USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Springfield > Christ Church Parish : Springfield, Massachusetts, 1817-1927 > Part 11
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14
The beautifully carved pulpit is a memorial to the Rev. John Cotton Brooks. It was dedicated by Bishop Lawrence, a class- mate and intimate friend of Mr. Brooks. At the service of ded- ication, Bishop Lawrence spoke very feelingly and gratefully of Mr. Brooks's life and work and assured Christ Church that a pulpit was just the memorial her former rector would have chosen if he might have been consulted.
193
Christ Church Guild gave $100 toward the pulpit fund. The Sunday School paid for the carving of the figure of Phillips Brooks. Mrs. E. I. Atwood, as a memorial, gave the lamp and the figure of Bishop Latimer, which Miss Mary Medlicott of the City Library Staff and Mr. Henry M. Morgan had suggest- ed as representative of the English Church. Miss Mary Exton Holt contributed to the pulpit fund as a memorial to her father, Mr. Levi J. Holt, who was a vestryman from 1841 to 1847. Mr. Holt died in 1893. On the pulpit books is the inscription, "The John Cotton Brooks Memorial Pulpit," and the initials, "S. L. R.," "A. C. R.," "J. W. R."
The decision that the present location of the pulpit was the best possible was made after Dr. Slattery had preached from a portable pulpit set up in different places, having in mind the very poor acoustic properties of the building. Dr. Slattery chose all the details of the pulpit with equal care. He visited the factory during the time of construction to see that all was well. It was carved by Mr. I. Kirchmayer, an American citizen, but a native of Oberammergau, who sold his first wood carving when he was only seven years of age. Ross and Company had the contract for the construction, and the architect was the late Mr. Henry Vaughan. The workmanship of this pulpit is ex- quisitely beautiful. The material used is fumed oak. Dr. Slattery wrote for the Chronicle the following description :
"The niches of the pulpit are filled with the figures of St. Paul, holding the sword, St. Chrysostom wearing the vestments of the Greek Church; Savonarola, in the garb of his order, holding aloft the cross; Bishop Latimer in rochet, chimere and fur tippet, holding in one hand a staff, in the other a lantern,- a symbol of his word to Bishop Ridley, as they walked together to the stake: 'Be of good cheer, Master Ridley and play the man, for we shall light this day such a candle in England, as by the grace of God shall not be put out.' In the niche nearest the stairs is the figure of Bishop Brooks. It will be seen that these five preachers represent the Apostolic church, the Greek Church, the Latin Church, the English Church, and the Ameri-
194
can Church. In spaces in the pulpit between the niches are carved the shields associated with the men; next St. Paul the shield bearing his symbols, the sword and book; next St. Chry- sostom the shield of Constantinople of which he was patriarch ; next Savonarola, the shield of Florence; next Latimer, the seal of his bishopric, the English Worcester; and next Bishop Brooks the present seal of the Diocese of Massachusetts. Under the figures is carved the text: 'We preach not ourselves but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus sake.' The newels are carved with the thistle and the rose to signify that we have received the primitive gospel of Christ through the Church of England and Scotland. The panels of the staircase are carved with the grape vine and pomegranate, very ancient ecclesiastical ornaments. On the panel connecting the pulpit with the canopy is a cross surrounded with shields bearing the Iota, Eta, Sigma, the Chi Rho, and Alpha and Omega, the ancient symbols of the name of our Savior. The lamp, the prayer book, the Hymnal and the Bible are special gifts. The inscription on the pulpit reads 'In Gratitude to God, this Pulpit is a Sacred Memorial to John Cotton Brooks, Rec- tor of Christ Church from A. D. MDCCCLXXVIII to A. D. MCMVII.' On the desk is carved the collect for the nineteenth Sunday after Trinity."
One Hymn Board was presented by Mrs. Edmund P. Ken- drick, at the time when the Pulpit was put in place. As this could not be seen clearly from all parts of the building, Christ Church Guild presented the one near the north transept.
-S. H. F.
LITANY DESK
The Litany Desk, made by Irving and Casson, was presented to Christ Church by Mr. Henry H. Skinner. Its graceful out- line is accented by the beautifully carved figures of St. Peter with the Key, and of St. Paul with the Sword .- S. H. F.
195
LECTERN
The lectern supports the large Bible from which the lessons are read. The form which the lectern takes is significant. Two forms are used; the least common being that of a pelican feed- ing her young. The pelican, which the old naturalists said was accustomed to tear open her breast in order to feed her young with her own blood, is a symbol of our Saviour; so the blood shed on Calvary gives life to the Church. A splendid example of this form of lectern may be seen at Durham Cathedral.
