Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 169

Author: Howell, George Rogers, 1833-1899; Tenney, Jonathan, 1817-1888
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1452

USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations > Part 169

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Church was closed, excepting for occasional ser- vices, during the Revolutionary War. May 1, 1787, the Vestry elected the Rev. Thomas Ellison, born in Newcastle, England, Rector. He had the ability to lay the foundation for the future prosperity of the parish, after the devastation of the Revolution. He died, in 1802, in the midst of his usefulness, shortly after a contract had been made with Hooker & Putnam for a new church on the corner of State and Lodge streets. The plans were drawn by Philip Hooker, the well-known architect, of Albany. The building was finished in the summer of 1803, and the Rev. Frederic Beasley, of Elizabethtown, N. J., assumed the rectorship, to which he had been elected in 1802. The consecration of the church took place on Thursday, October 4, 1803. Mr. Beasley resigned in 1809, to the great regret of the congregation and the community, to accept the Associate Rectorship of St. Paul's Church, Balti- more. He died in Elizabethtown, N. J., in 1845. The Rev. Timothy Clowes, of Jamaica, L. I., be- came officiating minister in 1810, and, in 1841, Rector. A controversy upon the proper disposi-

tion of the income of the church lands, with Lieu- tenant-Governor Tayler and others of the Vestry, led to a war of pamphlets, and finally to his tem- porary suspension from the ministry in 1817. He died at Hempstead, L. I., in 1847. In 1818, the Rev. William B. Lacey, of Oxford, Chenango County, officiated, and in 1819 became Rector. In 1821 the spire, so familiar to old Albanians, was erected. In 1832, Dr. Lacey resigned, to devote his time to the higher education of women. He died at Okalona, Miss., in 1866. In January, 1833, the Rev. Horatio Potter, Professor in Wash- ington College, Hartford, Conn., accepted the rec- torship. A new rectory was built in 1831, and in 1847 the present rectory, on the corner of Lodge street and Maiden lane, was finished and occupied. During the twenty-one years of Dr. Potter's incum- bency, the parishes of Trinity, Grace, and Holy In- nocents, rendered necessary by the growth of the Episcopal Church in the city, were organized. St. Paul's had been organized in 1826. In 1854, the Rector of St. Peter's was elected Provisional Bishop of New York, and was consecrated in Trinity Church, New York City, November 22, 1854. In December, 1855, the Rev. Thomas C. Pitkin, of New Haven, Conn., became Rector. In 1858 the foundations of the church had settled so much that great cracks were made in the side-walls and ceiling. A new building, to be in the early French Gothic style, after the plans of Upjohn & Co., was con- tracted for early in 1858, and the church conse- crated October 4, 1860. It is a spacious edifice, of massive construction, and is among Upjohn's most successful churches. In 1862, the Rev. Dr. Pitkin resigned on account of failing health, and the Rev. William T. Wilson, of New York City, was called to the parish. The Rev. William Tat- lock, of North Adams, became Associate Rector. In 1866 both the Rector and his associate resigned. In 1867, the Rev. William Croswell Doane, B. D., of Hartford, Conn., accepted the rectorship. In December, 1868, at the Primary Convention of the

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Diocese of Albany, Dr. Doane was elected its first Bishop. On February 2, 1869, he was conse- crated Bishop in the Church of God in St. Peter's Church. In addition to the new burden which he had assumed, he remained in charge of St. Peter's until Easter, 1870, although he resigned the rector- ship in 1869. The Rev. William A. Snively, of Cincinnati, O., was his successor. He resigned to accept a call to Grace Church, Brooklyn, N. Y., in May, 1874. The Rev. Walton W. Battershall, of Christ Church, Rochester, N. Y., was immediately elected, and was instituted as Rector, September 29, 1874. Under him the parish has put forth all its energies, and has shown great zeal and resource in the organization of Christian work and the im- provement of the church edifice.

