USA > New York > The centennial history of the Protestant Episcopal church in the diocese of New York, 1785-1885 > Part 28
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37
330
CENTENNIAL CHURCH HISTORY.
L. Nichols and George Wilcoxson. The history of the growth of this parish is one of perseverance, patience in well doing, and watchful fidelity among duties and opportunities. The present beautiful and impressive stone church, in excel- lent Gothic, grew almost stone by stone, but without debt, until, in the faces of the doubting and incredulous, it reached completion after the lapse of years, one among the many admirable churches that adorn the banks of the Hudson.
CHURCH OF THE RECONCILIATION, A MISSION OF THE PARISH OF THE INCARNATION, NEW YORK,
Was organized in 1858. The church was built and opened May 3, 1861, and enlarged in 1876. The clergy in charge have been : Rev. Matthias Willing, 1858-1860; Rev. T. R. Chapman, 1860-1864; Rev. W. B. Morrow, May to Decem- ber, 1864; Rev. Benjamin S. Huntington, 1865-1866; Rev. Percy Brown, 1866-1867; Rev. N. L. Briggs, 1867-1871 ; Rev. R. W. Elliott, 1871 -; Rev. W. T. Egbert, 1871-1872 ; Rev. E. S. Widdemer, 1872-1882, and Rev. Newton Perkins in charge since 1882. There is a parish house of brick three stories in height adjoining the church which was purchased in 1881, under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Widdemer. Since organization, 1,835 baptisms have been recorded and 719 have received confirmation. The present number of communi- cants is 350. The church property is under the direction of a Board of Trustees who are members of the Parish of the Incarnation. There are guilds, societies, reading-rooms, and suitable means for recreation and social improvement adapted to all ages and conditions in the parish.
ST. MARK'S MEMORIAL CHURCH, MOUNT PLEASANT.
This church was first organized as a mission of Christ Church, Tarrytown, in 1857. The Rev. William Creighton, D.D., was at that time rector of Christ Church, and Rev. Franklin Babbitt had charge of the mission until 1861, when Rev. Edmund Guilbert succeeded him. Two years afterward
331
PARISH HISTORIES.
the mission became an incorporated parish under the present title. In 1865 the present structure, commemorative of Washington Irving, was begun. The architect was James Renwick. The building was Gothic in design, constructed solidly in stone, having a commanding and symmetrical ex- terior, and within unique and beautiful. All the windows, which are costly and artistic, were presented as memorials. The interior is richly and appropriately furnished. The tower was left unfinished, to be built as an especial memorial of Washington Irving, a project which as yet remains unexe- cuted. The building-tower excepted-was completed a few years ago and used for Divine worship. On account of a debt of a few thousand dollars it was not consecrated until 1880. Rev. Mr. Guilbert continued rector until 1876. The commu- nicants were about 100. His successor was Rev. Mytton Maury, D.D., who remained two years. Rev. J. F. Herrlish was rector from 1878 to 1884. He was succeeded by Rev. J. B. Jennings, who remained until October, 1885. March 16, 1886, Rev. Martin K. Schermerhorn was elected rector and entered upon his duties on the first Sunday in Lent. The vestry purpose an early attempt to erect the spire. Owing to defective records the rector has not as yet been able to reach the data of parish work called for by the committee.
THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY, NEW YORK.
This parish was organized April 4, 1864. The first church was completed Easter, 1865, and consecrated Decem- ber 21, 1865. The present church was erected in 1873. The Rev. Stephen H. Tyng, Jr., D.D., was rector from 1864, un- til his retirement in 1881, when he was succeeded by Rev. Wilbur F. Watkins, D.D., the present rector. A rectory was built in 1869. A Sunday-school building, with church parlors and rector's study, was built in 1867, fronting Forty-third Street and extending back to the church. There have been 1,35I baptisms recorded, and 1,231 persons have received con- firmation. In 1865 there were 500 communicants; in 1875,
332
CENTENNIAL CHURCH HISTORY:
1,000, and in 1885, 1,200, which is the present number. The wardens in 1865 and 1875 were Robert Dumart and S. H. Hurd, and in 1885, S. H. Hurd and Adon Smith.
