luke's.
In April. 1882, Mrs. Lane gave five acres of land to the mis- sion.
Services were discontinued on the resignation of Mr. Prosser, July 1, 1882. He had made his residence there for several months.
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BOYCE .- On the 9th December, 1883, this mission was estab- lished by holding a service in the hotel dining room. The name of St. Philip's was bestowed. in loving memory of Philip Van Ingen.
An organ was purchased in 1884.
Services were continued in the hotel until the fall of 1886, when they were moved to the Methodist Chapel. The services were held exclusively in the evening until May 8. 1887, when morning services, monthly. were established. At that date, a num- ber of the parishioners of St. John's Chapel united with the con- gregation. A guild was organized with Henry A. Thompson as president ; Frank A. Blanchard, treasurer ; Dawson Johnson. secretary, and Henry A. Boyce, chairman of Building Committee.
ALEXANDRIA, ST. MARK'S .- On Whitsunday, June 1. 1873. a Sunday school was organized, with John M. Barrett's uperin- tendent, to be composed exclusively of colored children. That school has met regularly, from that day to this. in St. James' Church. It was known for a long while as St. James' Mission.
In August, 1883, the colored communicants of St. James' or- ganized a guild under the name of St. Mark's, and since that time the mission has taken the name chosen by the guild.
CHASELAND .- On the 25th November, 1883, the rector of St. James' established regular services at the Chaseland plantation of Mr. Joel E. Mathews, near Lecompte, for the benefit of the colored population in that neighborhood. In May, 1887, the mission took the name of "All Souls."
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TRINITY CHURCH, NATCHITOCHES.
ON the 27th March, 1839. Wednesday in Holy Week, Bishop Polk arrived in Natchitoches. On the next day, on Good Friday and on Easter Day, the Bishop held the first services in that place. In the course of this visit he baptized an adult and six children. He was hospitably entertained by the family of Mr. Fearing. The services were held in the court house.
On the 21st February. 1841. the Bishop made his second visit. The services were well attended. and " the responses of the con- gregation indicated the presence of a goodly number familiar with the service."
On the 17th May. 1841. the Rev. John Burke was appointed to this mission. He organized it May 23. 1841. The senior warden was S. M. Tibbetts: F. Williams was junior warden ; William Hunter Lewis. G. DeRussy. Joseph G. Campbell. Victor Sompayrae. Ambrose Sompayrac. George W. Lewis, D. M. Heard, Alfred Bludworth. Daniel H. Vail. Martin Fearing. Adolph Som- payrac and Thomas H. Aires, Vestrymen : Thomas P. Jones was clerk: James Taylor and D. F. Roysden. were prominent as or- ganizers of the work. E. O. Blanchard was the next junior warden, and E. Hollis, clerk.
They promised a $2,000 stipend to the rector.
Services were held every Sunday morning and night at the court house, until December, when the Methodists obtained the use of the building at night. There were then seven communicants. The rector did missionary work at Greenwood. Shreveport, Alex- andria and Donaldsonville.
The parish was admitted into union with the Convention January 19. 1843. W. B. Young representing the parish.
In 1843. a church was built. costing about 82.400. of which a third was contributed by the people of Natchitoches. and nearly all the balance within the Diocese. It was largely due to the zeal and self-devotion of the estimable rector. that this result was so well accomplished. "His assiduous devotion to this object, in the face of difficulties that would have appalled one of less courage." said the Bishop. "had won the esteem and confidence of his
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flock." Preparations were also made for the erection of a rectory. The church was consecrated April 23, 1844.
The rector, this year, performed missionary duty at Alex- andria, Fort Jessup, Baton Rouge, Donaldsonville and Franklin, and had three services a Sunday from the completion of the parish church.
In October, 1844, Mr. Burke resigned, and was succeeded, December 9, 1844, by the Rev. Elijah Guion. For nearly two years the rector served the mission at Alexandria.
