USA > New York > The centennial history of the Protestant Episcopal church in the diocese of New York, 1785-1885 > Part 26
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PARISH HISTORIES.
CHURCH OF THE TRANSFIGURATION, NEW YORK.
This parish was organized in 1849. The church was erected in 1849-1850, and has served as a nucleus for several enlarge- ments, at successive stages of church growth. The parish was founded by Rev. George H. Houghton, who has been its rec- tor from the beginning, and is present incumbent. A large clergy house stands on the western edge of the grounds. The number of baptisms recorded is 1,984, and about 1,000 per- sons have received confirmation. The present number of communicants is about 500. At the organization of the par- ish the wardens were Abel T. Anderson and Arent S. De Peyster. At present the wardens are Gerardus B. Docharty and Sidney S. Harris.
In a sermon preached by the rector, on Sunday morning, October 3, 1885, he said : " It is thirty-seven years ago to-day since the first Transfiguration service was held. Great, indeed, is the contrast between that service and the service of to-day. There may be two, not more, beside myself, here to-day, who took part in that service. We met then in a room furnished to us by the venerable Obed-Edom of the Transfiguration, Rev. Lawson Carter, now long since gone to his rest in Para- dise, in whose house our ark found sanctuary until hither brought to this place, then but a portion of what it now is, to remain, if it please Him, until He comes again. A Bible, a prayer-book, a surplice, a pine-wood lectern-there was not a dollar in hand nor the promise of one-comprised all our possessions. We had the temporary use of a few school benches, and a cyphering, wheezing parlor organ. The num- ber of those who were venturesome enough, with an inexpe- rienced, not physically over-strong priest and pastor, to pro- pose and attempt the organizing and establishing of a new parish, was six." " It is five years ago to-day since, on each returning morning, at seven o'clock, in addition to whatever and to how many soever other occasions, the Lord Jesus Christ, in the way of His own institution and appointment, has been present here upon this altar, that the sacrifice of His
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CENTENNIAL CHURCH HISTORY.
death upon the cross might be pleaded, as nothing else could be pleaded, for the whatsoever needs of all, whether here or elsewhere ; and that whosoever would might be fed with the life-giving food of His most precious Body and Blood."
The rector accepted the choice of the present site with extreme reluctance, for he had purposed a different line of pastoral work, among the wretched, sick and destitute, and had already entered into it, day and night, making Bellevue Hospital a central point. He says, in another place : " Belle- vue Hospital then not, as now, blest with clerical services, was counted as a peculiar charge; indeed, its every ward, almost, became nearly as familiar as the room in which our service was held ; and its sick and dying were continually comforted with the prayers and sacraments of the Church. Nor was there a street from the hospital down to Twentieth Street unassociated with the memory of a sorrow assuaged, a want supplied, or a deathbed soothed." But the present site was fixed upon, and, with $1,500 in hand, collected from friends and the handful of parishioners, " three, one-half of our pres- ent lots, were secured by part payment, and through the kindness of a friend, a portion, less than a fourth of the pres- ent edifice, was erected." The view was unbroken to Madi- son Square below, and to Murray Hill above, a crude, un- promising outlook, with little promise of what followed.
But there has been constant, steady growth, root and branch, sometimes slow and much-hidden, but always growth. Little by little the church has grown, by pushing out first in one direction, then in another, as exigencies required or re- sources permitted. Things were from the outset pitched on a moderate scale. There was no discounting the future. The present bore its own burdens, and so the church grew into its present rambling, but picturesque and satisfactory proportions, nearly filling the south and west sides of the plot, which is 100 by 175 feet, fronting on Twenty-ninth Street ; the clergy house occupying the west boundary, thus leaves a fair, open court of beautifully wooded grounds opening on the street, with its flagged walks, its fountain, its shade and bird-song. The church is much embowered, so that in the season of foliage
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it is hardly visible. Simple and unpretending without, it is " all glorious within," with its devout marble altar and cor- rect liturgic accessories at the angle where the long nave and its one transept meet ; its exquisite baptistry, its valuable and costly pictures, its richly-varied stained windows, and its unique memorial window, which lights the choir and organ, its carved and costly pulpit and furnishings, its statuary, and " Stations of the Cross." There is an odor of loving sacrifice everywhere, which makes for the visible as well as spiritual beauty of holiness. Much of the constant pastoral work is among the wretched, friendless, and fallen. Day and night this ministry of succor and consolation goes on. Out of a single, obscure Providence of the burial of a baptized man, grew a relation with the whole dramatic profession, full of confidences and generous sympathies to this day, which else- wise might have long slumbered undeveloped. Indeed, it was only a practical exemplification of the rector's favorite motto, which he likes to Christianize from its pagan setting, " Homo sum humani nihil a me alienum puto."
