USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. III > Part 20
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Mrs. Henry . . ..
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F. A. Fargo
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G. V. S. Sanders.
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John H. Anderson
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W. Carter 1.00
S Easterly
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While the above subscriptions were being procured, chiefly by the solicitation of the rector of the parish, the committee of which he was chairman, selected as a site for the proposed church edifice, a plot of ground on the west side of Broad street, between Lydius and Westerlo streets, and on the 29th of March, the Rev. Mr. Selkirk, as chairman of the committee for selecting a site, reported to the vestry that said lot in Broad street had been se- lected, and that it was owned by Messrs. A. McIntyre and Henry Yates, and valued at $1,250 per 26 feet front, which report was accepted, and the committee continued, and also the subscription committee, and ordered to pro- ceed with the business committed to them. And on the 22d of July, the committee to select a site reported to the vestry by their chairman, that they had selected three lots on the west side of Broad street, south of Lydius, said lots being 26 feet front by about 100 feet deep, valued at $3,750, on condition of paying $2,200 in cash, and the balance to be a subscription to the church, and the re- port was accepted. Mr. P. Van Benthuysen then resigned his place on the committee, which was accepted, and Mr. T. P. Waters was chosen by the vestry to fill his place. The vestry then empowered the committee to contract for said lots on the best terms they could, on behalf of the vestry, and were also authorized to sell the church edifice in Herkimer street. Agreeably to the foregoing instruction, the committee again reported to the vestry on the 23d of July, "That they had offered Messrs. Yates and McIntyre the sum of $2,200 in cash, and $700 in
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church property, consisting of pews in the church when built, for a plot of ground as before designated, to be 100 feet front and about 100 feet deep, and estimated at $4,600. Of the amount, $2,400 should be considered as a subscription to the church, $700 of which amount they might receive back in pews, on the same condition as other subscribers, and the balance to be a gift, which terms were accepted by the owners of the land, which report was accepted; and on the 29th of July, the Rector, as chairman of the committee authorized to purchase said lots, reported to the vestry that the committee had en- tered into contract with Messrs. Yates and McIntyre, as before reported, which contract was ordered recorded upon the minutes, and the committee were, upon motion, discharged. It was then moved that a committee of five be appointed to take charge of the erection of the new church, when Messrs. S. F. Phelps, John Ten Eyck, Richard Parr, T. P. Waters and J. M. Bullock, were ap- pointed such committee. On motion, the Rector and Mr. R. H. Northrop was added to said committee, and said committee were also chosen as a finance committee to take charge of the collection of all moneys, &c.
The committee thus appointed took the matter in charge, and during the remainder of the summer, took the necessary preparatory steps for carrying out the wishes of the congregation, expressed by the vestry. Their first step was to appoint a sub-committee, com- posed of the Rector, Rev. Mr. Selkirk, Messrs. R. H. Northrop and T. P. Waters, to act in behalf of the com- mittee, to select the style of architecture, employ an architect, and to receive proposals for building, &c., which duties they discharged during the fall and winter of 1847 and 1848. When, on March the 13th, 1848, contracts, &c., having been entered into for the erection of the pro- posed church edifice, the rector, wardens and vestry- men, together with other members of the congregation, and friends, assembled on the site to commence the work of erecting a temple to the glory of God, and to invoke his gracious aid and protection. Being thus assembled, the rector, the Rev. Edward Selkirk, taking a pickaxe
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and shovel, said-" In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, I do now commence the work of erecting a church to be consecrated to the ser- vice and glory of Almighty God," when striking three blows into the earth with the pickaxe, and removing some of it with the shovel, the work was commenced. The wardens, Messrs. R. H. Northrop and S. F. Phelps, and the vestrymen, Messrs. Richard Parr, T. P. Waters and J. M. Bullock, and others, taking the shovel removed each a portion of the earth.
