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RINITY
HURCH
IN THE
CITY OF BOSTON
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/trinitychurchinc00ches
GEN
F
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 01217 7132
GC 974.402 B65CHES
TRINITY CHURCH
IN THE CITY OF BOSTON
AN
HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT
With a Guide TO
ITS WINDOWS AND PAINTINGS
COMPILED BY
ARTHUR H. CHESTER
CAMBRIDGE JOHN WILSON AND SON University Press 1888
Copyright, 1888, BY ARTHUR H. CHESTER.
SECOND EDITION.
CONTENTS.
PRESENT OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH
PAGE
7
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE PARISH 9
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE CHURCH .
15
THE GUIDE :
SECTION I. The Chancel . 24
II. The Nave . 37
III.
The South Transept
44
IV.
The North Transept
51
V. The Tower
61
VI. The Chapel and Surroundings .
64
ADDRESS TO THE PROPRIETORS OF THE CHURCH IN 1875, PREPARED BY THOMAS C. AMORY 71
The eastern doors of the Church are open every day from eight o'clock until four o'clock, save on Saturdays, when they are closed at noon.
ALPHABETICAL INDEX TO WINDOWS AND TABLETS.
Juindows.
THE AMORY WINDOW (North Transept)
57
APPLETON WINDOW (North Transept) 55
BEEBE WINDOW (Nave)
BLACK WINDOW (North Transept) .
53
42
BORLAND AND LLOYD WINDOW (South Transept)
44
BRIMMER WINDOW (North Transept) .
5I
BROOKS WINDOW (Nave) .
38
BURNHAM WINDOW (South Transept) 45
CHICKERING WINDOW (North Transept) 52
COCHRANE WINDOW (South Transept) 47
DEBLOIS WINDOW (North Transept) 54
DEHON WINDOW (Chancel) 29
DEXTER WINDOW (Chancel Alcove) 3º
EASTBURN WINDOW (Chancel) . 27
FENNO WINDOW (South Transept) .
49
GARDINER WINDOW (Chancel)
28
GRISWOLD WINDOW (Chancel) 25
HARMON WINDOW (Chapel) . 64
LACE WINDOW (South Transept) 46
LORING WINDOW (South Transept) 48
MCKIM WINDOW (Nave) 40
PAINE WINDOW (Nave) 39
PAGE
6
Index to Windows and Tablets.
PAGE
THE PARKER WINDOW (Chancel) . 26
GERTRUDE PARKER WINDOW (Chapel). 65
PETERS WINDOW (South Transept) 46
RITCHIE WINDOW (South Transept) 45
ROBING-ROOM WINDOW
59
SUNDAY-SCHOOL WINDOWS (Chapel) 66
THAYER WINDOW (North Transept) 53
WAINWRIGHT WINDOW (Chancel)
30
WALTER WINDOW (Chancel) . 24
WESTERN WINDOWS (Nave) . 37
WINTHROP WINDOW (North Transept) 56
CHARLOTTE WINTHROP WINDOW (South Transept) 49
Cablets.
THE DEXTER TABLET (North Transept) 58
GARDINER TABLET (Chancel) 32
PARKER TABLET
69
STANLEY TABLET AND BUST (Chancel) 31
THE COMMUNION SERVICE (Chancel) 35
FONT (Chancel) 34
LECTERN (Chancel) .
34
OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH.
Rector. REV. PHILLIPS BROOKS, D.D.
Assistant Ministers. REV. FREDERICK BAYLIES ALLEN.
REV. REUBEN KIDNER.
dalardens. CHARLES HENRY PARKER. CHARLES R. CODMAN.
Clerk and Treasurer. FRANCIS B. SEARS.
Destromen.
ROBERT C. WINTHROP.
ROBERT T. PAINE.
THOMAS C. AMORY.
ROBERT M. CUSHING.
JOHN C. ROPES.
EDWARD N. FENNO.
CHARLES J. MORRILL. ALEXANDER COCHRANE.
BENJAMIN F. NOURSE. MAHLON D. SPAULDING.
