USA > New York > Monroe County > Rochester > Annals of St. Luke's Church, Rochester, N.Y. 1817-1883 > Part 6
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The Rev. Walton W. Battershall, of Ravens- wood, L. I., became the third Rector Jan I, 1869. In this year a corona was hung in the chancel and a bell over the porch at a cost of $950. A lot adjoining the church was also pur-
-
124
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
chased and a rectory built in 1869-'70, at a cost of $5,147.
The interest of Hope Chapel demanding more attention than the Rector could bestow, the Rev. Mr. Battershall, advised and sus- tained by active laymen interested in the mis- sion, invited the Rev. Daniel Flack, of Faribault, Minn., to assist him in that work, June 10, 1870, and to take charge of the parish school, which had been established in the Sunday School building. The mission was one year later or- ganized into an independent parish, with the cordial consent of the Vestry of Christ Church, under the name of St. Clement's, and the Rev. Mr. Flack became its first Rector.
. The Rev Mr. Battershall severed his connec- tion with the parish Aug. 1, 1874, and accepted the rectorship of St. Peter's Church, Albany, which position he still holds.
The Rev. Joseph L. Tucker was called to the Rectorship Feb, 17, 1875. The work of decor- ating the chancel, which had been some time in contemplation, was, this Spring, completed at the expense of one liberal parishioner as a memorial offering. Mr. Tucker's ministry was terminated by his resignation, to take effect Oct. 15, 1877, when he returned to the South to accept the rectorship of St. Andrew's Church, Jackson, Miss., where he still resides.
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125
CHRIST CHURCH.
The Rev. W. D'Orville Doty was called from St. Paul's Church, Waterloo, Oct. 15, 1877, and assumed the Rectorship on the first Sunday in Advent, December 2. He immediately ad- dressed himself to the work of paying off the church encumbrances, his efforts being crowned with such success that on the first Sunday in Lent, 1883, he was able to make the gratifying announcement that for the first time in the history of the parish, it was entirely free from debt, over $14,000 having been collected and paid through the agency of the Parish Aid Society.
Arrangements were at once made to secure the consecration of the church on Easter Even. A new altar was placed in position on Maundy Thursday, the offering of the older members of the Church, the carved decorations thereon being paid for by the newer members. The consecration took place on Easter Even, Bishop Coxe officiating, assisted by all the city clergy, who left their Lenten labors to "rejoice with them that do rejoice."
The Rev. Mr. Doty was honored with the degree of Doctor of Divinity by Griswold Col- lege, Davenport, Iowa, at its last commence- ment. He remains Rector after a ministry, to Sept. Ist, of five years and nine months.
126
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
The parish was organized on the Free Church basis. The envelope system was soon adopted to systematize the collection of the people's of- ferings. Seats began to be assigned during Dr. Schuyler's rectorship to families and individu- als, and in that of his successor a specific rental was placed upon each pew. The current income of the church for the year ending Sept. I, was $5,570.35.
RECTOR, The Rev. W. D'Orville Doty, D. D. WARDENS.
J. Moreau Smith, D. M. Dewey.
VESTRYMEN,
J. H. Nellis, Frank A. Ward,
S. V. McDowell, A. C. Walker,
Robt. Cartwright, E. W. Osburn,
John A. Davis, W. J. Ashley.
CLERK OF VESTRY,
Albert C. Walker.
TREASURER,
Frank A. Ward.
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T
Church of the Good St hepherd.
The Church of the Good Shepherd owes its origin to the indefatigable exertions of the Rev. Dr. Claxton, who erected the building, the cor- ner-stone being laid by him, Sept. 23, 1863, and the first service being held July 31, 1864. His. assistant, the Rev. DeWitt C. Loop, had some time previously conducted cottage services at the residences of Mr. John Greenwood and Mr. Robert Newman, and performed much pastoral labor in the neighborhood.
