History of Baltimore, Maryland, from its founding as a town to the current year, 1729-1898, including its early settlement and development; a description of its historic and interesting localities; political, military, civil, and religious statistcs; biographies of representative citizens, etc., etc, Part 39

Author: Shepherd, Henry Elliott, 1844-1929, ed. 4n
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: [Uniontown? Pa.] S.B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1344

USA > Maryland > Baltimore County > Baltimore City > History of Baltimore, Maryland, from its founding as a town to the current year, 1729-1898, including its early settlement and development; a description of its historic and interesting localities; political, military, civil, and religious statistcs; biographies of representative citizens, etc., etc > Part 39

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MT. CALVARY CHURCH.

The first church to be erected on what was then the outskirts of the city toward the north was Mt. Calvary Church in 1846. It was begun as a mission by St. Paul's Church in a room over a bacon store at the corner of Howard and Mulberry streets. For several years it occupied this place. Its gradual growth necessitated the erection of a church. A lot was chosen at the inter- section of Eutaw street and Madison avenue, and a brick edifice was erected thereupon. It became independent in 1843. A clergy house, at the rear of the church on Eutaw street, was secured afterwards. For many years the congregation has main- tained a service notable for its elaborate ritual. The work which this church has done among the colored people is perhaps as notable as any in the city. A short dis- tance from the church, on St. Mary's street, a beautiful chapel of white marble was pur- chased from the Swedenborgians in 1875, through the generous gift of Miss Oliver, and a very large congregation has been gathered. It is served by one of the clergy of Mt. Calvary Church, and bears the name of the Chapel of St. Mary the Virgin. The rectors of Mt. Calvary have been: The Rev. Mr. Miller, the Rev. Mr. Curtis (who resigned to enter the Ro- man Catholic Church); the Rev. Dr.

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

Ritchie and the Rev. Robert H. Paine, who assumed charge in 1878.

ST. LUKE'S CHURCH.

A new congregation was organized in the extreme western section of the city in 1846, under Rev. R. Riley, in a room over a grocery store. He was in charge from 1846 to 1851. Its present handsome church was erected on Carey street in 1853. Its career has been a notable one, especially during the long administration of the Rev. Dr. Rankine, who was in charge from 1853 to 1886. He was a very gifted man as a catechist and instructor, and has left his im- press upon thousands throughout the city. He was also noted for his love of a digni- fied and ornate service, and his ministra- tions drew large congregations to the church. During his rectorship a substan- tial stone building was erected at the rear of the church for a Girl's School. This has all along had a successful career. The char- acter of the neighborhood has materially changed of late, and much of the former strength of St. Luke's has removed to other parts of the city. The Rev. Dr. Rankine was succeedeu by the Rev. George W. Har- rod in 1886, and he by the Rev. William Marris Barker (consecrated Bishop of West- ern Colorado in 1893). The present rector is the Rev. William A. Coale, who was bap- tized and confirmed in St. Luke's, and for several years served as an assistant to the Rev. Dr. Rankine. He entered upon the rectorship in 1890. The membership is 602.

GRACE CHURCH.

The rapid growth of the city around Mt. Vernon Place about the middle of this cen-

tury demanded the creation of a new con- gregation. In 1850 a meeting of those in- terested was held at the residence of John S. Gittings, Esq., and a congregation or- ganized. The Rev. Dr. Thomas Atkinson, then rector of St. Peter's Church, Balti- more, became deeply interested in the movement and directed it from the begin- ning. He was thus the founder of the church, and two years later resigned St. Peter's to become the first rector of Grace Church. The corner-stone of the new church was laid July 20, 1850, by the Rev. Dr. Atkinson, and the church was opened for divine worship on Sunday, December 12, 1852, on which day the Rev. Dr. Atkin- son resumed the rectorship.