CHRIST CHURCH, RIVERDALE, NEW YORK.
This parish was organized in 1865, and the church built in 1865-1866. The rectors have been : Rev. E. M. Pecke, one year from the organization, and since 1867, Rev. George D. Wildes, D.D., present incumbent. The rectory was purchased in 1877, and repaired and enlarged in 1883. The baptisms recorded are about 116, and 75 have received confirmation. The present number of communicants is 150. The wardens in 1865 were Newton Carpenter and Henry L. Stone, and in 1875, Edward Prime and Henry L. Stone. Owing to the recent severe illness of the rector the data concerning the work of the parish are necessarily incomplete. The growth of the parish was closely connected with an attempt to establish a seminary for girls at Riverdale, and gen- erous expenditures were made to promote the enterprise, which was afterwards abandoned. The church is built of stone, rural Gothic in design, and one of the most picturesque and admirably appointed in the diocese. All the windows are of English glass, and considered among the most interest- ing in the country. The present rectorship is especially iden- tified with the establishment and successful development of the Church Congress, of which Dr. Wildes was one of the original founders. Now lying within the corporation limits of New York, the rapid movement of population towards Riverdale suggests a very important work for this church in the early future.
CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE, NEW YORK,
Was organized January 3, 1866. The church was built and opened November 16, 1868. The Rev. J. Tuttle-Smith, D.D., was elected rector January 9, 1866, and is present incumbent. There is a record of 260 baptisms, and 198 have received con- firmation. In 1876 there were 80 communicants, and in
333
PARISH HISTORIES.
1885 there were 200, which is the present number. The wardens for 1866-1867 were Joseph Curtis and Timothy Matlock Cheeseman, M.D .; from 1867 to 1885, Dr. Cheese- man and Stephen Merrihew, and those now serving are John A. Thomas and James Campbell. This church has been sus- tained as a free church since its organization, and has de- pended solely on the Sunday contributions for its support.
TRINITY CHURCH, MADALIN.
This was a missionary station for ten years, when it be- came an organized parish. The church was built in 1854, and adapted to the purposes of education as well as Divine wor- ship. It was enlarged in 1885.
The Rev. James Starr Clark, S.T.D., has, from 1855 to the present, served as missionary and rector. During his ministry there have been 345 baptisms, and 150 have received con- firmation. In 1855 there were 4 communicants ; in 1865, 50 ; in 1875, 63 ; in 1885, 64, and the present number is 67. The wardens for the decades have been : George F. Simmons and John H. Hager ; John H. Hager and John D. Rockefeller, and John H. Hager and Joseph A. Shaw.
This parish had its beginning in a mission day-school be- gun in November, 1853, by Mr. and Mrs. John Bard. The school, from the first, was under the direction of Jas. Starr Clark, a candidate for orders, who was ordained deacon in June, 1854. The school was removed into the present church and school building early in January, 1855. The first Sun- day-school service was held in the chapel the first Sunday in January, 1855, by the present rector. A parish school was maintained in connection with this church by Mr. and Mrs. Bard for twelve years, in which free instruction was given to some 70 pupils by an efficient corps of teachers. In process of time, "Trinity School, Tivoli," a boarding-school for boys, took the place of the parish school. This school, which was organized by, and has always been under the con- trol of, the rector of Trinity Church, will in a short time close its nineteenth year of successful work. The parish school in the beginning, and the boarding-school in after years, have
334
CENTENNIAL CHURCH HISTORY.
been so intimately associated with the history of the parish, and have formed so considerable a part of it, that they must of necessity be noticed in connection with it.
During the past year the chapel has been enlarged and improved at a cost of $1,600. It is proposed to expend about $1,000 in further improvements. These will make it a beauti- ful chapel, well fitted in every particular for the needs of both school and congregation.
