USA > New York > Westchester County > History of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the county of Westchester, from its foundation, 1693, to 1853 > Part 55
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62
REV. WILLIAM C. MEAD
was elected rector of the parish ; and in the autumn of that year reported to the Diocesan Convention, that :- " 'The war- dens and vestry of this church, which was organized only last spring, have, with a zeal worthy of imitation, already com- menced the erection of a commodious church, which will be
* Mrs. G. W. Tompkins, the last survivor of the five died in March, 1853.
41
642
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
ready for consecration the ensuing summer." Mr. Mead removed to Pennsylvania in 1826, and was succeeded by the
REV. ALEXANDER H. CROSBY, M. A.
He reports for 1828, eleven baptisms and forty communicants. Mr. Crosby officiated till December of that year, when he was chosen rector of St. John's church, Yonkers. The
REV. JOHN W. CURTIS, M. A.
was his successor. He was the eldest son of Zechariah Curtis, and was born at Troy, N. Y. on the 7th of January, 1804. His education, preparatory to college, was entrusted to the care of Dr. Stodart and Mr. McNiece. In September, 1821, he entered Union College, where he graduated with the highest honors. Not less distinguished was his course at the Theological Sem- inary, which he entered in the autumn of 1824. Immediately after his ordination by Bishop Hobart, he accepted a call to Canandaigua and entered upon his duties towards the end of the summer of 1827, but in consequence of sickness, was compelled to return home in the fall of the same year. In the spring of 1828 he removed to Philadelphia, and accepted a temporary call to Harrisburgh, where he labored diligently for about six months. The congregation at this place were unsettled as to their ulti- mate choice of a pastor, and the church in which they then worshipped was in an unfinished state. Having received in the mean time an invitation to this parish, he accepted it, and here continued for more than two years to perform the duties of his office, cheered by many a delightful evidence of success.ª In the spring of 1831, being quite feeble, he applied to the Bishop for a change. In March, 1831, he was induced by the Bishop and clergy to become the editor of the Churchman, then first es- tablished. At the same time he had charge of the English and
He was admitted to the Holy Order of Priests by the Rt Rev. J. H. Hobart, D. D. in Grace church, White Plains, May, 30th, 1829.
643
AND CHURCH OF WHITE PLAINS.
Classical department of the Public School sustained by Trinity Church in the city of New York. The responsibilities which both these offices brought with them, instead of securing for him more leisure for private intellectual employments, and consequent serenity of mind, only brought him more care and anxiety. The change from country to city operated for the worse. He declined in health rapidly. A pure and living faith in the merits of a Divine Redeemer sustained him to the last. He died on Sun- day morning, June 7th, 1835.
" His remains were taken to Troy, and deposited in the ground that is shaded at sunset by the mount so hallowed by him in his youth-his chosen resting place in life and death-serene and sacred Ida."a He was the author of a small volume of poems published in 1846.
The
REV. ROBERT W. HARRIS, D. D.
present rector, took charge of the parish in 1831, being its fourth pastor.
THE CHURCH.
Grace church is very pleasantly situated, a little east of the Court House, in the village of White Plains, and being somewhat ele- vated above the road, commands a fine view of the valley and hills to the north-east. It is built of wood, with a handsome tower and vestry room in the rear. The former contains a fine bell weighing 1135 pounds. This edifice was consecrated on the 17th of June, 1826, by the Rt. Rev. J. H. Hobart, D.D. In 1841 a lot of ground, in the rear of that on which the church then stood, was purchased for the sum of $400, in order to afford room for the en- largement of that edifice. The same year the church was greatly improved by an addition of fourteen feet, together with a
" Poems by the late Rev. John W. Curtis, M. A. New York, Edward O. Jenkins, 114 Nassau street, N. Y., 1846.
