USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Springfield > Christ Church Parish : Springfield, Massachusetts, 1817-1927 > Part 2
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But those whose influence was greatest, and many of the older seceders, in spite of weekly instructions by the rector were unable to accept the requirements of our form of worship, and gradually drifted away, and Mr. Rutledge, lacking finan- cial support, was forced to resign January, 1822. His parishion- ers express "the utmost regret and heartfelt sorrow that they find themselves unable, at this time, to give him that support his merits deserve." They tender sincere thanks for "his very able and Christian-like performance of the duties of his office," during his short, stay in Springfield, and assure him, that they will welcome his return, if they can see their way clear to compensate him. "This truly pious and exemplary man died in South Carolina, his native state, on the 12th of March, 1832, at the early age of thirty-three years."
Besides the withdrawal of the Unitarians, there were other reasons why the Church failed at this crisis. The Parish was unable to agree upon a location for a church, there seemed to be no way of raising funds, and Colonel Lee, the directing genius of the little band, was ordered abroad.
There were occasional services held during the next two years, and then came an event, that seemed a final blow to the loyal little band of Churchmen. A fire broke out and destroyed
March 2, 1824 was by laudable exertions saved."
"The Chapel
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one of the Armory buildings. This made it imperative to use the room called "The Chapel," for factory purposes. Colonel Lee was absent at the time of the fire, and we can imagine with what a heavy heart he received and read this letter from a dependable adherent, Adonijah Foote. The wind (was) blowing almost a gale. It was thought by some that the chapel could not be saved. Of course it was nearly cleared of its contents, but by the great exertions of the engines and men, on the roof, it is now standing The chapel is now cleared and benches up, that will hold about forty men, stocks and filers."
William Vittum, a young man living on the Armory grounds at that time, drew a picture of an old-time bucket brigade, whose efforts staid the ravages of the devastating flames. The picture was given to the Museum of Natural History by Lucius Allen, a, vestryman and loyal worker in Christ Church during her formative years. This historic scene, and an article written in the Hampden Journal, March 3, 1824, the week of the fire, furnish proof of the exact location of The Chapel on Armory Hill, concerning which there has been a certain amount of reasonable doubt. The article reads: " The Chapel which was directly in the course of the flames, and but a few feet from the burning building was by laudable exertions saved." Added to this, a map, hanging on the wall of the Armory Museum, shows clearly that the Chapel was a room in the Administration Building.
The late Colonel Stanhope E. Blunt told the writer that in spite of this written proof, there was a persistent tradition on the Armory grounds that the Chapel was a room in the building facing State Street now a continuation of the Administration Building. Mr. Lee's sermon also states that, "About the year 1831 the Chapel ceased to be a place of worship." He further says that the Rev. Mr. Doane was one of those who came there from Washington College (Trinity) Hartford. But Mr. Doane did not go to this college as professor until 1825, so it is probable that at the time of the fire (1824) the
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furniture of the Chapel was taken from its original setting and placed in some sort of order in another room and there used sometimes, until its final disposal a few years later.
From 1824 to 1835 some of the Episcopalians attended serv- ices at the Methodist Church which formerly stood at the corner of Union and Mulberry Streets and contributed to its support. They were permitted to read their Church's liturgy there on Christmas and on other special Church days. Mr. Lee no doubt heard from the lips of those who knew those dis- heartening days that, during those years, "one strong effort was put forth to build a house of worship. The Rev. Mr. Barlow officiated some weeks with encouraging hopes of success; but his labors were, for reasons then very evident, discontinued."
He said further: "In the long interval just alluded to, serv- ices were frequently held by clergymen residing in Hartford, Connecticut, particularly those connected with Washington College. Among these were the present bishop of New Jersey, the Rev. Mr. Doane; also the Rev. Mr. Pinney, who has since left the ministry. The Rev. Samuel Fuller, now rector of Christ Church, Andover, Mass. officiated many times much to the satisfaction of the people, though he did not reside in the parish. The Rev. Joseph H. Price was here a few weeks, and also the Rev. James C. Richmond, both now officiating in New York city. I think it was while Mr. Richmond was here that an effort was made to raise funds to erect a church; but although a considerable sum was subscribed for the purpose, the project failed, partly, I believe, from want of union respecting the location; though other causes conspired to defeat the object. The Rev. Hector Humphreys, now Principal of St. John's Col- lege, Annapolis, officiated several weeks ;- and for some months the Rev. Joseph Muenscher, then minister of St. John's Church, Northampton, held services every third Sunday, and did essential good to the interests of the church.
