USA > New York > Westchester County > History of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the county of Westchester, from its foundation, 1693, to 1853 > Part 59
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The credit of first attempting the establishment of an Epis- copal church in West Farms, is due, under God, to Miss Mar- garet Hunt, (daughter of Thomas Hunt, fourth in descent from Edward Jessup, one of the first patentees) a lady whose intelli- gent zeal, kindly sympathy and untiring benevolence, deserve especial mention. The work was undertaken by this lady about 1836, and although the number of Episcopalians in the immediate neighborhood was then comparatively small, still a considerable interest was awakened by her endeavors. The amount of $2061 was collected, to which the sum of $1000 was added by the munificent donation of Mrs. C. L. Spencer, to whose christian liberality, the congregation is further indebted for the gift of an organ, a Sunday-school library, and numerous other contributions to the church. Additional aid was given by the following gentlemen, viz : Messrs. Peter Lorillard, Jr., Philip M. Lydig, Gouverneur M. Wilkins, J. D. Wolf, William A. Spencer and others, making in all the sum of $4,153 95, the cost of the church. The congregation are also deeply indebted to Francis Barretto, Esq., of the building committee, for his gene- rous sympathy with the first projectors of the church, as well as for his attentive supervision of the building while in process of erection.
Grace Church, West Farms, was incorporated upon the 13th of Dec. 1844. " William A. Spencer and Phillip M. Lydig,
AND CHURCH OF WEST FARMS. 705
churchwardens. Peter Lorillard, Richard Crowther, Wil- liam Bayard. Charles S. Valentine, Benjamin Lee, Jacob M. Van Winkle and William B. Hoffman, vestrymen."
On the 3d of June, 1847, the
REV. WASHINGTON RODMAN
1
was unanimously called to be rector of the parish.
THE CHURCH.
The parish church, situated near the centre of the village of West Farms, is a beautiful gothic structure of wood, with a bell tower attached to the north-eastern corner. Over the principal entrance is a neat porch. The corner stone of this edifice was laid on Tuesday, November 10th, 1846, by the Rev. Hugh Smith, D. D., rector of St. Peter's Church, New York, on which occasion an address was delivered by the Rev. J. T. Cushing, minister in charge of the parish. In the corner stone were de- posited a copy of the New Testament, and of the Book of Com- mon Prayer, the Journal of the last General Convention in 1844, the Journal of the last Diocesan Convention of New York for 1845, together with the debates in the same, copies of the General and Diocesan Canons, Sword's Pocket Almanac for 1846, Protestant Churchman of the date of Nov. 9th, 1846, and sundry parish documents, &c. Besides the officiating clergy, there were present, the Rev. William Powell, rector of St. Peter's Church, Westchester, and the Rev. Robert Bolton, rector of Christ's Church, Pelham.
On the 2Sth of June, 1847, it was consecrated and set apart to the worship and service of Almighty God, under the title of Grace Church, by the Rt. Rev. William Heathcote de Lancey, D. D., Bishop of the Diocese of Western New York. The con- secration sermon being preached by the Rev. Kingston Goddard, rector of St. John's Church, Clifton, Staten Island.
The bell, cast by Andrew Meneely, of West Troy, was pur-
45
706
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
chased by subscriptions received principally from the members of the church, and weighs five hundred and thirty-five pounds.
The communion plate, which is of silver, and of elegant workmanship, was presented by Mrs. C. L. Spencer. It con- sists of a flagon, chalice and paten. This gift is in every way worthy of the person, who has from the first organization of the parish, nobly and liberally contributed to promote the present and future usefulness of the Church.
It is believed that the contributions made to Grace Church by this liberal and cheerful giver, are not exceeded by the offerings of an individual to any parish in either the Diocese or the State. The usefulness of both the church and the rector, are singularly promoted by aid from this source, extended not only to the sup- port of the church itself, but also to the fund for the relief of the numerous poor of the neighborhood. The unobtrusiveness which marks these acts of Christian liberality indicate always a sin- cere desire that the giver should remain unknown. The merit of faithful history, however, is to give the world the benefit of each good example and to preserve in grateful remembrance the names of the benefactors of the Church.
It is not inappropriate to add that the memory of the late William A. Spencer, formerly a captain in the navy of the United States, and an early friend of the parish, is deservedly cherished by those whose connection with him as a warden of the church, made them acquainted with both his active exertions, and his heart-felt desires for its prosperity.