The church is always opened from the rising of the sun even until the going down thereof, for public or private devo- tion. Always, day and night, there is access to pastoral minis- tration for all sorts and conditions in life. Large provision is made for free sittings. There are day-schools, Sunday-schools -one for colored children Sunday afternoon. There is an Altar Society, a Missionary Relief Association, the Holy Inno- cents' Guild, the Maternity Society, St. Anna's Guild, and other organized working agencies, among which the zealous and devout exercise their gifts of grace and faith.
There is no debt. There is a House and Home of the Lord, where the rich and the poor meet together, and there is the beginning of an endowment fund, in anticipation of fu- ture requirements, already amounting to $25,000. The par- ish has also founded and cares for a Transfiguration Mission Chapel in West Sixty-ninth Street, under the ministerial charge of Rev. E. C. Houghton. Commenting upon the growth and fruitfulness of the work begun in so much weak- ness, the writer quotes once more from an anniversary sermon
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of the rector : " Doubtless the general zeal and faithfulness of the congregation have been greatly effectual, and the one idea of the rector, Ecclesia Dei! Ecclesia Dei ! the Church of God ! the Church of God ! the Church first, the Church last, the Church the thought by day and the dream by night, may have contributed somewhat to the result."
ST. JAMES THE LESS, SCARSDALE,
Was organized September 3, 1849. The corner-stone of a church edifice was laid, June 29, 1850, and completed and consecrated June 28, 1851. It was burned April 2, 1882, rebuilt, using the same walls, and consecrated November 4, 1883. The rectors have been : Rev. J. F. Le Baron, 1850- 1851 ; Rev. William W. Olssen, 1851-1871; Rev. Stephen F. Holmes, 1871-1872 ; Rev. Henry C. Webbe, 1872-1873 ; Rev. W. A. Holbrook, 1874-1877, and Rev. Francis Chase, incum- bent, since February 1, 1879.
A rectory was procured in 1860, and Lang Memorial Chapel was erected in 1865, by William Bailey Lang, in mem- ory of his wife, Mrs. Susannah H. Lang. Both these build- ings were added during the rectorship of Rev. W. W. Olssen. There are recorded 263 baptisms, and 155 have received con- firmation. In 1850 there were 15 communicants ; in 1870, 73 ; in 1880, 81, and the present number is 78. The wardens in 1850 were : William S. Popham and Mark Spencer ; in 1860, William H. Popham and Charles W. Carmer; in 1870, Wil- liam S. Popham and James S. Connell, and in 1880, William S. Popham and Lewis C. Popham.
CHURCH OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS, HIGHLAND FALLS,
Was organized in 1847 and incorporated in 1850. The church was built in 1847 and consecrated July Ist of that year. The rectors have been : Rev. Charles H. Hall, 1847- 1848 ; Rev. Thomas S. Preston, part of 1848 ; Rev. J. Breck- enridge Gibson, 1849-1853 ; Rev. Henry E. Duncan, 1853- 1854; Rev. Minot E. Wells, 1854-1872, and from July 14, 1872, Rev. William Reed Thomas, still in charge.
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PARISH HISTORIES.
A rectory was procured in 1849 or '50, and enlarged in 1872. A school-house, of wood, was built during the rector- ship of Rev. J. B. Gibson. There have been 882 baptisms recorded, and 309 have received confirmation. The present number of communicants is 104.
