USA > Vermont > Bennington County > Arlington > St. James' Episcopal Church, Arlington, Vermont : a sketch of the birth and growth of Saint James' Parish, the oldest parish in the diocese of Vermont, together with brief sketches of the lives of the bishops of the diocese and of the rectors of St. James' Parish > Part 4
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"Not having exercised his eccesiastical functions during the tw years he spent in England he was unable to obtain testimonials whei 1794, he was chosen Bishop of Vermont. (This statement no do explains the real cause of the archbishop's unfavorable decision.)
'His pension was withdrawn in 1803, after which he came to Air- ica and tried to sell his land grants to the Indians, but his method: 1. volved him in legal difficulties.
"Finally he was forced to live in New York upon the charity ofus friends from 1818 till his death in 1826."
(Note .- Upon his election as Bishop of Vermont he penned an elaboately n bellished "Apostolical Epistle to my dear children in the Lord." (Sprague, "Aal of American Pulpit," Vol. 5, p. 195.)
CHAPTER FOUR
'Priest" Bronson: His Life and Work Compiled from his Historical Letters in the Gambier (Ohio) Observer
T 1802 the Church in Arlington was fortunate in securing the serv- is ces of the Rev. Abraham Bronson, who for over twenty-three years se ministered in Manchester and Arlington and elsewhere as he had op- .> unity. He proved to be a tower of strength to the struggling con- ntisation at Arlington.
At the period of my first acquaintance in Vermont," Mr. Bronson they, "in September 1802, the Church was in a low and desolate condi- 12. Some of the first settlers were attached to it, and established little @ties for its worship and ordinances in several different townships. tul ) was the case of Arlington, Manchester and Sandgate in Bennington vhenty; Wells, Castleton and Tinmouth in Rutland County; Addison a Vergennes in the County of Addison; Fairfield in the County of aklin; Bethel and Weathersfield in the County of Windsor.
f these societies, those at Castleton, Tinmouth and Addison, for nodat of ministerial aid ceased to exist."
hus at that period there were in the state eleven societies so-called, nearly all of them appeared to be on the eve of dissolution. From y O
« Historical Letters interesting facts are gleaned in regard to Mr. unson's early life.
e was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, April 11, 1776; educated uly in the Cheshire Episcopal Academy. He was chosen as assistant r. Bowden, the principal of the Academy in April, 1799; ordained Christmas of the same year, and assistant in the parish for one year, t: which he was an assistant for two years at Newport, Rhode Island. eturning to Connecticut in 1802, he visited Vermont in September hat year, particularly Arlington, Manchester, Wells and Rutland. (was engaged in Manchester half of the time permanently and the Ir half annually in Arlington.
e was ordained priest in 1803, after which he moved to Vermont entered regularly upon his duties. It is possible that he officiated 1 for a time before bringing his family to reside here.
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30
ST. JAMES' EPISCOPAL CHURCH, ARLINGTON
The parish at Arlington voted in February, 1803, according to le records, "to employ him for eight months if they could get subscript is sufficient to pay him."
In 1811 he removed to Arlington.
Mr. Bronson closes the review of his life by saying: "If I had not ; le to Vermont it is probable there would not for these many years 'st have been the vestige of an Episcopal Church in that state."
Of the Church societies in Manchester and Arlington he says: " je two societies in Arlington and Manchester, about ten miles distant f m each other, had Glebes which together might be worth about $1. a year, and the churchmen in both places might contribute about $0 more. Wells and Pawlet, with Hampton, New York were in beer situation. But as Mr. Chittenden (the Rev. Bethuel Chittenden) as able to spend three or four months of the year with them it appe ed most suitable that I should decline the invitation to remain there, ki should take care of the two former societies which were entirely s- titute of public worship.
"In Manchester I was engaged permanently for one share of the te, and in Arlington by the year for the other; and this engagement in le latter place was annually renewed for twenty-three years. But I ·k up my residence in the former place on account of the permanent 1- gagement.
"The parish in Manchester was organized at the first settlemen du the country by some emigrants from the west part of Connecticut d Dutchess County, New York, and previous to the Revolutionary un) it consisted of 15 or 20 families. A Mr. Pringle was for sometime 1- ployed as Lay Reader and the Rev. Gideon Bostwick of Great Barr ;- ton, Massachusetts, occasionally visited the place.
"The parish at Arlington was formed at about the same time. Jehiel Hawley, with a respectable colony from Newtown and Milf 3, Connecticut, first organized it.
