USA > New York > Monroe County > Rochester > Annals of St. Luke's Church, Rochester, N.Y. 1817-1883 > Part 5
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95
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.
accept the Rectorship of St. Luke's, Rochester, and entered upon the duties of that position May 13, 1866; was married on the 30th of the same month in St. Barnabas' Church, Irving- ton, by the Bishop of New York ; on the 30th of June, 1875, received the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from the University of Rochester, and remains at this date Rector of St. Luke's, after an incumbency of seventeen years and four months.
a
Parochial tatistirs.
1
-
9
98
ANNALS OF ST. LUKE'S.
FAMILIES.
COMMUNICANTS.
S. S. TEACHERS.
S. S. SCHOLARS.
1817 to Dec., 1820.
. IO
F. H. CUMING, 8 yrs. 4 mos,
113
109
IO
90
INTERIM 8 mos.
H. J. WHITEHOUSE,
14 yrs. 5 mos.
264
430
48
349
INTERIM 2 mos.
T. C. PITKIN, 3 yrs.
+
301
415
35
287
INTERIM 512 mos.
HENRY W. LEE, 7 yrs.
330
435
50
405
INTERIM 4 mos.
BENJ. WATSON, 4 yrs. 3 mos.
+
375
469
35
337
INTERIM 4 mos.
R. B. CLAXTON, 5 yrs. 10 mos.
375
502
46
367
INTERIM 7 mos.
HENRY ANSTICE, 17 yrs. 4 mos.
312
579
44
348
DISMISSALS TO NEW ORGANIZATIONS.
*St. Paul's, 15 Com. +Trinity, 50 Com. #Christ Church, 36 Com. §Good Shepherd, 4[ Fam., 51 Com. Epiphany, 170 Fam., 202 Com.
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-
99
PAROCHIAL STATISTICS.
BAPTISMS.
ADULTS. INF.
TOTAL.
CONFIRMATIONS.
MARRIAGES.
BURIALS.
OFFERINGS.
4
54+201 = 255
IIO
99
200
$ 14,500
I++ 8 =
9
2
7
181+986 = 1167
444
212
344
17,094
6-1-228 = 234
97
48
87
5,100
25
9
6
19+569 = 588
189
203
372
20,431
18
4
14
8-+-255 = 263
76
58
128
15,448
15
5.
21-+-382 = 403
127
IO5
328
23,957
30
I
·
5
17
169+920 = 1089
680
331
741
264,491
Totals,
4,096 - 1728
1076
2249
$361,021
NOTE .- Offerings for current expenses were first included in Pa- rochial Reports to Diocesan Convention in 1863.
istorical
Shetchies
OF THE
ther
Parishes,
St. Paul's Church.
This first daughter of St. Luke's originated in the action of the Vestry May 7, 1827, which body deemed it " desirable to establish an ad- ditional Church in the village in consequence of the increasing population," and requested the Rector to proceed in the organization of such additional Church. Accordingly on the 28th of May, 1827, in a room of the Franklin Institute in East Rochester, the Rev. Mr. Cuming pre- sided at a meeting duly convened, and Wm. Atkinson and Giles Boulton were elected War- dens, and Elisha Johnson, Elisha B. Strong, Jared N. Stebbins, S. M. Smith, Enos Stone, Samuel J. Andrews, Daniel Tinker and A. B. Curtiss, Vestrymen of the new Church to be named St. Paul's.
The Rev. Sutherland Douglas was the first Rector, having been called in April, 1828, and resigning on account of ill health in August, 1829. The church edifice was then in process of erection, being designed to be a grand and attractive structure. Its spire was intended to
104
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
exceed in height any building in Western New York, but a severe wind toppled it over while yet uncompleted, and the original design was abandoned for the present finish of the tower. The contract for its erection bears date May 31, 1828, and was executed in behalf of the Vestry by Samuel J. Andrews, Giles Boulton and W. T. Cuyler as the building committee with the contractors, Daniel Tinker, Henry A. Boult and Daniel A. Ryan; the contract price being $12,000.
The church was consecrated by Bishop Ho- bart, Aug. 30, 1830.
The Rev. Chauncey Colton became Rector in November of that year, resigning in Decem ber, 1831.
