USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > A History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, vol 1 > Part 50
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CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION ( EPISCOPAL)- FALL RIVER
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the service of instituting the parish were: Revs. John West, J. W. Fen- ner, James Pratt, and Stephen Elliott, afterwards Bishop of Georgia. Rev. P. H. Greenleaf was appointed missionary pastor. Services were soon held in the Pocasset House, with a congregation of fifty, and a Sunday school of twenty pupils. In March, 1837, the parish began to worship in the town hall on Central street, and after two years, in 1839, a Baptist Church was purchased, and was consecrated by Bishop Griswold in 1840. The church was incorporated May 1, 1837; and in 1838, Rev. George M. Randall assumed charge of the parish, his institution as rector taking place in August, 1840.
Rev. Mr. Randall, who afterwards became Bishop of Ohio, resigned his rectorship in 1844 to go to the Church of the Messiah, in Boston, and for nearly a year there was no rector in Fall River. Rev. A. D. McCoy was instituted rector, April 10, 1845, and remained about two years, after which there was no clergyman in charge for two years. Eventually, on Sunday, April 29, 1849, Rev. E. M. Porter became rector, and through his efforts the church debt was wiped out, and the congregation increased. But the church was burned on Christmas Eve, 1850. On nearly the same site the cornerstone of a new church was laid in 1851, and in February, 1852, the new church was consecrated by Bishop Manton Eastburn, of Massa- chusetts. Rev. Mr. Porter resigned in 1863, after a rectorship of fourteen years. Rev. A. M. Wylie became rector in the summer of that year. His successors were: Rev. John Hewitt, 1868-71; Henry E. Hovey, to No- vember, 1872; William McGlathory, August, 1873, to the fall of 1875; William T. Fitch, 1876-May, 1881; A. St. John Chambre, May, 1881-1884; Emelius W. Smith, 1884-1912; Charles E. Jackson, now (1923) dean of St. Mark's Pro-Cathedral, Grand Rapids, Michigan, to 1922; Edmund L. Cleveland, 1922 -. In 1875 the parish moved into its large stone church on Rock street.
St. James' Episcopal Church at its beginning was started in a private house by Mr. Ainsworth in the western part of Fall River, in the section known as Mechanics Village in the year 1870, when theological students came down from Boston from time to time to hold services; meantime a small church school was held every Sunday afternoon. In the year 1871, Dr. Chambray and John Taylor rented Torrent Hall at the corner of Turner and North Main streets, and there St. James' Church service and church school were transferred. Interest was allowed to lapse for a time, but in 1877 Brightman Hall was rented and the service of the parish was again transferred to the new location, north of the present church property toward Steep Brook, on North Main street. Rev. Ernest Marriott, who had been assistant to Rev. Albert St. John Chambre, rector of the Church of the Ascension, first took charge of the work here Oc- tober 1, 1883, the year of the building of St. James' Church at 1604 North Main street. The rectory was built in 1886, and extensive renovations have been twice made. Upon the termination of Rev. Mr. Marriott's rec- torship in 1889, Rev. John Milton Peck had charge for a short time, and was succeeded from the spring of 1890 to May 10, 1896, by Rev. George E. Allen. Mr. Peck's death taking place on Ash Wednesday, Rev. Leslie E. Learned took up the work of the parish at that time, and was succeeded November 28, 1897, by Rev. William P. Reeve. Rev. George W. Sargent
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was installed as rector March 27, 1899, and the Rev. Albert L. Whittaker became rector, October 8, 1901. The rectors in succession have been : Revs. L. H. White, August 11, 1907; G. D. Harris, March 9, 1913; C. M. Bud- long, April 16, 1922. The parish house was built in 1907. In memory of relatives and friends, beautiful windows, alms basins, litany desk, altar silver, choir stalls and pulpit, have been given the church.
