USA > New York > Monroe County > Rochester > History of Rochester and Monroe county, New York, from the earliest historic times to the beginning of 1907 > Part 39
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The Good Shepherd .- Cottage services in the houses of John Greenwood and Robert Newman were begun in the early sixties by Rev. De Witt C. Loop, the assistant minister in St. Luke's. The increasing population in the eleventh ward, north of the railroad and west of the canal, called for the ministrations of the church. Dr. Claxton of St. Luke's materially encouraged the mission in securing a building. The chapel was erected on a commodious lot on Grape street and was opened for public worship July 31st, 1864. After.a year of nursing care by the St. Matthew's mission and a pastorate of twenty months by Rev. Jacob Mil- ler, the congregation was organized into a parish March 29th, 1869. The wardens were John Green- wood and George Cummings, and the vestrymen Thomas Thompson, Thomas Tambling-on, Wil- liam Attridge, jr .. Samuel Attridge, Robert G. Newman. William Webb. Walter Williamson and Charles H. Finch. Title to the property was heid by the rector and vestry of St. Luke's. Mr. Miller resigned in September, 1869, and was followed for very brief terms by Rev. J. Newton Spear and Rev. James S. Barnes. In December, 1870, Rev. Fred W. Raikes, a deacon, took up the work, but re- signed in April, 1873. His successor was Rev Benjamin W. Stone, D. D., who remained in charge for a longer period than any other rector. The property was improved and much Christian work accomplished. After eight busy years Dr. Stone withdrew in April. 1881. For the ensuing year Rev. Byron Holley, jr., was in charge of the parish, and from June, 1882, Rev. James Stoddard was at work here for two years. He was succeeded by Rev. J. H. H. De Mille for one year; Rev. J. HI. Perkins from 1886 to 1889 and Rev. J. . A. Skinner for eight months until July, 1890. The hopes of the founders of this mission were not be- ing realized. The district was largely foreign. A group of the more "advanced" churchmen under- took to work the field, re-naming the parish St. Ann's. From 1891 to 1894 Rev. R. R. Upjohn carnestly devoted himself to the interests of his flock. Then followed a brief period of misman- agement and rebellion which culminated in the closing of the church and the sale of the property.
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The proceeds were later devoted to the building of St. Stephen's church, on Fillmore street.
St. James's .- Another of the four missions started in the early sixties was that which had its inception in a Sunday school held in Oregon street under the superintendency of A. Dixson Davis and was nourished to self-support by Rev. Mr. Foote and his zealous helpers in St. Paul's. After several years of patient effort conditions were such as to warrant a building. An eligible lot ou Grant park and Almira street was secured from Mrs. F Galusha, in whose house cottage meetings had been conducted for some time. The corner-stone of the church was laid by Bishop Coxe July 18th, 1875; $13,121.32 were expended on the equip- ment and the church was consecrated June 5th, 18;4, Rev. James H. Dennis being appointed to the charge. The parish was incorporated in Au- gust of that year under the name of "St. James the Greater," and the following officers were elect- ed: Wardens, Joseph T. Cox and William II Wilkins; vestrymen, John Morris, George S. Bur. ley, C. S. Cook, E. J. Shackleton, J. H. Hathaway A. J. Masters, Albert Rogers and George J. Bar- nette. A Sunday school building was erected in 1881 at a cost of $3,053.55. In 1884 the rectory was built, for $3,500. In 1991 by a bequest of Mrs. M. G. Rand the parish received $9,472.55 to provide an organ and endowment. After twen- ty-five years of the most self-sacrificing devotion to the welfare of any and all who needed his serv- ices Mr. Dennis resigned. As president of the Humane society, founder of the Mont de Piété, the executive of the Children's Aid society and itt allied shelter for unruly waifs and in his ceaseless ministrations to all sorts and conditions of men he deservedly won the grateful affection of every worthy eitizen. Rev. Francis C. Woodward be- came the second rector of the parish in 1901 and has led his growing congregation in many good works. The church building has been enlarged and completed at a cost of $12,000. A remark- ably handsome window in memory of Isabella Watson Hollister was recently unveiled. There are 228 communicants and the total offerings fast year were $1,915.81.