The names of other benefactors of the parish and neigborhood, in the past and at the present, are P. M. Lydig, J. D. Wolfe and A. P. Woodruff,
The service books were presented by Mrs. David Lydig.
To Grace church, West Farms, is attached a parochial school, consisting of two stories, 25 ft. by 50. A portion of the build- ing is used as a library.
AND CHURCH OF WEST FARMS.
707
·
NOTITIA PAROCHIALIS.
In 1853, Communicants, 33. Baptisms, 6. No. of families belonging to the parish in 1853, 26. No. of souls, 200. No. of Catechists, 14. No. of Catechumens, 90.
Grace Church, West Farms.
HISTORY
OF THE
PARISH AND CHURCH
OF
SCARSDALE.
Under the Provincial Government, Scarsdale constituted a portion of the extensive manor of that name, and was one of the seven districts of Rye parish. The name is derived from the Heathcote family, who originally came from Scarsdale, Derbyshire, England. " More inward," says Camden, (describ- ing that part of Derbyshire) " we see Chesterfield in Scarsdale, that is, in a dale enclosed with rocks ; for rocks or crags were called scarrs by the Saxons."
In 1763, Scarsdale contributed to the rector's tax and poor of the parish of Rye, the sum of £25 4 6. The parochial clergy appear to have officiated here at a very early period, as the Rev. Robert Jenney, writing to the Bishop of London in 1724, says :- " I officiate eight times per annum at Mamaroneck, for that place and Scarsdale and Fox's Meadows." In 1727 there were thirty persons in Scarsdale, upon whom the parochial tax was levied. Mr. Wetmore in writing to the Society in 1744 ob- serves :- " I have a considerable congregation at the White Plains and Scarsdale, about seven miles west of the parish church, which I also attend once in two months."
709
AND CHURCH OF SCARSDALE.
Religious services for this district were for a long time con- fined to White Plains. In 1848 a Sunday-school was first opened in a private family, and subsequently in. the district school-house. In August, 1849, the Rev. Henry J. Morton, D. D., rector of St. James' Church, Philadelphia, first held services in the farm house, (formerly the residence of Chief Justice Morris,) after which the late Rev. H. L. Storrs, of Yonkers, officiated with other clergy for nearly six months prior to the call of a permanent rector.
Through the zealous efforts of William S. Popham, Esq., a parish was finally organized, and the corner stone of a church · laid on Saturday the 29th of June, 1850, by the Rt. Rev. W. R. Whittingham, D. D. being the first structure devoted to religious worship ever erected in the town of Scarsdale. The church was incorporated on the 3d of September, 1849, by the name and style " of the Rector, Churchwardens and Vestrymen of the Church of St. James the Less in the township of Scarsdale." William S. Popham and Mark Spencer, churchwardens. Charles W. Carmer, William II. Popham, Francis Mc Farlan, Joshua Under- hill, Edmund Ludlow, Samuel E. Lyon, Augustus Bleecker and Orrin Weed, vestrymen. Upon the 31st of January, 1850, the
REV. JAMES F. LE BARON
was called as rector, and resigned the next year. On the Ist of April, 1851, the 1
REV. WILLIAM W. OLSSEN
was called, and formally instituted rector of the parish on the 10th of May, 1853.
In June, 1850, the grounds adjoining the church were con-' veyed to the vestry in the form of a lease, by William H. Popham.
LEASE FOR CHURCH LOT.
