USA > Rhode Island > Bristol County > Bristol > Two hundred years of St. Michael's rectors, 1721-1955 > Part 3
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Samuel Bp. Connect. & Rho. Isl. Seal
Letter of Simeon Potter to James DeWolf Swanzey, Sunday, April 10, 1803
Sir:
You seemed very privet when hear yesterday you never in- formed me that on Easter Monday the Parish of St. Michels Church was going to vote Mr. Usher out and Mr. Clark in as Rec- tuar of sd Church. But you and they are mistaken that lays with the Bishop. I expected that Everything was to be settled in an amiable manner. Depend if you are going to force things contrary to Mr. Usher's wish - youl luse more friends than youl gain therefore let the matter be adiorned for one month, that will bring it after proven.
Your to Serve Simeon Potter
Petition to sell Church Farm Poppasquash
To the Hon'ble the Gen. Assembly of the State of Rhode Is- land to be holden at Newport in the County of Newport on of May A. D. 1800.
The petition of Simeon Potter, John Usher and Abraham L. Clark, a Committee appointed by and in behalf of the Minister, Church-Wardens and Vestry of St. Michael's Church in Bristol in said State-respectfully sheweth that Nathaniel Kay, Esq. here- tofore of Newport, aforesaid in and by his last Will and Testa- ment devized to the Minister, Church-Wardens and Vestry of the Church aforesaid and to their successors a certain Farm lying in Bristol, containing about 1,050 acres and which has since been called and distinguished by the name of the Church Farm, for the purpose of instructing ten poor boys in grammar and arith- metic, and empowered the said Trustees to appoint a School- master who should have received Episcopal Ordination and be an Assistant of the Episcopal Minister of said Town, that the Rents and issues of said Farm have been as far as has been prac- ticable, appropriated according to the intent of said Donation, that the Dwelling House and Barn on said farm were burnt and destroyed during the War, and said farm for some years past, has been rented for $250 per annum, that owing the said Farm being
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constantly rented and almost destitute of buildings, the same has become much impoverished-your Petitioners would further shew that with the annual rent of the Farm it has been found impracticable. to procure a person possessing all the qualifications pointed out in said will as sufficient to the teaching a School, of Episcopal Ordination and capable of being an Assistant to the Minister of St. Michael's Church. That the Trustees on inquiry have ascertained that the said Farm will sell for a good price, in- somuch that the annual interest of the Proceeds will consider- ably exceed double the amount of the annual rent. That these said Trustees impressed with the conviction that the benevolent in- terest of the Testator could not be literally executed. without a sale of said Farm, and that by the application of the annual inter- est to the same objects the said intention can be completely ef- fectuated, they have your Petitioners a Committee to apply to this Hon. Assembly for authority to sell said Farm at the best price that can be obtained, and apply and to invest the Proceeds of said sale in bank stock, to the end that the annual dividends or moneys therefrom shall remain sacred by appropriated to the Pious and Benevolent uses intended by the aforenamed very liberal Benefactor in this aforesaid devise.
Wherefore your Petitioners, humbly pray, that your Honours will be pleased to authorize your Petitioners to make sale of said Estate for the purposes aforementioned and under such regula- tions and in your wisdom shall appear meet - And as in duty bound will ever Pray.
Simeon Potter ) John Usher ) Committee
Abraham L. Clarke )
The Cominittee appointed to consider and report what is expedient for the Gen. Assembly to do on the preceding Peti- tion, beg leave to report that having duly considered thereof they are of opinion that the Prayer of said Petition ought not to be granted, and that the Petitioners have leave to withdraw their Petition, all which is submitted by David Leonard Banner, Walter Channing, and John Throop Child.
Final Work of Mr. Usher
Few have persevered as Mr. Usher did, under so many con- flicting circumstances, keeping together a parish for eleven years by lay reading, at a time when the strongest opposition was ex- hibited toward the Church from the mistaken idea, prevailing
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immediately after the conclusion of the Revolutionary War, that there was a connection between the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States and the Established Church of England.
