USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Springfield > Christ Church Parish : Springfield, Massachusetts, 1817-1927 > Part 10
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Christ Church's Second Rectory, Chestnut Street
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Caracci, which once hung in the parlor of this old house. A conservatory in front, with a wealth of bright flowers added beauty and graceful charm. Over the large fireplace in the kitchen, skilled cooks had prepared food of great delectability. The much dined Thackery, on a visit to Springfield commented most felicitously on this feature of Chestnut street hospitality. In the old days a famous swing stood beside the house, and Merrick Park was that delight of heart and eye, a glorious old- fashioned flower garden. A fine hedge across the street from State Street over the hill marked the line of the property Mr. Bliss owned there. A picket fence ran around the present site of Merrick Park, and encircled the house. A deer park occu- pied the land at the rear of the house, and an orchard spread its laden branches where now stands our City library. George Bliss gave the land and $1000 toward the building of the first library.
We are indebted, for the most part, to Mrs. Charlotte War- ner's charming "Chronicles of old Chestnut Street" for the story of this old house and grounds. She further tells us, that the name "Merrick Park" was given as a result of a too hasty de- cision that Mr. Merrick would have regretted more than any- one. It was originally planned to name this plot "Bliss Park" in honor of its one time generous, talented, public spirited owner, Mr. George Bliss, Jr.
Dr. Alexander Burgess and his family lived in Christ Church's second rectory about four years and the Rev. John Cotton Brooks and his family for nearly twenty-eight years. Here, before the Parish House was built, were held many so- cials and a great deal of parochial business was conducted here. Mrs. Brooks during the early days of her life in Springfield was a charming hostess and a rare help to Mr. Brooks in his parish work. But her health failed and during the years of her invalidism, social activities at the Rectory were very few. But Mr. Brooks' study will always be remembered by hundreds who came there for never failing help, for comfort, for advice. Pictures of persons and places he loved lined the walls. Over
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the desk hung a beloved picture of Mrs. Brooks. Mr. Brooks used often to point to it, and say "There is my inspiration."
At about the time that Dr. Slattery came to Springfield, the Library Association needed the land on which the rectory stood. An exchange of properties was made, the library giving the Brewer house and lot and $3100. The rectory had fallen into a gentle decay and moving and remodelling it being considered too great an undertaking, it was taken down, and the new rec- tory built. A corner cupboard, a fireplace, mantel, doors, and panelled walls taken from this one-time "Bliss mansion," are now "part of the Colonial room given the Nation through the Smithsonian Institute by Mrs. Gertrude Ritter The panelling is of white pine, a white pine that is no longer found and which was considered an excellent material for carving. The panels were all put together with wooden pegs, with no nails used. The room is of the Connecticut type and experts pronounce it beautiful and unique because of the design of the panelling, the overhanging cornice and the unus- ual size. The glass on the door of the cupboard is original, and the painting on the plaster inside amusing as well as art- istic."
Another historic house was taken down to make a place for Christ Church's third rectory. This house had been built by Mr. James Brewer. He and his family lived in it for many years, and it was still owned by a member of the family when it was transferred to Christ Church. The architect of the third Christ Church Rectory was Mr. E. J. Parlett, who built this with the thought that, someday it might be linked with the other church buildings and made an addition to the Parish House. The plans of this rectory were printed in The Chronicle, before the building was started. With the exception of the terrace reached by French windows from the dining room and study, they were followed so carefully we will quote the item in detail. It described the proposed building as " .
a dignified substantial house, in keeping with its sur- . roundings' linked with the Parish House by a low wall. The
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house covers 62 x 40 feet. The front door will be in the mid- dle of the Chestnut Street side. Entering one will find a log- gia (14 x 15) and a reception room (15 x 15) on the left, and on the right a large study (30 x 17) lined with shelves, groups of windows on the south and west sides, and a gen- erous fireplace. The dining room (22 x 16) will look toward the Church and will catch the morning sun. The kitchen and pantries will be toward the Parish House. Upstairs will be four bedrooms, bathrooms, sewing room and comfortable serv- ant's quarters. The third floor will be unfurnished at present." Dr. Slattery and his mother were the first to live in this- Christ Church's third rectory. Mrs. Slattery as the wife of a clergyman, and until her death, (March 5, 1921.) the loving devoted companion of her unmarried son had graced the rooms of Church rectories with her gentle presence, for more than fifty years. Mr. and Mrs. Smith and their three children were the next to come. A daughter was born, lived about a year and died there. Mr. and Mrs. McGann and their two children lived in the rectory for about eight years, then removed to a smaller house.