As soon as it was completed Grace Church sprang into prominence owing to its favorable location near Mt. Vernon Place, and also to the character of its founders. The church is built of Connecticut red sand- stone, and its beautiful style of architecture renders it one of the handsomest church buildings in the city. From time to time it has been enriched with costly memorials in glass and stone. Its font and rood screen are hardly to be surpassed in the country. A costly organ was erected about ten years ago from the factory of Rosevelt & Co., and the choir of Grace Church has long been famous as one of the best in the land. In 1890 Grace Church built the Chapel of the Advent, Charles and Ostend streets, at a cost of $10,000; and in 1894 enlarged and enriched its chancel at a cost of $28,000. A handsome rectory adjoins the church on Park avenue, the gift of Samuel G. Wyman. From the beginning this church has been greatly given to good works. Three churches, in different parts of the city, have

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

been wholly or in large part, created by its fostering care and financial help: St. Barna- bas in 1859, the Holy Comforter in 1876, and the Chapel of the Advent in 1890. Large amounts of money have been gen- erously given to the support of Missions both in the diocese and throughout the world, and all the charities of the city liber- ally supported. This is especially true of of the Church Home, the most notable charity of the Episcopal Church in Balti- more, which was founded through the ac- tive labors of its second rector, the Rev. Dr. Coxe. One of its members also maintains a large hospital for crippled children under the name of the "Robert Garrett Hospital." For almost fifty years Grace Church main- tained the only religious services in the city for deaf mutes. This was also established by Bishop Coxe. It is still in vigorous ex- istence, and one-fifth of the entire deaf mute population of the city are communicants of Grace Church. A chapel, adjacent to the chancel, is set apart solely for their use, and every Sunday morning the service of the church is rendered in two languages syn- chronously.

The rectors of Grace Church have been as follows: The Rev. Dr. Thomas Atkinson (who was the founder of the church, and while rector was elected Bishop of North Carolina), 1852-1853; the Rev. Dr. Arthur Cleveland Coxe (afterwards Bishop of Western New York), 1854-1863; the Rev. Dr. John Henry Hobart, 1864-1866; the Rev. George Leeds, 1867-1885; the Rev. Chauncey B. Brewster (now Bishop Coad- jutor of Connecticut), 1886-1888; the Rev. Arthur Chilton Powell, 1888 to the present time. Grace Church maintains the Chapel of the Advent on Charles and Ostend

streets. The membership of Grace Church is 862; of the chapel, 308.

EMMANUEL CHURCH.

In 1854 a portion of the congregation of old Christ Church (Gay and Fayette streets) decided to erect a church in its more immediate neighborhood, and select- ed a site on the corner of Cathedral and Read streets. Here a large edifice was built of stone, and here was gradually gathered one of the most aggressive and prosperous congregations Baltimore has ever known. Its first rector was the Rev. H. Van Dyke Johns, D. D., who resigned the charge of old Christ Church to accept the rectorship of the new Emmanuel Church. He has been succeeded by men of great ability, so that the name and fame of the church is known far and wide. A warm missionary zeal has long characterized its members and its gifts for missionary objects all over the world have been large. Some twenty years ago a special work was begun by some zealous women of this congregation among the Chinese residing in the city. A Sunday-school was established, and has had quiet but marked success. Several China- men have been baptized and confirmed.

The General Convention has twice held its session in Baltimore, and both times has used Emmanuel Church, in 1871 and 1892; although at the former session the House of Bishops sat in the chapel of Grace Church. The new and beautiful parish house was erected immediately adjoining the church on Cathedral street in 1892. Several costly memorial windows are to be seen in this church, which also possesses one of Rosevelt's latest and best organs. In 1857 a mission was established by Em-

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

manuel Church near Bolton Station. This developed in 1860 into the Memorial Church, corner of Bolton avenue and La- fayette avenue. The rectors of Emmanuel Church have been: The Rev. Dr. Johns, the Rev. Noah Hunt Schenck, D. D., the Rev. A. M. Randolph, D. D. (who was elected Assistant Bishop of Virginia in 1883), and the present rector, the Rev. J. Houston Eccleston, D. D.