In 1876 the Parish House was built on Lodge street, opposite the church. It is a fine structure of stone, designed for the use of the Sunday-school and the charitable and social enterprises of the parish. In the same year the tower of the church was built, as a memorial to the late Senior Warden, John Tweddle, and furnished with a fine chime of bells. The tower was designed by R. M. Upjohn, and is one of the richest and most exquisite exam- ples of decorated Gothic in the country. From time to time during the last fifteen years, the church has been adorned with memorial windows, which have been designed by the best English artists, and are of peculiar excellence both in drawing and color. The whole series, which includes all the large aisle windows and the three middle windows of the chancel apse, while showing a variety in the method of treatment, are splendid examples of re- ligious art, and give great beauty to the interior.

During the last year the chancel has been re- modeled and paved in mosaic, with the addition of a beautiful altar and reredos of Caen stone and other articles of furniture. A chancel organ cham- ber and choir building have also been added to the structure, and the church has been decorated. The cost of these improvements with the tower and the windows has considerably more than equaled the original cost of the church.

Among the older memorials and interesting pos- sessions of the church, is the mural tablet in the tower room, one of the earlier works of the sculp- tor Palmer, and representing Faith gazing at the Cross. On account of its deep religious feeling, it has probably been reproduced in photography more than any other piece of American sculpture. The communion plate, which has been used at the altar of St. Peter's for a hundred and seventy years, was presented by Queen Anne. It consists of six pieces of massive silver, marked with the arms of Great Britain, and bearing the following legend: "The Gift of her Majesty, Ann, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, and of her plantations in North America, Queen, to her Indian Chappel of the Onondawgus.'

In connection with, and supported by, the parish is St. Peter's Orphans' Home, a sketch of which is to be found elsewhere.

Among those who in its long history have been worshipers in this- church, and been well known

in State, city, or country, we may mention the names of Colonel Peter Matthews, the first Warden; Edward Holland; James Stevenson; John Dun- bar; Samuel Stringer; Colonel Jeremiah Van Rens- selaer; Philip Cuyler; John Barclay; Goldsbrow Banyar; Lieut. - Governor John Tayler; Elkanah Watson; Philip S. Van Rensselaer; William A. Duer; John C. Spencer; John A. Dix; Lyman Tremain; John T. Hoffman; John Taylor Cooper; John V. L. Pruyn; Orlando Meads; Harman Pumpelly.

The property of the corporation is the church and lot, parish-house and rectory, whose estimated value is $250,000. The successive ministers of the church have been Thoroughgood Moore, Mis- sionary, 1704; Thomas Barclay, Chaplain and Rector, 1708-21; John Miln, Rector, 1727-38; Henry Barclay, Rector, 1738-46; John Ogilvie, Rector, 1750-58; Thomas Brown, Rector, 1759- 68; Harvey Munro. Rector, 1769-77; Thomas Ellison, Rector, 1787-1802; Frederic Beasley, Rector, 1802-9; Timothy Clowes, Rector, 1810- 17; William B. Lacey, Rector, 1818-32; Horatio Potter, Rector, 1833-54; Thomas C. Pitkin, Rec- tor, 1855-62; William T. Wilson, Rector, 1862- 66; William Tatlock, Associate, 1862-66; William Croswell Doane, Rector, 1867-69; William A. Snively, Rector, 1869-74; Walton W. Battershall, 1874.

ST. PAUL'S .- The Parish of St. Paul's was organ- ized November 12, 1827. Services had been held for some time previous in a school-room on South Pearl street. The Rev. Richard Bury was the first Rector. By the efforts of the vestry, aided by the earnest labors of Mr. Bury, a lot was purchased on South Ferry street, and the first building owned by the society erected. This building still stands, and is known as St. John's Church. This church was consecrated August 24, 1829, by the Right Rev. John H. Hobart, D.D. Mr. Bury resigned in 1830. He died, after filling positions of honor in the church, in Cleveland, in 1872.