WILLIAM S. EATON. WILLIAM P. BLAKE.
FRANCIS B. SEARS.
Sexton.
CHARLES E. CHESTER.
The author is indebted to the Rector and to the Hon. Thomas C. Amory, Chairman of the Memorial Window Committee, for many valuable suggestions, - the latter having kindly placed his records at the author's service.
HISTORICAL
SKETCH OF THE PARISH.
TN 1887 the Parish of TRINITY CHURCH rejoiced in the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the consecration of its present edifice; but the 15th of April, 1885, saw the completion of one hundred and fifty years of parish life.
It was in 1728 that land was purchased at the cor- ner of Summer Street and Bishop's Alley, for £514 7s. 2d., for the building of a new church to be called Trinity. This was to be the third Episcopal Church in Boston, King's Chapel and Christ Church having preceded it. On April 15, 1735, it was consecrated ; an exceedingly plain wooden building, ninety feet long and sixty feet broad, yet withal most home-like and pleasant within. "' It had neither tower, nor steeple, nor windows in the lower story of the front. There were three entrances in front, unprotected by
10
Trinity Church in the City of Boston.
porches.' Its roof was a great 'arch, resting on Corinthian pillars, with handsomely carved and gilded capitals. In the chancel were some paintings, consid- ered very beautiful in their day.' " 1 Such was the building in which many of the ancestors of the pres- ent congregation worshipped. Until 1828, nearly one hundred years, it served its people; then, beginning to show traces of age, the Proprietors voted to take it down, and in its place was erected the Gothic struc- ture which lasted until the Great Fire of 1872.
The Rev. ADDINGTON DAVENPORT, previously the assistant minister at King's Chapel, served as the first rector of Trinity. His ministry lasted till 1746; and after his death, the Rev. WILLIAM HOOPER, who had resigned his position as pastor of the West Congrega- tional Church to become an Episcopalian, was called to the place. He remained rector for twenty years, until his sudden death in 1767. During his minis- try was established the "Greene Foundation " Fund, largely the gift of the heirs of Mr. Thomas Greene, for the support of an assistant minister. By it Dr. WILLIAM WALTER became the first assistant; and at the death of Mr. Hooper, he succeeded to the rector- ship, serving for ten years, till March, 1776, when, as
1 These were from the brush of John Smibert.
II
Historical Sketch of the Parish.
a loyal subject of the King, he sailed for Halifax with General Howe. Then Dr. SAMUEL PARKER, who had been the assistant minister, became rector ; and his long and faithful ministry continued through twenty- eight years. Scarcely had he assumed the charge of the Parish when the Independence of these United States of America was declared; and it is largely owing to the prompt action of Dr. Parker in calling together the Proprietors of his church, in telling them that he could not read the prayers for the King in the future, and in securing their consent for the omis- sion of the same, because " it would be more for the interest and cause of Episcopacy, and the least evil of the two, to omit a part of the liturgy than to shut up the church," - that the Episcopal Church continued its existence in this town through those Revolutionary days.
Dr. Parker was also followed by an assistant, the Rev. JOHN SYLVESTER JOHN GARDINER, who suc- ceeded to the position of rector in 1805 ; and his was the second long and marked ministry in the Church history. He officiated for twenty-five years, till failing health obliged him to return to his native England, where he died in 1830. He lived just long enough to see the opening of the new Gothic church already
12
Trinity Church in the City of Boston.
mentioned, which was consecrated by Bishop Alex- ander Viets Griswold on the IIth of November, 1829. Dr. Brooks says of it: "It was a noble building in its day. It was one of the first of the Gothic build- ings of this country, which were built after church architecture had begun to waken and aspire; and few that followed it equalled its dignity and calm impres- siveness. The lighter and more fantastic styles of building sprang up in the city. The timber spires that made believe that they were stone, leaped up with unnatural levity into the sky; the cheap stone sculpture covered and deformed great feeble fronts ; the reign of imitation came, and in the midst of all, Trinity stood, in its exterior at least, strong, genuine, solid, with its great rough stones, its broad bands of sculpture, its battlemented tower, like a great castle of the truth, - grim, no doubt, and profoundly seri- ous, but yet able to win from those who worshipped there for years, an affectionate confidence, and even a tender yearning love." 1 This was the home of Trinity Parish from 1829 to 1872.
