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V 


ST.   LUKE'S    CHURCH,   ERECTED     1824. 


"  J^eije  holy  thought's  a  light  have  shed 

It^Viom  many  a  qadiant  face, 
:.^ncl  prayetjs  ot!  humble  virtue  made 

(ghe  peijfc'ume  of  the  place. 
=^Vnd  anxious  heaiits  havre  pondei|ed  hei]e 

^he  mysteiiy  of  life, 
Jtnd  prayed  the  etei:ual  Jjight  to  cleJi] 

C^heitj  doubts,  and  aid  their  stiiife." 


/ 


A  iN  N  A  L  S 


St.  Lukes  Church, 


Rochester,   N.  Y. 

1817—1383, 


NAMES   OF   OFFICERS,    PAROCHIAL   STATISTICS 


HISTORICAL   SKETCHES 


OTHER  PARISHES, 


Rev.    Henrv   ^xsxice,    D.    D. 


''  Hivc  olim  meminisse  juvabit. 


ROCHESTER: 
SCRANTOM,    WeTMORE    &    Co. 


THE  NEW  YORK  I 

PUBLIC  LIBRARYj 

166662 

ASTOR,  LENOX  AND 
TILDEN  FOUNDATIONS. 

1900. 


PREFATORY    NOTE. 


The  Axnals  of  St.  Luke's  C'hukch  are  publislied  in 
eompliauce  with  the  request  of  St.  Luke's  Vestry  as 
contained  in  the  following  preamble  and  resolution 
adopted  by  that  body  in  July  last  : 

'•  Whkreas  St.  Luke's  Parish  has  now  had  an  organ- 
ized existence  extending  over  two  generations,  and  the 
facts  of  its  history  are  of  interest  sufficient  to  warrant 
their  preservation  in  permanent  and  accessible  form, 
therefore 

Resolved,  that  our  Rector  be  requested  to  prei)are 
and  publish  in  suitable  book  form,  an  Historical  Sketch 
of  St.  Luke's  Church,  embodying  such  documentary 
and  statistical  facts  as  he  shall  deem  of  interest.'" 

Sketches  of  tlie  otlier  i)arishes  are  appended  as  im  his- 
tory t)f  the  mother-church  would  be  complete  without 
some  record  of  the  origin  and  growth  of  those  organi- 
zations which,  proceeding  from  her  moi'e  or  less  directh% 
are  her  fellow  workers  in  the  held  of  Rochester. 

No  effort  has  been  spared  to  secure  absolute  accuracy 
in  facts  and  hgures,  and  in  every  (;ase  original  sources 
of  information  have  Ijeen  consulted  where  accessible- 


IV  PREFATORY   NOTE. 

The  epistolary  extracts  in  the  earlier  part  of  the  Sketch 
were  taken  from  the  "  Hobart  Correspondence,"  which 
is  in  the  archives  of  the  General  Convention, 

The  kind  co-operation  of  the  clergymen  and  laymen 
who  have  afforded  facilities  for  the  researches  necessary 
in  the  preparation  of  this  work,  or  whose  personal 
reminiscences  have  been  of  value,  is  hereby  gratefully 
acknowledged. 

It  has  been  throughout  the  simple  design  of  the  author 
to  give  a  clear,  accurate  and  concise  embodiment  of 
facts  and  figures  without  aiming  at  grace  of  expression 
or  indulging  in  personal  characterizations  of  men  or 
measures. 

In  memory  of  those  that  have  gone  before,  who  have 
been  "'careful  to  maintain  good  works,"  and  to  the 
zealous  workers  of  to-day,  these  Annals  are  inscribed. 

St.  Luke"s  Rectory.  Sept.  1.  1888. 


Coiittnte, 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH. 
OFFICERS  OF  THE  CHURCH. 
BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICES  OF  THE  RECTORS. 
PAROCHIAL  STATISTICS. 
OTHER  SKETCHES  : 

St.  Paul's  Church. 

Trinity  Church. 

Christ  Church. 

Church  of  the  Good  Shepherd. 

St.  James'  Church. 

Church  of  the  Epiphany. 

St.  Andrew's  Church. 

St.  Mark's  Mission. 

St.  John's  Mission. 

Church  Home. 
STATISTICS  OF  THE   CHURCH  IN  ROCHESTER. 


|{btori^aI    $I)ctt(|. 


The  organization  of  St.  Luke's  Parish  was 
effected  by  the  Rev.  Henr)-  U.  Onderdonk, 
"  Rector  of  St.  John's  Church,  Canandaigua, 
and  Missionary  in  parts  adjacent,"  on  the  14th 
day  of  July,  181 7,  under  the  corporate  name  of 
'  St.  Luke's  Church,  Genesee  Falls." 

The  original  corporators,  as  indicated  b\'  their 
signatures  to  the  "  Declaration  of  Attachment 
to  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,"  were  S. 
Melancton  Smith,  Moses  P.  Belknap,  \Vm.  Y. 
Green,  Jesse  Moore,  A.  G.  Dauby,  John  P. 
Comparet,  Anson  House,  Daniel  Hibbard,  Ja- 
cob Howe,  Elisha  Johnson,  Jonah  Brown,  Caleb 
Hammond,  Jabez  Wilkinson,  Joseph  Thomp- 
son, Wm.  Atkinson,  Sam'l  J.  Andrews,  John 
C.  Rochester,  John  Mastick,  Silas  Smith,  Ros- 
well  Babbit,  Enos  Stone,  Oliver  Culver.  John 
P.  Sheldon,  Daniel  Tinker,  Lewis  Jenkins,  H. 
Montgomer}-,  Josejjh  Spencer,  Joseph  Griffin. 
This  instrument   bore  date   Ahirch    13,  nSij,  at 


8  ANNALS   OF   ST.    LUKE'S. 

which  time  the  Rev.  Mr.  Onderdonk  "held  the 
first  pubHc  services  of  our  Church  at  Roches- 
terville." 

The  requisite  legal  notice  having  been  "'read 
at  morning  service  on  the  two  Sundays  next 
preceding"  the  date  of  organization,  twenty  of 
the  above-named  persons  met  in  a  schoolhouse, 
belonging  to  Samuel  James  Andrews,  on  the 
east  side  of  the  river,  in  what  was  known  as  the 
town  of  Brighton,  in  the  county  of  Ontario. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Onderdonk  presided  and  the 
Rev.  Geo.  H.  Norton  offered  prayer.  Roswell 
Babbitt  acted  as  clerk.  Col.  N.  Rochester  and 
Samuel  J.  Andrews  were  elected  Wardens,  and 
Silas  Smith,  Roswell  Babbit,  John  Mastick, 
Lewis  Jenkins,  Elisha  Johnson,  John  C.  Roch- 
ester, Wm.  Atkinson  and  Oli^^er  Culver,  Ves- 
trymen. The  original  Certificate  of  Incorpora- 
tion was  recorded  in  the  Clerk's  ofifice  of  Ontario 
County,  on  the  igth  of  July,  1817,  in  Liber  C 
of  Miscellaneous  Records,  at  page  195. 

The  first  stated  services  were  held  by  the 
Rev.  George  H.  Norton,  whose  entrance  upon 
the 'field  is  chronicled  in  the  following  extracts 
from  letters  addressed  to  Bishop  Hobart  by  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Onderdonk.  Under  date  of  Canan- 
daigua,  Jan.  14,  18 17,  he  writes — 

"  Mr.  Norton  passed  his  first  two  examina- 
tions a  week  ago  very  creditabh'.      In  the  hope 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH.  '  9 

that  he  will  remain  in  the  West,  and  beHeving^ 
that  he  is  qualified  to  be  very  useful,  I  shall 
venture  to  begin  operations  at  Rochesterville 
pretty  soon.  But  if  he  is  decidedly  spoken 
of  there  as  the  missionary  for  building  them 
up,  it  will  be  highly  proper  that  he  go  there  the 
instant  he  is  in  Orders." 

And  again  under  date  of  June  ii,  1817, 
"  Mr.  Norton,  I  hope,  will  go  to  Rochester- 
ville, but  I  confess  that  Buffalo  is  more  prom- 
ising and  more  in  need  of  him ;  and  if  Mr. 
Norton  goes  to  Buffalo,  I  should  like  to  secure 
Mr.  Asahel  Davis,  or  somebody,  without  delay 
at  R.  Indeed  Rochesterville  has  disappointed 
me  not  a  little.  When  requested  to  go  there. 
I  told  a  gentleman  I  could  do  but  little  person- 
ally ;  but  they  will  do  almost  nothing  them- 
selves. But  while  I  im  there,  they  soon  get  in 
order  again  and  zealous,  but  so  speedily  relax 
that  they  have  not  given  the  legal  notices  pre- 
vious to  organizing.  Still  the  materials  are 
good,  and  the>-  only  want  a   clergyman   fixed 

there  to  get   on  very  well The}* 

had  $1300  subscribed  at  R.  for  a  church,  but 
owing  to  the  pressure  of  the  times  and  I  sus- 
pect to  difficulty  in  regard  to  a  site  and  I  fear 
to  unsoundness  in  an  individual  or  two,  the  sub- 
scription went  no  further.  Still  I  regard  the 
place  as  more  promising  than   any  except  Buf- 


lO  ANNALS    OF    ST.    I.UKE  S. 

falo,  and  more  promising  than  that  for  the 
mere  building  of  a  church,  as  materials  are  vcvy 
cheap  at  Rochesterville." 

The  actual  organizatic^n  of  the  parish  is  thus 
reported  by  the  missionary  to  Bishop  Hobart, 
under  date  July  15,  18 17. 

"  Mr.  Norton  having  supplied  my  place,  for 
the  last  two  Sundays,  I  devoted  the  morning 
of  each  of  them  to  Rochesterv^ille.  The  proper 
notices  had  been  given  and  we  yesterday  met  to 
organize.  The  number  of  names  had  been  in- 
creased from  12  to  28  attached  to  the  Episcopal 
Church  ;  of  these  20  attended  the  meeting  and 
a  highly  respectable  V^estry  was  chosen.  The 
name  is  '  St.  Luke's  Church,  Genesee  Falls.' 
Everything  I  see  and  learn  adds  to  the  convic- 
tion that  we  did  not  begin  there  too  early, — the 
village  continues  to  increase.  In  the  afternoon 
of  both  Sundays  I  attended  at  Carthage,  a  new 
village  two  miles  lower  down  the  river,  and  held 
a  third  service  at  Pittsford,  ten  or  eleven  miles 
this  side  of  Carthage.  Whether  congregations 
can  be  formed  at  these  places  is  doubtful,  but 
we  shall  probably  gather  some  gleanings  at 
least.  Mr.  Norton  has  charge  of  the  three ' 
places.  He  requested  me  to  urge  your  sending 
a  clergyman  to  Buffalo  and  to  Batavia  if  possi- 
ble, as  a  Presbyterian   clergyman   has  just  gone 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH.  I  I 

there  ;  he  will  devote  some  of  his  time  to  them 
and  Leroy." 

In  September,  1818,  Bishop  Hobart  made  his 
first  Episcopal  visitation  to  the  infant  parish 
and  confirmed  four  persons — Samuel  G.  An- 
drews, Mariette  Andrews,  (Mrs.  W.  P.  Shear- 
man), Mrs.  Mary  E.  Montgomery,  and  Hannah 
Ann  Andrews,  (Mrs.  Swan),  in  the  building  oc- 
cupied by  the  1st  Presbyterian  society  on  Car- 
roll, now  State  St.,  which  was  kindly  placed  at 
his  disposal  for  the  service. 

F"rom  this  time  the  occasional  ministrations 
of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Norton  were  withdrawn,  and 
for  the  ensuing  eighteen  months,  some  five  or 
six  services  by  the  Rev-  H.  U.  Onderdonk  and 
the  Rev.  Alanson  W.  Welton,  Missionary  in 
Ontario  county,  were  all  that  were  held  in  the 
parish  ;  the  place  of  service  being  the  school- 
house  on  the  lot  adjoining  the  present  church 
edifice. 

In  the  Spring  of  1820,  the  slumbering  inter- 
est in  the  Church  was  roused  to  the  necessity  of 
securing  more  frequent  ministrations,  and  an 
arrangement  was  effected  with  the  Rev.  A.  W. 
Welton  "  to  perform  Divine  Service  once  in 
three  weeks  for  one  year;"  but  the  removal  of 
Mr.  Welton  to  Detroit  in  a  few  months,  ter- 
minated this  engagement. 

The   new   V^estry,  however,    elected     at     the 


12  ANXAI.S    OF    ST.    I.I'KK's. 

Easter  meeting,  the  first  convened  since  the 
organization,  consisting  of  George  G.  Sill  and 
William  Atkinson,  Wardens,  and  Roswell  Bab- 
bit, A.  G.  Daub)-,  J.  Stcb!)ins,  Silas  Smith,  I. 
Mastick,  S.  M.  Smith,  j.  11.  Grcgc^-y  and  E. 
Johnson,  determined  to  establish  the  parish  on 
a  permanent  basis.  'The  offer  of  the  original 
proprietors  of  "the  lOO-acre  tract,"  Messrs. 
Rochester,  Fit/.hugh  &  Carroll,  "to  convey  lot 
No.  85  to  the  first  religious  societ}'  that  should 
take  possession  of  the  same  and  build  a  church 
thereon,"  being  .still  open,  the  Vestry  resolved, 
July  10,  1820,  to  avail  itself  of  the  proposition. 
Before  the  lot,  however,  was  definitely  secured, 
an  effort  was  made  in  the  Roman  Catholic 
interest  to  forestall  tiie  Vestry,  and  a  messen- 
ger was  sent  ro  Geneseo  to  secure  the  signatures 
of  Messrs.  Fitzhugh  and  Carroll,  who  resided  in 
that  locality,  to  a  deed  of  gift.  But  the  Vestrx- 
despatched  Mr.  Henry  E.  Rochester,  then  a 
lad  of  fourteen  years,  on  a  fleeter  horse  with  a 
similar  object  in  view.  The  latter  succeeded 
in  overtaking  and  passing  the  other  messenger, 
who  was  tarrying  for  refreshment  in  the  tavern 
at  A\-on,  and  so  obtained  the  necessary  signa- 
tures, to  which  that  of  the  senior  proprietor 
was  cheerfully  added.  Meanwhile,  tiie  Vestr)' 
had  taken  practical  possession  by  digging  for  a 
foundation  and  drawing  building  material  upon 
the  lot. 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH.  I  3 

A  site  being  thus  secured,  the  construction  of 
a  wooden  building,  38  X46  feet,  to  contain  about 
forty  pews,  was  decided  upon,  and  a  contract 
entered  into,  Aug.  5,  1820.  with  Elias  Beach 
and  Phelps  Smith,  to  build  the  same,  at  a  cost 
of  $1260,  and  $200  additional  for  a  bell  tower 
■ — the  building  committee  consisting  of  Col.  N. 
Rochester,  John  Mastick,  Harvey  Montgomery 
and  George  G.  Sill.  The  funds  were  provided 
b)-  the  following  unique  subscription,  which  is 
given  with  the  spelling  and  capitalization  as  in 
the  original : 

"We  the  subscribers  for  value  received,  promise  to 
pay  to  the  Church- Wardens  and  Vestrymen  of  St.  Luke's 
Church,  in  the  Village  of  Eocliesterville,  and  their  suc- 
cessors in  office,  the  several  sums  set  opposite  our 
respective  names,  on  demand  ;  for  the  purpose  and  in 
ti-ust  to  build  a  church  in  said  Rochesterville  for  said 
St.  Luke's  Church  :  and  upon  the  further  trust  that  the 
said  Church-Wardens  and  Vestrymen,  and  their  succes- 
sors in  office,  shall,  after  the  completion  of  said  church, 
sell  or  dispose  of  the  pews  or  slips  therein,  and  out  of 
the  funds  arising  therefrom,  shall  refund  to  the  sub- 
scribers, with  interest,  the  several  sums  bj-  them 
subscribed  and  paid,  if  such  funds  shall  be  adequate  :  if 
inadequate,  then  to  each  subscriber,  ratably ,  till  the  funds 
so  arising,  are  exhausted. 

Dated,  July  3,  1820. 

Names.  Am"t. 

N.  Rochester,  in  luiiiber  $200 

H.  Montgomery,  in  Cash  100 

James  Fraser.  in  shelf  goods  25 

Wm.  P.  Shearman.  in  goods  25 


14 


ANNALS    OK    ST.    LUKE  S. 


Names. 
Oliver  Culver  (by  request  S.  M.  S.)  Cash 

S.  Melancton  Smith,  in  Goods 

Jonatlian  Child  (by  H.  M.)  in  Lumber 

Elislia  Ely      (by  request  8.  M.  S.)  in  Lumber 
Frederick  F.  Backus,  Cash 

William  Cobb,  in  Blacksmithing 

Elisha  Taylor.  in  Tailoring  work 

Jas.  H.  Gregory,  Cash 

West  &  Clark.  in  Labor.  Painting 

Roswell  Babbit,  in  Cash 

A.  Hamlin.  in  Goods 

Silas  Smith    (by  request  S.  M.  S.)  in  Goods 
J  N.  Stebbins.  in  goods 

Wm.  Haywood.  in  Hats 

Weston  &  Everest.       in  Shoemaking 
Abraliam  Plumb,  Goods 

Ira  West  &  Co.,  in  Goods 

W.  W.  MuTiiford,  in  Cash 

Ebenezer  Watts,  Jun"r,     tinware 
El  wood  &  Colman,  in  Labour 

Wm  Brewster.  in  Cabinet  furniture 


William  Atkinson, 
Samuel  J.  Andrews, 
Enos  Stone, 
Bissell  and  Elv. 
E.  Peck  &  Co.'. 
Jno.  G.  Vought. 
S.  Cleveland. 
John  Harford, 
John  Swift, 
George  Cameron, 
Russell  Ensworth 
T.  Bingham, 
R.  King, 
H.  Scrantom, 
S.  H.  Packard. 
Jehial  Barnard, 
Benj.  James, 
Frederick  Hanford, 
Henry  Draper, 
Abner  Wakelee, 
E.  Pomeroy, 
Zimri  Davis, 
John  G.  Bond. 


in  flour 
4,000  ft.  Lumber  (a  |8 
one  thousand  feet  Lumber 
in  lumber,  6^M.  ft. 
in  Books  or  Stationery 
in  Labor 
in  Sundries 
Goods 
in  work 
in  Tailoring 
(will  do  something,  S.  M.  S.) 
in  work 
in  work 
in  flour  or  goods 
in  chaii'S 
in  tailoring 
in  coopering 
in  Shingles 
in  team  work 
in  shoes 
Cash 

in  teem  work 
in  lumber  or  team  work 


Am't. 

20 
25 
50 
50 
25 
25 
10 
25 
35 
25 
10 
25 
25 
20 
20 
20 
10 
20 
10 
30 
10 
25 
32 


50 
20 
25 
25 
10 
25 


10 


o 

5 

20 

25 

10 

5 

5 

6 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH.  t5 

Names.  Ain't. 

Jacob  Gould.  in  goods  10 

J.  Mastick,  eighteen  dollars  cash  18 

Elias  Beach.  in  joiner  work  30 

Phelps  Smith,  in  joiner  work  30 

John  Bingham.  in  joiner  work  10 


The  following"  additional  subscription,  bear- 
ing date  August  I,  1820,  provided  for  the  erect- 
ion of  a  Steeple  or  Cupola : 


Abrm.  Plumb,                    donation  in  goods  .f '30 

West  &  Clark,                  in  Labor,  painting  2.") 

John  Mastick,          in  goods  out  of  J.  Spencer's  Store  5 

S.  Melancton  Smith,            in  Goods  o 

Silas  Smith,                 in  Goods  or  demand  in  notes  5 

J.  N.  Stebbins,                        in  goods  ;1 

A.  Reynolds,                 in  goods  or  brick  5 

D.  D.  Barnard,      in  Cider  and  apples  del'd  at  Mendon  5 
Preston  Smith.          in  Goods  at  his  Grocery  5 

E.  "Watts             will  do  tlie  sodering  for  the  Cupulo. 
Levi  Ward,  jr.,                goods  or  provisions  5 
Elisha  Ely,                       in  Lumber  2.") 
Elisha  Taylor,                in  Tayloring  work  1'» 
Daniel  Warren,  in  mason  work  when  called  for 

with  one  week's  Notice  10 

Robert  King,           in  Joiner  work  5 
Jonathan  Case,  in  mason  work,  with  one  week's 

notice  10 
Martin  Clapp.          in  mason  work  at  six 

days  notice  10 

Robert  W.  Churchill,      in  joiner  work  10 

Asa  Bartlett.                          Mason  work  5 

John  Meeker,     in  joiner  work  on  or  before  tliirty  days  10 

A.  Steward                                                                  '       "  5 

N.  T.  Rochester.           in  Lumber  5 

Timothy  Bosworth,  to  be  paid  in  Combs  at  cash  prices  5 
W.  L.  Whiting,  in  goods  at  J.  Spencer's  Store  for 

improvements  on  church  10 

Joshua  Ross.              five  dollars  in  Meat  5 
Richmon  Tuttle,          Ten  Dollars  in  Saddlery 

for  improvement  on  the  church  10 


l6  ANNALS    OF    ST.    LUKE's. 

Names.  Aiu't. 

Ephm.  Moore,  five  Dollars  in  Pork  out  of  my  Shop 

for  improvement  on  church 
Moses  Dyer,      two  dollars  in  meat  vs^hen  called  for        2 
David  Stone.        five  Dollars  in  Joiner's  work 

with  one  week's  notice  5 

Ashbel  Steele,  10  Dollars  in  mason  work  10 

Samuel  Graves,  $5  In  Blacksmith  work  5 

William  Atkinson.  in  flour  ^ 

Silas  Smith,  one  dollar  Cash  i)d 

S.  Melancton  Smith,     one  dollar  Cash  paid 

William  Atkinson,  one  dollar  Cash        paid 

James  H.  Gregory.  one  dollar  Casli        i)d 

J.  N.  Stebbins.  one  dollar  Cash        i>d 

R.  Babbit.  one  dollar  Cash       pd 

N.  Rochester  pd  building  chimney  .$4.06 

Brick,  rent  of  Stove,  etc.  0.35  pd 

10.41 

Smith  &  Alcott  9.18 

Pending  the  erection  of  the  church,  the  fol- 
lowing letter  was  addres.sed  to  Bishop  Hobart 
by  William  Atkinson,  Warden,  in  behalf  of 
the  Wardens  and  Vestrymen,  under  date 
Rochester,  Nov.  lO,  1820,  (the  title  of  the  vil- 
large  corporation  having  been  changed  in  18 19 
by  an  act  of  the  legislature  from  Rochester- 
ville  to  Rochester),  which  sets  forth  fully  the 
condition  of  the  parish  at  this  time: 

"  We  presume,  ere  this,  you  have  been  in- 
formed by  our  friend  Mr.  Onderdonk,  of  the 
progress  of  our  small  society  in  erecting  a  house 
of  public  worship  in  this  place,  which,  by  the 
blessing  of  Providence,  we  intend  to  finish  b)' 
the  latter  end  of  December.  We  have  long 
been  desirous  of  procuring  a  young  clergyman, 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH.  1/ 

who  would  command  respect  by  his  talents  and 
esteem  by  his  virtues,  and  who  would  be  in 
every  way  calculated  to  raise  a  society  from  a 
small  beginning  to  a  respectable  size.  It  ap- 
pears to  us  that  here  is  a  field  for  a  clergyman 
to  become  eminently  useful  by  an  acquisition 
of  members  to  the  Church.  We  feel  gratified 
on  hearing  that  a  person  of  this  description  has 
been  found  in  Mr.  Cuming,  who,  in  your  opin- 
ion, is  every  way  calculated  and  who  seems  dis- 
posed to  come.  One  great  difficulty,  however, 
arises  in  procuring  ample  funds  for  his  support, 
owing  to  the  smallness  of  our  society  and  want 
of  means.  We,  therefore,  make  application  for 
some  assistance  from  your  missionary  fund,  or 
in  any  way  deemed  proper  by  yourself.  We 
can  probably  raise  three  hundred  dollars  by 
great  exertion  and  great  liberality  by  our  mem- 
bers, all  of  whom  will  contribute  to  the  best  of 
their  ability ;  and  by  an  addition  of  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars  from  your  fund,  we  shall 
be  able  to  establish  such  a  respectable  standing 
as  to  make  up  any  deficiency  by  those  who  would 
soon  be  added  to  our  numbers.  As  our  popu- 
lation increases  with  an  unexampled  rapidity 
and  man}'  persons  of  wealth,  talent  and  respect- 
ability are  daily  added  to  our  society,  it  be- 
comes highly  important  for  the  Church  that  in 
the  commencement  there  be  established  amono- 


1 8  ANXALS   OF   ST.    LUKE'S. 