During the time of Mr. Usher's reading the Congregation was frequently benefitted in the administration of the ordinances, by the clergy from Providence and Newport. The Rev. Mr. Graves, of Providence. thus officiated from 1780 to 1784; and, in 1785, the Rev. Mr. Badger administered the ordinances, the next year the Rev. Mr. Wheeler being present. In the latter part of this year, the new church was so far completed that it was opened for public worship, and the Rev. Mr. Graves administered the ordinance of Baptism for the first time in the new church. The Rev. Mr. Smith, also, of Newport, frequently attended.
In 1791. twenty-five persons were confirmed by Bishop Sea- bury, and in 1793, Mr. Usher so long the faithful and devoted friend and reader to this Church, received Orders, and officiated with success till the year 1800, when, at his earnest desire, being now nearly eighty years of age, the Rev. Abraham Clarke was settled here, the Rev. Mr. Usher often officiating at the baptisms, marriages and funerals of his old and long-tried friends. In 1797, twenty-nine persons were confirmed by Bishop Bass. Difficulties soon arose after the settlement of Mr. Clarke, and he continued bis labours here but about three years, when, in 1803, the Rev. Alexander Viets Griswold became the rector of the parish.
The same year, the Rev. Mr. Usher, then eighty-two years of age, prepared to render up to his Divine Master, the long account of his labours on earth; and if any man could render up his ac- count with joy, Mr. Usher could certainly do so. He was the first infant Episcopally baptized in Bristol, and devoted his long life almost entirely to the interests and welfare of the Church, and in circumstances frequently the most trying to his faith in God's protecting and sustaining care. But at the closing period of his protracted life a brighter day was dawning upon the Church of his love, and he committed his little and beloved flock, with most heartfelt satisfaction and perfect confidence, to the parochial charge of the Rev. Mr. Griswold, the new rector. How far he was justified in that confidence, the account of the succeeding pros- perity of the church will abundantly prove.
The Rev. Mr. Usher was gathered to his fathers in July 1804, aged eighty-two years, and his remains with those of his father, are interred under the chancel of the church.
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CHAPTER VI
EARLY DAYS OF THE REPUBLIC
The days that succeeded the Revolution were important for St. Michael's because they saw the settlement of Mr. John Usher, Jr. as the layreader, until his ordination to the Priesthood by Bishop Seabury in 1793, in St. John's Church, Providence. (See ordination certificate Chapter V.) Then still called King's Church.
In 1786 a new church was built on the site of the old one. The town of Bristol was fast becoming an important seaport, and a trade with Africa was beginning to shape up, about which more will be said later on. It is interesting to note that an attempt to place someone else in Mr. Usher's position as Rector of St. Mi- chael's was defeated, and that a fiery letter on the subject was written by Colonel Simeon Potter to Mr. James D'Wolfe. (See Chapter V.)
About this time a petition was circulated in the parish to sell the Church Farm on Poppasquash given by Nathaniel Kay of Newport for a school for poor boys. (See Chapter V).
We must row for a brief moment, come down to modern times. Tufton Street in Westminster, London, England is a little narrow one-way street, leading out of the great court-yard bound- ed on one side by Church House and on the other by Westmin- ster School. It is in this little street that the Society for the Prop- agation in Foreign Parts has its headquarters. It is a large build- ing, very modern in equipment, with its chapel on the second floor. The chapel is simple but beautiful, and on the left of the Altar is a wooden box containing palm leaves, the very ones found on the body of Bishop Patterson after his murder in the South Sea Islands in 1872. From this chapel the missionaries of S. P. G. are sent forth all over the world.
Near to the chapel is the library, and next to that room is the Archives Room, the treasure house of the Society. Here under the capable hands of the custodian are kept on file the records of the Society from its beginning in 1702 to the present day. It was not difficult to find the story of St. Michael's Church in Bristol in colonial days. It was the story largely of John Usher who for 52 years bore witness to the truth of the Anglican Church and the missionary labours of the S. P. G. The Revolutionary War, of
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course, terminated the Society's work in New England, and in most cases the clergy considering themselves bound by their oath of loyalty to the Crown, fled to Nova Scotia, leaving their par- ishioners to shift for themselves. This was not the case in Bristol, for Mr. Usher dying a few weeks after the battles of Lexington and Concord, left the parish to the charge of the Vestry, who with much courage and in the face of tremendous difficulties, carried on the best way they could.