"In the middle of November (1924) the Diocesan Offices were moved from the Carr Building, 25 Harrison Avenue, Springfield, to Christ Church Rectory, 37 Chestnut Street, where they occupy the whole of the second floor . Every day at · noon prayers and intercessions are said in the Board Room, at which brief service everyone is welcome." On the lower floor are an office for the Rector and rooms for the classes of the Primary Church School .- S. H. F.
THE PARISH HOUSE
During Dr. McKnight's rectorship, the basement of the church was fitted up for Sunday School and other parochial meetings, but the social side of the Parish in these happy by- gone days centered, for the most part, in the Rectory or in the homes of the Parishioners. Each week or fortnight, the ladies of the Parish would meet, sew for some worthy object, prepare a supper to which the men came, and all staid to make merry the evening. If for any reason the social was held in the church basement, the loyal ladies must needs bring their own linen, silver, dishes to make very pleasing the bountiful suppers served on these festive occasions. The missionary spirit was very strong and the social life of the Parish very real in those days. As time flew by, the need of a Parish House became more and more insistent. The old order of things changed; fewer persons felt able to open their homes for socials. The old basement became impossible. "It is very hard for any of us now to make real again to our minds the old Sunday School room under the old church," wrote Mr. Brooks in 1888, "where we held our first Sociable together in the hot stifling atmosphere, with the uneven rotten damp floor below us, and the dis- mantled cobwebbed church threatening to fall through the cracked ceiling, above us."
This crying need was bravely met. A building fund was started. The ladies added substantially to it, by a well re- membered three days' Fair held in the old City Hall. "Does not the grand window in our new Parish House tell the story exactly of our church life, made up of mingled Past and Pres- ent," again wrote Mr. Brooks. "It is a memorial of Daniel P. Crocker; it is full of his voice every time that I
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look at it. But if finds an appropriate place in the House de- voted to the new and enlarged life of the present, that House which he never saw or entered, and yet to which he gave the first contribution." Among the other generous contributors was an invalid, Mr. William Jones, who gave $4,000 toward the sum of $14,000, its total cost.
The building of the Parish House will always be associated in the minds of those who labored for its erection, with the present existence of Merrick Park, for Mr. Brooks' untiring, well directed energies were instrumental in making this plot the beauty spot it is today. Let an anniversary sermon of his, again, bring to us, the spirit of those troublous times. He wrote : the work well begun of soliciting subscriptions for the erection of the Parish House was stopped in a moment by the sight of the new emergency of the Park. It seemed as we thought of our needs for our Parish work, that we could not wait another month even, for that new building, but yet God's path back into the Desert again was best, we can see today, and that faithful Syndicate's work for the purchase of Mem- orial Park was worth waiting for. I know, as no one else, as I was privileged to attend the meeting of that Syndicate, how nobly the Parish was represented there, month after month, and it is a thing always to be remembered in our history that men were to be found among us, ready, without solicitation to give $5,000, a third of the whole amount contributed outside of the City's appropriation for the sake of us all, and all to come." Incidentally it was planned at first to place this park's choic- est adornment, St. Gauden's statue, "The Puritan," in front of Old First Church. It stood for a while on Stearns Park. Its surpassing beauty is reproduced in a cast in the Art Museum at Boston, in the Dresden Gallery, and in the Louvre at Paris. An observer, in a spirit of raillery, might notice that the back of this stern Puritan is firmly turned toward the Episcopal Church while his steps are directed toward the first house of worship of the Unitarians.