644
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
large vestry room -- by an almost entire alteration of the in- terior of the building, and by the erection of a very neat gallery at the east end. The ladies of the parish at the same time pre- sented an elegant communion table, two handsome chairs for the chancel, and rich hangings for the pulpit and reading desk, &c. A fine toned organ has been since added. Adjoining the church is a parochial school house. The church-yard con- tains memorials to the families of Du Bois, Thomas, and others.
In the immediate vicinity is situated a parsonage and glebe of four acres,a at present occupied by the rector of the parish ; who has for twenty years past conducted a select boys school, for English, Classical and Religious education, his chief object be- ing to serve the Church, by training a few of its youth in the old paths of filial obedience, patient industry and Christian de- votion. In 1833 Trinity Church, New York, appropriated to this parish the sum of $750. To Grace church is attached, besides a parochial school, a chapel of Ease which has been re- cently erected at West White Plains. The latter is capable
Grace Church, White Plains,
ª The glebe of four acres was purchased by the vestry in 1833, and the present substantial parsonage erected thereon.
645
AND CHURCH OF WHITE PLAINS.
of seating 200 persons. It cost $865, and was paid for by the parish. Services have been held in it every Sunday since November, 1853.
The churchwardens of this parish have been, Richard Jarvis, Alan McDonald and Joshua Horton.
NOTITIA PAROCHIALIS.
In 1824, Communicants, 12,
Baptisms, 4.
In 1828
40,
11.
In 1848
50,
8.
In 1853
80,
1 2.
No. of Catechists in 1853, 20. No. of Catechumens, 90. The population of White Plains in 1840 was 1,087. In 1850 1,461.
HISTORY
OF THE
PARISH AND CHURCH
OF
LOWER GREENBURGH.
In the Dutch language Grein (Grain) burgh (borough) literally the Grain town. In some of the early deeds called " Lawrence's plantation," a name undoubtedly derived from one of its original proprietors. The aboriginal name of the town itself was Weckquaskeck ; in pure Algonquin, Weec-quaes-guck, " the place of the bark-kettle." On the 14th of July, 1649, Petrus Stuyvesant purchased lands in this parish, in behalf of the Dutch West India Company. The next grantee under the Indians, was the Hon. Frederick Philipse of East Friesland, who had emigrated to New Amsterdam at an early period. In December, 1681, this individual purchased lands of Wessickenaeuw, Sa- chem of Weckquaskeck, and other Indians. The purchases of Frederick Philipse in this parish subsequently formed a portion of the manor of Philipsburgh, which remained in the Philipse family, until the attainder of Col. Frederick Philipse, A. D. 1779, when they became vested by forfeiture in the people of this State.
For nearly seventy years St. John's church, Yonkers, consti-
647
AND CHURCH OF LOWER GREENBURGH.
tuted the only benefice in the manor of Philipsburgh. in 1833 the
REV. ALEXANDER H. CROSBY,
rector of that church, officiated once a fortnight, in the after- noon, at the school-house in the village of Dobb's Ferry, where with the blessing of God, he succeeded in collecting a congre gation, and in organizing the parish under the title of "the Rector, Churchwardens' and Vestrymen, of Zion Church, in the town of Greenburgh." On the 31st of August, 1833, the following officers were elected : Joseph Howland and Oscar Irving, churchwardens. Van Burgh Livingston, Anthony Con- stant, William Waring, Cornelius M. Odell, Andrew Storms and Everet Brown, vestrymen. ª The same year a small stone church was erected, and divine service performed therein every Sunday afternoon. In July, 1836, the
REV. WILLIAM CREIGHTON, D. D.
took charge of the parish. This gentleman was succeeded by the
REV. W. G. HEYER,
who resigned his charge on the 1st of January, 1852. The present incumbent is the
REV. WILLIAM A. McVICKAR. 1
THE CHURCH.
Zion church stands upon the highest ground in the village of Dobbs' Ferry, near the Albany post road. The wonderfully exten- sive views, which this elevated spot commands on every side, are better seen than described. This edifice has been almost wholly re-
. County Rec. R. Societies, Liber. B. p. 17. Day of election, Easter Tuesday.