US  a  man  of  respectable  talents  ;  and  that  some 
assistance  be  granted  for  his  support  from 
abroad,  so  that  an  insupportable  tax  be  not  laid 
on  a  few  individual  members  in  the  beginning, 
and  consequently  prevent  an  acquisition  of 
members.  A  very  few  years  will  place  us  in  a 
situation  so  as  not  to  require  foreign. aid.  We 
would  thank  you  to  take  our  situation  under 
your  serious  consideration,  feeling  confident 
that  every  exertion  will  be  made  by  you  for 
our  assistance,  and  would  be  pleased  to  hear 
from  you  previous  to  our  communicating  with 
Mr.  Cuming  on  the  subject.  Be  so  good,  also, 
as  to  inform  us  whether  there  would  be  an  im- 
propriety in  performing  Divine  Service  in  the 
church  before  consecration.  Mr.  Onderdonk 
has,  no  doubt,  shown  you  a  communication 
from  Col.  Rochester,  expressive  of  the  minds 
of  the  Vestry." 

The  application  for  aid  in  the  foregoing  let- 
ter was  fortified  by  the  following  communica- 
tion to  the  Bishop  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cuming, 
who  was  already  at  this  date,  Dec.  4,  1820,  upon 
the  ground,  having  come  from  Binghampton, 
where  he  held  a  missionary  appointment : 

"  Yesterday,  for  the  first  time,  I  officiated  in 
this  place.  The  attention  was  both  general 
and  flattering.     The  prospect  is  good.      In  the 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH.  1 9 

evening  I   went  to  Penfield.     Something  may 
be  done  there  bye-and-bye. 

"  The  Church  will  be  ready  for  consecration 
the  1st  of  January.  Will  you  have  the  good- 
ness to  inform  me  as  early  as  possible  on  what 
da}'  you  will  consecrate  it,  and  of  the  other 
places  in  this  vicinity  you  will  expect  to  visit, 
and  whether  you  will  officiate  at  them  morning 
or  afternoon.  I  expect  to  take  Priests'  Orders 
when  you  are  here, — will  you  preach  or  shall 
some  one  of  the  clergy  in  this  part  of  the 
country  do  it. 

"As  my  living  in  this  place  will  not  exceed 
four  hundred  dollars  per  annum,  I  trust  I  shall 
be  continued  on  the  missionary  list." 

The  young  parish,  however,  was  apparently 
thought  able  to  take  care  of  itself,  as  no  assist- 
ance was  received.  The  Vestr}-  accordingly 
entered  into  agreement  Jan.  10,  1821,  with  tha 
Rev.  F.  H.Cuming,  Deacon,  "  to  perform  divine 
service  in  such  manner  as  is  customary  in  well 
regulated  Protestant  Episcopal  Churches  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  for  the  term  of  one  year 
from  and  after  the  first  Sunday  in  December, 
1820;  "  for  which  service  the  Vestry  agreed  to 
pay  the  sum  of  four  hundred  and  seventy-five 
dollars ;  which  sum  was  increased  at  various 
times,  until  in  December,  1823,  the  salary  w^as 
fixed  at  ei-rht  hundred  dollars. 


20  ANNAI.S    OF   ST.    LUKE  S. 

The  little  church  was  first  occupied  on 
Christmas  Day  and  was  consecrated  by  Bishop 
Hobart  on  the  20th  of  February  ensuing,  at 
which  time  also  the  Rite  of  Confirmation  was 
administered  to  the  following  persons:  John 
Mastick,  Jared  N.  Stebbins,  Elbert  Scrantom, 
N.  T.  Rochester,  Ann  Cornelia  Rochester, 
Dorothy  Stebbins,  Frances  Tiffany  and  Sarah 
Mason. 

On  the  following  day,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cuming 
was  advanced  to  the  Priesthood. 

In  his  convention  address  of  that  }'car,  the 
Bishop  in  mentioning  these  facts,  adds  :  "  It 
gives  me  great  pleasure  to  see  a  respectable  and 
increasing  congregation  in  a  flourishing  village, 
the  site  of  which  at  the  Falls  of  the  Genesee 
river  a  few  years  since  was  a  wilderness." 

The  prosperity  of  the  parish  under  the  min- 
istry of  Mr.  Cuming,  rendered  increased  accom- 
modation necessary,  and  accordingly  on  the 
25th  of  June,  1823,  the  Vestry  resolved  to 
build  a  new  church  when  the  subscription 
should  amount  to  eight  thousand  dollars.  It 
was  hoped  that  Trinity  Church,  New  York, 
would  loan  two  thousand  dollars  more,  and  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Cuming  was  authorized  and  requested 
Aug.  12,  to  draft  a  petition  to  this  efTect  to  that 
corporation.  The  application,  however,  proved 
unsuccessful.      The   following   letter   from  Mr. 


HISTORICAI,     SKK'l'Cn.  2  1 

Cuming  to  Bishop  fiobart  under  date  Aug.  15. 
1823.  explains  the  situation  : 

"  It  is  now  about  two  and  a  half  years  since 
the  Church  in  this  place  had  the  constant  ser- 
vices of  a  clergyman.  Five  communicants  were 
all  that  could  at  the  commencement  of  this 
period  be  found  residing  here.  The  number  of 
individuals  in  the  place  who  had  been  educated 
Episcopahans  amounted  to  twenty.  Though 
we  are  still  but  a  little  flock,  our  increase  has 
been  greater  than  the  most  .'^anguine  of  us  ex- 
pected to  see  within  so  short  a  period.  At  the 
\ery  beginning  ever\'  effort  was  made  to  pre- 
vent our  permanent  establishment.  These 
efforts  have  continued  to  be  made,  but  at  no 
time  wdth  more  determination  than  at  present. 
It  is  unnecessary  for  me  to  go  into  details.  I 
have  an  account  of  facts  treasured  up  A\'ith 
respect  to  the  hostility  displayed  toward  the 
Church  here,  the  disclosure  of  \\hich  would  even 
make  almost  every  opposer  of  our  institutions 
in  every  other  place  to  which  my  knowledge 
extends,  blush.  The  most  unremitting  exer- 
tions are  made,  and  the  most  ungentlemanl}' 
acts  resorted  to  to  keep  people,  especially  those 
of  influence,  enterprise  and  ca])ital  away  from 
the  Church  and  induce  them  to  attend  else- 
where  It  is  highly  important  to 

the  welfare  of  the  Church,  and  especiall)-  to  her 


22  ANNALS    OF    ST.    LUKE  S. 

increase  in  respectability  and  wealth,  that  we 
erect  a  building  which  shall  reflect  credit  upon 
the  architect,  upon  the  village  and  the  Church 
at  large." 

The  infant  parish  thus  obliged  to  be  depend- 
ent on  its  own  resources,  determined  to  "  arise 
and  build."  In  September,  1823,  the  Vestrj' 
resolved  to  enter  into  a  contract  with  H.  T. 
McGeorge  to  build  a  stone  church  53  x  73  with 
a  tower  16x6  at  the  contract  price  of  $9,000, 
and  William  Pitkin,  Caleb  L.  Clark,  S.  M. 
Smith,  T.  H.  Rochester  and  Silas  Smith  with 
the  minister  c'x  0J2CW,  were  appointed  the  build- 
ing committee.  The  cost  of  the  edifice,  how- 
ever, reached  the  sum  of  $10,400.  The  old 
frame  church  was  removed  to  the  rear  of  the 
lot  and  was  subsequently  used  for  Sunday 
School  purposes  until  1832,  when  the  building 
was  sold,  removed  to  Buffalo  St.,  converted  to 
secular  uses  and  finalh'  demolished  in  April, 
1875. 

The  corner  stone  of  the  new  structure  was 
laid  May  11,  1824,  and  the  edifice  was  first 
opened  for  public  worship  Sept.  4,  1825. 
The  following  contemporary  description  is  taken 
from  the  first  Rochester  Directory,  published  in 
1827  : 

"  The  style  of  the  building,  is  Gothick,  which 
has  been  rigidly  observed  in  every  particular- 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH.  23 

The  main  part  of  the  front  is  of  hewn  gray 
stone  from  Auburn.  The  two  corners  of  the 
tower  and  the  two  corners  of  the  body  of  the 
house  are  of  red  freestone,  as  are  also  the  water 
table,  the  caps,  sills  and  jambs  of  the  windows 
and  doors.  The  two  windows  in  the  tower  are 
strikingly  beautiful,  containing  a  proper  num- 
ber of  spandrels  and  branching  mullions,  and 
ornamented  with  rich  and  delicate  tracery. 
Around  the  arch  of  the  first  of  these,  hand- 
somely cut  in  the  stone  cap,  is  the  name  of  the 
church,  with  the  year  of  its  erection.  The 
tower  is  16  feet  square,  projecting  five  feet  be- 
yond the  body  of  the  church,  and  rising  to  the 
height  of  90  feet.  This  is  finished  at  the  top 
with  eight  pinnacles,  connected  by  a  castellated 
or  embattled  balustrade.  A  similar  balustrade 
runs  around  the  roof  of  the  whole  house, 
having  similar  pinnacles  at  each  corner.  The 
wood-work  on  the  outside  of  the  house  has 
been  made  strongly  to  resemble  the  red  free- 
stone, by  a  process  termed  smalt iiig. 

"  In  the  arrangement  of  the  interiour  will  be 
seen  convenience,  elegance,  and  a  strict  econ- 
omy of  roomi.  The  pulpit  and  desk  consist  of 
a  number  of  delicate  (jothick  arches,  behind 
which  is  a  drapery  of  dark  blue  velvet.  The 
chancel  is  in  the  form  of  an  oval,  placed  in 
front  of  the  desk,  and  containing  a  Communion 


24  ANNALS   OF   ST.    LUKE'S. 

Table  of  Italian  marble,  and  a  baptismal  font  of 
the  purest  alabaster,  resting  on  a  pedestal  of 
agate  marble.  The  gallery  is  supported  by 
large  cluster  columns,  painted  in  imitation  of 
light  blue  variegated  marble.  The  ceiling  is  fin- 
ished with  intersecting  vaulted  or  groined 
arches,  ornamented  with  stucco  work.  In  the 
church  is  placed  a  large  and  remarkably  fine- 
toned  organ." 

This  organ  was  built  by  Hall  &  Erben  of  New 
York  and  cost  $1300;  the  instrumental  music  in 
the  old  church  having  been  furnished  by  a  vio- 
lin, flute,  clarionet  and  bass  viol.  The  first 
organist  was  Daniel  Clark,  who  held  the  posi- 
tion till  May,  1827,  when  he  was  superseded  b}- 
William  Staunton,  remaining  however  in  charge 
of  the  choir  until  April,  1828.  The  engagement 
authorized  to  be  made  with  the  new  organist 
was  "  at  a  salary  of  $200  per  annum  and  a  guar- 
antee of  ten  scholars  in  music  fa  $10  per  year 
for  one  year." 

The  pews  were  "  offered  at  public  sale  on  per- 
petual lease,  and  for  one  or  three  years  by  bids 
for  choice  at  the  valuation  and  annual  rents 
afihxed  in  the  schedule  attached."  The  highest 
valuation  was  $280,  and  the  highest  annuity  $20. 
The  number  of  pews  on  the  ground  floor  was 
sixty-six,  and  in  the  gallery  twenty-six. 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH.  25 

The  church  was  consecrated  by  Bishop  Ho- 
bart,  Sept.  30,  1826,  the  ceremony  having  been 
thus  long  delayed  owing  to  the  Bishop's  absence 
in  Europe. 

The  christian  activity  of  the  parish  found 
expression,  March  2,  1827,  in  the  organization 
of  the  "  Female  Benevolent  and  Auxiliary  Mis- 
sionary Society,"  whose  object  was  "  the  pro- 
curing of  funds  in  aid  of  plans  and  societies 
formed  for  the  purpose  of  promoting  the  cause 
of  religion  as  connected  with  the  interests  of 
the  Prot.  Epis.  Church,  special  reference  being 
had  to  the  wants  of  the  General  Missionary 
Society  of  the  Episcopal  Church  and  the  Mon- 
roe County  Episcopal  Association,  for  dissem- 
inating religious  knowledge."  This  last-named 
association,  organized  in  February,  1827,  appears 
to  have  allowed  the  object  for  which  it  was 
formed,  viz.,  "  the  supply  of  vacant  places  with- 
in the  county  with  the  services  of  the  Episco- 
pal Church,  assisting  in  the  establishment  and 
support  of  new  congregations,  and  the  forma- 
tion of  Sunday  Schools,"  to  devolve  entirely 
upon  the  ladies'  society,  designed  to  be  aux- 
iliary to  it.  This  organization,  however,  de- 
voted itself  at  once  to  earnest  work,  with  a 
membership  of  126,  and  with  Mrs.  Elisha  John- 
son  for  President,   Mrs.  H.  Montgomery,  Vice 


26  ANNALS   OF   ST.    LUKE'S. 

President,  Mrs.  W.  Pitkin,  Secretary,  and  Mrs. 
T.  H.  Rochester,  Treasurer. 

The  fiist  efforts  of  the  society  were  directed 
to  providing  missionary  services  in  parts  adja- 
cent, as  is  evident  from  the  following  extract 
from  a  letter  of  Mr.  Cuming,  dated  May  21, 
1827,  enclosing  to  his  correspondent  a  copy  of 
the  constitution  of  the  newly-formed  society: 

"  The  inducements  which  the  society  can  at 
present  hold  out  are  by  no  means  so  great  as 
we  wish  we  had  it  in  our  power  to  offer.  But 
when  it  is  mentioned  that  there  are  strong,  very 
strong  reasons  to  authorize  the  belief  that  the 
prudent,  zealous,  persevering  efforts  of  some 
able  and  pious  clergyman  would  much  promote 
the  interests  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  this 
quarter  and  result  in  building  up  two  or  three 
respectable  congregations,  we  think  we  present 
an  argument  calculated  to  have  much  weight 
with  those  who  sincerely  love  the  Church." 

The  minutes  of  the  society  show  that  appro- 
priations were  made  from  time  to  time  for  mis- 
sionary work  at  Penfield,  Pittsford,  Brockport, 
Scottsville,  and  Honeoye  Falls.  The  need  of 
missionary  work  within  the  city  (for  Rochester 
became  a  city  in  1834)  claimed  more  and  more 
attention,  and  from  1846  (with  increased  ability 
on  the  part  of  diocesan  agencies  to  care  for  out- 
lying points),  this  society  addressed  its  efforts 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH.  2/ 

mainly  to  the  city  field  by  providing  successive 
Rectors  with  clerical  assistance.  With  some 
modification  of  its  name,  the  society  remained 
in  existence  till  Feb.  3,  1868,  when  the  Christian 
activit}'  of  the  ladies  was  directed  into  other 
channels.  It  may  here,  however,  be  fitly  re- 
marked that  great  interest  was  early  manifested 
by  the  congregation  in  the  missionary  cause, 
both  foreign  and  domestic  ;  an  interest  largely 
fostered  by  this  association,  which  through 
systematic  annual  offerings  liberally  contributed 
to  missionary  objects.  An  evidence  of  the 
special  interest  felt  in  the  mission  to  Greece 
lies  in  the  fact  that  a  scholarship  in  Dr.  and 
and  Mrs.  Hill's  school  at  Athens  was  supported 
by  ladies  in  St.  Luke's  ;  and  the  first  Greek- 
girl  received  into  that  school,  Agathoula  b}' 
name,  testified  her  gratitude  by  working  on 
canvas,  with  emblematical  and  ornamental  de- 
signs, a  scripture  text,  "  In  memoriam  of  Mrs. 
Sophia  Rochester,  Dec. 9th,  1845" — a  memento 
still  preserved  in  the  Rochester  family. 

Another  organization  was  formed  of  unmar- 
ried ladies  in  the  parish,  on  Ash  Wednesda)', 
1827,  to  be  known  as  "The  Young  Ladies' 
Benevolent  and  Reading  Society."  Its  ob- 
jects were  "  to  promote  the  mutual  instruction 
of  the  members,  and  to  procure  funds  for  char- 
itable   or    religious    purposes."      The    societ)- 


28  ANNALS   OF   ST.    LUKE'S. 

met  once  in  two  weeks,  and  during  a  reading 
by  one  of  their  number,  the  others  were  re- 
quired "  industriously  to  employ  themselves  in 
making  such  articles  as  may  be  disposed  of  to 
the  advantage  of  the  society."  Its  benefactions 
took  a  wide  range,  including  appropriations  to 
missions,  theological  students,  parochial  needs 
and  the  maintenance  of  a  charity  school  ;  and 
its  good  work  as  a  distinct  organization  was 
continued  until  1838. 

The  earlier  establishment  of  the  Rochester 
Female  Charitable  Society,  Feb.  26,  1822,  should 
also  properly  be  noted  here  ;  which,  although 
a  general  organization,  included  among  its  first 
of^cers  and  members  many  ladies  of  promin- 
ence in  St.  Luke's  Church.  The  first  public 
discourse  in  its  behalf  was  preached  by  the 
Rector  of  St.  Luke's,  and  it  has  ever  retained 
the  confidence  and  practical  sympathy  of  the 
congregation. 

The  letter  of  Rev.  Mr.  Cuming  last  quoted 
contains,  at  the  close,  the  following  important 
reference  :  "  Measures  are  now  taking  to  organ- 
ize another  Episcopal  congregation  in  this  vil- 
lage, next  Monday."  The  measures  referred  to 
originated  in  the  following  action  of  the  Vestry 
of  St.  Luke's,  May  7,  1827  : 

"  Whereas,  The  congregation  of  St.  Luke's 
has  become  so  numerous  in  consequence  of  the 


mSTURICAL    SKETCH.  29 

increasing  population  of  the  village,  that  their 
present  church  cannot  afford  the  necessary 
accommodation,  and  it  being  therefore  advis- 
able to  establish  an  additional  church  in  the 
Village  of  Rochester,  and  application  liaving 
been  made  by  parishioners  of  St.  Luke's 
Church  residing  on  the  east  side  of  the  Genesee 
river  for  the  organization  of  such  additional 
church  and  society  agreeably  to  the  Constitution 
and  Canons  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  ; 
therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  said  additional  church  be 
located  on  the  east  side  of  the  Genesee  river 
within  the  bounds  of  the  village  corporation. 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  five  be  ap- 
pointed to  carry  the  above  resolutions  into 
effect  in  a  legal  manner  and  as  soon  as  prac- 
ticable, and  that  the  following  gentlemen  com- 
pose said  committee:  Messrs,  Atkinson,  John- 
son, Boulton,  Whittlesey  and  Pitkin. 

Resolved,  That  the  said  committee  wait  upon 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Cuming  and  express  to  him  the 
continued  confidence  and  attachment  of  all  the 
parishioners  of  St.  Luke's  Church,  and  request 
him  to  proceed  in  the  organization  of  the  addi- 
tional church." 

In  accordance  with  this  action,  St.  Paul's 
Church  was  organized.  May  28,  1827,  and  the 
following    communicants    dismissed    from    St. 


30  ANNALS   OF   ST.    LUKE'S. 

Luke's  to  the  new  parish  :  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wm. 
Atkinson,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  J.  Andrews, 
Mr,  and  Mrs.  Jared  N.  Stebbins,  Giles  Boulton, 
E.  Smith  Lee,  Mrs.  Susan  Lee,  Mrs.  Mary- 
Williams,  Mrs.  Elisha  Johnson,  John  Carnes, 
Mrs.  Richard  P.  Petherick,  and  Mrs.  W.  G, 
Russell.  Five  others  also  were  dismissed  dur- 
ing the  year  to  form  the  nucleus  of  a  new 
organization  in  the  village  of  Penfield,  to  be 
called  Trinity  Church. 

A  contract  for  a  bell  of  2,000  lbs.  weight  was 
authorized  to  be  made,  July  5,  1827,  with  Ward, 
Bartholomew  &  Brainerd.  Its  cost  was  $900, 
$500  of  which  was  provided  by  the  proceeds  of 
a  lot  given  to  the  parish  for  this  purpose  by 
Colonel  Fitzhugh.  The  bell  was  hung  in  the 
tower,  April  17,  1828. 

At  the  Easter  meeting  in  this  year,  Monday 
in  Easter  week  was  substituted  for  Thursday  as 
the  time  of  the  annual  election.  An  enlarge- 
ment of  the  church  by  the  addition  of  two 
arches  at  the  west  end  was  deemed  expedient, 
which  would  increase  its  length  by  thirty  feet. 
A  contract  was  entered  into  with  Elias  J. 
Mershon  to  execute  this  plan  at  an  expense  of 
$3,000,  Wm.  Pitkin,  S.  O.  Smith  and  F.  Whit- 
tlesey being  the  building  committee.  The  work 
was  so  conducted  that  the  use  of  the  church 
was   not   interrupted,    and    the    new    part    was 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH.  31 

thrown  open  for  occupancy  in  the  fall  of  the 
same  year. 

The  Rectorship  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cuming  was 
brought  to  a  close  by  his  resignation  under 
date  March  23,  1829,  after  an  incumbency  of 
eight  years  and  four  months.  The  Vestry 
accepted  the  resignation,  "  deeply  regretting 
the  existence  of  reasons  that  in  his  estimation 
are  deemed  of  sufificient  weight  and  importance 
to  determine  him  to  resign  a  situation  he  has 
so  usefully  occupied  and  the  duties  of  which  he 
has  so  faithfully  and  satisfactorily  discharged." 

An  invitation  to  become  the  Rector  was  now 
extended  to  the  Rev.  Francis  L.  Hawks  of 
New  Haven,  but  declined  by  him  on  the  ground 
of  duty  to  his  present  parish  and  the  condition 
of  his  health. 

The  Rev.  Henry  J.  Whitchouse  of  Reading, 
Pa.,  was  then  called  to  the  Rectorship,  Sept.  9, 
1829.  After  visiting  the  parish  and  officiating, 
the  call  was  renewed,  Oct.  4,  by  the  Vestry  and 
accepted  "by  the  advice  of  Bishop  Hobart," 
and  on  the  first  Sunday  in  December  the  new 
Rector  entered  upon  his  duties.  His  formal 
Institution  took  place  Aug.  29,  1830.  The  rite 
of  confirmation  was  administered  in  the  even- 
ing of  the  same  day  to  sixty-one  candidates; 
on  which  occasion  the  Bishop  accidentally  over- 
turned the  alabaster  font,  which  was  thus  broken 


32  ANNALS   OF   ST.    LUKE  S. 

to  pieces.  It  was  his  last  service  in  St.  Luke's^ 
as  his  lamented  death  took  place  on  the  i2thof 
the  ensuing  month.  The  Vestry  placed  on 
record  their  feelings  in  reference  to  the  loss  of 
their  beloved  Bishop,  in  the  following  language: 
"  But  two  weeks  before  his  decease,  he  in  this 
church  instituted  our  Rector  and  administered 
the  apostolic  rite  of  confirmation.  It  was 
almost  his  last  ministerial  act.  We  feel  sen- 
sibly, we  hope,  this  divine  dispensation,  and 
humbly  pray  God  to  direct  us  in  the  way  of  our 
duty,  and  that  in  due  time  He  will  raise  up 
another  bishop  who  shall  with  equal  consist- 
ency preserve  the  integrity  of  the  Church,  with 
equal  self-devotedness  dedicate  himself  to  her 
interests,  with  equal  purity  adorn  her  highest 
ofifice,  and,  like  him  we  mourn,  be  the  polished 
gentleman,  the  practical  scholar,  the  consistent 
Christian  and  the  best  of  bishops."  The  church 
was  draped  in  black  and  the  Vestry  wore  the 
usual  badge  of  mourning,  for  thirty  days. 