The Vestry then, Dec. 5, 1831, invited the Rev. Mr. Whitehouse to accept the Rectorship in connection with his duties at St. Luke's, he to appoint an assistant and the services of the Rector, and the expenses of the ministrations to be equally divided between the two churches ; but the Vestry of St. Luke's declined to assent to the proposed arrangement.
The Rev. H. V. D. Johns was called early in 1832, but, after a very brief residence, resign- ing June 25, 1832, was followed by the Rev. Burton H. Hickox, who accepted the Rector- ship under date of May 7, 1833.
IO5
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH.
It was during this rectorship, through no' fault, however, of the Rector, that the financial embarrassments of the church culminated in the foreclosure of the first mortgage of $10,000 on the building, the dissolution of St. Paul's corporation, and the formation of a new organ- ization, Dec. 2, 1833, to buy in the property under the name of Grace Church. Trinity Church, New York, appropriated $3,500 as a loan, to assist in the settlement of the difficul ties. Rev. Mr. Hickox continued with the congregation as Rector of Grace Church until Feb. 18, 1835.
The Rev. Orange Clark was called Sept. 20, 1835, and remained nearly four years. The Rev. Washington Van Zandt became Rector April 1, 1839, but resigned after a pastorate of one year and six months, Oct. 1, 1841. During the long vacancy which ensued, occasional ser- vices were supplied by professors from Geneva, until June 12, 1842, when Rev. William E. Eigenbrodt became Rector, remaining until December, 1843.
A second foreclosure of the church had transferred the ownership to an association of gentlemen, in reference to which Bishop De Lancey made, in October, 1844, the following record of facts :
" Feb. 4 to 11-I visited Rochester on this
106
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
occasion with special reference to the affairs of . Grace Church, worshiping in St. Paul's Church edifice, which edifice had been bought in by a few members of the congregation, some of whom had been large contributors to the Church before, and who advanced the requisite amount in the hope that the Church might be revived and themselves refunded. The Rector had resigned on account of the pecuniary em- barrassments of the Church. The Vestry were unable to purchase the church and there was apprehension lest the building should, by force of circumstances, be alienated from the Episco- pal Church and the congregation dispersed.
" I deemed it my duty, after consulting with wise and influential lay friends, in Rochester, to become the proprietor of the edifice in the hope of thus ensuring it to the Church in per- petuity, in case the effort to relieve it from pecuniary embarrassment should succeed, and also to afford a basis for the experiment to relieve it to be fairly tried."
The experiment proved successful and the property was freed from incumbrances in 1847 through the efforts of the Bishop and the par- ishioners, and the title vested in the corporation of Grace Church.
Under the auspices of the Bishop, the parish had been served for three months by the Rev.
107
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH.
Stephen Douglas and later by the Rev. John V. Van Ingen, D. D. The latter was elected Rector in 1848.
The Church edifice was destroyed by fire July 25, 1847, but there being an insurance of $10,000, the work of rebuilding was at once commenced. Services were held in the old High School on South Clinton street, until Christmas of that year, when the congregation met in the restored basement, and the completed edifice was consecrated as Grace Church Dec. 17, 1848.
The Rev. Dr. Van Ingen removing to Min- nesota Aug. 16, 1854, he was succeeded in the ensuing September by the Rev. Maunsell Van Rensselaer, whose term of office extended to Easter, 1859.
The Rev. Israel Foote entered upon the Rectorship, Aug. 1, 1859. A rectory was pro- vided through the liberal proposition of Mrs. Ruth Mumford, who offered to give to the Church her house and lot on North Clinton street, valued at $10,000, provided the Vestry would raise $5,000, in purchase of the same. The sum named was promptly raised and a val- uable property secured to the parish.
In the Spring of 1862, Mr. George Ellwanger made over to the parish $4,000 in bonds and mortgages for a chapel. on condition that a similar amount should be secured from other
108
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
sources prior to July 1, 1863 ; which proposition resulted in the creation of a fund amounting to $10,000. This fund was devoted in the Spring of 1869 to the purchase of a house on Mortimer street in the rear of the Church, for the purposes of a Parish school, and which was used first as a school for girls, then as a school for boy's and a residence for the assistant minister, and finally, since 1878, has been rented by the parish for other uses.
