USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Our county and its people : A history of Hampden County, Massachusetts. Volume 2 > Part 24
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During the period of its history the pastors, in succession, of the First church have been as follows: Allen C. Hough, 1822-25; Joseph Hough, 1825-27; Nicholas Branch, 1827-30; Benjamin Putnam, 1830-36; Dwight Ives, 1836-38; Hiram O. Graves, 1838-40; J. W. Eaton, 1840-43; Humphrey Richards, 1840-46; Minor G. Clark, 1846-50; E. E. Cummings, 1851-52; George B. Ide, D. D.,1852-72 ; George E. Merrill, 1872-77 ; C. W. Annable, D. D., 1877-82; Lester L. Potter, 1882-84; George C. Baldwin, 1886-99 ; William N. Hubbell, 1899-the present pastor.
The State Street Church-On April 10, 1864, the First church granted permission to such members as desired to hold
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separate meetings with the ultimate purpose to establish a new church in the city, and about the same time, agreeable to the pre- vailing sentiment, an organization was formed under the name of "The Colony of the First Baptist Church." Meetings were held in Union hall, and so great was the interest shown in the move- ment that on August 7 letters were granted to 121 members of the mother society who, with ten others from other churches, on Au- gust 17, organized the State Street Baptist church. On March 20, 1865, the society voted to purchase a lot on State street, op- posite Dwight, and on June 21 following, it was voted to build a "brick meeting house" on the site. The corner-stone was laid Au- gust 31, 1865, the vestry was dedicated July 8, 1866, and the edi- fice itself was formally dedicated December 18, 1867. The entire cost of the property was $57,378.
Like the mother society, the State street church has made a progressive historical record and not less than three distinct church societies are numbered among its offshoots. In the fall of 1876 seventy-eight members were dismissed to form the West Springfield church. In 1886 more than one hundred more with- drew to organize the Highland church, and in 1899 fifty-six others went out to establish the Belmont avenue church. But not- withstanding this the State street church always has held a strong membership and to-day is ranked with the leading religious so- cieties of the city, both in influence and numerical strength. The succession of pastors is as follows : A. K. Potter, 1865-83; W. H. P. Faunce, 1884-89 ; James Grant, 1890-92; B. D. Hahn, D. D., March 26, 1893-the present pastor.
Third Church-This society had its inception in the weekly prayer meetings held in the homes of William M. Clark and Lucy Hicks on Hancock street in the years 1869-70. About 1871 a number of colored families came to Springfield from the South and the State street church offered them the use of its vestry for Sunday afternoon services. In 1872 as the new movement in- creased in interest rooms were engaged in the Institution for Sav- ings building, and on October 8, the organization of the Pilgrim Baptist church was duly recognized. In 1876, owing to some dif- ferences, a split occurred in the new church, and the dissentient
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members who withdrew formed what was called the Berean Bap- tist church. The difficulty, however, was soon repaired, the Be- rean followers returned, and a reorganization was effected under the name of the Third Baptist church. The house of worship of this society was secured largely through the contributions of gen- erous members of the First and State street churches. The pas- tors have been as follows: Spencer Harris, Peter Smith, Eli N. Smith, William Garrett, S. Henri Brown, and Eugene C. Brown, the latter the present pastor.
Carew Street Church-On May 22, 1880, several members of the First church organized a Sunday school at the north end of the city in the old "balmoral factory" on Ringgold street, and to this school was given the name of Ward One Baptist mission. In July, 1882, the First church relinquished the work, upon which the mission became an organized society. In 1885 a chapel was built at the corner of Carew and North streets, and on December 13 of that year the building was dedicated. In 1890 it was remod- eled and enlarged at an expense of $11,000. On May 12, 1887, a church organization was effected and the name was changed to Carew Street Baptist church, and as such was incorporated De- cember 26, 1889. This is the only Baptist church in the north part of the city and is the source of great good in that locality. Its membership is 296 persons. The pastors, in succession, have been as follows : W. E. Waterbury, 1887-92 ; S. E. Frohock, 1892- 98; Clarence Minard, January to October, 1899; A. P. Wedge, March 1, 1900-the present pastor.
