USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Charlestown > History of Charlestown, New-Hampshire, the old No. 4 > Part 26
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After the dismission of Mr. Wright, the Church continued without a pastor till April, 1874. During most of the time, however, it had the preaching of the gospel by stated supplies. Among those who thus ministered to them, were Rev. J. G. Wilson, who preached to them two years ; Rev. Joseph Garland, who preached to them three years ; Rev. Franklin Shattuck, who preached to them one year; Rev. S. G. Ten- ney, who preached to them for a number of months, and Rev. Henry H. Saunderson, whose services were continued for nine years. Mr. Saunderson's labors commenced October 10th, 1864, and closed Octo- ber 10th 1873. Rev. George W. Kinne was ordained and installed, April 29th, 1874. The Council invited consisted of pastors and dele- gates from the following Churches :
Congregational Church in Acworth, Claremont, Lempster, New- port and Washington in New-Hampshire, and Springfield and Windsor, Vermont. The following individuals were also invited; Rev. Benja- min Labaree, D. D., Rev. E. H. Greely, Secretary of the New-Hamp- shire Home Missionary Society, Rev. R. P. Stanton of Norwich, Con- necticut, and Rev. H. H. Saunderson, of Charlestown.
The Church, up to the present time, has gained very little numerical strength. The largest number of its members was received during the pastorates of Mr. Richards and Mr. Wright. At the close of Mr. Wright's ministry, its membership was fifty-six, which before the com- mencement of Mr. Saunderson's ministration had been reduced more than one half. During Mr. Saunderson's ministry the church was thor- oughly repaired and much improved. During the same period, also, a vestry was secured through the liberality of Deacon Putnam and Cephas Walker. The Church too received a legacy of five hundred dollars from Mrs. Mary Duren, who was an early and excellent mem- ber, as a permanent fund for the supply of preaching. The present year (1874) it has received a legacy of five thousand dollars from Col- onel Ithiel Homer Silsby, to be paid to the Church on the decease of Mrs. Silsby, the income of which is to be expended in support of the ministry in said Church.
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HISTORY OF CHARLESTOWN.
HISTORY OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
BY REV. FRANCIS CHASE.
In the original charter of the town given by Governor Wentworth, a certain section of land was reserved for the Society for the Propa- gation of the Gospel, of the Church of England, the same that was also done in the other townships granted by royal authority, outside of the Mason grant.
After the Revolutionary war, the society gave its lands into the hands of a board of citizens of the State, the Honorable Simeon Ol- cott of this town being one, to be kept in trust for the Episcopal Church. The lands, however, were largely alienated in the course of the first fifty years. Those in Charlestown, or the proceeds of the sale of them, are now held by a Board of Trustees in the city of Boston.
So far as is known, the first services of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Charlestown were celebrated by the Rev. Daniel Barber, rector of Union Church, Claremont, some time previous to 1820. Mr. Barber was very energetie and laborious in his ministry, extending his ministrations through all this section of country. Like a true missionary, he went to every place where two or three could be gath- ered together, and broke the bread of life. He is remembered to have preached a few times in Charlestown, and to have administered baptism in families where that Saerament was desired. There were some Episcopalians, even then, in the town.
Mr. Barber's successor in Claremont was the Rev. James B. Howe, whose rectorship began in 1820. At the suggestion of Roys Jones, one of his parishioners who lived in North Charlestown, and of Dr. Putnam Barron, an esteemed physician, Mr. Howe preached several times in the Union meeting house which formerly stood, gorgeous in its yellow paint, on the upper road, nearly east from the North Charlestown railway station.
The result appeared before long in the formation of a parish. " On the 18th of April, 1822," says the original record, now in the hands of the elerk of the parish in Charlestown village, " the inhabitants of the north Parish met and formed themselves into a society known by the name of the First Religious Episcopal Society in Charlestown." The chief promoters of this movement were the two gentlemen before men- tioned, with Shaler Towner, Thomas and Daniel Whipple, James Meacham, David Parker and others. The number of signers to the original agreement was twenty. They chose the Rev. Mr. Howe,
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HISTORY OF CHARLESTOWN.
rector, he being at the same time rector of Union church. From a slip of paper remaining in the record books, in the handwriting of Dr. Barron, it would seem that his ministrations were not very frequent. It is said that he "held a service occasionally during the summers of 1823 and 4."