The  Rector  reported  to  the  Convention  of 
this  year,  that  he  had  given  a  third  service  for 
ten  or  twelve  Sunday  evenings  in  the  village  of 
Penfield,  and  occasionally  a  week-service  in  the 
town  of  Brighton.  In  the  following  year,  these 
services  in  Penfield  were  continued,  and  six 
persons  were  confirmed  there  by  Bishop  Onder- 
donk,  Aug.  22,  1831. 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH.  ^^ 

The  venerable  founder  of  the  vilhige  and  the 
first  warden  of  the  church.  Col.  Nathaniel 
Rochester,  deceased  on  the  4th  of  May,  1831, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-nine  years.  The  Vestry 
manifested  their  respect  and  affection  for  his 
memory  by  appropriate  resolutions  and  official 
participation  in  the  funeral  solemnities.  On 
that  occasion  a  memorable  sermon  was  preached 
by  the  Rector,  from  the  text.  Gen.  xliii.  27, 
"The  old  man  of  whom  }'e  spake,  is  he  )'et 
alive  ?" 

A  communication  addressed  to  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Whitehouse  by  the  Vestry  of  St.  Paul's  Church. 
bearing  date  Dec.  5,  1831,  was  laid  b}-  him 
before  the  Vestry  of  St.  Luke's,  in  which  it  was 
unanimously  proposed  to  associate  the  two 
Churches  under  his  parochial  charge  as  Rector 
of  both,  with  authority  to  procure  an  assistant- 
minister, — the  services  and  the  expenses  to  be 
equally  divided  between  the  two  Churches. 
The  Vestry  of  St.  Luke's,  after  full  considera- 
tion of  the  subject,  found  themselves  of  one 
opinion  as  to  the  inadvisability  of  the  proposed 
scheme,  and  to  a  detailed  statement  of  their 
objections  thereto,  added  these  words:  "This 
Vestry  receive  with  much  gratification  the 
expression  of  the  com.mittee  of  St.  Paul's  to 
our  Rector,  of  their  '  approbation  of  the  views 
^nd  policy  exhibited  by  him  during  his  connec- 


34  ANNALS   OF   ST.    LUKE  S. 

tion  with  St.  Luke's  Church,'  and  sincerely  hope 
it  is  an  earnest  of  the  desire  and  determination 
of  that  congregation  to  be  governed  by  the 
same  sound  and  consistent  views  and  poHcy,  as 
they  are  calculated  to  present  our  episcopal 
institutions  under  one  form,  establish  harmony 
and  engage  the  cordial  co-operation  of  the 
members  of  our  respective  congregations." 

In  1832,  a  building  was  erected  in  the  rear 
of  the  Church  as  a  lecture-room  and  for  the 
Sunday  School,  and  also  for  the  Charity 
School,  which  it  was  proposed  to  estab- 
lish. This  latter  was  organized  in  1833  with 
seventy-five  scholars  and  was  supported  mainly 
by  the  Young  Ladies'  Benevolent  Society  of  St. 
Luke's,  Gershom  P.  Waldo  and  Ethan  Allen, 
both  afterwards  in  Orders  in  the  Church,  being 
among  the  teachers  of  the  school.  The  subse- 
quent development  of  the  common  school 
system  occasioned  its  discontinuance,  and  in 
April,  1843,  the  Vestry  authorized  "  the  giving 
aw^ay  of  the  Charity  School  apparatus." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Vestry,  Sept.  29,  1832, 
the  embarrassed  condition  of  the  affairs  of  St. 
Paul's  Church  were  again  presented  to  their 
attention  through  a  communication  from  the 
Vestry  of  the  latter,  whereupon  the  following 
preamble  and  resolutions  were  adopted  : 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH.  35 

"Whereas,  certain  statements  of  the  affairs 
and  condition  of  St.  Paul  Church  in  the  Village 
of  Rochester  from  the  Vestry  thereof,  have 
been  submitted  to  the  consideration  of  the 
Vestry  of  this  Church  ;  from  which  it  appears 
that  the  pecuniary  affairs  of  said  Church  are  in 
a  condition  so  embarrassed  that  they  entertain 
no  hope  of  being  able  to  extricate  themselves, 
and  that  without  means,  without  a  Rector  and 
burdened  with  debt,  they  fear  that  they  must 
sink  under  their  difficulties,  the  Church  be  borne 
down,  the  congregation  dispersed  and  the  build- 
ing sold,  to  the  great  injury  of  the  Episcopal 
interest  in  this  section,  unless  some  new  ar- 
rangement can  be  made  for  their  relief  and  the 
benefit  of  the  Church  in  general,  and  so  sug- 
gesting that  the  Corporation  of  this  Church 
should  purchase  the  building  of  St.  Paul's 
Church  as  a  Chapel  of  St.  Luke's,  as  the  only 
practical  measure  of  saving  it  from  entire  sac- 
rifice and  averting  a  serious  and  permanent  in- 
jury to  the  prosperity  of  the  Episcopal  Church 
generally,  therefore 

Resolved,  that  the  interests  of  the  Episcopal 
Church  demand  that  St.  Luke's  Church  should 
make  an  effort  to  purchase  the  building  known 
as  St.  Paul's  Church  as  a  Chapel  of  this  Church, 
if  it  can  be  done  without  too  great  a  burden 
upon  its  resources  and  funds. 


36  ANNALS   OF   ST.    LUKE'S. 

Resolved,  that  the  Rector  of  this  Church  be 
empowered  to  ascertain  what  foreign  resources 
can  be  depended  upon  for  the  above  object, 
and  to  this  intent,  if  necessary,  present  the  mat- 
ter to  the  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church,  New 
York." 

After  considerable  negotiation,  it  was  finally 
deemed  unwise  and  impracticable  by  the  Ves- 
try of  St.  Luke's  for  them  to  assume  the  respon- 
sibility which  the  purchase  of  St.  Paul's  as  a 
Chapel  would  involve,  since  the  conditions  con- 
nected with  the  offer  of  Trinity  Church,  New 
York,  to  pay  the  interest  on  $io,ooo  indebted- 
ness for  two  years,  required  the  purchase  of  the 
property  by  St.  Luke's  and  the  clearing  off  of 
all  claims  and  incumbrances  in  excess  of  that 
amount. 

A  plan  for  the  reorganization  of  St.  Paul's 
under  another  name  was  subsequently  devised, 
and  liberally  aided  by  Trinity  Church,  New 
York  ;  and  the  new  corporation  of  Grace  Church 
came,  through  foreclosure,  into  possession  of 
the  property. 

The  only  occasion  when  St.  Luke's  has  been 
visited  by  fire  was  in  the  early  morning  of  Sun- 
day, December  23,  1832,  when  the  damage  was 
slight  and  mainly  by  water.  The  kind  invita- 
tion of  their  neighbors  of  the  First  Presbyterian 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH.  37 

Society  to  worship  in  their  edifice  was  grate- 
fully accepted  :  which  courtesy  the  Vestry  were 
pleased  to  reciprocate  on  a  subsequent  occasion, 
when  the  walls  of  the  First  Church  came  to  be 
considered  unsafe ;  proffering  the  use  of  the 
Church  to  a  religious  society,  whose  relations 
with  St.  Luke's,  its  oldest  and  nearest  neigh- 
bor, have  always  been  of  the  most  friendly 
character. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Whitehouse  proposing  a  trip 
to  Europe  for  his  health,  and  the  Vestry  ex- 
pressing their  cordial  concurrence  in  the  plan, 
he  left  the  city  Aug.  8,  1833,  having  preached 
a  farewell  sermon  on  the  evening  preceding. 
The  Rev.  James  A.  Bolles,  of  New  York,  was 
invited  by  the  Vestry  "  to  take  charge  of  the 
parish  as  assistant  minister  thereof  from  the 
first  day  of  September  next  at  a  salary  of  $600. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Bolles  accepted  the  proposition, 
preaching  his  first  sermon  Sept.  15.  The  Rec- 
tor returned  Dec.  7,  1834,  having  received  dur- 
ing his  absence  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor 
of  Divinity  from  Geneva  College. 

In  1836  a  project  for  the  establishment  of  a 

second  offshoot  of  St.  Luke's  was  agitated,  and 

a  committee  of  the  Vestry  was   appointed  to 

'*  circulate   a  subscription  for  purchasing  a  lot 

for  a  new  church  in   Frankfort."     As  the  result 

of  this  effort  an  eligible  site  was  secured  oppo- 
4 


38  AXNALS    OF    ST.    LUKES. 

site  Brown's  Square,  and  Seth  C.  Jones  opened 
a  Sunday  School  in  the  school-house  which  then 
stood  on  the  square ;  and  here  the  work  rested 
for  a  time. 

In  October  of  the  same  year  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Whitehouse,  having  secured  leave  of  absence 
from  his  duties,  was  married  in  New  York  and 
sailed  for  Europe  Nov.  22,  remaining  abroad 
until  Oct.  8,  1837.  The  services  meanwhile 
were  supplied  by  the  Rev.  N.  F.  Bruce,  M.  D. 

Toward  the  close  of  the  year  1843,  $1200  was 
subscribed  "  for  the  purpose  of  making  neces- 
sary and  suitable  repairs  on  or  about  the  exter- 
ior of  the  church  edifice  and  for  erecting  chan- 
cel rail,  alteration  in  gallery,  cleaning  and 
painting  ceiling  and  walls,  varnishing  wood- 
work, carpeting  aisles,  procuring  trimmings  for 
desk  and  pulpit,  etc."  The  desk  and  pulpit 
therefore  were  themselves  constructed  at  an 
earlier  date,  as  is  further  evidenced  by  a  parch- 
ment recently  found  attached  to  the  interior  of 
the  pulpit,  on  which  is  inscribed  in  the  hand- 
writing of  Dr.  Whitehouse  and  bearing  date 
June  29,  1839,  "This  pulpit  was  erected  A.  D. 
1836  from  original  designs  of  the  Rev.  Henry 
J.  Whitehouse,  D.  D.,  Thomas  Thorn,  carpen- 
ter. The  Screen  and  Canopy,  completed  1839, 
from  designs  by  the  same,   Elijah  Somers  and 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH.  39 

Henn'  Rogers,  carpenters  ;  Painting  and  Grain- 
ing by  Wm.  H.  Myers." 

The  ministry  of  Dr.  Whitehouse  was  termin- 
ated by  his  resignation  Feb.  19,  1844.  l^i^  fare- 
well sermon  being  preached  on  the  5th  of  the 
ensuing  May.  The  Vestry  and  congregation 
very  unwillingly  assented  to  the  separation  of 
the  ties  which  had  bound  them  together  for 
fourteen  years  and  five  months,  and  placed  on 
record  their  testimony  to  his  ability  and  fidel- 
ity, anci  their  recognition  of  the  fact  that  to 
his  faithful  services  it  was  chiefly  due  that  the 
Church  which  he  "  found  comparatively  feeble  '" 
he  was  leaving  "  strong,  prosperous  and  influ- 
ential." 

A  call  to  the  vacant  rectorship  was  extended. 
May  9,  1844,  to  the  Rev.  Thomas  C.  Pitkin,  of 
Louisville,  Ky.,  and  accepted  by  him  May  21st. 
He  entered  upon  his  duties  July  14,  1844,  just 
27  years  from  the  date  of  the  parish  organiza- 
tion, and  was  instituted  by  Bishop  DeLance}"on 
the  I  ith  of  the  following  August. 

The  influence  of  the  new  Rector  was  cor- 
dially given  to  the  realization  of  the  project  to 
establish  a  new  church  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  city.  The  friends  of  the  movement  and  the 
subscribers  to  the  lot  already  secured  on 
Brown's  Square,  met  in  August,  1845,  i^"'  ^^e 
public  school  house  corner  of  Fish  (now  Centre) 


40  ANNALS   OF   ST.    LUKE  S. 

and  Jones  Sts.,  and  inaugurated  public  service 
Sunday  afternoons  and  evenings  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Rector.  This  movement  re- 
sulted in  the  formal  organization,  Oct.  27,  of 
Trinity  Church.  The  Rev.  Vandervoort  Bruce 
was  elected  the  first  Rector,  and  it  was  resolved 
to  sell  the  lot  on  Brown's  Square,  as  being 
rather  too  far  out  of  the  city,  and  to  purchase 
one  which  was  regarded  as  more  eligible  on  the 
corner  of  Fish  and  PVank  Sts. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Pitkin  "  finding  his  health  inad- 
equate to  the  care  of  so  large  a  parish,"  ten- 
dered his  resignation  April  3,  1847,  which  took 
effect  after  three  years  of  service,  on  the  12th 
of  the  following  July,  amid  general  expressions 
of  regret  on  the  part  of  the  people.  He  was 
assisted  during  part  of  the  year  1846,  by  the 
Rev.  John  N.  Norton.  An  invitation  to  the 
Rectorship  was  now  extended  to  the  Rev.  Wm. 
Suddards,  of  Philadelphia,  but  declined  by  him. 

The  charge  of  the  Parish  was  then  committed 
temporarily  to  the  Rev.  T.  F.  Wardwell,  who 
officiated  from  Aug.  29,  till  the  close  of  the 
year,  when  the  Rev.  Henry  W.  Lee,  of  Spring- 
field, Mass.,  who  had  been  called  to  the  Rec- 
torship, October  18,  entered  upon  his  duties 
January  2,  1848.  He  was  instituted  by  Bishop 
DeLancey,  Feb.  16,  1848.  In  his  onerous  pas- 
toral labors  in  the  parish,   he   was  successively 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH.  41 

assisted  by  the  Revs.  Edvv.  Meyer,  Geo.  H. 
McKnight,  Bethel  Judd,  D.  D.,  W.  H.  Barris, 
Geo.  N.  Cheney,  Geo.  W.  Watson  and  Theo- 
dore A.  Hopkins;  funds  for  that  purpose  being 
provided  in  part  by  the  Ladies'  Missionary 
Society.  Services  were  frequently  held  in  the 
suburbs  of  the  City,  and  in  the  town  of 
Brighton. 

During  the  year  1848,  the  sum  of  $4,000  was 
subscribed  to  liquidate  a  standing  indebtedness 
of  the  corporation.  The  debt  was  accordingly 
canceled  upon  payment  of  the  amount  pledged 
and  report  thereof  made  to  the  Vestry  Aug.  5, 
1850. 

A  proposition  to  introduce  gas  into  the 
Church  was  negatived  June  4,  1849;  which  im- 
provement was  not  effected  till   Dec.   24,    1853. 

A  committee  appointed  to  circulate  a  sub- 
scription to  provide  a  chime  of  bells  and  a  new 
organ,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Kidd,  Pitkin, 
Churchill,  Dewey  and  Whittlesey,  reported 
Jul}^  I,  1850,  that  they  had  secured  $3,600; 
whereupon  contracts  were  authorized  to  be 
made  with  A.  Meneely,  of  Troy,  for  the  chimes, 
and  with  Appleton  &  Warren  for  the  new 
organ. 

At  the  first  Commencement  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Rochester,  June  9,    185  i,   the  honorary 


42  ANNALS   OF   ST,    LUKE'S. 

degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  conferred 
upon  the  Rev.  Mr.  Lee. 

In  April,  1854,  on  the  retirement  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  D.  M.  Dewey  from  the  choir,  the  Vestry 
expressed  their  cordial  thanks  for  their  faithful 
and  valuable  services,  rendered  gratuitously  for 
upwards  of  sixteen  years.  A  similar  resolution, 
accompanied  by  a  valuable  testimonial,  had 
been  voted  by  the  Vestry  in  December,  1845. 
Besides  Mrs.  Dewey,  her  sisters,  Mrs.  J.  M. 
Winslow  and  Mrs.  Albert  Walker,  had  pre- 
viously rendered  efficient  and  acceptable  ser- 
vices in  the  choir  for  many  years.  The 
resignation  of  Dr.  Lee,  after  a  ministry  of 
seven  years,  occasioned  by  his  election  to  the 
Episcopate  of  Iowa,  was  presented  Oct.  9,  1854, 
and  accepted  with  "unmingled  feelings  of 
regret  and  with  grateful  appreciation  of  the 
many  qualities  which  have  rendered  his  minis- 
try so  important  to  the  prosperity  of  our  parish, 
and  Avhich  have  endeared  him  to  the  people  of 
his  charge." 

His  Consecration  as  Bishop  of  Iowa  took 
place  in  St.  Luke's,  on  the  i8th  of  Oct.,  1854, 
Bishop  J.  H.  Hopkins  presiding,  and  Bishop 
Manton  Eastburn  preaching  the  sermon. 
Bishops  McCoskry,  DeLancey,  Burgess  and 
Whitehouse  uniting  in  the  imposition  of  hands. 
His  first  episcopal  act  was  the  Confirmation   of 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH.  43 

a  class  of  thirty-five,  in  his  own  Church,  on  the 
24th  of  December. 

The  Vestry  meanwhile  had  called  to  the 
Rectorship  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Watson,  of  Zion 
Church,  Newport,  R.  I.,  who  accepted  the  same 
and  entered  upon  his  duties  April  29,  1855,  the 
services  during  the  interim  having  been  main- 
tained by  the  Rev.  T.  A.  Hopkins,  assistant 
minister  at  the  close  of  the  last  rectorate. 

The  necessity  of  a  fourth  Episcopal  Church, 
which  had  been  increasingly  felt,  resulted  in 
the  organization  of  a  new  parish  in  the  south- 
east quarter  of  the  city.  The  first  official  act 
of  the  new  Rector  was  to  ofificiate,  at  an  early 
hour  on  the  29th  of  April,  in  Palmer's  Hall,  at 
the  primary  service  of  the  new  congregation, 
mainly  composed  of  parishioners  of  St.  Luke's. 
From  this  beginning  sprung  the  important  and 
prosperous  parish  of  Christ  Church. 

The  Institution  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Watson,  by 
Bishop  DeLancey,  took  place  on  Thursday. 
Feb.  14.  1856. 

During  the  first  year  of  his  ministry,  the 
church  edifice  was  thoroughly  repaired  within 
and  without,  at  an  expense  of  over  $5,000. 
The  subscription  to  defray  this  improvement 
being  some  $1,500  short  of  that  amount,  the 
Vestry  saw  fit  to  mortgage  the  church.  It  was 
at  this  time  that  the  present  stained  glass  was 


44  ANNALS   OF   ST.    LUKE'S. 

inserted  in  the  windows,  the  interior  frescoed 
and  the  tower  remodeled.  Largely  increased 
expense  was  also  incurred  for  music.  An 
ineffectual  effort  was  made  in  April,  1859,  ^'^ 
procure  a  rectory,  but  the  realization  of  its 
importance  bore  fruit  a  few  years  later. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Watson,  finding  the  climate 
uncongenial,  and  having  been  called  to  the 
Church  of  the  Atonement,  Philadelphia,  pre- 
sented his  resignation,  which  was  regretfully 
accepted,  July  23,  1859,  ^^  take  effect  the  7th 
of  the  following  month,  when  he  delivered  his 
farewell  discourse  ;  it  being  recorded  that 
"  during  his  term  of  four  years  and  three 
month's  service  as  our  Rector,  he  has,  by  his 
ability,  fidelity  and  exemplary  Christian  deport- 
ment in  the  discharge  of  his  arduous  duties, 
won  the  respect,  confidence  and  affection  of  his 
whole  congregation."  His  assistants  were  the 
Revs.  Robt.  W.  Lewis  and  Chas.  E.  Cheney. 
The  services  during  the  interim  were  supplied 
by  the  Rev.  W.  B.  Otis,  from  Aug.  7  to  Oct.  2, 
1859. 

The  Rev.  R.  Bethell  Claxton,  D.  D.,  of 
St.  Paul's  Church,  Cleveland,  O.,  was  called  to 
the  Rectorship,  Oct.  i,  1859,  ^'''^  entered  upon 
his  duties  on  the  1st  of  the  following  Decem- 
ber.    On  the  20th  of  February  ensuing,  he  was 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH.  45 

instituted  by  Bishop  DeLancey,  Bishop  H.  W. 
Lee  preachiiiLj  the  sermon. 

Steps  were  efficiently  taken  by  the  Vestry  to 
secure  a  rectory,  and  a  negotiation  to  obtain 
property  on  Fitzhugh  street  was  terminated  by 
an  authorization  to  purchase,  Aug,  25,  i860,  at 
the  price  of  $7,000.  of  which  $4,000  was  paid 
in  cash. 

The  patriotic  spirit  of  the  congregation  man- 
ifested itself,  April  29,  1861,  in  a  resolution  of 
the  Vestry  to  procure  the  National  colors  and 
erect  a  flag-staff  on  the  church,  and  also  to  pre- 
sent a  Prayer-Book  to  every  volunteer  from  the 
Cit}^  of  Rochester,  who  would  accept  it.  The 
flag  was  raised  on  the  tower  of  the  church  on 
the  4th  of  May;  on  which  occasions  addresses 
were  made  to  a  large  concourse  of  people  b}- 
the  Rector,  Hon.  Alfred  Ely  and  Roswell 
Hart,  Esq. 

The  plan  of  building  a  Mission  Chapel  was 
at  several  meetings  urged  by  the  Rector  upon 
the  Vestry  without  eliciting  from  that  body 
any  satisfactory  encouragement ;  but  convinced 
of  the  necessity'  of  such  provision  for  those  at 
a  distance  from  the  church,  he  persevered  in 
his  design  and  succeeded  in  founding  the 
Chapel  of  the  Good  Shepherd,  in  the  eleventh 
ward, — a  part  of  the  city  at  that  time  destitute 
of    all  religious  privileges.     The  means  to  ac- 


46  ANNALS   OF   ST.    LUKE'S. 

complish  this  result  were  provided  by  the  Sun- 
day-school, the  Ladies'  Missionary  Society  and 
a  few  willing  helpers.  The  corner-stone  of  a 
neat  edifice  of  brick,  28  x  52,  with  a  porch  8  feet 
square,  upon  a  lot  54  x  1 50,  was  laid,  by  the 
Rector,  Sept.  23,  1863;  and  on  the  31st  of  July 
in  the  next  year,  he  had  the  happiness  of 
opening  the  Chapel  for  Divine  Service,  The 
total  cost  of  the  building  was  upwards  of  $3,000. 

As  early  as  June,  1861,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Claxton 
addressed  a  communication  to  the  Vestry,  pro- 
posing the  establishment  of  "  an  Asylum  for 
orphans  and  destitute  children,  to  be  under  the 
especial  care  of  our  Church  in  Rochester."  The 
Vestry  declined  to  take  action  in  the  matter  ; 
but  the  nucleus  of  a  fund  to  establish  such  an 
institution  was  formed  by  the  collections  at  the 
joint-service  of  the  several  parishes  on  successive 
Maundy  Thursdays,  beginning  in  1861. 

