USA > New York > Putnam County > Garrison > History of St. Philip's church in the Highlands, Garrison, New York, including, up to 1840, St. Peter's church on the manor of Cortlandt > Part 16
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In the first place; By referring to Canon XV of the Diocese you will see ordered that "In every Parish of the Diocese provision shall be made for at least monthly Church offerings, by collection or otherwise, for Theological education, Diocesan Missions and other Church objects &c." I am not aware of any scheme of collections in this Parish, If there be none I would suggest the following: viz .-
Thanksgiving Day Aged and Infirm Clergy
Christmas Episcopal Fund
Epiphany
Foreign Missions
Quinquagesima
P. E. Tract Society
Easter
General Theological Seminary
May Theological Education Fund
Whitsunday Bible & Common Prayer Book Society
July
Missionary Committee of the Diocese
August
S. S. Union & Church Book Society Parish Purposes
September October
Parish Sunday School
In the second place, By referring to Canon VII of the Diocese it will be seen that it is the duty of the
1 Mr. Pecke was formally elected Rector a little later.
236 The History of St. Philip's Church
Vestry of each church to provide a book which shall be the Parish Register, and in which all the particu- lars of every infant and adult Baptism, Marriage, Burial & Confirmation, and an accurate list of all the Communicants shall be entered. The book which has been given to me as the Parish Register commenced by the previous incumbent is a simple blank book entirely unsuitable to the designed end, and the records in it are merely memoranda, deficient in names dates &c. I would suggest a speedy compli- ance with the Canon literally, by the purchase of a book made for the purpose, that the entries here- after may be accurate and correct. Such a book may be purchased at Stanford & Sword's Book-store, 637 Broadway, New York.
There are some things about the Church building which might and could be improved. For instance a bell is much needed. If the Vestry will authorize the erection of a bell-cote I will endeavor to procure a bell as a gift. The Church is without a Font. This ought not to be. It is almost useless to speak from the pulpit to the worldly and negligent of the importance of Christian Baptism when our practice shows that we do not deem it of sufficient impor- tance to provide the necessaries for its proper admin- istration even though the Church has ordered it.
Again in regard to the Bible in use in the church. It has not the Apocrypha. We do not of course hold to the duty of reverencing alike the Apocryphal and Canonical Books of Scripture; but inasmuch as the Church has in her Calendar appointed portions of the Apocrypha to be read as Lessons at the time of public worship, it is clearly the duty of every Parish to pro- vide such a Bible as contains the Apocrypha.
Again there cannot be a rubrical celebration of the Holy Communion in the present arrangement of Chancel furniture. There must be what is called a
Parish of St. Philip's in the Highlands 237
Credence table, that is, a table on which the elements remain until the time when the Rubric orders "The Priest shall then place upon the Table so much Bread and Wine as he shall think sufficient." The Clergy have made a solemn vow that they will obey the Rub- rics and other laws of the Church. It is not right that they should be compelled to break such vows by the want of what the Parish should provide. More- over the present Communion table is so low and so small that it is very uncomfortable for any one, even the shortest person, to officiate at it. It is, too, so close to the rail that the Clergy cannot easily pass between. If the table were made larger, there would be no passage at all.
Desirous of making the arrangement more proper and comfortable, I propose to remove the present pul- pit and desk; and of the material to make a larger and more convenient Communion table placed against the wall on a platform raised one step above the Chancel floor and a Credence table placed on one side. I would also put in a handsome Lectern from which the lessons could be read and sermons preached. This work I propose to do with my own hands and at my own expense, counting it an honor and a privilege to be allowed to labour for the Lord in the meanest occupation. I am satisfied that every one would con- sider the appearance of the church improved by the alteration, inasmuch as there would be apparently five feet added to the length of the church. The comfort to the Minister officiating would be very much greater than now; and to the people, it would be not a little, since at present to look at the preacher during sermon necessitates a very uncomfortable elevation of the eyes. I have examined the work carefully and have made calculations for every particular, so that I speak with knowledge when I say that it can be easily done, and at no greater expence than my own
238 The History of St. Philip's Church
labour which will be most readily and Cheerfully given. A few days would finish the work when begun.
I ask the action of the Vestry on these matters and remain
Gentlemen Your very humble Minister and servant in Christ, E. M. Pecke
April 17, 1854.
This lengthy and logical letter is of more than ordinary interest and value. It affords a glimpse of the appear- ance of the old frame church in the middle of the nine- teenth century-a church without a baptismal font, an altar and a bell and with an old-fashioned lofty pulpit fronted with a desk and a low Communion table. These arrangements speak eloquently of the type of Church- manship prevailing in the eighteenth century, when the church was first built, and continuing for nearly a hundred years.