In the early summer of 1848, Mr. Guion resigned. The parish remained vacant a long time. In 1852. the rector at Alexandria made several visits. During this time the ladies of the congregation procured the means to paint and fit up the church.
The Rev. Thomas S. Bacon took charge of the parish July 30, ' 1853. The congregation resolved on a more substantial church building, and set about the erection of a brick edifice.
In 1856, the rector reported that there were plain signs that the Church was greatly extending its influence over the colored people of Natchitoches and vicinity.
On the 28th April, 1857, the Bishop laid the corner stone of the new church. A procession was formed by the congregation at the church. and marched to the site of the new foundation. "The plan of the new building was neat," said the Bishop, "in- expensive and appropriate. To me this is one of the most inter- esting of our parishes." A handsome silver eucharistic service was presented to the parish by General De Peyster. of New York, who also gave the bell, and aided otherwise in the erection of the building. He placed a marble tablet in the church to the memory of his daughter, then lately deceased.
In 1858, the walls, roof and floor of the church were reported completed. The building was after a plan of Wills.
Mr. Bacon resigned April 12, 1861. The Rev. William Binet resided in Natchitoches during the war, and had charge of the church. The Rev. David Kerr, chaplain in the Confederate army, was called as reetor April 24, 1865.
In March, 1867, the Bishop found the parish vacant. He appointed a lay reader, and made arrangements to have the church open every Sunday.
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In March, 1870, the rector at Shreveport began to hold a monthly service. The Sunday school was reported as working efficiently.
In December, 1870, the Rev. Charles Ritter became rector. The church building was found seriously damaged. The personal skill of the rector added largely to the adornment of the church edifice. An organ was procured, built by Pomplit, of Baltimore. Mr. Ritter resigned in April, 1871.
The Rev. John Sandels took charge of the parish April 13, 1872, in connection with work in DeSoto Parish. He died October 15, 1874.
In 1878, the Rev. Charles A. Cameron was assigned to duty in this parish. He remained in charge for a term of years, re- signing in 1883. Many were the struggles of the congregation. To support the church the ladies sold ice cream upon the streets, mnade children's clothing and did other needle work.
In 1885, the Rev. M. T. Turner had service on fifth Sundays.
In May, 1886. the Rev. R. H. Prosser began monthly ser- vices, maintaining them until April, 1887. On the 22d May, 1887, the Rev. W. T. Douglas took up the work and still retains it.
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ST. MARK'S CHURCH, SHREVEPORT.
SOON after Shreveport began to be a town, there arrived, as the pioneer to preach the comfortable Gospel of Christ, a Bishop, one lately consecrated to the office, and one then treading the soil of Louisiana for the first time, and one who was destined to im- print deeply his mark upon the State and the Church, he who was afterwards first Bishop of Louisiana. He came on a boat from the "disputed territory between the United States and Texas," which, on the way, was snagged and sunk. Such were the difficulties of access even to the State. He arrived March 22, 1839, and on Sunday, March 24th, held "the first ministrations of the Gospel of Christ ever performed in the town."
There were then several Church families living in the direction of the Sabine.
The Bishop said of Shreveport, in 1839, "this place has un- dergone many vicissitudes during its short career, but is still destined to be one of the most considerable towns in upper Red River."
On the 14th February, 1841. the Bishop was again in Shreve- port. In the interval, two years, "not a solitary sermon had been preached in the village by a minister of any denomination."
At this time he met the Rev. William Steele, who had re- moved thither. "He is laboring," said the Bishop, "as his strength will allow, but he is too feeble to fill such an arduous station, and * * there are three stations at which highly respectable congregations could be gathered without difficulty." Mr. Steele was not canonically transferred until four years after- wards. He spent many laborious days of his ministry, in the several villages of Caddo Parish. faithfully laboring until his death in 1858.
In 1842, the missionary at Natchitoches, Rev. John Burke. reports the distribution of prayer books at Greenwood and Shreveport.