CHURCH OF THE HOLY COMFORTER, SOUTH- FIELD .*
This parish was received into union with the Convention in 1866. No report was made to the Convention in 1885. The latest available report was made in 1883, when the serv- ices were in charge of Mr. Charles Temple, a lay reader. The number of communicants was 57.
CHURCH OF THE HOLY COMFORTER, POUGH- KEEPSIE.
This parish was organized under a board of seven trustees May 10, 1860, and a gift of land 125 feet square was con- veyed to its corporation for a free church by Thomas L. Davies and William A. Davies, the deed bearing date May 20, 1859, and reserving to William A. Davies the right of erecting a church building thereon. The plans for such a building were prepared by Richard Upjohn & Co., and the corner-stone was laid by Bishop Horatio Potter July 14, 1859. The church, which is a memorial of Sarah Davies, wife of William A. Davies, was completed and consecrated October 25, 1860.
Its first rector was Rev. John Scarborough, now Bishop of New Jersey. He was elected March 3, 1860, and after a service of seven years resigned August 17, 1867. The Rev. Robert Fulton Crary succeeded and is present incumbent. A rectory was purchased by William A. Davies and presented to the trustees February 12, 1866. The donor defrayed the expense of an addition in 1867. In 1870 a large addition was made to the church to be used for parish work, the ex-
335
PARISH HISTORIES.
pense of which, some $9,000, was provided by William A. Davies.
Since the organization there have been 1,280 baptisms, 663 have been confirmed, 795 communicants have been connected with the parish and the present number is 319. The first trustees were Rev. Samuel Buel, D.D., Thomas L. Davies, William A. Davies, Robert E. Coxe, John W. Van Wagenen, George Cornwell, and Benjamin R. Tenney. The Rev. Dr. Buel resigned soon after the election of a rector and the Rev. John Scarborough was elected to fill his vacancy. The members of the present board are William A. Davies, presi- dent ; Rev. Robert Fulton Crary, rector and secretary ; Thomas Davies, treasurer ; Robert Sanford, Samuel K. Rup- ley, George A. Bech, and Frederic Atkins.
In 1880 an additional piece of land, 25 x 125 feet, was pre- sented to the trustees by the founder of the parish, and on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the church, October 25, 1885, the plot of ground adjoining the church property, 100 x 125 feet, was also deeded to the trustees by the same generous friend of the parish. This gives the church the whole face of the block fronting on Davies' Place, 250 feet in length, with a uniform depth of 125 feet and bounded on three sides by streets. .
The parish has the nucleus of an endowment fund com- menced by small thank offerings and $3,500 from the will of Matthew Vassar, Jr., the interest from which supplies the Sunday school, now numbering 300, with library books. The church is massively built of blue-gray stone and brown stone trimmings in the Gothic style ; there is a stone spire 100 feet high, surmounted by a stone cross, and the seating capacity is nearly 300.
CHRIST CHURCH, WARWICK .*
This parish was admitted into union with the Convention in 1866. In 1868 Rev. Nicholas F. Ludlum was rector, and reported 27 communicants, with a church built and free from debt. He resigned in that year after a four years' service. There are no recent reports to be had.
336
CENTENNIAL CHURCH HISTORY.
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, CLARKSTOWN .*
This parish was received into union with the Convention in 1867. The clergyman in charge in 1885 was Rev. Thomas Stephens, and the wardens were Franklin R. Barnes and James Cropsey ; the number of communicants reported was 59
ST. AMBROSE'S CHURCH, NEW YORK .*
This parish, formerly St. Thomas' Free Chapel, was organ- ized and admitted into union with the Convention under the ministry of Rev. Frederick Sill in 1867. No report has been received by the committee. In the Journal of 1867 there are 25 I communicants recorded. In 1875, on the death of Mr. Sill, Rev. Howard T. Widdemar became rector ; in 1876, Rev. Zina Doty is recorded as rector; in 1877, Rev. D. Griffin Gunn ; no report in 1880, and in 1881 Rev. J. Bloomfield Wetherell is reported rector and is present incumbent, assisted by Rev. Howard McDougall. In the Journal of 1885, 200 families are reported and 127 communicants.