After much disheartening delay, the Rector and his staunch
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adherents saw the Parish House completed in 1888. The upper floor of this building, once the Chapel, is now used as a lecture room and for some of the classes of the Church School. It has been used, too, since Mr. Brooks' day for the services of the Deaf-Mutes, under the direction of the Rev. George E. Hefflon. There is here a large case, filled with a splendid collection of books on Missionary subjects. At the rear is the Supply Room of the Church School,-and at the head of the stairs at the right is an office for the clergy. The main floor is used for Parish Meetings. Here, too, is found the Music Room. On the walls of the front room are a series of pictures given by the family of the late Mr. Samuel Bowles 2nd, in memory of Miss Althea Easter, for many years a devoted, beloved com- panion of Mrs. Bowles. The pictures include a copy of a Murillo, a Botticelli and three Raphaels. Besides these mem- orials there is a cast "Madonna and Child" by Majano, and a picture "Joan of Arc" by a modern painter, Zarakilli, donors unknown. There is in this room, too, a bronze reproduction of Leonardo da Vinci's "Last Supper" by an unknown artist, given by Miss Louise Morris. This was brought from Florence, Italy. There is one like it in the Vatican Gallery in Rome. There is a piano on this floor, and one in the basement, and a pipe organ on the upper floor. When the old rectory was torn down, the Parish House was turned one quarter around, and an entrance made on the Chestnut Street side. Before that time, it was a detached building, its entrance being on the southerly side, -- a walk leading to it, between the church and rectory. This entrance has been closed and an office made there for the church treasurer. On this floor are two other offices for the clergy. The Rector's office was furnished by Christ Church Guild. On its walls are hanging the portraits of some of the former rec- tors, wardens and vestrymen. This group of pictures is part of a collection begun by Dr. Slattery, while he was rector of Christ Church. He added to it, an autograph letter from Bish- op Alexander Burgess.
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At the time the Parish House was turned, the basement was raised and fitted up at one end with a fine large well equipped kitchen, and at the other end was built a stage, adequate for present purposes. Before this time fairs and suppers were held in Memorial Hall, for in the Parish House there was only a tiny kitchen in the cellar reached by a dreary dumb-waiter. In a closet at the right, designed for a dressing room there was for a while a printing press on which Mr. Soule began the printing of the weekly "Chronicle". The hall between the kitchen and stage is used for Parish suppers and socials or, filled with benches, forms an audience chamber for dramatic enter- tainments. The Main Floor and Basement are used on Sun- days by the Church School .- S. H. F.
ORATORY OF ST. MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS
When Bishop Alexander Vinton chose Springfield as the See City, the house standing at the corner of Worthington and Clarendon Streets was purchased by the Diocese for his home. He planned and had built a little chapel at the northerly end of this house, called "The Oratory of St. Michael and All Angels." Here the prayers of the household are said; here too are held baptisms, confirmations, retreats, and other church services. Although this is no part of Christ Church, yet since so many parishioners have worshipped there, we add a brief description of this chapel.
The furnishings of the Oratory are either memorials or gifts that have been made to Bishop Vinton or Bishop Davies. These are added to from time to time. Directly over the Altar is a very large, fine, old Spanish painting, probably of the School of Murillo, a gift to Bishop Vinton. The Altar was given as a memorial to Mrs. Henry H. Skinner. On a silver cross, fastened on one end, is engraved the inscription, "To the glory of God and in loving memory of Gertrude Parsons Skinner this altar is erected by her devoted husband A. D. 1907." The reredos is surmounted by a shield, on which is carved a bishop's mitre. At the base of the reredos is a series of similar shields, on which are carved the Instruments of the Passion.
At the left of the Oratory as we enter are three stained glass windows. On the first is the "Angel Raphael, The Medicine of God," then "Michael, Who is Like Unto God," and "Uriel, Light of God." The coloring and drawing of these figures is wonderfully clear, soft and beautiful.
On the walls of the Oratory are hanging several framed pic-
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tures. There is a group of Angels, apparently a reproduction of a painting by Giotto, or a contemporary, and a Head of the Savior from Da Vinci's "Last Supper." There is, too, a picture of the Savior standing quietly, in a dreary field of low, crude, bare crosses; this picture was given to Bishop Davies by a French Colonel, while he was in France, during the World War. On the walls, also, hangs an illuminated copy of the Lord's Prayer in English, and the Twenty-Third Psalm in Latin.
The narrow, cramped stalls are like those of certain, ancient monasteries. The hinged seats let down, giving the worship- pers more space, while standing. At the rear of the Oratory, · there is a beautiful rood screen. The exquisitely carved Rood above, is the work of Mr. I. Kirchmayer. The original pur- pose of a rood screen was to shut within only those who con- ducted the service, the congregation to remain without. Near the door of the rood screen is a font, cut and carved from a solid block! of stone. This is covered, when not in use. Over the door, leading from the Oratory to the entrance hall, is a very fine reproduction in color of Leonardo da Vinci's "Last Supper." Over the sacristy door at the left of this hall, are the pictures of the bishops of Massachusetts. On the wall of the little entrance hall is a set of sweet toned tubular chimes, which is used to summon the household to worship and little wood carvings of winged cherubs nestling in each upper corner add a touch of pleasing beauty.