The Epiphany .- Shortly after becoming rector of St. Luke's in 1866 Rev. Henry Anstice began cottage services in the eighth ward. In February
1869, Rev. W. W. Raymond became his assistant with special duties in his new field. The liberality of St. Luke's people promptly provided $14,000 for a church building on Jefferson avenue and the opening service was held February 28th, 1869. The mission was ably nurtured by Rev. George S. Baker from August, 18:0, to November, 1875. During this period the adjacent lot was purchased and the parsonage erected at a cost of $4,000. The next minister in charge was Rev. C. M. Nicker- son and under his leadership the parish was form- ally organized September 13th, 1876. adopting the name of "the church of the Epiphany." The first officers were: Wardens, J. H. Martindale and Romeyn Boughton; vestrymen, John Hancock David Fairman, F. W. Bergh, James Ratcliffe, W. H. Cross, F. R. Plummer. John Clements and J. If. Stedman, and Mr. Nickerson was elected rector. The church was consecrated January 6th, 18;2. After five years of successful labor Mr. Nickerson resigned January 1st, 1881. He was succeeded at once by Rev. Amos Skeele of Holy- cke, Massachusetts. In 1882 a recess chancel with an exquisite window, in memory of Mrs. George E. Mumford, was added to the church, and the congregation introduced a fine pipe organ. In 1889 the church was nearly doubled in size by the erection of a large north transept and a parish house was built. By quiet, thorough and un- wearied pastoral devotion Dr. Skeele has in hi: notable rectorate of more than twenty-five yeare brought strength and cheer to a large company of grateful souls. He is the senior presbyter in the Episcopal church in Rochester to-day and has gath- ered into the Epiphany a large and loyal body of earnest workers. The last annual report recorded 256 families and 390 communicants and total of offerings amounting to $4,521.57.
St. Andrew's .- As a result of the joint move- ment toward church extension in the city in 1866 made by the St. Matthew's mission, services were held in a house on St. Paul street, corner of Alexander. In June, 1867, Dr. Schuyler of Christ church accepted responsibility for the work and his assistant, Mr. Lovejoy, with others carried on the enterprise until July 6th, 1871, when it was or- ganized as St. Clement's church, with Rev. Daniel Flack in charge. From its inception he conducted a parish school in connection with the church. On
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the 8th day of February, 1874, Rev. David A. Bon- nar became the rector. The lot on the corner cf Averill avenue and Ashland streeet was secured and the chapel and chancel of the proposed group of buildings were erected this same year at a cost of $12,500. In 1875 the rectory was built, cost- ing 86,500; the property was mortgaged for $8,- 950. In 1876 there were one hundred and two communicants in the parish. A small frame struc. ture was put up by the guild for school purposes Dissensions arose and the mortgage was foreclosed, William B. Douglas buying in the property. Rev. Mr. Bonnar continued to officiate until December, 1878, in the guild hall, which had been moved to another lot. St. Clement's was superseded Febru- ary 7th, 1879, by the organization of St. Andrew's The first officers of the new corporation were. Wardens, William B. Douglas and William Ratt vestrymen, John J. Luckett, William Dove, Thom- as A. Evans, Frederick Suter, George Yeares, Ah- ner Burbank and Christopher Roberts. On June 1st Rev. A. S. Crapsey became rector. The church was completed and consecrated by Bishop Cove May 16th, 1880. The entire property, valued at $45,000, with an endowment fund of $15,000, was deeded to the diocesan trustres of the parochial fund, with the provision that it may be claimel for a cathedral on the crection of the diocese of Rochester. The twenty-seven years of Dr. Crap- sey's rectorate were full of achievements, the par- ish becoming one of the strongest in the diocese, reaching its climax in 1896. A parish house and lot were given in 1891 by Mr. Douglas, valued at $10,000. In 1894 Nazareth house was built for Sunday school and trade school purposes. 1 flourishing kindergarten school was - maintained until this department was introduced into the public schools of the city. An exquisite altar and reredos was erected in the chapel in memory of Mrs. S. G. Andrews a few years ago, and on February the 11th, 1900, the sanctuary was elab- orately beautified by Mrs. H. H. Perkins with marble altar and mural decorations and window. A thriving mutual benefit association known ns St. Andrew's Brotherhood has been developed Last year's report recorded 347 families, 616 com- municants and a total of offerings amounting to $7.143.60. Dr. Crapsey's pastorate terminated in December, 1906.