Mr. Pecke's requests are significant of a changing spirit, and of a new order of Churchmanship. One of the results of the Oxford Movement in England was a revolution in church architecture and a re-arrangement of the interior of the older churches so as to make reverent worship possible, which was precisely the plea so force- fully urged for the alterations of St. Philip's.
Such a change came in America as well as England, but it did not come without stress and conflict. It was hardly to be expected, therefore, that such radical alterations in the chancel arrangements in St. Philip's could be carried out as quickly as Mr. Pecke hoped. What the Vestry did was to remit the questions and pro- posals to the standing committee, which consisted of
Parish of St. Philip's in the Highlands 239
Frederick Philipse, John Garrison and Richard Upjohn. The committee reported on August 8th, and authorized the placing of a credence table, font, and made provision for a bell and a Parish register. They demurred to the canonical collections on the ground that "in small parishes like ours with a church requiring much repair, without a Rectory and affording but a small salary for their Rector & having moreover monthly celebrations of the Holy Communion & regular collections thereat it would seem that such collections would be held a suffi- cient compliance with the Canon." They were not willing to change the Bible nor to remove the pulpit and desk, though Mr. Upjohn dissented from the latter decision.
The dawning of the year 1860 found the Parish peace- ful and prosperous. The initial difficulties of organiza- tion had been successfully overcome; the frequent changes of Clergy had ceased; and the Rector was housed in a valuable property owned by the Parish.
Times were prosperous and the moment had come for a marked material and spiritual advance. With the opportunity came the man. The resignation of the Rev. Dr. Clap in 1860 made a vacancy in the rectorship which was filled by the calling of the Rev. Charles Frederick Hoffman, who entered into residence on May 1st, 1860. The immediate task for the Rector was the erection of a new church. For ninety years St. Philip's Chapel had served the community, but with the advent of new families the plain pre-Revolutionary structure became unsuitable and inadequate. In 1855 it had been reported to the Diocesan Convention that "the Church is very much out of repair and very uncom-
240 The History of St. Philip's Church
fortable; a new one is greatly needed."1 Two years later the Vestry considered plans and estimates for the alteration of the old Church, but in 1860 it was resolved to arise and build.
The parish was fortunate in having upon the Vestry Richard Upjohn, "the Elder," the distinguished architect of Trinity Church in the city of New York, and who drew the plans for the new St. Philip's in the Highlands with- out fee or reward. At a Vestry meeting held on January 8th, 1861, the plans and specifications were submitted. The estimated cost of the building was $9,350; or without the tower, $7,975. On the motion of Mr. William Moore, seconded by Judge John Garrison, it was resolved to un- dertake the erection of the church " provided subscriptions for the necessary sum can be obtained-and that the members of the Vestry shall in the meantime exert themselves to obtain subscriptions for the additional sum requisite to add the Tower on the original plan." The contractor was Sylvanus Ferris, and the building com- mittee consisted of the Rev. Charles Frederick Hoffman, William Moore and Henry W. Belcher; early in 1862 the name of the Hon. Hamilton Fish was added.
There lies before the writer now the original list of subscribers. It contains the names of men, for the most part, long associated with the fortunes of the parish -William Moore, Nathaniel F. Moore, Charles de Rham, Richard D. Arden, Frederick Philipse, the Gouverneur Brothers, William and Francis Livingston, Henry W. Belcher and Thomas B. Arden; also the names of newer residents like William Henry Osborn.
1 N. Y. Convention Journal, 1855.
ST. PHILIP'S CHURCH IN THE HIGHLANDS
Parish of St. Philip's in the Highlands 241
The following is a list of the subscriptions, all of which were conditional on the church being completed free of debt:
William Moore $2150.00
Peter Brosse
$10.00
H. C. de Rham
1250.00
Miss Arden 10.00
Fredk Philipse
Richard Hopper 10.00
S.M.W.Gouverneur 1000.00
John Hopper 10.00
Gouverneur
Thos. H. Austin
10.00
Nathnl. F. Moore
600.00
James Hopper
10.00
Gov' Fish
472.00
T. A. von Kesners
50.00
Chas. de Rham
250.00
Margaret Wilson
1.00
Henry W. Belcher
1000.00
Mr & Mrs Acres
5.00
Wm. S. Livingston
300.00
G. Gifford
5.00
Francis S. Livingston
250.00
Saml Austin
5.00
Chas. de Rham
250.00
James Weller
5.00
Eugene Dutilh
250.00
W. M. Vail
5.00
L. L. Livingston
120.00
Jesse Austin 3.00
Susan M. Dutilh
100.00
Justice Austin.