Improvements in the church edifice being deemed necessary and desirable, the Vestry re- solved, Feb. 8, 1869, to proceed with the work of building a recess chancel, removing the organ thereto and decorating the interior of the church, for which improvements $11,589 was provided by subscription, and $12,000 raised by mortgages on the Rectory and parish building.
On the reopening of the Church for public worship, the older name of the parish was em- ployed in designation of the sacred structure, and it has since been commonly called St. Paul's, although the legal title of the corpora- tion remains Grace Church, as it has been since the reorganization effected Dec. 2, 1833.
A boy choir was introduced into the Church in the Winter of 1873. under the direction of the Rev. C. N. Allen, the assistant minister.
In the Spring of 1874. $11, 357 was subscribed
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109
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH.
and the entire indebtedness of the corporation cleared off. At this time also a Woman's Mis- sionary Society was formed in the Parish, which has since continued in active and successful operation.
In anticipation of the formation of St. James' Parish in the Fifth Ward, the Vestry author- ized May 23, 1876, the transfer of the prop- erty held by Israel Foote as Trustee to the " Trustees of the Parochial Fund," on condition that it should be by them conveyed to the new organization "whenever the Bishop and Stand- ing Committee shall so determine." The cost of the nave of the future St. James' Church, which is built of gray Lockport sandstone trimmed with Medina stone, was $8,621.32. Some fifty families colonized from St. Paul's to form the infant parish.
During the Summer of 1879, a new roof was placed on the church and sundry repairs effected. and the interior handsomely polychromed, the last improvement being at the charge of one liberal parishioner. The chancel had been simi- larly beautified in the Summer of 1876. A rich and beautiful altar of Italian marble, by a Roman artist, was placed in the chancel in Sep- tember, 1880, as a memorial of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. H. Mumford, by their children, with the cordial approval of the Vestry, and " hallowed "
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IIO
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
by the Bishop on the following All Saint's Day.
A strip of land ten feet wide on the north of the church lot was purchased in January, 1882, for $1,500.
The Rev. Dr. Foote, after an incumbency of twenty-three years, resigned the rectorship to take effect April 17, 1882. The Vestry in view of his long and valuable service, elected him Rector Emeritus with an emolument of $1,000 per annum for life and a residence, or in lieu thereof, $500 additional. Upon a proposition, however, from the late Rector to release the Church from all obligation under this action upon the payment to him of a sum in hand of $3,000, the Vestry ordered March 20, 1883, the acceptance of the proposition, and the sum named was promptly pledged and paid by seven members of the Vestry.
The assistants of the Rev. Dr. Foote were the Revs. E. S. Wilson, J. D. S. Pardee, Chas. N. Allen, W. DeL. Wilson, Benj. F. Hall, Robt. B. Wolseley and C. W. Knauff.
The Rev. Dr. W. H. Platt, D. D., LL. D., was called from Grace Church, San Francisco, to the Rectorship, Sept. 16, 1882.
St. Paul's has always been a " pewed church." Its average annnal income for current expenses is about $4922.
III
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH.
The present officers of the Church are as follows :
RECTOR, Rev. W. H. Platt, D. D .. LL. D.
WARDENS, W. H. Sanger. A. G. Yates,
VESTRYMEN,
H. H. Warner, E. F. Woodbury.
James Laney,
F. W. Elwood,
H. M. Ellsworth, Jas. L. Hatch.
C. Henry Amsden, W. C. Dickinson.
CLERK OF VESTRY, C. Henry Amsden.
TREASURER, W. C. Dickinson.
Erinity Church.
. The project of establishing a new Church in that part of the city called Frankfort, was con- sidered by the Rev. Dr. Whitehouse and some of the prominent people of St. Luke's as early as 1836. A Sunday school was opened in a stone school-house, which then stood upon Brown's square, and maintained largely through the zeal and efforts of Mr. Seth C. Jones. A lot was also purchased situated upon the square. In August, 1845, the subscribers to the purchase of the above-mentioned lot with other friends of the movement, met in the public school house No. 5, corner of Fish (now Centre) and Jones streets, and inaugurated public service under the auspices of Rev. Mr. Pitkin, the new rector of St. Luke's. On the 27th of October, 1845, an organization was effected in due form of law, the following persons participating in the meeting : the Rev. T. C. Pitkin in the chair, Francis Brown, who acted as Secretary, Henry E. Rochester and Seth C. Jones, who were elected Wardens, George Arnold, P. G. Buchan,
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II3
TRINITY CHURCH.