ST. JOHN'S, MONTICELLO.
This parish was organized November 11, 1816. The first church was built in 1834 and consecrated the following year. The corner-stone of a new church was laid June 24, 1880, it was built in 1882, and consecrated August 28, 1883. The rectors have been :
Rev. Edward K. Fowler, 1826-1869 ; Rev. George Dent Silliman, 1870-1873; Rev. Charles Forbes Canedy, 1873- 1876; Rev. Gustav Edmond Purucker, 1876-1878; Rev. George H. Anderson, 1880, until his death, March 22, 1882 ; Rev. John M. Windsor, 1882-1885, and since February I, 1886, Rev. S. H. S. Gallaudet, present incumbent.
St. Mary's Chapel, Thompsonville, was erected 1871-72, during the rectorship of Rev. George D. Silliman. During the rectorship of Rev. Mr. Canedy, St. James' Chapel was built at Callicoon Depot, during 1873-74, and afterwards organized as the parish of St. James.
337
PARISH HISTORIES.
Since the organization of St. John's, 915 have received baptism, and 266 have been confirmed. In 1870 there were 134 communicants ; 166 in 1880, and the present number is 136. Owing to the destruction of the parish register by fire twelve years ago, it is impossible to state the number of communicants prior to 1870.
The wardens in 1820 were John E. Russell and William A. Thompson ; in 1830, and 1840, were Luther Buckley and William A. Thompson; in 1850, were Roderick Royce and Solomon Deney ; in 1860, were Roderick Royce and Jona- than Stanton ; in 1870, were Israel P. Tremain and James E. Quinlan; in 1880, were Israel P. Tremain and Samuel G. Thompson ; and at present, John Waller and William H. Cady.
At the organization of the parish the Rev. James Thomp- son held services for two or three Sundays. The Rev. John Brown, of Newburgh, visited the parish afterwards once in three months until 1826. The first church was built during the first rectorship at a cost of about $3,000, $1,500 of which was given by Trinity Parish, New York City.
It is noteworthy that Mr. Fowler's rectorship continued forty-two years. A new site was purchased for the new stone church, at a cost of $1,600, with ample room for a rectory when the parish is able to provide it.
CHURCH OF THE REFORMATION, NEW YORK,
This parish was organized October 29, 1867. The date of the erection of the first church is not known. The present church was built in 1886, and occupies the old site of the Church of the Epiphany, in Stanton Street. The rectors have been : Rev. Abbot Brown, 1867-1871 ; Rev. W. T. Tracy, 1872-1874; Rev. J. W. Bonham, May to August, 1875; Rev. J. R. Duganne, 1875-1877; Rev. A. Buchanan, May to Octo- ber, 1878; Rev. H. Williams, December to April, 1881 ; from 1881 to 1884, no clergyman, and since May, 1884, the Rev. E. F. Miles, M.D., in charge.
The Church of the Reformation was incorporated in 1867, and occupied the old Dutch Reformed Church in East Fiftieth
22
338
CENTENNIAL CHURCH HISTORY.
Street until 1875, when the corporation exchanged properties with the incorporated Church of the Epiphany, at 130 Stan- ton Street. Services were conducted in the church by various clergymen, none remaining any length of time, until 1881, when Mr. B. C. Wetmore, a layman and warden of the church, conducted the services as lay reader until 1883. In the summer of that year, one of the assistant clergymen of St. George's was detailed for duty to the Church of the Reforma- tion. In May, 1884, the present incumbent, Rev. E. F. Miles, M.D., was placed in charge.