Plans  and  elevations  for  a  new  church  edifice 
were  presented  to  the  Vestry  by  Mr,  William 
Churchill,  Feb.  24,  1864,  and  a  committee  was 
appointed  to  "  ascertain  if  money  can  be  raised 
for  the  erection  of  a  new  church,"  and  "to  pre- 
sent to  pew-owners  a  request  to  surrender 
their  pews  in  the  church."  This  committee 
subsequently  reported  that  they  "had  not  suc- 
ceeded in  inducing  pew-holders  to  surrender 
their  pews  or  to  submit  to  new  annuities." 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH.  47 

In  the  failure  of  the  project  to  build  a  ne\\" 
church,  it  was  decided,  April  11,  1864,  to  erect 
a  very  much  needed  Sunday  School  building, 
and  Messrs.  Bronson,  Brewster  and  Hawley 
were  appointed  to  act  in  the  matter.  The  con- 
tract for  the  work,  however,  was  not  formally 
authorized  until  April  24,  1865,  when  $2,700 
had  been  collected  for  the  purpose,  nor  finally 
completed  till  April,  1866,  at  a  total  cost  for 
building  and  furniture  of  §6,000. 

The  inadequacy  of  the  income  of  the  Church 
to  meet  its  current  expenses  without  continual 
resort  to  special  subscriptions,  pressed  so  heavily 
upon  the  Vestry  that  in  the  Spring  of  1864, 
they  called  a  meeting  of  the  congregation  and 
presented  as  the  root  of  the  dif^culty  their  ina- 
bility legally  to  fix  such  annuities  upon  the  pews 
as  would  be  sufficient  to  defray  the  expenses 
of  the  Church,  and  earnestly  requesting  the 
pew-owners  to  relinquish  their  leases,  which 
limited  the  amount  which  each  could  be  re- 
quired to  pay  ;  but  strenuous  effort  on  the  part 
of  the  Vestry  failed  to  secure  the  surrender  of 
the  vested  rights. 

A  plan  however  was  subsequently  devised,  to 
which  all  the  pew-holders  except  two  assented, 
by  which  the  Vestry  were  to  extinguish  the 
rights  of  such  lessees  as  would  not  surrender 
their  pews  for  a  term  of  years  by  the  payment 


48  ANNALS   OF   ST.    LUKE'S. 

of  a  consideration  ;  and  the  Church  was  ordered 
to  be  mortgaged  for  $6,000  to  procure  the  nee 
essary  funds,  after  paying  the  existing  mortgage 
debt  of  $1,200  and  advances  by  the  Treasurer, 
amounting  to  $1,700.  Application  was  also 
ordered  to  be  made  to  the  Legislature  for 
the  passage  of  an  act  authorizing  the  Vestry 
to  assess  upon  pews  and  sittings  the  current 
expenses  of  the  corporation. 

The  laborious  duty  of  securing  the  surrender 
of  27  leases  and  the  extinguishment  by  purchase 
of  14  others  devolved  upon  Mr.  T.  C.  Mont- 
gomery, to  whom  the  church  is  under  lasting 
obligations  in  this  matter,  as  well  as  for  another 
most  important  service  in  perfecting  an  abso- 
lute title  to  the  church  property  through 
releases  secured  by  him  from  the  heirs  of  Roch- 
ester, Fitzhugh  and  Carroll. 

It  having  been  proposed  to  invite  the  newly- 
elected  Assistant  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  to  make 
Rochester  his  residence,  the  Vestry  appointed 
a  committee  to  confer  with  committees  from 
the  other  parishes  in  the  city  on  the  subject. 
As  the  result  of  such  conference,  steps  were 
taken  to  provide  by  general  subscription  a 
home  for  Bishop  Coxe  in  this  city,  but  he  ulti- 
mately decided  it  to  be  for  the  best  interests  of 
the  Diocese  that  he  should  reside  in  Buffalo. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Claxton  having  been  appointed 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH.  49 

*'  Professor  of  Pulpit  Eloquence  and  Pastoral 
Care"  in  the  Philadelphia  Divinity  School,  pre- 
sented his  resignation  to  take  effect  Oct.  i, 
1865;  in  accepting  which,  the  Vestry  "bear 
willing  testimony  to  the  fidelity  with  which  he 
ministered  in  holy  things,  the  purity  of  his  doc- 
trines, the  earnestness  and  ability  of  his  pulpit 
appeals,  the  untiring  industr)^  and  self-den}-ing 
zeal  which  has  marked  the  discharge  of  his 
parochial  duties  and  the  uniform  interest  and 
affection  with  which  he  has  watched  over  the 
flock."  During  Dr.  Claxton's  ministry  of  five 
years  and  ten  months,  he  was  assisted  by  the 
Revs.  Joseph  Kidder,  Fred.  N.  Luson,  DeWitt 
C.  Loop,  Fred.  M.  Gray  and  Horatio  Gray. 

Upon  the  nomination  of  the  retiring  Rector, 
the  Rev.  Wm.  J.  Clark  was  placed  in  charge  of 
the  parish  from  Oct.  i,  1865,  which  engage- 
ment terminated  April  18,  1866. 

The  Rev.  Henry  C.  Potter,  D.  D.,  of  St. 
John's  Church,  Troy,  was  invited,  Nov.  8,  1865, 
to  accept  the  rectorship,  but  though  earnestly 
urged  on  the  occasion  of  a  personal  visitation 
to  the  parish  to  accept  the  charge,  he  after  care- 
ful deliberation  declined  the  call. 

A  joint  committee  of  three  from  the  Vestr}- 
and  three  from  the  congregation  on  the  subject 
of  securing  a  Rector,  recommended,  April  9, 
1866,  that  an   engagement  be   made   with   the 


50  ANNALS   OF   ST.    LUKE'S. 

Rev.  Henry  Anstice,  ofificiating  at  St.  Barna- 
bas' Church,  Irvington,  to  take  pastoral  charge 
of  the  parish  for  one  year;  and  a  special  com- 
mittee consisting  of  N.  T.  Rochester,  T.  C. 
Montgomery  and  Aaron  Erickson  was  appointed 
to  extend  the  invitation.  At  a  subsequent 
meeting  the  committee  reported  "  that  they 
could  not  make  any  arrangement  with  the  Rev. 
Henry  Anstice  to  take  temporary  charge  of 
this  parish."  A  call  to  the  Rectorship  at  a  sal- 
ary of  $2,000,  with  the  use  of  the  Rectory  and 
$800  for  an  assistant  was  thereupon  extended 
April  23,  1866,  and  accepted  to  take  effect  on 
the  13th  of  the  following  month. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  Vestry  with  the 
new  Rector,  he  was  requested  to  take  the  keys 
of  the  Chapel  of  the  Good  Shepherd  and  to 
make  such  disposition  thereof  as  he  with  the 
concurrence  of  the  Vestry  may  from  time  to 
time  think  advisable,"  and  in  accordance  with  a 
subsequent  resolution  he  received  and  accepted 
the  title  to  the  property  from  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Claxton,  the  Vestry  having  been  unwilling  to 
assume  the  legal  responsibility  incident  thereto. 

A  plan  for  general  city  mission  work  having 
been  projected  by  Mr.  George  R.  Clark  and  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Van  Ingen  under  the  name  of  "  The 
St.  Matthew's  Church  Mission,"  and  it  having 
been  intimated  to  the  Vestry  that  the  said  Mis- 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH.  5  I 

sion  was  desirous  of  purchasing  the  Good  Shep- 
herd Chapel    in    order    to    unify    the    work    of 
Church  extension  in   the   city   under  one  man- 
agement, it  was  resolved  "  with  a  view  to  pro- 
mote harmony  of  feeling  and  action   between 
the   several  clergy  and   parishes   of   Rochester 
and  as  an  expression  of  interest  in  the  newl}- 
inaugurated  joint  mission  work,"  to  enter  into 
a  contract  to  convey  the  property  to  trustees 
for  the  use  of  the  said  mission.     The  "  St.  Mat- 
thew's Mission  "  accordingly  conducted  services 
in  the  chapel  as  well  as  at  other  points  in  the  city 
by  its  missionaries,  the   Rev.  R.  M.  Duff,  Dean, 
and  the  Rev.  E.  S.  Wilson,  assisted  by  Mr.  S. 
D.  Boorom  and   D.  H.  Lovejoy,  M.  D.,  candi- 
dates for  Orders.     Upon  the  dissolution  of  that 
organization,  however,  in  June,  1867,  the  chapel 
reverted   to  St.   Luke's  and  the    services   were 
continued  therein  by  the  Rector  and  his  assist- 
ants.    The  other  points  at  which  services  had 
been  sustained  by  this  joint  missionary  effort 
were  the  school  house  near  Deep  Hollow,  which 
was  committed  to  the  care  of  Trinity  Church ; 
the  Oregon    St.   Mission,  which   was    assigned 
to    Grace    Church,    and    Hope    Chapel,    which 
was  committed  to  Christ  Church,  and  developed 
by  the  care  of  its  Rector  and  some  zealous  lay- 
men into  St.  Clement's  in  July,  1871. 

The  Vestry  having  had    under  consideration 


52  ANNALS   OF   ST.    LUKE'S, 

the  advisability  of  thoroughly  remodeling  and 
refitting  the  interior  of  the  church,  and  placing 
the  whole  edifice  in  the  best  possible  condition, 
requested  the  Rector  to  call  a  meeting  of  the 
congregation  to  express  their  views  upon  the 
subject.  At  this  meeting,  held  July  i6,  1866, 
plans  and  estimates  were  presented  and  dis- 
cussed, and  on  motion  of  Mr.  Aaron  Erickson, 
it  was  resolved,  "  That  the  congregation  do 
advise  the  Vestry  to  make  the  improvements 
proposed,  and  at  the  same  time  to  make  pro- 
vision for  paying  off  the  entire  church  debt 
upon  the  basis  of  property  in  the  pews."  Steps 
were,  accordingly,  at  once  taken  to  carry  out 
the  recommendations  of  the  congregation,  and 
Messrs  Bronson,  Brewster  and  Perkins,  with  the 
Rector  as  chairman,  were  appointed  the  build- 
ing committee,  and  the  same  members  of  the 
Vestry,  together  with  Mr.  Erickson,  and  Hon. 
E.  D.  Smith  were  designated  a  committee  to 
solicit  subscriptions, — the  labors  of  which  latter 
work,  devolved  almost  entirely  upon  Judge 
E.  D.  Smith  and  Mr.  G.  H.  Perkins. 

The  last  service  in  the  old  church,  prior  to 
its  occupation  by  the  workmen,  was  held  Oct. 
7,  1866  ;  from  which  time  the  congregation  wor- 
shiped statedly  on  Sunday  afternoons  in  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church,  opposite,  which  had 
been  kindly   tendered  for  that  purpose  by  the 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH.  53 

Christian  courtesy  of  its  Trustees.  A  Wed- 
nesday evening  service  with  lectures  on  the 
Pra\-er  Book  was  also  held  in  our  Sunday  School 
building,  and  the  sessions  of  the  Sunday  School 
were  not  interrupted. 

The  Rev.  M.  R.  St.  J.  Dillon-Lee  entered 
upon  his  duties  as  the  first  assistant  to  the 
Rector,  Sept.  2,  '66.  With  his  co-operation  week- 
ly cottage  services  were  maintained  throughout 
the  Winter  in  the  8th  Ward,  and  a  Sunday 
afternoon  service  established  in  the  following 
Spring  in  a  building  rented  for  that  purpose. 
The  whole  southwestern  section  of  the  city 
was  divided  into  districts,  and  lady  visitors 
assigned  to  each  with  a  view  to  organized  per- 
sonal ministries  of  divers  sorts  to  the  people 
there  resident. 

The  committee  of  the  Vestry  which  had  been 
appointed  in  April  to  act  with  similar  commit- 
tees from  the  other  three  parishes  for  the 
purpose  of  purchasing  a  lot  in  Mt.  Hope  Ceme- 
tery for  the  interment  of  "  persons  attached  to 
the  Episcopal  Church  for  whose  burial  no  other 
appropriate  place  should  be  provided,"  reported 
Jan.  31,  '67,  that  they  had  purchased  jointly 
such  a  lot  for  S324,  of  which  $106  was  to  be 
paid  by  St.  Luke's. 

The  work  of    repair  was   meanwhile   slowly 


54  ANNALS   OF   ST.    LUKE'S. 

progressing  in  the  church  builcHng.  It  had 
been  found  necessary  to  make  excavations, 
build  foundations  for  the  pillars,  put  in  new 
timbers  and  flooring  and  make  unplanned  alter- 
ations and  improvements  to  such  an  extent  that 
the  work  was  protracted  into  the  short  days  of 
Winter  and  the  expense  very  materially  in- 
creased. Before  the  re-modeling  of  the  edifice 
there  was  no  middle  aisle  and  no  entrance 
through  the  tower;  the  pews  had  doors  as  high 
as  the  backs  of  the  seats  ;  there  were  square  pews 
in  the  gallery,  and  the  building  was  heated  with 
stoves.  Steam-heating  apparatus  was  now  intro- 
duced throughout  the  church  and  Sunday  School 
building,  and  the  organ  was  renovated  and  its 
power  increased  by  the  addition  of  several  stops. 
On  the  loth  of  March,  1867,  the  church  was  re- 
opened for  Divine  Service  by  the  Bishop  of  the 
Diocese,  and  on  the  14th  inst.  in  the  presence  of 
all  the  city  clergy  the  formal  Institution  of  the 
Rector  took  place;  Dr.  T.  C.  Pitkin  of  Buffalo 
and  Dr.  Abner  Jackson  of  Geneva,  acting  as 
attending  presbyters.  Bishop  Coxe  preaching  the 
sermon  and  performing  the  ceremony,  and  Wil- 
liam Pitkin,  Esq.,  presenting  the  keys  of  the 
church, — an  ofifice  he  had  discharged  at  the 
Institution  of  each  preceding  Rector;  all  of 
them  except  the  first  having  been  formally 
instituted  into  the  Rectorship. 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH.  55 

A  statement  of  the  financial  condition  of  the 
parish  was  laid  before  the  congregation  on 
Easter  Monday,  April  22,  1867,  from  which  it 
appeared  that  there  had  been  expended  in  re- 
pairing the  church  edifice  about  $19,000,  and 
that  the  sums  collected  from  subscriptions  and 
sales  of  pews  amounted  to  $18,770,  with  about 
$7,000  more  due  and  unpaid.  The  debts  of  the 
Church,  contracted  before  the  repairs  were  com- 
menced, were  stated  at  $6,000  on  the  church 
building,  $3,000  of  purchase  money  on  the  Rec- 
tory, $2,400  in  contracts  for  purchase  of  Ex- 
change St.  property  in  rear  of  Rectory,  and 
$1,000  balance  due  and  and  unpaid  on  the  Sun- 
day School  building ;  thus  showing  the  total 
debt  of  the  corporation,  before  the  improve- 
ments were  begun,  to  have  been  $12,400.  The 
hope  which  had  been  entertained,  that  the  entire 
debt  would  be  paid  off  at  this  time  was  there- 
fore disappointed.  A  material  reduction  of  it, 
however,  was  effected,  through  the  gradual  col- 
lection of  unpaid  subscriptions,  proceeds  of  sales 
of  pews,  and. the  operation  of  a  sinking  fund 
created  by  the  excess  of  current  income  over 
expenses  ;  so  that  before  the  meeting  of  the 
Convention  in  August,  1867,  not  only  had  the 
entire  cost  of  the  improvements  been  defrayed, 
but  S3. 200  had  been  paid  upon  the  outstanding 
obligations,  and  the  mortgage  on  the    church 


56  ANNALS   OF   ST.    LUKE'S. 

was  still  further  reduced  by  $i,ooo,  within  three 
years  thereafter. 

The  parochial  activity  in  City  Mission  work 
was  at  this  time  approaching  its  highest  devel- 
opment. An  additional  Assistant  Minister  was 
needed  to  devote  himself  particularly  to  the 
work  at  the  Good  Shepherd  ;  and  provision 
having  been  made  therefor,  the  Rev.  Jacob 
Miller  entered  upon  his  duties  in  that  field  in 
July,  1867.  In  the  8th  Ward,  the  services  were 
attended  with  deep  interest,  and  the  people  of 
the  district  showed  themselves  in  earnest  for 
the  erection  of  a  chapel  by  subscribing  $1,000 
for  that  purpose.  Service  on  Sunday  afternoons 
and  a  Sunday  School  were  maintained  in  the 
school  house  on  Lake  Ave.,  near  Deep  Hollow, 
from  July,  1867,  when  this  enterprise  which  had 
been  a  legacy  to  him  from  St.  Matthew's  Church 
Mission,  was  committed  by  the  Rector  of  Trin- 
ity to  the  Rector  of  St.  Luke's.  In  the  Ontario 
St.  neighborhood,  cottage  services  were  well 
attended  by  the  people  in  that  locality,  and  the 
duty  of  chaplain  to  the  City  Hospital  was  also 
discharged  by  one  of  our  staff  of  clcrg}',  Divine 
service  being  held  for  one  year  on  every  Lord's 
Day  afternoon. 

Meanwhile,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dillon-Lee  having 
accepted  a  position  as  assistant  minister  in 
Christ  Church,  New  Orleans,  resigned  after  thir- 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH,  57 

teen  months  of  service  and  was  followed  by  the 
Rev.  David  H.  Lovejoy,  M.  D.,  Sept.  29,  1867, 
who  remained  one  year  in  the  parish. 

The  1 2th  of  March,  1868,  marks  the  progress 
of  the  work  at  the  Good  Shepherd  Chapel  in  the 
creation,  by  the  Rector,  of  a  quasi-Vestry,  to 
relieve  him  of  details  and  represent  the  needs 
and  wishes  of  the  people.  The  result  of  this 
arrangement  was  to  rapidly  develop  the  inter- 
est and  self-sustaining  power  of  the  congrega- 
tion, and  pave  the  way  for  that  ecclesiastical 
independence  which  was  perfected  a  year  later. 

The  corner-stone  of  the  new  chapel  on 
Frances  street  was  laid  by  the  Rector  in  the 
absence    of    the    Bishop,  on   the  23rd  of  July, 

1868,  addresses  being  delivered  by  the  Revs.  F. 
S.  Rising,  of  New  York,  and  J.  H.  Waterbury, 
of  Le  Roy.  The  completed  building  was 
formally    opened    for  divine    service    Feb.    28, 

1869.  The  total  cost  of  the  chapel  was  $10,000, 
which  had  been  raised  by  subscriptions  and 
five-cent  collections,  by  the  Sunday  School,  by 
a  public  lecture  given  by  Bishop  Lee,  and  from 
the  proceeds  of  some  lots  on  Penn  street  given 
to  the  Rector  for  this  purpose  by  the  heirs  of 
Asa  Sprague.  The  chapel  was  thus  described 
in  the  "  Gospel  Messenger  "  :  "  It  is  neatly  and 
substantially  built  of  brick,  in  Early  English 
style,  sixty  feet  by  forty-two  inside,  slate-roofed 


58  ANNALS   OF   ST,    LUKE'S. 

with  four  double  lancet  windows  on  each  side 
and  a  window  in  front  on  either  side  of  a  central 
tower,  which  is  eighty-two  feet  high.  The  in- 
side walls  are  rough-finished,  blocked  and 
stained.  The  seats  are  neatly  upholstered  in 
crimson  damask,  having  reversible  backs  for 
Sunday  School  purposes,  arranged  in  double 
rows  on  each  side  of  a  central  aisle,  with  side 
aisles  at  the  walls,  and  will  accommodate  three 
hundred  persons."  Jonathan  Dent  was  the 
mason,  Thomas  Williamson  the  carpenter,  and 
Isaac  Loomis  the  architect,  by  whom  the  chapel 
was  built. 

On  the  1 8th  of  Sept,  1868,  the  Bishop 
advanced  to  the  priesthood  the  two  assistants 
of  the  parish,  the  Revs.  Jacob  Miller  and  David 
H.  Lovejoy,  M.  D.,  presented  by  the  Rector  ; 
twenty  clerical  members  of  the  Rochester  Con- 
vocation being  present. 

The  independent  organization  of  the  Church 
of  the  Good  Shepherd  was  effected  on  the  29th 
of  March,  in  this  year,  and  the  Rev.  J.  Miller 
was  elected  Rector.  Forty-one  families  and 
fifty-one  communicants  were  transferred  from 
St.  Luke's  to  form  the  nucleus  of  the  new  par- 
ish. And  thus  the  Good  Shepherd  took  its 
place  as  the  fourth  daughter  of  St.  Luke's 
among  the  city  Churches. 

The  corner-stone  of  the  Church   Home  was 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH.  59 

laid  April  20,  1869,  in  the  unavoidable  absence 
of  the  Bishop,  by  the  Rector  of  St.  Luke's,  who 
also  made  the  address  at  the  formal  opening  of 
the  Institution,  Oct.  26th,  of  the  same  year,  all 
the  city  Rectors  being  present  and  taking  part 
in  the  services. 

The  Rev.  \V.  W.  Raymond  became  assistant 
to  the  Rector,  with  special  duties  in  the  8th 
Ward  field,  Feb.  7,  1869,  and  at  the  Ember  Or- 
dination, March  13,  1870,  was  advanced  to  the 
priesthood  in  Christ  Church  by  Bishop  Coxe, 
on  presentation  by  the  Rector  of  St.  Luke's. 

On  the  8th  of  May,  1870,  a  morning  service 
was  instituted  at  the  Epiphany,  the  name  by 
which  the  chapel  had  been  christened  Nov,  7, 
1869.  Up  to  this  time  no  sacrament  had  been 
administered  in  the  chapel,  but  there  was  a  Sun- 
day School  of  160  members  and  a  stated  con- 
gregation of  200  persons.  A  handsome  font 
was  now  provided  and  a  communion  service. 
A  better  organ  also  was  procured.  A  bell  alone 
was  lacking,  and  at  Christmas-tide  this  want  was 
also  satisfactorily  supplied. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Raymond,  after  sixteen  months 
of  service  in  the  parish,  preached  his  last  ser- 
mon May  22,  1870.  The  Rev.  Geo.  S.  Baker 
came  to  take  his  place  August,  14  of  the  same 
year. 

During    the    summer    of    1870,    the    Sunday 


6o  ANNALS   OF   ST.    LUKE'S. 

School  building  was  thoroughly  renovated,  the 
walls  painted,  the  woodwork  oiled  and  the  floor 
carpeted  ;  the  carpet  being  given  as  an  individ- 
ual contribution  by  one  who  delights  to  be  lib- 
eral. In  the  following  June  the  Vestry  author- 
ized a  committee  consisting  of  Jas.  Brackett, 
C.  F.  Smith  and  Roswell  Hart  to  repaint  and 
decorate  the  interior  of  the  church  and  build  a 
new  organ  to  replace  the  old,  for  which  im- 
provements $4,700  was  raised  by  subscription. 
The  total  cost  was  $5,230.32,  the  balance  being 
provided  from  the  current  revenue  of  the  Church. 

In  Advent,  1871,  the  Rector  organized  the 
willing  workers  of  the  Church  into  a  body 
known  as  the  "  Parochial  Helpers."  The  Dis- 
trict Visiting  and  Mothers'  Meetings  were 
especially  effective  in  furthering  the  work  in  the 
8th  Ward,  and  were  continued  till  the  Chapel 
reached  that  stage  in  its  development  where 
labor  of  this  sort  more  properly  devolved  on  its 
own  members.  A  Sewing  School  was  also  well 
sustained  in  the  Epiphany.  The  sewing  inter- 
est at  the  Mother-Church  was  known  at  this 
time  by  the  name  of  the  Industrial  Circle  ;  which, 
among  its  plentiful  good  works,  provided  for 
refurnishing  the  Vestry  Room. 

On  the  19th  of  February,  1872,  the  Vestry 
authorized  a  committee  Avith  the  Rector  as 
chairman,   to  remove    the    old    rectory   to   the 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH.  6  I 

south  side  of  the  lot  which  it  occupied  and  pro- 
cure plans  for  the  erection  of  a  new  and  more 
suitable  residence  for  the  Rector.  The  old  rec- 
tory was  accordingly  removed  and  placed  in 
good  order  at  an  expense  of  $1,949.40;  where- 
upon the  committee  was  authorized  to  proceed 
with  the  erection  of  a  new  building  not  to  ex- 
ceed $12,000  in  cost. 