Highland Church-The lot upon which the present edifice stands was purchased in October, 1882. The chapel was dedi- cated September 27, 1885. The Bible school was organized Octo- ber 4, 1885, as a branch school of the State street church; and it was organized as an independent school December 27, 1885. The church was organized Dec. 12, 1886, with 119 constituent mem- bers, of whom 102 came from the State street society. The church edifice was dedicated June 20, 1893. The present estimated value of the church property is $60,000. To the original 119 members there were added up to January 1, 1901, 602 members, making a total during the history of the church to that time of
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721 members ; present membership, 497. The pastors have been as follows: George S. Goodspeed, Dec. 12, 1886-June, 1888; George W. Quick, June 1888-the present pastor.
Belmont Avenue Church-This church was organized June 30, 1899. In May, 1889, the State street church voted to accept a building lot at the corner of Belmont and Euclid avenues which had been donated by the late D. L. Swan for the purposes of church extension in the south part of the city. In 1890 Mr. Swan, George A. Russell and George W. Tapley caused a chapel to be built on this lot for occupancy as a Bible school. The in- terest of the State street society in this mission was continued until June 20, 1899, when 56 members went out to unite with others in the organization of the Belmont avenue church. In 1897 Rev. J. W. Martin was placed in charge of the Belmont and Carlisle missions, and later on in the same year Rev. Willard E. Waterbury became missionary pastor in both fields. In 1899 Mr. Waterbury was made pastor of the Belmont avenue church and now serves in that capacity.
UNITARIAN
Church of the Unity-For nearly ten years previous to the division of the mother church and the creation of the Third Con- gregational society in Springfield there was a strong inclination on the part of many influential persons and families to separate themselves from the parent body, then under the ministry of Dr. Osgood, but the strong will and determined opposition of that dis- tinguished leader restrained those who would have withdrawn to establish a new society more in accordance with their views on certain doctrinal questions. As years passed the feeling in favor of a separation was strengthened rather than diminished, and on May 27, 1818, fifty-four prominent citizens of the town, nearly if not quite all of them members of the mother church, addressed a petition to the general court asking for an act of incoproation of the Second society of the First parish, with the usual privi- leges and a portion of the maintenance fund of the parish accord- ing to the proportion of taxes for church purposes contributed by the petitioners.
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This suggestion, supported by a numerous following from the best element of the parish, created a storm of opposition from the worthy pastor and a large number of his faithful adherents, but under the careful guidance of Rev. Bezaleel Howard (Dr. Osgood's predecessor in the pastorate of the First church) and Jonathan Dwight, on February 15, 1819, secured an act of in- corporation of the "Second Congregational society of the First Parish of Springfield." On January 31, 1820, a supplementary act of the legislature re-incorporated the society under the name of the "Third Congregational society of Springfield"- a name by which it has since been legally and strictly known, although the name, Church of the Unity, is more generally used. It also may be said that distinctively Unitarian doctrines were not avowed by the founders of the new society at the time of the di- vision, but were adopted during the early part of the ministry of Dr. Peabody, the first pastoral head of the church. .
In the meantime Mr. Dwight, whose name is previously men- tioned, gave increased ardor to the action of the separatists in a generous offer to erect a suitable house of worship at his own cost, on the sole condition that the other members of the society should establish an ample fund for the support of the minister. This was accomplished in the creation of a subscription fund of more than $14,000, and thereafter (May 19) Jonathan Dwight, jr., Dr. Joshua Frost, Robert Emery, Samuel Orne and John Howard were constituted a board of trustees of the society's funds.
The corner-stone of the new edifice was laid with appropri- ate ceremony on Thursday, May 20, 1819, and on September 12 the house was so far completed that services were held there that day. The structure stood at the corner of State and Willow streets and served the requirements of the society until 1869, when the splendid edifice on State street, one of the most com- plete and elaborate structures of its kind in the city, was finished and ready for occupancy. The corner-stone was laid May 20, 1867, and on February 14, 1869, the dedicatory service was held. The pastor's residence adjoining the edifice was built in 1886, and was the generous gift of Mrs. Dorcas Chapin.
From the earliest period of its history the Church of the Unity in Springfield has exercised an influence for good, and
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among the ecclesiastical bodies of the region it has always held a prominent position. Its founders were among the foremost men of the old First parish and through all succeeding genera- tions the congregations attending service in the Unitarian church have included many of the leading business and professional men of the city. The church now numbers 200 families.