The first service of the present St. John's Church was held in Con- nell's Hall, October 6, 1878, Rev. Arthur H. Barrington being the pastor. The church began its existence as one of the missions of the Church of the Ascension, with such men at the head of it as Nathaniel Lewis, Nathan Crabtree, George Watters, Richard Fleet, George Hanson, William Wilde, William Bottomley, John Taylor, George Porteous and others. A church building was erected on South Main street in 1881, when the mission became an independent church. Rev. Mr. Barrington remained until that year, and was succeeded by Rev. Samuel S. Spear. The first service in the present stone building on Middle street was held on Easter Day, 1890, and while Rev. Mr. Spear was rector also, the parish house was built. Rev. Herman Page succeeded Rev. Mr. Spear in July, 1893, and while he was the rector a branch Sunday school was started which finally developed into St. Stephen's parish, and the parish house of St. John's was improved by its three-story addition. The rectors to the present time are as follows: Revs. Chauncey H. Blodgett, 1901; Albert R. Parker, 1910; William Smith, 1918; Louis A. Parsons, 1922 -.
St. Mark's Church, like many another of the churches of its own and other denominations, saw its beginnings as a Sunday school in the "Flint" section of the city. The people first met at each others' homes, then at the office of the Wampanoag mill, then in a small hall on Cash street, near Pleasant. As one of the branches of the work of the Church of the Ascension, the mission was organized February 23, 1886, and Rev. Percy Stickney Grant was the minister, who remained as such until 1893, and among the laymen who stood by the efforts of the mission were Joseph Shaw and Richard F. Smith. The church on Mason street was built in 1888. Rev. John Franklin Carter was the next rector, remaining until 1900, during which time the Carter Club was organized. Rev. Alfred A. V. Binnington next assumed the work of the parish, remaining until 1903, when Rev. Edward S. Thomas became the rector, and remained until 1910. Rev. Julian E. Ramsdell came that year, and continued his ministry until his death in 1917. The present rector. Rev. Charles W. Findlay, came to the parish in 1918.
The Sunday school branch of St. John's parish that was the beginning of St. Stephen's Church, was started by Rev. Herman Page, rector of the former church, and the work as it advanced was in charge of Rev. Logan Herbert Roots, who later on became Bishop of Hankau, China. The school had its headquarters in a paintshop. a barn and a hall. Eventually, October 23, 1896, a permanent organization was effected, and St. Stephen's Church then had for its rector Rev. Gilbert W. Laidlaw. The first service in the new church on South Main street was held December 5, 1897. Rev. Ernest Bullock became rector in 1899; Rev. Mr. Fogg in 1904; Rev. James Sheerin in 1909; Rev. Joseph Eames in 1917; Rev. Robert D. Dailey in 1923.
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St. Luke's Church is one of the results of the missions of the Church of the Ascension, it having been started in 1891 as such, and became an independent church with its own rector in 1897. St. Luke's had its begin- nings in the home of one of the parishioners in 1891, and in July, 1893, the site of the present church building at the corner of Warren and Oxford streets was purchased. For the first five years of its existence, Rev. E. W. Smith, rector of the Church of the Ascension, had charge of the services. The rectors to 1923 have been as follows: Revs. Mr. Williams to 1893: Hugo Klaren to 1894; Mr. Wainwright and Rev. J. B. Johnson to 1895; F. B. White to 1901; J. W. Dixon to 1905; J. J. Cogan to 1912; J. A. Furrer to 1917; William M. Kearons from October 14, 1907, to the present. The present stone edifice and tower of Gothic style was erected in 1897.