During  the  same  summer  a  parsonage  house 
was  erected  on  the  lot  adjoining  the  Epiphany, 
at  an  expenditure  of  $4,000,  while  the  chapel 
itself  was  renovated  and  walls  and  woodwork 
tastefully  repainted. 

The  Rev.  Wm.  Long  entered  on  his  duties  as 
assistant  to  the  Rector  Dec.  i,  1872,  remaining 
in  the  parish  four  years  and  five  months,  until 
April  29,  1877. 

The  new  rectory  being  completed  on  the  12th 
of  April,  1873,  a  final  report  was  made  to  the 
Vestry  by  which  it  appeared  that  its  cost  had 
been  $11,961.69,  and  that  this  sum  had  been 
provided  by  the  sale  of  the  old  rectory  and  the 
proceeds  of  a  bank  loan  upon  the  new,  in  antic- 
ipation of  the  sale  of  the  lots  in  the  rear.  A 
new  bell  was  this  Spring  hung  in  the  tower  at 
a  cost  of  $600,  to  replace  its  predecessor,  which 
had  become  useless. 

On  the  13th  of  April,  1874,  Messrs.  Brackett, 
Perkins,  Hart,   Eastwood  and  Whittlesey  were 


62  ANNALS   OF   ST.    LUKE'S. 

appointed  to  solicit  subscriptions  to  clear  off  the 
balance  of  the  original  debt  on  church  and  rec- 
tory, contracted  in  i860  and  1864.  An  amount 
sufficient  to  extinguish  this  balance,  $7,000,  was 
raised  within  two  months. 

A  service  for  deaf  mutes  was  at  this  time  in- 
augurated in  one  of  the  rooms  of  the  Sunday 
School  building,  which  has  since  been  uninter- 
ruptedly continued  on  Sunday  afternoons  by 
Mr.  J.  C.  Acker  as  lay-reader. 

The  need  of  some  new  missionary  enterprise  in 
the  northern  portion  of  the  city  being  apparent, 
the  Rector  of  St.  Luke's,  at  the  instance  of  the 
Bishop  and  with  the  concurrence  of  all  the  west- 
side  clergy,  took  measures  to  establish  a  service 
and  Sunday  School  under  the  name  of  St. 
John's  Chapel  on  State  St.  A  hall  in  Coch- 
rane's  block  was  secured  and  neatly  fitted  up 
at  an  expense  of  $600  for  the  opening  service, 
Jan.  24,  1875,  the  Rev.  J.  J.  Landers  assisting. 
The  Rector  himself  officiated  every  evening 
during  the  summer,  but  his  personal  connection 
with  the  enterprise  ceased  in  September,  and 
Mr.  Landers  conducted  its  affairs  until  the  fol- 
lowing February,  when  at  the  instance  of  the 
local  clergy,  and  in  view  of  the  fact  that  a  new 
Rector  had  infused  fresh  life  into  Trinity  par- 
ish, and  upon  the  distinct  pledge  of  the  Vestry 
of  Trinity  that  they  would  occupy  the  field,  the 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH.  63 

Bishop  advised  the  discontinuance  of  the  mis- 
sion. The  Rev.  Mr.  Walsh  at  once  took  charge 
of  the  Sunday  School  and  maintained  a  service, 
and  the  Vestry  of  Trinity  redeemed  its  pledge 
at  a  later  date  in  the  removal  of  their  Parish 
Church. 

During  this  Summer  of  1875,  the  Rector  held 
missionary  services  in  Fairport  and  Penfield  on 
alternate  Sunday  afternoons  for  the  benefit  of 
the  few  Church  people  residing  in  those  vil- 
lages. 

The  Rev.  Geo.  S.  Baker  after  fi\'e  years  and 
more  of  faithful  ser\'ice,  resigned  to  accept  the 
rectorship  of  St.  James'  Church,  Batavia,  in 
October,  1875.  He  was  followed  at  once  b\' 
the  Rev.  C.  M.  Nickerson,  who  became  assist- 
ant minister  on  the  ist  of  November. 

On  the  13th  of  Sept.,  1876,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Anstice  organized  the  congregation  of  the 
Epiphany  into  an  independent  parish,  and  on 
his  nomination  the  Rev.  Chas.  M.  Nickerson 
was  elected  the  first  Rector.  He  transferred 
170  families  and  202  communicants  to  consti- 
tute the  new  parish,  and  deeded  the  property, 
consisting  of  the  church  and  rectory,  worth  over 
$i8,ocxD,  with  a  debt  only  upon  the  latter,  to  the 
newly  organized  corporation;  which  thus  en- 
tered upon  its  independent  life  under  most 
propitious  auspices. 


64  ANNALS   OF   ST.    LUKE'S. 

An  ordination  of  special  interest,  from  the 
fact  that  the  candidate  was  one  who  had  been 
baptized  and  confirmed  in  St.  Luke's,  was  held 
June  II,  1876,  when  the  Bishop  conferred  Dea- 
cons' Orders  upon  Mr.  John  W.  Greenwood. 

The  Woman's  Missionary  Association,  which 
had  been  organized  in  January,  1873,  entered 
upon  a  career  of  increased  efficiency  in  the  fall 
of  1877,  and  has  since  continued  weekly  meet- 
ings during  the  working  season,  largely  increas- 
ing the  parish  contributions  for  missions  and 
gladdening  many  a  missionary's  heart  by  timely 
gifts  of  "  boxes." 

The  Vestry  appointed,  Nov.  13,  1877,  Messrs. 
Reynolds,  Brackett  and  Wolcott  "  to  solicit  sub- 
scriptions to  defray  extraordinary  expenses  in- 
curred by  reason  of  ndcessary  repairs  to  the 
church  building  and  taxation  for  local  improve- 
ments." Mr.  Brackett,  from  this  committee, 
reported  Feb.  27,  1878,  that  they  had  raised 
about  $2,150  for  the  purposes  named. 

In  the  winter  of  1878,  a  sewing  school  was 
established  at  the  church,  with  seventeen 
ofificers  and  125  learners,  which  has  since  con- 
tinued its  sessions  each  winter.  A  series  of 
"Mothers'  Meetings"  was  also  inaugurated, 
Oct.  18,  which  have  proved  productive  of  much 
blessing.  A  Guild,  too,  was  organized  which 
signalized  the  first  year  of  its  existence  by  rais- 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH.  65 

ing  means  sufficient,  together  with  the  proceeds 
of  two  collections  in  the  church,  to  re-carpet  the 
building  and  make  some  improvements  in  the 
organ;  which  work  was  completed  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1879. 

The  2 1  St  of  December,  1879,  '^^''^s  the  occasion 
of  another  ordination  of  special  interest.  Byron 
Holley,  Jr.,  a  son  of  St.  Luke's,  was  presented 
to  the  Bishop  by  the  Rector,  for  admission  to 
the  Diaconate.  He  at  once  entered  upon  his 
duties  as  assistant  minister,  which  position  he 
held  until  called  to  take  charge  of  the  Church 
of  the  Good  Shepherd,  April  i,  1881. 

The  Vestry,  on  the  21st  of  May,  1880,  re- 
solved as  follows:  "That  this  Vestry,  having 
heard  of  the  proposed  removal  of  Trinity 
Church  to  a  new  location  in  the  north  part  of  the 
city,  hereby  tender  their  sincere  congratulations 
to  the  Rector  and  people  of  Trinity  Church  upon 
their  brightened  prospect  of  increased  useful- 
ness, and  desire  to  express  the  earnest  hope  that 
a  new  era  of  prosperity  is  about  to  dawn  upon 
them  in  their  new  and  enlarged  field." 

"  This  corporation  cordially  invite  the  Rector 
and  congregation  of  Trinity  Church,  pending 
the  erection  of  their  new^  edifice,  to  unite  in 
worshiping  with  the  congregation  of  St.  Luke's 
under  such  arrangements  as  may  be  agreed 
upon  by  the  Rectors." 


66  ANNALS   OF   ST.    LUKE'S. 

During  the  winter  of  1881-82,  the  Rector  was 
maturing  plans  for  the  consohdation  of  all  the 
agencies  for  good  in  the  parish  into  one  organ- 
ization, intending  to  add  several  new  depart- 
ments of  church  work.  Those  plans  culminated 
in  the  organization  of  St.  Luke's  Guild,  em- 
bracing nine  chapters,  a  full  account  of  which, 
with  the  names  of  the  members  of  each  Chap- 
ter, was  published  in  a  neat  pamphlet  at  Easter, 
1882,  The  object  of  the  Guild  is  to  co-operate 
with  the  Rector  in  systematizing  and  develop- 
ing the  Christian  activity  of  the  parish. 

Its  membership  consists  of  such  persons  as 
may  signify  to  the  Rector  their  willingness  and 
determination  to  consecrate  some  portion  of 
their  time  and  energy  to  such  Church  work  as 
shall  be  undertaken  by  the  Guild.  Its  work  is 
divided  into  various  departments,  and  is  com- 
mitted to  the  several  Chapters  of  the  Guild  as 
follows : 

The  work  of  the  Sunday  School  Chapter  is 
to  aid  the  Rector  in  the  instruction  of  the 
young  people  of  the  Parish  in  Biblical  learning 
and  the  doctrines  of  the  Church. 

The  work  of  the  Woman's  Missionary  Chap- 
ter is  to  awaken  and  develop  the  Missionary 
Spirit,  to  diffuse  intelligence  regarding  the  sev- 
eral departments  of  the  Church's  Missionary 
work,  and  to  promote  a  personal  devotion  to 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH.  6/ 

the  cause  in  labor,  prayer  and  systematic  giving. 

The  work  of  the  Choir  Chapter  is  to  render 
the  '*  Service  of  Song  in  the  House  of  the 
Lord "  during  the  Lenten  Season,  and  upon 
Holy-days  and  such  other  occasions  of  public 
worship  as  may  be  required. 

The  work  of  the  Church  Home  Chapter  is  to 
promote  the  interests  of  this  Institution  by  per- 
sonal service  and  influence,  and  to  carry  into  effect 
approved  plans  for  raising  funds  for  its  support. 

The  work  of  the  Mothers'  Meeting  Chapter 
is  to  carry  on,  by  approved  methods,  that 
scheme  of  Christian  effort  known  under  this 
name,  including  religious  and  other  instruction 
at  the  weekly  social  gathering,  and  the  syste- 
matic visiting  of  the  attendants  upon  the  meet- 
ings, with  personal  ministries  in  their  homes. 

The  work  of  the  Sewing  School  Chapter  is  to 
organize  and  instruct  classes  of  young  girls  in  var- 
ious kinds  of  useful  and  ornamental  needle  work. 

The  work  of  the  Visitors'  Chapter  is  to  man- 
ifest a  kindly  interest  in  such  of  the  sick  and 
needy  as  may  from  time  to  time  be  commended 
to  its  care,  to  visit  statedly  the  inmates  of  the 
Church  Home  and  the  City  Hospital,  and  to 
prosecute  the  labor  of  love  known  as  the 
Flower  Mission. 

The  work  of  the  Sanctuary  Chapter  is  "the 
oversight  of  them  that  keep  the  charge  of  the 


68  ANNALS   OF   ST.    LUKE'S. 

sanctuary,"  the  special  care  of  the  chancel,  ves- 
try room  and  vestments,  the  extension  of  the 
Church's  hospitality  to  strangers  on  all  occa- 
sions of  public  worship,  and  the  arrangement 
through  committees  for  the  fit  decoration  of 
the  Lord's  House  at  Christmas  and  Easter. 

The  work  of  the  Girls'  Friendly  Society  Chap- 
ter is  to  seek  out  and  bring  into  personal  rela- 
tions with  the  members  of  the  Chapter,  and 
with  each  other,  such  young  women  earning  an 
independent  livelihood  as  may  be  willing  to 
associate  themselves  together  in  the  bonds  of 
friendliness,  for  mutual  culture  and  interest  in 
each  other's  welfare. 

The  general  officers  of  the  Guild,  together 
with  the  Heads  of  Chapters,  appointed  by  the 
Rector,  and  one  representative  selected  by  each 
Chapter,  constitute  the  Guild  Council,  which 
meets  bi-monthly,  or  otherwise  as  it  may  deter- 
mine, for  review  of  the  work  of  the  organiza- 
tion, consultation  upon  plans  for  its  extension 
and  increased  ef^ciency,  consideration  of  the 
Guild  finances,  appropriation  of  funds  to  the 
several  Chapters,  and  the  decision  of  any  ques- 
tions which  may  arise  respecting  the  conduct  of 
any  department  of  the  Guild  work. 

The  Guild  continues  in  efificient  and  success- 
ful operation,  and  is  productive  of  much  good. 

During  the  present  summer  a  new  roof  has 


HISTORICAL   SKETCH.  69 

been  placed  on  the  Sunday  School  building,  a 
larger  boiler  been  substituted  for  the  old  in  con- 
nection with  the  steam  heating  apparatus,  which 
has  been  thoroughly  overhauled,  and  other 
pairs  effected  at  a  cost  of  Sii200. 

St.  Luke's  has  always  been  a  "  pewed 
church."  Its  current  income  for  the  year  end- 
ing Sept.  I,  1883  (to  which  date  all  the  statis- 
tics and  statements  in  this  book  are  made  up) 
is  $7,811.48. 

The  harmony  and  prosperity  which  reign  in 
the  old  mother-parish  of  St.  Luke's  leaves 
nothing  in  these  respects  to  be  desired. 

The  present  ofificers  of  the  Church  are  : 

Rector, 
Rev.  Henry  Anstice,  D.  D. 

Wardens, 
Hon.  E.  D.  Smith,  Oilman  H.  Perkins, 

Vestrymen, 
Hon.  James  Brackett,         Wm.  Eastwood, 
Joseph  A.  Eastman,  Clinton  Rogers. 

Edw.  W.  Williams,  Lorenzo  Kelly, 

Henry  B.  Hathaway,  Hon.  Alfred  Ely. 

Clerk  of  Vestry, 
Joseph  A.  Eastman. 

Treasurer, 
John  H.  Rochester. 


ftm  of  tl|i|  ^\iml\. 


|[qtar$. 


THE   REV.  FRANCIS   H.  CUMING,  D.  D. 

Eight   years    and    four    months. 
From   Dec.    i,   1820,  to  April  i,  1829. 

THE  RT.  REV.  HENRY  J.  WHITEHOUSE, 
D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

Fourteen  years  and  five  months. 
From  Dec.  6,  1829,  to  May  5,  1844. 

THE  REV.  THOMAS  C.  PITKIN,  D.  D. 

Three  years. 
From  July  14,  1844,  to  July  12,  1847. 

THE   RT.   REV.  HENRY  W.  LEE,  D.  D., 
LL.  D. 

Seven  years. 
From  Jan.  i,  1848,  to  Jan.  i,  1855. 

THE    REV.  BENJAMIN  WATSON,    D.  D. 

Four  years  and  three  months. 

From  April  29,  1855,  to  Aug.  7,  1859. 

THE  REV.  R.  BETHELL  CLAXTON,  D.  D. 

Five  years  and  ten  months. 

From  Dec.  i,  1859,  to  Sept.  24,  1865. 

THE  REV.  HENRY  ANSTICE,  D.  D. 

Seventeen  years  and  four  months 

(to  Sept.,  1883). 

From  May  13,  1866. 


74  annals  of  st.  luke  s. 

Under  Rev.  Dr.  Whitehouse. 
Rev.  James  A.  Bolles,    Sept.  1 5,  '33-Sept.  14,  '34 
Rev.  N.  F.  Bruce,  M.D.,    Nov.  6,  '36-Nov.  1/37 

Under  Rev.  Dr.  Pitkin. 
Rev.  John  N.  Norton,    April  26,  '46-Nov.  22,  '46 

"    Interim. 
Rev.  T.  F.  Wardwell,        Aug.  29,  '47-Jan.  i,  '48 

Under  Rev.  Dr.  Lee. 
Rev.  Edward  Meyer,       Rev.  W.  H.  Barris, 
Rev,  Geo.H.  McKnight,  Rev.  Geo.  N.  Cheney, 
Rev.  Bethel  Judd,  D.D.,  Rev.  Geo.W.  Watson, 
-    Rev.  Theodore  A.  Hopkins. 

Interim. 
Rev.  T.  A.  Hopkins,  Jan.  i,  '55-May  i,  '55 

Under  Rev.  Dr.  Watson. 
Rev.  Robert  W.  Lewis,  Rev.  Charles  E.  Cheney. 

Interim. 
Rev.  W.  B.  Otis,  Aug.  7,  '59-Oct.  2,  '59 


officers  of  the  church.  75 

Under  Rev.  Dr.  Claxton. 
Rev.  Joseph  Kidder,  May  i,  '60-May  i,  '61 
Rev.  Fred.  N.  Luson,  July  i,  '6i-Jan.  i,  '62 
Rev.  DeWitt  C.  Loop,  March  i,  '62-Sept.  i,  '64 
Rev.  Fred.  M.  Gray,  Nov.  i,  '64-Feb.  i,  '65 
Rev.  Horatio  Gray,         April  2,  '65-July  2,  '65 

Interim. 
Rev.  W.  J.  Clark.  Oct.  i,  '65-April  18,  '66 

Under  Rev.  Dr.  Anstice. 
Rev.  M.  R.  St. J.  Dillon,  Sept.  2,  '66-Sept.  22,  '67 
Rev.  Jacob  Miller,  July  7, '67-March  29,'69 

Rev.D.H.Lovejoy,M.D.Sept.  29,'67-Sept.  20,'68 
Rev.  W.  W.  Raymond,  Feb.  7,  '69-May  22,  '70 
Rev.  George  S.  Baker,  Aug.  14,  '70-Oct.  26,  'yS 
Rev.  William  Long,  Dec.  1,'72-April  29, '77 
Rev.  J.  J.  Landers,  Jan.  24,  '75-Sept.  5,  '75 

Rev.  C.  M.  Nickerson,  Nov.  i,  '75-Sept.  13,  '76 
Rev.  B.  Holley,  Jr.,         Dec.  21,  '79-April  i,  '81 


76  ANNALS   OF   ST.   LUKE'S. 


Nathaniel  Rochester,  1817-19 

Samuel  J.  Andrews,  1817-19  &  '21 

George  G.  Sill,  1820 

William  Atkinson,  i820-'27 

John  Mastick.  1822-26 

William  Pitkin,  1827-65 

Silas  O.  Smith,  1828-^33 

Vincent  Mathews,  1834-46 
N.  T.  Rochester,                        1847-58  &  '66-'68 

William  Brewster,  1859-72 

Gilman  H.  Perkins,  1869-83 

E.  Darwin  Smith,  1873-83 


OFFICERS   OF   THE   CHURCH.  TJ 


% 


,  estrmnen, 

Roswell  Babbit,  i8i7-'2i 
Silas  O.  Smith  (W.),    i8i7-'27, '36,  '40-42  &'48 

John  Mastick  (W.),  i8i7-'2i 

Lewis  Jenkins,  1817-'! 9 

John  C.  Rochester,  181 7-' 19 

EHsha  Johnson,  i8i7-'20&'27 

William  Atkinson  (W.),  i8i7-'i9 

Oliver  Culver,  i8i7-'i9 

Augustine  G.  Dauby,  1820 

Jared  N.  Stebbins,  i820-'2i  & '27 

S.  Melancton  Smith,  i820-'22 

James  H.  Gregory,  r820-'22 

Caleb  L.  Clark,  1821,  '21,  '24 

John  Swift,  1 82 1 

William  W.  Mumford,  i82i-'22' &24'-26 
Jonathan  Child,                  1822,  '24,  47  &  '50-'53 

William  Pitkin  (W.),  1822-26 

Solomon  Cleveland,  1822,  '24-'25  &  '27 

Elisha  Taylor,  1822 

Elisha  B.  Strong,  1823 

John  B.  Elwood,  M.  D.,  1823 
Thomas  H.  Rochester,      1823-26,  '32,  '33  &  '43 

William  P.  Sherman,  1823 

Thomas  Kempshall,  1823 

Burrage  Smith,  1824,  '25 


78                     ANNALS   OF  ST.    LUKE'S, 

Giles  Boulton,  i825-'27 

Frederick  Whittlesey,  1826-41,  '44,  '46,  '47 

Thomas  Eggleston,  1828 

Nathaniel  T.  Rochester  (W.),  i828-'3i  &  '35-38 

John  T.  Talman,  i828-'33  &  '42-'45 

Henry  Scrantom,  1828,  '29,  '45  &  '49 

Benjamin  Seabury,  i828-'3i 

Joseph  Field,  i829-'35  &  '59-'65 

Simeon  Ford,  1830 

Vincent  Matthews  (W.),  i83i-'33 

Walter  White,  1832,  '33 

Matthew  Mead,  1834-41  &  '45 

Robert  L.  McCollum,  1834 

Seth  C.  Jones,  i834-'45 

John  Haywood,  1834,  '46,  '48,  '50,  '51 

John  Allen,  1835-42  &  '45 
William  Brewster  (W.),   i836-'38,  '46,  '47  &  '50 

David  Hoyt,  1837-44,  '47  &  '49 

John  Hawks,  1839-43 

Moses  Dyer,  1839 

Graham  H.  Chapin,  1842 

Henry  E.  Rochester,  1843,  '44 

Jonathan  King,  1843,  &  '53>  '54 

Darius  Cole,  1843 

William  Kidd,  1844,  '49-50,  &  '55-'62 

S.  H.  Packard,  1844 

Rufus  Keeler,  1845,  '4^,  &  '49-'5i 

E.  Darwin  Smith  (W.),  1846,  '47  &  '69-72 

Ebenezer  Watts,  1846-48 


OFFICERS   OF   THE   CHURCH.  79 

Dellon  M.  Dewey,  1846,  '48,  '49 

Andrew  J.  Brackett,  1847,  '48 
Thomas  C.  Montgomery,  1848,  '53,  '54,  &  '64-66 
Ebenezer  Griffin,       i848,-*5i,  '54-57  '59  &    '60 

Edward  Whalen,  1848-54,  &  '61,  '62 

N.  B.  Northrop,  1849 

Wilham  Churchill,  1850,  '51,  &  '62,  '63 
Joseph  A.  Eastman,  '51,  '55-61  '6^,  '64  &  '79-83 

Aaron  Erickson,  185 1,  &  '62,  '63 

Azariah  Boody,  1852,  '53 

Amon  Bronson,  1852,  &  '61-69 

Joseph  L.  Lucas,  1852,  '56,  &  '58-61 

Edward  M.  Smith,  1852 

Chauncey  Tucker,  1852 

John  Fairbanks,  1852,  '53 

Asa  Sprague,  1853, '54 

John  Crombie,  1853,  '54 

Alfred  Ely,  1854-59,  &  '83 

John  E.  Tompkins,  1854 

Mortimer  F.  Reynolds,  1855,  'yj,  &  '79-'8i 

Francis  Gorton,  1855,  '56 

Abram  Karnes,  i855,  &  '63,  '64 

Frederick  A.  Whittlesey,  1855,-62,  &  '74 

Roswell  Hart,  i856-'6i,  &  '71-83 

John  H.  Rochester,  1857,  '58 

Martin  S.  Newton,  1857,  &  '6j 

Gilman  H.  Perkins  (W.),  1858-61,  &  '66-68 

Edmund  Lyon,  i862-'65 

Nelson  G.  Hawley,  i862-'66 


8o  ANNALS   OF   ST,    LUKE'S. 