Following Dr. Gardiner for a short period, came the Rev. Dr. GEORGE WASHINGTON DOANE; and during
1 Historical Sermon by the Rev. Phillips Brooks, in Trinity Church, Feb. 11, IS77.
13
Historical Sketch of the Parish.
part of his ministry he had the assistance of the Rev. Dr. JOHN HENRY HOPKINS. Then, from 1833 to 1838, the Rev. Dr. JONATHAN MAYHEW WAINWRIGHT served as rector; and two years later, in 1840, began a third long ministry, such as those of Drs. Parker and Gardiner, - that of the Rev. Dr. MANTON EASTBURN. From 1842 to 1868 he enjoyed a notable and memo- rable ministry ; and he had successively the assistance of such men as Dr. WATSON, Bishop CLARK, Dr. JOHN COTTON SMITH, Dr. MERCER, and Dr. POTTER. Then, after the resignation of Bishop Eastburn in 1868, the present rector, the Rev. Dr. PHILLIPS BROOKS, was called from Philadelphia, and he came in Novem- ber of the following year.
It is a point not to be forgotten that the subject of removal to the new lands of the city had already been broached in the winter of 1870, two years before the Great Fire which swept away the old church. The land had already been bought, the designs of Messrs. Gambrell & Richardson had already been accepted, and much detail had come under consideration, when, on the 10th of November, 1872, the fire came, just one day before the forty-third anniversary of the consecration in 1829. Then, while the congregation worshipped in Huntington Hall, the plans were com-
14
Trinity Church in the City of Boston.
pleted and carried into execution with all possible despatch, until, finally, the 9th of February, 1877, saw the consecration of the present edifice by the Right Rev. Benjamin Henry Paddock, Bishop of Massachusetts; and from that day to the present, the congregation has enjoyed the privilege of wor- shipping in this most interesting and impressive building.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE CHURCH.1
N Dec. 5, 1870, this vote of the Vestry was submitted to the Proprietors: " That it is ex- pedient, in the opinion of the Vestry, that measures be taken to remove Trinity Church, provided a satis- factory sale of the property can be obtained and a satisfactory location can be agreed upon and secured for a new church."
This vote was referred to a committee, who after- ward reported favorably. A petition to the Legisla- ture of the State for leave to sell the Summer Street property was granted, and in 1872 land was pur- chased in the new section of the city.
March 6, 1872, the Building Committee was cre- ated, consisting of George M. Dexter, Charles Henry
1 Compiled from the Report of the Building Committee of the Church, and from a description of the edifice by the architect, the late H. H. Richardson.
16
Trinity Church in the City of Boston.
Parker, Robert C. Winthrop, Martin Brimmer, Charles R. Codman, John C. Ropes, John G. Cushing, Charles J. Morrill, Robert Treat Paine, Jr., Stephen G. De- blois, Treasurer, and William P. Blake, Secretary. In April, Mr. C. W. Galloupe was added to the Committee.
On June 1, Messrs. Gambrell & Richardson were chosen as the architects. They immediately began to mature their plans. Owing to the purchase of more land upon the Huntington Avenue side, a con- siderable number of changes was made, and work upon the new plans was continued through the sum- mer and fall of 1872.
In April, 1873, the actual work really began with , the excavation of the lot, under a contract with Al- bert C. Blaisdell. By July the work of driving piles was well under way. In October, 1873, a contract was signed with Messrs. Norcross Brothers, of Worces- ter, Mass., for the completion of the church and chapel, from the top of the piles upward. On Nov. 29, 1874, the chapel was first used by the Sunday- school. Meanwhile the work on the church contin- ued ; and on Thursday, May 20, 1875, the corner-stone was laid by the Rev. Phillips Brooks, with appro- priate ceremony. On Dec. 1, 1876, the contractors
17
General Description of the Church.
completed their part of the work, and it now remained only that Mr. John LaFarge, of New York City, - who had been given the contract for frescoing and decorating, - should complete his contract. Owing to the magnitude of his work, an extension of time was given him; and it was the afternoon of Feb. I, 1877, when the "great stage" had its first timber knocked away. The placing of the pews and other detail work was then pushed with rapidity, so that on the afternoon of February 8 everything was ready ·for the consecration, which took place on the fol- lowing day.