648
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
built and enlarged to three times its original size, during the past year, and was consecrated on Monday the 24th of July, 1854, by the late Rt. Rev. the Provisional Bishop of the Diocese.
"The building which was an enlargement of the original struc- ture, is of rough grey stone, but does not claim to be in any respect strictly correct. There is no distinct chancel externally ; the roof is of classical flatness, and a classical cornice still remains to testify to the prevailing style when it was first erected. But the changes made have wholly altered the character of the building, and made more of it than could have been supposed possible. It had originally about twenty pews, all owned by
· rich men It has now about seventy open seats, all free. The side windows are left of the original size, which is of the largest. There are no lateral buttresses, except those added to give breadth to the tower at the west end. (We use the points of the compass conventionally, the chancel being at the south in- stead of the east.) This tower was originally very low and narrow, but the buttresses have given it breadth below, and it has been continued above, into a belfry, which is one of the most unique and picturesque features about the exterior of the church. It has four sharp gables, two of which are of somewhat less height. The belfry openings have angular instead of arched heads, single lights and couplets alternating. This belfry is oc- supied by a fine toned bell. There are very pretty ventilation openings, small and traceried, of Caen stone, in the tower and at the east end over the chancel window. The iron work of the gable, crosses, finials and the large ornate vase on the top of the turret is remarkably successful, and shows what can be done in that line by a country blacksmith under good direction. This direction, we ought to add, was that of the rector himself, who has been the sole architect throughout these alterations.
In the interior the effect of the church is very pleasing, though plain. There is a gallery at the west end, with the harmonium and occupied principally by the choir. The open seats have standards, ending in tall though plain poppy-heads. The win- dows are filled with plain ground glass, a portion of the quarries
649
AND CHURCH OF LOWER GREENBURGH.
being tinted. The chancel is formed by railing off a portion of the nave (about fifteen feet) in a manner somewhat peculiar, but very effective. The upright beams that mark the corners of the chancel projection, run up to the roof, their braces being arched, and the open space over the arch line being filled up withi tracery, (not good in design, and very thin in its execution.) The altar rail connects these two main posts below. The sides of the chancel are formed by high open screen-work of six com- partments, arched and cusped under a beam running from the main corner post to the east wall. The lower part of these side screens is solid. Between these side screens and the wall are the benches for Sunday-school children. The chancel is two steps above the nave, having a couple of stalls and book-boards on the north side, and a lectern on the south. The altar, which is of oak, with a top slab of Caen stone, stands on a broad step, having a credence shelf on the south side, and the Bishop's chair on the north. The chancel wood-work is all of varnished oak, as is also the pulpit, which stands in the nave against the south wall. 'The altar is beautifully vested with green cloth, frontal, and super-frontal richly fringed and embroidered. The frontal is seme of the passion flower, conventionally treated, and on the super-frontal the same flower, mingled with the vine, is treated more au naturel, the two being twined together in an original and highly effective manner. The embroidery was exe- cuted by Mrs. Ferguson, 188 Fulton street. The altar window is a triplet, and the only elaborate window in the church. It is mainly of pattern glass, with excellent grisaille. In a large medallion in the central light, on a blue ground, is the Saviour with little children, and the legend below : 'Feed my lambs.' In the side lights are four small medallions, bearing angels with scrolls inscribed with the names of the Four Evangelists ; and in each light is also a central medallion, with ruby ground, bear- ing a pot with white lilies-the emblem of innocence. The window bears the memorial inscription :-- IN MEMORIAM SARAH MINTURN, quæ septimo anno œtatis domum rediit. Lux per- petua luceat ei, Domine. Hanc vitream posuerunt parentes."
