History of Saint Paul's Episcopal Church in Dedham ; with addenda covering the last fifty years, 1758-1958, Part 5

Author: Worthington, Arthur Morton
Publication date: 1958
Publisher: [Dedham?] : Winthrop Printing
Number of Pages: 66


USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Dedham > History of Saint Paul's Episcopal Church in Dedham ; with addenda covering the last fifty years, 1758-1958 > Part 5


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In the early fall of 1890 the choir stalls were built and the chancel extended by those of the parish who wished thus to perpetu- ate his memory. At the same time the old organ room, until then shut off from the rest of the church, was connected with the chan- cel by a door, a floor built, and its windows fitted with sashes, and this became the robing room. The old robing room, together with the end of the south aisle adjoining, being reserved for the choir. The font, which had been removed from its original loca- tion at the entrance to the chancel to near the old robing room en- trance to the church in 1882, was again removed to the south porch entrance at this time.


In the autumn of 1893 a beautiful wrought iron rood screen was placed at the church end of the chancel and inscribed to the memory of Albert Winslow Nickerson, a gift of his widow. Mr.


Nickerson, who was a vestryman, died the May preceding.


Dr. Starr tendered his resignation November 1, 1894. It took effect early in 1895. January 29, 1896, Rev. James Powers Hawkes of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, was elected rector, and took charge a few weeks later. In 1899 it became necessary to re-hang the chimes and otherwise repair the church. Mr. Hawkes for several years visited Norwood every Sunday, where there were ten or twelve families who were Episcopalians, but no church. Mr. Hawkes wrote his resignation Sept. 15, 1903; the same took effect October 1st following.


During 1903-4 the rectory was thoroughly renovated, and, to- gether with the church and chapel, was repainted at an expense of about #1500.


At the annual meeting in 1904 a change was made in the by-laws, whereby the time for holding that meeting was changed from Easter- tide, the date at which it had been held for 135 years. to the third Monday in January.


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was August, 1904, Rev. Francis Lee Whittemore of Providence, R. I.,


elected rector and he assumed his duties here October 2, 1905. The church interior was repainted in the fall of 1906, a stone gray tone taking the place of the ornate decorations on a red ground that characterized its former aspect. dating from 1882. El- ectric lights were also installed in lieu of the gas fixtures.


In addition to the many memorials mentioned from time to time in the foregoing pages, let us here mention three memorial win- dows - one in the south wall of the church, to the memory of Cap- tain Julius Mortimer Lathrop, who died at Cane River, Louisiana, April 23, 1864; one in the north wall, next to the tower, in memo- ry of Lieutenant Nathaniel Bowditch, who died at Kelly's Ford, March 18, 1863; and a third, also in the north wall of the church, to the memory of Carrie Ward Clark, who died January 28, 1873.


Other gifts and memorials in the church are the following : - A silver paten, presented by Mrs. Anstis Townsend, August 19, 1838. A silver alms basin, presented by Mrs. E. S. Rand, Easter, 1848. A memorial tablet, bearing the name of Mary A. Turner on the north wall, and another in memory of Erastus Worthington on the south wall. A large alms basin, presented by Mr. A. W. Nickerson in 1893. A communion service, inscribed to the memory of Anna M. Wakefield, 1900.


This year of grace 1908 marks the 150th anniversary of this church, and to her friends the spectacle of the success of past struggles is an earnest of the future. If our forbears have hand- ed us down their zeal, we have inherited a goodly heritage. Com- placency, we must think, better becomes a Pharisee than a Christian.


After Word - These historical sketches of St. Paul's Church represent essentially the two lectures given by the writer before members of that church in March, 1906, with a few later additions. The initiative was made, however, two years previous, when in look- ing up some facts in an official capacity, he found among some pri- vate manuscripts to which he had a natural privilege, valuable data concerning the colonial church here. He was thus inspired to undertake a somewhat extended research and to compile a history, albeit lacking the skill of that abler hand. A list of the author- ities consulted is subjoined :


M. S. Royce - Historical Sketches, Church of England and Protestant Episcopal Church in United States; 1859.


W. S. Perry - Historical Collections Relating to American Colonial Church; 1870. Vol. 3, containing letters to S. P. G. Rev. W. F. Cheney - English Church in Dedham and Canton. Dedham Historical Register, April, 1894.