Presbyterian Church .- One of the longest and most successful pas- torates of Protestant churches in this city is that of Rev. W. J. Martin, D.D., who came to minister to the United Presbyterian Church in 1886. and has remained here to this time. The Presbyterian Church itself is one of the older churches in this city, the parish having been formed in 1846. Since that time its influence has been felt and its cooperation shared in all calls for the betterment and uplift of the community. Its member- ship has worked as a unit to keep the church free from indebtedness, the envelope system being the chief means thereto. The church, now a land- mark, was built at the corner of Pearl and Anawan streets in 1851. In 1913 extensive repairs were made on the church property, a new steam heating plant was introduced, and the church interior entirely renovated and decorated. The first pastor was Rev. David A. Wallace, succeeded by Revs. William MacLaren, 1856-67; J. R. Kyle, 1867-75; J. H. Turnbull, 1876-85; W. J. Martin, D.D., 1886-
Globe Presbyterian Church was organized October 13, 1890. Its pastors
were : Rev. William Fryling; Rev. J. A. White; Rev. A. G. Alexander ; Rev. Roger Charnock; Rev. C. W. Nichol; Rev. G. A. Humphries; Rev. Edward Eels. The church was erected in 1900, and opened February 10, 1901. It was closed as a Presbyterian building in 1913, when the Brayton M. E. Church began to occupy it.
The Syrian United Presbyterian Church was organized from a colony of persons who had come to the United States largely from the Mount Lebanon district of Syria. In their native land they had come under the influence of the missionaries of the Presbyterian Church of the United States, many of them being members in Syria of churches which the mis- sionaries had organized. Almost all of the adults had been in attendance also at the day schools of the Presbyterian Mission, the center of which in their region of country is at Sidon. They had received an excellent education in Arabic, and many of them had learned the English language so as to speak it well and fluently. After coming to Fall River, church services were held for several years at the home of Paul Jabbour, who had been a Syrian worker in his native country under the missionaries. For a time these people were supplied by Rev. Elias Atiyeh, formerly of Syria. In September, 1919, a church organization was effected and an excellent building was secured by the Board of Church Extension, at 200 Harrison street, and placed at the disposal of the Syrian Church. It is well adapted to all the activities for religious and social church work. The Rev. Joseph
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Zaidan accepted an invitation to take the leadership and administration of the work of the church, and work was begun with Mr. Zaidan in charge, November 1, 1919. Mr. Zaidan is the present minister in charge. The work is directed to two ends -- first and chiefly to the christianization of all who speak Arabic, and secondly, to their Americanization. There is a large church school composed of the young people of the families of the Syrians. The church stands ecclesiastically related to and under the care of the United Presbyterian Church of Fall River, and of the Presbytery of Boston of the United Presbyterian Church.
Primitive Methodist Church .- On December 20, 1871, Benjamin Mosley, senior, John Facett, William Bredbury, David Livesey, Henry Kitchen, Alexander Trainer, R. C. H. Catterall, Thomas Hurst, John Schofield, and Edward Mitchell, met and agreed to form a church to be known as the First Primitive Methodist Free Church of Fall River. The word "Free" was shortly afterwards stricken out, and the rules and the usages of the Primitive Methodist Church of England were adopted as a discipline. A room at the corner of Pleasant and Third streets was hired. Later, this church increasing, the present site for the church was donated by the Richard Borden Manufacturing Company. The articles of incorpo- ration were signed October 12, 1874, and the foundation for the present building having been laid in November, 1873, the church was dedicated in January, 1875. The Dover street schoolroom was dedicated on September 22, 1888. Up to 1875 the church pulpit was supplied by laymen and con- ference representatives. Rev. Charles Miles was the first pastor, and he remained three years to 1877; Rev. John Finch to 1880; Rev. Ralph Fother- gill remained to 1882; Rev. John Stewart to 1887; Rev. Samuel Knowles to 1892; Rev. John T. Barlow to 1897; Rev. William B. Taylor, D.D., to 1899; Rev. Alfred Humphries, Ph.D., to 1907; Rev. John T. Barlow to 1915; Rev. Joseph Holden to 1919; Rev. Thomas M. Bateman, D. D., 1919; Rev. John T. Ullom to 1922; Rev. Thomas H. Reseigh, 1923. Other churches that have been the outcome of the activities of this church are the North Tiverton, Dwelly Street and Harvard Street Primitive Methodist Churches.