It is not probable that I have named the various ministers who were here during the period embraced between the years 1822 and 1835, in the exact order in which they officiated,
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and perhaps the names of some have been omitted. As far as I have been able to learn the facts in the case, the foregoing statements are substantially correct.
In addition to the services of these clergymen, lay-reading was for a time performed by Mr. Joseph Scott, formerly of Longmeadow, Mass. and now Rector of St. James's Church, Derby, Conn." Dr. John Stone, who died in 1833, was also "one of the earliest and most interested friends of the church "
Colonel Lee's unswerving determination to form congenial religious ties for his workmen bore abundant fruit, for this we know: In 1636 Old First Church was founded. From that date until 1850 every church in Springfield, except the Uni- tarian, was a "direct outgrowth of the Armory Community," a situation probably unique in American Church History. The Universalists, the Methodists and possibly other church groups, availed themselves often of tolerant Colonel Lee's permission, and held their services in The Chapel instead of in private houses. Under that historic roof the Freemasons too, having no permanent place in which to foregather, held some of their first meetings, an interesting fact that is not an incongruous one here for "the religious character of Hampden Lodge was so pronounced at this time it was regularly contributing to the missionary work of the Orient, and had voted money to the fund for translating the Scriptures into Eastern tongues." Moreover Freemasonry in Springfield, like church life in Springfield, owes much to the public spirit, co-operation, and christian influence of the Armory Community, led by Colonel Roswell Lee, this city's first master.
Honorable mention ought here to be made of two young clergymen of those early days. The Rev. Carlton Chase, who, as a young man was identified with unfulfilled plans for build- ing a church with the help of the Unitarians, was consecrated Bishop of New Hampshire. His grandson, the Rev. Arthur Chase, became rector at Ware. George Washington Doane, sometime Bishop of New Jersey, conducted services in the
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Armory Chapel. In 1824, he published a small volume of poems "of great beauty and power" among them, "Thou art the way; to Thee alone," and "Softly now the light of day," the latter being one of the few American hymns which has found its way into English hymn books. Bishop Doane played a conspicuous part in carrying out the Church's early Foreign Missions program and was the author of "Fling out the banner, let it float," often called "one of our greatest missionary lyrics."
The Rev. Dr. Titus Strong was another active friend of the church from 1817 until his death, July 11, 1855. He was asked to come as rector to this parish, but felt that his life work lay in another field.
Dr. Strong died in Greenfield during Mr. Child's rectorship, and his death called forth an expression of sympathy and gratitude in the form of resolutions adopted by Christ Church. Let us add a brief description of this rare old Christian gentle- man, so great in his simplicity. He lived the life of a country parson of the first half of the 19th century. His meagre salary helped by "Donation Parties" barely sufficed for his humble needs and those of his large family. He worked in his garden, split his own firewood, studied, wrote his sermons with a "goosequill on foolscap paper," was a member of the School Committee, Rector of the Parish of Greenfield, and of Monta- gue. He also preached in Ashfield, one Sunday each month. The Episcopal Church of today owes much to men like Dr. Titus Strong.
Now if at this point, we review the history of Christ Church thus far presented, we see it was founded under unusual cir- cumstances. It was not a mission of a neighboring church. The idea of The Chapel on Armory Hill was conceived in the mind of Colonel Roswell Lee. Its purpose was to furnish congenial religious ties for his workmen. Being government employees they were exempt from taxation. The Old First Church in those days admitted no one within its doors who could not be taxed for her support. The life of the Chapel was Colonel Lee's responsibility, and he never shifted that
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Episcopal Services Held Here 1835-1836 First Court House Defended Against Shay's Insurgents
....
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burden to another's shoulders so long as he lived in Springfield. We have reason to be very grateful to Colonel Roswell Lee.