The Rev. William Linn Keese succeeded the Rev. Mr. Bury in the rectorsbip of the parish. During the three years of his rectorship, the work of the parish was greatly exended and all debt re- moved. Mr. Keese on account of ill-health was compelled to give up the charge of the parish in 1834. He died in 1837 in Havana, Cuba.

The Rev. Joseph H. Price, D.D., succeeded Mr. Keese. He resigned in 1837. For a long period he was Rector of St. Stephen's, New York. The Rev. William Ingraham Kip, D. D., became Rector in 1837. His ministry was a long and suc- cessful one. In 1839 the church on South Ferry street was sold and the theatre on South Pearl street was purchased.

This church was consecrated by the Right Rev. B. T. Onderdonk, in 1840. The church then num- bered 107 communicants. In 1853, Dr. Kip was elected Bishop of California, which position he still ably occupies.

Dr. Kip was succeeded by the Rev. T. A. Starkey, D. D. Before coming to St. Paul's, he was Rector of Christ Church, Troy. Dr. Starkey was Rector

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of the parish for five years, resigning in 1858, since which time he has been Rector of Trinity Church, Cleveland; the Epiphany, Washington; and St. Paul's, Paterson. From the last position he was elected Bishop of Northern New Jersey.

In April, 1859, the Rev. William Rudder, D. D., became Rector of the Parish. During his rector- ship the church in South Pearl street was sold and the present building in Lancaster street purchased. The purchase was made in 1862, and the building used by the congregation in September of that year for the first time. In 1863, Dr. Rudder re- signed, and accepted a call to St. Stephen's Church, Philadelphia, which position he filled until his death in 1880.

The Rev. J. Livingston Reese, D. D., accepted the rectorship in June, 1864. In December of the same year the church was consecrated by Right Rev. Horatio Potter, D. D. The rectory was added in 1867. The Free Chapel on Madison avenue was opened in 1868. In 1880 the church was beauti- fully decorated. The Parish House was built in 1883. The church now numbers 670 communi- cants and has 750 children in its Sunday-schools.

HOLY INNOCENTS' CHURCH. - This church is on the corner of North Pearl and Colonie streets. It is built in the early English style, and is deemed a fine example of architecture. The society was organized February 15, 1850, and the present building was consecrated in September of the same year. The late Wm. H. DeWitt erected the build- ing, and gave it and the ground on which it stands to this parish. The church has over 250 communicants, and supports numerous societies besides.

The following list contains the names of the various Rectors of the church :

Sylvanus Reed, 1850-61; William R. Johnson, 1 862-63; William S. Boardman, 1865-68; Royal Marshall, 1869-74; Samuel E. Smith, 1875-82; Ralph W. Kenyon, 1883.

TRINITY CHURCH (EPISCOPAL) .- This congrega- tion was organized in 1839. Leased the Presby- terian (Cameronian) church, Westerlo street, until 1841, when services were held in the school-house, corner of Dallius and Ferry streets. In 1842 erected a frame building on the southwest corner of Herkimer and Franklin streets. Present church on Broad street erected in 1849. Rectors : Isaac Swart, 1839-40; William Dowdney, 1840-41; Edward Embury, 1842-43; Edward Selkirk, 1844- 84; Charles H. W. Stocking, 1884.

THE CATHEDRAL OF ALL SAINTS. - The Legisla- ture of the State of New York incorporated the cathedral by an Act passed 27th of March, 1873 (Chap. 149), in the first section of which the fol- lowing members were created a body politic and corporate : (The Bishop) William Croswell Doane, John Ireland Tucker, John H. Hobart Brown, Hiram W. Beers, Theodore Babcock, John Towns- end, Orlando Meads, Erastus Corning, Amos P. Palmer, Walter A. Wood, and James Forsyth. These corporators are empowered by the 3d sec- tion " to fill vacancies in their own number," and by section 4, to adopt a constitution for the election

of new trustees. The object and purposes of the corporation are, by section 2, declared to be "the establishment, erection, maintenance and man- agement of a cathedral church, and its appurte- nances, in the City of Albany;" and section 5 de- clares that "the seats for the worshipers in the said cathedral church shall always be free."