650
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
The archeism in the figures of the children, in the central me- dallion, is rather more severe than there is any need for ; but for admirable harmony of color, and generally satisfactory effect, we have never seen any glass made in this country superior to this specimen of the skill of DOREMUS & AKEROYD. There is not.a particle of glass in the window that is dull or flat in effect. The ruby is particularly varied and rich in tint and treatment. And the tone of the whole together-the cool colors decidedly predominating-is exceedingly fine.
Zion Church, Lower Greenburgh.
" The ground which it occupies was the gift of Van Burgh Livingston, Esq. The foundation of the old edifice was laid as we have seen in 1833, and the church consecrated to the service of Almighty God on Tuesday, the 20th of May, 1834, by Bishop Onderdonk. There are two or three interments in the grave yard, surrounding the church, of members belong- ing to the Noble, Bowdoin and Irving families.
To this church is attached the chapel school of St. Barnabas, at Dearman's. This building is so erected, chapel-wise, as to be used seperate as a school, or united as a church. When open for worship, whether daily or weekly, the whole becomes a church ;
.651
AND CHURCH OF LOWER GREENBURGH.
the eastern or chapel part becoming the chancel ; the western or school, the nave, and is capable of accommodating one hun- dred and fifty hearers.
Zion Church, prior to enlargement.
The total inside length including the western porch, 62 feet Width of school part - - 20 chapel " - - - 32
Projection beyond school, (eastward)
Height of school side wall, gables, End W. -
-
12
-
10
- 30
The chapel portion consists, besides the chancel proper, of a sacristy, opening out of doors, and a library room with a small organ communicating with the school. The northern and west- ern porches are so arranged as to add equally to the convenience of the school, and to the accommodation of the church. A small southern door is added in the western porch for the entrance and exit of the school in stormy weather.
The ceiling of the school is on the collar beams, showing the main rafters, with plain gothic arch. The chancel arch is sim- ply adorned. The eastern triplet is in rich stained glass. The school windows, which are in couplets, with stone mullions, are diamond panes of ground glass.
Over the entrance in the southern porch is cut in stone the well known and appropriate arms of St. Barnabas, an " open book and pastoral staff." On the walls of the school are to be inscribed its FOUNDERS, including all who shallcontribute village lots for its support, or equivalent pieces of land, or endowment
.
652
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
in money to the amount of two hundred dollars ; to each of whom belong, by the terms of such endowment, a perpetual free scholarship in the school. For all minor donations, a " record book" is kept always open on the library table of the school. The walls of the school are enriched with the texts appropriate. The teacher of the school, it is intended shall be a Deacon of the Church, an assistant to the missionary of the village, under whose general superintendance the school shall be carried on, until a regular parish shall be formed within it; when the school of St. Barnabas will become the parochial school of St. Barnabas, not losing, however, its chapel character for daily school services and bearing besides upon its fame and memory the blessing of the Church, which shall have grown up on its labors and through its holy influences."a
" The total cost of the building, including chapel and school, furniture, fencing, &c. was about $5000, of which the sum of $2250 was the amount contributed including the grant from Trinity Church. The balance was from the private funds of the individual clergyman planning and erecting it. To com- plete, however, the full design of the chapel school, and to give it permanency, a small parsonage and teacher's house of stone, to be erected on the adjoining lot, are still wanting, and are now proposed to be added, and with that view, the lot has been pur- chased and will be conveyed in trust for that purpose, together with a perpetual lien on the production and apparently inex- haustible stone quarry in the neighborhood, from which the chapel school was built, of $50 per annum, to be paid for ever towards the teacher's support, provided that within the year funds for such erection be raised or pledged amounting to not less than $1000."
The dedication of the chapel school of St. Barnabas took place on Saturday, June 11th, 1853, the Festival of St. Barnabas. The following notice of the event is taken from the Church Journal :-
· New York, Ecclesiologist, vol. 4, No. 6, p. 163.
653
AND CHURCH OF LOWER GREENBURGH.