The more common form, which we find in Christ Church, is that of an eagle standing on a globe, bearing a Bible on its outstretched wings. The eagle is the symbol of inspiration and its position upon the globe and its outstretched wings remind us how the Word of God is carried to all the world. On the shaft of the lectern are cast the emblems of the four Evangel- ists; the man, the lion, the ox, and the eagle symbolizing the four aspects of the Gospels; the human, the kingly, the sacrifi- cial and the divine.
The lectern in Christ Church was given, as the inscription tells us by Mrs. Maria A. Howard Burgess, 1876, "To the Lord."
The Bible on the lectern, was the gift of Christ Church Guild in memory of the Rev. John; Cotton Brooks .- L. M.
FONT
Holy Baptism, one of the sacraments ordained by Christ as "generally necessary for salvation" is provided for by the pres- ence of the font. The name comes from the Latin word mean- ing fountain or spring-and it is the repository for the pure water used in the mystical washing away of sin. Following ancient custom the font is often octagonal in shape. The sym- bolism of this is interesting. As creation was finished in seven periods of time, the next following, or eighth might signify the new creation.
In some churches, a room, called the baptistry, is set apart from the rest of the church. Here we find the font. In most churches however, it is placed near a main entrance. This
196
position signifies the truth that baptism is the outward form of admission into Christ's Kingdom.
The font in Christ Church has stood in several places, since it was removed from the old State Street church, but it is now placed by the door leading from the South Transept aisle, into the Sacristy corridor. It is of stone composition and was the gift of John Bliss Stebbins. As it has never been piped so that the water used might escape directly into the ground, a remov- able brass lining was given by Mrs. W. W. Broga. The water can now be emptied in the piscina in the sacristy. This piscina has a pipe running into the ground and is not connected with the city pipes. It has, a cover and is kept locked when not in use. Thus the water used for Holy Baptism and that used for washing the vessels of the Altar goes directly into the earth.
A baptismal ewer in memory of Maria Stebbins wife of John B. Stebbins was given in 1924 by the Misses Julia and Margaret Helen Emery and the Misses Annie and Louise Steb- bins. In, 1926 Miss Lillian Keith gave a beautiful silver bap- tismal shell in memory of her sister Ida Keith Richards .- L. M.
SACRISTY
During the rectorship of the Rev. Dr. Slattery the clergy robing room, east of the South Transept was enlarged and made into the present Sacristy, as a memorial to the former Senior Warden, John Bliss Stebbins. The inscription beautifully carved on the chest containing the Altar hangings tells us: "This sacristy is a Thanksgiving to God for the life of his loyal servant, John Bliss Stebbins, who as Senior Warden, for six and thirty years did here make ready the bread and the wine for the Sacrament of our Blessed Lord and Saviour." This chest and the piscina and other furnishings in this room were the gifts of Miss Annie Stebbins and were designed by the Rev. Donald N. Alexander, for ten years the beloved as- sistant minister in this parish, and who at one period of his life had made a special study of architecture. The wood used is fumed oak which grows more beautiful with age, the long thin
197
drawers of the chest are of such a size that the Altar hangings lie flat and opened to their entire width. These drawers are on rollers and can be easily pulled out, to allow for the caring of the contents.
The hangings are lovely in materials and embroidery. There are two sets of white ones, one used more commonly and or- namented by a very richly embroidered gold cross. This was made by the Altar Guild. The white set used on High Festi- vals, such as Christmas and Easter, and which was made by the Sisters of St. John Baptist in New York, was the gift of Mrs. W. W. Broga in memory of her father, Mr. James E. Mackintosh. The purple hangings used in Advent and Lent were made by the Altar Guild, while the green ones used on all days not Feasts or Fasts or having special significance, was given by Mrs. W. C. Simons, and was made by the Sisters of St. John Baptist in New York. The red set, made also by these sisters, was given by Miss Ellen W. Egbert, in memory of her grandmother, Mrs. Nathan Adams.
In this chest is kept the pall used at funerals. It was made by the Sisters of St. Margaret in Boston. The inscription beau- tifully embroidered reads, "Eternal rest, grant unto them O Lord, and light perpetual shine upon them." The church bor- rowed a pall to use at the funeral of the Right Rev. Alexander H. Vinton, D. D., first Bishop of this Diocese as they did not have one at that time. This pall given by Mr. Skinner was borrowed by the Roman Catholic Diocese for use at the funeral of the late Bishop Beaven. When a pall is used it is not cus- tomary to place flowers on the casket.