The founder of this parish was Professor Robert W. Weir, for a long period the celebrated artist-Professor of the Mili- tary Academy of West Point. He designed the church, and was so much the largest contributor, in providing for its cost, that it became generally known as Professor Weir's Memorial Church. This was not only a gift of devotion, but of sacri- fice ; for the professor had no private fortune, and it is gen- erally understood that most of the sum he received from the government for his picture in the Capitol at Washington was consecrated to this pious undertaking. The church is built of the stone quarried on the spot, and is Gothic in design. There is fascination in its rugged simplicity of exe- cution and the general plan harmonizes in a thoroughly pic- turesque way with the general landscape. This church is mem- orable since it is one of the earliest in that series of churches now so remarkable a feature of the diocese which originate chiefly, or altogether, in the munificence of an individual or family. The ground on which the church stands was given by the late William B. Cozzens and wife.
CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, RONDOUT.
This parish was organized in 1850. The first edifice for public services was a chapel built by Miss Verplanck, about 1845. The present church was built in 1861. The clergy connected with the parish have been (missionaries) Rev. Mr. Smithett of Esopus, and Rev. George Waters. Rev. George Waters was rector, 1854-1861, and at the same time, of St. John's Church, Kingston ; acting rector for part of 1861, Rev. Richard Temple, of Esopus ; 1861-1863, Rev. A. H. Ges- ner ; part of 1864, Rev. David Margot; 1864-1866, Rev. A. F. Olmstead, D.D .; 1866-1870, Rev. Foster Ely, D.D .; 1870-1875, Rev. J. B. Murray ; 1876-1877, Rev. A. Sidney Dealey ; 1877-1881, Rev. F. M. S. Taylor, and since Easter,
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1882, Rev. Francis Washburn, present incumbent. A rectory was provided in 1861. Since 1861 there have been 592 bap- tisms, and 343 have received confirmation. In 1861, there were 56 communicants; in 1870, 134; in 1877, 116, and in 1885, 149, the present number. From 1883 to date the wardens have been William G. Lounsberry and Samuel Dobbs. The number of families is 130, and of persons, about 600. There are 125 scholars in the Sunday-school.
The church property was the gift of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company and extends the entire face of the block between Spring and Pierrepont Streets. There are two small debts-$3,000 in all-one on the rectory of long stand- ing which was reduced last year, and one on the church which was placed there by the vestry of 1879. The rectory is a handsome framed building, two stories and basement. The church is built of blue stone, Norman Gothic in architecture, and with sittings for 450. All the members of the vestry are communicants.
ALL SAINTS' PARISH, MILTON.
This church was incorporated in 1850, and a church built in 1855. The rectors have been: Rev. Samuel Hawksley, Rev. Samuel M. Akerly, Rev. James W. Sparks, Rev. Joseph W. Johnson, and Rev. John W. Buckmaster. The parish records are very imperfect. So far as can be ascertained, there have been 75 baptisms, and 25 have received confirma- tion since the organization. There are, at present, 15 com- municants.
ST. MARY'S CHURCH, WEST NEW BRIGHTON.
This parish was organized in 1849. The church was built in 1852. The rectors have been: Rev. Henry B. Barlow, 1848-1850; Rev. S. P. Parker, 1850 -; Rev. H. L. E. Pratt, 1857 -; Rev. E. McC. Fiske, 1876-1880, and since 1880, the present incumbent, Rev. Alfred G. Mortimer. A rectory was built in 1858 and school buildings in 1883, by Rev. Alfred G. Mortimer. St. Austin's Church School for Boys was established by the present rector, and Revs. G. E.
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PARISH HISTORIES.
Cranston, W. B. Frisby, Evelyn Bartow, and S. B. Lassiter, are assistants both in parish and educational work. For this latter, an adjoining estate of some acres, known as the Garner Place, has recently been purchased, with improvements and appliances becoming a school residence of the highest class. Owing to the defective state of the parish records, it is im- possible to supply additional particulars.
