USA > New York > Niagara County > Souvenir history of Niagara County, New York : commemorative of the 25th anniversary of the Pioneer Association of Niagara County > Part 7
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The patsor began the work of building a new parochial residence on May 1, 1886, and celebrated Christmas of the same year in his new house. The expense was $7,000; $4,000 of it was raised by a fair and by subscription, the bal- ance being loaned by the pastor to the church.
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SOUVENIR HISTORY OF NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
CHURCHES IN THE TOWNS.
St. Peter's Church was organized at Lewiston in the late forties by Rev. Father Boyle. He was followed by Rev. William C. Stephens, who remained until 1856, or later. Rev. Morris O'Shea was a recent rector, being succeeded by Rev. Patrick T. Mullaney, who took charge in June, 1885. A handsome stone church, complete in all details, was built in 1901 by the energetic efforts of Rev. Henry C. Do- lan. St. Bernard's parish was organized in Youngstown a year or two after that at Lewiston, when a chapel was built and services were conducted by the priest from Lewiston.
St. Bridgest's Church, on the Ewing road, in the south- west part of the town of Newfane, was organized in June, 1859, under the direction of Rev. Thomas Sheehan. An acre of land was donated by John Mulloy, and the edifice was dedicated November 30, 1859. This church was a center of influence for a considerable part of the country round for a time, the churches of Cambria, Hartland and Royalton being supplied by the priest from the Newfane church. Three years ago a pastoral residence was built by Rev. Thomas Blakeney, the pastor. The present pastor is Rev. John J. McMahon. The church at Olcott was built in 1884 by Rev. John C. Long, but was administered from Newfane.
St. Patrick's Church, of the Town of Hartland, was founded in 1856, Rev. Martin O'Connor, of Medina, being instrumental in the erection of a frame church on the Qua- ker Road, near the north line of the town, which was, and is, also attended by many of the Catholics of Somerset. It was dedicated by the Bishop of Buffalo in 1857. In 1865 the building was enlarged, and in 1872 a transept, sanctuary and vestry were provided. Rev. Thomas P. Brougham, who went thither from Newfane, was the first resident pas- tor. He enlarged the church, doubled its seating capacity, and built a pastoral. residence. Rev. Henry Kingston is the present pastor.
The church is represented in the town of Cambria by an edifice on the north side of the road, near the west end of the ridge, which was built in the late sixties, and was admin- istered for years, and is today, from Newfane.
The Church of the Good Shepard, at Pendleton. was or- ganized, and the brick edifice completed, in 1854, by Rev. E. S. Urich. A new front was added five years ago and three bells were put in place. Rev. August Wiese is the present pastor.
The Church of the Ascension, in North Tonawanda, was organized by Rev. J. J. Bustin in 1888, and a church and parsonage were erected soon after. A few years later the church was burned to the ground and Father Bustin re- placed the burned edifice with a fine brick structure. Rev. Patrick Cronin is the present pastor.
In the Town of Royalton, St. Stephen's Church, at Mid- dleport, was founded about 1860, when a small edifice was built. In 1875 this church was replaced by a larger one, purchased from the Presbyterians, who formerly worshiped there. This church was attended by priests from Medina until 1882, when Thomas Ledwith was placed in charge and built a pastoral residence. He was followed by Rev. James J. Roche about 1885: Father Roche remained there about twelve years, and in the course of his long pastorate made great progress, and added many valuable improvements to the property. Rev. Thomas B. Milde is the present pastor.
A church was built at Gasport in the late sixties, and for a number of years was attended from Newfane, and since 1882 from Middleport.
