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.
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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
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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
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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
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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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