Upon the removal of Dr. Claxton from the city, his successor in St. Luke's took a warm interest in the work and devoted his first atten- tion to this portion of the parish. The chapel, however, was, in the Fall of 1866, yielded to the care of the St. Matthew's Church Mission, at the earnest solicitation of the Bishop and other clergy, and in the hope of thereby securing a practical unity among the city parishes in the work of church extension. Upon the dissolu- tion of the Mission organization, in June, 1867, the chapel reverted to St. Luke's, and the Rec-
128
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
tor made immediate provision for sustaining the services without interruption.
After two more years of "nursing care and protection," the Rev. Mr. Anstice, with the Bishop's approval, organized the congregation into a separate parish, March 29, 1869. John Greenwood and George Cummings were elected Wardens, and Thomas Thompson, Thomas Tamblingson, William Attridge, Jr., Robert G. Newman, Samuel Attridge, William Webb, Walter Williamson and Charles H. Finch were elected Vestrymen. The Rev. Jacob Miller, who had been ministering in the congregation for twenty months as assistant to the Rev. Mr. Anstice, was, on nomination by the latter, elected the first Rector. Forty-one families and fifty-one communicants were at once transferred to the new organization. The partition in the building was soon removed, additional seats in- serted and a vestry-room added in the rear.
Upon the removal of the first Rector to Phil- adelphia, Sept. 1, 1869, the parish was subjected to much trial in irregularity of ministerial service. The Rev. J. Newton Spear was called in December, and roused much hopefulness among the people; but sickness overtook him and the flock was once more shepherdless. The Rev. Jas. S. Barnes next entered on the field May 1, 1870, but left within six months. The
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129
CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD.
Rev. Fred. W. Raikes, Deacon, accepted the charge Dec. 15, 1870, and after a minstry of two years and more, resigned to take effect April I, 1873. He was followed at once by the Rev. Benj. W. Stone, D. D., under whose administra- ration a new organ was purchased and sundry improvements effected in the church property. His resignation took effect after an incumbency of eight years, April 1, 1881, when he took charge of St. Barnabas' Church, Reading, Pa., where he now resides.
The Rev. Byron Holley, jr., Deacon, followed immediately as the minister of the Good Shep- herd, remaining in this position until his removal June 19, 1882, to Darien, Ga., in which diocese he was advanced to the Priesthood May 3, 1883, and is still Rector of St. Andrew's Church in that place.
The Rev. James Stoddard, of Suspension Bridge, was called to the rectorship June 29th, and entered upon his duties on the first of the ensuing August.
The Church was supported at first on the basis of voluntary subscriptions, the seats being free, which plan has been substantially main- tained by the use of the " Envelope System," introduced during the incumbency of the Rev. Mr. Holley, sittings being assigned to families in regular attendance. The Church is free from
130
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
debt. The current income for the year ending Sept. 1, 1883, was $731.66.
The present officers are :
RECTOR, The Rev. James Stoddard.
WARDENS,
Geo. Cummings, John Attridge.
VESTRYMEN,
Andrew Erhardt,
Thomas Baxendale,
James LeLievre,
Fred. Sparks,
Thomas Attridge,
Geo. Hoare,
Geo. H. Cummings,
Jas. LeLievre, jr.
CLERK OF VESTRY, Geo. Hoare.
TREASURER, Geo. Cummings.
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5 unes' Parish,
The inception of St. James' Parish was due to the Rev. Dr. Israel Foote, rector of St. Paul's, who accepted the offer of an eligible lot on Grant Park from Mrs. F. Galusha and de- vised means to build thereon. The corner- stone of the church was laid by Bishop Coxe, July 18th, 1875.
The missionary committee having charge of the enterprise, Messrs. John Morris, John Southall, Chas. S. Cook and Wm. H. Wilkins, invited, with the Bishop's approval, the Rev. James H. Dennis, of Victor, to take charge of the enterprise. The first service was held June 5, 1876, at which time the Church was consecra- ted by Bishop Coxe, and the Rev. Mr. Dennis began his work. The value of the property including land was estimated at $13,121. The building is intended as the nave of the future church and is constructed of gray Lockport sandstone with trimmings from Medina.