Lewiston, dates back to 1855, when Rev. J. J. Lynch, C. M., afterward Archbishop of Toronto, established the Seminary of Our Lady of Angels on the Niagara River, about two miles below Suspension Bridge. On May 1, 1857, Father Lynch secured funds to purchase an old inn which stood on the highest point of Monteagle Ridge, and opened the in- stitution on that date. On April 20, 1863, a charter was obtained. Several priests were associated in the manage- ment and the Seminary began to prosper. On December 5, 1864, the building was nearly burned to the ground, one student perishing in the flames. Prompt measures were adopted for rebuilding, Pope Pius IX, contributing $1,000, and the Seminary reopened with 150 names on the roll in September, 1865. At that time only one wing of the pres- ent main building was completed. In 1866 the main struc- ture, with a front of 214 feet, was erected; in 1868 another wing was added. In 1874 the building of the college chapel, 78x120 feet, was commenced and soon finished. The buildings are handsome stone structures. In 1883 the in- stitution was erected into a university, under the name of Niagara University, by the Regents of the University of the State of New York ; its original name and individuality, how- ever, are still preserved in the Department of Arts and The- ology. In 1883 a medical department, located in Buffalo, was organized.
The present officers of the institution are the following : President-Very Rev. W. F. Likly, C. M. Director of Seminarians-Rev. P. J. Conroy, C. M. Librarian-Rev. L. A. Grace, C. M.
Vice President and Treasurer-Rev. J. P. Cribbins, C. M.
Prefect of Studies-Rev. J. A. Tracy, C. M.
Prefect of Discipline-Rev. A. V. Lyden, C. M. Assistant Prefect of Discipline-Rev. J. J. Corcoran, C. M.
Episcopal Church.
BY WILLIAM F. FABER.
The first services of the Episcopal Church in Niagara County appear to have been held in 1823. The entire State was until 1838 included in one Diocese: and missionaries were sent out from the City of New York to the villages an ! new settlements in these parts. The Right Reverned John Henry Hobart, D. D., third Bishop of the Diocese of New York, visited Manchester (as Niagara Falls was called up to 1840) in 1829, holding a service, but not confirming ; his successor, the Right Reverned Benjamin T. Onderdonk, S T. D., soon after his consecration in 1830, confirmed eight persons in "the parish of Christ Church, Niagara Falls." This was the first confirmation in the County. The same bishop also visited Lockport, laying the cornerstone of Christ Church, in Lower Town, August 19, 1831, at which time he confirmed six persons ; and consecrated that church August 18, 1833. On August 12, 1838, he consecrated Grace Church, in Upper Town; the following day he or- dained the Reverned H. Cressey to the Priesthood in Christ Church. In September. 1836, in August, 1837, and in Au- gust, 1838, he confirmed in all nine persons in Grace Church. The records of his confirmations in Christ parish, if any-be- yond the bare statement that on August 19, 1831. six were confirmed-have been lost. And the visitations just noted were, we may safely say, the only ones of these Bishops of New York to this most remote part of their great Diocese.
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY. In 1838 the Diocese was divided, and the new Diocese Niagara University, on Monteagle Ridge, in the Town of of Western New York erected, extending as far east as
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SOUVENIR HISTORY OF NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Utica. The Right Reverend William Heathcote De Lan- cey, D. D., LL. D., D. C. L., was its first Bishop, with resi- dence at Geneva. The Right Reverned Arthur Cleveland Coxe, D. D., LL. D., became in 1865 his coadjutor, and on his death, a few months later, his successor; in 1868 the Diocese was again divided, Bishop Coxe retaining the juris- diction of the western half-under the same title-extending as far east as Seneca Lake. Upon his death, in 1896, the Right Reverned William David Walker, D. D., LL. D., D. C. L., was chosen as his successor.
WILLIAM F. FABER.
The Episcopal Church at the present time has the fol- lowing parishes in Niagara County: St. Paul's, Lewiston ; Christ, Lockport; Grace, Lockport; Trinity, Middleport ; St. Peter's, Niagara Falls; Epiphany, Niagara Falls; St. Mark's, North Tonawanda; St. John's, Youngstown. Churches without parish organization : All Saints, Lockport, and St. Andrew's, Olcott, missions of Grace Church, Lock- port. St. Peter's, Niagara Falls, has a mission at Echota, and St. Mark's, North Tonawanda, one at Gratwick-both as yet without buildings. St. Luke's, Royalton, began as a mission in 1839, organized in 1840, became extinct in 1855. St. Ambrose's is the chapel of De Veaux College, Niagara Falls, the Rev. William S. Barrows, chaplain.