Two chapels are maintained by Em- manuel Church, the Chapel of the Prince of Peace, at Walbrook, and the Chapel of the Atonement, in the eastern part of the city. The membership of Emmanuel is 880; of Prince of Peace, 116; of Atonement, 206.

ST. MARY'S CHURCH, HAMPDEN.

In the little village of Hampden, a neat stone church was erected in 1855. It is sur- rounded by a lot of several acres, a portion of which was set aside as a burial-ground. A parish school house and a rectory have subsequently been erected near the church. The present rector is the Rev. William C. Butler. Membersip, 196.

CHURCH OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS.

This stone church was erected in 1855, at the corner of Chase and Eden streets. It has had a somewhat checkered career, but under its present rector, the Rev. Robert A. Tufft, it is manifesting new life and pro- gress. A stone rectory was erected in 1897, adjacent to the church, and the interior of the church beautifully decorated. Among the former rectors have been the Rev. J. Preston Fugette and the Rev. John H. Lo- gie. The membership is 292.

ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S CHURCH.

This congregation sprang from a Sunday- school opened in the northwestern part of

the city on Pennsylvania avenue. It was organized in 1857, and its present white marble church, at the corner of Madison and North avenues, was erected in 1872. The large lot was left to the church by Miss Alice Ann Dashiell, in 1854. A beautiful rectory was built in 1890, adjoining the church. The Rev. John Y. Gholson was the first rector, 1875 to 1885. The Rev. Edward H. Ingle assumed the rectorship in 1885, and has been in charge ever since. The number of communicants in 214.

CHAPEL OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST.

On Barre street, in South Baltimore, a stone church was erected in 1858, bearing the above name. For a time it maintained an independent existence, or was adminis- tered by the Board of Missions. In 1895 it passed under the care of St. Paul's Church. The present minister in charge is the Rev. D. P. Allison.

ST. THOMAS CHURCH, HOMESTEAD.

A congregation was organized in this suburb in 1858. Its present frame church building was erected about 1889, during the active administration of the Rev. William Brayshaw, who also collected funds for the rectory, situated near by. The present rec- tor is the Rev. Robert H. Taylor, D. D. There are 95 communicants.

MEMORIAL CHURCH.

In 1855 a mission was begun by certain women of Emmanuel Church. It was in- tended to reach the men employed by the Northern Central Railway, and for two years was carried on in dwellings on Mary- land avenue and Cathedral street, opposite the Bolton depot. In 1857 a small brick

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

chapel was erected on Park avenue, near Lanville, and the work transferred to it. It was called Howard Chapel. It was occu- pied until 1859, when a lot was purchased at the corner of Bolton street and Lafayette avenue. The old chapel is still standing, and is now used by the Enon Colored Bap- tist congregation. The rector of Emmanuel Church, under whom the work has been begun, the Rev. Dr. Henry Van Dyke Johns, died in April, 1859, and his assistant, the Rev. Charles Ridgely Howard, pro- posed to erect a new church as a memorial to him. A separate congregation was cre- ated in this year, and was admitted into the Convention of Maryland in 1860. The church was at once begun, but was not fin- ished until 1864. The rector, the Rev. Mr. Howard, died in 1862, and the church was constituted as a memorial to him, as well as of Dr. Johns. The edifice is a beautiful stone building, in the early Gothic style. It is situated at the northeast corner of Bolton street and Lafayette avenue. The growth of this congregation has been very great under the care of zealous and able rectors. Two other churches have been founded by it: St. George's, in 1873, and Holy Trinity, in 1875. A comfortable rec- tory adjoins the church on Bolton street, and an admirably arranged parish house is at the rear of the church, on Lafayette ave- nue. Within the past two years the church has been greatly improved by the erection of a new chancel and porch, and also by the purchase of a new organ. A most vigorous work is maintained in all departments of church life. The present rector, the Rev. Dr. W. M. Dame, has been in charge for twenty years. Having removed all indebtedness and put the property in admirable order,