" This Indenture, made the 28th day of June, eighteen hundred and fifty-one, be-
710
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
tween William H. Popham in the town of Scarsdale, county of Westchester, State of New York, party of the first part, and the rector, churchwardens and vestrymen of the Church of St. James the Less, in the town of Scarsdale, in the county of Westchester, State of New York, of the second part, witnesseth : that the said party of the first part, for and in consideration of the rents, covenants, agreements and conditions hereinafter mentioned, reserved and contained on the part and behalf of the said parties of the second part and their successors, to be paid, kept and performed as granted, demised, and to farm-let, and by these presents doth grant, devise, and to farm-let unto the said parties of the second part and their successors, all that cer- tain lot, piece or parcel of land, on which the church edifice of St. James the Less is now erected, in the town aforesaid, bounded and containing as follows :- commenc- ing at a bound mark on the south fence of the old Scarsdale farm road, being the northerly corner of a lot of land designed for a cemetery and marked A on the annexed diagram, running thence south fifteen degrees, west six chains two links, along a line of pegs, and east of the church edifice as shown by a dotted line in dia- gram to a ground mark in the opposite fence at B, thence along the south fence north seventy-five degrees, thirty minutes, west five chains and sixty links to a point in diagram marked C, thence north seventeen degrees, thirteen minutes, cast six chains and eighty links, fifty links east of and parallel to the western fence of said lot as shown by a dotted line to a point marked D in diagram, thence south sixty- seven degrees, forty minutes, east forty chains and ninety-two links along the south fence of the old Scarscale farm road aforesaid, to the place of commencing at A. The lot is bounded on all sides by lands of the said William H. Popham, and contains three acres one rood and twenty-six perches, as designated in a diagram hereunto annexed, surveyed by R. Henwood, October, eighteen hundred and fifty one. To have and to hold the above mentioned aud described premises with the appurtenances, unto the said parties of the second part and their successors in office, from the day of the date hereof, for and during the full end and time of one thousand years next ensning, and fully to be completed and ended, yielding and paying therefor unto the said party of the first part, and his heirs yearly and every year during the said term
' hereby granted the yearly rent or sum of one silver dime, lawful money of the United States of America, on the Festival of St. Philip and St. James in each and every year; and also, the parties of the second part or their successors in office, shall not at any time during the continuance of the term hereby granted let, underlet, assign, sell or convey the whole or any part of said premises to any person or per- sons, sole or corporate whatever, except the right or privilege of burial in said ground and upon the further condition that religious services in said church during said term shall be performed according to the form prescribed by the book of Commen Prayer or the administration of the Sacraments and other rites and ceremonies as pre- scribed in said book for the use of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States of America, and of the doctrine and discipline therein set forth, and of the canons of said Church by a duly and regularly ordained minister of said Protestant Episcopal Church, or by one allowed by the canons of said Church so to officiate, or by a duly
711
AND CHURCH OF SCARSDALE.
ordained minister of the Church of England, as now by law established, and none other, provided always, nevertheless, that if the rent above reserved shall not be de- manded by, or paid to the said party of the first part or his heirs on or before the Feast of St. Andrew in every year, after the same shall have been due, that then the said parties of the second part shall forever thereafter be discharged from tho payment of the same. And provided further, that in case any form or mode of wor- ship shall be used or celebrated in said church, or in any other building that may hereafter be erected thereon, or upon any portion of said grounds in the open air, other than as above mentioned, or if said church or any portion of said land shall be used or converted to secular use, then and thence forward it shall and may be lawful for said party of the first part, his heirs and assigns into and upon the said described premises, and every part thereof, wholly to re-enter and remove therefrom all per- sons found violating the aforesaid conditions, and the same shall remain vacant until a new incumbent be appointed by the Bishop of the said Church then administer- ing the Diocese ; anything herein before contained to the contrary thereof notwith- · standing. And the said parties of the second part and their successors in office, do covenant and agree to and with the said party of the first part and his heirs, by these presents, that they the said parties of the second part and their successors in office shall, and will yearly and every year during the said term hereby granted, well and truly pay the said rent in manner aforesaid, reserved, if demanded, within the time aforesaid ; and that they will not celebrate nor allow to be celebrated in said church, or other buildings that may be hereafter erected on said land, or upon any open space thereof in the open air, any other form or mode of worship than that of the Pro- testant Episcopal Church in the United States of America aforesaid, or by any other person not duly ordained according to the forms prescribed in the said book of Com- mon Prayer or allowed by the Canons of the said Church, or by a duly ordained minister of the Church of England, as now by law established in England, and in good standing therein. Andthe said parties of the second part further covenant and agree to and with the said party of the first part and his heirs, that they will not during said term hereby granted, let, underlet, assign, sell, convey or in any way or manner dispose of the whole or any part or portion of said premises above mentioned, ex- cept the right or privilege of burying therein as aforesaid, and that they will faithfully keep and perform all the covenants herein, on their part and behalf to be kept and performed. And the said party of the first part for himself, his heirs, executors, ad- ministrators and assigns, doth covenant and agree to and with the said parties of the second part and their successors in office, by these presents, that the said parties of the second part keeping and performing the conditions, covenants and agreements aforesaid on their part and behalf, the said parties of the second part and their suc- cessors in office shall and may at all times hereafter, during the said term hereby granted, peacefully and quitely have, hold and enjoy the said described premises, without any manner of let, suit, trouble or hindrance of or from the said party of the first part, his heirs or assigns or any other person or persons whomsoever. In wit-
712
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
ness whereof the parties hereto have interchangeably set their hands and seals, the day and year first above written.