CHRIST CHURCH, NEW BRIGHTON,
Was organized July 8, 1849, and the church erected and opened May 1, 1850. The rectors have been : Rev. Pierre P. Irving, 1850-1875 ; and Rev. George D. Johnson, since 1875 to the present. A rectory was built on the church grounds in 1880. In 1870, Rev. P. P. Irving, rector, a spacious and well appointed Sunday-school building was erected, immediately adjoining the church. Since the organization there is a record of 774 baptisms, and 270 have been confirmed. The present number of communicants is 300. The wardens, by decades, were : in 1850, William I. Pendleton and David A. Comstock ; in 1860, H. L. Routh and Beverly Robinson ; in 1870, Living- ston Satterlee and George N. Titus, and in 1880, Livingston Satterlee and N. Phelps Stokes.
ST. MARK'S CHURCH, NEWCASTLE .*
The committee has received no report from this parish, which was admitted into union with the Convention in 1851. From the report of 1885 to the Convention, it appears that at that time Rev. Benjamin T. Hall was rector, and C. Elliott Spencer and Charles Dawson wardens. The number of com- municants was 39. There are no other available statistics.
CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH, RHINEBECK.
This parish was organized August 18, 1852, and the church was erected in 1853. The rectors have been : Rev. Richard S. Adams, 1852-1853; Rev. George Herbert Walsh, D.D., 1854-1866; and since November 4, 1866, Rev. Aaron F. Olmsted, D.D., the present incumbent. A rectory was provided in 1857, and enlarged in 1884.
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CENTENNIAL CHURCH HISTORY.
During the ministry of Dr. Walsh, a building for Sunday- school and lecture room was erected adjoining the church, December 28, 1862. Also during the same rectorship, a free mission chapel, with a rectory adjoining, was built in the neighboring hamlet of Rhinecliff, August, 1859. This chapel, under charge of the rector's assistant, was sustained by the Church of the Messiah for several years, until it was placed under an independent organization, at its own request, as the Church of the Ascension. Since organization 244 baptisms have been recorded, and 146 have received confirmation. The present number of communicants is 65. The wardens in 1852 were: Eliphalet Platt, M.D., and Isaac F. Van Vliet ; in 1865, Eliphalet Platt, M.D., and Theophilus Gillender ; in 1875, Lewis Livingston and Theophilus Gillender, and in 1885, James M. DeGarmo, Ph.D., and Douglass Merritt.
The village of Rhinebeck having been for some time past in its decadence, and there being four other Protestant con- gregations in the place, the church is barely able to hold its own, as the average attendance on its services and the number of its baptisms and communicants for some years past plainly demonstrates.
CHURCH OF THE INCARNATION, NEW YORK.
This parish was organized April 19, 1852. The first church building was erected in 1849, at the north-west corner of Madison Avenue and Twenty-eighth Street, as a mission chapel of Grace Church. The present church, at the north- east corner of Madison Avenue and Thirty-fifth Street, was opened December II, 1864, and consecrated April 20, 1865. The rectors have been: Rev. Edwin Harwood, 1852- 1854; Rev. Henry Eglinton Montgomery, D.D., 1855 until his decease in 1874, and since April, 1875, the present in- cumbent, Rev. Arthur Brooks. The rectory adjoining the church, on the avenue, was completed in 1869. The parish founded a mission chapel on Thirty-first Street, near Second Avenue, now known as the Church of the Reconciliation, although still dependent upon this church, and not in full union with the Convention. It was opened for Divine service
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PARISH HISTORIES.
May 3, 1861, during Dr. Montgomery's rectorship. It was enlarged in 1877, during the present rectorship. The house next to the mission chapel was bought and altered for mission uses in 1881. In the Church of the Incarnation, 903 baptisms are recorded, and 763 have received confirmation. The present number of communicants is 500. At the organization the wardens were : Murray Hoffman and Christopher F. Bowne ; in 1855, Murray Hoffman and John Davenport ; in 1865, S. M. Valentine and G. F. Nesbitt; in 1875, D. M. Valentine and W. B. Clerke; and in 1885, E. M. Crawford and G. W. Smith.