Among the Altar linens kept in the smaller drawers of the chest is the Fair Linen Cloth given by Mr. Ernest W. Baxter in memory of his mother. The lace, made by his sister, and the embroidery of this piece are beautiful. There is also a linen Credence Table cover given by Mrs. H. K. Baker, while the piece of exquisite Mexican drawn work and embroidery used in Christ church as a corporal was the gift of Mrs. Frank Wesson. The use of colors marking the church seasons was
198
first used in Christ Church in Mr. Brooks' rectorship. Among the richly embroidered pulpit-hangings is the white one given by the Rev. and Mrs. William Austin Smith in memory of their little daughter who died while Mr. Smith was rector of St. Paul's Church, Milwaukee; the red one given by Mrs. Theresa Smith, mother of the Rev. William Austin Smith in memory of her infant granddaughter who died in Christ Church rectory; the purple one given by Miss Annie Stebbins and the green given by Mrs. Rachael Rising Woods Bosworth in memory of her father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Bradley D. Rising. A white alms basin cover made by herself, was presented by Mrs. Emma Carpenter.
The Bible Markers are of interest. The first white set, now used in the Chapel Bible was given by Mrs. John L. Egbert; the red set by Miss Mabel Martin at one time a teacher in the McDuffie School. The green set was given by Mrs. Wm. C. Simons. On Easter, 1926, a new set of white markers given by Christ Church Guild and made by the Sisters of St. Mar- garet in Boston, was used for the first time.
For some years Jane Carter, when colored cook at McDuffie's School, laundered the altar linen. She waited until all other members of the household were asleep then did this work reverently singing hymns.
The chairs in this room were the gift of Miss Stebbins, as was also the bas-relief of the Virgin and Child over the pis- cina. The relief over the chest depicts angels with the instru- ments of the passion of our Lord; the nails, the crown of thorns, the torch, the sponge and the cross and was the gift of Dr. Slattery. The pictures were the gift of the Rev. Wm. Austin Smith .- L. M.
BANNER AND FLAGS
The Christ Church School banner was given by the Rev. Charles Lewis Slattery, D. D. It was made and embroidered by Miss Egbert, Miss Annie Knight, and Mrs. Baxter. The crown at the top was copied from the one on the red frontal
199
given by Miss Egbert. The banner was given to the Church School and was first used on the Easter Day of Dr. Slattery's resignation, March 27, 1910. This banner was designed to be carried in the procession on Easter Days.
At the time of the World War, when the spirit of patriotism ran high, the use of the Flag of the United States was intro- duced into the services of the Church and the Church School. Several flags were given between the beginning of the war and the time of the entrance of the United States into the conflict. These consist of the chancel flags, one of the United States and one of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, given by Mr. Henry H. Skinner, Oct. 31, 1915; the processional flag of the United States, given by Col. Stanhope E. Blunt, March 1917; the flags of the allied nations, given by Mr. Henry H. Skinner ; the Church School flag of the United States, a silk one, in the primary department, given by Miss Cheney, and other flags in the Church School which were purchased by the Church.
During the war a service flag was contributed by the parish and hung in the church over the entrance door. It has a blue background, as prescribed by the government. The stars are fittingly arranged in the form of a cross.
In the "Chronicle" for May 16, 1926, Col. Blunt wrote:
"During eight years I have visited either for service or merely for examination very many of our churches, and with hardly a single exception found the flags placed as now in Christ Church. Only last month I was in Calvary Church in Summit, New Jersey, and in the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York, and there, as I found last winter in five churches in Florida and in Washington, the United States Flag was at the right hand side of the chancel as we all faced the altar.
We place our processional flag at the left of the chancel for the reason that the cross is given the place of honor at the right as we face the altar, so here again our general rule is followed."-M. W. K.
200
TABLETS
Three bronze memorial tablets are on the walls of the Church. On the south wall is one in memory of the Rev. Ed- ward Lincoln Atkinson, assistant in the Rev. Mr. Brooks' rec- torship. This was given by some of his friends in Christ Church and dedicated in 1903.
A tablet in memory of Col. Blunt was placed on the west wall of the Church in the spring of 1926. This gift presented by Col. Blunt's wife and daughter was dedicated on Armistice Day, Nov. 7, 1926.
MISSIONS GRACE CHURCH CHICOPEE
Dr. Henry W. Lee was the guiding spirit of Grace Church, Chicopee, during her early years. He organized the parish, April 6, 1846, with 18 members. Under his inspiration and with his help, it was able to secure an occasional resident rector, the first being the Reverend Charles B. Fisher, who be- gan his duties in May, 1846. Dr. Child, Dr. McKnight, and Dr. Burgess each took an active interest in this mission.