The property had been rented to a board of trustees, con- ditionally, that within three years $50,000 should be raised for the building of a new church; $20,000 of this sum having been for some time pledged. The condition of the parish in 1884 was not encouraging. The old church had been con- demned by the Building Department, and the partial use of the German Reformed Church in Norfolk Street was ob- tained at a large rental. The congregation had become scat- tered by death, removals, and other causes. The Sunday- school has grown from 260 in 1884 to an attendance of nearly 700. The adult congregation has steadily increased, and reaches an average of nearly 300. The communicants have increased from 32 in 1884 to 171 at present, and a class for confirmation numbering about 70 await the laying on of hands after Easter. Among the organized activities of the parish are a Girls' Friendly Society, numbering 160, a Young Men's Friendly Society, numbering 67; and classes for instruction are provided for them in free-hand drawing, writing, model- ing in clay, and wood-carving, a Sewing School, with an at- tendance of 175, a Literary Society, with a membership of 80, meeting monthly, and a branch of the Church Temperance Society, with 75 members, and a kindergarten for little children.
It was expected that the first services in the new church would be held on Easter Day. This building is of red brick and stone trimmings, and occupies the entire two lots on which the old Church of the Epiphany stood, and contains : church, with seating capacity for 500, vestry and choir-room,
339
PARISH HISTORIES.
etc., Sunday-school rooms, with capacity for 900, Girls' Friendly Society parlors, rector's room, janitor's apartments, gymnasium, two bath-rooms, etc., kitchen and dining-room for kindergarten, etc. The building is heated with hot air from five furnaces. The entire cost of the building, furniture, etc., is estimated at $62,000. The current expenses, including the clergyman's salary, are $5,000 per annum. The sick of the parish are attended at their own homes, and when unable to pay for them, medicine and medical comforts are provided.
The work, in every feature, gives evidence of steady and sure growth, and despite the difficulties and inconveniences which have attended the work, for want of proper accommo- dation, the incumbent is deeply sensible of the blessing with which it has pleased God to visit His work, in this crowded part of our great city.
SANTIAGO, NEW YORK .*
This parish, organized for ministrations among the Spanish-speaking population, was admitted into union with the Convention in 1867. It has carried on a mission work in New York and Brooklyn, holding its special Sunday serv- ices in the Church of the Annunciation. In 1883 the rector in charge, Rev. Mr. De Palma, reported 50 families, 300 indi- viduals, and 42 communicants. There is no Fournal report in 1885, and there are no additional statistics.
ST. MARK'S CHURCH, CARTHAGE LANDING.
This parish was organized in January, 1865. The church was consecrated June 3, 1868, by Bishop H. Potter. The first rector was the Rev. F. W. Shelton, D.D., from August, 1867, to Easter, 1880. He was succeeded by Rev. S. M. Akerly from Easter, 1880, until October, 1881, when the parish became a missionary station, and was served from Zion's Church, Wappinger's Falls, until April, 1882. After- wards services were interrupted until November, 1884, when the Rev. T. H. Converse, principal of a boys' school at New Ham- burgh, N. Y., took charge of the parish under the missionary board of the diocese. He still continues to officiate regu-
1
340
CENTENNIAL CHURCH HISTORY.
larly in the church. There is no rectory. Since organiza- tion there have been 96 baptisms, and 37 have received con- firmation. The present number of communicants is 20. The organization and maintenance of St. Mark's has been largely due to the zeal and interest of the well-known Ver- planck family, residing near Fishkill-on-Hudson. But to quote from the notes of Dr. Shelton, the first rector: "In a place of few inhabitants, with little business or enterprise of any kind, it was unfortunate that almost immediately after ground had been selected for a church and the foundations had been laid, three important families were lost to the parish by death or removal."
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, GREENWOOD .*
This parish was received into union with the Convention in 1868. A pretty stone church was built under the archi- tectural as well as missionary direction of Rev. Charles Bab- cock, who in 1870 reported 45 families and 100 individuals in his charge, with a flourishing day school of 60 scholars. There were 72 communicants. The latest accessible Con- vention report was made in 1883. The parish was then, as it is now, without a rector. The number of communicants was 57.