A Sunday School was organized on the fol- lowing Sunday with 5 teachers and 45 scholars.
132
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
The meeting of the congregation to incorpo- rate themselves was held Aug. 17, 1876. The Rev. Jas. H. Dennis presided, and Chas. S. Cook acted as Clerk. Seventeen voters were present. Joseph T. Cox and Wm. H. Wilkins were elected Wardens, and John Morris, Geo. S. Burley, C. S. Cook, E. J. Shackleton, J. H. Hathaway, A. J. Masters, Albert Rogers and Geo. J. Barnett, Vestrymen. The corporate name adopted was " The Church of St. James the Greater," but by general consent the latter part of the title has fallen into disuse.
Plans for a parish building for Sunday School and social purposes, prepared by the Rector, were approved by the Vestry Nov. 5, 1878, and the corner stone laid on the ensuing St. John's Day, by Bishop Coxe. The edifice was com- pleted Easter, 1881, at a cost of $3,053.55, and has proved of incalculable value in the work of the parish. The stained-glass windows were given by the Sunday School of St. Luke's Church, and members of that parish also con- tributed $1,300 toward the building fund.
The working organizations of the parish are, a Guild, organized in 1878 with 50 members for mutual improvement and Church work, and the Sunday School Workers' Association, organized in 1882, with a limited number of 30 members. The Guild procured the organ in the church, at
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ST. JAMES' CHURCH. I33
a cost of $250, and the latter association pur- chased the piano in the parish building for $400.
The Rector is now engaged in raising funds to secure a rectory and has obtained subscrip- tions amounting to $2,200, out of the $3,500 necessary for the purpose.
St. James is supported by the " Envelope System," sittings being assigned to contribu- tors. The current income for the year ending Sept. 1, 1883, was $1,341.47.
The officers of the Church are:
RECTOR, The Rev. James H. Dennis.
WARDENS,
Geo. Nicholson, John Morphy.
VESTRYMEN,
Enos Baldwin,
W. H. Bemish,
Eric E. Havill,
Wm. Sweeting,
E. J. Shackleton, Jos. T. Cox, Jr., John Morris,
Chas. S. Cook.
CLERK, Enos Baldwin.
TREASURER, Chas. S. Cook.
12
Church of the Epiphany.
The nucleus of the congregation of the Church of the Epiphany was gathered by the Rev. Henry Anstice, Rector of St. Luke's, in the Winter of 1866-7, by cottage services in the 8th Ward. The cornerstone of the building was laid by him July 23, 1868, and the opening service was held Feb. 28, 1869, the Rev. W. W. Raymond being then the Assistant Minister.
The Rev. Geo. S. Baker entered upon the duties of this position Aug. 14, 1870, and to his ministry is largely due the growth and prosper- ity of the enterprise, John Hancock and Romeyn Boughton being the chief helpers among the laity.
A lot adjoining the chapel having been se- cured, a parsonage house was built thereon in 1872, at a cost of $4,000.
The Rev. C. M. Nickerson succeeded the Rev. Mr. Baker Nov. 1, 1875, and after minis- tering until Sept. 13, 1876, in the relation of assistant, he was elected Rector at that date when the organization of a parish was effected.
135
CHURCH OF THE EPIPHANY.
The Rev. Dr. Anstice presided at the meeting and Frank R. Plummer acted as clerk. Messrs. J. H. Martindale and Romeyn Boughton were elected Wardens, and John Hancock, David Fairman, F. W. Bergh, James Ratcliffe, W. H. Cross, F. R. Plummer, John Clements and J. H Stedman, Vestrymen. One hundred and seventy families and two hundred and two communicants were transferred from St. Luke's, and the Vestry were put in legal possession of the property, consisting of the church and rec- tory valued at $18,000.