St. Mark's .- In the summer of 1878 mission work was inaugurated in the northeast quarter of the city, on the corner of North and Wadsworth streets. A Sunday school was conducted in the afternoon and regular Sunday evening services were held by Rev. Albert Wood. A year and a half later a more convenient room was secured on Channing street. From June 1st, 1884, Edward P. Hart was for six months lay reader in charge of the work. November 14th, being the centennial anniversary of Bishop Seabury's consecration, ground was broken for a church building on the corner of Channing and Hollister streets. Decem. ber 21st, Mr. Hart was ordained deacon. The opening service in the church was held January 18th, 1885. The entire cost of the land, edifice and furniture was $5,437.41, and was paid in full. I> 1890 a parish house was added to the equipment at a cost of $1,500. Many beautiful memorials have been added and a vested choir has been recent- ly introduced. The twenty-three years of devoted Christian leadership have brought inestimable benefits to this populous district. A contagious spirit of consecration to highest ideals issues from St. Mark's with uplifting influence. The officers of the corporation are: Wardens, William Ben- nett and Fred Brehem ; vestryman, Fred M. Havill. There are 100 families, 253 communicants, and last year's offerings were $2,417.38.
St. John's .- In 1880 a mission work was opened in a private house on Upton park through the zeal of Mrs. Margaret Ferrarei and William G Congdon. In June, 1882, Charles E. Upton gave the mission the use for three years of a lot on Hawthorne streeet and of the temporary chapel that he volunteered to erect thereon. This build- ing was completed on April 1st and was named St. John's. Rev. J. A. Massey, D. D., was placed in charge. In 1885 $5,500 was paid for the prop- erty. In 1886 Rev. Arthur Sloan succeeded Mr Massey as rector and for four years did faithful service. In 1891 the parish was vacant and faced a debt of $8,000. In 1892 Rev. W. N. Webhe be- gan a three years' pastorate, after which the parish was absorbed into the new St. Paul's.
Ascension .- In October, 1886, Rev. Frederick S. Hyde, rector of Trinity church, began holding cottage services in a private house in the growing district to the north of his parish. The need for
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ampler accommodations was soon felt and Mrs. W. I. Halsey gave the missionary the use of a build- ing on Lake avenue opposite Glenwood, where the Sunday school and other services were maintained until the church was erected on Augustine street. The new site (worth $2,000) was the gift of a generous citizen, not of our communion, Charles J. Burke. The brown stone structure was in its incomplete condition occupied in 1888 and the mission was organized under the name of Ascen- sion. With great self-sacrifice Mr. Hyde carried the burden of the work until 1891.
Next year the field was placed under the care of Rev. George T. Le Boutillier, who devoted the following twelve years to strengthening and ex- tending the work. He paid the debt of $250 and finished the building. In 1901 the seating ca- pacity was doubled by the addition of a section of a more extensive edifice designed by Addison Le Boutillier. The $4,500 necessary to construct this addition was raised by the personal solicitation of the missionary from church friends in the city. On the 1st of February. 1904, Mr. Le Boutillier icsigned, owing to his failing health. In May Rev. Francis S. Lippitt assumed charge. There are sixty families and 113 communicants at- tached to the mission and last year their offerings amounted to $1,774.73. The officers are: War- den, James J. Withall ; treasurer, J. Lees Hilton; clerk, H. T. Brown.
St. George's (All Saints) .- In December, 1888, cottage services were inaugurated in the rapidly growing section of East Rochester by Rev. Arthur Sloan, under the auspices of the deanery of Roch- ester. In June, 1889, a lot was serured on the corner of Webster and Garson avenues and next year a chapel was constructed and the mission of All Saints organized. In 1891 Rev. G. T. Le Boutillier assumed charge and with the aid of lay readers from the church club, chiefly Engene C. Denton, maintained the work for several years. In 1894 Rev. Henry Rollings was the minister in charge. The Rochester archdeaconry was estab- lished in 1895 and under the new system of ad- ministration this with other missions in the city received a new impetus. Rev. Thomas A. Parnell, D. C. I .. , was the first clergyman to give his un- divided attention to the interests of this develop- ing field and for six years ministered faithfully
to the little congregation struggling under a bur- densome debt from city assessments. In 1902 the inission was consigned to the oversight of St. Paul's parish and was served by the assistant min- iters there. Rev. Arthur S. Mann officiated in 1903-01 and Rev. Wallace Watts until 1906, when the mission was reorganized and incorporated as the parish of St. George's, Rev. George C. Rich- mond becoming the pastor.
