USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Greenfield > Records of proceedings, etc., in the parish of St. James' Church, Greenfield, from the first formation of the society, September 24th, A. D. 1812 > Part 4
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The committee appointed to build the new church consisted of Henry W. Clapp, Richard E. Field, John J. Pierce, Isaac Miles and Alonzo P. Megrath. A subscrip- tion paper had already been in circulation and nearly $2000 had been subscribed by the Parish, aside from special gifts. The pledges ranged all the way from $100 to one dollar. One man promised fifty dollars on condition that the chancel should be "arranged in a proper manner." Another a like sum "if built of stone from a proper quarry;" a third gave ten pounds of curled hair as his offering. It was also voted at this meeting to look about for a place to hold services until the new church was finished, and to send a vote of thanks to the friends in Boston whose encouragement together with the large assistance of Mr. Clapp made the new venture possible. The Vestry was authorized to buy more land in case it should be necessary. Accordingly a strip of six feet wide was bought; more could not be had. It was a great pity because the church was forced to build right up to the street line, which has always been a disadvantage.
On Sunday, November 29th, 1846, the people gathered in the old church for the last time. Dr. Strong's ser-
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mon preached on that day is of great interest. These extracts are taken from it:
"On the present occasion, when in all probability, we are assembled, for the last time, as a parish and a church within these walls, it will not be deemed a departure from our subject to review, briefly, the circumstances connected with the origin and progress of this religious society. And in doing this, we are under no necessity of going back to the records and the traditions of for- mer generations. What has occurred is within the re- membrance of many who are now living, and the facts to which our attention is called, although they may be familiar to but few, are nevertheless, involved in no doubt or uncertainty.
The commencement of the parish of St. James' Church was in the year 1812. Previous to this, divine service, according to our ritual, had been performed two or three times within the town, and the sacrament of bap- tism administered by clergymen Episcopally ordained. But little was known by the people at large of the dis- tractive principles of the Church; and, although the names and writings of some of its most eminent divines were held in the highest estimation by all who could appreciate learning or piety, still there was connected, in the minds of a great portion of the community, with the ideas of prelacy and a liturgy, the formality and abominations of popery. The common prejudices which had descended from our puritan ancestors against a prescribed order of worship, identifying also the gov- ernment of the church with the hierarchy of the parent country, extensively prevailed, and in addition to all, there was the expressed opinion of unsoundness in the faith and laxity of morals on the part of those who were commissioned as the ambassadors of Christ. In these respects there is evidence, at the present day of a better feeling and a more correct judgment-and with
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the advancement of knowledge, we are gratified with a proportionate increase of the charity, which, while it "thinketh no evil," leaves everyone to the approval or condemnation of his own Master.
It was, however, in the face of every popular objec- tion, arising from ignorance or prejudice, that the de- termination was made to organize and support an Epis- copal Church. And from the knowledge which I have had of the characters of the persons engaged in this measure, I am fully convinced that they were actuated by the purest and most conscientious motives. It was not the love of novelty and of change that urged them on to a step which was sure to subject them to the jealousy and reproach of those whom they had always respected as citizens and loved as friends. No motives of worldly gain were concerned in the promotion of an object which they well knew must be attended with ex- pense and sacrifice to which the inhabitants of this vicinity had never been accustomed. There had been no contention between them and their Congregational breth- eren with whom they had previously worshipped, and they had lost none of their respect for the venerable man (the Rev. Roger Newton, D. D.,) who, for fifty years had minstered to an undivided people. But they were Epis- copalians in sentiment, and it was the strong desire of their hearts to enjoy the services and the communion of the church of their affections." Dr. Strong goes on to give a brief history of the Parish from its foundation to the time when he was speaking. He then closed his sermon as follows: "In the providence of God, we have now come to the close of our services in this house. The event is one that cannot fail of deeply affecting our feelings. The tenderest recollections crowd upon our minds as we reflect upon the privileges we have here enjoyed-the instructions we have here received. We remember, too, the vows that have been made in the
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presence of God and his people-the communion in which we have given ourselves to the Saviour who died for us, and the sad solemnities with which we have resigned to the Former of our bodies, and the Father of our spirits, the cherished objects of our love. But it is, as in many of the concerns and relations of life, a voluntary submission to a transient pain for the promotion of a future good. And the regret that mingles with our de- parture from this familiar and long endeared scene is lessened by the consideration that the building in which we have worshipped for many years, is not to lose its character and its use as a house of God. In the pos- session of those whose piety and zeal have been fruit- ful in good works-and to whom thousands are indebted for their knowledge of the great salvation, we are sure it will never be desecrated by an appropriation to the vanities or the business of the world. Their feelings we doubt not, correspond with ours in a reverence for holy things-and we will entertain the confidence-that within these walls, Jesus Christ and Him crucified will be the long continued theme of discourse, of meditation and of improvement."