The Second Primitive Methodist Church, or Dwelly Street Church, as it is often called, is one of the flourishing branches of the Primitive Methodist church in this city. The membership consists largely of resi- dents and employes in the mill section, who first formed their religious society in 1890. Rev. John Mason was pastor the first year, when the meetings were held in a store on Dwelly and South Main streets. Rev. W. H. Childs was the second minister; and it was during the pastorate of the third minister, Rev. T. G. Spencer, on December 17, 1892, that the cornerstone of the church was laid on Dwelly street. The church was dedicated April 16, 1893. The succeeding pastors have been as follows: Revs. N. W. Matthews, Ph.D., 1894; J. T. Barlow, 1897; F. M. Bateman, D.D., 1901, the year the parsonage was completed; Elijah Humphries, 1904; Joseph Gorton, 1919; Rev. George W. Dale, 1921.
The Sykes Primitive Methodist Church has increasing religious and social interests in its parish on County street. The church was incorpo- rated in 1893, and received its name from a member of the denomination who contributed the lot where the church was built. The founder of this
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branch of the Primitive Methodist Church in this city was Rev. Thomas Wilson. He was succeeded to the present time by the following-named pastors: Revs. W. H. Yarrow, D.D., 1897; John Proude, M.A., 1899; Thomas Wilson, 1903; A. King-Collett, 1907; William H. Brock, 1909; George W. Dale, 1911; John W. Carter, 1912; A. M. Butterfield, 1918; H. O. Cooper, 1919; P. B. Dolling, 1920; Clement Crawley, 1922- -
Christian Science Church .- Seabury T. Manley, C. S. D., and his wife, Delia S. Manley, both students of Mrs. Mary Baker G. Eddy, founder of Christian Science, arrived in Fall River in June, 1883, to teach and demon- strate Christian Science. On March 19, 1892, Church of Christ (Scientist) was organized, services being held in the A. J. Borden building, 39 South Main street. On December 5, 1898, services were held in Room 5, Hudner Block, 130 South Main street. In February, 1905, services were held in the Archer building, Room 3, Rock street. On September 21, 1908, the home- stead of Walter O. Buffinton, corner of Rock and Pine streets, was pur- chased and was converted into a church, and December 6, 1908, services
were held there. In 1913 Church of Christ (Scientist) was incorporated under the laws of Massachusetts as First Church of Christ Scientist, Fall River, Massachusetts. In 1923 the readers and officers: Mrs. Nellie B. Hover, first reader; Mrs. Mary P. Anthony, second reader; Mrs. Jeanette T. Wells, president; Charles D. Hover, clerk; Charles H. Wells, treasurer ; Israel T. Boyd, chairman of finance committee; Mrs. Nellie B. Hover, superintendent of Sunday school; Earle A. Hover, secretary and treasurer of Sunday school. Board of Directors: Mrs. Jeanette T. Wells, chairman; Charles D. Hover, clerk; Charles H. Wells, Mrs. Ella G. Earle, Richard Kerr, Israel T. Boyd, Mrs. Mary E. Brereton.
Miscellaneous .- Though not incorporated until 1874, the Church of the New Jerusalem in Fall River was founded in 1854, its first reader and pastor being Rev. John Westall. The church was erected on Rock street in 1869, but in 1923 three of the original seven members were living, namely, Miss Mary Buffinton, Mrs. Waldo Buffinton and A. F. Munroc. Rev. Mr. Westall received his ordination October 21, 1877, and served this church until 1886. His successors have been as follows: Revs. Henry C. Hay, one year, to 1887; George S. Wheeler, to 1890; Clarence Lathbury, to 1894; Gardner I. Ward, to 1903; Duane V. Bowen, October, 1904-Novem- ber, 1908; Warren Goddard, Jr., January, 1909-September, 1911; F. Sidney Mayer, September, 1913-1915; C. W. Clodfelter, July, 1918 -.