"By lay readings and occasional visits by Mr. Bostwick (the )7 Gideon Bostwick) he (Mr. Hawley) kept it in good standing unti in decease in 1778.
"The troubles at about that time drove many people away from 1 of these churches; so that at the restoration of peace they had but bay a name to live. They, however, resumed the exercise of lay reading thus were kept alive until Mr. Nichols (the Rev. James Nichols) settled in Arlington in 1786 and Mr. Barber (the Rev. Daniel Barl at Manchester a few years later.
"Mr. Nichols was dismissed for intemperance (See Chapter 2), ceeded by a Mr. Catlin (the Rev. Russell Catlin) who proved to b much the same character, and these unfortunate experiences we heavy blow to the Church.
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ERTHE REVEREND ABRAHAM BRONSON 1802-1826
THE REVEREND J. HOWLAND COIT 1826-1828
THE REVEREND WILLIAM S. PERKINS 1829-1833
THE REVEREND FREDERICK A. WADLEIGH 1844-1864
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THE REVEREND ANSON B. HARD 1839-1844
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"PRIEST" BRONSON
'Thus both parishes were left in reduced circumstances about the nr 1798, not a convert admitted to the communion, as I could find ( twenty years or more. Though you, dear brother, are now ac- [inted with so many faithful Christians in these two churches, you rst not think me uncharitable in presuming that in 1802 there were li in either of them more than seven or eight pious communicants, and , eater part of these few were upon the borders of the grave." (Note. Tese Historical Letters were written to the Rev. William S. Perkins, (:tor of the parish in 1829.) "In Arlington a church edifice had xn erected and covered in the first part of Mr. Nichols" ministry; in It situation it remained until it was finished in 1803.
'In Manchester we occupied the courtroom and were never able to ivide any better accommodations for 18 or 20 years.
In a remote quarter of Sandgate there was at that time (1802) a bill society in which Mr. Nichols officiated for awhile after he left lington, and in which the Rev. Jordan Gray was materially useful rn 1818 to 1821, but for want of further services it had become urly extinct.
There was also a society in Maitland, Windsor County, but it was croyed by the labors or vices of the abandoned Catlin.
In Weathersfield and Bethel in the same County were societies which { been visited by Mr. Chittenden (the Rev. Bethuel Chittenden) .
The former was given up for many years, but has recently been re- ied; the latter lanquished till in 1821 it was favored with the mis- Wary services of a Mr. Clapp (the Rev. Joel Clapp).
There were a few professed churchmen in Vergennes, who with the n ll societies in Shelburne and Fairfield made up all that could be ned in that part of the state.
And now, to sum up the whole amount at the time of my entering In that field of labor; there might have been in Arlington, Man- Iter and Sandgate about twenty-five communicants; in Pawlet and VIls fifteen; in Shelburne, Bethel, Weathersfield, and Fairfield, twenty, rh scattered individuals in other places sufficient to make up eighty or iety in number.
Beside these there were many who assumed the name, some because Ey belonged to the same families, or were educated in the same way; ters because they dismliked the close preaching or high-Calvinism or fanaticism which they had found among the religious societies rand them."
n the same year that Mr. Bronson began his ministerial duties at Arl- a:on, the people of West Arlington decided to build a church four hes distant "down river."
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ST. JAMES' EPISCOPAL CHURCH, ARLINGTON
The project seems to have been undertaken before the completion f the first church, and under the new leadership the two churches we soon completed and set apart for worship.
The Minutes of the Vestry of the church in Arlington show a - cided difference of opinion as to whether the pews should be free r rented.
It was finally voted that the "East Church" should be a Free Chu 1 and that it should be called "Bethel"; the pews of the "West Churd' were sold to individual proprietors and the church was named "Be - esda." There was no disorder or division caused by the building of e two churches, and they both remained under the same religious socio, the only stipulation being that half of the officers should be chosen fra those living "down river."
The Rev. Abraham Bronson ministered at Bethel and Bethesda - ternately. This arrangement continued until about 1827, when ir want of support stated Sunday services at Bethesda Church were : - pended.
Mr. Bronson performed a vast amount of labor not only in Arling 1 but in Sandgate and Manchester. (Hemenway's, Vermont Histor"! Gazetteer, p. 132.)
Again we are indebted to the Historical Letters of Mr. Bronson r the record of an important event in the life of the Church in Vermd, and in the history of the Arlington parish, that is, the formation of e Eastern Diocese and the election of its first bishop.