On the 5th of June, 1825, the Rev. George Richardson commenced preaching for the society. He resided first in Charlestown village, and afterwards in a very small house which he built a mile or two south of the village of North Charlestown. He officiated on alternate Sundays in that place and Drewsville. A very lovely and excellent Christian character is attributed to Mr. Richardson by all who mention him. He was born in Canaan, New-Hampshire. At Dartmouth college he won a high reputation as a scholar, and there became a Christian, unit- ing with the Congregational church. After leaving college he was led to investigate closely the claims of the various religious bodies, and without ever having attended the service of the Episcopal church, he became satisfied that it was the one to which he ought to belong. He labored as he was able till the fall of 1828, when he was obliged to yield to the weakening influence of a disease which had long been preying upon him. He died March 16, 1829, aged thirty-three. The character which a contemporary gives of him contains many of the best qualifications of a Christian minister. " Humble, modest, virtuous, studious, temperate in his doctrines, a mild and steady light shining upon but not inflaming the little flock of his charge; pointing the way to heaven, and himself piously leading in it, and when he died, his death, as his life had done, afforded a gratifying proof to those around him that he had cast his own anchor in the religion he had taught ; and that he had not been preaching to others a faith on which he was reluctant to venture his immortal interests. The sermon preached at his funeral by the Rev. Mr. Howe had for its text Prov. iii. 22: " A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children."
The Rev. Mr. Richardson was succeeded in his double charge by one whom many have since learned to revere and love for his learning, his wisdom, his piety, and the uprightness and beauty of his Christian life. The Rev. Edward Ballard of Hopkinton held his first service in this town on the 16th of August, 1829, having been ordained deacon in St. Paul's chapel, New-York, on the 5th of July previous. At his suggestion, the " First Religious Episcopal Society," assumed a more churchly name, and was henceforth known as " St. Luke's Church."
The work of the Lord was greatly prospered in his hands. The
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HISTORY OF CHARLESTOWN.
number of communicants increased during the two and a half years of his ministry from seven to twenty-two, and thirty-eight persons were made members of Christ in baptism. The reports to the annual Con -. vention of New-Hampshire, made during his pastorate, speak of in- creasing zeal and piety in the people, and of encouraging prospects for the future. They also mention the great need of a church building to be the permanent home of the people. The Union Meeting House in which they worshipped was inconvenient and dilapidated. Christmas day, 1831, was a sad one for the parish, for in the afternoon of that day Mr. Ballard preached his farewell sermon, he being about to take charge of a newly formed parish at Pittsfield, Massachusetts. In his departure the parish lost a most faithful and acceptable pastor.
The Church was then deprived of a minister for many months till the partial services of the Rev. George Leonard, of Cornish, were se- cured. He officiated on alternate Sundays for a few months.
The next settled minister was the Rev. Darius Barker. The rec- ords do not give the date of his coming to the parish ; but it was either in the latter part of 1833, or early in 1834. He seems to have been an energetic and hard working clergyman, and the church grew considerably under his care. The number of communicants, which had fallen off a little, increased to thirty. The congregation too in- creased, and much religious interest was manifested. Mr. Barker remained however only two years, leaving for the diocese of Vermont, on the first of January, 1836. He is now connected with the diocese of Michigan.
After Mr. Barker's departure the services were kept up for two or three months by means of lay reading. The parish, however, was with- out any but occasional preaching for more than a year and a half. Of course it lost much during that time.
In November, 1837, the Rev. Henry S. Smith, of West Claremont, took charge of it for six months; reporting that he found it in a very destitute condition. He officiated once in two weeks, holding service at first in the old meeting house; but when the inclemency of the weather drove them from that, they went to a neighboring school-house ; and that again being damaged by fire, they repaired to another school- house a mile or two up the stream, where Mr. Smith's mission was con- cluded.