Paul  W.  Garfield,  1863,  '64 

Ebenezer  E.  Sill,  i865-'7S 

Thomas  Hawks,  186^-66 

Edward  A.  Frost,  1865  &  '6y,  '68 

John  P.  Humphrey,  1866 

R.  Hart  Rochester,  1866 

George  G.  Munger,  1867,  '68 

Henry  L.  Churchill  i867-'69 

Thomas  Button,  1868,  '69 

Henry  B.  Hathaway,  1868  &  '75-'83 

James  R.  Chambcrlin,  1869,  '70  &  '73-'75 

Charles  H.  Chapin,  i869-'73, 

William  Eastwood,  1869-78,  &  '81-83 

James  Brackett,  1870-78  &  '82,  83 

Isaac  H.  Ruliffson,  1870 

Edward  W.  Williams,  i870-'83 

Thomas  Raines,  1871 

Charles  F.  Smith,  1871-77 

George  P.  Wolcott,  i876-'8o 

Clinton  Rogers,  i878-'83 

Mortimer  C.  Mordoff,  1878,  '79 

Lorenzo  Kelly,  1 881-85 


OFFICERS    OF   THE   CHURCH. 


Roswell  Babbit,  i8i7-'20 

N.  T.  Rochester,  1821-32  &  '35-43 

Henry   E.   Rochester,  Nov.,  1832,  '33  &  '44 

E.  Darwin  Smith,  1834 

Thomas  C.   Montgomery,  1845-1854 

Fred  A.  Whittlesey,  1855,  '5^,  '62  &  '74 

Joseph  A.  Eastman,  1857,  '61  &  '79-'83 

Paul  W.  Garfield,  1863-65 

Edward  A.  Frost,  1865  to  Sept. 

R.  Hart  Rochester,  Sept.,  1865 

John  P.  Humphrey,  1866  to  Feb.,  '6/ 

Allen  Ayrault,  Feb.,  'Sy  to  Apr.,  '6/ 

Henry  L.  Churchill,  1867,  '68 

William  Eastwood,  1869,  '70 

Thomas  Raines,  1871 

Charles  F.  Smith,  1872,  '73 

Edward  P.  Hart,  1875,  '76 

Edw.  W.  Williams,  1877,  '78 


ANNALS   OF   ST.   LUKE'S. 


%t^ut^ntm. 


Roswell  Babbit, 
N.  T.  Rochester, 
Wm.  Pitkin, 
F.  Whittlesey, 
Clarendon  Morse, 
James  M.  Fish, 
Henry  Scrantom, 
Erasmus  D,  Smith, 
Andrew  J.  Brackett, 
Edward  Whalen, 
Abram  Karnes, 
E.  R.  Hammatt, 
John  H.  Rochester, 


1817-22 

1823-Oct.,  '32 

Oct.,  '32-36 

i836-'39 

Jan.  i840-'43 

1844 

1845-48 

June,  1848 

Jan.,  1849-54 

1855-May,  '62 

May,  i862-'64 

1865-74 

1875-83 


OFFICERS   OF   THE   CHURCH. 


83 


^itj«nj$t$* 


Daniel  Clark, 

1825-May,  ' 

27 

William  Staunton, 

1827-May, 

33 

Mr.  Randall, 

May,  '33-1834 

Mr.  Warner, 

1834-18 

35 

Israel  P.  Dana, 

1835-April, 

39 

Marion  S.  McGregor, 

April,  1839-Aug., 

56 

R.  F.  C.  Ellis, 

Aug.,  '56-Dec., 

70 

Herve  D.  Wilkins, 

Dec,  '70-Dec., 

71 

R.  F.  C.  Ellis, 

Jan.,  '72-March, 

74 

W.  M.  Rebasz,  Jr., 

March,  '74-J'-iIy, 

7^ 

F.  Kenyon  Jones, 

Aug.,  '76-March, 

78 

W.  M.  Rebasz,  Jr., 

March,  '78-April, 

79 

Edward  H.  Walker, 

April,  1879- 

83 

84  ANNALS   OF   ST.   LUKE'S. 


mitfp, 


Jacob  Howe,  i82r-May,  '26 

Hamlet  Scrantom,  1826-May,  '33 

Thomas  Watson,  May,  '33-1834 

William  Myers,  1834-June,  '43 

Thomas  McLean,  June,  '43-1845 

John  Sullivan,  1845-Dec.,  '59 

Thomas  Whitehouse,  Dec,  '59-Dec.,  64 

James  Ratcliffe,  Dec,  '64-Jan.,  '68 

Albert  D.  Neely,  April,  '68-Oct.,  '71 

John  Kislingbury,  Dec,  '71-Dec,  'jy 

John  J.  Rawlings,  Dec,  1877-83 


Note. — The  dates  after  the  names  of  Wardens,  Vestrymen,  Clerks 
and  Treasurers,  indicate  the  years  in  which  they  were  elected  ;  those 
after  Organists,  and  Sextons,  their  term  of  service; 


'^iafiiiBpfiial  ^oli^es 


OF  THE 


|(«d(JJ*S* 


FRANCIS    HIGGINS   CUMING. 

First  Rector  of  St.  Luke's,  was  born  in  New 
Haven,  Conn.,  Oct.  28,  1799;  pursued  his  pre- 
paratory and  theological  studies  under  the  Re\^ 
Dr.  John  C.  Rudd,  at  Elizabeth,  N.  J.;  was  or- 
dained Deacon  by  Bishop  Croes,  in  St.  John's, 
Elizabeth,  in  18 19,  and  advanced  to  the  Priest- 
hood by  Bishop  Hobart  in  St.  Luke's  Roches- 
ter, in  February,  1821.  His  earlier  ministry  was 
exercised  at  Binghamton,  N.  Y.,  whence  he  re- 
moved to  Rochester,  Dec.  i,  1820,  remaining 
here  eight  years  and  four  months,  until  April  i, 
1829.  He  was  then  successively  Rector  of 
Christ  Church,  Reading,  and  St.  Mark's,  Le- 
roy,  being  one  year  in  each  place.  Removing 
to  New  York,  he  became  Secretary,  Agent  and 
Editor  of  the  General  Protestant-Episcopal 
Sunday  School  Union,  which  he  resigned  in 
1836  to  assume  the  Rectorship  of  the  newly- 
organized  Calvary  Church  in  that  city.  His 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  conferred  by 
Columbia  College.  He  became  Rector  of  St. 
Andrew's,  Ann  Arbor,  in  October,  1839,  '^^'^^ 
after  a  four  years'  ministry  accepted  charge  of 
St.  Mark's  Church,  Grand  Rapids,  where  he  la- 
bored   for   eighteen   years,   resigning  Sept.    13, 


88  ANNALS   OF   ST.    I,UKE'S. 

1 86 1.  Before  resigning  his  charge,  however,  he 
became  Chaplain  of  the  3rd  Reg.  Mich.  Infan- 
try, May  13,  1 861  ;  which  duty  he  discharged 
until  March  19,  1862,  when,  broken  in  health, 
he  returned  to  his  family  and  died  Aug.  26, 
1882. 


HENRY  JOHN  WHITEHOUSE. 

Was  born  in  New  York  city,  Aug.  19,  1803, 
graduated  from  Columbia  College  in  1821,  and 
from  the  General  Theological  Seminary  in 
1824;  was  ordained  Deacon  by  Bishop  John 
Croes,  of  New  Jersey,  in  1824,  and  Priest  by 
Bishop  William  White,  of  Pennsylvania,  in 
1827.  For  two  years  thereafter,  he  was  Rector 
of  Christ  Church,  Reading,  Pa.,  from  which 
place  he  came  to  Rochester,  Dec.  6,  1829.  At 
the  commencement  of  Geneva  College  in  1834, 
he  received  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Divinity.  His  highly  prosperous  Rectorship  in 
St.  Luke's,  of  fourteen  years  and  five  months, 
was  terminated  May  5,  1844,  when  he  assumed 
the  charge  of  St.  Thomas'  Church,  New  York, 
which  position  he  retained  until  elected  Assist- 
ant Bishop  of  Illinois,  to  which  high  office  he 
was  consecrated  in  St.  George's  Church,  Nov. 
20,  1 85  I,  (a  solemnity  witnessed  by  the  lad  who 


BIOGRAPHICAL   NOTICES.  89 

as  his  successor  in  St.  Luke's  is  the  present 
Rector).  On  the  death  of  Bishop  Chase  he  be- 
came Diocesan  of  IlHnois  Sept.  20,  1852.  He 
attended  the  Lambeth  Conference  in  1867,  and 
was  highly  honored  as  the  preacher  at  its  open- 
ing service.  The  University  of  Oxford  be- 
stowed upon  him  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Divinity,  and  the  University  of  Cambridge  that 
of  Doctor  of  Laws.  His  death  occurred  on  the 
lOth  of  August,  1874. 


THOMAS    CLAPP   PITKIN. 

Was  born  at  Farmington,  Conn.,  in  18 16;  gradu- 
ated at  Yale  College  in  1836,  and  from  the 
Geneal  Theological  Seminary  in  1839;  ^^^^ 
ordained  Deacon  in  the  same  year  by  Bishop 
Brownell,  and  Priest,  in  1840,  by  Bishop 
Kemper.  His  first  clerical  duty  was  as  a 
Missionary  in  Lawrenceburgh,  Ind.  After  one 
year's  service,  he  accepted  the  Rectorship  of 
Christ  Church,  Louisville,  Ky.,  where  he  re- 
sided three  years,  until  he  removed  to  Roches- 
ter, in  July,  1844.  On  his  resignation  of  St. 
Luke's,  in  July,  1847,  '^^  became  associated 
with  the  Rev.  Dr.  Croswell,  in  the  rectorship  of 
Trinity  Church,  New  Haven,  Conn.  Upon  the 
election    of    the    Rev.    Dr.    H.    Potter    to    the 


90  ANNALS    OF   ST.    LUKE  S. 

Bishopric  of  New  York,  in  November,  1854,  Dr. 
Pitkin  succeeded  him  as  Rector  of  St.  Peter's^ 
Albany,  which  position  he  held  about  eight 
years.  He  was  made  Doctor  of  Divinity  by 
Hamilton  College,  and  later  received  the  same 
degree  from  Trinity  College,  Hartford.  Re- 
turning home  in  1862,  from  a  journey  in  the 
East,  he  entered  upon  temporary  duty  in  St. 
Paul's  Church,  Buffalo,  which  finally  grew  into 
a  permanent  relation  lasting  five  or  six  years. 
His  next  position  was  that  of  Rector  of  St. 
Paul's,  Detroit,  which  church  he  held  between 
nine  and  ten  years.  Since  that  time,  he  has 
resided  in  Detroit,  doing  clerical  duty  con- 
stantly, but  having  no  parochial  charge. 


HENRY   WASHINGTON  LEE. 

Was  born  in  Hampden,  Conn.,  July  29,  181 5. 
His  boyhood  was  passed  in  Springfield,  Mass., 
where  his  father.  Col.  Roswell  Lee,  was. 
superintendent  of  the  U.  S.  Armory.  His 
later  education  was  acquired  at  the  Westfield 
Academy,  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  he  taught 
school  in  New  Bedford.  After  ordination  by 
Bishop  Griswold,  in  1838,  he  became  Rector  of 
Christ  Church,  Springfield,  which   he   resigned 


BIOGRAPHICAL   NOTICES.  9 1 

to  accept  St.  Luke's,  Rochester,  where  he  re- 
mained seven  years  from  January,  1848,  to  Janu- 
ary, 1855.  His  election  and  consecration  as 
Bishop  of  Iowa  took  place  before  he  resigned 
his  labors  in  Rochester,  for  he  was  consecrated 
Bishop  among  his  loving  parishioners  on  the 
18th  of  October,  1854.  In  his  new  field,  he 
laid  foundations  deep  and  broad  and  the  pros- 
perity of  Iowa  is  largely  due  to  his  wise  provis- 
ions for  the  future.  Griswold  College,  which 
he  founded  in  i860, the  Episcopal  endowment 
and  residence,  the  beautiful  Grace  Cathedral, 
are  lasting  monuments  to  the  wisdom,  selfsacri- 
fice  and  zeal  of  Iowa's  first  Bishop.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Lambeth  Conference  and  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  LL.  D.,  from  Cambridge 
University.  His  episcopate  of  twenty  years 
ended  by  his  decease  in  Davenport,  September 
26,  1874. 


BENJAMIN  WATSON. 

Was  born  in  Philadelphia,  October  14,  1817* 
graduated  from  Trinity  College,  Hartford,  in 
1838,  and  from  the  General  Theological  Semi- 
nary in  1841  ;  was  ordained  Deacon  in  June  of 
the  same  year  by  Bishop  H.  U.  Onderdonk  in 
St.  Peter's  Church,  Philadelphia,  and  Priest  in 


92  ANNALS   OF   ST.    LUKE  S. 

February,  1842,  in  Grace  Church  in  the  same 
city,  of  which  latter  Church  he  had  temporary 
charge  during  six  months  of  his  earlier  ministry. 
He  was  married  January  26,  1842.  His  first 
rectorship  was  that  of  Zion  Church,  Newport, 
R.  I.,  dating  from  June,  1842  ;  which  parish  he 
resigned  to  accept  a  call  to  St.  Luke's,  Roches- 
ter, and  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  new  po- 
sition April  29,  1855.  After  a  rectorship  of 
four  years  and  three  months,  ending  August  7, 
1859,  ^"'^  accepted  a  call  to  the  Church  of  the 
Atonement,  Philadelphia,  which  rectorship  he 
still  occupies.  He  received  the  honorary  de- 
gree of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  the  University 
of  Chicago,  in  1863. 


ROBERT  BETHELL  CLAXTON. 

Was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Nov.  6,  18 14.  At 
the  age  of  thirteen,  his  father,  who  had  been  a 
prosperous  merchant,  having  suffered  reverses, 
Robert  entered  the  publishing  house  of  Eliakim 
Little,  in  which  establishment,  and  later  in 
another  book  store,  he  spent  six  years.  He  was 
confirmed  in  St.  Paul's  Church  under  the  min- 
istry of  Rev.  Dr.  Tyng  in  1833,  and  resolved  to 
devote  himself  at  once  to  sacred  studies.  He 
entered  the  Sophomore  class  in   Yale  college, 


BIOGRAPHICAL   NOTICES.  93 

August,  1835,  having  supported  himself  mean- 
while by  assisting  Rev.  Dr.  P.  Van  Pelt,  then 
Secretary  of  the  Dom.  and  For.  Miss.  Soc,  and 
graduated  in  1838.  In  May  of  the  same  year, 
he  had  been  admitted  a  Candidate  for  Orders  in 
the  Diocese  of  Pennsylvania,  and  in  September 
entered  the  middle  class  of  the  Alexandria 
Seminary,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1840; 
was  ordained  Deacon  July  19th,  by  Bishop  H. 
U.  Onderdonk  and  Priest  in  the  subsequent 
December.  He  accepted  duty  in  St.  Stephen's 
Church,  Wilkesbarre,  Pa.,  Sept.  4,  1840;  which 
position  he  resigned  in  1846  in  view  of  his 
wife's  ill-health,  and  removed  to  Westchester, 
Pa.,  and  later  to  Madison,  Indiana,  where  he 
gathered  a  considerable  congregation  and  erect- 
ed a  Church  edifice.  His  honorary  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Divinity,  was  received  from  the 
University  of  Indiana.  In  December,  1852,  he 
was  elected  Rector  of  St.  Paul's,  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  and  ministered  in  that  Church  from  May, 
1853,  to  May,  1859.  He  became  Rector  of  St. 
Luke's,  Dec.  i,  1859,  ^^^^  after  an  incumbency 
of  five  years  and  ten  months,  removed  to  his 
native  cir>'  in  October,  1865,  to  discharge  the 
duties  of  Professor  of  Homiletics  and  Pastoral 
Care  in  the  Philadelphia  Divinity  School.  In 
the  Fall  of  1873,  he  resigned  his  professorial 
chair    and    accepted    the    Rectorship    of    St. 


94  ANNALS   OF   ST.    LUKE  S. 

Andrew's  Church,  West  Philadelphia,  which 
position  he  filled  with  marked  success  until  his 
death,  May  24,  1882. 


HENRY  ANSTICE, 

Was  born  in  New  York  City,  Oct.  7,  1841,  and 
baptised  by  the  Rev.  James  Milnor,  D.  D.,  in 
old  St.  George's  Church,  in  Beekman  street ; 
was  confirmed  in  St.  John's  Church,  Yonkers, 
July  II,  1858  ;  entered  Williams'  College,  Mass., 
Aug.  2,  1859,  ^"d  graduated  Aug.  6,  1862  ; 
became  a  candidate  for  Orders  in  the  Diocese 
of  New  York  October  30,  and,  after  a  year's 
study  at  Andovcr  Theological  Seminary,  pend- 
ing the  more  complete  organization  of  the 
Philadelphia  Divinity  School,  entered  the  latter 
institution  Sept.  17,  1863,  and  graduated  there- 
from June  22,  1865  ;  was  ordained  Deacon  in 
the  Church  of  St.  John  the  Evangelist,  New 
York  City,  July  2,  and  Priest  in  St.  Paul's 
Church,  Flatbush,  November  21,  of  the  same 
year,  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Horatio  Potter  ;' assumed 
temporary  charge  of  St.  Barnabas'  Church, 
Irvington-on-Hudson,  Sept.  10,  1865  ;  received 
a  call  to  the  Church  of  the  Advent,  San  Fran- 
cisco, in    March,    1866,  which    he   declined    to 


BIOGRAPHICAL   NOTICES.  95 

accept  the  Rectorship  of  St.  Luke's,  Rochester, 
and  entered  upon  the  duties  of  that  position 
May  13,  1866;, was  married  on  the  30th  of  the 
same  month  in  St.  Barnabas'  Church,  Irving- 
ton,  by  the  Bishop  of  New  York  ;  on  the  30th 
of  June,  1875,  received  the  honorary  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Divinity  from  the  University  of 
Rochester,  and  remains  at  this  date  Rector  of 
St.  Luke's,  after  an  incumbency  of  seventeen 
years  and  four  months. 


atfltllini  Sjalistits. 


98 


ANNALS   OF   ST.    LUKE  S. 


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S 

s 

0 

0 

K 

a 

X 

u 
< 
w 
H 

ih 

in 

< 
0 

s 
(/) 
c/i 
t/i 

1817  to  Dec,  1820. 

113 
264 

301 

330 

375 
375 
312 

10 
109 

430 
415 

435 
469 
502 

579 

10 
48 

35 
50 

35 
46 

44 

F.  H.  Cuming,           * 

8  yrs.  4  mos, 

90 

Interim  8  mos. 

H.  J.  Whitehouse, 

14  yrs.  5  mos. 

349 

Interim  2  mos. 

T.  C.  Pitkin,              f 

3  yrs. 

287 

Interim  51^^  mos. 
Henry  W.  Lee, 

7  yrs. 

405 

Interim  4  mos. 

Benj.  Watson,          :j: 

4  yrs.  3  mos. 

337 

Interim  4  mos. 

R.  B.  Claxton, 

'  5  yrs.  10  mos. 

367 

Interim  7  mos. 

Henry  Anstice,     § 

17  yrs.  4  mos. 

348 

DISMISSALS  TO  NEW  ORGANIZATIONS. 

*St.  Paul's,  15  Com-     tTrinity,  50  Com.     JChrist  Church 
§Good  Shepherd,  41  Fam.,  51  Com.     ilEpiphany,  170  Fam., 


I  36  Com. 
202  Com . 


PAROCHIAL   STATISTICS. 


99 


BAPTISMS. 


Adi'lts.    Inf.        Tot.\l. 


z 

f- 

'J-. 

z 

< 

r 

U 

s 

K          1 

54+20 1 


-:>:> 


1 10 


1+8=        9 
181+9S6  =  1167  i  444 


6-}-228  =    234 


25 


97 


19+569=    588  I   189 

! 
18  I 

8+255  =    263  ,     j6 


15 

21+382  =    403 

169+920  =  1089 


127 

I 

680 


99 

2 

212 

48 

9 

203 

4 
58 


105 

5 


200 

7 
344 

87 
6 

14 
128 

5 
328 

17 

741 


$  140OO 


1 7,094 


5,100 


20,431 


15,448 


23-957 


264,49 1 


Totals,       4,096^1728    1076    2249  I  $361,021 


Note.— Offerings  for  current  expenses  were  first  included  in  Pa- 
rochial Reports  to  Diocesan  Convention  in  1863. 


16666"^ 


6aJ 


i%Uml   M^^HllP 


OF  THE 


ihlitv   fMh\ti, 


>t.  laul's  ^\\\m\\. 


This  first  daughter  of  St.  Luke's  originated 
in  the  action  of  the  Vestry  May  7,  1827,  which 
body  deemed  it  "desirable  to  estabhsh-an  ad- 
ditional Church  in  the  village  in  consequence 
of  the  increasing  population,"  and  requested  the 
Rector  to  proceed  in  the  organization  of  such 
additional  Church.  Accordingly  on  the  28th  of 
May,  1827,  in  a  room  of  the  Franklin  Institute 
in  East  Rochester,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cuming  pre- 
sided at  a  meeting  duly  convened,  and  W'm. 
Atkinson  and  Giles  Boulton  were  elected  War- 
dens, and  Elisha  Johnson,  Elisha  B.  Strong, 
Jared  N.  Stebbins,  S-  M.  Smith,  Enos  Stone, 
Samuel  J.  Andrews,  Daniel  Tinker  and  A.  B. 
Curtiss,  Vestrymen  of  the  new  Church  to  be 
named  St.  Paul's. 

The  Rev.  Sutherland  Douglas  was  the  first 
Rector,  having  been  called  in  April,  1828,  and 
resigning  on  account  of  ill  health  in  August, 
1829.  The  church  edifice  was  then  in  process 
of  erection,  being  designed  to  be  a  grand  and 
attractive  structure.     Its  spire  was  intended  to 


I04  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES. 

exceed  in  height  any  building  in  Western  New 
York,  but  a  severe  wind  toppled  it  over  while 
yet  uncompleted,  and  the  original  design  was 
abandoned  for  the  present  finish  of  the  tower. 
The  contract  for  its  erection  bears  date  May 
31,  1828,  and  was  executed  in  behalf  of  the 
Vestry  by  Samuel  J.  Andrews,  Giles  Boulton 
and  W.  T.  Cuyler  as  the  building  committee 
with  the  contractors,  Daniel  Tinker,  Henry  A. 
Boult  and  Daniel  A.  Ryan ;  the  contract  price 
being  $12,000. 

The  church  was  consecrated  by  Bishop  Ho- 
bart,  Aug.  30,  1830. 

The  Rev.  Chauncey  Colton    became   Rector 
in  November  of  that  year,  resigning  in  Decem 
ber,  1 83 1. 

The  Vestry  then,  Dec.  5,  1831,  invited  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Whitehouse  to  accept  the  Rectorship 
in  connection  with  his  duties  at  St.  Luke's,  he 
to  appoint  an  assistant  and  the  services  of  the 
Rector,  and  the  expenses  of  the  ministrations 
to  be  equally  divided  between  the  two  churches  ; 
but  the  Vestry  of  St.  Luke's  declined  to  assent 
to  the  proposed  arrangement. 

The  Rev.  H.  V.  D.  Johns  was  called  early  in 
1832,  but,  after  a  very  brief  residence,  resign- 
ing June  25,  1832,  was  followed  by  the  Rev. 
Burton  H.  Hickox,  who  accepted  the  Rector- 
ship under  date  of  May  7,  1833. 


ST.    PAUL  S   CHURCH.  I05 

It  was  during  this  rectorship,  through  no 
fault,  however,  of  the  Rector,  that  the  financial 
embarrassments  of  the  church  culminated  in  the 
foreclosure  of  the  first  mortgage  of  $10,000 
on  the  building,  the  dissolution  of  St.  Paul's 
corporation,  and  the  formation  of  a  new  organ- 
ization, Dec.  2,  1833,  to  buy  in  the  property 
under  the  name  of  Grace  Church.  Trinity 
Church,  New  York,  appropriated  $3,500  as  a 
loan,  to  assist  in  the  settlement  of  the  dif^cul 
ties.  Rev.  Mr.  Hickox  continued  A\ith  the 
congregation  as  Rector  of  Grace  Church  until 
Feb.  18,  1835. 