As the years went by Springfield decided to build a new Town Hall (1828). This indication of the town's growth in- directly concerned Christ Church history. The land wanted for the new building was near the corner of State and Market Streets, and was owned by Old First Church. The town pur- chased this lot, and gave as part payment the old Court House that formerly stood at the corner of Main and Sanford Streets. This building "was the court house which Daniel Shays and his party of 300 men took possession of on December 26, 1786, to prevent the holding of the courts when Shays's rebellion was gathering strength." Old First Church parishioners moved this building to Market Street, and used it for many years as a Parish House. In December, 1835, the Clerical Convocation of Massachusetts sent the Rev. Samuel McBurney to Springfield, as a missionary. For one year he held services in this old Court House but as far as we know he achieved no definite results, although work like his can never be judged by ordinary stand- ards. During that year, Bishop Griswold made the Parish one visit, Sept. 1836, and in the summer of that year "two exchan- ges were made, one with the Rev. U. S. Wheaton of Hartford, and one with the Rev. B. J. Noble of Middletown, Conn."
There is, in Christ Church archives today, a small hand- made, coverless book, dignified by the title "Parish Register." This was begun by Mr. Rutledge and continued by Messrs. McBurney and Lee. Written by them are lists of births, bap- tisms, confirmations, etc., and accounts of services held. One touches with reverent fingers this evidence of the discourage- ments and the labors of pioneers who conscientiously blazed a trail .- S. H. F.
THE RECTORS OF CHRIST CHURCH THE REV. HENRY WASHINGTON LEE, D. D., LL. D.
1838-1847
Springfield, in 1838, numbered about 9000 souls, and prided herself, justly, upon her public spirit, her progress, her business enterprise. Communication with the outside world was made by stage-coaches, on horseback or by cumbersome old steam boats that plied up and down the river. Business houses were confined mostly to Main Street, whose muddy condition con- stantly excited private and public comment. There was a large vacant lot, at the southwesterly corner of Main and Bridge Streets, where were held baseball games, picnics, firemen's musters, and an occasional circus. There was no library build- ing, no charity organization, no Y. M. C. A., no Roman Cath- olic Church or resident priest.
On October 28, 1838, the rays of a great light penetrated the gloom of Christ Church's history. The Rev. Henry W. Lee was sent by the Board of Missions of Massachusetts, to assume charge of the Springfield Parish, contributing $400 toward his salary. Like his father, Col. Roswell Lee, possessing rare administrative ability, love for his fellow men, and active in- terest in their physical and spiritual welfare, he picked up all the loose threads of Episcopalian activities, wove them into a firm, beautiful fabric, and because our church has had a con- tinuous existence since the days of Mr. Lee, he justly deserves the honor of being called the founder of Christ Church.
Henry W. Lee was born in Hamden, Connecticut, July 29, 1815. He was made deacon in Grace Church, New Bedford, May 27, 1838, and ordained priest in St. Ann's Church, Lowell,
The Rt. Rev. Henry W. Lee, D. D., LL. D.
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October 9, 1839 by Bishop Griswold who also instituted him rector at Springfield, April 2, 1840. He received the degree of D. D. from Hobart College in 1850, and from the University of Rochester in 1859. In 1867 the University of Cambridge, Eng- land conferred upon him the degree of LL. D.
The following wisps of information were gleaned here and there, some of them from letters written by Mrs. Eugene Lewis of Worcester (1922), Bishop Lee's daughter.
Henry W. Lee came to Springfield when he was only eight weeks old. He always called Springfield his home, and Christ Church his "first love." He attended the Academy, at Westfield, then became a pupil-teacher at New Bedford. Mr. N. F. Bent, a clergyman there, influenced Mr. Lee to study for the ministry, when he failed to receive an appointment at West Point which he had sought. He was married at Taunton in April, 1839 by Bishop Griswold. He had a younger brother named Edward Rutledge Lee. Miss Elizabeth Morton of Springfield is a niece of Bishop Lee. When he was rector of Christ Church he served on the School Committee of the city. At the time of his death, "The Church Journal and Messenger" said of him:
"As a man, he was very social in his nature, exceedingly agreeable as a companion, full of wit and humor. In personal appearance, he was commanding, standing like Saul 'from his shoulders upwards above his fellows,' which grand, physical development was a true index of his nobleness and magnanim- ity of soul. As a pastor of a flock, he was admirable; in this respect he had no superiors and few equals. He was especially popular among the poor, to whom he ministered with the ut- most fidelity."
Mr. Lee was twenty-four years old when he preached his first sermon in the old Town Hall, the second story of the brick building, built in 1828, and now standing at the easterly corner of Market and State Streets. Christ Church then numbered twenty members. We have a tender memorial of that first service, for twenty years later the faithful Diah Allin received this letter from Rochester, N. Y.