The Rev. Edward Livermore, rector of the Church at Drewsville, succeeded Mr. Smith after an interval of six months. He officiated for St. Luke's only one Sunday in four. He reports the number of com-
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HISTORY OF CHARLESTOWN.
municants in 1839 as eighteen, and the attendance as good. He added three to the number. His care of the parish seems to have extended over about three years, ending some time in 1841, when the attendance had become small. Bishop Griswold visited the Church for the last time on the 23d of June, 1841. The last report is that of Mr. Liver- more for the same year. From that time it appears no more in the pages of the Convention journal. The removal of one of the most ac- tive supporters of the interests of the parish, and the death of others, weakened it so much that services were discontinued. The parish organization ceased, after an existence of just twenty years. It was always a struggling parish. Having no house of worship of its own, in which to gather the people together ; never being able to secure the undivided attention of a pastor, it did not gain that hold upon the hearts of the people in general which is necessary for full and perma- nent support. There were a few who clung to it in all its affliction as well as in its prosperity, but the few were too few to bear the burden alone. Its existence was not useless. The preaching of repentance and remission of sins was blessed to the souls of many. The sick and dying were comforted by the ministrations of religion, and their souls prepared for the great change. Removals carried the good seed away to germinate in other ground.
Years passed away. A few members of the old Church remained, and a few other Episcopalians were living in Charlestown village, pa- tiently and steadfastly waiting. Their patience was rewarded. In November, 1857, the Right Reverend Carlton Chase, D. D., Bishop of New-Hampshire, was invited to occupy for one Sunday, the house of worship belonging to the Unitarian Society in the village. He held the full services of the Episcopal Church, and preached morning and even- ing. A year and a half later, in 1859, on a similar invitation, he of- ficiated again in the same place. In 1860 a series of services was com- menced by the Reverend Andrew Oliver, of Bellows Falls. These oc- curred once every month, for a year. After this the services of the Reverend James H. Tyng, of Drewsville, were secured. He began in May of 1861, and devoted about one third of his time to Charlestown for more than a year. He also united with the Reverend Mr. Oliver and the Reverend Mr. Smith, of West Claremont, in supplying the con- gregation during the summer previous to the building of the church. To these gentlemen, and especially to the two first, is this parish in- debted for much gratuitous labor.
During all this time the congregation had no regular place of as-
e
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HISTORY OF CHARLESTOWN.
sembling. Services were held sometimes in the hall of the hotel, sometimes in the Town Hall, and sometimes in the house of worship belonging to the Congregationalists. This last was kindly offered for the free use of the Episcopalians at a time when the former had no set- tled minister.
The inconvenience of these frequent changes, and of worshiping in places as unfit for the purpose as some of these, impressed those inter- ested with the necessity of having a permanent home, a house fitted for the solemn worship of Almighty God. Being few in number, they did not expect to be able to build on a grand scale, nor to secure a pas- tor wholly their own; but thought they might unite with one of the neighboring parishes. They hopefully and energetically set them- selves at work in the Spring of 1863. As soon as the plan for a per- manent church was fairly under way the necessity for a parish organ- ization became evident. The original agreement to form the corpora- tion was signed on the 28th of March, 1863, by seven persons only. On that day the organization was perfected according to law. Two weeks later the officers were chosen, as follows: Senior Warden, Porter Spencer; Junior Warden, George Olcott, Jr., Vestryman, Richardson Robertson. For lack of male members, the number of vestrymen was not full.
The church building fund received kind and substantial aid from friends of the Church and of Charlestown who lived elsewhere, and in a few months time was completed a neat, picturesque and appropriate edifice, fitted to accommodate comfortably about one hundred and twenty-five persons. Ground was broken on the fourth of July, but work was not actually commenced till September. The architect was R. M. Upjohn of New York. The builders were Messrs. Bullard and Buzzell. On the 10th of December, the church was ready for conse- cration.
In the meantime, the board of Vestrymen finding that the services of the Rev. Francis Chase, who was well known in the parish, might be had for the winter, arranged with him accordingly, and Mr. Chase took charge on the first of December. He immediately made arrange- ments for the consecration of the church. On the 11th of December, the venerable Bishop, who had six years before preached the first ser- mon of those that had led to this result, and who had ever since given the undertaking his cordial support, entered the church at the head of his clergy to take possession of it in the name of his divine Master, and solemnly to set it apart for sacred uses. With him was the Rev.
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HISTORY OF CHARLESTOWN.