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CHAPTER VII
BISHOP GRISWOLD
In the death of the second John Usher, the old connection with colonial Bristol passes away, and a new set-up takes its place. We come now to the rectorship of Alexander Viets Gris- wold. The following partial account of this pastorate is taken from "The History of Bristol, R. I." by Wilfred H. Munro - Chapter XXXV: "Alexander Viets Griswold was born in Sims- bury, Hartford County, Conn., April 22, 1766 .... In 1794 he de- termined to become a clergyman of the Episcopal Church, and was that year admitted as a candidate for Orders. In the follow- ing June he was ordained as deacon, and in October 1795, was advanced to the priesthood by Bishop Seabury. His first charge was in Litchfield County, Conn. Part of his support was earned by labor upon a farm. In the harvest time he often worked as a day laborer for seventy-five cents per day. He was a man of mighty frame, and herculean strength; one of his day's works was worth as much as that of two common men." Many are the incidents that have been transmitted concerning that humble life.
"On a general view of the first ten years of his ministry, Mr. Griswold is found to have acted in various capacities: As a teacher of the district school in winter; as a day laborer among his parish- ioners in the summer; and as a sharer in all the lowly occupations and cares of a country life among the retired hills of Connecticut; as well as in the proper duties of his office as a Christian teacher and spiritual pastor to his flock. He shunned nothing in truth that could bring him into most familiar and unguarded inter- course with his people.
"In 1803 he visited Bristol, not with any idea of leaving his post in Connecticut, but simply to see a country that was new to him, and to obtain a little relaxation. The parish of St. Michael was then without a rector, and he was invited to take charge of it. He declined the invitation. The prospects of increased useful- ness, or of personal advantage, did not seem to him to warrant the change. The parish was offered to him a second time, and he again refused it. In his autobiography he says: 'I then supposed I should hear no more from Bristol. But, about the middle of the following winter, to my surprise, one of their most respectable
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parishioners, Mr. William Pearse, a warden of the church, ap- peared at my house with still more pressing solicitations that I should take the charge of that destitute parish; urging many rea- sons why it was my duty to consent to the change. This affected me seriously, and there seemed to be in it a call of Divine Provi- dence. To leave a people who had been so uniformly kind to me, and all of whom, without exception, I had reason to believe, would be grieved at my leaving them, excited in my mind a painful struggle, which they only who have been called to the like trial can realize. It is sufficient to say that with fear and trembling I gave my consent, and in May 1804, one year after my first visit there, I was in Bristol with my family. Bishop Jarvis had given his consent that I should spend a few years there, though at the same time expressing a wish that I should, after that, return to his diocese.'
"It was through the liberality of James DeWolf that the transfer was accomplished. A small vessel belonging to Mr. De- Wolf was by him sent to Hartford, the port upon the Connecticut River nearest to Harwinton, to transport Mr. Griswold and his household to Bristol. Harwinton was distant some twenty miles from the river. Capt. "Nor 'West" John DeWolf, who had not yet earned his famous sobriquet was sent in charge of the vessel.
"Mr. Griswold found about twenty-five families connected with the Church. There were not quite as many communicants. The town numbered, perhaps, two thousand inhabitants. It was full of energy and physical vigor. Its wharves were lined with vessels from the West Indian ports, and it was just beginning to engage in the more extensive commerce with Europe and the East, that afterwards made it so famous. But very little interest was felt in religious matters. In some respects, therefore, the change was not a promotion for the new rector. He had left three large parishes, with more than two hundred communicants, to assume the spiritual direction of one with hardly one-tenth of that number. Yet the removal seems to have been providentially brought about. Unseen forces were at work in Bristol, and the presence of Mr. Griswold was as potent as any other influence in producing the change in the moral atmosphere of the town. The annual income (mostly derived from the Kay bequest) of the rector of the parish was at this time about six hundred dollars per annum-too small a sum to support the large family of Mr. Griswold, in a place where the expenses of living were larger than
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in most towns in New England. He was therefore obliged to eke out his income by teaching a select school. The same life of self- denial and lowly toil seemed before him that had been his lot in Connecticut.