"At the appointed hour, the procession of clergy, consisting of thirteen, in surplices, besides the Provisional Bishop, left the sacristy, and going by the north side of the building, entered at the western door. As it moved slowly up the central alley, the 19th Psalm was said in alternate verses by the Bishop and the rest of the clergy. The Instrument of Donation and Request, executed by the Rev. Dr. McVickar, to whose means and exertions, together with those of his son, the Rev. Wm. A. McVic- kar, the conception and execution of this original and excellent design is almost wholly due-was read by the Rev. Wm. A. McVickar. The sentence of dedication of the building, together with a special consecration of the chancel thereof, was read by the Rev. Samuel R. Johnson, D. D. Morning Prayer was said by the Rev. Wm, F. Halsey, of Sing Sing, and the Rev. A. B. Carter, of Yonkers, assisted in the les- sons by the Rev. Dr. Haight, of New York, and the Rev. Mr. Moore, Sub-Warden of St. Augustine's College, Canterbury. The Bishop said the Ante-Communion office, the Rev. Dr. McVickar reading the Epistle, and also preaching from the words ' Occupy till I come.' St. Luke, xix. 13. It was an admirable and beautiful dis- course, setting forth the duty of consecrating the talent of wealth to the service of
od, and showing the importance of religion as the keystone of tho arch of our liberties, and the only principle whichi could render the general diffusion of knowledge a blessing. He enlarged upon the happy symbolism of the building, the main part of which is to serve as a school-room through the week, and as the nave of a church in time of Divine Service. This constant and ever visible connection of religion with daily life and education, would render it interwoven through their whole texture and not merely patched on, as was now too generally the case. The venerable preacher appealed to his own experience, as a teacher under whom the third genera- tion is now receiving instruction, and asserted that there was no sure safeguard against ruin which might not fail except a thorough religious training. He al- luded, with deep feeling, to the joy of hearing, in that place, for the first time since the Creation, the hills and rocks around re-echoing to the sound of ' the church-going bell.' He conveyed the gratifying intelligence that the chapel- school already has somewhat of an endowment in landed estate, although not such as can yet produce any annual revenue. Its benefactors were handsomely yet deli- cately alluded to; on the list of whom the name of Washington Irving stands first enrolled. After a warm exhortation in favor of extending the system of chapel- schools, the preacher concluded with an earnest exhortation to his hearers to remember that they were all builders, who were rearing each the fabric of his own life. Every day the walls of that fabric were rising higher and higher. He exhorted them to see to it that what they builded should be silver, gold or precious stones, that might last and shine for ever : not the wood, hay and stubble of vanity and worldliness, which must all perish at last in the fire."
The following particulars touching the origin of its free scholarship, may not be without interest in showing how a good scheme prospers under God's blessing.
" From a friend interested in the village of Dearman, came its first landed endowment, viz : the two village lots, (50 feet by
654
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
100) with two adjoining gores, on which the building stands ; the gift of one bearing an honored name, the grandson and name-sake of the friend, companion and counsellor of Washing- ton, a name and gift now perpetuated in the 'JOHN JAY SCHOL- ARSHIP.' A second bears in its name an equal national rank and character, viz : the 'ALEXANDER HAMILTON SCHOLAR- SHIP.' Through the kindness of the grandson and name-sake of that eminent leader in Washington's counsels and framer of our country's policy. A third bears also the name of the 'JOHN BARD SCHOLARSHIP,' the first contributor of funds to aid in the erection of the school. A fourth scholarship bears the well known name of its earliest country contributor, a name as world-wide in literary reputation as it is dear to his friends ; the ' WASHINGTON IRVING SCHOLARSHIP.' A fifth bears the name of a most liberal and kind contributor to all good works ; the ' ROBERT B. MINTURN SCHOLARSHIP.' A sixth that of the 'FRANKLIN C. FIELD SCHOLARSHIP,' in return for the gift of two village lots. And a seventh that of the 'TRINITY CHURCH SCHOLARSHIP,' in memory of its liberal grant of $1000.