"In the Convention of 1805," writes Mr. Bronson, "a resolution ."'s passed requesting Bishop Moore of New York to take the Church f Vermont under his care. He consented with the express understand g that he should not be expected to visit the state." (Poor Vermc !! How like the people of Judah of whom Zechariah says: "They are .- flicted because there is no shepherd.")
"In that situation respecting the Episcopate the Church remained til 1809, when the Convention of Massachusetts directed their Ser - tary to invite their brethren in Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont to join them in the election of a bishop.
"The Secretary, having no knowledge of any churchmen in Verm(, made no communication to that state, but the Rev. William Montag whose zeal and diligence did much for the cause at that interest g period, made a journey to New Hampshire at a very inclement sea:, and with the Rev. Mr. Barber came to Manchester to consult upon e subject.
"As the fund for the Episcopate was expected to be raised principy in Massachusetts, the project appeared peculiarly favorable, giving - couragement of episcopal ministrations at a small expense to the pere of Vermont.
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"PRIEST" BRONSON
on"Having then no colleague in the state I could decide the whole ques- itin as to the clergy; the assent of the Standing Committee was soon ctained as one of their number, Mr. Sperry (Anson H. Sperry) was avth me, and Mr. Chipman (Hon. Nathaniel Chipman, Chief Justice reo the State) I consulted by letter.
'The next May (1810) Mr. Chipman, of Middlebury, Mr. John hWhitlock, of Castleton, Dr. Cutler, of Rockingham, and myself, with ut: delegates from the other states, attended the convention at Boston lad formed the Constitution of the Eastern Diocese.
of li'By that Constitution it was provided that the convention of the cEtern Diocese was to meet biennially, composed of four clergymen tad four laymen, appointed by each state convention; but at the sug- g tion of the Bishop later an alteration was made, appointing the con- dvation annually, to consist of all the clergy, and a lay delegate from neh parish.
e 'After the adoption of the Constitution the convention proceeded brthe election of a bishop.
ne s'Dr. Gardner, of Boston, proposed the name of the Rev. Alexander hoVets Griswold, of Rhode Island, as being for age and character, the 1 st suitable candidate.
'We of Vermont at once assented to the proposal; the clergy of Mas- mschusetts, all except one, concurred, and the vote of the Laity was ofunanimous.
Thus providentially transpired one of the most important events nwich has ever occurred to the Church in the Eastern States.
'Mr. Griswold at first declined the election, but after earnest en- rc amenties he was induced to accept and he was consecrated in New York TI June 1811. Near the close of the same month he visited Vermont, arattending the state convention, and administered confirmation at Wells, Vnchester and Arlington."
ed This year 1811 marks the beginnings of the first regular espiscopal sristrations in Vermont.
Active as Mr. Bronson was in the affairs of the Church in Vermont il even beyond its bounds, he did not neglect the spiritual welfare of rmk flock in Arlington.
He was much disturbed by the carelessness and indifference of the ple, young and old, in regard to religion and speaks of the fact that niversalism had infected many of the people."
n the hope of arousing a greater degree of loyalty for the Church wbegan the practice of holding evening lectures at school and private ilnes, and of reading the evening prayers of the Church, giving op- «tunity as he says for others to make observations.
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The Rev. W. J. Brown, Rector of Zion Church, Manchester, says that Bronson followed the same practice in Manchester and that the Fri-
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ST. JAMES' EPISCOPAL CHURCH, ARLINGTON
day evening service and address begun at that time has been maintain without hardly an interruption up to this day.
That this practice was fruitful may be shown from the fact t while at the time of the beginning of his ministry in Arlington in 11 there were only seven or eight "pious communicants," the Convent Journal of 1823 records a communicant list of eighty.
He says in his Letters that there was much prejudice against Church in Vermont at the time of his first acquaintance there, but t it had so far subsided (at the close of his ministry) that in most of parishes our people were considered as doing their reasonable sh toward promoting the general cause of religion.
In 1826 Mr. Bronson resigned the parish at Arlington and remove( Manchester. He resigned the Manchester parish in 1833 and went Ohio, taking appointment as a missionary.
He lived in Ohio for twenty years, ten years as Rector in Bostor that state and afterwards at Norwalk.
He died on June 12, 1853 at the home of his son-in-law, the Rev Phelps.
The Rev. A. H. Bailey in his historical review given at the centen convention at Arlington, quotes the following tribute to Mr. Bror from "Hard's History of Arlington":
"Surely he was diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving Lord.