he presented it for consecration on January 5, 1898. The sermon was preached by the Bishop of West Virginia, who was rector when elected to the episcopate in 1878. The rectors of this important church have been: The Rev. Charles R. Howard; the Rev. W. B. Bodine, D. D .; the Rev. J. N. Galleher, D. D. (afterwards Bishop of Louisiana); the Rev. O. Perinchief; the Rev. George W. Peterkin, D. D. (elected Bishop of West Virginia in 1878); and the Rev. William M. Dame, D. D. When the present rector took charge in 1878 he found 250 communicants. There are now 686.

THE FREE CHURCH OF ST. BARNABAS.

This church was first established as a mission by Grace Church, in 1859. It be- came independent in 1864, and its first rec- tor was the Rev. A. P. Stryker, who had been an assistant at Grace Church. His long administration.was most successful. He died while in office a few years ago, greatly lamented. He was succeeded by the Rev. Joseph Fletcher, who served as rector about two years. Toward the end of his rectorship the church was destroyed by fire; but was immediately rebuilt and greatly im- proved. The Rev. Thomas Atkinson suc- ceeded to the rectorship in 1893, and is still in charge. He is the grandson of Bishop Atkinson, the founder of Grace Church. The church is situated on the corner of Bid- dle street and Argyle avenue, and it has a very suitable rectory adjoining. Its mem- bership is 443.

ALL SAINTS CHURCH.

In 1859 a congregation was organized in the extreme western part of the city, on Bal- timore street, and named All Saints. A large and desirable lot was secured and the

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

present edifice erected. Its growth has been slow but steady. Its present rector is the Rev. Edward Wroth. The membership is 235.

CHAPEL OF THE ADVENT.

This mission was organized by the Rev. George K. Warner, on November 29, 1868, in a private house on Battery avenue. A chapel was built a few doors distant the next year. Until 1887 it remained under the Board of Missions. It was then placed by the bishop under Grace Church. The present lot, on Charles street near Ostend, was presented by the heirs of George Haw- kins Williams, Esq., in 1889. The present brick building (which is intended to be the parish house whensoever a church is erected) was built in 1890, and cost $10,000. A large Free Kindergarten and thriving re- ligious organizations are here maintained by Grace Church. The Sunday-school numbers 800. The first assistant of Grace Church has charge of this mission. At pres- ent he is the Rev. Charles A. Hensel. The membership is 308. A rectory costing $4,000 is about to built on the church lot.

CHAPEL OF THE HOLY CROSS.

This chapel was erected in 1871 outside the then western city limits. It was for one year a chapel of St. Luke's Church, but is now under the Board of Missions. It has had a quiet growth. For many years it was under the personal care of the Rev. B. B. Griswold, D. D., who died while in charge, in 1894. The minister in charge now is the Rev. Clarence Buel.

CHAPEL OF THE HOLY EVANGELIST, CANTON.

This chapel was erected in 1874. Its growth has been very slow. It is under the

Board of Missions, but the Rev. Thomas Atkinson, who was at one time resident minister, is in immediate supervision, the Rev. Harris Mallincrodt serving under him. In 1898 the old building was condemned as unsafe. It will be torn down, and a new edifice erected.

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH.

This church was established as a mission by the Memorial Church (Bolton street and Lafayette avenue) in 1875. It was con- ducted by the assistant ministers of this church until 1880, when it became inde- pendent, and the Rev. Julius J. Sams, D. D., assistant of the Memorial Church, was elected the first rector. He still continues in charge. The church is a wooden build- ing, situated on North Gilmor street, and was erected in 1876. The membership is 269.

CHAPEL OF THE ATONEMENT.