Chapel School and Parsonage of St. Barnabas. .
655
AND CHURCH OF LOWER GREENBURGH.
To these free scholarships, the nomination under the rules of the school, is in the hands of those whose names they respec- tively bear, for life, or descending to heirs according to the amount of endowment.
In addition to the above private scholarships, nine further are provided, as "on the foundation," to which the nomination lies jointly in the " Visitor," the " Missionary" and the "Principal" of the school ; the object of these last being to provide gratuit- ous instruction for such as need in the neighborhood, without the reproachful distinction of being received in forma pau- peris.
NOTITIA PAROCHIALIS.
In 1834, Baptisms, 2,
Communicants, 15. In 1853, 4, 66 22.
No. of Catechists belonging to this parish in 1853, 5. Cate- chumens, 34. No. of Families, 18. No. of Souls, 130.
HISTORY
OF THE
PARISH AND CHURCH
OF
OSSIN-ING.
Ossin-ing once formed a part of Mount Pleasant, and like the neighboring parishes, was originally included within the honor and fee of Philipsburgh.
Ossin-ing, the proper Indian orthography of the word, vari- ously written, Sing Sing, Sin Sinck and Sink Sink, is derived from Ossin (a stone) and ing (a place) or " stone upon stone," a name exceedingly characteristic of this beautiful parish, whose coast is guarded by a vast munition of rocks and ancient boulders.
The first grantee under the Indians of Ossin-ing, was Frede- rick Philipse, to whom on the 24th of August, 1685, they re- leased all that tract of land, called by them Sint-Sinck. This Indian purchase was confirmed to his son, Philip Philipse, by royal patent in 1686. On the death of Frederick Philipse, A. D. 1700, this portion of the manor of Philipsburgh passed by will to his second son, Adolph Philipse, who dying without issue in 1749, it became vested in his nephew, the Hon. Frederick Philipse, son of his eldest brother, Philip Philipse. The last
657
AND CHURCH OF OSSIN-ING.
mesne lord was Col. Frederick Philipse, with whose attainder these lands expired in the Philipse family.
Prior to the Revolution, Episcopal services were occasionally performed for this neighborhood at Croton, by the missionaries . of the Venerable Propagation Society. In 1762, the Rev. Mr. Dibble writing to the Secretary of that Society, says :- " I preached a lecture at Croton, where I found no settled teacher of any denomination : but sundry heads of families, professors of our Church, and many others well disposed towards it." So that ninety-one years have elapsed since the prayers of our venerable Church were first offered in this vicinity.
For some time previous to 1833 there had been occasional services held at some private house, when a clergyman of the Church happened to be in the village of Sing Sing or its vicin- ity. In 1833, there was reported to be twenty-four heads of families, with an aggregate of one hundred and thirty-six souls belonging to the Episcopal Church. " At a meeting of Episcopa- lians, residing in the village of Sing Sing and vicinity, held at the house of Mr. Caleb Bacon, on the 3d of October, 1833, it was resolved to form themselves into a society for the purpose, under Divine favor and assistance, of forming a Church in said village ; and that we will communicate with our Episcopal friends and neighbors on the subject, and urge by our best en- deavors their co-operation in the good work." It was alsoagreed to write to the Rev. Mr. Jelliff, of North Salem, who had expressed a wish to aid them in establishing a Church. Upon the 27th of October, the Rev. Mr. Crosby officiated in the house of Mr. Ba- con, and on the 3d of November following, divine service hav- ing been read by James Smith, Esq. notice was given of their intention to organize a parish according to law. At a meeting of the congregation held November 11th, 1833, present, the Rev. A. H. Crosby of Yonkers; the following gentlemen were elected the first officers of this parish, viz : Caleb Bacon and George William Cartwright, churchwardens. Robert Wiltse, Jo- seph Hunt, John Strang, Jacob C. Arthur, Peter R. Maison, John Barlow, William Dargue and James Smith, vestrymen. At a
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.