"The new rector found that in some respects his parish was very different from his old field of labor. During the first years of his ministry political excitement was unusually fierce through- out the country, and from many of the "Orthodox" pulpits fiery sermons were delivered, that discussed in the freest manner the party questions that were daily arising. Into this discussion Mr. Griswold never entered. Even in familiar conversation it was ex- ceedingly difficult to ascertain his political views. In his pulpit such themes were never alluded to.
"His early preaching, like that which generally prevailed in our Church at that time, was rather more moral than evangelical; that is, devoted more to the illustration and enforcement of the moral precepts and virtues of Christianity, than to the develop- ment and application of the spiritual truths and doctrines of the Gospel. In Connecticut more than in any other State was there exceeding intolerance in the matter of religious belief. The Cal- vinists of that State sneered at the Episcopalians as formalists and bigots; the Episcopalians looked upon the Calvinists as fan- atics. From the pulpits of both religious bodies sermons were de- livered that dwelt almost entirely upon sectarian divisions and matters of controversy.
In 1809 he was invited to the rectorship of St. Michael's Church, Litchfield, Connecticut. Both the situation and the terms upon which it was offered were very favorable; he determined to accept it. He was diverted from his purpose by an occurrence, to him totally unexpected, and in his view, exceedingly providen- tial. On the twenty-ninth day of May 1810, the delegates from the churches in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Vermont, met together in the city of Boston to elect a bishop for the eastern diocese. Their choice fell upon Alexander V. Griswold. Mr. Griswold was one of the delegates from Rhode Island, but no thought of his election to the office seems to have entered his mind. When the idea was suggested to him that he was to be chosen, he was thrown into the wildest agitation, and absolutely refused to entertain it. When the vote of the Convention was made known he was completely overpowered by his emotions, and after a few moments' pause rose and refused to accept the
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proferred honor. He appeared overwhelmed with a sense of his own unfitness. Only after the earnest solicitation of the clergy in the eastern diocese was he prevailed upon to assume the respon- sibilities of the position. May 20, 1811, he was consecrated bishop in Trinity Church, New York City."
In the summer of 1812 occurred an extraordinary revival of religion in Bristol, which is best described in the words of Bishop Griswold himself.
"In the year 1812, there was in Bristol an awakened attention to the subject of religion, which was very wonderful, and the like of which I had never before witnessed. It commenced among the members of my parish, when no such thing was looked for, nor indeed thought of. No unusual efforts had been made with any view to such an excitement. My administering of confirmation in the parish a few months previously had not improbably some effect. My recent ordination to the Episcopate was the means of awakening my own mind to more serious thoughts of duty as a minister of Christ; and, in consequence, I had, no doubt, with more earnest zeal preached 'Jesus Christ and Him crucified.' The change which I first noticed was the appearance of increased seriousness in the congregation; especially in leaving the church after service. There was little or no laughing, or merry salutation among the people; neither talking of worldly things. After the benediction and a minute of private prayer, they retired silent and thoughtful. Some soon began to express a religious concern respecting their spiritual state, and were anxious to know 'what they should do to be saved.'
"I soon found that the number of such inquirers had increased to about thirty; and in a very short time the awakening was gen- eral throughout the town and was very wonderful. Very much to my regret, the number of communicants had hitherto been small, -but about forty; and yet not withstanding the very zealous efforts of those of other denominations to draw the converts to their respective communions, a large number of adults (forty- four) were baptized, and a hundred were added to my communion of whom more than half had before been accustomed to attend worship in other places or in no place. These converts were not encouraged in ranting, or in any enthusiastic raptures; nor did they incline to any extravagance; but gladly hearkened to the words of truth and soberness, and very few of them afterwards 'turned from the holy commandments delivered unto them.' "
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"Of the effects of this awakening upon the parish, Dr. Tyng, who became a resident of Bristol seven years later, writes as fol- lows: "The revival of 1812 consolidated and established the parish of Bristol as one of the most flourishing and truly Christian Churches in the diocese. It gave it a reputation and an influence among the Episcopal Churches of New England, as distinct and marked as the Church of North Hampton, under the ministry of Jonathan Edwards. But unlike that Church, its conservative Episcopacy kept it from all dissentions, and its inwrought sub- mission to its venerated and faithful pastor, established it in com- plete unity of faith and feeling among the Christian people who constituted the Church of God therein. Never, perhaps, was the conserving influence of Episcopal principles, institutions and ord- inances, more remarkably and honorably displayed."