The  Rev.  Orange  Clark  was  called  Sept.  20, 
1835,  '^'"'cl  remained  nearly  four  years.  The 
Rev.  Washington  Van  Zandt  became  Rector 
April  I,  1839,  but  resigned  after  a  pastorate  of 
one  year  and  six  months,  Oct.  i,  1841.  During 
the  long  vacancy  which  ensued,  occasional  ser- 
vices were  supplied  by  professors  from  Geneva, 
until  June  12,  1842,  when  Rev.  William  E. 
Eigenbrodt  became  Rector,  remaining  until 
December,   1843. 

A  second  foreclosure  of  the  church  had 
transferred*  the  ownership  to  an  association  of 
gentlemen,  in  reference  to  which  Bishop  De 
Lancey  made,  in  October,  1844,  the  following 
record  of  facts  : 

"  Feb.  4  to  II — I   visited    Rochester  on   this 


I06  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 

occasion  with  special  reference  to  the  affairs  of 
Grace  Church,  worshiping  in  St.  Paul's  Church 
edifice,  which  edifice  had  been  bought  in  by  a 
few  members  of  the  congregation,  some  of 
whom  had  been  large  contributors  to  the 
Church  before,  and  who  advanced  the  requisite 
amount  in  the  hope  that  the  Church  might  be 
revived  and  themselves  refunded.  The  Rector 
had  resigned  on  account  of  the  pecuniary  em- 
barrassments of  the  Church.  The  Vestry  were 
unable  to  purchase  the  church  and  there  was 
apprehension  lest  the  building  should,  by  force 
of  circumstances,  be  alienated  from  the  Episco- 
pal Church  and  the  congregation  dispersed. 

"  I  deemed  it  my  duty,  after  consulting  with 
w^ise  and  influential  lay  friends,  in  Rochester, 
to  become  the  proprietor  of  the  edifice  in  the 
hope  of  thus  ensuring  it  to  the  Church  in  per- 
petuity, in  case  the  effort  to  relieve  it  from 
pecuniar}'  embarrassment  should  succeed,  and 
also  to  afford  a  basis  for  the  experiment  to 
relieve  it  to  be  fairly  tried." 

The  experiment  proved  successful  and  the 
property  was  freed  from  incumbrances  in  1847 
through  the  efforts  of  the  Bishop  and  the  par- 
ishioners, and  the  title  vested  in  the  corporation 
of  Grace  Church. 

Under  the  auspices  of  the  Bishop,  the  parish 
had  been  served  for  three  months  bv  the  Rev. 


ST.    PAUL'S   CHURCH.  lO/ 

Stephen  Douglas  and  later  by  the  Rev.  John 
V.  Van  Ingen,  D.  D.  The  latter  was  elected 
Rector  in  1848. 

The  Church  edifice  was  destroyed  by  fire 
July  25,  1847,  but  there  being  an  insurance  of 
$10,000,  the  work  of  rebuilding  was  at  once 
commenced.  Services  were  held  in  the  old  High 
School  on  South  Clinton  street,  until  Christmas 
of  that  year,  when  the  congregation  met  in  the 
restored  basement,  and  the  completed  edifice 
was  consecrated  as  Grace  Church  Dec.  17.  1848. 
The  Rev.  Dr.  Van  Ingen  removing  to  Min- 
nesota Aug.  16,  1854,  he  was  succeeded  in  the 
ensuing  September  by  the  Rev.  Maunsell  Van 
Rensselaer,  whose  term  of  office  extended  to 
Easter,  1859. 

The  Rev.  Israel  Foote  entered  upon  the 
Rectorship,  Aug.  i,  1859.  ^^  rectory  was  pro- 
vided through  the  liberal  proposition  of  Mrs. 
Ruth  Mumford,  who  offered  to  give  to  the 
Church  her  house  and.  lot  on  North  Clinton 
street,  valued  at  $10,000,  provided  the  Vestry 
would  raise  $5,000,  in  purchase  of  the  same. 
The  sum  named  was  promptly  raised  and  a  \"al- 
uable  property  secured  to  the  parish. 

In  the  Spring  of  1862.  Mr.  George  Ellwanger 
made  over  to  the  parish  $4,000  in  bonds  and 
mortgages  for  a  chapel,  on  condition  that  a 
similar  amount  should  be  secured   from  other 


T08  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES. 

sources  prior  to  Jul}-  i,  1863  ;  \\hich  proposition 
resulted  in  the  creation  of  a  fund  amounting  to 
$10,000.  This  fund  was  devoted  in  the  Spring 
of  1869  to  the  purchase  of  a  house  on  Mortimer 
street  in  the  rear  of  the  Churcli,  for  the  purposes 
of  a  Parish  school,  and  which  was  used  first  as 
a  school  for  girls,  then  as  a  school  for  boys  and 
a  residence  for  the  assistant  minister,  and  finally, 
since  1878,  has  been  rented  b}'  the  parish  for 
other  uses. 

Improvements  in  the  church  edifice  being 
deemed  necessary  and  desirable,  the  Vestry  re- 
solved, Feb.  8,  1869,  to  proceed  with  the  work 
of  building  a  recess  chancel,  removing  the  organ 
thereto  and  decorating  the  interior,  of  the 
church,  for  which  improvements  $11,589  was 
provided  by  subscription,  and  $12,000  raised  b}' 
mortgages  on  the  Rector)-  and  parish  building. 

On  the  reopening  of  the  Church  for  public 
worship,  the  older  name  of  the  parish  was  em- 
plo}-ed  in  designation  of  the  sacred  structure, 
and  it  has  since  been  commonly  called  St. 
Paul's,  although  the  legal  title  of  the  corpora- 
tion remains  Grace  Church,  as  it  has  been  since 
the  reorganization  efTected  Dec.  2,  1833. 

A  boy  choir  was  introduced  into  the  Church 
in  the  Winter  of  1873,  under  the  direction  of 
the  Rev.  C.  N.  Allen,  the  assistant  minister. 

In  the  Spring  of  1874,  $11,357  ^^'''^^  subscribed 


ST.    PAULS   CHURCH.  IO9 

and  the  entire  indebtedness  of  the  corporation 
cleared  off.  At  this  time  also  a  Woman's  Mis- 
sionar}-  Society  was  formed  in  the  Parish,  which 
has  since  continued  in  active  and  successful 
operation. 

In  anticipation  of  the  formation  of  St.  James' 
Parish  in  the  Fifth  Ward,  the  Vestry  author- 
ized May  23.  1876.  the  transfer  of  the  prop- 
ert}-  held  by  Israel  Foote  as  Trustee  to  the 
"  Trustees  of  the  Parochial  Fund,"  on  condition 
that  it  should  be  b}'  them  conveyed  to  the  new 
organization  "whenever  the  Bishop  and  Stand- 
ing Committee  shall  so  determine."  The  cost 
of  the  nave  of  the  future  St.  James'  Church, 
Avhich  is  built  of  gray  Lockport  sandstone 
trimmed  with  Medina  stone,  was  $8,621.32. 
Some  fifty  families  colonized  from  St.  Paul's  to 
form  the  infant  parish. 

During  the  Summer  of  1879,  ^  ^"'^'^^'  ^*^^^  ^^'^^ 
placed  on  the  church  and  sundry  repairs  effected, 
and  the  interior  handsomely  polychromed,  the 
last  improvement  being  at  the  charge  of  one 
liberal  parishioner.  The  chancel  had  been  simi- 
larly beautified  in  the  Summer  of  1876.  A 
rich  and  beautiful  altar  of  Italian  marble,  by  a 
Roman  artist,  was  placed  in  the  chancel  in  Sep- 
tember, 1880,  as  a  memorial  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Geo.  H.  Mumford,  by  their  children,  with  the 
cordial  approval  of  the  Vestry,  and  "  hallowed" 


I  10  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES. 

by  the  Bishop  on  the  following- All  Saint's  Dixy. 

A  strip  of  land  ten  feet  wide  on  the  north  of 
the  church  lot  was  purchased  in  January,  1882, 
for  $1,500. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Foote,  after  an  incumbenc}'  of 
twenty-three  years,  resigned  the  rectorship  to 
take  effect  April  17,  1882.  The  Vestry  in  view 
of  liis  long  and  valuable  service,  elected  him 
^QCtox  Emeritus  with  an  emolument  of  $1,000 
per  annum  for  life  and  a  residence,  or  in  lieu 
thereof,  $500  additional.  Upon  a  proposition, 
however,  from  the  late  Rector  to  release  the 
Church  from  all  obligation  under  this  action 
upon  the  payment  to  him  of  a  sum  in  hand  of 
$3,000,  the  Vestry  ordered  March  20,  1883,  the 
acceptance  of  the  proposition,  and  the  sum 
named  was  promptly  pledged  and  paid  by  seven 
members  of  the  Vestry. 

The  assistants  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Foote  were 
the  Revs.  E.  S.  Wilson,  J.  D.  S.  Pardee,  Chas. 
N.  Allen,  W.  DeL.  Wilson,  Benj.  F.  Hall,  Robt. 
B.  Wolseley  and  C.  W.  KnaufT. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  W.  H.  Piatt,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  was 
called  from  Grace  Church,  San  F'rancisco,  to 
the  Rectorship,  Sept.  16,  1882. 

St.  Paul's  has  always  been  a  "  pewed  ehurch." 
Its  average  annnal  income  for  current  expenses 
is  about  $4922. 


ST.    PAULS   CHURCH,  III 

The    present   officers    of   the  Church  are   as 
follows : 

Rfxtor, 
Rev.  W.  H.  Piatt,  D.  D..  LL.  D. 

Wardens, 
A.  G.  Yates,  W.  H.  Sanger, 

Vestrymen, 
H.  H.  Warner.  E.  F.  Woodbury, 

James  Laney,  F.  W.  Ehvood, 

H.  M.  Ellsworth,  Jas.  L.  Hatch, 

C.  Henry  Amsden,  W.  C.  Dickinson. 

Clerk  of  Vestry, 
C.  Henr\-  Amsden. 

Treasurer, 
W.  C.  Dickinson. 


IVuntg  4'^^^^"^''* 


The  project  of  establishing  a  new  Church  in 
that  part  of  the  city  called  Frankfort,  was  con- 
sidered by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Whitehouse  and  some 
of  the  prominent  people  of  St.  Luke's  as  early 
as  1836.  A  Sunday  school  was  opened  in  a 
stone  school-house,  which  then  stood  upon 
Brown's  square,  and  maintained  largely  through 
the  zeal  and  efforts  of  Mr.  Seth  C.  Jones.  A 
lot  was  also  purchased  situated  upon  the  square. 
In  August,  1845,  the  subscribers  to  the  purchase 
of  the  above-mentioned  lot  with  other  friends 
of  the  movement,  met  in  the  public  school 
house  No.  5,  corner  of  Fish  (now  Centre)  and 
Jones  streets,  and  inaugurated  public  service 
under  the  auspices  of  Rev.  Mr.  Pitkin,  the  new 
rector  of  St.  Luke's.  On  the  27th  of  October, 
1845,  an  organization  was  effected  in  due  form 
of  law,  the  following  persons  participating  in 
the  meeting  :  the  Rev.  T,  C.  Pitkin  in  the  chair, 
Francis  Brown,  who  acted  as  Secretary,  Henry 
E.  Rochester  and  Seth  C.  Jones,  who  were 
elected  Wardens,  George  Arnold,  P.  G.  Buchan, 


TRIXITV   CHURCH.  II3 

George  R.Clark,  S.  F.  Witherspoon,  Lewis  P. 
Beers,  who  were  chosen  Vestrymen,  and  Alfred 
Ely,  John  Parsonson,  Salva  Anderson  and  B.  F. 
Gilkeson.  Those  elected  to  complete  the  num- 
ber of  Vestrymen  were  David  Ho}'t,  \\\  E. 
Lathrop  and  Seth  M.  Maltby. 

A  call  was  extended  to  the  Rev.  Vandervoort 
Bruce  of  New  York  to  become  the  first  Rector, 
at  a  salary  of  $500,  which  invitation  was  ac- 
cepted and  he  entered  upon  his  duties  Jan.  26, 
1846.  His  first  report  to  the  Convention  in 
August  of  this  year  places  the  number  of  fami- 
lies in  the  parish  at  53,  communicants  60. 
The  Sunday  School  was  removed  to  the  new 
location  and  re-organized  with  90  members, 
Henry  E.  Rochester  being  superintendent,  and 
Mrs.  Geo.  Arnold  the  assistant. 

It  was  now  resolved  to  sell  the  lot  owned  on 
Brown's  square  and  purchase  the  site  adjoining 
the  school  house,  in  which  services  were  being- 
held,  for  §1,350.  Plans  for  a  church  building 
were  accepted  by  the  Vestry  Jan.  9,  1846,  and 
the  contract  for  erecting  the  same  at  a  cost  of 
$4,000  was  authorized  to  be  made  with  Wm. 
Bassett,  D.  C.  McCollum  being  the  architect. 
Work  on  the  church  commenced  in  May  and 
so  well  progressed  that  the  corner-stone  was 
laid  on  the  13th  of  June,  the  clergy  present  on 
that   occasion    being  the  Revs.  V.  Bruce,  T.  C- 


114  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES. 

Pitkin,  Joliii  N.  Norton,  J.  V.  Van  Ingen,  Chas. 
H.  Piatt,  Henry  Lockwood,  John  W.  Clark  and 
W.  D.  Wilson.  The  church  was  first  occupied 
for  service  on  Christmas  Eve.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Bruce  resigned  May  12,  1847,  after  an  incum- 
bency of  sixteen  months,  and  removed  to  New 
York  city,  where  he  still  resides. 

The  Rev.  Chas.  D.  Cooper,  of  Wilkesbarre,  Pa., 
succeeded  him  Oct.  i,  1847.  During  his  ad- 
ministration the  debt  was  entirely  paid  and  the 
church  consecrated  by  Bishop  DeLancey,  Feb. 
15,  1848.  His  ministry  of  two  years  and  two 
months  terminated  by  his  resignation,  Dec.  10, 
1849,  to  accept  the  rectorship  of  St.  Philip's 
Church,  Philadelphia;  in  which  city  he  still 
resides  as  Rector  of  the  Church  of  the  Holy 
Apostles. 

The  Rev.  Robert  J.  Parvin,  of  Towanda,  Pa., 
assumed  the  rectorship  Feb.  i,  1850.  During 
his  incumbency  the  basement  of  the  church 
was  fitted  up  for  Sunday  School  purposes,  the 
chancel  window  Mas  completed  and  a  bell  hung 
weighing  1040  lbs.  Mr.  Parvin  resigned,  Aug. 
I,  1852,  removing  at  that  date  to  Pittsfield,  Mass. 
Fie  was  subsequently  Rector  of  St.  Paul's 
Church,  Chelten  Hills,  near  Philadelphia,  and 
later.  Agent  for  the  Evangelical  Educational 
Societ)',  until  he  perished  in  the  burning  of  the 


TRINITY   CHURCH.  II  5 

ill-fated   steamer   United    States,    on   the  Ohio 
River,  in  December.  1868. 

The  Rev.  Addison  B.  Atkins  was  called  Aug. 
30.  and  assumed  charge  of  the  parish  Oct.  i, 
1852.  In  his  time  the  present  organ  was  placed 
in  the  church  at  a  cost  of  $1,250.  His  resig- 
nation took  effect  June  12,  1854,  upon  his 
acceptance  of  Christ  Church,  Germantown,  Pa. 
He  was  later  Rector  of  St.  John's,  Georgetown. 
D.  C,  and  St.  John's,  Yonkers,  N.  Y.,  and  at 
present,  is  Rector  of  Calvary  Church,  Consho- 
hocken,  Pa. 

On  the  1st  of  October  following.  The  Rev. 
Geo.  N.  Cheney,  of  Penn  Yan,  became  Rector. 
His  ministry  extended  over  a  longer  period 
than  that  of  any  preceeding  rector  of  Trinity, 
and  was  a  time  of  great  prosperity.  Material 
improvements  were  effected  in  the  church  edi- 
fice in  i860,  but  his  best  record  was  made  in 
the  hearts  and  lives  of  his  people.  Six  months 
leave  of  absence  was  granted  him,  June  14,  1861, 
to  accept  the  Chaplaincy  of  the  thirty-third 
Reg't  N.  Y.  Vols.  After  discharging  the  duties 
of  which  position,  he  returned  to  his  parish 
Dec  15.  Failing  health  however,  induced  his 
resignation  after  a  Rectorship  of  eight  years 
and  seven  months,  ending  May  i,  1863,  and 
having  retired  to  the  residence  of  a  friend  in 
Branchport,  he  there  died  on  the    12th  of  the 


Il6  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES. 

following  June.  A  mural  tablet  to  his 
memory  was  erected  b)'  the  parish  on  the  Sanc- 
tuary wall,  inscribed,  "  A  Beloved  Brother  and 
Faithful  Minister  in  the  Lord." 

The  Parish  was  now  in  such  a  state  of  pros- 
perity that  although  without  a  Rector,  an  en- 
largement of  the  church  was  resolved  upon  by 
the  Vestry,  June  i6,  1863.  The  side  walls 
were  extended  ten  feet  on  either  side,  thus 
adding  two  rows  of  pews  and  two  aisles  to  the 
already  existing  nave.  The  whole  was  thor- 
oughly refurnished  and  a  considerable  debt 
liquidated.  The  Rev.  John  W.  Clark,  of 
Brooklyn,  became  Rector,  Dec.  6,  1863,  but 
remained  only  until  Nov.  13,  1864,  when  he 
removed  to  Dover,  N.  H.  His  present  resi- 
dence is  Lexington,  Mich 

The  Rev.  J.  V.  Van  Ingen,  D.  D.,  was  called 
to  the  rectorship  April  24,  1865,  remaining 
until  July  i,  1868,  when  he  became  agent  for  the 
Society  for  the  Increase  of  the  Ministry.  After 
abundant  missionary  labors  and  the  exercise  of 
his  ministry  in  several  temporary  engagements 
he  became  Rector  of  St.  John's,  Clyde,  where 
after  a  service  of  fourteen  months,  he  died  Dec. 
I,  1877. 

Another  interim  of  eight  months  operated 
disastrously  on  the  interests  of  the  parish,  but 
the  Rev.  C.  H.  W.  Stocking,  of  Ansonia,  Conn., 


TRINITY    CHURCH.  U/ 

accepted  a  call  and  entered  upon  the  rectorship 
March  i,  1869.  During  his  administration 
the  church  edifice  was  much  improved  at  an 
expenditure  of  about  S3.000,  and  a  number 
of  valuable  gifts  as  memorials  were  presented 
to  the  parish.  He  remained  until  Dec.  15. 
1 87 1.  He  has  since  been  Rector  of  the  Church 
of  the  Epiphany,  Chicago,  and  Grace  Church, 
Detroit,  but  is  at  present  without  charge. 

The  Rev.  :M.  R.  St.  J.  Dillon-Lee,  of  Bayou 
Goula,  La.,  was  Rector  from  Jan.  22,  1872  to 
Oct.  I,  1873,  when  he  removed  to  Christ  Church, 
Adrian,  :Mich.,  and  subsequently  to  Cairo,  111  , 
where  he  died  in  1879-  A  solid  silver  com- 
munion service,  made  of  silver  relics  and  heir- 
looms contributed  by  the  parishioners  remains 
as  a  memorial  of  Rev.  Mr.  Dillon's  rectorship. 

The  Rev.  C.  J.  Machin,  of  Clean,  became 
Rector,  Nov.  15,  i873^  and  resigned  Jan.  20, 
1875,  and  removed  to  St.  John'.s,  N.  F. 

The  Rev.  W.  W.  Walsh,  of  Cincinnati,  O.,  en- 
tered upon  the  duties  of  the  rectorship  May  i, 


18 


,.,,,.  Li  the  summer  of  1878,  the  old  church 
was  re-roofed  and  some  interior  repairs  effected 
at  a  cost  of  about  $500,  but  on  the  17th  of 
April,  1880,  the  Church  property  was  sold,  ex- 
cepting the  frame  work  and  furniture  for 
$7,000'';  and  soon  after,  the  present  site  of  the 
church,  on  the  southwest  corner  of  Jones  Ave. 


Il8  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES. 

and  Frank  street,  100x124  with  adjoining  house 
for  a  rectory  was  bought  for  $6,100. 

The  mission  field  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  city  which  was  reHnquished  to  Trinity  in 
February,  1876,  the  new  Rector  entered  upon 
at  once,  conducting  the  Sunday  School  and 
maintaining  a  service  at  first  in  Cochrane's 
block  and  later  in  two  temporary  chapels,  until 
the  new  Trinity  church  was  ready  for  occu- 
pancy. 

Ground  was  broken  for  the  new  church  June 
23,  1880,  and  the  corner  stone  laid  by  Bishop 
Coxe  on  the  29th  of  Jul}-,  eight  of  the  clergy 
being  present.  The  church  was  opened  for 
Divine  Service  July  31,  1881.  It  is  built  of 
stone,  cruciform,  with  tower  and  spire  in  the 
northeast  corner  and  cost  about  $1 1,000,  exclu- 
sive of  the  value  of  the  organ,  pews,  stained 
glass,  and  other  materials  brought  from  the  old 
edifice.  The  architects  were  Warner  &  Brockett, 
and  the  building  committee,  Messrs.  George 
Arnold,  \V.  H.  Leslie,  and  J.  M.  Harrison. 

The  work  of  erecting  a  chapel  adjoining  the 
chancel  is  now  in  contemplation,  for  which 
$1,200  has  already  been  collected. 

Trinity  has  alwaj's  been  a  "  pewed  church." 
Its  current  income  for  the  }'ear  ending  Sept.  i, 
1883,  was  $1,926.32. 


TRINITY    CHURCH.  II9 

The  present  officers  of  the  church  are: 

Rector, 
The  Rev.  Warren  W.  Walsh. 

Wardens, 
George  Arnold,  W.  H.  Leslie. 

Vestrymen, 
F.  G.  Ranney,  Frank  S.  Upton, 

H.  W.  Davis,  W.  H.  Goodger, 

John  P.  Schofield,  J.  H.  Bishop, 

James  H.  Kelly,  E.  S.  Race. 

Clerk  of  the  \^estry, 
F.  G.  Ranney. 

Treasurer, 
J.  A.  \'an  Ingen. 


€\^hi  4'I^^M'! 


The  parish  of  Christ  Church  owes  its  origin 
to  the  zeal  for  church  extension  which  prompted 
a  number  of  parishioners  of  St.  Luke's,  with  a 
few  from  St,  Paul's  to  avail  themselves  of  an 
apparent  opening  for  a  new  church  on  East 
Avenue.  The  first  service,  preliminary  to  or- 
ganization, was  held  in  Palmer's  Hall,  April  29, 
1855,  by  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Watson,  Rector  of 
St.  Luke's.  The  second  service  was  held  on 
the  following  Sunda)-  b}'  the  Rev.  M.  Van 
Rensselaer,  Rector  of  St.  Paul's.  The  meeting 
to  organize  pursuant  to  legal  notice  was  held  in 
the  same  place  May  7,  1855,  '■''  which  the  fol- 
lowing persons  participated  :  Silas  O.  Smith  in 
the  chair,  L.  Ward  Smith,  Delos  Wentworth, 
D.  M.  Dewey,  A.  J.  Brackett,  W.  V.  K.  Lansing, 
David  Hoyt,  Washington  Gibbons,  Stephen 
Charles,  R.  A.  Hall,  J.  M.  Winslow,  W\  B. 
Alexander,  A.  E.  Gregory,  C.  R,  Babbitt,  J. 
Alexander  and  D.  B  Beach,  who  acted  as  '•  - 
retary.  The  ofificers  elected  were  Silas  ^  , 
Smith  and  David   Hoyt,  Wardens  ;  and  Dellon 


CHRIST   CHURCH.  121 

M.  Dewey,  A.  J.  Brackett,  D.  B.  Beach,  J.  M. 
Winslow,  John  Fairbanks,  Edward  M.  Smith, 
DelosWentworth  and  Chas.  R.  Babbitt,  Vestry- 
men. The  original  number  of  communicants 
was  thirty-one. 