The work being thus auspiciously begun, the mason, Henry Knight, proceeded forthwith, 1848, to prepare and lay the foundation, when, the 21st of April, 1848, the building committee, through their chairman, Mr. R. H. Northrop presented to the vestry the following report, which was ordered to be recorded on the minutes :-
" To the Rector, Wardens, and Vestrymen of Trinity Church, in the city of Albany :-
" The committee appointed by you to take charge of the erection of a new church edifice for our parish, respect- fully report : That on the 2d day of August, 1847, your committee appointed Messrs. Northrop, Waters, and Sel- kirk a sub-committee to visit the new churches in New- York city and vicinity, and empowered them to decide upon the style of architecture for the new church, and to employ an architect to draw up the plans and specifica- tions. That the sub-committee, on the 3d day of August, 1837, went to New-York, and after visiting and examin- ing the new churches of that city and Brooklyn, decided upon the Gothic style, as the most preferable for our new building, and employed Mr. James Renwick, Jr., an archi- tect of much skill and experience, to draw plans and specifications, and to superintend the erection of the building, for which they agreed to pay Mr. Renwick the sum of $150, and his expenses, when required to come up to Albany to take charge of the building, if required to come more than four times. Your committee think he will'not have to come more than four or five times, as the plans and specifications are very full and plain.
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Your committee have directed all moneys raised toward the building of the new church, to be paid into the Com- mercial Bank of Albany, to be drawn out on the checks of the treasurer, certified by the chairman of the build- ing committee.
That the total amount of subscriptions for the new church and site, up to this time, including land, the value of our present church edifice, and Trinity Church dona- tion, and the masons' subscription, is $13,800, of which $3,262.75 has been collected, including the land subscrip- tion.
That proposals from carpenters and masons in this city for building the new edifice having been invited by your committee, a number were sent in, the lowest of which for the mason work. was that of Mr. Henry Knight. who agreed to do the mason work, excavate the ground, and furnish all the materials except the cut stone, for the sum of $4.700, and take $1,000 of that amount in pews when the church is done, allowing the parish the first right of buying them back at the price paid by Mr. Knight.
Your committee accepted Mr. Knight's proposition, and have entered into a contract with him accordingly. The highest estimate for the mason work was $5,900.
The estimates for the carpenter's work by the Albany mechanics were so far above what your committee were led to believe it would cost, that they invited proposals from New-York city. The lowest proposals sent in by Albany mechanics, was $6,800. Your committee received proposals from Messrs. John Johnston and Edward Giraty, of New-York, to do all the carpenter's work and painting, and furnish all the material, including all the glass but stained glass, for $4,700, if the pews were made of pine, and $4,800 if the pows &c., were made of black walnut. The last proposal was accepted at $4,800, and a contract entered into with these gentlemen to do the carpenter work, making the pews, &c., of black walnut.
Mr. Knight has commenced the mason work of the new church, has excavated the ground, and has the foundation nearly completed according to the architect's plan. The old church has been advertised for sale, but no advantge-
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ous offers have as yet been made for it. The new build- ing is to be completed by the first of November next.
Your committee at the last meeting deemed it advisable to appoint a time for laying the corner stone of the new church, and to have suitable arrangements made in season for having public religious exercises on the occasion, and have therefore appointed the 10th day of May next for the laying of such corner stone, &c., and have appointed the Rector, Wardens, and Vestry the committee of arrange- ments.
In conclusion, your committee would say they think the whole expense of erecting and entirely finishing the new church, will be $15,000, from which amount the ex- pense will not much vary, one way or the other. This will leave $1,382 yet to be raised to free the parish from debt, when the work is done, if we realize the value of the old church.
The cut stone necessary for the building, which the mason is not required to furnish, will cost $682, for which sum Mr. Wm. Gray has agreed with your committee to furnish the same. The stained glass is all that remains to be provided to complete the church, and that can be obtained for $250. All of which is respectfully submitted.
Dated Albany, April 19, 1848.
R. H. NORTHROP, JOHN M. BULLOCK, --- JOHN TEN EYCK, RICHARD PARR, EDWARD SELKIRK, J
Committee.
Thus it will be seen how much had been done for the erection of the new church up to the close of the ecclesiastical year in 1848.