WILLIAM H. POPHAM. [L. S.
By order of the Corporation of the Church of St. James the Less, Scarsdale.
WILLIAM W. OLSSEN, Rector, AUGUSTUS BLEECKER, Clerk."a [L. S.]
THE CHURCH.
The parish church is well situated on af eminence command- ing a fine view of the Greenburgh hills, under which flows the river Bronx, adding greatly to the beauty of the picture. It was built, as before stated, by William S. Popham, Esq., in conjunction with several members of his family and personal friends. The style of the building is early English or first pointed, according to Rickman's nomenclature. It is constructed of native stone, with dressings of the white dolomitic marble, and consists of a nave, chancel, with sacristy attached, and porch. The nave, which is 56 ft. by 24 ft. in the clear, with sitt- ings for about 211, is divided into four bays, the flank walls of which are pierced with couplets, excepting the first bay from the west end on south side, which contains a door leading to the porch. The roof is open, with rafters diagonally braced. 'The pulpit is in the north-east corner of the nave. A font of the largest size (2ft. 6in. across the bowl) stands in the south east corner of the nave. It is circular, supported on a central octago- nal stem, surrounded by four detached pillars of white mar- ble, and was presented by the sisters of the first rector of the parish. The seats are open, and entirely free of any charge for rent or use, the church being supported by voluntary contribu- tors at the offertory. The organ, presented by a member of the vestry, is situated at the west end of the nave. The chancel, 20 ft. by 16 ft. in the clear, is separated from the nave by the chancel arch. The choir is raised two steps above the nave,
ª County Rec. liber 180 of Deeds, p. 400.
St. James' Church, Scarsdale-Erected A. D. 1851.
E
..
Ground plan of St. James' Church.
[ To face page 712
713
AND CHURCH OF SCARSDALE.
and has two stalls on the south side. On the north it opens by a door into the sacristy. The sanctuary, elevated above the choir by two steps, is about 8 feet in depth, containing an altar 6 ft. by 3 ft. on a foot pace, a credence shelf on the south side, and Bishop's seat on the north. The chancel is lighted by a triplet of richly stained glass, the middle lancet of which con- tains a cross within the vesica piscis, the south, a dove and font, and the north, a paten and chalice. The rest of the glass, excepting the west end of the nave, which is richly grisailed, and the southern windows of the chancel, which have colored borders, is plain enameled. The whole of the stained glass was manufactured by Mr. John Bolton, of Pelham. Over the cen- tral lancet in the chancel, and in the middle of the west gable are triangular trifoliated lights, with colored glass.
The west end of nave, supporting bell gable, has flank win- dow couplets. Taken as a whole, we think that this simple church, in proportion and general arrangement, might well serve as a model for a country parish. The entire cost, including the glass and furnace chamber, was $5000. It was designed and carried out by Frank Wills, Esq., of New York.
This church was consecrated on the 28th of June, 1851, by the Rt. Rev. Bishop De Lancey, who preached the sermon and administered the Holy Communion, assisted in the services by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Whittingham, of Maryland.
The communion service, presented on the day of consecration, consists of the following articles : a flagon inscribed :- " The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin." Two silver chalices, each bearing the following inscription :- " I will re- ceive the cup of salvation." A paten with the legend :- " I will offer unto Thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving," and a sil- ver alms basin, which was presented by an aged female friend on the day of consecration. The altar cloth is of rich crimson velvet, presented by the rector's father, having the sacred miono- gram I. H. S. worked in gold and blue by a lady of the parish. The church linen is also richly embroidered, and bears numer-
714
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
ous inscriptions, likewise the work of various ladies of the parish. The service books were presented by individuals interested in the Church, and the Bishop's chair by the builder, Mr. Henry Cornell.
To St. James' church is attached a parochial school, the aver- age number of scholars attending which, are fourteen.
NOTITIA PAROCHIALIS.
In 1853, No. of families, 20. No. of souls, 115. Baptisms, 4. Communicants, 50. Catechists, 6. Catechumens, 23. The population of Scarsdale in 1712, was 12.
1740, " 255.
1º50, " 844.
. WARDENS OF ST. JAME'S CHURCH.
1849 to 1850.
William S. Popham, Mark Spencer.
1851-3.
William S. Popham, Charles W. Carmer.
Col. Caleb Heathcote,
HISTORY
OF THE
PARISH AND CHURCH OF
MT. PLEASANT.