As Trinity Church stands upon " made land," great care had to be taken in providing a proper founda- tion. It was found, by testing, that a compact stratum was overlaid with a quantity of alluvium, upon which a mass of gravel, some thirty feet deep, had been filled in. To provide for the support of the church, containing a tower which alone weighed nearly nine- teen million pounds and was supported by four piers, required four thousand five hundred piles; and over two thousand of these were placed under the pyra- mids which make the base of the piers. These pyramids, of solid granite, are thirty-five feet square
2
18
Trinity Church in the City of Boston.
at the base, seven feet square at the top, and seven- teen feet high. From them rise the four great piers, so conspicuous in the church.
Choice was made of Dedham granite for the ash- lar, and Longmeadow freestone for the trimmings and cut-stone work; and land was hired and quarries were opened by the contractors both at Dedham and at Longmeadow. It being difficult to secure large stones of the Dedham granite for the water-table, the contractors opened a third quarry at Westerly, R. I., from which good stone was obtained for this purpose.
Dimension granite of ordinary kinds, for use in the foundation of the great piers, was secured by con- tract from various localities, - from Rockport and from Quincy, Mass., and from the coast of Maine. In the other foundations granite from the old church in Summer Street was largely used, although some difficulty was met on account of the scaling of many of the best stones, caused by the action of the heat in the fire.
The piers were built of blocks of Westerly granite, cach five by two and a half by twenty, forming a pillar five feet square in section, the joints of alternate courses crossing. "For laying these piers and the
19
General Description of the Church.
adjoining walls, as well as the arches between the piers, a massive scaffold was built, standing indepen- dently upon the four pyramids of the tower founda- tion. Four derricks stood upon this structure; and not only the pier stones, weighing two tons each, were easily handled, but the same stage served after- ward to carry the centres for the great arches, and the whole superstructure of scaffolding, to the very top of the tower, no outside staging being used. This ' great stage,' as it was called, remained in place for more than two years."
During the progress of the work it was often suggested that the great piers at least should show the stone face in the church; but as a rich effect of color in the interior was an essential element of the design, all propositions to that effect were eventually rejected, and the piers were plastered and painted, as were all other inner wall surfaces.
Tiles for the roof were obtained from Akron, Ohio, and the crockets from a Chicago firm.
As soon as the building was enclosed, Mr. LaFarge began upon the decoration. The better part of the decoration was painted with an encaustic medium consisting of wax melted with turpentine, alcohol, and Venice turpentine, in certain proportions. This
20
Trinity Church in the City of Boston.
entirely prevents any chance of obliteration by water.
" In plan the church as it stands is a Greek cross with a semi-circular apse added to the eastern arm. The arms of the cross are short in proportion to the width. The aisles would be very narrow for a Gothic church, but are in character for the Romanesque. The clear-story is carried by an arcade of two arches only. Above the aisles a gallery is carried across the arches, which from its position was distinguished by the name of the 'triforium' gallery, and serves as a passage to connect the three main galleries, - one across either transept, and one across the west end of the nave, over the vestibule. The robing-room opens from the northeast vestibule, as well as from the chancel. . . The whole interior of the church and chapel is finished in black walnut, and all the vestibules in ash and oak.
"The style of the church may be characterized as a free rendering of the French Romanesque, in- clining particularly to the school that flourished in the eleventh century in Central France, - the ancient Aquitaine, - which, secure politically on the one hand from the Norman pirates, and on the other from the
21
General Description of the Church.