An interval of three years passes, and the Bishop again visits Shreveport, holding services in the court house June 1, 1845. On the next day a meeting was held, and a parish was organized
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under the name of St. Paul's. Great interest was manifested, and "measures were taken to erect a suitable church building, and to provide the means for the support of a minister."
In May. 1846, the Rev. Alexander McLeod was in Shreve- port, and ministered for a short while.
In 1850, the Rev. William Scull took charge of the parish. At this time the name of the parish was changed to " St. Mark's."
On the 12th June, 1851. the parish was admitted to union with the Diocesan Convention. In this year the first parochial report was made. From it we find that the time of the rector was equally divided between Shreveport and Trinity in DeSoto parish. The number of communicants was reported as unknown, but in 1852 it was found to be twelve.
In 1853. Mr. Scull resigned. The Bishop was there June 27. 1853, and a remark in his journal of that date is interesting, as illustrative of the "long wait " for anticipated improvement that has been so characteristic of the whole State. He said: "It is also the point at which an important railroad. starting at Vicks- burg, crosses the Red River, going westward, and is destined to become the second town in the State." The road was not built to Shreveport for thirty-two years.
In 1855 and 1856. the Rev. Mr. Bacon made several journeys on horseback from Natchitoches to Shreveport, to the "destitute congregation."
Judge James Weems removed to Shreveport, from West Feliciana, in 1858. He instigated the movement to build a church, and did much to forward it. His daughters were, for years, the choir.
On the 1st January, 1859, the Rev. Ambrose B. Russell be- came rector. In that year, there were twenty-four communicants. A plan for a church was adopted, of the twelfth century style, to cost $5,000 and upwards.
In 1860, the beginning of the church was reported. In that year the rector ministered on eight plantations in the vicinity.
On the 10th April, 1861. the Bishop found the church " in an advanced state of forwardness," encouraging the hope that it might soon be occupied. " It promises," he said, " to be one of the most beautiful specimens of church architecture in the Diocese, and very perfect in all its arrangements. It is conceded on all hands to be the fruit of the energy and untiring labor of the
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rector, and when completed, will be a monument of his zeal and devotion to the cause of Christ." The Rev. Mr. Russell con- tinned to officiate until January, 1866, when he resigned, leaving the church " free of debt for the building and lot, but by death and removals greatly weakened."
In April. 1866. the Rev. W. T. Dickinson Dalzell, D. D., be- came the fourth rector. The parish at that time was " as pros- trate as a parish could be and yet live. The church building was dilapidated, the walls crumbling, the roof leaking, and with no doors or windows ; indeed, neither door nor window frames : while the congregation had become insignificantly small. and utterly disheartened."
In a year's time, however, the rector was able to report the church in an advanced state of completion, the walls repaired and painted externally, and plastered inside ; the roof in thorough repair ; doors and windows added, the latter rich stained and enameled glass ; comfortable pews, and a handsome altar; and the church filled with worshippers.
Continued and unseasonable rains occasioned an almost total failure of the cotton crop in 1867, and there was a terrible visita- tion of yellow fever. As a consequence, the completion of the church was delayed.
In [1869, an organ, chancel chairs, lectern and carpet were purchased and arrrangements made to liquidate the indebtedness incurred.
In 1870, a parish school was opened.
In 1873, the parish wasfreported as exhibiting a spirit of earnest devotion, with more than usual zeal. In that year, Shreveport was scourged by an epidemic of yellow fever, the record of the rector showing no less than one hundred and sixty- two funerals. A steady increase in numbers was, however, reported.
Bishop Wilmer was in Shreveport, February 4, 1876, and under the inspiration of his presence a meeting was held, and more than $2,000 collected to discharge the debt on the parish, and shortly afterwards the entire debt of $3, 750 was liquidated. and the task of years was accomplished, and December 13, 1877, the church was consecrated.
On the 3d February. 1879, the Rev. Dr. Dalzell, resigned, and in April the Rev. Abner N. Ogden became rector. He served
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about a year. On his resignation. Dr. Dalzell resumed the rector- ate, June 28, 1880.