The succession of pastors is as follows: William B. O. Pea- body, Oct. 12, 1820-May 28, 1847; George F. Simmons, Feb. 9, 1848-Oct. 12, 1851; Francis Tiffany, Dec. 30, 1852-Jan. 1, 1864; Charles A. Humphreys, Nov. 29, 1865-Jan. 24, 1872 ; A. D. Mayo, Oct. 1873-Dec. 25, 1879 ; E. B. Payne, Dec. 28, 1880-Dec. 13, 1883; John Cuckson, Sept. 10, 1884-1892; Bradley Gilman, June, 1892 -the present pastor.
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL
Christ Church- As early as the year 1817 Episcopal serv- ices were held in the armory chapel by the Rev. Titus Strong, of Greenfield, and in July, 1821, the Rev. Edward Rutledge was made rector of the newly created parish. The results of his work, however, were not entirely satisfactory and despite his patient efforts, coupled with the valuable aid of Col. Roswell Lee, the services were discontinued in 1822, not again to be resumed for fourteen years. During this brief ministry the seed of the church was sown and was destined to yield an abundant harvest in good
season. In Mr. Rutledge's time there were only four Episcopal families in the parish, and when in 1835 Rev. Samuel McBurney was sent here "in the hope" that the church might be well es- tablished little encouraging results rewarded his endeavors. To- day the church numbers twelve hundred communicants.
In 1838, under the leadership of the Rev. Henry W. Lee, son of Col. Lee, a new effort was made to re-establish the church, and in the next ten years, through the assistance of prominent churchmen of Boston, Hartford and Lowell, a modest though comfortable church edifice was built, the parish was reorganized and an act of incorporation was secured. The first edifice was consecrated April 1, 1840, and since that time the church has continued to grow in influence and strength. During Mr. Lee's
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rectorship the number of communicants was increased from 20 to 190, and in 1851 it was found necessary to enlarge the church building; and again, soon after 1870, it became apparent that a new, more modern and much larger edifice must be provided. To this end the parishioners directed their energies, with result in the laying of the corner-stone in 1874 of the splendid building on Chestnut street, which attracts attention of all visitors in that locality. The work was completed in May, 1876, and the church was consecrated October 10, 1900.
Much of the best work in the history of Christ church has been accomplished during the rectorship of Mr. Brooks. When he came to Springfield in 1878 an indebtedness of $40,000 was hanging over the parish, but all that debt has been swept away ; and more, during his time the parish house has been built at a cost of $15,000; a new organ for the church has cost $5,000; memorial windows in the parish house cost $3,000; the organ in that building cost $1,000; there was paid for Merrick park $5,000, and the erection of St. Peter's church by the mother parish cost $10,000. The present total value of parish property and invested funds aggregates $163,500.
The rectors of the parish, in succession, have been as fol- lows: Edward Rutledge, July, 1821-January 20, 1822; Henry W. Lee (afterward Bishop of Iowa, died 1874), 1838-47 ; Henry W. Adams, 1848-49 ; A.N. Littlejohn, D. D. (now Bishop of Long Island), 1850-51; William S. Child, D. D., 1851-59: George H. McKnight, D. D. 1859-69 ; Alexander Burgess, D. D. (now bishop of Quincy), 1869-78; John Cotton Brooks, December, 1878-the present rector ; Rev. James Clement Sharp, rector's assistant.
St. Peter's Church-The mission of St. Peter's parish was organized in the latter part of 1891, under the direction and support of Christ church. The church was organized in 1893, and was placed under the rectorship of Rev. John F. Ballentine. The church edifice was built chiefly by the mother parish, and cost $15,000. St. Peter's now numbers 200 communicants ; rec- tor, Rev. John A. Staunton, jr.
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UNIVERSALIST
St. Paul's First Church-The society of St. Paul's First Universalist church dates its history from the year 1827, when Edmund Allen, Alexander Stocking, Dudley Brown, Israel Phil- lips, jr., Ethan A. Clary and Moses Y. Beach were incorporated under the name of the First Independent Universalist society in Springfield. The early meetings were held in the armory chapel and later in Beacon hall at the corner of State and Walnut streets. About 1840, through the efforts of Eliphalet Trask, Thomas W. Wason and others, the society gained added strength and four years later a plain house of worship was built at the corner of Main and Stockbridge streets. The church organiza- tion was formally effected by Rev. J. J. Twiss, February 25, 1855. The present handsome edifice at the corner of Chestnut and Bridge streets was erected in 1869. The society now num- bers about 250 families, and that notwithstanding the fact that two other societies of the same denomination have recently been organized in the city and have drawn their strength chiefly from the mother church.