Dr. Nathaniel Ames - Diary.


Erastus Worthington (1779-1842) - History of Dedham, 1827. Manuscripts in Records of St. Paul's Church, Dedham.


Erastus Worthington (1828-1898) - "Dedham." History of Nor- folk County, 1882. Manuscripts and memoranda, including extracts


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made by him from Rev. William Clark's diary.


C. F. Adams - "Quincy." History of Norfolk County, 1882. Records of St. Paul's Church, Dedham.


Journal of the Diocesan Convention, 1785 - 1900. Probate Court Records, Suffolk and Norfolk.


Dr. D. P. Wight - "Dedham Sixty Years Ago." ( Read in 1867) Dedham Historical Register, October, 1894.


Map showing French camp. Dedham Historical Register, January, 1901.


Maps and Letters belonging to St. Paul's Church, Dedham. John Fiske - "The Critical Period of American History."


Rev. Dr. S. B. Babcock - Historical Sermon, November, 1845. The Rector's Offering, 1857.


Rev. J. W. Parkhurst - Historical Sermon, delivered in First Baptist Church, Dedham, August 2, 1846.


Christian Witness, July 3, 1840.


Dedham Democrat, December 12, 1845.


Episcopal Recorder, Philadelphia, July 3, 1858 (quoting Boston Atlas and Christian Witness)


Dedham Gazette (H. O. Hildreth, editor) December 13, 1856;


June 27, 1857; June 19, 1858. Dedham Transcript - Occasional news items.


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ADDENDA


The rectorship of Mr. Whittemore, which was yet young at the close of Dr. Worthington's account, became a long period of growth and change in the Parish.


In 1903 the number of Vestrymen was increased to seven, five having been the number for a great many years. It had been the custom, also, that Vestrymen were elected, if they were willing to serve, each year to succeed themselves. In 1938 the by-law was changed in this respect so that there would be nine Vestry- men of whom three would be elected in each year for a term of three years. This has brought about an opportunity for service by more men in the Parish and has made available talents in various fields in the administration of the Parish.


As early as 1910 the need for a Parish House was discussed in Parish and Vestry meetings. It was not until 1927 that a Par- ish House was built. In that year the family of Mrs. George C. Lee gave in her memory a Parish House which included a large meeting hall, kitchen, and other rooms for the Church School, choir, and other activities. This Parish House has served the Parish well, and in 1957 it was enlarged, again through the generosity of the Lee family, in memory of Mr. Lee. The addition includes the build- ing of an office wing and enlargement of the kitchen and meeting area.


1


An early tradion of the English church has been the ownership and renting of pews or sittings as the primary means of support of a parish, and to enable families to have regularly the same pew. This system was appropriate and satisfactory when applied to the period to 1900 and perhaps later. Gradually churches have de- parted from having pews owned by members, and in 1926 St. Paul's voted that all pews be made free.


Another step of interest in a parish as ancient as St. Paul's is the change relating to voting in meetings of the Parish. In 1931, eleven years after the passage of the amendment giving women suffrage in national affairs, the by-law relating to voting in Parish meetings was amended so that women are now full voting members.


After thirty-two years of ministry as Rector, Mr. Whittemore retired and in 1936 became Rector Emeritus. He has assisted his successors in the conduct of services often, particularly in the Communion Service, and he is today revered in the Parish and a familiar and respected figure in the town.


The Reverend Thomas Huntington Chappell succeeded Mr. Whitte- more as Rector. In addition to his attention to his parochial work, Mr. Chappell had a broad interest in Diocesan matters and held positions as examining chaplain and in the work of Christian Education. He was also active as Chaplain of the Norfolk Prison. In the Parish the rotating Vestry was instituted under his rector- ship, the girls' choir came into being, a Red Cross workroom was providing during the last war, a men's club functioned, and the Parish generally showed a healthy development. Mr. Chappell was


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called in 1947 to be Dean of St. Stephen's Cathedral, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and subsequently was made Headmaster of Hotchkiss School, Lakeville, Connecticut.