Moorish invasions, as well as architecturally eman- cipated from the influence of classical traditions and examples which still ruled the southern provinces, developed, in various forms, a system of architecture of its own, differing from the classical manner in that while it studied elegance it was also constructional, and from the succeeding Gothic in that, although constructional, it could sacrifice something of me- chanical dexterity for the sake of grandeur and repose.
" Among the branches of the Romanesque of Central France, nowhere were the peculiar char- acteristics of the style so strongly marked as in the peaceful, enlightened, and isolated cities of Auvergne. The central tower - a reminiscence, perhaps, of the domes of Venice and Constantinople - was here fully developed ; so that in many cases the tower became, as it were, the church, and the composition took the outline of the pyramid, the apse, transepts, nave, and chapels forming only the base to the obelisk of the tower."
The western façade is yet to be completed. Mr. Richardson's plans include a large portico carried some thirty feet forward from the present front entrance, and numerous other details for the beau-
22
Trinity Church in the City of Boston.
tifying of the whole façade. But the absence of these details does not detract from the whole; and as time passes, constant possibilities for improvement, not here alone but throughout the church, will present themselves.
DIMENSIONS OF THE CHURCH.
FEET. INCHES.
Extreme length, outside to outside of walls . 159
II
Extreme width, across transepts to outside of walls 120
IO
Width of west front 92 10
Depth of chancel, to inside wall of apse
57 5
Width of chancel, inside the walls
52 2
Width of transepts 51 IO
Interior dimensions of tower
46 sq.
Height of great piers, from floor to spring of arches 36 3
Height from floor to ceiling of tower
103 2
Height from ground line to the highest stone in the building 149 7
Height from ground line to topmost point of finial
21I 3
Seating capacity
155° persons.
Ex
11
بريدة - عيشيد جيس
الشهر
வெனி
P
U
THE GUIDE.
TN entering into a description of the windows and other objects of interest in and about the church, it has been considered expedient, for convenience, to divide the subject into six sections, as follows : -
SECTION I. THE CHANCEL. II. THE NAVE.
III. THE SOUTH TRANSEPT.
IV. THE NORTH TRANSEPT. V THE TOWER.
VI. . THE CHAPEL AND SURROUNDINGS.
These will be considered in order.
24
Trinity Church in the City of Boston.
Section first.
THE CHANCEL.
The windows in the chancel are eight in num- ber, - seven in the apse and one in the chancel alcove on the right.
The seven windows in the apse represent as many scenes in the life of our Lord: The Nativity, the Discussion with the Doctors in the Temple, the Baptism, the Exhortation at the Feast of the Tab- ernacles, the Institution of the Lord's Supper, the Resurrection, and the Commission to the Apostles.
Artists, CLAYTON & BELL, London, England.
I. The Walter Window.
The Nativity. - From above, the Star of Bethlehem shines down upon the birthplace of the infant Jesus, who is lying in the manger. His mother, the Virgin Mary,
25
The Chancel.
kneels before him, while Joseph stands near. At the left, the ox and the ass are gazing upon the sacred scene.
Scroll at the Top. - "GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH PEACE, GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN."
"UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN."
Inscription. - In memory of the Rev. WILLIAM WALTER, D.D., Minister of this Church, 1763-1776.
This window is the gift of Mrs. LOUISA ANN (WALTER) ADAMS, a granddaughter of the rector therein commemo- rated. Dr. Walter was the third minister of this Church. (See page 10.)
II. The Griswold Mindolu.
The Discussion in the Temple. - The boy Jesus stands in the centre, Mary and Joseph are entering upon the right, while the doctors sit or stand in the background. A roll of manuscript lies in the foreground.
" WIST YE NOT THAT I MUST BE ABOUT MY FATHER'S BUSINESS."
Inscription. - In memory of the Rev. ALEXANDER VIETS GRISWOLD, D.D., Bishop of this Diocese, 1811-1843.
26
Trinity Church in the City of Boston.
The cost of this window was defrayed by general sub- scriptions from members of this Parish, by many of whom Dr. Griswold is yet remembered " as a model of all Christian graces and peculiar adaptation to his sacred functions." It was he who consecrated the second Summer Street Church.