Dr. Ballard ; the same, who thirty years before, had first put on his ar- mor and tried the weapons of his spiritual warfare in the old St. Luke's. The Rev. Messrs Tyng and Oliver were present to see the crowning re- sult of their labors. The Rev's. E. A. Renouf, of Keene, M. Douglas, of Windsor, and J. M. Peck, of Claremont, were also there, and took part with the Rector and the others in the services. The Rev. T. F. Fales, of Waltham, Mass., preached the consecration sermon from I Kings 9 : 3. The day was pleasant though cold, and many friends from neighboring towns honored the occasion by their attendance.
What jcy was felt that day by those who had long looked and wait- ed for its coming. How thankfully their hearts were lifted up, and how freely and gladly they offered the work of their hands to Him who, as they knew, blessed them in their giving. Now the old famil- iar sounds of praise and prayer would seem doubly expressive, as all things around joined the worshippers in glorifying God.
The seats in the church were free during the first four months. The regular attendance increased; and when Easter came, the pews were found to be all needed. The Wardens and Vestry felt authorized t:) choose a permanent Rector, and accordingly the Rev. Mr. Chase was elected. He accepted. His support was raised from the parish itself, with a little assistance from outside for a year or two, and there was no necessity to join with any other. The baptisms during the first year were twenty in number ; nine were confirmed ; eight couples were married ; seven persons received Christian burial.
The parish went on strengthening and increasing by slow degrees. It was early evident that their house of worship was not sufficiently ca- pacious. There was a demand for more sittings than it could furnish. Therefore a beginning was soon made of preparation for enlargement. All the spare funds coming from the ladies' society and from other sources were laid by for that purpose. In the spring of 1869, it was decided that it would be unwise to defer the work longer. The funds had accumulated, so that by a moderate subscription the expense could be met. The work was commenced as soon as the frost was out of the ground. Mr. Upjohn furnished the plans as before. At first the church consisted of simply a nave and chancel. In the enlarge- ment, the two were severed from each other, the nave moved back twenty-two feet, and the intervening space filled by transepts. Thus the building became cruciform. In the angle between the south tran- sept and the chancel, was erected a steeple for the bell. It was finish- ed in every part to correspond with the original work; and when com-
ST. LUKE'S CHURCH,
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HISTORY OF CHARLESTOWN.
pleted, realized even more than before, the ideal of a picturesque and beautiful little country church. The first service in the church as en- larged was held July 11, 1869. Before many weeks the bills were all paid, and the parish was free from debt. From that time its work has gone on steadily, and with a fair amount of success and prosperity.
There was no change in its pastoral head during the first decade of its existence. The first Rector remained with his people for ten years and a half. In the spring of 1874, having made unusual exertions in his Lent work, he was seized after Easter with pneumonia. Foreseeing that it would be several months before he would be able to resume work, and that he must have an extended period for rest, he sent in his resignation. This was to take effect on the 18th of May. The 17th of that month was then the last Sunday of Mr. Chase's rector- ship, and was at the same time the occasion of the Bishop's visitation. The latter conducted the services, but Mr. Chase was able to offer the closing prayer and pronounce his final benediction over the flock. On the 21st he left Charlestown for Boston, and soon after sailed for Eu- rope, whence he returned just before winter began, much improved in health. He is now in charge of St. John's Church, Framingham Massachusetts. His successor in Charlestown was the Rev. R. M. Berkeley, who is now in charge. Mr. Berkeley is a graduate of the Nashotah Theological Seminary, in Wisconsin, and before coming to Charlestown had spent a year of pastoral work in Keokuk Iowa.
It may be well to mention some others who were prominent in con- nection with the establishment of St. Luke's parish. Porter Spencer was the first Senior Warden, and remained in that position until in- creasing infirmities obliged him to relinquish it. He was succeeded by Mr. Stephen A. Spooner. Mr. George Olcott was the first Junior Warden, and was succeeded by Mr. H. B. Viall. Mr. Olcott has also been Clerk and Treasurer of the parish from the beginning to this date. The names of the first Vestrymen have been given already.