The records of St. Paul's are somewhat imperfect, yet from reliable sources it is learned that the ministers and pastors of the church, in succession, have been as follows: Lucius R. Paige, 1834 -- ; Charles Spear, service unknown ; D. J. Mandell, 1842-43; A. A. Folsom, 1844-47; H. P. Ambler, 1849, a few months; J. W. Ford, about two years; J. J. Twiss, 1854-57 ; Josiah Marvin, 1857-65; H. R. Nye, 1866-71; Oscar F. Safford, 1871-73; Rev. Mr. Seward, a few months; A. H. Sweetser, 1874- 77; George W. Perry, 1877-80; J. K. Mason, 1880-85; L. L. Houghton, 1886-88: G. I. Keirn, supply a few months in 1888 ; Marion Crosley, 1888-94; Charles Conklin, 1894-98; Flint M. Bissell, 1898-the present pastor.
The Second and Third Universalist societies are offshoots from the mother church, and were organized in 1898 under the pastoral care of Rev. Charles Conklin. The neat frame house of worship at the corner of Bay and Princeton streets was built in 1899, and the new church home of the Third society was com-
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pleted and dedicated in November, 1901. Both of these church- es now are under the charge of Rev. Mr. Conklin.
CATHOLIC
St. Michael's Cathedral-As early as 1830 mass was said at Cabotville, then a part of the town of Springfield, but now Chicopee, where at that time there were three Catholic families. In 1835 Rev. John Brady, of Hartford, said masses in the local- ity of the Watershops and occasionally in other parts of the town. Father Brady continued his missionary work here about ten years and in that time laid the foundations of the church in what now is the city. In 1840 Rev. George W. Reardon was ap- pointed to the care of Springfield, and about this time land was secured for the purposes of a church building. A few years later additional land was bought, and in 1846 Father Reardon purchased the old Baptist meeting house and caused it to be removed from Mulberry street to Union street, where it was remodeled, repaired and became the first Catholic church in Springfield-St. Benedict's church-dedicated by Bishop Fitz- patrick February 14, 1847.
The Catholic people of Springfield had occupied the Union street building less than fifteen years when there came a demand for more room. The opening of the Western railroad, followed soon afterward by the construction of another road through the valley, with Springfield as a central point of operations, natu- rally had the effect to bring many Catholics to the town, with result in taxing the capacity of the church building. Father Gallagher, who then was in charge of the parish, enlarged the edifice to a seating capacity of 800, but this answered a tempo- rary purpose only, and in the meantime the worthy priest was casting about in search of a favorable location for a new build- ing. In January, 1860, he made the first purchase at the corner of State and Elliott streets, followed that transaction with sev- eral others of like character until he had invested in land the then unusual sum of $34,750 and had acquired a tract 300 feet wide on State street and extending north on Elliott street more than 700 feet. So much of this tract as was necessary for his
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purposes Father Gallagher retained and sold the remainder at a good advance above its cost.
On the State street front of this lot in July, 1860, Father Gallagher began the work of building a church edifice. He had planned to build a large parish church, at a cost of about $75,000, but he in fact built a splendid diocesan cathedral, one of the most beautiful edifices of the kind in Western Massachusetts. The finished building was opened for services December 27, 1861, and on September 28, 1867, less than ten years later, the church of St. Michael was consecrated by Rt. Rev. John Williams, Bishop of Boston. In 1870 Springfield was made an episcopal see and on September 25 of that year Rev. P. T. O'Reilly was consecrated first bishop of the new diocese. Then St. Michael's church became St. Michael's cathedral. It is of brick and stone construction, 105 feet wide at the transepts, 175 feet long, with a spire towering 190 feet above the State street level.
Upon the accession of Bishop O'Reilly, Rev. Patrick Healy was appointed vicar-general of the diocese, and Rev. James J. McDermott was called to the rectorship of the cathedral. Bishop O'Reilly died May 28, 1892, and on October 18 following Rev. Thomas D. Beaven, pastor of the Holy Rosary church of Hol- yoke, was consecrated as his successor.