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, LEWISTON.
The first resident missionary was the Rev. J. M. Rob- ertson, soon after whose arrival the parish was organ- ized, January 16, 1832. The cornerstone of its church was laid July 23, 1835. The first recorded confirmation was by Bishop De Lancey, in 1856.
The early records of the parish are meagre. Frequent changes, with intervals when there was no clergyman at all, when services were suspended for a time, could not fail to work discouragement. With a congregation necessarily small in numbers, the problem of supporting a rector was not an easy one.
Nevertheless, the parish survived, and the work has gone on, and still lives, with abundant reason for encourage- ment and hope. At the present it is again joined with St. John's, Youngstown, under the care of one rector for both parishes. It has a beautiful little church and a band of faith- ful people. The number of communicants in the last printed report is eighty-three.
Among its rectors and ministers-in-charge have been
the following : Rev. A. C. Treadway, 1845-1852 ; Rev. T. W. Russ, 1853-1856; Rev. J. H. Haven, 1861 ; Rev. G. M. Skin ner, 1867; Rev. G. W. Knapp, 1878-1881 ; Rev. J. S. Seibold, 1882-1886; Rev. E. Stewart-Jones, 1887-1890; Rev. James Roy, LL. D., 1890-1891 ; Rev. John Evans, 1891-1895 ; Rev. D. C. Monroe, 1900-1902. The present rector is the Rev. J. H. Herendeen.
CHRIST CHURCH, LOCKPORT.
Christ Church is the older of the two parishes in Lock- port ; its organization took place probably in April, 1831, though its certificate of incorporation bears the date Sep- tember 28, 1832.
In the summer of 1830 the rector of Batavia, Rev. Lucius Smith, held the first Prayer Book service in Lower Town. In February, 1831, Rev. David Brown of Al- bany settled there as missionary. As already stated, the old church was begun in 1831, and consecrated in 1833. In July, 1834, Rev. Orange Clark became rector, and re- mained two years. He laid the foundations for good, per- manent work in the future. During the four years of the rectorate of Rev. Ebenezer H. Cressey great progress was made; there were sixty-four baptisms and forty-four confirmations : a "female school" also was organized, of which no further record remains. It was at this time that Washington Hunt, later Governor of the State, was con- firmed, who till his death was a veritable pillar in the Church.
The name of Rev. Orlando F. Starkey, rector from 1849 to 1855, will always be associated with the building of the present church, a remarkably fine example of early Eng- lish architecture, of which he received the inspiration while abroad.
During the incumbency of Rev. Albert Lewis, 1861- 1863, Rev. James Albercombe, D. D., 1863-1874, and Rev. Frederick S. Hyde, 1874-1877, the parish received large ac- cessions by baptism and confirmation. Dr. Abercrombie built the picturesque rectory, harmonizing so well with the church.
ST. ANDREWS THE LAKE.
The Rev. George W. Southwell followed in 1877, and during eleven years rendered the parish efficient and faithful srvice. He it was who built the Parish House, "Walbridge-Hunt Memorial," thus completing a fine group of church buildings. But the decline of Lower Town as a residence district, the removal or death of many of the old supporters, has made it increasingly difficult to maintain the work financially. In 1894 the Rev. William F. Faber, rec- tor of Grace Church, assumed charge of this parish also, and a year later became its rector, associating with himself,
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SOUVENIR HISTORY OF NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
as "Vicar of Christ Church" in 1896 the Rev. G. Sher- man Burrows, and in 1899 the Rev. Eugene J. Babcock, who at present has the pastoral care of the congregation.
The parish has now 100 families, and 149 communicants.
GRACE CHURCH.