Above and below the main divisions of the three central windows are representations of the Apostles, each with his symbol; there being two at the top and two at the bottom of each window.
III. The Parker Window.
The Baptism. - Jesus stands in the foreground, His head inclined forward, His neck and shoulders bared ; while upon His right is John the Baptist, in the act of pouring water upon our Lord's head from a vessel. In his left hand John holds a cross with the banner attached, " ECCE AGNUS DEI," -" Behold the Lamb of God." On the right an angel is ministering unto them ; while above, the dove is descending in a ray of light.
" THIS IS MY BELOVED SON IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED."
Apostles represented in this window : -
Above -
SAINT THADDEUS. Halberd.
SAINT ANDREW. Transverse Cross.
Below -
SAINT PETER.
SAINT JOHN.
Key.
Chalice with Serpent
27
The Chancel.
Inscription. - In memory of the Right Rev. SAMUEL PARKER, D.D., Minister of this Church, 1773-1804.
The expense of this window was defrayed partially by the descendants of Dr. Parker and partially by the Parish. Dr. Parker was the fourth rector of the Church. (See page II.)
IV. The Eastburn Window.
Here our Lord is represented as The Preacher. He stands in the centre, while His disciples or hearers sit or lie about Him. The text upon the scroll carried by the two angels above His head is the first sentence from His sermon on the last day of the Feast of the Jews : -
" IF ANY MAN THIRST LET HIM COME UNTO ME AND DRINK."
Apostles represented in this window : -
Above -
SAINT THOMAS. SAINT BARTHOLOMEW. Knife.
Builder's Rule.
Below -
SAINT PHILIP. SAINT JAMES MAJOR.
Cross. Staff.
Inscription. - In memory of the Right Rev. MANTON EASTBURN, D.D., Minister of this Church, 1842-1868.
28
Trinity Church in the City of Boston.
The subscription list by means of which the expense of this window was met, received cordial and hearty support from the first. As Dr. Eastburn immediately preceded our present rector, very many are now living who can speak the praises of him commemorated in this central window, " the central memory of the Church he served so long." (See page 13.)
V. The Gardiner Window.
The Last Supper. - The table extends across the centre of the window, and upon the farther side sits our Lord. Upon His shoulder leans His favorite apostle, Saint John, while at the table, upon either side, sit the others.
" THIS DO IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME."
Apostles represented in this window : -
Above -
SAINT SIMON. Saw.
SAINT MATTHEW. Purse.
Below -
SAINT JAMES MINOR. SAINT MATTHIAS. Lance.
Club.
Inscription. - In memory of the Rev. JOHN SYLVESTER JOHN GARDINER, D.D., Minister of this Church, 1792-1830.
29
The Chancel.
Subscriptions had already been offered toward defraying the cost of this window, when Dr. Gardiner's grandsons - Messrs. John G., Robert M., and Thomas F. Cushing - requested to be allowed to assume the expense of the window, and it is to them that the Church is indebted for this memorial. The visitor is referred to the description of the " Gardiner Tablet," given later in this section. (See also page II.)
-
VI. The Dehon Window.
The Resurrection. - In the foreground are two angels, - one kneeling in prayer, the other in the act of rolling away the stone from the mouth of the tomb, from which Jesus is just stepping forth.
"I AM HE THAT LIVETH AND WAS DEAD, AND BEHOLD I AM ALIVE FOREVER MORE. AMEN."
Inscription. - In memory of the Rt. Rev. THEODORE DEHON, D.D. Baptized in this Church, 1776 - Died Bishop of South Carolina, 1817.
The Dehon family have long been intimately connected with Trinity Church. This window is the gift of Mr. Sidney Brooks, and preserves the memory of his wife's uncle, Bishop Dehon, who was a native of Boston.
30
Trinity Church in the City of Boston.
VII. The Mainwright Window.
The Commission to the Apostles. - Jesus stands upon an elevation at the right, stretching out His hands over His Apostles, who kneel about Him to hear His last words, as He sends them forth to preach the gospel to all nations.
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