The name of this parish justly denotes its pleasant location upon high hills. Mount Pleasant was formerly included within the manor of Philipsburgh, one of the four precincts of the parish of Westchester, but acquired its present title by an act of the Legislature in 1788.
From the MSS. of the Venerable Society, it appears that as early as 1759 there were people enough in Philips' manor for a large congregation, without any minister at all. In 1761, the Rev. Mr. Dibble, who visited this part of the country, says :- " I found a great want of a regular clergyman to officiate in these parts, to prevent confusions in religion, which hath too much obtained, and there seems a general good disposition to the Church if they could be favored with a settled teacher. This de- ficiency was in some measure supplied by the appointment of the Rev. Harry Munro to the mission of Philipsburgh in 1765, but for nearly seventy years afterwards St. John's church, Yon- kers. served the purposes of divine worship to a district which now contains seven churches.
716
HISTORY OF THE PARISH
In this parish is situated St. Mary's church, Beechwood. This interesting edifice is beautifully located on high ground above the Hudson River, about two miles south of the village of Sing Sing, and was erected in 1850, principally at the cost of the Rev. Wm. Creighton, D. D., and of his son-in-law, the Rev. Edward N. Mead. To the latter gentleman credit is to be given, not only for a large pecuniary contribution, but for the plan and drawings, and the supervision of the work from its foundation to completion. It consists of a nave 32 ft. by 20, chancel 14 ft. by 20 wide, north and south transepts 10 ft. by 20 wide; a gabled north vestry, south porch, and bell turret over the west gable. The roof is equilateral, and ridge pole 30 feet from the ground. It is constructed of common granite, in a very solid manner, which has an excellent effect. The roof is covered with blue slate. The style is first pointed. The east window is a triplet filled with richly stained glass. In the compart- ments of the centre light are represented the Spiritus Dei, the Last Supper, a Cross Patonce and Sacred Monogram, all within the Visica Piscis. The south light contains the emblems of St. Mark and St. John, a Pelican in her piety, and the Greek Omega. The north light, the emblems of St. Matthew and St. Luke, the Agnus Dei, and the Greek Alpha. This beautiful window, which cost $250, was presented by Mrs. Edwin Bartlett. The east window is of five lights, filled with stained glass, richly diapered. It was presented by Mrs. Gideon Lee, widow of the late Hon. Gideon Lee, of Geneva. In both windows the lights ' are unequal, and inclosed in a surrounding arch, formed by an offset in the wall. The south chancel window is a single light of colored glass, and was presented by Miss Julia Hoffman, at a cost of $25. The five nave windows are also of stained glass, filled with the various implements of the crucifixion, and sur- rounded with foliated borders. Four of these, which cost $130, were presented by James Watson Webb, Esq., and the fifth by Master Burrill Hoffman. One of the transeptal windows was the gift of Charles D. Mead, Esq. Most of the windows are
717
AND CHURCH OF MOUNT PLEASANT.
narrow, single lights, except the two circles or Catharine wheels in the gables of the transepts, which are also of stained glass, containing emblems of the Trinity. These windows were presented to the Church by the Masters Wm. Creighton and Edward Schermerhorn Mcad. The whole of the stained glass was manufactured by Mr. John Bolton, of Pelham.
The open roof is of the simplest construction, depending en- tirely for its support upon the strength of the walls and butt- resses. There is no western entrance, but a door in the south transept. The floors of the nave and transepts are laid in hy- draulie cement, and the chancel in blocks of black and white marble, with steps of brown sand-stone. The altar, which is of Italian marble, and cost $100, was presented to the church by Mrs. Lindley Murray Hoffman, and the marble font by Miss Catharine S. Creighton, at a cost of $100. The bell, of Spanish metal, was the gift of Commodore M. C. Perry, and bears the following inscription :- " Captured at Tobasco, Mexico, 1847. Recast and presented by Commodore M. C. Perry." The church has a fine toned organ, the cost of which was $520, the gift of Mrs. Auguste Belmont, and other members of Com- modore Perry's family.' The service books were presented by Mrs. John Fraser Mathewes, of Charleston, S. C. Captain N. Cobb, of Tarrytown, generously gave $330 towards finishing the braces and carving of the roof. The whole structure cost about $7500. Besides the lot of one acre, on which the church stands, the Rev. Founder has purchased two and a half acres adjoining, for a glebe and parsonage. The chancel ar- rangements are not yet completed. Towards these George H. Swords, Esq. has made the very liberal donation of 300 dollars.
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