A love of the beautiful, sympathetic feeling for the decora- tive value of an etching, a painting, or a choice bit of old carv- ing, has helped make very lovely this little house of God.
-S. H. F.
INTERIOR OF CHURCH SANCTUARY
The part of Christ Church from which the rector conducted the service in Mr. Lee's day, was a chancel in name only. In the statement of the repairs made during the Rev. Mr. Child's rectorship, we find that a chancel was then built, at the rear of the church. It was not until 1835, that throughout the United States, four legged tables were being replaced by altars of solid oak, or more rarely, stone, so lasting had been the Puritan influence. So we cannot state definitely that Christ Church, in Mr. Lee's time, had an altar; even during Dr. Burgess' rectorship, a most simple one was used.
The present edifice faces the west and its altar reverently stands at its easterly end. "In token that Christ is the true Son of Righteousness; for which reason it has ever been the custom of the church to worship towards where the sun rises." The altar now in Christ Church, has been in place since the date of building. The reredos was taken down about 1908. The super- altar bears the inscription: "I am that Bread Of Life." An inscription at the base of the altar reads: "In loving memory of Colonel Roswell Lee, who first established Episcopal service in this city. Born Oct. 14, 1777. Died Aug. 25, 1833. Erected by his Daughters."
The cross and vases were given by the Misses Annie and M. Louise Stebbins in memory of their father. On the cross is engraved the inscription, "1818 John Bliss Stebbins 1899." During the rectorship of Mr. McGann, Mr. H. H. Skinner presented the candlesticks.
The lovely white altar book with its handsome clasps,-a rare copy, since only a few of them were printed-was the
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gift of Mrs. Ellen W. A. Egbert. Dr. Slattery illuminated some of the letters, and the borders of the pages of the Communion Service. Within the cover is written the words: "A Thank Offering for Many Blessings. All Saints' Day, 1909, E. W. A. E."
The book rest was given in memory of the Rev. John Cotton Brooks by Christ Church Guild which purposes to replace the prayer-book and hymnal as soon as the new edition is ready.
One service of Sacred Vessels in whose honor the altar is built, consists of a flagon, two chalices, a paten and a ciborium, (A ciborium is a round covered dish, in which are kept the sacred wafers.) Around the base of the flagon is engraved the sentence: "This Communion Service is presented by George W. Winchester as a memorial of his wife and son, Mary A. Winchester and Samuel F. Winchester who were communicants of this church A. D. 1889." In addition to this service there is a paten with the inscription, "In Memoriam, Elizabeth Wat- kinson Adams, Easter 1908." This was presented by Miss Ellen W. Egbert. There is also a paten and ciborium presented by Mrs. Rachael Rising Woods Bosworth, in memory of her hus- band. They bear the inscription "In Memoriam, Harold Hop- kins Woods, All Saints' Day 1916." Christ Church also has a plated service of Sacred Vessels that, until Dr. Slattery's rectorship was used for chapel and early morning services. The sterling set was brought from the bank for the mid-day services, only. This service was probably used in the old church. There is kept in the Sacristy a case containing a serv- ice of very small Vessels, which is taken to the sick in the par- ish. This was presented "In memory of Gilbert Wells, 1877- 1911" by his mother. It consists of a cross, chalice, ciborium, paten, two cruets and a spoon.
The priest's chair surmounted by a cross, stands at the south side of the altar, and the bishop's chair, surmounted by a mitre stands at the north side. Of the six auxiliary chairs, four were given anonymously, and two by Christ Church Guild. Unfort- unately the altar rail has no inscription, but it is believed to be
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the gift of Mrs. Alexander Burgess. The plans for the chancel rail, the credence table and the altar were furnished by Lord and Fuller (1876).
The triptych is a memorial to Mrs. Bessie Ware Thayer and Stuart Arthur Craig, two teachers of the Church School. It was presented by members of the Church School and friends. It was designed by Miss Cordelia Sargent, following the lines of "a lovely old Gothic triptych carved in ivory and wood, which now finds a home in one of our great museums. The working plan with measurements etc, together with directions as to decorations were then taken to Mr. Kirchmayer. Under his supervision the triptych was executed by his pupil Andrew Dressely and himself with the very beautiful result." Mr. Charles M. Casey illuminated on parchment the words of the Communion Service .- S. H. F.