George R. Clark, S. F. Witherspoon, Lewis P. Beers, who were chosen Vestrymen, and Alfred Ely, John Parsonson, Salva Anderson and B. F. Gilkeson. Those elected to complete the num- ber of Vestrymen were David Hoyt, W. E. Lathrop and Seth M. Maltby.
A call was extended to the Rev. Vandervoort Bruce of New York to become the first Rector, at a salary of $500, which invitation was ac- cepted and he entered upon his duties Jan. 26, 1846. His first report to the Convention in August of this year places the number of fami- lies in the parish at 53, communicants 60. The Sunday School was removed to the new location and re-organized with 90 members, Henry E. Rochester being superintendent, and Mrs. Geo. Arnold the assistant.
It was now resolved to sell the lot owned on Brown's square and purchase the site adjoining the school house, in which services were being held, for $1,350. Plans for a church building were accepted by the Vestry Jan. 9, 1846, and the contract for erecting the same at a cost of $4,000 was authorized to be made with Wm. Bassett, D. C. McCollum being the architect. Work on the church commenced in May and so well progressed that the corner-stone was laid on the 13th of June, the clergy present on that occasion being the Revs. V. Bruce, T. C.
-
114
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
Pitkin, John N. Norton, J. V. Van Ingen, Chas. H. Platt, Henry Lockwood, John W. Clark and W. D. Wilson. The church was first occupied for service on Christmas Eve. The Rev. Mr. Bruce resigned May 12, 1847, after an incum- bency of sixteen months, and removed to New York city, where he still resides.
The Rev. Chas. D. Cooper, of Wilkesbarre, Pa., succeeded him Oct. 1, 1847. During his ad- ministration the debt was entirely paid and the church consecrated by Bishop DeLancey, Feb. 15, 1848. His ministry of two years and two months terminated by his resignation, Dec. IO, 1849, to accept the rectorship of St. Philip's Church, Philadelphia; in which city he still resides as Rector of the Church of the Holy Apostles.
The Rev. Robert J. Parvin, of Towanda, Pa., assumed the rectorship Feb. 1, 1850. During his incumbency the basement of the church was fitted up for Sunday School purposes, the chancel window was completed and a bell hung weighing 1040 lbs. Mr. Parvin resigned, Aug. 1, 1852, removing at that date to Pittsfield, Mass. He was subsequently Rector of St. Paul's Church, Chelten Hills, near Philadelphia, and later, Agent for the Evangelical Educational Society, until he perished in the burning of the
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115
TRINITY CHURCH.
ill-fated steamer United States, on the Ohio River, in December, 1868.
The Rev. Addison B. Atkins was called Aug. 30, and assumed charge of the parish Oct. 1, 1852. In his time the present organ was placed in the church at a cost of $1,250. His resig- nation took effect June 12, 1854, upon his acceptance of Christ Church, Germantown, Pa. He was later Rector of St. John's, Georgetown. D. C., and St. John's, Yonkers, N. Y., and at present, is Rector of Calvary Church, Consho- hocken, Pa.
On the Ist of October following, The Rev. Geo. N. Cheney, of Penn Yan, became Rector. His ministry extended over a longer period than that of any preceeding rector of Trinity, and was a time of great prosperity. Material improvements were effected in the church edi- fice in 1860, but his best record was made in the hearts and lives of his people. Six months leave of absence was granted him, June 14, 1861, to accept the Chaplaincy of the thirty-third Reg't N. Y. Vols. After discharging the duties of which position, he returned to his parish Dec 15. Failing health however, induced his resignation after a Rectorship of eight years and seven months, ending May 1, 1863, and having retired to the residence of a friend in Branchport, he there died on the 12th of the
116
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
following June. A mural tablet to his memory was erected by the parish on the Sanc- tuary wall, inscribed, " A Beloved Brother and Faithful Minister in the Lord."