When Mr. Chappell left Dedham the Parish was assisted for some months by the Reverend Malcolm Taylor, who himself had re- tired after distinguished service in several parishes. He brought much inspiration to the members of St. Paul's in the interim per- iod before a new rector was called.


In the Fall of 1947, the present rector, the Reverend Rudolph Roell, was called. He was educated at Exeter, Princeton, and the Union and General Theological Seminaries, and had served at churches in the New York area, his most recent position having been as first assistant at St. James in New York. The spiritual leadership and the interest and ability of the Rector in the administration of the Parish has brought about an increase in the number of members and attendance at services, and also in the Church School.


The music at St. Paul's in recent years has made its pro- per contribution to the services. Up to 1925 the organ used in the church was of limited capacity. Mr. Arthur H. Ryder became organist in 1924 and in 1925 a new Casavant organ was installed. He continued with the boy choir which, it will be remembered, was started in 1865. On Mr. Ryder's death he was succeeded by Mr. Lloyd M. Palmer, the present organist. Mr. Palmer's interest in the training of boys' voices and his ability as an organist has brought the choir to the point where they bring to the ser- vices any of the regular or occasional canticles, a variety of anthems, and on appropriate occasions longer works such as Brahms ' "Requiem", Stainer's "Crucifixion" or Gounod's "Gallia".


In the last few years there have been a number of memorial gifts and other improvements which have added to the beauty of the Church itself and have made the Parish buildings more adequate for present-day requirements. Among these should be noted the renova- tion of the Chapel in 1957 so as to make it a two-story building fitted for use by the younger children of the Church School. This work was done through contributions from all the parishioners. Other gifts to beautify the Church have been particularly the plant- ing given by Mr. Russell B. Stearns and the stained glass windows given as memorials by the Hathaway, Edwards, Lee, Putnam, and Lines families.


A list of certain officers of the Parish elected in more re- cent years compiled from the record book of Parish meetings is as follows :


RECTORS


1874 - The Rev. Daniel Goodwin


1879 - The Rev. Arthur M. Backus


1889 - The Rev. Reginald Heber Starr


1896 - The Rev. James P. Hawkes


1904 - The Rev. Francis Lee Whittemore


1937 - The Rev. Thomas Huntington Chappell


1947 The Rev. Rudolph Roell


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WARDENS


18 39 1889 Ira Cleveland


1856 - 1875 Joseph W. Clark


1876 - 1887 Thomas L. Wakefield


1888 - 1897 Erastus Worthington


1890 - 1921 Frederick D. Ely


1898


Henry P. Quincy


1899 1902 George B. Chase


1903 - 1913 Homer B. Richardson


1914 - 1923 Charles E. Conant


1922 - 19 38 George C. Lee


1924 19 30 Harold S. Edwards


1931


1946 Henry V. Conant Frederick S. Converse


1940 -


Edward Wright


1947 - 1957 Edwin M. Lines


1957 -


George C. Lee, Jr.