At the Easter meeting in 1847 the building committee was instructed "to place the whole of the foundation of the new church on the ledge, and the wardens were ap- pointed a committee to take up the corner stone and the articles deposited therein, and take charge of them until the laying of the new corner stone.
ST. JAMES CHURCH 1848.
THE OLD CHURCH, PARSONAGE, AND THE PARISH PARTY.
It is recorded that on "Wednesday, April 28, 1847, the members of the parish were at the house of the Rector, it being the annual parish party."
Before we quite leave the old church, it might be well to stop and look back for a little over the picture of the life in the old church and parsonage as it has come down to us. The compiler is largely indebted at this point to an article in the New England Magazine for March 1896, presumably from the pen of the daughter of the first Senior Warden, Charlotte Chapman.
The old church, like all Episcopal churches in New England at that date, was a white wooden building, a long parallelogram in shape, with a small square tur- reted tower and mullioned windows, pointed at the top, with green blinds, a combination of Gothic architecture and New England meeting house style, the Gothic being ex- pressed by the pointed green blinds and front door. The organ was a queer little old structure, bought sec- ond hand from another church in a larger town, and previously imported from England. Two gilt cherubs, poised each on one foot, blew gilt trumpets on its top. The choir sat behind little red curtains in a gallery. The arrangement of the church would look strange to us now. The communion table stood in the foreground, a small pine table, covered and draped with red. Im- mediately behind was the reading desk, a huge piece of mahogany with faded red velvet cushions, on which
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reposed the great Bible and Prayer Book. Towering above and behind the reading desk was the pulpit, also of dark mahogany, rectangular in shape, ascended by a long carpeted staircase with mahogany rail. Behind these were the Commandments affixed to the wall, and by children supposed to be the original two tables given to Moses. These were flanked by the Creed and Lord's Prayer, and here and there about the church were little tablets inscribed with texts of scripture. The Bishop's chair was a beautiful antique, covered with hair cloth.
Christmas tide was a great occasion, and the deco- rating of the church with greens was one of the chief events of the year. There being great prejudice against the Church in New England, the keeping of Christmas was looked upon as "papist" and reprehensible. The Christmas Eve service in particular seemed to stir up the indignation of outside people. Sometimes the church was actually attacked by rowdies, stones thrown through windows, and attempts made to break through locked doors.
The church was warmed by a big box stove, the pipe of which dividing in twain went the whole length of the side aisles to the little chimney at either corner at the east end. The wise and prudent carried little tin foot stoves to church in cold weather, filled with coals and hot ashes. The afternoon service was at 1.30, so that the parishioners from the north part of the town and the "Meadows" might get home in time for evening chores. In summer, Sunday School was at nine o'clock, but in winter, the numbers were too small, and sessions were generally omitted. On Communion Sundays, the Rector catechised the children in the afternoon before the whole congregation as they stood in a row before the chancel. Two square corner pews at the back were assigned to the Negroes of the parish. The front pews were the fashionable ones. The two church Wardens
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sat in high box-like seats near the door, each furnished with a long pole wherewith to keep people awake during the sermon. Later on, the seats in the rear were brought into style and given over to prominent families.
On the church door was the notice board whereon "Intentions of Marriage" were made public by the town clerk according to law. In the cellar beneath the church was a crude sort of mortuary chapel for the conduct of funerals, and a place of great curiosity to children.