On All Saints Day, 1872, the building at pres- ent occupied, formerly an iron foundry, was first used for Divine Service. It has been enlarged once since.

On the festival of All Saints, A. D. 1881, the Bishop announced to the congregation his purpose to begin forthwith the execution of this, one of the great purposes for which the corporation was cre- ated, namely, the erection of a cathedral building, and laid before them his plans. At a meeting of the Chapter, held 23d November, 1881, the follow- ing Committee was appointed to select a site: The Bishop, Hon. Erastus Corning, Mr. Orlando Meads. It was resolved to endeavor to raise im- mediately $150,000 to meet the cost of the build- ing, exclusive of the site. Mr. James Moir was appointed to act, under General S. E. Marvin, Treasurer of the Chapter, as Treasurer of the funds collected for the cathedral, and Mr. Meads pre- pared a form to be copied into the subscription books. The Committee on the site were then instructed to obtain plans for the cathedral. On the 30th of April, 1883, the plans of R. W. Gibson, architect, were adopted, with a modifi- cation submitted to the Chapter on the 6th of June.

On the 28th of November, 1883, the grounds given by the Hon. Erastus Corning, valued at $80,- 000, were accepted as the site, and on motion of the same generous giver it was resolved "that, in the judgment of the Chapter, it is expedient that measures be taken without delay to begin the work of building the cathedral, and that to that end prep- arations be made to remove the buildings now on the ground, and to procure the working plans and estimates for the excavation and laying of the foun- dations; and the work be proceeded with as fast and as far as the means in the hands of the Chapter will permit."

At a meeting, held 22d March, 1884, it was resolved that the corner-stone be laid on Whitsun- Tuesday, 3d June, 1884. This stone, with ap- propriate inscriptions, is the gift of Margaret Doane Gardiner, the Bishop's grand-daughter. At the same meeting a special subscription was au- thorized for the columns of the new cathedral, to be memorials of churchmen eminent in Church and State. They are to be twenty-four in number, and to cost over $1,000 each. Twenty-one have already been appropriated.

As the day for laying the corner-stone approached, the contributions in money (as distinguished from the gift of land) were found to be nearly $100,000 (no one gift exceeding $7,500, that of the Hon. Walter A. Wood).

According to the modified plans presented by the architect, the building to be erected for imme- diate use is in every part, save its roof, a portion

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

of the completed structure, and will be built up to a hight sufficient for a good appearance, and with accommodation for seating practically the same. The style is Gothic, or pointed architecture of the first period; the plan, a Latin cross formed by the choir and nave to the east and west, respectively, of a central crossing with transepts to the north and south. The choir is 91 feet long and 35 wide, and is planned in five bays or divisions, the two eastern forming the sanctuary. The nave is 99 feet long and 40 feet wide, and has narrow side aisles its entire length. The transepts are 110 feet in breadth from north to south (including cross- ing), and 40 feet wide, forming a square cross- ing with the nave. The crossing has four great arthes, corresponding with those of the nave and transepts; and above them breaks by pendants into an octagon, in the manner frequent in the early Gothic cathedrals.

The main features of the interior are the great pil- lars made up of grouped shafts and pieces in pure constructional style; they are of unusual size, and will give exceptional majesty to the perspective of nave and choir. The main arcade upon them is simple, but can be at a future time enriched with carving. A triforium of coupled arches is carried all along the nave and choir. Over this comes the clerestory, with large coupled lancet windows in the nave and tracing in the choir-generally the choir has been given richer character than the nave-leading up to the traceried window in the square east end of the sanctuary. The western end of the nave has a rich circular window of radi- ating tracery. The side aisles are to be used as passages only; the nave is widened to the maxi- mum; and the pillars are so arranged that none of the congregation are seated behind them.