The Advent Christian Church has had the interesting record of a long series of tent and hall meetings from the early forties to 1888, the year their church was dedicated. First meetings were held at Steep Brook and at the First Christian Church as early as 1842, and in 1843 large tent meetings were held at Bowenville by such elders as Roland Grant, I. I. Leslie and Enoch Merrill; later at Pocasset and Hoar's halls. Mary H. Winslow and Mercy Arnold were among the leaders of these meetings, which soon afterwards were held at 26 Hunter street. It was while Elder William A. Birch was in charge of the meetings that were being held in tents in 1887, that the Advent Church was organized in October that year. The chapel on Coral street was dedicated September 19, 1888. The
Bristol-24
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pastors have been Elders C. H. Sweet, T. W. Richardson, H. E. Thomp- son, A. R. Mead, Charles Lawrence.
French Congregational, organized in 1886; pastor, Rev. Napoleon: Aubin. Manchester Evangelical Association, 18 Pelham street; pastor. Rev. C. E. Willson. First Ukranian Church of St. John the Baptist, Center street; pastor, Rev. Alexander Pelensky. Gospel Mission of Fall River 51 Fourth street; superintendent, John Chadwick. Salvation Army, Ad- jutant Charles F. Walker and Mrs. Charles F. Walker. Wayside Mission, 177 Pleasant street; Rev. William J. Smith. Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints. Brownell Street Chapel, a branch of the First Baptist Church. Salem Baptist Church (colored), 923 Locust street; Rev. Levy Nichols.
CHAPTER IX. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN FALL RIVER
Again in our modern day, yet in a new order of exemplification, have religion and industry come hand in hand in Fall River, for with the inrush of immigrant toilers, almost immediate recognition of the needs of a multi- tude has been made, and, as a result, every colony and every neighborhood has its Catholic shrine. The church, the school, the hospital, the home welfare, have accorded that ministry that could be provided so completely from no other source, and the great Catholic population has the daily satis- faction of the presence and direction of the church and faith of their fathers.
Diocesan .- The diocese of Fall River was erected by His Holiness Pius X, March 12, 1904, and the Right Rev. William Stang, D. D., was consecrated as its first bishop on May 1, 1904. The diocese itself comprises Bristol, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket counties, and the towns of Marion, Mat- tapoisett and Wareham, in Plymouth county, in the southeastern part of this State, an area of 1194 square miles.
The Right Rev. William Stang, D. D., the first bishop of Fall River, was born in Langenbrücken, Germany, in 1854. After completion of his primary work in the schools of his native land, he enrolled in the Ameri- can College at Louvain in October, 1875. He was ordained to the priest- hood in 1878. In September of that year he came to the United States to labor in the diocese of Providence, where he held the office of rector of the Cathedral until 1895. Three years later he accepted an appointment as pro- fessor of moral theology at Louvain, a position that he held until the fol- lowing year, when he returned to Providence to become superior of the diocesan mission band. When appointed first bishop of Fall River, he was acting as pastor of Saint Edward's Church, in Providence. He was conse- crated May 1, 1904. He died February 2, 1907, at Rochester, Minnesota.