The Church, having always been free from debt, was consecrated by the Bishop of the Diocese on the Feast of the Epiphany, 1877, eighteen of the Rev. clergy testifying their in- terest by being present at the solemnity.
The Rev. Mr. Nickerson resigned the rector- ship Jan. I, ISSI, to accept a call to Trinity Church, Lansingburgh, his present residence. He was succeeded by the Rev. Amos Skeele, of Holyoke, Mass., who was called March 21, 1881, and entered at once upon the field.
In 1882, a commodious chancel with a win- dow of exquisitely beautiful stained glass was added to the church, in memory of Mrs. Julia Hills Mumford, by one of the Wardens. The improvement included a robing-room, organ- chamber, and on the opposite side an apart- ment for the Sunday-School library, and other
136
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
uses. For the purpose of placing a new organ in the chamber provided for it, $2,150 was raised by the congregation.
The chapel of the Epiphany was supported from the outset by the "Envelope Plan," which was continued under the Church organ- ization until Easter, 1883, when the Vestry unanimously decided it to be for the interest of the parish to discontinue the free-seat system and to rent the pews. The current income of the Church averages about $700 per annum.
The present officers are :
RECTOR, The Rev. Amos Skeele.
WARDENS, Geo. E. Mumford, John Clements.
VESTRYMEN,
Jonas Jones,
E. W. Tripp,
J. H. Stedman,
John C. Smith,
W. H. Cross,
William S. Oliver,
George H. Perkins, Schuyler Lozier.
CLERK OF VESTRY, William S. Oliver.
TREASURER, John C. Smith.
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$t. Aufrew's Church,
The first efforts for Church extension in the field now occupied by St. Andrew's Parish, were put forth in 1866 by the City Mission, sup- ported by the four then existing parishes, St. Luke's, St. Paul's, Trinity and Christ Churches. From June of 1867 the work was carried on by the Rector of Christ Church, to whom it had been assigned, until the Rev. Daniel Flack was appointed to the field June 10, 1870, as assis- tant to the Rev. Mr. Battershall. A parish was organized July 6, 1871, with the Rev. Daniel Flack as Rector, under the title of St. Clement's Church. A lot was secured and during 1873- '74 the Chapel and Chancel of the proposed Church was completed and occupied, the Rev. David A. Bonnar having become Rector Feb. 8, 1874. The Rectory adjoining the Church
The Guild, in the was erected in 1874-'75. Spring of 1876, erected a frame building to be used for reading room, sewing school and social purposes, at a cost of $230, the members doing the work. With the exception of this building,
I38
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
which was moved off the lot. the property of St. Clement's passed through foreclosure and judgment, into the possession of Mr. Wm. B. Douglas in 1877. The Rev. Mr. Bonnar con- tinued to hold service in the Guild building until Dec. 22, 1878.
The Bishop and Standing Committee having authorized the formation of a new parish in the field formerly occupied by St. Clement's, the organization of St. Andrew's Church was effected Feb. 7, 1879. The services preliminary to organization and until June 1, 1879, were held by the Rev. Albert Wood.
The first Wardens of the Church were Wil- liam B. Douglas and William Ratt, and the Vestrymen, John J. Luckett, William Dove, Thomas A. Evans, Frederick Suter, George Yeares, Abner Burbank and Christopher Rob- erts.
The Rev. A. S. Crapsey, an assistant minister in Trinity Church, New York, was elected first Rector of St. Andrew's and entered upon the field June 1, 1879. The completion of the plan of the church was undertaken in the following August, and on Whitsunday, May 16, 1880, it was consecrated by the Bishop of the Diocese,
The entire property is valued by the Wardens at $45,000. There is also an endownment fund
ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH. 139
of $15,000. St. Andrew's is a "free church." Its current income for the year ending Sept. I, 1883, is $2,804.63.
. The present officers are :
RECTOR, Rev. A. S. Crapsey.