The hights of the interior are: From floor of nave to springing of arches of nave and transept vaults, 48 feet; to top of vaults, 70 feet; to top of ceiling of lantern, over crossing, 113 feet; to spring- ing of arches of choir vaults, 45 feet; to top, 66 feet. The proportions and methods of the octagon lantern are designed to avoid acoustic difficulties. The exterior walling is to be of Potsdam stone. The west front is flanked by towers, with belfries and spires. The hight to top of belfry is 156 feet, and to top of finial, 202 feet. The central tower, or lantern over crossing, is 144 feet high at top of masonry, and 180 feet to top of finial cross.

The seating capacity is for 1, 500 person; there are 153 stalls for the clergy, and 54 choir seats, making a total for 1,757 persons. If crowded the edifice would contain 2,000. When completed, it is believed that the cathedral will prove to be no unworthy instance of that architecture which is peculiarly the creation of the Catholic Church, and may be taken as a type of the elevation, subordina- tion, and discipline, and at the same time the unity of the spouse of Christ. Rt. Rev. Wm. Crosswell Doane, Bishop ; Rev. F. L. Norton, Dean; Rev. G. W. Dean, Chancellor.

GRACE CHURCH. - The first service held with ref- erence to the establishment of the parish of Grace Church, Albany, was held by the Rev. Maunsell

Van Rensselaer, who for some time previous had been in charge of St. Peter's parish, during the ab- sence of its Rector. This service was held on Sexa- gesima Sunday, 1846, in a room over the store on the southeast corner of State and Lark street, at- tended by about thirty persons. The services were continued every Sunday by the Rev. Mr. Van Rensselaer, at the same place, until the Sunday after Ascension Day, May 24th of the same year, when a meeting was called for the purpose of effecting a parish organization.

The Rev. Mr. Van Rensselaer presided, and Dr. H. D. Payne acted as Secretary. A resolution was adopted, favoring the establishment of a church.

The Rev. Mr. Van Rensselaer was elected Rector. It was decided to designate the parish by the style and title of Grace Church. The parish continued to occupy the same rooms until the end of the year, when the trustees of the Spring Street Mission having kindly offered the use of their building, it was accepted.

February 11, 1847, the lot on the corner of Lark and Washington avenue, running through to Spring street, was purchased for the purpose of erecting a church.

June 30, 1847, the Rector resigned, and was succeeded by the Rev. John Alden Spooner about the Ist of the following October, who remained only till the 15th of August, when he resigned.

From that time until May, 1849, the parish was without a clergymen-without a church-depend- ent for the room they occupied on the courtesy of those interested.

May 13, 1849, Rev. James R. Davenport began his labors as Rector of the parish. One year from that date the Building Committee entered into a contract for the erection of a church building, soon after commenced.

At the evening service on Sunday, September 9, 1850, the first confirmation service was held by Right Rev. W. R. Whittingham, Bishop of Mary- land, twelve persons being confirmed. On the next day the corner-stone of the new church was laid by the same Bishop. Christmas Day the first service was held in the church, although the build- ing was not quite completed. Its consecration was delayed till December 15, 1852.

September 24, 1857, the Rev. Mr. Davenport resigned, when Rev. Theodore M. Bishop, of the Diocese of Western New York, took charge of the parish in the following November.

After the resignation of Mr. Bishop, in July, 1861, the Vestry made arrangements with the Rev. Philander K. Cady to take temporary charge of the parish, which he did until November 26, 1862, when he was elected Rector of the parish.

April 30, 1865, the Rector severed his connec- tion with the parish, and was succeeded in the following June by the Rev. Edwin B. Russell, of New York. Mr. Russell continued in charge of the parish until. October 16, 1871, when he re- signed, having accepted a call to Grace Church, Delhi, where he is still stationed.