The Right Rev. Daniel F. Feehan, D. D., the second bishop of the diocese of Fall River, was born September 24, 1855, at Athol, this State. He received his classical and philosophical training at St. Mary's College, Montreal, graduating in 1876. The next three years were spent at the Seminary of Troy, New York, and he was ordained to the priesthood De- cember 29, 1879. His priestly activities were exercised in the diocese of Springfield, where he labored until July 2, 1907, when he was appointed
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second bishop of Fall River. He was consecrated September 19, 1907, by the Right Reverend Bishop Thomas Daniel Beaven, D. D., of Springfield. The Vicar General of the diocese is Right Rev. Monsignor James E. Cassidy, D. D. The Chancellor is Rev. Father Edmund J. Ward. . The Bishop's Council consists of Right Rev. Monsignor James E. Cassidy, D. D., V. G., Right Rev. Monsignor Jean A. Prevost, P.A., P. R., Right Rev. Monsignor James Coyle, LL.D., P. R., Rev. Fathers Bernard Boylan, Louis A. Marchand, Manuel C. Terra. The Defensor Vinculi is Rev. Father James H. Looby; the diocesan attorney, Rev. Father Omer Valois; examiners of the clergy, and for administrative removal: Rev. Father John W. McCarthy, P. R., chairman; Rev. Fathers James M. Coffey, secretary ; J. E. Th. Giguere, Manuel A. Silva, Very Rev. Stanislaus Bernard, C.SS. CC., Rev. Francis J. Bradley, D. D .; Council of Vigilance, Right Rev. Mon- signor James Coyle, LL.D., P. R., Rev. Father P. A. Granger, O. P .; Board of Parish Priest Consultors, Rev. Fathers Patrick E. McGee, Jovite Chag- non, Thomas A. Kelly, Henry J. Noon; Diocesan School Visitors, Rev. Fathers Edward J. Carr, L. Damase Robert; Diocesan Director of Priests' Eucharistic League, Right Rev. Monsignor James Coyle, LL.D., P. R .; Supervisor of Catholic Charities, Rev. Father Charles J. A. Donovan; Diocesan Director of the Holy Childhood, Rev. Father Charles R. Smith; Diocesan Director of the Apostleship of Prayer, Rev. Father Edmund J. Ward.
This section continued to remain in the Boston See until the erection of the Diocese of Providence in 1872, with the Right Rev. Thomas F. Hendricken, D. D., as the bishop. We have referred to the formation of the Fall River diocese on March 12, 1904, with the Right Rev. William Stang, D. D., as its episcopal head. His residence was at the northeast corner of Winter and Cherry streets. In 1905 the bishop's residence was removed to the Job Leonard mansion on Highland avenue.
Father Corry and St. Mary's .- Rev. Father John Corry, first of the Catholic clergy here, was a priest of aggressive missionary calibre, and both his faith and his energy were boundless and dauntless. Like his bishop, he was prophetic of the coming of numbers of his people here, as in Taunton, since the immediate institution of new mills and factories would be sure cause of immigration from neighboring cities, from the Old World, and from Canada. The quality of preparedness on the part of Rev. Father Corry was peerless, and hence it is that Catholics in this section have special reason to exult over the beginning of their story here, which includes the fact that in 1830, at the humble home of Patrick Kennedy, Rev. Father Corry celebrated the first in Fall River's long series of masses. There were but twenty souls gathered in the church that was organized forthwith. A sufficiency of encouragement to proceed with the actual organization of a parish was now assured; so that the far-sighted priest, with the small company rallying to his support, lay the foundation of St. Mary's Church, the institution that today is known as the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, by the purchase of its site.
The provision that has been made by the Mother Church for her children in Fall River for a period of fully ninety-four years has few fields of labor and reward in the New World that have in any way equalled it. It may well be called omniscient in its progress and its comprehensiveness.
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no portion of its flock having been overlooked in a city whose industries have excelled through the skill and handiwork of her toilers. The story of the Catholic Church in Fall River, whose membership today is eighty per cent. of the entire population, is a completely illuminating chapter of the new age here, and far beyond the precinct of the old historical writers who could not prophesy any portion of the accumulating events, whether re- ligious or social, of our times. There went forth the call of the industrial foundations of the Border City, yet long before the incorporation of the city itself; and the call was answered by scores of Irish and French mill- folk, who came here to make their permanent homes. Then came Rev. Father John Corry, evangel to those increasing colonies, and so, little by little, the need of their church home was fulfilled, room was made for the church, and a succession of parishes was formed. Those were the pioneer days of the Catholic church and the Catholic population in Fall River, while the Right Rev. Bishop Benedict Joseph Fenwick, D. D., was a shep- herd who at all times gave close attention to the comings and goings of groups of Catholic people even in these then distant parts of his diocese. For at that time, all this Bristol county section was a part of the Boston diocese, and Bishop Fenwick had oversight of a very extensive territory, though parishes hereabouts were few and far between.
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