The pastors of St. Benedict's church (1846-64) were Rev. George Reardon, Rev. John Julius Dougherty and the Rev. Michael P. Gallagher. The succession of pastors of St. Michael's is as follows: Rev. Michael P. Gallagher, 1864-69; Rev. Pat- rick Healy, 1869-70; Rev. James J. McDermott, 1870-74; Rev. Charles E. Burke, 1874-83 ; Rev. William Goggin, 1883-86; Rev. Garrett H. Dolan, 1886-88; Rev. B. S. Conaty, 1888-97; Rev. Edward S. Fitzgerald, January 24, 1897-the present pastor. The regularly appointed curates of St. Michael's parish have been Revs. Thomas O'Sullivan, Miles O'Reilly, P. B. Phelan, Charles Burke, William Goggin, Garrett Dolan, William Power, John Fagan, Levi Achim, Edward S. Fitzgerald, John P. Mc- Caughan and Michael A. K. Kelly.
St. Matthew's Church-Mass is said to have been read to the Catholic families in Indian Orchard as early as 1846 by Rev.
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Father Reardon, and in 1850 such service is known to have been held by Father Blenkinsop, of Chicopee, in the cloth mill of the old Indian Orchard company ; but it is not understood that regu- lar visits to this part of the town were made much earlier than 1864, when Father Healy built St. Matthew's church. For eight years the church was attended from Chicopee, and in 1878 a resi- dent pastor was appointed for the parish in the person of Rev. J. F. Fitzgerald, then curate of the Sacred Heart church. The subsequent pastors have been Rev. John Kenney, nine years, and William J. Power, who began his work here in 1889.
Sacred Heart Church-So rapid was the growth and out- spreading of the influence of the Catholic church in the years immediately following the close of the war of 1861-65, that a division of St. Michael's parish became necessary. Upon the death of Father Gallagher, Father Healy took charge of the church and he soon learned the need of a new parish in the north part of the city. Accordingly he purchased a tract of land at the north end, and when Father McDermott was appointed rector of the mother church he increased the area of the tract by the addition of the site of the present school and convent. When the division was accomplished in 1873 Father McDermott, then rector of the cathedral, was given charge of the new parish, and said his masses in the school building on Everett street, which was used as a parish chapel until the completion of the church building in 1896. The school and chapel were dedicated in 1874.
Father McDermott was an earnest and prudent organizer and worker. a thorough believer in education and a worthy pastoral head of a church. He first secured the land, then the school, and the year 1887 found his parish free from debt and a good balance in the treasury. He then began work on the church building. The corner-stone of the handsome brownstone structure was laid October 21, 1888, but the good priest did not live to see the completion of his work, for he died in Paris, July 26, 1891, while travelling in search of health. He was succeeded by Father Smyth, who took up the work of his predecessor with commendable zeal and on October 18, 1896, the finest parish church in New England was dedicated by Bishop Beaven. In
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1895 Father Smyth built a chapel in Brightwood where mass has since been said on Sundays and holydays.
The rectorship of the Sacred Heart church has had but two incumbents, Fathers McDermott and Smyth. The curates ap- pointed to this parish are Revs. J. E. Fitzgerald, James J. Boyle, M. J. Howard, J. J. Fallon, Austin O'Grady, Francis J. Reilly, M. J. Griffin, M. J. Tyrrell and M. Z. Boyne.
St. Joseph's Church-After two ineffectual attempts to found a parish for the benefit of the French-Canadians of Springfield, the work was successfully accomplished by Father Louis Gagnier in 1873. He organized the parish and said his first mass on March 9 of that year in the city hall. Then he began the equally arduous task of creating a fund for the pur- chase of a site and the erection of a church building. The base- ment of the present St. Joseph's church on Howard street was ready for occupancy in June, 1873, and was used for church services until the completion of the superstructure in 1877. When organized the parish numbered 1,460 persons; now the number is more than 3,300. The large parochial school building was erected in 1897-8 and was dedicated by Bishop Beaven on May 8 of the latter year. The Sisters of the Holy Cross have charge of the school, which is attended by about 400 children.
St. Aloysius' Church-The parish of this church was organ- ized March 3, 1873, for the especial welfare of the many French- Canadian families who then were settled in Indian Orchard and its locality. The Indian Orchard Mills company donated a lot for a church building and the structure was ready for occupancy on Christmas day, 1873, when the first pastor, Rev. Louis Gag- nier, said mass. During Father Boudouin's pastorate the con- vent building was erected as a cost of $10,000. St. Aloysius' parish numbers about 2,500 Catholics. The rectors have been as follows: Rev. Louis Gagnier, 1873-76; Rev. H. Landry, 1876-86 ; Rev. Charles Crevier, 1886-90; Rev. Clovius Boudouin, 1890-1897; Rev. J. E. Marcoux, 1897-1901; Rev. Edmund Gra- ton, the present rector.
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