The interior of the church was burned March 24, 1882. The church was immediately rebuilt and enlarged by the ad- dition of twenty feet at the chancel and a transept at the north-east corner. The church was reopened December 24, 1882, and was decorated in the summer and fall of 1885.
ST. PETER'S CHURCH, PORT CHESTER,
Was organized April 12, 1852. The first church was com- pleted July 15, 1844, and consecrated by Bishop Onderdonk as St. Peter's Chapel, in connection with Christ Church, Rye. The church was enlarged in 1855, and again in 1873.
As St. Peter's Chapel, a mission of Christ Church, Rye, it was under the charge of Rev. Peter S. Chauncey, D.D., 1834- 1848 ; and Rev. Edward C. Bull, 1848 until date of incorpora- tion. As St. Peter's Church, the rectors have been : Rev. Isaac Peck, 1852-1858 ; Rev. George C. Pennell, 1858-1859 ; Rev. Samuel Hollingsworth, D.D., 1860-1872 ; Rev. Brock- holst Morgan, 1872-1879; Rev. J. Garner Rosenkrantz, 1880 until his decease, November, 1881 ; and Rev. Edward Kenney, B.D., May, 1882, and present rector.
A commodious rectory, with ample grounds, was procured in 1860, and a Sunday-school chapel, both during the rector- ship of Dr. Hollingsworth.
There are no parochial statistics previous to 1858. Since that date 570 baptisms are recorded, and 377 have received confirmation. The present number of communicants is 306.
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The wardens in 1852 were; Willet Moseman and James H. Beers ; in 1860, C. J. Swords and Philip Rollhaus ; in 1870, Philip Rollhaus and Augustus Abendroth ; in 1880, the same ; and in 1886, Hanford M. Henderson and Augustus M. Husted
The parish church burned to the ground-a wooden struc- ture-December 15, 1883, fired by a spark from a passing locomotive. Tho congregation have since worshiped in the chapel. About $13,000 are in hand towards rebuilding the church.
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, PLEASANTVILLE .*
In the absence of any response to the committee, it is at this moment only possible to refer to the parochial report made to the Convention in 1885. The parish was admitted to conventional union in 1853, and in 1885 Rev. Benjamin T. Hall was rector, and Edward C. Hoag and Junius Bard war- dens. The number of communicants was 35.
ST. JOHN'S, TUCKAHOE,
Was organized July 18, 1853. The first church edifice was built in 1798, as chapel of St. John's Church, Yonkers. The church was enlarged in 1847, and the chancel added in 1867. The clergy in charge have been : Rev. Charles Jones, rector, 1853-1858; Rev. Augustus St. Clair, minister in charge, 1859- 1860; Rev. David Doremus, minister in charge, 1860-1861; the church was closed 1861-1865; Rev. Angus Morrison Ives, minister in charge, 1865-1880 ; 1880-1881, services were sustained by " supplies " ; Rev. Samuel B. Moore, rector, 1881- 1884; since that time, Rev. Charles Ferris has been in charge. The baptisms recorded are 188, and 78 have received con- firmation. In 1853 there were 15 communicants ; in 1863, 39; in 1873, 64; in 1883, 55 ; and the present number is 47. The wardens in 1853 were: John Bowne and Christian Dederer; in 1863, Elias C. Bowne and Christian Dederer ; in 1873, Elias C. Bowne and William D. Smith ; and in 1883, Charles R. Dusenberry and William H. Underhill.
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PARISH HISTORIES.
CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER, NEW YORK,
Was organized in February, 1853. The first church was built in 1853, and the present edifice was built and opened November I, 1867. The rectors have been : Rev. Peter S. Chauncey, D.D., from February I to August 30, 1853; Rev. Wm. J. Frost, 1853-1863; Rev. S. Chipman Thrall, 1863-1865; and the present incumbent, Rev. John W. Shackelford, D.D., since July 1, 1865. Since organization there have been 729 baptisms, and 729 have received confirmation. In 1855, there were 84 communicants; in 1865, 115 ; in 1875, 175 ; and in 1885, 250, which is the present number.