The Parish was now in such a state of pros- perity that although without a Rector, an en- largement of the church was resolved upon by the Vestry, June 16, 1863. The side walls were extended ten feet on either side, thus adding two rows of pews and two aisles to the already existing nave. The whole was thor- oughly refurnished and a considerable debt liquidated. The Rev. John W. Clark, of Brooklyn, became Rector, Dec. 6, 1863, but remained only until Nov. 13, 1864, when he removed to Dover, N. H. His present resi- dence is Lexington, Mich
The Rev. J. V. Van Ingen, D. D., was called to the rectorship April 24, 1865, remaining until July 1, 1868, when he became agent for the Society for the Increase of the Ministry. After abundant missionary labors and the exercise of his ministry in several temporary engagements he became Rector of St. John's, Clyde, where after a service of fourteen months, he died Dec. 1, 1877.
Another interim of eight months operated disastrously on the interests of the parish, but the Rev. C. H. W. Stocking, of Ansonia, Conn.,
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117
TRINITY CHURCH.
accepted a call and entered upon the rectorship March 1, 1869. During his administration the church edifice was much improved at an expenditure of about $3,000, and a number of valuable gifts as memorials were presented to the parish. He remained until Dec. 15, 1871. He has since been Rector of the Church of the Epiphany, Chicago, and Grace Church, Detroit, but is at present without charge.
The Rev. M. R. St. J. Dillon-Lee, of Bayou Goula, La., was Rector from Jan. 22, 1872 to Oct. 1, 1873, when he removed to Christ Church, Adrian, Mich., and subsequently to Cairo, Ill , where he died in 1879. A solid silver com- munion service, made of silver relics and heir- looms contributed by the parishioners remains as a memorial of Rev. Mr. Dillon's rectorship.
The Rev. C. J. Machin, of Olean, became Rector, Nov. 15, 1873, and resigned Jan. 20, 1875, and removed to St. John's, N. F.
The Rev. W. W. Walsh, of Cincinnati, O., en- tered upon the duties of the rectorship May I, 1875. In the summer of 1878, the old church was re-roofed and some interior repairs effected at a cost of about $500, but on the 17th of April, 1880, the Church property was sold, ex- cepting the frame work and furniture for $7,000 ; and soon after, the present site of the church, on the southwest corner of Jones Ave.
118
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
and Frank street, 100X124 with adjoining house for a rectory was bought for $6. 100.
The mission field in the northern part of the city which was relinquished to Trinity in February, 1876, the new Rector entered upon at once, conducting the Sunday School and maintaining a service at first in Cochrane's block and later in two temporary chapels, until the new Trinity church was ready for occu- pancy.
Ground was broken for the new church June 23, 1880, and the corner stone laid by Bishop Coxe on the 29th of July, eight of the clergy being present. The church was opened for Divine Service July 31, 1881. It is built of stone, cruciform, with tower and spire in the northeast corner and cost about $1 1,000, exclu- sive of the value of the organ, pews, stained glass, and other materials brought from the old edifice. The architects were Warner & Brockett, and the building committee, Messrs. George Arnold, W. H. Leslie, and J. M. Harrison.
The work of erecting a chapel adjoining the chancel is now in contemplation, for which $1,200 has already been collected.
Trinity has always been a " pewed church." Its current income for the year ending Sept. I, 1883, was $1,926.32.
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119
TRINITY CHURCH.
The present officers of the church are :
RECTOR, The Rev. Warren W. Walsh. WARDENS,
George Arnold, W. H. Leslie.
VESTRYMEN,
F. G. Ranney,
Frank S. Upton,
H. W. Davis,
W. H. Goodger,
John P. Schofield, J. H. Bishop,
James H. Kelly,
E. S. Race.
CLERK OF THE VESTRY, F. G. Ranney.
TREASURER, J. A. Van Ingen ..
Christ Church.