WARDENS,
William B. Douglas, John. J. Luckett.
VESTRYMEN,
William Dove, Thomas A. Evans,
Frederick Suter, George Yeares,
Henry B. Ellwanger, Samuel L. Selden, Henry S. Crabbe.
CLERK OF VESTRY, Thomas A. Evans.
TREASURER, William Dove.
$t. Mach's Mission,
In the Summer of 1878, a mission on a mod- erate scale, under the name of St. Mark's Mis- sion, was begun in the northeast quarter of the city, by the Rev. Albert Wood. The first ser- vice was held June 30, 1878, in an unused building corner of North and Wadsworth Sts., and service was continued regularly thereafter on Sunday evenings, with a Sunday School in the afternoon. In November, 1879, the mission was removed to a more convenient room, cor- ner of Channing St. and Concord Ave., where its services and Sunday and Sewing Schools have continued to be held up to this time. Rent is paid for this building, and the mission as yet possesses no property except the chapel furniture. The usual attendance at the services ranges from twenty to forty. The Sunday School has eight teachers and over a hundred scholars, the attendance ranging from sixty to a hundred.
St. John's Mission.
This effort to establish the Church in East Rochester was undertaken by the Rev. Dr. J. A. Massey, formerly of Mobile, Ala., at the in- stance of a number of the clergy and laity, who felt that the time had come for a missionary movement in this field. A Sunday School had been maintained on or near University Ave. for some two years, and another on Park Ave. for one Summer by Church workers in the vicinity. In May, 1882, the Rev. Dr. Massey, with the cordial approval of the Rev. Mr. Doty, the nearest Rector, and the other city clergy, and with the official sanction of the Bishop, began prospecting in the field, and in September fully entered on the work. Three lots were pur- chased on Hawthorn St., extending through to Culver Park, 120 x 140 feet, and on the 12th of February a chapel 46 x 24 feet was com- menced, which was finished and occupied on the Ist of April, the Rev. Mr Doty and the Rev. Drs. Platt and Anstice making addresses at the opening service.
142
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
The cost of the chapel with all its appoint- ments complete was $2,063.40, of which over $400 was contributed by ladies of St. Luke's, to furnish the chancel and provide the font, altar, linen and sterling-silver communion service. The total gifts of St. Luke's parishioners toward the building and site amount to $1,263.95.
The first visitation of the Bishop occurred on the 10th of June. Two services each Sun- day and a Sunday School have been regularly sustained since the chapel was opened, with a gratifying attendance.
The property is held in trust for the future Church organization by the Rev. Dr. J. A. Mas- sey, Richard Wright, (who was architect and builder of the chapel,) Charles P. Boswell and Wm. H. Averill.
omne,
This institution sprung from the conviction of the Clergy and Laity that the Church should possess and control a Home where her orphan and destitute children might be cared for and taught, and aged communicants be sheltered in their declining years. The idea was first broached by the Rev. Dr. Claxton, of St. Luke's, and readily adopted by the other Clergy. The offerings at the joint services on Maundy Thursday were for several years devoted to forming the nucleus of a fund for the estab- lishment of such an institution.
Under appointment by their respective Rec- tors, five ladies from each of the four then exist- ing parishes, met on the Ist of June. 1868, for the purpose of organizing a Church Home. The officers elected were Mrs. Geo. H. Mum- ford, Pres .; Mrs. D. M. Dewey, Vice Pres .; Mrs. Edward M. Smith, Cor. Sec .; Mrs. J. L. Booth, Rec. Sec; and Miss Mary J. Clark, Treas.
On the 2nd of July, a letter was received from Mr. G. R. Clark, and Mr. G. E. Mum-
144
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
ford, proposing to give for the purposes of the Home, a house and lot on Mt. Hope Avenue, valued at $5,300, which offer was most grate- fully accepted, and a meeting of the lady man- agers was held on the premises July 21, 1868.