St. Thomas's .- With the true spirit of sharing privileges, some willing helpers in Christ church started a Sunday school out Monroe avenue in 1890. Rev. Charles H. Boynton, curate of the parish, co-operated. From July, 1890, to Feb- mary, 1892, Rev. T. F. Johnson led the expanding movement. The meetings were held in a house on Boardman avenue. Early in 1896 the work was put under the direction of Archdeacon Wash- burn. Services were held in a vacant store, corner of Monroe avenne and Rutgers street. and the mission was duly organized and given the name of St. Thomas. For the year preceding December, 1897, Rev. G. T. Le Boutillier was the mission- ary, at which date the request of the rector of St. Paul's was granted and the mission entrusted to him. In February, 1899, services were discon- tinued. But in the summer of 1900 the work was revived by lay readers. Services were con- ducted in a room of the school-house on Field street. In May. 1901, Rev. Evan H. Martin was appointed minister in charge. The lot on Field street was purchased and an attractive church erected. An enterprising work has been developed. There are fifty-two families and seventy-two com- mimicants enrolled; their offerings last year amounted to $1.330.20. The officers are: War- dens. William Harding and Sheridan Daboll ; treasurer, Cyrus G. Daboll; clerk, J. J. Mosher.
St. Stephen's .- One of the effective agencies for church extension hereabouts was the church club with its group of lay readers, who did a quiet but extensive work under Archdeacon Washburn. In 1894 they conducted a Sunday school in the little school-house out on the Chili road and main- tained it there until 1897, when an attractive chapel was erected for the mission on Fillmore street. The money for this undertaking was se- cured from the sale of the property of the dis- banded Cond Shepherd parish. In 1899 Rev
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Evan H. Martin took charge and upon his resig- Riga and Henrietta, and Isaac Colvin being the nation, in 1903, Rev. W. O. Taylor was appointed minister. The present officers are: Alphonso Collins, warden ; G. G. Brainard, treasurer; George McDonald, clerk. There are fifty families and fifty-two communicants and their offerings the past year were $643.45.
The Church Home Chapel of the Good Shep- herd .- Since the founding of the Home in 1869 services have been conducted for the benefit of the members of the household, at first by the city rectors in rotation, but since 1879 by regular chaplains. Rev. Fortune C. Brown was the pastor from April, 1879, to June, 1888. He was suc- ceeded by Rev. Albert Wood from 1889 to Novem- ber, 1898, and then followed Rev. G. T. Le Bon- tillier from 1899 to 1905. Since November 1st, 1905, Rev. Dr. Washburn has supplied ministra- tions. The beautiful chapel was built in 1901 anl is adorned with inany fine memorials.
At these thirteen strategically located sanctu- aries the Episcopal church is engaged, striving to do her share toward making Rochester a city of the great king; joyfully recognizing the large part that the Christian brethren of other groupings have contributed to the leavening of the com- munity. Such a sketch as this must manifestly be merely suggestive; it is impossible even to call the roll of the men and women identified with this church who have brought light and leading to our local business and social world. Such names as Rochester, Montgomery, Child, Smith, Andrews, Mumford, Whittlesey, Erickson, Sibley. Douglas, Field. Watson, Clark, Reynolds, Hoyt, Elwood, Dewey, Walker, Pitkin, Ellwanger are but partial indications of the rank and file of the goodly company. These and others are inextric- ably woven into every chapter of this history : their descendants and successors are enlisted with their contemporaries in the manifold beneficent enterprises of to-day.
THE QUAKER CHURCHES.
The Quakers-or "Friends." as they always pre- ferred to be called-found their way to this region at an early day. The first meeting in this village was held on the 18th of the tenth month in 1821. embracing members of that faith in Rochester,
clerk for the day, a position filled afterward by Thomas Congdon and Harvey Frink. It was de- termined to purchase a burial lot in Frankfort, sixty-six feet by 200, for eighty dollars, and also to erect a meeting-house, which was built in the following year at a cost of $350, so that the Qua- kers had the third church in Rochester, which was situated on the east side of North Fitzhugh street, very near Allen. There they all worshiped till 1829, when the division took place, and the Orthodox Friends built a new church on Jay street, while the Hicksite Quakers retained pos- session of the old place. There they remained till 1820, when they moved into a modest little struc- ture on the north side of Ilubbell park, opposite the orphan asylum. This was maintained, with a constantly diminishing attendance, until about twelve years ago, when it was given up. In the meantime the Orthodox Friends, after continuing on Jay street till 1873, moved in that year to Alexander street and after that drifted around to East Main and then on to Stone street, where they struggled along till some time after the other branch had expired, when they likewise gave up the contest with an unfriendly world.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.
In the year 1812 there were two houses on the Genesee river where the city of Rochester now stands. Only four years later, namely, in 1816, the first Methodist meeting was held in a build- ing on the lower race, near, and southwest of, wirere the Whitney mills stand. In the year fol- lowing the first Methodist sermon was preached by Rev. Elisha House in the private residence of Fabricius Reynolds, near the corner of Fitzhugh and Buffalo (now Main) streets. During the year the first Methodist class was organized by Cyrus Story, afterward a minister and a member of Gen- esce conference.