Grace Church antedates Christ Church by its first or- ganization, February, 1829, under the Rev. Burton Hickox. But this first organization lapsed, leaving no record save that of two baptisms.
The church people of "Upper Town," however, rallied to another effort, and on February 9, 1835, formed an or- ganization which has come down to the present as "the rec- tor, church wardens and vestrymen of Grace Church, Lock- port, New York." At the meeting the Rev. Orange Clark of Christ Church, "Lower Town," preached: render- ing generous assistance also by holding service till : clergy- man could be secured. These services at first were in the long room over George H. Boughton's store, near the present Kenmore Hotel. A wooden church was soon built, on the site of the present St. Mary's Church ; consecrated August 12, 1838, by Bishop Onderdonk ; and used for some fifteen years, when the growth of the congregation required a larger edifice. It was then, in 1852, under the rectorship of Rev. Charles H. Platt, that the present site, corner of Cottage and Genesee streets, was purchased; the corner- stone laid May 2, 1853, and the church consecrated, by Bishop De Lancey, August 12, 1857.
The vestry records of all these years afford continuous evidence of the heroic struggle involved in carrying the bur- den of building and current expenses, from the erection of the wooden church in 1836 to the completion of payments for the stone church in 1857. But rectors and people showed an indomitable spirit ; and when the house of wor- ship had been completed as to the bare necessaries, they continued, and are still continuing, its enrichments within and without. A rectory was secured by the Rev. Law- rence S. Stevens (1866-1870); a Guild founded by Rev. Foster Ely, D. D., in 1877, which in twenty-five years has raised over $28,000 for various improvements and works of beneficence; Rev. Charles W. Camp secured the erection of the Parish Building in 1887, at a cost of $12,000, and in 1892 an organ fund of some $6,000. During the incum- bency of the present rector, Rev. William F. Faber, stained glass windows, mosaics and other memorials have been added, greatly beautifying the church, at 2 cost of $6,000; besides the erection and furnishing of two new churches; and St. Andrew's, Olcott, of which separate ac- counts follow.
The growth of Grace parish in membership has been continuous ; the parish church counts in its present congre- gation about 350 families, and 577 communicants. It has had ten rectors.
ALL SAINTS' CHAPEL.
"The building of a free church or chapel in the south- eastern part of the city" was one of the projects of the Rev. Charles G. Gilliat, rector of Grace Church 1870-1875 ; The project was long in abeyance ; but received fulfilment in the summer of 1896, when All Saint's Chapel was erected at the corner of Vine and Walnut streets, and opened Novem- ber I, all paid for, costing, for land, building and furnishing, about $2,400. The nucleus of this sum was a legacy of the late Ambrose C. Beverly, amounting to $1,000; the remain- der was almost entirely the contribution of Grace Church people. The services were held by the rector of Grace Church and the vicar of Christ Church, and a congregation
gathered, and a Sunday school; the work grew so rapidly that two years later the chapel was enlarged at an expense of over $1,000, and again at once paid for. The Rev. G. Sherman Burrows, removing to St. Mark's, North Ton- awanda, was succeeded by Rev. F. N. Bouck, and he by Rev. Herbert H. H. Fox, present "vicar of All Saints." A vicarage has now been purchased, immediately adjoining the chapel. All Saints' is now a fully equipped church, ac- tive and zealous, and hopeful for the future. It has sixty families and eighty-four communicants. It has no parish organization, being under the corporation of Grace parish, but in its work and worship it is a distinct church.
TRINITY CHURCH, MIDDLEPORT.
In 1864 the clergy of Medina and Lockport began hold- ing services in Middleport. Two communicants resided there ; others became interested; the Rev. George W. Southwell was invited to take charge of the work, and be- gan his labors January. 1, 1865. In January, 1866, he was able to report eighteen communicants.
On May 31, 1869, Bishop Coxe laid the cornerstone of a church for the parish, which had been organized August I, 1866, under the name of "Trinity." The church was not consecrated till April 25, 1882 ; January 14, 1884, it was de- stroyed by fire. But on November 14, 1884, Bishop Coxe formally opened a new church, beautiful and complete, which had risen on the ashes of the old.