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"October 28, 1858
"The 28th of October, 1838, was the day when we first met in the Town Hall, to worship God in the venerable and cherish- ed forms of our own Church. We were a little band, almost too fearful to go forward, lest disappointment and failure should terminate our undertaking. That first Sunday left its impression upon my mind, which can never wear away. I was just invested with the sacred office, poorly prepared for its duties, without experience, and among my own kindred, to at- tempt a work which we hardly dared expect would be a suc cessful one. My morning sermon on that occasion was from these words, 'Woe is unto me, if I preach not the Gospel.' It is still preserved as a relic of the past, and whenever I see it, I am peculiarly affected, reminding me, as it does, of scenes now far away.
"Your affectionate Friend, "Henry W. Lee."
The services were held in this Town Hall or in the Uni- tarian Church, until the Episcopalians' own church was com- pleted in 1840.
Following the first service, the young Rector called a meet- ing at Union Hall, 528 South Main Street, November 30, 1838. Wardens and vestrymen were chosen, and it was "voted to re- tain the name by which the society had hitherto been known, Christ Church." The name Christ Church was not generally accepted in the village at first. The Press almost always spoke of "The Episcopal Church," even as late as 1869. A stranger one day entered the Old Corner Book Store and inquired the way to Christ Church. Stern old Dr. Osgood was present, and answered the question in his abrupt manner: "Christ Church ! Christ Church! there are a number of them in town, which particular one do you want?"
The following year (1839) plans were under way for build- ing a new church. That the venture had many friends is evi- denced by the varied localities recorded in the subscription list.
*XOSTIM SIIH
Springfield's First Town Hall Episcopal Services Held Here 1838-1840
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Boston, Lowell, Chicopee, Longmeadow, Cabotville, West Springfield, Philadelphia, Connecticut, Virginia, etc. Bishop Eastburn contributed $500. The family of the Rev. Edward Rutledge, then living in New Haven, Connecticut, was also a contributor. One evidence of the enthusiasm and ardent effort the young rector directed toward swelling the building fund is shown in another letter written to Mr. Diah Allin.
"Hartford, Ct., Feb. 26, 1839 .. "My dear Sir:
"I expected to have gone to New Haven this P. M. but the stage left me behind. ... by the liberality of the friends of the church in Hartford I have succeeded in obtaining $450. . The Episcopalians here feel a deep interest in us, and will be most sadly disappointed in case our project should fail of ac- complishment. But we must not dream of failure. I trust measures are in full operation for the increase of our subscrip- tion in Springfield. . .. I leave here for New Haven tonight. I do not anticipate much success there, or in New York. "Henry W. Lee."
The largest single sum of money for the building of the first Christ Church was obtained from the Trustees of the nearby Shaker Society. The Trustees of the Episcopal Society reported March 4, 1842. "We had tried individuals in this town, had sent to Boston, and to Hartford without .... having the encour- agement of being able to have the use of the money several years, by paying the interest annually." The Shaker settlement was "the only place where we could get any at any rate." They loaned a little over $2350.
The year following Mr. Lee's coming to Springfield, Christ Church was incorporated by the Legislature of Massachusetts. Our steadfast friend, Dr. Strong, laid the cornerstone of the new church, and the recurrent dream of nearly a quarter of a century came true when the venerable Bishop Alexander Viets Griswold, assisted by the Rev. Alfred Baury of Newton Lower
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Falls, and the Rev. Dr. Titus Strong of Greenfield consecrated the first Christ Church building, on April 1, 1840.
On October 1, 1839, the first marvelous train of the Great Western Railroad of Massachusetts (Boston & Albany) ran through Springfield and incidently with its coming, Christ Church shared with the city a signal honor, for from about 1840 to 1842, while engaged in the construction of this railroad, Major George W. Whistler, retired, a distinguished civil en- gineer lived here, the greater part of the period in the house situated at the corner of Chestnut and Edwards Streets known latterly as the home of Dr. Frederic B. Sweet. During those years, Major Whistler, his little children-among them James Abbott McNeil Whistler the great painter-and his wife, An- nie McNeil Whistler, "The Lady of the Portrait," attended Christ Church.