On Easter Tuesday, April 25, 1848, the day for the annual election of officers, Messrs. R. H. Northrop, and Granville Slack were elected Wardens; and Messrs. T. P. Waters, T. D. James, R. Parr, P. Van Benthuysen, John Ten Eyck, John M. Bullock, John Wright, and S. F. Phelps, Vestrymen; and at a meeting of the Vestry on the 27th of April, 1848, Messrs. S. F. Phelps, T. P. Wa-
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PEASES
HOFFMAN
TRINITY CHURCH. BROAD STREET, ALBANY.
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ters, R. H. Northrop, T. D. James,' Granville Slack, John Ten Eyck, and the Rector of the parish, were appointed a building committee, to act in behalf of the vestry, in carrying forward the erection of the edifice already in process of building.
On Wednesday, the 10th day of May, 1848, being the day recommended by the former building committee for the service of laying the corner stone, it was found that proper arrangements had not been completed, and hence it was postponed, and at a meeting of the board of vestry, on the 15th inst., it was proposed that the services should be held on Thursday, the 18th day of May, 1848. That the secretary of the board send written invitations to the Episcopal clergymen of the city and vicinity, and put notices in the city papers inviting the public to attend; which, having been done, a congregation assembled at the church, corner of Herkimer and Franklin streets, on the 18th day of May, at 3 o'clock P. M., when evening prayer was said by the Rev. Dr. Kip, rector of St. Paul's Church, Albany, and the Rev. Mr. Spooner, of Grace Church, Albany, read the lessons. Services being ended, all the clergy present, some ten in number, robed in their surplices,- formed in procession, preceded by the wardens and ves- trymen of the parish, and of the other parishcs, and fol- lowed by the parishioners and citizens, walked to the site, where the procession, opening to the right and left, the clergy passed through and ascended a platform upon the foundation walls, reading responsively the 122d psalm .. And approaching the north east corner of the foundation, other services were conducted by the rector, agreeably to the forms for such service, set forth by the bishop of the diocese in the year 1836. The corner stone was laid in the buttress at the north east corner of the church, by the rector, the Rev. Edward Selkirk, in which was placed a leaden box containing a copy of the Holy Bible, a Book of Common Prayer, Journals of the last General and Diocesan Conventions, a historical sketch of Trinity Church in the city of Albany, a copy of the last Albany Directory, a map of the city, and the newspapers of the city, of the latest dates. The choir then chaunted the
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appointed selections from various of the psalms of David, to the great delight of the audience. The Rev: Dr. Potter, rector of St. Peter's Church, Albany, said the prayer which followed, when the address was pronounced by the rector of the parish, and the services concluded by the Rev. Dr. Potter offering the closing prayers, and pro- nouncing the benediction.
The work thus auspiciously commenced, was not to be completed without some perplexities and hindrances ; Mr. Knight, the mason, having failed to construct the window jambs agreeably to the plans, and refusing to alter the same, the architect, Mr. Renwick, served a notice upon the war- dens, and vestrymen to that effect, and declared the contract abandoned and forfeited by Mr. Knight in consequence thereof, which notice was served upon Mr. Knight. This proceeding necessarily caused delay in the work, and on the 27th of July, 1848, in vestry meeting, the building committee were directed by the vestry to "go on and ob- tain proposals for completing the mason work of the new church," and the chairman of the building committee was also directed by the vestry, to " forbid Mr. Knight from interfering any further with the mason work."