Grace Church, now a mission of the Diocese, made note- worthy progress under the guidance of the conscientious, hard- working, efficient young minister-in-charge, the Reverend George Burgess, who is now rector in Milford, Mass. The present minister-in-charge is the Rev. Alfred De Forest Snively.
ST. PETER'S MISSION
The Mission of St. Peter was started in 1869 in the Central Street School by Mr. John Louis Stebbins, son of the senior warden, during the rectorship of the Rev. Alexander Burgess, D. D. Mr. Daniel W. Ware and Mr. F. M. Pudan succeeded Mr. Stebbins as superintendents of the Sunday School. Miss Elizabeth Stebbins (Mrs. Wm. T. Parker), Mrs. Elias Brook- ings, Mr. James B. Safford and Mrs. Elisha Gunn were work- ers here. Monthly services for the Sunday School and for the parents of the children were held in a hall near the "Water- shops." Services were discontinued for a while; but when the Rev. J. C. Brooks was rector, $10,000.00 was given to build a suitable chapel for St. Peter's. This was the only mission in Springfield which had earned its offerings and put them in the savings bank. These offerings, which amounted to $5,000.00
202
were used toward buying land and building a chapel on King St. Bishop Phillips Brooks made his first official visit to Spring- field when he and his brother, the Reverend John Cotton Brooks, conducted the services at the laying of the cornerstone of this chapel, in October, 1891. The building was consecrated by Bishop Brooks in June, 1892. Later the mission was converted into an independent parish, the beautiful stone church on Buckingham Street was built, and the chapel sold. The corner- stone of the new church was laid by Bishop Vinton, November, 1905. The first service was held there on St. Peter's Day, June 29, 1906. The church was consecrated in September, 1919 by Bishop Davies. The Reverend Mr. Hayes, followed by the Rev. Mr. Atkinson, assistants in Christ Church during the rec- torship of the Rev. Mr. Brooks, had charge of the Mission. The rectors since the time when it was made an independent parish have been the Rev. J. F. Ballantyne, the Rev. John A. Staunton, Jr., the Rev. Wm. Taylor Dakin, the Rev. C. Mor- ton Murray and the Rev. John Harrison Nolan.
During the past few years the parish has become so large that curates have been called to assist in the work of the church. One of these curates, the Rev. Charles Edwin Hill, became the first rector of All Saints' Church, Springfield, which was a mission of St. Peter's.
The Rev. John Harrison Nolan is present rector. The church is in a flourishing condition, filling an important place in the life of Springfield.
ST. JAMES' MISSION
This mission was started by Mrs. James Benton during Dr. Burgess' rectorship, but continued only a short time. It was held in Gunn's Hall on the corner of State and Walnut Sts. Mr. Sewall Hodgdon was superintendent, and Miss Holmes (Mrs. E. P. Kendrick) organist. Among the teachers were Miss Holmes, Mr. Sewall Hodgdon, who brought his sons, Arthur and Wilson, Miss Gunn (Mrs. Wm. C. Simons) and Mrs. Luman Bull. Mrs. Benton conducted the only sewing class formed in a mission in Springfield.
203
CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD
Christ Church has been the mother of many missions, none of which has had a more interesting career than that of the Church of the Good Shepherd, West Springfield. The following account taken from their records gives an idea of their strug- gles and successes.
"The Episcopal Mission, the Church of the Good Shepherd in West Springfield, owes its origin largely to the piety and be- nevolence of one man, the late Mr. Charles Ely of New York and West Springfield. Mr. Ely made his home in New York City, but his vacations were spent in West Springfield where his ancesters had lived since the first settlement of the town, where he owned much land, and where he had built a large and beautiful mansion.
On his own land, at the corner of Main Street and the lane which has since been called Church Street, so named from the Episcopal Church, he erected a small Gothic church of wood, with stained glass windows, organ and bell, all complete and ready for use. It was first opened for service on the Sunday after Ascension Day 1871.
Mr. Ely had been aided by friends. Mr. George Southworth gave a generous sum of money, Mr. J. B. Stebbins the chancel window, and Dr. Nathan Adams the baptismal font.
The Rev. Dr. Burgess was the rector of Christ Church at that time, and the Rev. Mr. Benedict was the assistant and had charge of this mission. On festivals it was the custom to send carriages for Dr. Burgess and the choir boys to come from Christ Church.
Later the Rev. Mr. Benedict was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Parker and the Rev. John L. Egbert. The latter is recalled by many who hold him in tender memory, for he loved the Mission and labored faithfully to further its growth, conducting a Bible class followed by a preaching service on Sunday afternoons.