On one plan of the pews sold in the early forties in the old Christ Church building is the name of Geo. W. Whistler writ- ten in pew No. 30, and in another plan his name, for some un- accountable reason, is written upside down in pew No. 9. On one list of those who gave money toward paying the first church debt is the name of Mrs. Whistler, who contributed $100. There is also in the church archives part of a sheet of ordinary note paper on which is written a list of names, apparently in the handwriting of certain individual contributors to the first building fund. Mrs. Whistler's name is among these, in small clear script, the same-as far as it is possible to carry in mind -as that in the manuscript diary of the artist's mother in the New York Public Library.
One parishioner (1927) had heard her mother say that she remembered the Whistler family as they sat in church, the Major, the world-famous "Whistler's Mother" and the row of little dark-haired children of whom there were four, three boys and one girl.
James,-whose chief delight even as a very little boy was "drawrin' "-was born at Lowell, July 10, 1834. It is interesting to record that he was baptized, November 9, 1834, in the same
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church in which the Rev. Mr. Lee was ordained priest,-St. Ann's, Lowell. He was called Jimmie, Jemmie, Jamie and James. He was baptized "James Abbott." It is said that he added, "McNeil" when he entered West Point fearful that the initials J. A. W. would have given his fun loving fellow- cadets far too many opportunities. Descriptions of him at about the time he left Springfield are pertinent.
"James at this time was tall and slight, with a pensive, delicate face, shaded by soft brown curls, one lock of which, even then fell over his forehead. In later years he was very proud of this lock, which turned grey while he was yet young "
"Whistler, as a boy, was exactly what those who knew him as a man would expect; gay and bright, absorbed in his work when that work was in any way related to art, brave and fearless, selfish, if selfishness is another name for ambition, considerate and kindly above all to his mother. The boy, like the man, was delightful to those who knew him, 'startling', 'alarming' to those who did not."
A brother, "Dr. Whistler-Willie-often told his wife of the dread with which he and Jimmie, when very little, looked forward to Saturday afternoon, with its overhauling of clothes, emptying of pockets, washing of heads, putting away of toys, and general preparation for Sunday when the Bible was the only book they were allowed to read. Every line Whistler wrote was evidence of his familiar knowledge of the Bible."
Quite apart from this incidental honor of the brief sojourn of a famous family here, the Great Western Railroad, fiercely contested at first by stage-coach lines and passenger carrying river-craft, contributed more than any other agent to the town's civic and religious growth and prosperity. As a matter of course Christ Church shared this growth and prosperity.
On April 5, 1847, the Trustees of the Episcopal Society of Springfield joyously announced that "they have been enabled to cancel the debt which has been so long against them, and the church is now free from any incumbrances." The Missionary
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Society at Roxbury, had noted this happy condition, and the hopeful outlook of the church. It extended to Mr. Lee a call to become rector of All Saints, Worcester (March 3, 1846.) It felt that that Church needed a man of Mr. Lee's gifts. But his parishioners remembered too well the lean years through which they had recently passed and felt they could not permit their leader to leave them at this time. We record especially the words of Mr. Diah Allin. Mr. Allin played a conspicuous part in the early Christ Church history. His children were among the first to be baptized in the Armory Hill Chapel and he was one of the first vestrymen there. In later years, Bishop Lee writing to Mr. Allin called him "My sincere and devoted friend, who today is prominently connected with the scenes that are passing in review before me." Regarding Mr. Lee's going to Worcester, Mr. Allin wrote to the wardens and vestrymen, earnestly asserting that the Board of Missions did not realize how keenly Mr. Lee is needed here, even if all the debts were paid and the church was so well established; he suggested a larger salary, and added, “ . I fear we should find our congregation dwindling away, and that we should very soon find ourselves in a most unpleasant and unhappy predicament." Mr. Lee deeply appreciative of this well deserved attitude decided to decline this call. He wrote, March 14, 1846, “ I am cheered and rejoiced to know that I have the affection and confidence of those to whom it is my privilege to minister in holy things."
Bishop Alexander Viets Griswold died during Mr. Lee's rectorship, and a Memorial Service in his honor was held in Christ Church. "The Church was shrouded in mourning; all day at the usual hours the bell tolled,-and in the afternoon a funeral service was performed; after which, as the people were retiring, the age of the man old and full of years was an- nounced by the solemn peal."
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