Bishop Griswold was criticized by some of the Massachusetts clergy for acting at variance with the traditions and customs of the Episcopal Church. That this criticism was unjust Dr. Tyng says "of all the men in our Church, Bishop Griswold was intensely an Episcopalian,-an Episcopalian born and bred. All his habits, tastes and convictions, were on the side of his own Church, and in favor of its ministeries and forms, its liturgies and articles."
"When Dr. Tyng commenced his life in Bristol, in 1819, he thought he had never before seen a more flourishing church. Sixty years afterwards he writes, 'a more really flourishing church I have never seen since.' The cares of the Bishop's large diocese weighed heavily upon him, but not on this account did he neglect the welfare of the parish to which he had become so tenderly at- tached. Dr. Tyng thus describes it :-
'In the opening of the year 1820 a new and very wonderful scene and experience was presented to me in this work of my youthful ministry. Bristol was visited with a very remarkable revival of religion, the manifest work of the spirit of God. At this time there had been but little in the previous autumn to in- dicate it. Our weekly meetings had not been largely attended in the preceding months, partly perhaps owing to the weather, but more to the spirit of worldliness which had been spreading abroad. On the last precedent Friday evening, the regular week not twenty persons were present in the school room in which the meetings were held. The aspect was very discouraging. On the succeeding Sunday evening, the Bishop, after preaching twice in the day, was taken ill in the evening service, and was unable to
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complete his sermon. The effect of this sudden interruption was very solemn and impressive. He was assisted slowly to his house by some of his friends. The residue of the congregation were gathered in small companies for mutual expression around the church. As I came out of the church, I stopped where one such company were assembled around a young woman as if she were sick. On approaching the place, I was called to her as one in deep spiritual distress. This proved to be the first drop of a shower.
'The next morning to this Sabbath was probably occupied in every family with thought and conversation about the events which had occurred on this evening. The day revealed an ex- tensive, almost an universal interest and influence, awakened among the people. The general conversation became directed to the one subject of religious truth and teaching. As we mingled in our common acquaintance, this change of general feeling among the people was displayed in a very remarkable manner. Succeed- ing days indicated the same feeling still increasing and extend- ing. The widespread earnestness among the church people de- manded an assembling for the special consideration of the sub- ject, and made them unwilling to wait until the regular weekly meeting on Friday evening. We therefore appointed one for Thursday evening in a private house (S. W. corner of Church and Hope Streets) opposite the church.
'It was with unbounded surprise that I went into the house at the hour appointed. It was crowded in every room, stair-case and entry, as if some unusually crowded funeral were there. But for ministering to these people, hungry for the bread of life, I was there alone. They had placed a Bible and a Prayer Book on the first landing of the stairs. The people were crowded above me and below me, as far as my eye could reach, in the most eager attention to the Word. It was the most solemn assembly, I had ever seen, and its impression upon my mind and memory was overwhelming and abiding. But this was the commencement of months of work of a similar description; and from this day we had a similar meeting appointed for every evening. These were held in various rooms and houses throughout the town. The evening meetings were usually held in the Academy Hall (N.E. corner High and Church Streets, where Byfield School stands). My whole time for about three months was given up to this one work. Three times every day I was engaged in addressing different assemblies in different parts of the town and of the surrounding
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country, and in conversing with awakened and anxious persons connected with these meetings.
'Such a scene in human society as Bristol then displayed, I had never imagined. The whole town was given up to this one work. The business of the world was for a time suspended. The stores were in many instances closed, as if the whole week were a Sabbath. The general thought of the people seemed to be de- voted to the one great purpose of the soul's salvation. The reality and depth of the impression were proved by the large number of persons who became truly the followers of the Lord Jesus. During the most of this period the Bishop was confined to his house by sickness. As soon as he was able to be abroad, a confirmation was appointed in the church.'
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