Just behind the church was the Rectory, a plain, un- painted, old fashioned house, black with wind and weath- er, but bright and cheery within. There was the large front parlor where Dr. Strong held his Saturday evening Bible class, and where the Bishop sat when he made his pastoral visit in May. Back of this was the family "keeping-room," as it was called, with a southerly outlook, a big open fireplace, and a door which opened into the side yard. The broad, flat stone door-step, fringed with cinnamon rose bushes, was a pleasant seat on a summer afternoon. In this keeping room, Dr. Strong wrote his sermons. His little desk and few well used books stood beside the fire-place. There the discourses were written with a goose quill on foolscap. This room was the liv- ing place of the little family in the winter when their frugal habits permitted only one fire. We wish we knew more about Dr. Strong's wife and his children.
Dr. Strong's love of Shakespeare was intense. He had a keen sense of humor, and an unusually quick sensitive- ness to the deep and pathetic. A graduate of Dartmouth College, he had always shown a very great fondness for the best in literature.
In the front room, an air tight stove imparted a dull hue in contrast to the bright blaze in the keeping room. Here met the Bible class on Saturday evenings. We can picture for ourselves Dr. Strong sitting in a high backed rocking chair, by a table, on which were the great Bible,
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a pair of brass candle sticks and a snuffer tray, the class of matrons, maids and a sprinkling of young men, sitting about the walls, in rush bottomed chairs. Here doubtless, much good seed was sown, which has borne fruit in the years that have come and gone since that time-men and women giving themselves to Christian ser- vice and to the loyal and affectionate support of the Church.
The great event of the year was the annual parish party. It was not called a donation party in those days, though gifts and offerings were brought to help eke out the slender salary of the pastor. It took place always after Easter, just as soon as the mild weather came, when the children could play out of doors, usually be- tween the middle and the end of April. The minimum age under which no one should be admitted was ten years. The maximum was unlimited. The party was anticipated and prepared for days beforehand. The house had to be cleaned, and the yard also. The good pastor and his wife must needs set an example here as well as elsewhere.
Early in the morning of the appointed day, the ma- trons and maids assembled and laid an L-shaped table in the keeping room, and a long one in Mrs. Strong's bed room, which adjoined it on the west. They brought with them an abundant supply of plates, cups, spoons, etc., from their own houses. All the old fashioned del- icacies were provided, frosted cakes of various shapes, custards, boiled or baked, dried beef, hot biscuits, tea and coffee, all in great plenty. Simple it seems now, but rich and profuse then.
In the best front parlor the older people began to gather about two o'clock. The farmers drove in from the meadows and from across the rivers, sometimes coming from long distances. The wives arranged them- selves along the walls, the men gathered at the door-
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ways and talked "crops and critters." A little later the ladies of the parish who lived in the village arrived, the "street folks," as they were called by their country cousins. The children, boys and girls, were sent to the side yard or to the front chamber up stairs. The side yard was large and pleasant, with an old well contain- ing a well sweep and bucket. The front chamber had a great four-post bedstead with curtains of large flowered chintz, also a curious spindle-legged dressing table and a high chest of drawers.
As tea time approached, the early hour of five was the regular appointed time, the crowd in the little entry and in the best parlor increased. The upstairs rooms too were full. The gifts were there, and were being in- spected. The little round table in the parlor held the choicest. Two or three "gown patterns" so called, for Mrs. Strong and the daughter of the house. French calicoes were the thing then for summer afternoon wear, and cost seventy-five cents a yard. The milliner had sent a cap, and there were large square neck handker- chiefs of colored silks, also cotton hose, kid gloves, and other useful articles. Upstairs in the broad part of the entry, two or three boards supported on barrels bore substantial tokens of the farmers' good will. There were baskets of eggs, smoked hams, white beans, butter, maple sugar; and down stairs in the pantry there might be a barrel or two of flour. It all seems little enough now, but it meant a good deal in those times, though it must have been trying to the sweet and refined gentle- man to have to be so very dependent on the gifts of his people.
When the hour of five came, the elders of the company were all seated in the keeping room. The church War- dens and the Vestrymen, with their wives, together with the other pillars of the church, had the places of honor, age and station taking precedence. When the tables
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were filled, all was silent that the reading of the Rector's annual address might be heard. He stood to read it in the door way. In fine, pure English he welcomed his people, and thanked God that they were again permitted to meet together and to repeat so many times this fes- tival. He spoke briefly of the changes, sad and happy, which the year had brought forth, and closed with a few original verses which were greatly enjoyed and ad- mired. At the last of these parties held on April 25, 1855, less than two months before the death of Mr. Strong, the following was the address and poem.