Compelled for support to cultivate the Glebes largely by his ‹ labor; visiting the sick with great frequency, and burying the dead a wide region for a half dozen parishes that looked to him for minis tions; calling upon his people in season and out of season; untiring inflexible in efforts to recover "the Lands"; his attendance on our ( ventions in which he failed but twice in thirty-one years; on meet of Land Agents (after they were appointed), and those of the Stand Committee; besides more direct calls for ministerial services which quired him to travel over the State many times, while he was ac. tomed as far as possible to make his journeyings occasions of missio! services; looking up the scattered sheep, administering the ordinar and aiding in the formation of new parishes; his paternal care for Church made him known deservedly by the title of "Father Brons (The title "Priest Bronson" seems also to have been given him. title in either case seems to have been given as a mark of deep respe
The Rev. Charles J. Chapin who was Rector at Vergennes from 1 to 1877, adds this tribute as given in Journal of the Centennial ( vention: "What honors and responsibilities the diocese had to com short of the Episcopate, were freely and almost uniformly conferre Mr. Bronson.
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"PRIEST" BRONSON
autor"He was President of the Convention from 1815 to 1832; a member the Standing Committee from 1803 to 1833; delegate to the Con- untion of the Eastern Diocese from its formation in 1810 to 1823; luis active in procuring its formation, making the first draft of its con- ntution, by which an union was entered into for Episcopal purposes, :erving to each diocese its own diocesan privileges and independence."
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CHAPTER FIVE
The Period of the Episcopate of Bishop Griswold in the Eastern Diocese
W ITH the election and consecration of the Rev. Alexander V s Griswold as Bishop of the Eastern Diocese, comprising Ma , Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Verme, the Church in Vermont was at last fortified with the guidance ( chief shepherd, and from 1811 dates a new era in its history.
Bishop Griswold, who for over twenty years labored in Vermo, sharing his time here and in the other states of his jurisdiction, was bi in Simsbury, Connecticut, April 22, 1776. In June, 1794 he becan candidate for Holy Orders and began service as a lay reader. He s ordained Deacon June third, 1795, in Stratford, Connecticut, and Pit at Plymouth, Massachusetts, October first the same year. He served 1 years in Plymouth, Harwinton and Litchfield where he had before ac as lay reader.
He taught in the district school in winter, and not infrequently gaged as day laborer in summer.
In 1803 he visited Bristol, Rhode Island, for relaxation, preached tl two Sundays, was called to become Rector, but declined until fin after a third call he accepted and in May, 1804 began his duties th (Dr. Sprague's Annals, p. 415-20.)
While rector of this parish (St. Michael's) Mr. Griswold was ch( Bishop of the Eastern Diocese.
This parish had been one of the strong parishes in colonial times, had declined during the revolutionary period so that it had only · Te communicants when Griswold went there, but it revived rapidly ur his care.
His success as parochial minister led to his election as Bishop.
He was known as a shy, silent man, but also a man of great strength, unwearied patience and sound judgment.
Brought up under High Church influences he had become a n Evangelical early in his ministry, having decided that the fund teachings of the Gospel, as he understood them, rather than
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RIGIIT REVEREND ALEXANDER VIETS GRISWOLD, D.D. Bishop of the Eastern Diocese, 1811-1831
RIGHT REVEREND JOHN HENRY HOPKINS, D.D. 1832-1868
RIGHT REVEREND WILLIAM HENRY AUGUSTUS BISSELL, D.D.
1868-1893
RIGHT REVEREND ARTHUR CRAWSHAY ALLISTON HALL, D.D. 1894-1930
37
HISTORY OF "EASTERN DIOCESE"
nctive doctrines of the Church, should receive the chief emphasis in reaching.
Under his leadership the Churchmanship of New England outside of onnecticut, acquired a predominantly Evangelical character, which antrasted strongly with the High Churchmanship of his successor shop Hopkins.
The "Federated Diocese," of which the Eastern Diocese was the only ccessful example, was the creation of practical men trying to deal ith a practical problem, when the individual states of New England und themselves unable to obtain bishops severally, it naturally oc- irred to them to join together for this particular purpose, while retain- g their separate organization for all other purposes.
(William W. Manross, Church Historical Magazine, March 1935, Alexander Viets Griswold and the Eastern Diocese.")
During the first few years of the episcopate of Bishop Griswold there little to record. The convention met each year and the sessions were a routine nature.