While the church was in its earliest infancy, the ladies formed a sewing society for the purpose of organizing and combining their efforts. Their energetic labors were the means of raising a great deal of money for parish purposes, hardly any year less than five hundred dollars. Generally a fair was held, in the month of August, which brought them in a good sum. The first president of this society was Mrs. Emi- ly A. Olcott, who was succeeded after two or three years, by Mrs. S. A. Langley, both untiring workers in the cause. The name of a venerable lady, lately deceased, should here be mentioned with honor.
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HISTORY OF CHARLESTOWN.
Madame Laura Ran.1, of North Charlestown, was a member of both the old St. Luke's and the new. Nearly eighty when the latter was founded, she was one of its most constant attendants, although her home was five miles away. And even within a few weeks of her death, which took place May 13th, 1875, when she was over ninety-one years of age, she was at her accustomed place in the house of God, a faithful and devout worshipper. Her grand-daughter, Miss Sarah Starr Rand of Middletown, Connecticut, was greatly interested in the parish, and up to the time of her lamented death in December, 1874, was a generous contributor to its support. Two pure-hearted maiden ladies of Boston, Misses Sally and Matilda Stocker, who spent their summers in Charlestown for many years, were much attached to the little church. After their death, their nephews, Messrs. John and William Stone, of Philadelphia, who inherited their estate, presented St. Luke's parish with four hundred dollars to be invested for the benefit of the parish, and called the " Stocker Fund," as a memorial of their loving interest.
There are other names that might be mentioned here with honor, did space permit. St. Luke's church has not wanted as yet for kind and active friends, and Providence has blessed their efforts with a de- gree of success for which they have reason to be thankful. They trust that it may ever continue to be a benefit to the town, as well as to the souls of its own members.
METHODIST CHURCH IN THE VILLAGE.
Persons, whose lives have extended a little beyond middle age, will remember that the decade from 1830 to 1840 was one of more than or- dinary religious excitements. Among other things by which many were deeply moved, was that peculiar phase of Second Adventism which was widely known under the name of Millerism. In this, quite a num- ber of persons in Charlestown became interested, who formed a church under the Methodist denomination and erected a meeting house. This was built in 1836 on what is now the garden of Mrs. Elizabeth Bowker, and was purchased by Colonel Jonathan Baker and moved away, to be transformed into a tenement house, in July, 1856. It is now owned by Mrs. Harriet MI. Baker, and is the first house north of the Brick Store, which was built originally, and occupied by Roswell Willard. The worshippers in this house passed through scenes of the most exciting na- ture. They believed the end of the world was at hand, when the wick-
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HISTORY OF CHARLESTOWN.
ed were to be consumed by the fires of the final conflagration, and the righteous, without experiencing the pains of death, were to be caught up into heaven, to enjoy, thenceforward, its everlasting bliss and the glorious presence of their God and Saviour. In accordance with what they believed to be revealed in the prophecies, a day was appointed when this was to take place, and persons connected with them went so far as to have in preparation what they termed their ascension robes which were made of white linen, and even to put them on and wait for the hour when Christ should reveal himself for the salvation of his saints and the destruction of his enemies. But their expectations all failed them, and their sabbath services were soon given up and their house of worship abandoned. Some of them continued to live Christ- ian lives with their faith still unshaken in the promises of Christianity, but others believed religion to be a delusion, and put no confidence in the Scriptures afterwards. So ended the first, and the only Methodist Society in the village.
HISTORY OF THE NORTH PARISH.
CHAPTER XVII.
HISTORY OF THE NORTH PARISH AND METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT NORTH CHARLESTOWN.
T has already been stated that the town was divided into two parishes, in 1810, and the history of the South Parish has been given. The inhabitants of the North Parish also form- ed a society, and established for the regulation of their ecclesiastical af- fairs the following by-laws :
" ARTICLE 1st. There shall be holden at the Parish meeting house, at one o'clock in the afternoon, on the first Tuesday of October in each year, a meeting of the qualified voters of said parish for the choice of a board of Trustees, a Treasurer, and a Clerk, who shall, respectively, be members and freeholders in said parish, and hold their office for one year, and until others be chosen and qualified; and if the choice of either of said officers should be omitted at such annual meeting, or if either of said offices should, by any means, become vacant, such omis- sion or vacancy may be supplied at any subsequent meeting.
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