"St. James' Parsonage, Greenfield.
PARISH PARTY, April 25, 1855.
THE RECTOR TO HIS FRIENDS:
The thirtieth return of the anniversary of our parish festival, occurring as it does, on the present day, is at- tended with many tender and interesting recollections; and in reference to the associations of the past there are the mingled feelings of sadness and of joy. We have traced in our observation and experience, the entire history of one generation of our race, and in the changes and revolutions that have taken place in our own circles and around us the lesson has been deeply impressed upon our minds that the fashion of this world is passing away; still, goodness and mercy have attended our paths, and the Rector can lift up his voice and his heart with gratitude to God for the unfailing attention and kind support of his friends, who as instruments in the hands of a merciful Providence have caused the lines to fall to him in pleasant places, and who have manifested so uniformly their respect for his office and their attention to his person; and now, when the infirmities and decays of age and the pain and exhaustion of disease are upon him, he can appreciate their kind friendship and regard,
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and continue to assure them of his best wishes and most fervent prayers for their welfare both here and hereafter.
How swift speed the hours and how full of delight, When friendship and love in our fortunes unite; When union of hearts is the solace of care, Removing the weight of the burdens we bear!
O, what were our life in this valley of woe, Did none give us help in the way that we go, How cheerless our prospects-our labors how vain- How constant our danger-how piercing our pain!
The rich and the poor with the weak and the strong, In mutual dependence are passing along;
Nor is there where feeling and duty are known,
A path that is trodden by one all alone.
In social affections our happiness lies, And generous deeds are the charms that we prize; In heaven's own image resplendent we trace The sympathy cherish'd by man for his race.
Though humble our lot, and our portion decay'd, The impulse of nature is ever the same;
Nor fails the strong effort to minister aid, When sorrow or penury offers its claim.
Be selfishness then to our dwellings unknown, And love, in its brilliance, the guide to our ways, 'Till purer and holier visions are shown, Where all that is perfect its beauty displays. T. STRONG."
After a short prayer and a "Grace Before Meat" the Rector sat down and the feast began. The young girls of the parish waited on the company, bringing tea and coffee and helping with the other simple things. Then "the first table" rose and was succeeded by perhaps two more of adults, and then by a sitting of all the children. Last of all the waitresses and workers sat together. After tea the singing began, old fashioned hymns and
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one or two popular songs of the day. Perhaps a few games of forfeits went on up stairs. The children and the farmers must needs start for home before dark, and as early as nine o'clock the whole party was over. Bishop Williams so spoke of this institution many years later. "Another scene comes back to me. It is the old parsonage, the home for so many years of a frank, hearty hospitality, and in the spring time of the year. The Pastor is there with his people gatherd round him. They have come with their gifts and greetings, and the fragrance of affection that fills the place is sweeter than all the sweetest airs of spring. The last hours of the day pass on in kindly interchange of loving greetings. And just as the twilight begins to steal over the earth, and in the hush of the closing day, the Pastor reads the verses in which his heart has run out towards the people of his charge, and, with words of prayer and blessing, sends them to their homes. Who that was ever at them can forget what we used to call the Parish Parties. How in their simple cheer and kindliness, were holy bonds repaired and strengthened, and how they lifted up the pastoral heart and gave it fresh strength for its life long work."
THE NEW CHURCH BUILT AND CONSECRATED.
The corner stone of the new church was laid May 6th, 1847. Bishop Eastburn officiated, assisted by sev- eral other clergymen, including the Rector of the Parish, then in the thirty-fourth year of his Rectorship. There were deposited in the stone "The Bible, the Prayer-Book, Journal of the Massachusetts Convention for 1846, Sword's Pocket Almanac, The Churchman, Christian Witness, Greenfield Gazette & Courier, Democrat, a sketch of the history of the parish from its organization, and a copy of the Rev. Mr. Lee's address at the time, also the names of the building committee and the officers of the parish for the ensuing year, the whole being covered by a tin plate taken up from the corner stone of the old church with added inscriptions. The new church is to be of stone from a quarry of Henry W. Clapp, Esq., given by him in addition to his subscription of $3000, one half of the estimated cost of the building."