In 1880. some five hundred dollars was spent in repairs and recarpeting.
The Rev. Dr. Dalzell remains the highly esteemed incumbent. The present number of communicants is one hundred and forty- one.
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ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, THIBODAUX.
THIBODAUX, or Thibodeauxville, as it was then called, and until 1842, was one of the places that Bishop Brownell under- stood, in 1830, would welcome the Church.
Bishop Polk, on making Louisiana his home, selected Thib- odaux as his residence, and began officiating there when at home, to both the white and colored people.
On the 9th February. 1843. the Bishop organized the parish, under the name of St. John's Church. It was incorporated by the Legislature April 6th, the incorporators being Andrew Collins, Thomas M. Williams, A. C. Autil, R. G. Ellis, George S. Guion, Alfred Millard, C. F. Hawley, R. G. Darden. C. Armitage and W. L. Benedict.
The land for the church, and subsequently for the cemetery, was donated by George S. Guion.
On the 1st January, 1844, the Bishop laid the corner stone of "a remarkable neat " church. It was built of brick, , covered with slate. "The promptitude." he says. " with which the friends of this enterprise have acted, is worthy of the highest praise."
On the 15th June, 1844, the parish was admitted into union with the Convention.
On Palm Sunday, March 16. 1845, the church was consecrated.
On Easter Day, March 23, 1845, the Rev. David Kerr became the first rector. The communicants then numbered twenty-four, of whom fourteen were colored persons.
In September, 1846, a fence was built around the property. at a cost of nearly $500.
Mr. Kerr resigned in 1846, and was succeeded in November of that year, by the Rev. John Sandels.
On the 1st January, 1847, the congregation was divided ; all but two of the colored communicants being assigned to the care of the Rev. Spenser Wall, who held a missionary appointment to the colored people on a plantation on the Bayou. The rector now began work on the plantations in the immediate neighborhood.
In 1848, there were seventy-one pupils in the Parish Church Sunday school ; one hundred and thirty under Mr. Wall. "The
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moral and religious improvement of the colored children was quite remarkable."
In 1849, an organ was purchased for $400. The number of communicants under the two clergymen was one hundred and fifty-four. of whom thirty-two only were white persons.
In 1850. lamps were purchased for the church at an expense of $70. A parochial school had been in operation some years.
On the 26th May, 1850, Mr. Sandels resigned, and in 1851, Mr. Wall retired from his charge.
In July. 1851. the Rev. William C. Crain took entire charge of the parish, including the superintendence of St. John's paro- chial school.
In November. 1852, Mr. Crain resigned.
During the yellow fever epidemic of 1853, the Rev. Mr. Dowe, of Donaldsonville, made the parish several visits.
In 1853, the Rev. T. R. B. Trader became rector.
On the 31st July, 1854. the parish presented the Bishop with a set of robes. at a cost of $100. The Bishop changed his resi- dence to New Orleans. in December of that year.
In 1854. the rector organized the parish at Houma, officiating there occasionally.
On the 8th May, 1855, Mr. M. P. Zills presented a bell, cost- ing $500.
In June, 1856. a house of two rooms was moved and placed on the church property for a rectory. At the same time, a new front was built to the church. including a vestibule, choir gallery, etc. The cost was nearly $5,000.
On the 13th January. 1857, a walnut altar and two carved lecterns were purchased, and on the 9th March, Mrs. John Wil- liams gave the church two walnut arm-chairs.
In 1858, the church at Houma completed its organization by the call of a rector. and nine of the communicants on the register of St. John's were transferred.
The parish had, up to this date, subscribed 83.830, and paid $3,110 to the endowment of the Episcopate.
The parish suffered greatly during the war. Divine service during a large portion of the time was suspended, and the rector exiled. On his return, in November. 1865, he found the congre- gation scattered, the church edifice much injured.
In 1867 or 1868, a recess chancel was built, at a cost of $1,500.
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On the 27th November. 1869. Mr. Trader resigned. In 1870. the Rev. Herman C. Duncan held services occasionally.