After much delay, it was announced to the board of vestry, on the 17th of August, 1848, by Mr. Northrop, a member of the board, that he had had several interviews with Mr. Knight, the mason. That Mr. Knight had been to New York to see the architect, Mr. Renwick, who had consented that if Mr. Knight would make the required alterations, and enter into a new contract to complete the work, he would agree thereto, and that Mr. Knight was ready to comply with the requirements of the architect. Mr. Northorp then moved " That the rector have and he hereby has authority to execute a new contract with Henry Knight, mason, to complete the mason work of Trinity Church according to the plans and specifications of Mr. Renwick, the architect, upon the following terms." The terms were that certain alterations should be made, and certain remaining work to be done for the sum of $3,800, equal to the balance which would have been his due under the former contract. Such new contract was
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accordingly entered into, and the work once more put in progress. Scarcely, however, had the work been begun, when in the mysterious providence of God, some thirty acres of the south castern portion of the city, (which was densely built,) was by one vast conflagration left in a few hours one mass of smouldering ruins. This event, so unexpected, necessarily embarrassed all financial opera- tions in the city. The building committee of Trinity Church being dependent on the collection of many small subscriptions made by individual citizens, to meet the contracts they had entered into, at first were lead to fear that they would be compelled to abandon the work in hand, at least for the time being. They were encouraged
patiently to pursue the work, and wait the direction of an overruling Providence that doeth all things well. By the consent of the board of vestry, their rector, without de- lay went to New York city and laid the condition of his congregation, and the work they had in hand, before the Rector, Wardens, and Vestry of Trinity Church, in that city, asking them to afford the necessary relief, by adding $1,500 to the sum of $3,500, which they had previously pledged to his congregation, when they should have done in good faith a specified amount, towards the erection of their church edifice. That board readily perceiving the inability of the congregation to proceed further in their work without not only prompt, but increased aid, with their accustomed generosity, responded promptly and nobly to the appeal, and at once pledged to the parish of Trinity Church, Albany, the munificent sum of $5,000, payable at their pleasure, with a grant of $350 a year as the interest upon said $5000, until such time as they should see fit to pay the same, which should be after the expiration of ten years. A bond from Trinity Church, New York, to the above effect, backed up by a mortgage on the lot and church then in process of building, enabled the building committee to realize the sum of $5,000, which enabled them to carry forward the work they had in hand. Shortly after, the church edifice then occupied by the congregation, which had not been consecrated, was sold to a corporate body, by the name of the Mutual Benefit
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Association of the city of Albany, for the sum of $800, including most of the fixtures, except the organ, which was removed to the new church. Consequently, the last service held by the congregation of Trinity Church in their edifice, corner of Herkimer and Franklin streets, was on the feast of Christmas, 1848.
Owing to the delay in the mason work of the new building, already mentioned, the work was not completed at the time appointed, and winter setting in before it was completed; it was at length agreed to abandon the work until the following spring, as the building was in such a state that it could be occupied for service. Consequently, the ladies of the congregation, ever ready and active in good works, at this time lent a helping hand, by raising money to purchase carpets, which being put down, and the church made comfortable, the doors were opened on the morning of the 21st day of January, 1849, it being the third Sunday after Epiphany, for divine worship.
Being provided with a permanent place of worship, the congregation as it were became fairly established, al- though the church was not yet fully completed, yet they continued to worship in it until the following April, when services were suspended, and the mason, Mr. Knight, set about completing his part of the contract, which was done, and formally accepted by the architect, in June following. The carpenter's work was also finished and accepted at the same time, when both the contractors were paid in full on their contracts; the carpenter on the 14th of June, 1851, and the mason on the 21st of the same month.
To meet these last payments, and to free the corpora- tion from all liability on account of the contracts for the erection of the church, Messrs. Wm. H. Williams, L. L. Derby, R. H. Northrop and John Wright, gave their note as individuals, which was endorsed by Robert Whitlock and others, for the sum of $1,200, upon which the moncy was obtained of Marcus T. Reynolds, and paid into the treasury of the church, which together with various amounts previously subscribed and then due, was deemed amply sufficient to pay all the indebtedness incurred by
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the building committee for the erection of their new church edifice.
The corporation being thus frecd from debt for the erection of their church, the Right Rev. Bishop Whit- tingham, Bishop of the Diocese of Maryland, then per- forming episcopal duties in the diocese of New York, by request of the standing committee of the diocese of New York, was invited to act as consecrator of the church to the service of Almighty God.