In January, 1874, the Rev. B. H. La- trobe, then rector of the Church of Our Saviour, together with a few of his parish- ioners, opened a Sunday-school in an upper room at the corner of Biddle and Ann streets. It was soon moved to a larger room at the intersection of Biddle and Wolfe streets. A night service was begun here by the Rev. Mr. Latrobe, but it was soon deemed advisable to secure a more suitable building where the services of the church might regularly be held. A chapel was erected at the corner of Chase and Choptank streets (now Collington avenue). It was built out of the material of the old chapel, formerly occupied by the congrega- tion of Holy Innocents' Church, and opened for services on June 20, 1875. A meeting to organize a congregation was held at the

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

residence of the Rev. Mr. Latrobe on June 24, 1875, and a vestry elected. A service was held at the new chapel each Sunday af- ternoon by different clergy of the city. In 1876 the Rev. B. F. Brown was in charge of the work; and in 1877 the Rev. P. Nelson Meade. From 1873 to 1881 the work lan- guished, but in that year the Rev. S. W. Crampton took charge, and infused new life. The old frame building was sold, and the school began its history again in Lange's Hall, corner of Chester and Chase streets. On May 23, 1881, the Vestry of the Church of the Atonement was incorporated. A large lot at the corner of Chester and Pres- ton streets was presented to the vestry by John Glenn, Esq., an'd on the southern end of this lot a brick chapel was built in 1883, at a cost of $1,000. It was opened on Sun- day, August 5. The Rev. Mr. Crampton was in charge until 1886. On January 10, 1887, the rector of Emmanuel Church, the Rev. Dr. Eccleston, proposed to the vestry of the chapel to take it under the care of Em- manuel Church. This was acceded to, and the Chapel of the Atonement has since been administered by Emmanuel Church, being in charge of one of its assistants. In 1897 a stone edifice was erected on the corner of the lot, at a cost of $15,000. The present minister in charge is the Rev. Douglas Hooff. The membership is 206.

CHAPEL OF ST. MARY THE VIRGIN. (COLORED).

About the year 1873 Mt. Calvary Church began a work for colored people in its neighborhood. Besides attracting some who had hitherto had no church associa- tions, it also attracted most of the congre- gation of St. Philip's Mission, which had

been established by some of the members of St. James First African Church, and which had been worshiping in a hall where the City College was afterwards built. An organization under the name of "Mt. Cal- vary Chapel of St. Mary the Virgin," was effected, with the Rev. C. B. Perry (white), an assistant of Mt. Calvary Church, in charge. A pious woman made a hand- some gift toward the present white marble chapel, which was purchased and improved in 1874 at a cost of $17,500. This building had formerly belonged to the New Jerusa- lem Church. The congregation began witlı less than a hundred, but speedily increased to 400. During the first year 140 communi- cants were reported. The chapel has an attractive property, and is well equipped for its work. Its service is marked by a beau- tiful ritual which seems to appeal to the hearts of the colored people. It has been served by faithful men, all of whom have been white, and to-day the communicants number 505. The present priest-in-charge is the Rev. George Barker Stone, an assist- ant of Mt. Calvary. It is one of the strong- est colored congregations in the city, and has the advantage of daily services and nu- merous organizations.

THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY COMFORTER.

In 1876 Miss Hannah Gaither, a member of Grace Church, erected a church at the corner of Pratt and Chester streets, as a memorial to her parents. It was built out of white marble, and is an attractive Gothic structure. For a time it was administered by the rector and vestry of Grace Church, but became independent in 1881. It took the place of St. Matthew's Church, a mis- sion of Grace Church. The present rector

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IHISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

is the Rev. W. A. Crawford-Frost. The number of communicants is 184.

HENSHAW MEMORIAL CHURCH.

This congregation was organized in 1876 in the southwestern portion of the city, as a mission of St. Peter's Church, by which its rector is still supported. The present property was purchased and refitted a few years ago in the rectorship of the Rev. Charles Gauss. The present rector is the Rev. W. H. Milton. There are 323 com- municants.