VESTRYMEN


Horatio Chichering


1853 1874


Thomas L. Wakefield


1873 - 1875


Rufus E. Dixon


1852 - 1883


Silas D. Bacon


1856 1883


Frederick D. Ely


1874


1889


Lewis H. Kingsbury


1863


1892


Richard Codman


1876 - 1894


Erastus Worthington


1884


1887


John J. Spalding


1884


1892


Charles E. Conant


1888


1913


Thomas H. Wakefield


1890


1896


Albert W. Nickerson


1893


Frederic J. Stimson


1893 1895


Henry P. Quincy


1894


1897


Clifton P. Baker


1895 - 1900


John L. Wakefield


1896 - 1924


Charles H. Miller


1897 - 1900


Geo. Granville Nichols


1898


1899


Arthur M. Worthington


1900 - 19 38


Edward B. Hunt


1901 - 1906


Edward Moffette


1901 - 1914


Horatio Hathaway


1905


1924


Francis W. Welch


1905. 1907 - 1917


John J. Hayes


1906 - 19 32


Walter M. Briggs


1914 - 1926


Harold S. Edwards


1914 - 1923


George C. Lee


1918 - 1921


Edward Wright


1920 - 1939


Richmond Mayo-Smith


1922 - 1942


1944 - 1946


1948 - 1950


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-


1939


VESTRYMEN


Henry V. Conant


1924 19 30


Frederic P. Royce


1925 - 1933


Julius R. Wakefield


1927 - 1933


Charles Wiggins, 2nd


1931 - 1943


Ralph Lowell


1933


1942


Frederick S. Converse


19 34


19 38


Edwin M. Lines


19 34


- 1942


Frank A. Royce


19 38


- 1941


George A. Gibson


19 38


- 1942


James M. Walker


19 39


- 1940


William L. Dick


1941


1943


George C. Lee, Jr.


1941


1943


1946


1948


1951


1953


1957


Philip H. Theopold


1942 - 1944


Nelson Bigelow


1954


- 1956


Courtenay P. Worthington 1942 - 1944


1943


1945


Royal W. Leith


1943


1945


1947


1949


1953


1955


William Bayne, 2nd


1943 - 1945


H. Nelson Conant


1944


1946


1950


1952


1945 1947


Thomas E. Jansen, Jr.


1945


1947


Eliot T. Putnam


1945


1947


1955


1957


Irwin Leonard


1946


1948


David C. Horton


1947


1949


Charles L. Collupy


1947


1949


Thomas N. Dabney


1948


1950


1956


-


Russell B. Stearns


1948 - 1950


1954 - 1956


Loring Conant


1949 - 1951


James Jackson, Jr.


1949


- 1951


1958


-


Dr. Hollis G. Batchelder 1949


- 1951


Charles L. Cheetham


1950 - 1952


George T. Rice


1950


1952


George M. Cushing


1951 1953


John H. Harwood


1951 1953


Howard S. Hayward


1952 1954


Charles K. Pope


1952 - 1954


Frank W. Crocker


1953 - 1955


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1952


1954


Richard R. Higgins


1942 1944


George W. Lane


1944 - 1946


1946 - 1948


VESTRYMEN


John S. Jenner


1953


1955


Charles B. Crockett


1954


1956


Thomas H. Burchard


1955 - 1957


Howard S. Shaw


1955 - 1956


Kennedy Pope


1956


-


Francis W. Willett


1956


Patrick Grant


1957 -


H. Holton Wood


1957 -


Francis A. Harding


1957 -


George C. Seybolt


1958 -


Laurence M. Lombard


1958 -


TREASURERS


Thomas L. Wakefield


1855


- 1887


Frank M. Wakefield


1888 - 1891


Thomas H. Wakefield


1892 - 1896


Julius R. Wakefield


1897 - 1915


Robert J. Clark


1916 - 1918


George C. Lee


1919 - 1926


Ralph Lowell


1927 - 1941


Edwin M. Lines


1942 - 1956


Royal W. Leith


1957


-


CLERKS


John F. Wakefield


1874


1878


Thomas H. Wakefield


1879


1885


John L. Wakefield


1886 - 1894


Julius R. Wakefield


1895 1915


Robert J. Clark


1916


1918


George C. Lee


1919 - 1921


John J. Hayes


1922 - 1923


Ralph Lowell


1924 - 1930


George C. Lee, Jr.


1931 - 1942


Nelson Bigelow


1943 - 1948


Thomas E. Jansen, Jr.


1949


-


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MEMORIALS AND IMPROVEMENTS


1959


New Casavant organ given by Mr. Russell Stearns Rood screen altered so Pulpit and Lectern may be reached without going down steps, given by Mr. Henry Nickerson


New choir stalls


Reredos and altar altered to fit window.


Sanctuary gold leafed


Purchase of old Telephone exchange, Church St. for Church School Building Redocorated in 1960


1962 Church School Building, Church St., remodeled


1963


Memorial window given by the George C. Peybolt family


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