Accordingly, duc notice having been given, Bishop Whittingham arrived in town on the 9th day of Sept., 1849, and on the following day, it being the day appointed for the service of consecration, met with the clergy of the city and vicinity, at the house of Mr. Albert Gallup, No. 84 Westerlo street, where after robing, the bishop and clergy proceeded to the church, where a large audience had assembled to engage in the usual service of morning prayer, and of consecration. When the bishop and seve- ral of the clergy in attendance had entered the chancel, the bishop, sitting in his chair, received from Richard H. Northrop, Esq., then senior warden of the congregation, the following deed of donation :
"We, the rector, church wardens and vestrymen of Trinity Church in the city of Albany, having by the good providence of Almighty God, erected on the west side of Broad street, between Lydius and Westerlo strects in said city, a house of public worship, do hereby appropriate and devote the same to the worship and service of Almighty God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, according to the provisions of that branch of the church of Christ known as the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, in its ministry, doctrines, liturgy, rites and usages, and by a congregation in communion with the said church, and in union with the convention thereof in the diocese of New York.
" And we do also request the Right Reverend William Rolinson Whittingham, Bishop of Maryland, now adminis- tering the episcopal functions in the diocese of New York at the request of the standing committee of the said diocese, to receive the said building in behalf of the Bishop of the
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Diocese of New York, under the spirtual jurisdiction of the said Bishop, and that of his successors in office, and to consecrate the same by the name of Trinity Church, and thereby to separate it from all unhallowed, worldly, common uses, and solemnly dedicate it to the holy pur- poses above mentioned.
" And we do, moreover, hereby relinquish all claim to any right of disposing of the said building, or allowing the use of it in any way inconsistent with the terms and true meaning of this instrument of donation, and with the con- secration hereby requested.
"In testimony whereof, we, the said rector, church wardens and vestrymen, have caused this instrument of donation to be prepared, and have attached unto the same our corporate seal, and signed the same, attested also by our respective signatures and seals, this tenth day of Sep- tember, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hun- dred and forty-nine "
EDWARD SELKIRK, JOHN CLEMESHIRE, Rector. [L. S. ] KELLY ATTWOOD,
R. H. NORTHROP,
JOHN WRIGHT,
JAMES JENKINSON, L. L. DERBY,
Wardens. [L. S. ] WM. H. WILLIAMS,
T. P. WATERS, DR. WM. B. STANTON,
JAMES T. FOSTER, Vestrymen. [L. s.]
CHURCH SEAL ..
The above deed having been received by the bishop, he then proceeded to say the prayers set apart for such ser- vice, which being said, the following sentence of conse- cration was read by the Rev. R. B. Van Kleeck, rector of St. Paul's Church, Troy, by appointment of the bishop.
" In the name of the holy, blessed and undivided trinity, God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, amen. Whereas, the rector, church wardens and vestrymen of Trinity Church in the city of Albany, have, by an instrument this day presented to me, appropriated and devoted a house of public worship erected by them on the west side of Broad street, between Lydius and Westerlo streets, in the said city of Albany, to the worship and service of
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Almighty God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, accord- ing to the provisions of the Catholic Church of Christ, known as the Protestant Episcopal Church in these United States of America, in its ministry, doctrines, liturgy, rites and usages, and by a congregation in communion with said church, and in union with the convention thereof in the diocese of New York.
" And whereas, the same rector, church wardens and vestrymen, have, by the same instrument, requested me to receive the said building in behalf of the said Bishop of the Diocese of New York, under the spiritual jurisdic- tion of the said bishop, and that of his successors in office, and to consecrate the same by the name of Trinity Church, and thereby 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, William Rolinson Whittingham, Bishop of Maryland, and now administering episcopal functions in the diocese of New York at the request of the standing committee of the said diocese, acting under the protection of Almighty God, and in His faith and fear, have, on this tenth day of September, being the Monday after the fourteenth Sunday after trinity, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-nine, in behalf of the Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of New York, and of his successors in office, accepted and do accept the above mentioned house of worship, and take the same under the spiritual jurisdiction of the Bishop of New York aforesaid, and that of his successors in office, and in pre- sence of divers of the clergy, and a public congregation therein assembled, and according to the godly usage of the Catholic Church of Christ, and the form prescribed by the Protestant Episcopal Church in these United States of America, have consecrated the same by the name of Trinity Church.
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