But on September 30, 1818, Bishop Griswold made an address before te biennial convention of the Eastern Diocese at Greenfield, Massachu- :ts, which contained many interesting facts about the progress of the hurch in Vermont since his labors began. These are his words de- 'ibing his pastoral visitations: "Tuesday, September 8, 1818, in Lanes- rough I was met by the Rev. Mr. Bronson (Rev. Abraham Bronson) . ednesday the ninth, though the rain was violent, through the kindness friends and the blessing of God, we reached Arlington in Vermont. the way it was my intention, had the weather been favorable, to have ached in Bennington.
"In Arlington we found a people much alive to a sense of religion d much engaged in its duties.
The Lord has there during the present season awakened many to hteousness, and added to His Church such, we hope, as shall be saved. ursday the tenth, I preached and confirmed in each of the two irches in that town and in one of them administered Holy Com- nion.
'Here we had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Hawley, of Washington, present Chaplain of the Senate of the United States; he assisted in services and preached a third sermon.
'Friday the eleventh I visited Manchester, another parish under the e of Mr. Bronson; preached twice and administered Confirmation ! the Lord's Supper. In that place the Lord's work in converting the rts of His people and adding many to His Church is also marvelous our eyes. The pastor of these two churches is much blessed in seeing h abundant fruit of his labors. (The parishes in Arlington and Man-
SHAY
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ST. JAMES' EPISCOPAL CHURCH, ARLINGTON
chester had more than doubled the number of their communicants, n 86 and 37.)
"The next day I pursued my journey to Rutland and preached on way at Wallingford. The Episcopalians at Pawlet and Wells are un the care of the Rev. Mr. Jewett; they attend public worship in the st of New York and receive Confirmation in that diocese. It was the fore not necessary that I should visit them.
"Sunday the thirteenth, I was in Rutland and preached twice : confirmed a few. The congregation was large and attentive and peared to be edified by the services. Very few of them had before t day seen a confirmation. It is hoped that the solemnity will excite" others a desire to witness a like good confession.
"It is about two years since a number of respectable people in R land formed themselves into an Episcopal Society; they have been v desirous to obtain the permanent services of a settled minister, and h : manifested a very laudable liberality in offering to subscribe for maintenance. They have been disappointed and disheartened; but I I was happy to find, in such degree as report had given reason to apf hend. In the course of Monday the fourteenth I reached Middlebi having officiated on the way at Salisbury where I met with the R. Mr. Leonard (the Rev. George Leonard) in a low state of health.
"He has since returned to Windsor; but much to his disappointm he was unable to meet with us on this occasion.
"The Church in Middlebury is also destitute of a minister and not probably increase until it is again with the wholesome ministrati of the Word and Sacraments. I preached there once only on the teenth, attending also to some other necessary things, and engag: should the Lord permit, to visit there on my return.
"Wednesday the sixteenth, I preached in Vergennes, where Church is in a declining state, suffering as do many other parts of Vineyard the want of laborers. Could a clergyman have been contin in that place the parish no doubt at the present time would have t large and flourishing.
"At Vergennes I was happy in meeting the Rev. Mr. Beach who since kindly accompanied me and given me much assistance. On Th day it rained much; but through the generous assistance of kind frie we reached Burlington in the evening.
"At Shelburne, on our way, we had no small pleasure in assemb la with the remnant of a church, formerly the flock of the Rev. Mr. Co tenden. Unfavorable as the weather was a respectable congrega convened. Mr. Beach performed divine service and I baptized an ac I preached and administered Confirmation and the Lord's Supper.
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HISTORY OF "EASTERN DIOCESE"
'On Friday we reached St. Albans in season to unite with a pious ple in the office of divine worship. The Rev. Mr. Townsend of Can- « performed the evening service. I preached and administered Con- ination and the Eucharist. Our brethren among whom I officiated in It place and the town adjoining appeared highly to prize the privilege ;these ordinances and by them to be edified.
'On Sunday we pursued our journey to Sheldon, where though the as continued, we found a large and very religious congregation as- eibled. There we had the pleasure of meeting with the Hon. and Rev. Stewart who assisted in divine service. The people appeared to be commonly devout and attentive and to 'receive with meekness the r rafted Word.' I preached and confirmed 49, whose hearts we have icreason to doubt the Lord has renewed. There, too, I received some 'Onmunications from Berkshire, about 15 miles east of Sheldon, and the hsing information that a new Episcopal Society has recently been or- jaized with very favorable prospects of success.
At Fairfield on Sunday the twentieth we had an interesting day. Tough the rain continued to fall incessantly and most of the people had e:ral miles to travel, their new church was filled at an early hour with rge and crowded assembly. The services were commenced by the omn dedication of the House to the honor and worship of Almighty
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