TRANSEPT CHAPEL
The Chronicle for May 1916 reads: "The Transept Chapel is now installed and was in use for the first time on Easter Day. The work was done under the direction of Mr. Edwin J. Parlett. The materials for the dossal and hangings were supplied by Irving and Casson from a design by Mr. Ralph Adams Cram of Boston. The whole effect is one of great beauty and richness and contrasts oddly with the grey tone of the wall. The cost of the work was provided without solicita- tion by a group of donors whose names are not to be published." Woven in the fabric of the hangings is the tudor rose, a very old ecclesiastical emblem. This wonderful material was brought from Lyons.
A chapel on the second floor of the Parish House antedated the Transept Chapel. Its furnishings-presented by Miss Annie and Miss M. Louise Stebbins-consisted of an altar, cross and vases, book rest, two chairs, two prayer desks, clergy stalls, chancel rail, and lectern. On the altar and cross was the inscription, "A D. 1888, in Memoriam John Louis Stebbins, Dec. 10, 1877." The altar was designed by Davenport of Boston,
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and the cross and vases by J. and R. Lamb. The altar books used there were given by Mr. and Mrs. R. F. Hawkins, in memory of their son Harold Windsor Hawkins. The greater part of the furnishings of the Parish House Chapel was brought down to the Transept Chapel. One prayer-desk only is needed there, so the other is now in use in St. Andrew's Mission, Long- meadow. The books used on the Low Altar were formerly on the High Altar and were presented by Christ Church Guild. On their covers is the inscription-"In Memory of John Cotton Brooks." The candlesticks were given by the Misses Steb- bins during Mr. McGann's rectorship .- S. H. F.
PROCESSIONAL CROSS
Christ Church is most fortunate in the possession of so much of the work of the great modern architect, Mr. Henry Vaughan, who conceived, in the Gothic spirit, so much that was lovely. Our stately processional Cross, with the fleur-de-lis as the dominant decorative note, is one of these treasures. Its per- fect workmanship was executed by Gorham and Co. It was pre- sented to Christ Church by Miss M. Louise Stebbins as a mem- orial to her nephew. It bears the inscription-"To the Glory of God, and in loving Memory of William Thornton Parker, Junior-1876-1900." --- S. H. F.
CREDENCE
When Christ Church parishioners were trying to raise funds for the present building, a group of young girls in the Sunday School organized for the purpose of helping the good work. They called themselves "The Stone Hewers" and chose for their emblem a piece of unhewn building stone with a hammer and chisel. At Easter time they placed the money they had raised on their emblem, and one of their number carried it forward for presentation. "The Stone Hewers" gave the Credence, and their emblem was embedded by the masons in the wall directly back of it,
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The Alins-basin rests on the Credence. Encircling the outer edge of the upper side is the inscription: "Lord of thine own have we given Thee." The center of the basin is exquisitely engraved. Encircling the outer edge of the under side is en- graved the inscription: "Presented to Christ Church Springfield by the Sunday-School of the church of the Good Shepherd, West Springfield, Trinity Sunday 1876." This Alms-basin was used for the first time in the evening of that day. Then Bishop Pad- dock confirmed the first class, in the new church. The table was placed under the Credence, at the time the new choir stalls were put in place .- S. H. F.
PULPIT
The plain desk that was part of the furnishings of the Arm- ory Hill Chapel was, no doubt, a plain four-legged table that served as Altar, Lectern, and Pulpit. The old pulpit in the State Street Church was a small, wooden, high desk in general appearance very much like the lectern. One stood at the north side, the other at the south side of the chancel. In the absence of choir stalls, they were very near the altar. There was no sounding board. When the present Christ Church was built a stone pulpit was placed in the same relative position. That and the chancel steps were gifts from Dr. Alexander Burgess. The pulpit is now in Grace Church, Chicopee. Its picturesque sounding board, held in place by large brass chains was a dup- licate of the one in Trinity Church, Boston. That and the lamp were given by Mrs. T. M. Granger as a thank-offering for recovery from a critical illness. Recognition of these gifts was made at the Morning Service, June 11, 1893.
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