3.00
J. A. Voiscin
100.00
Matthias Turner
3.00
Chas. Dutilh
50.00
Ann Wilson
2.00
J. A. Van Hancet
50.00
Nelson Devoe
1.00
Mr. Taylor 50.00
Hiram Van Tassel
1.00
W. H. Osborn
250.00
Thomas B. Brien
1.00
J. Sherwood
100.00
John Hopper jr
1.00
Mrs. C. F. Hoffman
50.00
Josiah Gilbert
1.00
Dr and Mrs. Hodges
100.00
Chas Turner
1.00
Thos. B. Arden
50.00
James H. Mead
1.00
Rev. C. F. Hoffman
33.33
Fanny Wilson
1.00
Wm. H. Denning
100.00
Benj. Wilson
1.00
Rich. Arden
100.00
Chas. Wilson
1.00
Miss de Rham
25.00
Richard Hayes
1.00
Mrs. Laight
100.00
Thomas Hayes
1.00
Mr Cromwell
25.00
Robt. Powell
3.00
G. F. & W. D. Garrison 10.00
M. Shelley
.25
Danl Hopper
10.00
242 The History of St. Philip's Church
In addition to these gifts of money John Garrison con- tributed one hundred dollars in "sand and teaming," and George Garrison "dockage" to the value of twenty- five dollars, Benjamin Devoe gave six and George Booth five dollars in labor. The offering at the laying of the corner-stone was $19.25, and at the consecration of the church $43.72. Mrs. Upjohn presented a window; Dr. and Mrs. Hodges a musical instrument and the Rector and his friends the Chancel furniture. The extra money for the erection of the tower was secured largely through the efforts of Mr. Belcher. After the consecration of the church additional donations were contributed as follows :
Wm. Moore
$500.00
Henry W. Belcher
$100.00
H. C. de Rham
500.00
Dr. N. F. Moore
100.00
The Gouverneurs
250.00
W. S. Livingston 50.00
Hamilton Fish
200.00
Geo. Arden 25.00
The new church occupied the site of the old chapel, and the latter building was removed a little to the north at a cost of sixty dollars, and temporarily used for ser- vices. It was also found necessary to transfer several bodies to make way for the larger building, and this was reverently accomplished under the direction of the Vestry.
On the 1st day of May, 1861, being the Feast of St. Philip and St. James, the corner stone of the new edifice was laid, with appropriate ceremony, by Bishop Horatio Potter, who reports to the Diocesan Convention:
In St. Philips in the Highlands I preached, con- firmed 16 and addressed them, having previous to the A. M. service laid the corner stone of a new edifice to be erected for S. Philip's.1
1 N. Y. Convention Journal, 1861.
Parish of St. Philip's in the Highlands 243
Exactly one year later, on Thursday, May 1st, 1862, the new Church of St. Philip's in the Highlands was solemnly consecrated to the service and worship of Almighty God by the Bishop of New York. Six per- sons were confirmed on that historic occasion, and the sermon was preached by the Very Reverend Eugene A. Hoffman, sometime Dean of the General Theological Seminary.
The following "Instrument of Donation" was adopted by the Vestry and presented to the Bishop:
We, the Rector, Church Wardens and Vestrymen of S. Philips Church in the Highlands, in Philipstown, County of Putnam, State of New York, having by the good Providence of God erected in the said town a house of public worship, do hereby appropriate and devote the same to the worship and service of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, according to the provisions of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States of America, in its Ministry, Doctrines, Liturgy, Rites and Usages, and by a con- gregation in communion with said Church, and in union with the Convention hereof in the Diocese of New York.
And we do also hereby request the Right Reverend Horatio Potter, D.D., D.C.L., Oxon. Bishop of the said Diocese, to take the said Building under his spir- itual jurisdiction as Bishop aforesaid, and that of his successors in office, and to Consecrate the same by the name of S. Philip's Church in the Highlands, and thereby separate it from all unhallowed, worldly and common uses, and solemnly dedicate it to the holy purposes above mentioned.
And we do moreover hereby relinquish all claim to any right of disposing of said building or allowing of the use of it in any way inconsistent with the terms
244 The History of St. Philip's Church
and true meaning of this Instrument of Donation, and with the Consecration hereby requested of the Bishop of the Diocese.
In testimony whereof, we the said Rector, Church- Wardens and Vestrymen have caused this Instrument of Donation to have attached to it the Seal of our Corporation, and the signatures of the Presiding Officer and Clerk of a meeting duly convened on this the first day of May, in the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight hundred and sixty-two, being the Feast of S. Philip and S. James.