It is a distinction of this parish that it possesses a use- ful theological library, of service to the clergymen, to lay readers, and to any intelligent churchman-the gift of the priest who founded the parish and served it so long and so well, the Rev. George W. Southwell.
During the incumbency of Rev. G. W. S. Ayres (1889-1893) and of Rev. H. S. Gatley (1894-1900) the parish grew in numbers and strength ; and under the present rector, Rev. Frederick Hall, the good work is going on most happily. A rectory has been built lately, which adds to the efficiency of the parish equipment. There are seventy families and 118 communicants.
ST. PETER'S CHURCH, NIAGARA FALLS.
Reference has been made above to "the parish of Christ Church, Niagara Falls," organized at "Manchester." Jan- uary, 1829. The population fluctuated ; a number of differ- ent missionaries and clergymen held occasional services : for long periods there were no services at all. December 28, 1846, "St. Peter's, Niagara Falls," was organized. Presum- ably the old "Christ parish" was legally extinct. The Rev. A. C. Treadway was rector; one of the church wardens was Judge Samuel De Veaux, the founder of De Veaux Col- lege. A church was erected, and the first service held therein July 16, 1848; it was consecrated by Bishop De Lancey, May 3, 1853.
During the rectorate of Rev. O. F. Starkey, 1863- 1869, the parish purchased a brick building to be used as a school for young ladies, under the name "The Jerauld Insti- tute." The old church becoming inadequate, a new site was obtained in 1872, the cornerstone laid by Bishop Coxe As- cension Day, 1873: and the new church consecrated All Saints' Day, 1880. It is a splendid edifice, and magnifi- cently located. The parish has a fine rectory ; and a guild house recently completed is one of the finest in the Diocese.
The last printed report gives number of families, 389: communicants, 353.
The Rev. George Rosenmuellar. in Febraury. 1896, began holding services in the suburbs of Echota. A prosperous mission has grown up, and his successor, the
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SOUVENIR HISTORY OF NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
present rector, Rev. Philip W. Mosher, hopes in the near future to erect a chapel.
CHURCH OF THE EPIPHANY, NIAGARA FALLS.
"Suspension Bridge" dates back to 1857. In that year services were begun by professors of De Veaux College, at first in private houses, and successively in stores and in de- nominational churches rented for that purpose. In the fall of that year a parish was incorporated, and its first parish election held on Epiphany, January 6, 1858, which gave the church its name. The first rector was Rev. Henry F. Nye, of De Veaux College, in 1862.
The cornerstone of the church was laid by Bishop Coxe, August 3, 1864; it was completed December, 1866, and con- secrated by Bishop Coxe June 29, 1868. This good work was begun and completed under the rectorship of Rev. W. W. Walsh. The building is an exquisite bit of early English architecture.
For a considerable period the church was again depend- ent on the clergy of De Veaux for its services. The Rev. H. S. Huntington's rectorship, 1886-1892, followed a series of short incumbencies, to the great benefit of the work. The present beloved and efficient rector, Rev. James Roy, LL. D., who succeeded in 1893, has given the parish a still longer service. A guild house and rectory have been added, completing the church buildings.
Epiphany Church has 116 families, and 178 communi- cants.
ST. MARK'S CHURCH, NORTH TONAWANDA.
This parish was organized February 17, 1869, as "St. Mark's Church, Tonawanda, Erie County, New York." The history of the work in Erie County, going back to oc- casional services there as early as 1840, does not here con- cern us. A wooden edifice was in 1871 erected on a lot at the corner of Marion and Tremont streets, North Tona- wanda, the lot being donated by George W. Sherman, war- den, on the condition that the parish name should remain unchanged. The building cost $2,500; was later, in 1893, enlarged at a cost of $3,000, while Rev. Evan H. Mar- tin was rector. In April, 1896, the parish was incorporated in this county.