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, SPRING VALLEY,
Was organized August 1I, 1868, and the church was built and opened August 5, 1872. The Rev. Romaine S. Mans- field was rector from the beginning, and continued until July, 1878. He was immediately succeeded by Rev. J. Tragitt, who served until April, 1880. The parish remained vacant until February, 1881, when the bishop placed it in charge of Rev. R. S. Mansfield, rector of Christ Church, Ramapo, who held services Sunday afternoons until October, 1883, when Rev. Thomas Stephens, the present incumbent, took charge. There have been 79 baptisms recorded, and 52 have received confirmation. The present number of communi- cants is 35. As the records have been lost it is impossible to give the succession of wardens; those now in the office are
341
PARISH HISTORIES.
Messrs. Parsons and Warner. The Holy Communion was first celebrated in this parish by the Rev. George F. Seymour, now Bishop of Springfield, and the first sermon in the new church, December 18, 1873, was preached by the assistant Bishop of the diocese.
ALL SAINTS' (BRIAR CLIFF), SING SING .*
This parish was received into union with Convention in 1869. From the report to the Convention in 1885, it appears that Rev. Addison Sherman was rector, and Charles C. Clarke and Charles F. Ogilby wardens. The number of communi- cants was 41.
TRINITY CHURCH, SING SING .*
This parish was received into union with Convention in 1869. From the Convention Journal of 1885, it appears that Rev. Geo. W. Ferguson was the rector, and Benjamin Moore and George D. Arthur wardens. There were 218 communi- cants. There are no other statistics at hand.
CHURCH OF THE HEAVENLY REST, NEW YORK .*
No report has been received from this parish, and there are no accessible data beyond the report in the Convention Journal of 1885. The parish was established by Rev. R. S. Howland, D.D., rector, who has of late years left it mainly in charge of Rev. D. Parker Morgan, M.A. It was received into union with the Convention in 1870. The church is built of stone after strongly original designs by Mr. Edward Potter. The interior is effectively adorned with excellent frescoes after Fra Angelica, and Ary Scheffer's " Christus Consolator " as an altar piece. There is a full congregation and the parish abounds with societies and agencies for charities and instruction. More than 1,000 individuals are within its cure. The present number of communicants is 588. The wardens are E. L. Terry and F. Humphreys, M.D.
342
CENTENNIAL CHURCH HISTORY.
CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION, WEST NEW BRIGHTON.
This parish was organized May 24, 1869, and the church edifice built in 1870. The rectors have been: Rev. Theodore Irving, LL.D., 1867-1872 ; Rev. James S. Bush, 1872-1884, and Rev. Pascal Harrower, from 1884, present incumbent. In January of this year, the lot adjoining the church was pur- chased, and a rectory is to be built during the summer. The Sunday school and parish house was erected by St. Andrew's Parish, of Richmond, Rev. David Moore, rector. Since the foundation of the Parish of the Ascension, this building has been remodeled for its present use. Since organization 540 baptisms are recorded, and 245 have received confirmation. The present number of communicants is 291. The wardens named are: Gabriel Martine and Sidney D. Roberts, 1869; Erastus Brooks and Sidney D. Roberts, 1879, and Erastus Brooks and DeWitt Stafford, 1885. The earlier history of the church in this village forms part of the parish history of St. Andrew's, Richmond. Services were at that time held regularly in the afternoon. The church was then known as Trinity Chapel of St. Andrew's Parish.
GRACE PARISH, STONY POINT.
By appointment of Bishop Potter, the Rev. Ebenezer Gay, Jr., commenced services in the town of Stony Point August 1, 1869. Sunday-schools were established at two points, services maintained, several persons were baptized, and the Holy Communion celebrated. In the spring of 1871 the House of the Good Shepherd was removed from Haverstraw to its present location at Tomkins' Cove in the town of Stony Point, and in its chapel regular and full serv- ices have been regularly maintained. The corner-stone for a church building was laid June 13, 1871, by the Rev. J. B. Gibson, S.T.D. The building will be at once a chapel for the House of the Good Shepherd and a mission church for the neighborhood. At this date, April, 1886, the foundation and basement walls are built and the stone collected for the
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.