The Home was soon filled with inmates, and the necessity of increased accommodation be- ing evident, a committee of gentlemen was appointed to solicit subscriptions for the erec- tion of a new building upon the site, and Mr. George R. Clark was requested to act as the building committee.
The corner-stone was laid by the Rev. Henry Anstice, in the absence of the Bishop, April 20, 1869, and on the. 26th of October, the building was formally opened, all the city clergy taking part in the exercises of the occasion. The total cost of the new structure was nearly $15,000.
The Institution was incorporated July 24, 1869, with a board of thirteen trustees, the cer- tificate being filed September 20, in the County Clerk's office and in the office of the Secretary of State, September 21. Mr. George R. Clark was elected President ; Rev. Dr. Foote, Vice- President ; George H. Humphrey, Secretary, and John H. Rochester, Treasurer. The prac- tical management of the Home remained, under the legal organization, in the hands ofthe Board of Lady Managers.
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145
CHURCH HOME.
The desirability of still further increased facilities being apparent, the lady managers re- solved, March 5, 1880, that "The interests of the Home require the erection of an additional building ;" which resolution was approved by the Trustees and a building committee consist- ing of Messrs. Mumford, Douglas, Perkins and Rochester, were appointed to prepare and exe- cute the necessary plans. The new wing was completed and thrown open at the annual dona- tion reception, Nov. 18, 1880. Its cost was $11,590.44.
The present number of inmates is eleven old ladies and thirty-four children. Mrs. Sarah E. Godfrey is the matron, and Mrs. Albert Wood the teacher. The Rev. Fortune C Brown has officiated as Chaplain by appointment of the city clergy, since April, 1879. Services are maintained every Sunday in the chapel.
The Home is supported by monthly collec- tions in the churches, and individual donations from its friends. There are, however, invested funds held by the Trustees amounting to $8,787, the income of which is applicable to the purposes of the Home. The annual expenditure averages $4,500.
146
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
The present officers of the Board of Lady Managers of the Church Home are :
PRESIDENT, Mrs. D. M. Dewey.
VICE PRESIDENT, Mrs. Hiram Sibley.
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY, Mrs. M. M. Mathews.
RECORDING SECRETARY, Mrs. W. C. Rowley. TREASURER, Miss C. L. Rochester.
I
enteral
tatistics
OF THE
Church in Rochester,
148
GENERAL STATISTICS.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING SEPT. 1, 1883.
NAMES.
BAPTISMS.
CONFIRMATIONS.
MARRIAGES.
BURIALS.
OFFERINGS.
St. Luke's,
41
24
20
36
$14,502 28
St. Paul's,
23
37
7
I7
6,299 31
Trinity,
45
20
5
IO
3,564 15
Christ,
32
27
14
30
9,859 33
Good Shepherd,
18
9
8
16
794 37
St. James',
14
8
IO
16
2,007 87
Epiphany,
51
12
IO
20
4,161 55
St. Andrew's,
32
19
16
13
4,375 88
St. Mark's,
7
I
3
54 09
St. John's,
4
3
4
2,791 05
Church Homc,
6
I
3
35 00
.
Totals,
273
1156
95 1158
$48,444 88
149
GENERAL. STATISTICS.
STATE OF THE CHURCH SEPT. 1, 1883.
NAMES.
FAMILIES.
COMMUNICANTS.
S. S. TEACHERS.
S. S. SCHOLARS.
SITTINGS IN CHURCH.
St. Luke's,
312
579
44
348
900
St. Paul's,
200
382
20
15I
700
Trinity,
130
180
16
140
520
Christ,
234
440
23
236
600
Good Shepherd,
67
II2
9
79
200
St. James',
100
120
30
300
300
Epiphany,
157
225
20
165
300
St. Andrew's,
159
225
16
150
600
St. Mark's,
I5
16
8
I20
So
St. John's,
21
18
8
70
170
Church Home,
23
2
28
60
Totals,
1395
2320
1196
1787 4430
D 285175,03
R 75
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