The First Church .- On the 20th day of Sep- tember. 1820, the legal voters met and incorpo- rated the church under the name and title "The First Wesleyan Methodist Episcopal Church of the Village of Rochester." This name was re- tained until November 10th, 1900, at which date the Frank street Methodist Episcopal church was consolidated with the First under the present
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naine, "The First Methodist Episcopal Church of the City of Rochester." At the original meeting, September 20th, 1820, Rev. Orren Miller, pastor, was elected president; Frederick Clark, vice-pres- ident; Nathaniel Draper, secretary. The trustees elected were Frederick Clark, Elam Smith, Abe- lard Reynolds, Nathaniel Draper, Dan Rowe. The proceedings were duly certified for record by Wheeler Collins and Asa Weston.
In the following June they began the erection of a modest house of worship, forty-two by fifty- five feet, upon South St. Paul street, near the south line of the present site of Cook's opera house. It was completed and dedicated in July, 1826, at which time they had seventy members. Under the fruitful labors of Rev. Dr. John Dempster it was found necessary to enlarge the building in 1827. Two years later, with four hundred members, it was still inadequate. This led to the erection of an immense stone structure on the west side of the Genesee river, on the northwest corner of Main and Fitzhugh streets. It was one hundred and four by eighty feet, galleried on three sides, capa- ble of seating 2,000 people. It had twenty-one class rooms, and the basement floors were rented for stores. It was said to have been the largest Methodist Episcopal chapel in the United States. Its cost was $40,000. It was dedicated in 1831. On the 5th of January. 1835. at 3:30 a. m., flames were seen bursting from the building, and in a few hours it was totally consumed, with no insur- ance, and a debt of $21,000 remaining. U'ndaunt- ed, they rehuilt, occupying in the meantime the old church on St. Paul street. Within a year they worshiped in the basement of the new church, and in January, 1839. the completed structure was dedicated by Rev. Noah Levings of the Troy conference. . Rev. Elijah Hebard was pastor when the fire occurred, and initiated the work of re- building. He recorded his opinion that building the second time so large a church was an error. Evidently this was so, for the locating of the church on the west side led in 1836 to the build- ing of another on the east side, thus weakening the original organization. Soon after the dedica- tion, in 1839, the trustees sold a part of their lot to the city for fire engine house number 6, and at length, under stress of debt, sold the entire structure, moving further down the street to the present site at the corner of North Fitzhugh and
Church streets, though it was not until a much later date that Church street was opened, taking a part of the original lot and the parsonage.
The new site was purchased in 1854. The last service in the large church was held Sunday, April 30th, 1854, and the farewell sermon was preached by Rev. Henry Hickok, pastor. On the following Sunday, May 7th, services were held in the city hall, on the present site of the Powers Hotel, and were continued until the dedication of the base- ment of the church, on the first Sunday of March, 1856. Thenceforward, for nearly five years, they continued in the basement, until the dedication of the entire building by Rev. John M. Reid, D. D., LL D., president of Genesee college at Lima, N. Y., February 7th, 1861. Despite these strik- ing vicissitudes the entire period was one of marked spiritual prosperity. Under the labors of Glezen Fillmore, who was pastor in 1830-31, not less than nine hundred were converted, and in 1834 nine hundred members were reported. After the separation of the east side, in 1836, an average of three hundred members was reported for several years as belonging to the First church. Among the members were Nehemiah Osburn, Ezra Jones, Willis Kempshall, Elijah K. Blythe, Samuel Rich- ardson and James Henderson. James Vick was for many years superintendent of the Sunday school, and was succeeded by Edmund Ocum- paugh. sr. During the pastorate of Rev. William Lloyd, D. D., 1870-71, the church of 1854-61 was liberally repaired and renovated. But the prog- ress of the city, and the growing demands of modern church life, soon rendered it unsuitable, and many years of unrest and debate followed. At last, under the labors of Rev. Melville R. Web- ster, D. D., pastor, 1891-96, the present commo- dious and beautiful stone edifice was begun and the new chapel, costing $45,000, was built. John P. Weston was chairman of the committee and William J. MeKelvey secretary. March 17th, 1896. ground was broken on the west end of the church lot for the new chapel, the old building remain- ing intact for further service. On the second day of June following. at early twilight, Bishop Charles C. MeCabe, D. D., laid the corner-stone. This was his first public official act after his elec- tion and consecration as bishop, a few days be- fore, at Cleveland, Ohio. The pastorate of Dr. Webster expired October Ist, the term being lim-
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