CHURCH OF ST. MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS.

About twenty-five years ago three men living near the Boundary (now North ave- nue) decided to organize an Episcopal Mission. They were Messrs. Charles H. Wyatt, Talbot Denmead and J. W. Brune. A large lot at the northeast corner of St. Paul and First (now Twentieth) streets, was donated by Mr. Denmead, and a small wooden chapel was erected thereon. The Rev. Mr. Johnston, rector of St. John's Church, Waverly, took the work under his care, and held a service there every Sunday night, until there was need of a settled cler- gyman, when he resigned. The Rev. Joh11 Rose and the Rev. Dr. James A. Harrold next were in charge. In 1877 the Rev. William Kirkus, rector of Christ Church, was elected rector, and accepted. The new congregation at first adopted the name of St. Mary the Virgin; but it was soon changed to the present title. The marvelous pulpit abilities of the Rev. Mr. Kirkus soon attracted such a large attendance that the little chapel was speedily outgrown. It was then moved to an adjacent lot and the pres- ent magnificent edifice begun. It has been

erected in parts, and was completed only two.years ago. The congregation has stead- ily increased until it is one of the largest in the city, numbering a communicant mem- bership of 1,013. The church has a beauti- ful parish house, also of stone, immediately adjacent to it on St. Paul street. The Rev. Mr. Kirkus resigned in 1891, and was suc- ceeded by the present rector, the Rev. C. Ernest Smith, D. D., whose administration has been marked by the completion of the buildings, the erection of a fine organ, the introduction of a boy choir, and the enlarge- ment of the church membership and agen- cies. A mission was begun by this church in 1898, near Hampden.

ST. GEORGE'S CHURCH.

The Memorial Church started a mission in 1873, on Fremont street, near Pennsyl- vania avenue. The most earnest worker in it was James M. Drill, Esq., who was an Englishman, and named the mission after the patron saint of England. A small chapel was erected on a lot purchased in 1874, and St. George's Church was legally incorpor- ated in September, 1875. The Rev. Otis A. Glazebrook, then assistant minister of Memorial Church, was the first rector, and served for several months. There was at this time a Sunday-school of 230 scholars, a sewing school of fifty scholars, and during the winter a night school for boys of about thirty scholars. The second rector was the Rev. Hugh Roy Scott, who was in charge about eight months. He was succeeded by the Rev. Richard Hayward, then assistant minister of Grace Church. He was in charge about six months. The fourth in charge was the Rev. C. A. Tibb, who served for four or five months. The next

Nohr J. Wilson. A.

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HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

rector was the Rev. E. P. Gray, who served for about half a year. To him succeeded in 1879 the Rev. Jonathan Pinckney Hamn- mond, D. D., who served until his death on August 19, 1884. It was under his zealous administration that the present lot on the northeast corner of Presstman and Division streets was purchased in 1881 and the beau- tiful stone church erected thereupon the same year. It was constituted the me- morial of Bishop Whittingham, who died in 1879, after having been the Bishop of Maryland for forty years. In 1883 the church became independent, its pros- perity having been most marked under the Rev. Dr. Hammond. He was suc- ceeded by the present rector, the Rev. Frederick Gibson, D. D., on September 29, 1884. For seventeen years he had been the assistant to the Rev. Dr. Rankine, at St. Luke's Church. The number of communi- cants has increased from 131 in 1884 to 352 in 1897. His administration has been most successful, the congregation overcrowding the church. An enlargement is contem- plated, as the adjoining lot was presented to the church by the late Edmund Law Rogers, Esq., a few years ago.

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Author: Shepherd, Henry Elliott, 1844-1929, ed. 4n Publication date: 1898 Publisher: [Uniontown? Pa.] S.B. Nelson Number of Pages: 1344

Author: Shepherd, Henry Elliott, 1844-1929, ed. 4n
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: [Uniontown? Pa.] S.B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1344