He was succeeded by the Rev. J. Hutchings Brown, who became Rector of the parish Decem-

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ber 10, 1871, and remained seventeen months, re- signing May 10, 1873.

In June, 1873, the church edifice was removed from the corner of Lark and Washington avenue to the corner of Clinton avenue and Robin street. Rev. William A. Snively was elected Rector. The last service at the corner of Lark street and Wash- ington avenue was held Sunday, June 15, 1873, by Rev. Mr. Snively. Advent Sunday the church was again opened for services.

The parish was now put in charge of Rev. T. A. Snively, Assistant Minister at St. Peter's, and at the same time the congregation of St. Peter's Mission were transferred to and identified with it.

Mr. Snively continued to conduct the services of the church whenever he could be spared from St. Peter's, until the resignation of his brother in April, 1874, when the whole care of St. Peter's parish was left to him, and Grace Church was again with- out a Rector until September 1, 1874, when the present Rector, Rev. David L. Schwartz, began his labors.

During the rectorship of the Rev. D. L. Schwartz, a rectory has been built, at a cost of more than $9,000. A large church debt has also been paid off.

EVANGELICAL.

FIRST GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH. -This church, on Fourth avenue, corner Frank- lin street, was organized in 1854. William A. Frey, Pastor.

ST. PAUL'S EVANGELICAL CHURCH, Western ave- nue, near Lexington. Rev. G. Fr. Stutz, Pastor. The congregation separated from the First Lu- theran when services there were held in English. The former place of worship was on State street, now the Law School. Moved into the present church in 1872. Number of families, 158.

ST. JOHN'S EVANGELICAL CHURCH is located on Central avenue. Rev. Ernest Hoffman is Pastor. It was organized in 1857; building erected in 1859, when the present Pastor was installed. Families, I 30.

TRINITY GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH is located at 58 Alexander street. Rev. Conrad Kuehn is Pastor.

CHURCH OF THE EVANGELICAL (GERMAN) ASSOCIA- TION was incorporated in 1847. First meeting- house on Grand street; afterwards Corner Clinton and Nucella streets; present church erected in 1869, on the south side of Elm street, between Grand and Philip streets. Pastors: John Wagner, 1851; Levi Jacobi, 1852-59; Augustus Spies, 1862; William Mintz, 1863-64; Henry Fisher, 1866-68; Charles Schoepfle, 1870-71; Albert Unholtz, 1872- 74; J. Siegrist, 1875-77; M. Yauch, 1878-80; A. Schlenk, 1881-83; Jacob Eberling, 1883 to present time.

HEBREWS.

There are about 3,000 Hebrews in this city, most of them Germans, although a few of them are Bohemians, a few Poles, and a few French. With

the exception of the limited number who worship at Beth El Jacob in Fulton street, they are mostly the Reformed Jews, that is, they conform in most things to the ideas of the present age, observing, however, the rite of circumcision, the day of atone- ment, and most of them are careful to eat no pork, nor any meat not killed in the Jewish method. As citizens they are very orderly, the appearance of one in the Police Court being an unusual sight. They care for their own poor, and among them- selves are very sociable and domestic in their habits.

ANSHE EMETH, South Pearl street, opposite Herkimer. Rev. Max Schlesinger, Pastor, who came to this country in 1864. This is the largest and handsomest Hebrew place of worship in the city. The society was organized in 1850, with Dr. Isaac M. Wise as Rabbi, and now embraces about 150 families. Services held here consist of prayers, reading of the law, music and sermon, the latter in English or German, the prayers and readings in Hebrew. A Sunday-school is held on Sunday.

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Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 169

Author: Howell, George Rogers, 1833-1899; Tenney, Jonathan, 1817-1888 Publication date: 1886 Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co. Number of Pages: 1452

Author: Howell, George Rogers, 1833-1899; Tenney, Jonathan, 1817-1888
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1452