In July of this same year the following courteous let- ter was received.
"To the Wardens and Vestry of St. James Church:
The undersigned proprietors of pews in the meeting house of the Third Congregational Society, being aware that your church has at present no convenient and suit- able place of worship, and having at present no stated preaching in our own meeting house, take pleasure after full consultation among a large majority of our pew hold- ers, in tendering to your church the use of our meeting house so long as you shall require it, and our own re-
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ligious meetings shall be suspended. Should our own meetings be resumed before the completion of your own house of worship, we will cause you to have seasonable notice."
(Signed )
Daniel Wells Sylvester Allen H. G. Newcomb George T. Davis.
The offer was accepted, and for eighteen months the church services were held in the meeting house of the Third Congregational society (Unitarian).
In 1849 the parish meeting heard and accepted the re- port of the building committee, and a vote of thanks was extended to it for bringing their work to completion. The report ended after this manner.
"The work of your committee is done; completed stands this church in the sight of Heaven; and the committee think if fitness for the purpose intended and the adaptation to situation be the triumph of art, this is a successful one."
The expense of erecting the church had been nearly double the original estimate, amounting in all to over eleven thousand dollars. Of this sum, about eight thous- and was contributed by Mr. H. W. Clapp.
It was therefore resolved "That the grateful thanks of this parish be presented to Henry W. Clapp, Esq., for his generous liberality, and untiring perseverance in bringing this great and benevolent work to a happy completion, and that this Resolution be entered upon the records of the parish."
An acknowledgement of thanks was also sent to the
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Unitarian Society for their kindness in allowing the use of their building for a year and a half. It was also voted "that the afternoon service commence at two o'clock from May 1st to September 1st, and that the bell be rung 14 before two."
"The consecration of St. James' Church in Green- field by the Right Reverend Bishop Eastburn took place on Thursday, May the 10th. The day was unusually pleasant, and a large congregation assembled to witness and join in the solemn and interesting services of the occasion. There were present beside the Bishop thirteen of the clergy, the most of whom assisted in the appoint- ed exercises. The Instrument of Donation was read by the Rector of the parish, now in the 36th year of his ministry in the same place, the Sentence of Consecration by the Rev. Mr. Adams of Springfield. Morning prayers were read by the Rev. Mr. Burrows of Northampton, the Lessons by the Rev. Dr. Clapp of Bellows Falls, Vt. The sermon was preached by the Bishop, from Psalm LXXX, Verse 17, who also administered the Holy Communion, assisted by the Reverend Dr. Eaton of Boston, the Epistle being read by the Rev. Mr. Pratt of Guilford, Vt., and the gospel by the Rev. Dr. Croswell of Boston. The Sen- tences at the Alms and Oblations were by the Rev. Mr. Croswell of Chicopee. Services were held in the church in the afternoon, when prayers were read by the Rev. Mr. Bates of Warehouse Point, Ct., and a sermon preach- ed by the Rev. Mr. Babcock of Dedham. The music at the Consecration, under the direction of Mr. Tuckerman, the accomplished organist of St. Paul's, Boston, was of the highest character, and great credit is due to the choir for the manner in which they performed their duties. It was indeed a day long to be remembered by the par- ish, and by those who were present, and it is to be hoped
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that in a spiritual sense the glory of this latter house will be greater than the glory of the former. The church is a beautiful and imposing structure of stone, built upon a solid foundation of rock. The style is that of the 13th Century, the roof high and open, the chancel spacious and elevated; the windows of stained glass, by Gibson of New York; and all the appurtenances, furniture and decorations of the richest and most appropriate kind. The dimensions of the church are eighty three feet in length by fifty in breath. The architect was Mr. Sykes of Springfield, who has executed his work with great skill and science. The painting was done by Hayward & Freeborn of Boston, and is of the finest character. The woodwork of the roof arches, etc., was by Mr. Hol- den, and of the pews, gallery, chancel, etc., by Mr. Avery of Greenfield. A special organ, adapted in its external architecture to that of the church, from the manufactory of Hook in Boston, has been placed at an expense of $1800 in the gallery. The ladies of the society have furnished a carpet at the cost of $300., and a beautiful marble font, made in New York, has been presented by Mrs. H. W. Clapp.
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