The wardens in 1853 were: William Frost and Abraham Craig ; in 1863, Morris O. Crawford and Elias J. Pattison ; in 1873, Elias J. Pattison and Rufus B. Cowing; and in 1883, Benjamin Drake and George D. Bleythring, M.D.
The Church of the Redeemer has suffered constantly dur- ing the twenty years of the present rectorship from the fluc- tuating character of the population. It has also suffered from the want of a proper, permanent church building, many persons of wealth and high social position preferring to wor- ship among their acquaintances in a stately edifice. Not- withstanding these drawbacks, the growth of the parish has been steady; an important spiritual work has been done among the middle and lower classes, and there is no debt. The present urgent need of the parish is a permanent church building of brick or stone.
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, MORRISANIA,
Was organized as a chapel of St. Ann's Parish, Morrisania, July 8, 1849, but became a parish under the title of St. Paul's Church, Morrisania Village, May 31, 1853. The church was built in 1849, opened Easter Day, 1850, and consecrated June 22, 1850, by Rt. Rev. William R. Whittingham, D.D., Bishop of Maryland. The rectors have been: Rev. A. B. Carter, both rector of St. Ann's and founder of St. Paul's ; Rev. Benjamin Akerly, first rector, 1853-1857 ; Rev. S. G. Appleton, 1858-1868 ; Rev. F. B. Van Kleeck, 1868-1870 ;
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Rev. Thomas R. Harris, 1870, and present incumbent. A rectory was procured in 1855. The number of baptisms recorded is 750, and 442 have received confirmation. In the first list there were 59 communicants ; in 1860, 105 ; in 1870, 146; in 1880, 145; in 1885, 162, and the present number is 162. The first wardens were : Charles Dennison and William A. Smith, and the present wardens are : John E. Comfort, M.D., and James C. Hull.
CHURCH OF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST, NEW YORK.
This parish was organized June 6, 1853. The church edi- fice was built by the Congregationalists. The rectors have been : Rev. Edwin R. T. Cook, 1853-1865; Rev. Robert G. Quennell, 1866-1872 ; Rev. William T. Egbert, 1872-1876; Rev. John W. Kramer, M.D., 1876-1880, and Rev. B. F. De Costa, D.D., since April, 1881, rector and present incumbent. A rectory, at 259 West Eleventh Street, was purchased in 1877. There is a Sunday-school building, erected prior to the church. The number of recorded baptisms is 1,796, and 1, 142 have received confirmation. The present number of com- municants is estimated at 300. The wardens in 1853 were : Charles J. Folsom and Hezekiah Wheeler; in 1863, Martin Y. Bunn and Alexander Clinton ; in 1873, Hamilton R. Searles and Robert Lawson, and the same in 1883.
ST. PHILIP'S CHURCH, NEW YORK .*
This parish was received into union with the Convention in 1853. At that time, Rev. William Morris was officiating minister, and there were about 200 communicants. In 1860, Rev. William J. Alston was the officiating minister ; in 1863, Revs. S. N. Denison and N. S. Richardson were officiating pro- visionally ; and Rev. John Morgan in 1864; in 1865, Rev. S. N. Denison was minister in charge; in 1867, Rev. B. F. De Costa and Rev. John Peterson, deacon, assistant ; in 1872, Rev. William J. Alston, rector ; in 1874, rectorship vacant ; in 1875, Rev. J. S. Attwell, rector until 1882 : in 1882, Rev. J. Treadwell Walden, minister in charge ; in 1883, Rev. Peter
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Morgan, minister in charge, and incumbent in 1885, at which date the number of souls was 500; and of communicants, 284. There are no other data accessible. In the Convention Journal of 1832, mention is made of this parish and "Rev. Peter Williams (a colored man), rector," and reference is made to a yet earlier parish report. At this date there were 203 communicants.
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