Chas. Fredk Hoffman, Rector Presiding.
Frederick Philipse, Clerk of the Vestry.
The certificate of consecration which hangs in the vestry of the church reads as follows:
IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN.
Whereas the Church-Wardens and Vestrymen of the Parish of Saint Philip's Church in the Highlands, Philipstown, in the County of Putnam, State of New York, have, by an Instrument this day presented to me, appropriated and devoted a house of public wor- ship erected by them in the said Philipstown to the worship and service of Almighty God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost according to theprovisions of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, in Ministry, Doctrines, Liturgy, Rites and Usages; and by a congregation in union with said Church, and in union with the Convention thereof in the Diocese of New York;
And Whereas the said Rector, Church-Wardens and Vestrymen have, by the same Instrument, re- quested me to take this said house of worship under my spiritual jurisdiction as Bishop of the Diocese of
BISHOP OF NEW YORK, 1854-1857
Parish of St. Philip's in the Highlands 245
New York, and that of my successors in office, and consecrate it by the name of
SAINT PHILIP'S IN THE HIGHLANDS and hereby separate it from all unhallowed, worldly and common uses, and solemnly dedicate it to the holy purposes above mentioned.
NOW THEREFORE, know all men by these Presents, that I, HORATIO POTTER, D.D., by Divine permission Bishop of the Diocese of New York, acting under the protection of ALMIGHTY GOD, have on this first day of May, being the FEAST OF S. PHILIP AND S. JAMES, in the year of our LORD one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, taken the above mentioned house of worship under my spiritual jurisdiction as BISHOP aforesaid, and that of my successors in office; and in presence of divers of the Clergy, and a public congregation therein assembled, and according to the form prescribed by the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, have CONSECRATED the same by the name of SAINT PHILIP'S CHURCH IN THE HIGHLANDS.
AND I DO HEREBY pronounce and declare that the said SAINT PHILIP'S CHURCH IN THE HIGHLANDS is CONSECRATED accordingly, and thereby separated thenceforth from all unhallowed, worldly and common uses, and DEDICATED to the worship of ALMIGHTY GOD, the FATHER, the SON and the HOLY GHOST, for reading and preaching His Holy Word, for celebrating His Holy Sacraments, for offering to His Glorious Majesty the Sacrifices of Prayer, Praise and Thanksgiving, for blessing His people in His name and for the perfor- mance of all other Holy Offices, agreeably to the terms of the Covenant of Grace and Salvation in our LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST, and accord-
246 The History of St. Philip's Church
ing to the provisions of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, in its Ministry, Doctrines, Rites and Usages.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto affixed my Seal and Signature in PHILIPSTOWN on the day and in the year above written, and in the eighth year of my consecration.
Horatio Potter, Bishop of New York.
The frame building used as the former church was removed to Highland (now Manitou), and re-erected as the Chapel of St. James, the corner-stone being laid on the Feast of St. Philip and St. James, May 1st, 1863. In 1868 Mrs. Henry W. Belcher presented to the church a bell, which was duly hung in the tower. It bears the inscription :
Oh, ye Bells of the Lord, Bless ye the Lord. Praise Him and magnify Him for Ever.
The years from 1862 until the present have witnessed steady spiritual growth and material enrichment. With the new church the parish entered upon a new era. In 1864 much care and money were expended upon laying out the grounds of the church under the direction of S. M. Warburton Gouverneur, and two years later the school-house was finally removed from the church property.
The centenary of the church was celebrated in 1871. "On September 21st we celebrated the Centenary of our existence."1 The sermon was preached by Mr. Hoffman and was published by the request of the Vestry.
1 N. Y. Convention Journal, 1871.
₹
INTERIOR OF ST. PHILIP'S CHURCH IN THE HIGHLANDS
Parish of St. Philip's in the Highlands 247
In 1875 extensive repairs to the rectory were carried out at a cost of over $8,000, of which the Rector, the Rev. A. Z. Gray, contributed one fourth.
Eight years later the late Mr. Hamilton Fish built the handsome and substantial stone wall around the church grounds as a thank offering for the preservation of his wife in a serious accident. The following year the church was re-decorated at a cost of $1,200.
In 1895 the late John M. and Mrs. Toucey presented to the church a two-manual organ, which bears this inscription:
Erected to the Glory of God and in filial devotion to the memory of Harriet Toucey and Emeline Butler-Atwater. The gift of John M. and Mary Butler Toucey.
At the same time they provided an Endowment of $5,000 for its maintenance. Advantage was taken of the necessary alterations to lay a Mosaic floor in the nave and transepts, which was carried out under the direction of the late Mr. Samuel Sloan. In the year 1903 the sum of $7,585 was raised by subscription as an addition to the Endowment fund of the parish.