Then came evil days. The fortune of the patron, Mr. Ely, was lost through unfortunate investment, and he could no long- er carry the burden of the expense. Dr. Burgess had left
204
Springfield-and there was no one to be found with sufficient influence and means to save the property. About 1883 the little church was sold to the parish in Wareham, Massachusetts, taken down and floated down the river. It is still standing in Wareham."
The late Archdeacon Sniffen said, of the revival of the Mis- sion: "After several weeks of preliminary visiting, early in the year of 1908 we held the first service in many years in West Springfield, at 265 Main Street with an attendance of twenty- five persons, an offering of $5.56, and a sermon from the text, 'We walk by faith and not by sight.' These rooms were sublet from the Woman's Auxiliary of the Y. M. C. A. Services were held once a month for several years. A Sunday School was soon organized and presided over by Miss Gertrude Chadwick of St. Paul's Church, Holyoke. The school was held every Sunday afternoon."
"In September, 1913, the Rev. Alfred DeForest Snively, Cu- rate of Christ Church, took charge of the Mission, which had outgrown the rooms at 265 Main Street, and so moved into a vacant shop two doors below, where we remained until June 1915, when the Rev. Mr. Snively was succeeded by the Rev. Walter Handley. Rev. Mr. Handley's first act was to move the Mission into the new and convenient hall of the local Grange, where we located for a time, but which we have now outgrown. During Mr. Handley's stewardship, a splendid lot was purchased at the corner of Elm and Southworth Streets, a most desirable location.
In 1920, we again came under Mr. Snively's care, as he be- came Diocesan Missionary. We immediately began to make plans for the erection of a building on our lot. After studying pros and cons, a portable Church was erected and there we now worship. It was formally opened on Easter Sunday, Mar. 27, 1921, by the Bishop, the Right Reverend Thomas F. Davies. At that time a class was confirmed."
This building is well equipped, the Altar being given by the Rev. Kinsley Blodgett, rector of St. Mark's Church, Worcester.
205
The choir stalls and seats for the congregation came from Christ Church while the Cross is a memorial to the late Mrs. Grant, who was the mother of Mrs. Grieves, a woman who has done much for the Mission. The candlesticks given by his wife are a memorial to the late Archdeacon Sniffen. A lectern has been placed in the chapel in memory of the Rev. Walter Handley, loved, honored and respected, who made the supreme sacrifice in France during the late war. A Memorial Fund of $500 for Mr. Handley was also given by Mrs. Anna M. Carter of Christ Church.
Those, of the clergy, who have been in charge of the Mission in West Springfield are Archdeacon Sniffen, Rev. Charles Hill, formerly rector of All Saints' Springfield, Rev. Alfred DeF. Snively, Rev. Walter Handley, Rev. Charles M. Tubbs, Rev. Fred Sleep, Rev. William E. Soule, and the Rev. Arthur Brown, who is now rector. Mr. Henry D. Colton who died Jan. 17, 1926, was for many years warden of the mission and a lay reader. He was a devout churchman and gave generously of his time and money. His entire estate after the payment of a few small legacies was left to the building fund of the church of the Good Shepherd, West Springfield. It was also the beneficiary of a life insurance policy taken out some years ago. The amount from this is in the hands of the Trustees of the Diocese and is known as the "Henry Day Colton Memorial Endowment Fund," the income of which is to be used for the upkeep of the parish .
ST. JOHN'S MISSION
The mission of St. John was first started at the North End under the Rev. Alexander Burgess, D. D., in the Auburn Street school house, with Mr. John Shipman as Superintendent. In those days this was near the northerly end of Main St. This mission was closed by the Rev. Mr. Brooks in 1878 when Christ Church was heavily burdened with debt.
During the rectorship of the Rev. Dr. Slattery in September, 1908 the North End Mission was opened in the Universalist Church. There was held a Sunday School at three p. m. and
206
a part of the time there was an evening service. The Rev. A. DeF. Snively was in charge until June, 1910, the Rev. Hugh Wallace Smith succeeding him in the fall. Among those who taught and otherwise helped in this School were Mrs. Evelyn Hitchcock, Mrs. Theodore Breck and Mr. John Shipman. The mission continued for two years, Deaconess Lovell succeeding the Rev. Mr. Smith as director of the Sunday School.
In September, 1913 the Rev. Mr. Snively returned to Christ Church and re-opened the Mission Sunday School in a store on Birnie Avenue where it continued throughout one or two win- ters.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.