The parish of Christ Church owes its origin to the zcal for church extension which prompted a number of parishioners of St. Luke's, with a few from St, Paul's to avail themselves of an apparent opening for a new church on East Avenue. The first service, preliminary to or- ganization, was held in Palmer's Hall, April 29. 1855, by the Rev. Benjamin Watson, Rector of St. Luke's. The second service was held on the following Sunday by the Rev. M. Van Rensselaer, Rector of St. Paul's. The meeting to organize pursuant to legal notice was held in the same place May 7, 1855, in which the fol- lowing persons participated : Silas O. Smith in the chair, L. Ward Smith, Delos Wentworth, D. M. Dewey, A. J. Brackett, W. V. K. Lansing, David Hoyt, Washington Gibbons, Stephen Charles, R. A. Hall, J. M. Winslow, W. B. Alexander, A. E. Gregory, C. R. Babbitt, J. Alexander and D. B Beach, who acted as sec- retary. The officers elected were Silas O. Smith and David Hoyt, Wardens ; and Dellon
121
CHRIST CHURCH.
M. Dewey, A. J. Brackett, D. B. Beach, J. M. Winslow, John Fairbanks, Edward M. Smith, Delos Wentworth and Chas. R. Babbitt, Vestry- men. The original number of communicants was thirty-one.
A lot was purchased, being the present site of the church, in June, 1855 for $7,150, where- on the congregation began to build Sept. I, 1855. Services meanwhile were continued in the hall, a Sunday School having been organ- ized in May, with nine teachers and twenty- seven scholars, and a Ladies' Sewing and Bene- volent Society in June.
The Rev. Henry A. Neely, of Utica, was elected the first Rector, and entered upon his duties Oct. 1, 1855. The church was so far completed as to be occupied on the ensuing Christmas Day. Its total cost, including the furniture, carpet, communion plate and musical instrument, provided through the efforts of the Ladies' Society, was $6,829, and the only debt was the original mortgage upon the lot, of $3,000.
In the Spring of 1861, a chapel was erected adjoining the church, at a cost of about $1,500, provided by the Sunday School, which was to meet therein, and by the Ladies' Society.
The Rev. Mr. Neely resigned the rectorship in the Fall of 1862, after an incumbency of
122
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
seven years, to accept the chaplaincy of Hobart College. He subsequently had charge of Trin- ity Chapel, New York City, until consecrated Bishop of Maine, Jan. 25, 1867. The Rev. Anthony Schuyler, D. D., of Oswego, was his successor in Christ Church, and entered upon the duties of the rectorship Oct. 1, 1862.
Meanwhile, the rapid growth of the congre- gation having made an enlargement of the church an imperative necessity, the means were procured by subscription and the work was entered upon June 22, 1862. Additional sit- tings were provided and a recess chancel and organ room constructed, at a cost of about $3,600. Services were resumed in the church on the last Sunday in September. Three
stained-glass windows were placed in the chan- cel, which still remain, one in memory of L. Ward Smith, another in memory of Andrew J. Brackett, and the third in memory of Charles Robinson, all of whom had been effective work- ers in the early history of the parish. An organ was subsequently purchased at a cost of $1,600, which was fully raised before the organ was used for the first time, at Easter, 1864.
To the memory of Silas O. Smith, who died Oct. 3, 1863, and who had been Warden of the Church from its organization, the Vestry, in 1874, erected a mural tablet of brass, prop-
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CHRIST CHURCH. 123
erly inscribed. Mr. Smith was also one of the founders of St. Luke's, and active in its affairs, as indicated in the Historical Sketch, where his name in the earlier narrative appears without the distinguishing initial O., which he later introduced into his signature.
In the Fall of 1865, the addition of a porch and tower was undertaken, which added largely to the appearance and convenience of the build- ing. The cost of the improvement was $3,000.
Upon the dissolution of the St. Matthew's Church Mission, in June, 1867, the Hope Chapel Station, on the corner of Alexander and South St. Paul streets, was assigned to Christ Church, and the Rev. Dr. Schuyler assisted by D. H. Lovejoy, M. D., a candidate for Orders, and other zealous workers carried on the enterprise which had been efficiently begun. The Rev. Dr. Schuyler finding his health demanded a change of climate after five years and nine months of service, resigned July 1, 1868, and accepted a call to Grace Church, Orange, N. J , where he now resides.
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