For very many years the parish was without a suitable building for Sunday School and other parochial pur- poses. In 1890 a committee of the Vestry was appointed to consider the question of accommodation for the Sun- day School, but the response was not deemed sufficient to justify further steps. Matters so remained until 1895, when a parish house was erected by the late Mrs. J. M. Toucey, and her son, Donald Toucey, as a memorial to her husband who was for several years a member of the Vestry and treasurer of the parish.
248 The History of St. Philip's Church
Home missionary work has always filled a large place in the history of the parish. As early as 1835 services were conducted in Cold Spring by the Rev. Charles Luck and continued by the Revs. Henry L. Storrs, Ebenezer Williams and Robert Shaw. They resulted in the building of St. Mary's in the Highlands, and the for- mation of an independent parish. The Rev. Charles Frederick Hoffman reports to the Diocesan Convention of 1860:
Mission services have been held since August at a settlement two or three miles south of this parish, and a Sunday School has been organized. Services are held there every Sunday by myself, between the two regular services held in the parish Church, and the children are catechised every Sunday. The room in which we worship was lent to us by the owner, and has been fitted up for a Chapel, with an appropriate altar, font, lectern platform, temporary vestry-room, and a Sunday School Library.1
This interesting report marks the beginnings of the mission work carried on at Highlands (now Manitou) unbrokenly by the parish for nearly fifty years. When the old church was pulled down, the Vestry placed the materials at the disposal of the Rector, who rebuilt it at Manitou. The land was given by Mr. W. H. Denning of Fishkill. It was appropriately called St. James' Chapel. In 1868 a bell was hung in the tower, and in 1870 Mr. Hoffman chronicles the gift of a "massive altar, and a silver Chalice and Patten."2 In inlaid wood there ap- pears upon the center of the altar a pierced heart, and on
1 New York Convention Journal, 1860.
2 New York Convention Journal, 1870.
ST. JAMES' CHAPEL
Parish of St. Philip's in the Highlands 249
the corners the nail-pierced hands and feet of the Saviour. The first Celebration of the Holy Communion at the chapel was on the Sunday after Easter, 1870.
The Rev. Albert Zabriskie Gray faithfully maintained and extended the missionary work of the parish. In addition to officiating at St. Philip's and St. James' Chapel, he carried on services at the Chemical Works on the border of Westchester County.
Mr. Gray then turned his attention to a spiritually destitute locality in the southeastern portion of the parish and established a Sunday School and held regular services in a small school-house. The people so readily responded to his efforts that the building of a Mission Chapel was projected. Land for this purpose was deeded by the late Erastus Mowatt, and in 1878 or 1879 the Chapel of St. John's in the Wilderness was erected. The cost was met by the contributions of sympathetic church people in the parish, aided by a few friends in New York. At the visitation of the Bishop in 1880 seven can- didates from St. John's were presented for Confirmation.
In 1908 the construction of the New York City Aque- duct brought into an outlying part of the parish a large number of workmen, mainly Italians and negroes, for whose religious welfare no provision had been made. The Rector, the Rev. E. Clowes Chorley, held weekly services for the men in a saloon-the only available place. By the voluntary gifts of a few friends of the parish, St. Philip's Hall was erected. It was dedicated on October 9th, 1908, at a service conducted by the Rev. Frederick Van Kleeck, D.D., Archdeacon of West- chester, and is opened during the week as a club room for the men.
250 The History of St. Philip's Church
The latest addition to the property of the parish is a new rectory. With the lapse of time the frame building which was the home of the rectors for fifty-four years became unsuitable for the purpose. Knowing this, the widow and children of the late Samuel Sloan, for many years a Vestryman and Warden of the parish, expressed their desire to build a new rectory in memory of Mr. Sloan. At the service held on Christmas Day, 1910- Mr. Sloan's birthday-the Rector read the following letter written by Mrs. Sloan in her ninetieth year.
7 East 38th St., New York.
December 22, 1910.
My Dear Mr. Chorley :-
I and my children desire to do something for the church we have attended so long and have cherished with so much affection and have chosen as our resting place, and suggest building a new rectory on a new site in the church grounds. We all unite together, includ- ing my daughter Margaret's children and my son William's children, all feeling the most tender affec- tion and interest in adding to the comfort of the neighborhood, and we do this as a memorial to the father and grandfather knowing his interest in its welfare. We hope it will be a gratification to our associates with whom we have lived so long. Hoping our dear Mr. Chorley may have the benefit with warm affection.
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