In December, 1899, the Rev. G. Sheman Burrows became rector ; under his leadership the parish is growing rapidly in numbers and in religious power. He has charge of St. James' Mission in Tonawanda, with a chapel of its own, and of cottage services at Gratwick.
St. Mark's has about 175 families and 190 communi- cants.
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, YOUNGSTOWN.
Youngstown depended for some years upon Lewiston for its services; from 1861 services were held with more or less regularity by the clergymen of that parish. In 1866 Bishop Coxe held his first confirmation ; in 1867 another, and in April, 1868, a parish was organized.
In 1878, owing largely to the zeal of members of the garrison at the fort, a lot was secured for a church. Bishop Coxe laid the cornerstone May 16, 1878, and on September 28 of the same year consecrated the church.
For a number of years a joint rectorship was maintained with St. Paul's Church, Lewiston, and this is the present arrangement, as stated above.
Dependent, as Youngstown is, upon the garrison, its population is fluctuating. The latest printed report gives number of families in the parish fifty-seven ; number of com- municants, fifty-three, The Rev. J. T. Herendon is rector.
ST. ANDREWS BY THE LAKE.
Youngest among the Episcopal Churches of Niagara County is St. Andrew's, Olcott.
The Rev. Charles W. Camp held occasional ser- vices in the village during his rectorate of Grace Church, Lockport (1885-1893), having a summer cottage at the lake. His successor continued them, not regularly at first, but statedly in 1900 and 1901.
A lot being donated by a parishioner, three others promising together $1,200, it was deemed safe to make a beginning. Plans were drawn for a small stone church; Bishop Walker laid the cornerstone September 8, 1901, and consecrated the church St. Andrew's Day, November 30, 1901.
The church is a memorial to the late Right Reverend Arthur Cleveland Coxe, D. D. LL. D., D. C. L., from 1865 to 1896 Bishop of Western New York. The aim was to make it such a church, in its architecture, its furnishing and its location, as well as in its mission in "one of the next towns" (whither he was always bidding the church go out) as would have pleased him. So generous has been the re- sponse of the people of Grace Church, Lockport, that over $5,000 has been expended upon it, of which less than $200 has come from outside of Lockport.
There is no resident clergyman ; services are given by the Lockport clergy. On May 1, 1902, Bishop Walker con- firmed a class of sixteen, making nineteen communicants. A growing congregation is faithfully upholding the services and assuming responsibility for the work.
Methodist Church.
BY REV. S. A, MORSE. D. D.
Macaulay speaks of Methodism and its work as "a most remarkable moral revolution." However any may disagree with this characterization, there is certainly no room for questioning the zeal and heroism of the early representatives of the Wesleyan movement. They share, in common with those of other forms of Christian faith, the glory of making the American moral wilderness blossom like the rose. As to this particular corner of the great, new field there is no rec- ord of the presence of Methodism within its borders until after the war of 1812-14. To the south of us there were cir- cuits formed ; and as early as 1807 Peter Van Nest and A.
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SOUVENIR HISTORY OF NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Jenks were appointed to the Holland Purchase. At this time a "class" was formed in the town of Newstead, near Akron, which is said by the great historical authority of American Methodism, Dr. Abel Stevens, to have been the first class formed west of the Genesee River. Buffalo, Black Rock, and other nearby places, figure in the early church rec- ords, but we have no definite report of Methodist preaching within the present bounds of Niagara County until several years later. To be sure the term "Niagara District" is not infrequent in the minutes of conferences, but its application was to territory across the river in the British province. The Reverend Gideon Lanning, who was appointed to the New Amsterdam (Buffalo) circuit in 1813, describes his ter- ritory as extending from Batavia to the Niagara River, and from the mouth of the Tonawanda to some twenty miles south of Buffalo. This pioneer, at General Scott's request, preached to the American army "on the green at Buffalo" in 1814 just before it crossed the Niagara to fight the battles of Chippewa and Lundy's Lane.
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