On the 27th November, 1870, the Rev. James Philson became rector, resigning January 23d. 1871.
On the 1st February, 1871, the Rev. C. F. D. Lyne became reetor.
On the Sth May, 1871. the Vestry compromised their claim to a legacy of $2,000. bequeathed by R. G. Nichols, by accepting a house and lot on same street as the church. and about a block away. This became the rectory: the old building on church lot was loaned to a private school.
In 1872, the rector reported good feeling, Christian sympathy and support extended to him by all classes of the community. Mr. Lyne found a debt of $800, which the congregation were unable to liquidate until 1875. It was an incubus that well nigh quenched all energy and checked every effort for good.
In 1877. the front of the church was repainted. In this year. also, the Ladies' Aid Society was formed. The improved appear- ance of the cemetery and other good works tesified. in a year, to its efficiency.
On the 3d June. 1881. a solid silver eucharistie service, flagon. chalice and paten were presented to the Church. They are in- scribed: "Mary Haven Pugh's offering to St. John's Church." The gift was in memoriam of a young girl.
On the 25th November. 1881, Mr. Lyne resigned, and, July 17, 1882, the Rev. A. S. Clark became the seventh rector.
On the 24th November, 1882, the Sunday school gave the Church an organ and two sets of books for chancel use.
In January, 1883, the parish, jointly with Napoleonville, pre- sented the rector, at a cost of $300, with a horse and buggy. The next year, Thibodaux returned to Napoleonville its contribution to that object. From the assumption of the cure, the rector had charge of Napoleonville, but relinquished it July 13, 1883.
In 1883, the rectory was sold for $700. and the proceeds ap- propriated to building a new one.
About this time a number of presents were made to the Church-pair of offertory plates by Miss Mamie Thibodeaux; a carpet by Mrs. R. H. Allen ; velvet ante pendiums by Mrs. S. Jamison ; a silver cover for chalice by Mrs. D. B. Pugh ; pair of brass altar vases by Young Ladies' Society ; pair of prie dieu and
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stalls by the parish. The interior of the church was polychromed by the Ladies' Aid Society. The Rev. John F. Girault presented the parish a pulpit and lectern.
A parish paper was commenced in 1883. and sustained for several years. Mrs. H. W. Young. Mrs. S. Jamison and Mrs. John Williams gave two mural tablets. The Sunday school gave a brass altar desk. A purple funeral pall was also presented.
The new and commodious rectory. of pleasing design and tasteful appearance. was built on the ground adjoining the church. It was dedicated February 20. 1884. It cost about $2,500. It is. in every sense. an ornament to the town and a credit to the parish. Unity, harmony and devotion marked the congregation.
In 1885. the Sunday school and the Ladies' Aid Society pre- sented a polished brass altar cross.
In 1886. the Sunday school gave a black walnut hymn tablet. The parish has been represented in the Councils of the Diocese by Messrs. George S. Guion, fifteen times: Richard E. Butler, Andrew Collins, Winchester Hall. twice: James M. Saunders. P. L. Cox, twenty-five times: J. Y. Bennett. General Braxton Bragg, three times ; C. P. Bennings. three times; L. Suthorn. Dr. George W. Tucker, Lewis Guion, six times: W. D. Winter. S. T. Grisamore. T. L. Winder. Robert Perkins. David Pugh and John J. Shaffer.
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CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION, DONALDSON- VILLE.
1× 1830, Bishop Brownell writes that he learns that a church could readily be established at Donaldsonville. then the capitol of the State.
In 1841, or early in 1842, the Rev. Mr. Burke, of Natchi- toches, held service in Donaldsonville. On the 3d April. 1842. the Bishop visited Donaldsonville. "This was the second occa- sion on which the services of the Church had ever been held there." and the Bishop says he could not but remark on the familiarity manifested by a highly respectable congregation with our formularies. On the 12th May he organized the parish. The Bishop said he looked upon it as one of great importance.
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