A  lot  was  purchased,  being  the  present  site 
of  the  church,  in  June,  1855  for  $7,150,  where- 
on the  congregation  began  to  build  Sept.  i, 
1855.  Services  meanwhile  were  continued  in 
the  hall,  a  Sunday  School  having  been  organ- 
ized in  May,  with  nine  teachers  and  twenty- 
seven  scholars,  and  a  Ladies'  Sewing  and  Bene- 
volent Society  in  June. 

The  Rev.  Henry  A.  Neely,  of  Utica,  was 
elected  the  first  Rector,  and  entered  upon  his 
duties  Oct.  i,  1855.  The  church  was  so  far 
completed  as  to  be  occupied  on  the  ensuing 
Christmas  Day.  Its  total  cost,  including  the 
furniture,  carpet,  communion  plate  and  musical 
instrument,  provided  through  the  efforts  of  the 
Ladies'  Society,  was  $6,829,  and  the  only  debt 
was  the  original  mortgage  upon  the  lot,  of 
S3, 000. 

In  the  Spring  of  1861,  a  chapel  was  erected 
adjoining  the  church,  at  a  cost  of  about  $1,500, 
provided  by  the  Sunday  School,  which  was  to 
meet  therein,  and  by  the  Ladies'  Society. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Neely  resigned  the  rectorship 
in   the  Fall  of    1862,  after  an  incumbencv    of 


122  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES. 

seven  years,  to  accept  the  chaplaincy  of  Hobart 
College.  He  subsequently  had  charge  of  Trin- 
ity Chapel,  New  York  City,  until  consecrated 
Bishop  of  Maine,  Jan.  25,  1867.  The  Rev. 
Anthony  Schuyler,  D.  D.,  of  Oswego,  was  his 
successor  in  Christ  Church,  and  entered  upon 
the  duties  of  the  rectorship  Oct.  i,  1862. 

Meanwhile,  the  rapid  growth  of  the  congre- 
gation having  made  an  enlargement  of  the 
church  an  imperative  necessity,  the  means  were 
procured  by  subscription  and  the  work  was 
entered  upon  June  22,  1862.  Additional  sit- 
tings were  provided  and  a  recess  chancel  and 
organ  room  constructed,  at  a  cost  of  about 
$3,600.  Services  were  resumed  in  the  church 
on  the  last  Sunday  in  September.  Three 
stained-glass  windows  were  placed  in  the  chan- 
cel, which  still  remain,  one  in  memory  of  L. 
Ward  Smith,  another  in  memory  of  Andrew  J. 
Brackett,  and  the  third  in  memory  of  Charles 
Robinson,  all  of  whom  had  been  effective  work- 
ers in  the  early  history  of  the  parish.  An 
organ  was  subsequently  purchased  at  a  cost  of 
$1,600,  which  was  fully  raised  before  the  organ 
was  used  for  the  first  time,  at  Easter,  1864. 

To  the  memory  of  Silas  O.  Smith,  who  died 
Oct.  3,  1863,  and  who  had  been  Warden  of  the 
Church  from  its  organization,  the  Vestry,  in 
1874,    erected   a   mural  tablet    of  brass,   prop- 


CHRIST   CHURCH.  I  23 

erly  inscribed.  Mr.  Smith  was  also  one  of  the 
founders  of  St.  Luke's,  and  active  in  its  affairs, 
as  indicated  in  the  Historical  Sketch,  where  his 
name  in  the  earlier  narrative  appears  without 
the  distinguishing  initial  O.,  which  he  later 
introduced  into  his  signature. 

In  the  Fall  of  1865,  the  addition  of  a  porch 
and  tower  was  undertaken,  ^\•hich  added  largely 
to  the  appearance  and  convenience  of  the  build- 
ing.    The  cost  of  the  improvement  was  $3,000. 

Upon  the  dissolution  of  the  St.  Matthew's 
Church  Mission,  in  June,  1867,  the  Hope  Chapel 
Station,  on  the  corner  of  Alexander  and  South 
St.  Paul  streets,  was  assigned  to  Christ  Church, 
and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Schu\-ler  assisted  b)'  D.  H. 
Lovejoy,  M.  D.,  a  candidate  for  Orders,  and 
other  zealous  workers  carried  on  the  enterprise 
which  had  been  efTficiently  begun.  The  Rev. 
Dr.  Schuyler  finding  his  health  demanded  a 
change  of  climate  after  five  years  and  nine 
months  of  service,  resigned  July  i,  18^.8,  and 
accepted  a  call  to  Grace  Church,  Orange.  X.  J  , 
where  he  now  resides. 

The  Rev.  Walton  W.  Battershall,  of  Ravens- 
wood,  L.  I.,  became  the  third  Rector  Jan  1, 
1869.  In  this  year  a  corona  was  hung  in  the 
chancel  and  a  bell  over  the  porch  at  a  cost  of 
$950.     A  lot  adjoining  the  church  was  also  pur- 


124  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES. 

chased  and  a  rectory  built  in  1 869-' 70,  at  a  cost 
of  $5,147. 

The  interest  of  Hope  Chapel  demanding 
more  attention  than  the  Rector  could  bestow, 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Battershall,  advised  and  sus- 
tained by  active  laymen  interested  in  the  mis- 
sion, invited  the  Rev.  Daniel  Flack,  of  Faribault, 
Minn.,  to  assist  him  in  that  work,  June  10,  1870, 
and  to  take  charge  of  the  parish  school,  which 
had  been  established  in  the  Sunday  School 
building.  The  mission  was  one  year  later  or- 
ganized into  an  independent  parish,  with  the 
cordial  consent  of  the  Vestry  of  Christ  Church, 
under  the  name  of  St.  Clement's,  and  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Flack  became  its  first  Rector. 

The  Rev  Mr.  Battershall  severed  his  connec- 
tion with  the  parish  Aug.  i,  1874,  and  accepted 
the  rectorship  of  St.  Peter's  Church,  Albany, 
which  position  he  still  holds. 

The  Rev.  Joseph  L.  Tucker  was  called  to  the 
Rectorship  Feb,  17,  1875.  The  work  of  decor- 
ating the  chancel,  which  had  been  some  time 
in  contemplation,  was,  this  Spring,  completed 
at  the  expense  of  one  liberal  parishioner  as  a 
memorial  offering.  Mr.  Tucker's  ministry  was 
terminated  by  his  resignation,  to  take  effect 
Oct.  15,  1877,  when  he  returned  to  the  South 
to  accept  the  rectorship  of  St.  Andrew's  Church, 
Jackson,  Miss.,  where  he  still  resides. 


CHRIST   CHURCH.  125 

The  Rev.  W.  D'Orville  Doty  was  called  from 
St.  Paul's  Church,  Waterloo,  Oct.  15,  1877,  and 
assumed  the  Rectorship  on  the  first  Sunday  in 
Advent,  December  2.  He  immediately  ad- 
dressed himself  to  the  work  of  paying  off  the 
church  encumbrances,  his  efforts  being  crowned 
with  such  success  that  on  the  first  Sunday  in 
Lent,  1883,  he  was  able  to  make  the  gratifying 
announcement  that  for  the  first  time  in  the 
history  of  the  parish,  it  was  entirely,  free  from 
debt,  over  $14,000  having  been  collected  and 
paid  through  the  agency  of  the  Parish  Aid 
Society. 

Arrangements  were  at  once  made  to  secure 
the  consecration  of  the  church  on  Easter  Even. 
A  new  altar  was  placed  in  position  on  Maundy 
Thursday,  the  offering  of  the  older  members  of 
the  Church,  the  carved  decorations  thereon 
being  paid  for  by  the  newer  members.  The 
consecration  took  place  on  Easter  Even,  Bishop 
Coxe  officiating,  assisted  by  all  the  city  clergy, 
who  left  their  Lenten  labors  to  "rejoice  with 
them  that  do  rejoice." 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Doty  was  honored  with  the 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  by  Griswold  Col- 
lege, Davenport,  Iowa,  at  its  last  commence- 
ment. He  remains  Rector  after  a  ministry,  to 
Sept.  1st,  of  five  years  and  nine  months. 


126  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES. 

The  parish  was  organized  on  the  Free  Church 
basis.  The  envelope  system  was  soon  adopted 
to  systematize  the  collection  of  the  people's  of- 
ferings. Seats  began  to  be  assigned  during  Dr. 
Schuyler's  rectorship  to  families  and  individu- 
als, and  in  that  of  his  successor  a  specific  rental 
was  placed  upon  each  pew.  The  current 
income  of  the  church  for  the  year  ending  Sept. 
I,  was  $5,570.35- 

Rector, 

The  Rev.  W.  D'Orvillc  Doty,  D.  D. 
Wardens. 
J.  Moreau  Smith,  D.  M.  Dewey. 

Vestrymen, 
J.  H.  Nellis,  Frank  A.  Ward,. 

S.  V.  McDowell,  A.  C.  Walker, 

Robt.  Cartwright,  E.  W.  Osburn, 

John  A,  Davis,  W.  J.  Ashley. 

Clerk  of  Vestry, 

Albert  C.  Walker. 

Treasurer, 

Frank  A.  Ward. 


Cfiurtlj  of  ik^  ^aail  ^(|epliei;tl 


The  Church  of  the  Good  Shepherd  owes  its 
origin  to  the  indefatigable  exertions  of  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Claxton,  who  erected  the  building,  the  cor- 
ner-stone being  laid  by  him,  Sept.  23,  1863,  and 
the  first  service  being  held  July  31,  1864.  His 
assistant,  the  Rev.  DeWitt  C.  Loop,  had  some 
time  previously  conducted  cottage  services  at 
the  residences  of  Mr.  John  Greenwood  and  Mr. 
Robert  Newman,  and  performed  much  pastoral 
labor  in  the  neighborhood. 

Upon  the  removal  of  Dr.  Claxton  from  the 
city,  his  successor  in  St.  Luke's  took  a  warm 
interest  in  the  work  and  devoted  his  first  atten- 
tion to  this  portion  of  the  parish.  The  chapel, 
however,  was,  in  the  Fall  of  1866,  yielded  to 
the  care  of  the  St.  Matthew's  Church  Mission,  at 
the  earnest  solicitation  of  the  Bishop  and  other 
clergy,  and  in  the  hope  of  thereby  securing  a 
practical  unity  among  the  city  parishes  in  the 
work  of  church  extension.  Upon  the  dissolu- 
tion of  the  Mission  organization,  in  June,  1867, 
the  chapel  reverted  to  St.  Luke's,  and  the  Rec- 


128  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES. 

tor  made  immediate  provision  for  sustaining  the 
services  without  interruption. 

After  two  more  years  of  "  nursing  care  and 
protection,"  the  Rev.  Mr.  Anstice,  with  the 
Bishop's  approval,  organized  the  congregation 
into  a  separate  parish,  March  29,  1869.  John 
Greenwood  and  George  Cummingswere  elected 
Wardens,  and  Thomas  Thompson,  Thomas 
Tamblingson,  WilHam  Attridge,  Jr.,  Robert  G. 
Newman,  Samuel  Attridge,  William  Webb, 
Walter  Williamson  and  Charles  H.  Finch  were 
elected  Vestrymen.  The  Rev.  Jacob  Miller, 
who  had  been  ministering  in  the  congregation 
for  twenty  months  as  assistant  to  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Anstice,  was,  on  nomination  by  the  latter, 
elected  the  first  Rector.  Forty-one  families  and 
fifty-one  communicants  were  at  once  transferred 
to  the  new  organization.  The  partition  in  the 
building  was  soon  removed,  additional  seats  in- 
serted and  a  vestry-room  added  in  the  rear. 

Upon  the  removal  of  the  first  Rector  to  Phil- 
adelphia, Sept.  I,  1869,  the  parish  was  subjected 
to  much  trial  in  irregularity  of  ministerial 
service.  The  Rev.  J.  Newton  Spear  was  called 
in  December,  and  roused  much  hopefulness 
among  the  people  ;  but  sickness  overtook  him 
and  the  flock  was  once  more  shepherdless.  The 
Rev.  J  as.  S.  Barnes  next  entered  on  the  field 
May   I,  1870,  but  left  within  six  months.     The 


CHURCH    OF   THE   GOOD   SHEPHERD.       1 29 

Rev.  Fred.  W.  Raikes,  Deacon,  accepted  the 
charge  Dec.  15,  1870,  and  after  a  minstry  of  two 
years  and  more,  resigned  to  take  effect  April  i, 
1873.  He  was  followed  at  once  by  the  Rev. 
Benj.  W.  Stone,  D.  D.,  under  whose  administra- 
ration  a  n  ew  organ  was  purchased  and  sundry 
improvements  effected  in  the  church  property. 
His  resignation  took  effect  after  an  incumbency 
of  eight  years,  April  i,  1881,  when  he  took 
charge  of  St.  Barnabas'  Church,  Reading,  Pa., 
where  he  now  resides. 

The  Rev.  Byron  Holley,  jr..  Deacon,  followed 
immediately  as  the  minister  of  the  Good  Shep- 
herd, remaining  in  this  position  until  his  removal 
June  19,  1882,  to  Darien,  Ga,,  in  which  diocese 
he  was  advanced  to  the  Priesthood  May  3,  1883, 
and  is  still  Rector  of  St.  Andrew's  Church  in 
that  place. 

The  Rev.  James  Stoddard,  of  Suspension 
Bridge,  was  called  to  the  rectorship  June  29th, 
and  entered  upon  his  duties  on  the  first  of  the 
ensuing  August. 

The  Church  was  supported  at  first  on  the 
basis  of  voluntary  subscriptions,  the  seats  being 
free,  which  plan  has  been  substantially  main- 
tained by  the  use  of  the  "  Envelope  System," 
introduced  during  the  incumbency  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Holley,  sittings  being  assigned  to  families  in 
regular  attendance.     The  Church  is  free  from 


130  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 

■debt.     The  current  income  for  the  year  ending 
Sept.  I,  1883,  was  $731.66. 

The  present  officers  are  : 

Rector, 
The  Rev.  James  Stoddard. 

Wardens, 
Geo.  Cummings,  John  Attridge. 

Vestrymen, 
Andrew  Erhardt,  Thomas  Baxendale, 

James  LeLievre,  Fred.  Sparks, 

Thomas  Attridge,  Geo.  Hoare, 

Geo.  H.  Cummings,  Jas.  LeLievre,  jr. 

Clerk  of  Vestry, 
Geo.  Hoare. 

Treasurer, 
Geo.  Cumminfjs. 


mu$ 


'  famli. 


The  inception  of  St.  James'  Parish  was  due 
to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Israel  Foote,  rector  of  St. 
Paul's,  who  accepted  the  offer  of  an  eligible  lot 
on  Grant  Park  from  Mrs.  F.  Galusha  and  de- 
vised means  to  build  thereon.  The  corner- 
stone of  the  church  was  laid  by  Bishop  Coxe, 
July  i8th,  1875. 

The  missionary  committee  having  charge  of 
the  enterprise,  Messrs.  John  Morris,  John 
Southall,  Chas.  S.  Cook  and  Wm.  H.  Wilkins, 
invited,  with  the  Bishop's  approval,  the  Rev. 
James  H.  Dennis,  of  Victor,  to  take  charge  of 
the  enterprise.  The  first  service  was  held  June 
5,  1876,  at  which  time  the  Church  was  consecra- 
ted by  Bishop  Coxe,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dennis 
began  his  work.  The  value  of  the  property 
including  land  was  estimated  at  $13,121.  The 
building  is  intended  as  the  nave  of  the  future 
church  and  is  constructed  of  gray  Lockport 
sandstone  with  trimmings  from  Medina. 

A  Sunday  School  was  organized  on  the  fol- 
lowing Sunday  with  5  teachers  and  45  scholars. 


132  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES. 

The  meeting  of  the  congregation  to  incorpo- 
rate themselves  was  held  Aug.  17,  1876.  The 
Rev.  Jas.  H.  Dennis  presided,  and  Chas.  S. 
Cook  acted  as  Clerk.  Seventeen  voters  were 
present.  Joseph  T.  Cox  and  Wm.  H.  Wilkins 
were  elected  Wardens,  and  John  Morris,  Geo. 
S.  Burley,  C.  S.  Cook,  E.  J.  Shackleton,  J.  H. 
Hathaway,  A.  J.  Masters,  Albert  Rogers  and 
Geo.  J.  Barnett,  Vestrymen.  The  corporate 
name  adopted  was  "  The  Church  of  St.  James 
the  Greater,"  but  by  general  consent  the  latter 
part  of  the  title  has  fallen  into  disuse. 

Plans  for  a  parish  building  for  Sunday  School 
and  social  purposes,  prepared  by  the  Rector, 
were  approved  by  the  Vestry  Nov.  5,  1878,  and 
the  corner  stone  laid  on  the  ensuing  St.  John's 
Day,  by  Bishop  Coxe.  The  edifice  was  com- 
pleted Easter,  1881,  at  a  cost  of  $3,053.55,  and 
has  proved  of  incalculable  value  in  the  work  of 
the  parish.  The  stained-glass  windows  were 
given  by  the  Sunday  School  of  St.  Luke's 
Church,  and  members  of  that  parish  also  con- 
tributed $1,300  toward  the  building  fund. 

The  working  organizations  of  the  parish  are, 
a  Guild,  organized  in  1878  with  50  members  for 
mutual  improvement  and  Church  work,  and  the 
Sunday  School  Workers'  Association,  organized 
in  1882,  with  a  limited  number  of  30  members. 
The  Guild  procured  the  organ  in  the  church,  at 


ST.   JAMES'    CHURCH.  1 33 

a  cost  of  $250,  and  the  latter  association  pur- 
chased the  piano  in  the  parish  building  for 
$400. 

The  Rector  is  now  engaged  in  raising  funds 
to  secure  a  rectory  and  has  obtained  subscrip- 
tions amounting  to  $2,200,  out  of  the  $3,500 
necessary  for  the  purpose. 

St.  James  is  supported  by  the  "  Envelope 
System,"  sittings  being  assigned  to  contribu- 
tors. The  current  income  for  the  year  ending 
Sept.  I,  1883,  was  .$1,341.47. 

The  officers  of  the  Church  are: 

Rector, 
The  Rev.  James  H.  Dennis. 

Wardens, 
Geo.  Nicholson,  John   ]\Iorphy. 

Vestry.mex, 
Enos  Baldwin,  E.  J.  Shackleton, 

W.  H.  Bemish,  Jos.  T.  Cox,  Jr., 

Eric  E.  Havill,  John  Morris, 

Wm.  Sweeting,  Chas.  S.  Cook. 

Clerk, 
Enos  Baldwin. 

Treasurer, 
Chas.  S.  Cook. 


i]\\\m\\  of  tlie  aiiipljctnu. 


The  nucleus  of  the  congregation  of  the  Church 
of  the  Epiphany  was  gathered  by  the  Rev. 
Henry  Anstice,  Rector  of  St.  Luke's,  in  the 
Winter  of  1866-7,  by  cottage  services  in  the 
8th  Ward.  The  cornerstone  of  the  building 
was  laid  by  him  July  23,  1868,  and  the  opening 
service  was  held  Feb.  28,  1869,  the  Rev.  W.  W. 
Raymond  being  then  the  Assistant  Minister. 

The  Rev.  Geo.  S.  Baker  entered  upon  the 
duties  of  this  position  Aug.  14,  1870,  and  to  his 
ministry  is  largely  due  the  growth  and  prosper- 
ity of  the  enterprise,  John  Hancock  and  Romeyn 
Boughton  being  the  chief  helpers  among  the 
laity, 

A  lot  adjoining  the  chapel  having  been  se- 
cured, a  parsonage  house  was  built  thereon  in 
1872,  at  a  cost  of  $4,000. 

The  Rev.  C.  M.  Nickerson  succeeded  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Baker  Nov.  i,  1875,  and  after  minis- 
tering until  Sept.  13,  1876,  in  the  relation  of 
assistant,  he  was  elected  Rector  at  that  date 
when  the  organization  of  a  parish  was  effected. 


CHURCH    OF   THE   EPIPHANY.  1 35 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Anstice  presided  at  the  meeting 
and  Frank  R.  Plummer  acted  as  clerk.  Messrs. 
J.  H.  Martindale  and  Romeyn  Boughton  were 
elected  Wardens,  and  John  Hancock,  Da\'id 
Fairman,  F.  W.  Bergh,  James  Ratcliffe,  W.  H. 
Cross,  F.  R.  Plummer,  John  Clements  and  J. 
H  Stedman,  Vestrymen.  One  hundred  and 
seventy  families  and  two  hundred  and  two 
communicants  were  transferred  from  St.  Luke's, 
and  the  Vestry  were  put  in  legal  possession  of 
the  property,  consisting  of  the  church  and  rec- 
tory valued  at  $18,000. 

The  Church,  having  always  been  free  from 
debt,  was  consecrated  by  the  Bishop  of  the 
Diocese  on  the  Feast  of  the  Epiphany,  1877, 
eighteen  of  the  Rev.  clergy  testifying  their  in- 
terest by  being  present  at  the  solemnity. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Nickerson  resigned  the  rector- 
ship Jan.  I,  1 88 1,  to  accept  a  call  to  Trinity 
Church,  Lansingburgh,  his  present  residence. 
He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Amos  Skeele,  of 
Holyoke,  i\Iass.,  who  was  called  March  21,  1881, 
and  entered  at  once  ui:)on  the  field. 

In  1882,  a  commodious  chancel  with  a  win- 
dow of  exquisitely  beautiful  stained  glass  was 
added  to  the  church,  in  memory  of  Mrs.  Julia 
Hills  Mumford,  by  one  of  the  Wardens.  The 
improvement  included  a  robing-room,  organ- 
chamber,  and  on  the  opposite  side  an  apart- 
ment for  the  Sunda}'-School   library,  and  other 


136  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES. 

uses.  For  the  purpose  of  placing  a  new  organ 
in  the  chamber  provided  for  it,  $2,150  was 
raised  by  the  congregation. 

The  chapel  of  the  Epiphany  was  supported 
from  the  outset  by  the  "  Envelope  Plan," 
which  was  continued  under  the  Church  organ- 
ization until  Easter,  1883,  when  the  Vestry 
unanimously  decided  it  to  be  for  the  interest  of 
the  parish  to  discontinue  the  free-seat  system 
and  to  rent  the  pews.  The  current  income  of 
the  Church  averages  about  $700  per  annum. 

The  present  officers  are  : 

Rector, 
The  Rev.  Amos  Skeele. 

Wardens, 
Geo.  E.  Mumford,  John  Clements. 

Vestrymen, 
Jonas  Jones,  E.  W.  Tripp, 

J.  H.  Stedman,  John  C.  Smith, 

W.  H.  Cross,  William  S.  Oliver, 

George  H.  Perkins,  Schuyler  Lozier. 

Clerk  of  Vestry, 
William  S.  Oliver. 

Treasurer, 
John  C.  Smith. 


^t.  ^ndt)^uj'$  ^k^tt{k^ 


The  first  efforts  for  Church  extension  in  the 
field  now  occupied  by  St.  Andrew's  Parish,  were 
put  forth  in  1866  by  the  City  Mission,  sup- 
ported by  the  four  then  existing  parishes,  St. 
Luke's,  St.  Paul's,  Trinity  and  Christ  Churches. 
P'rom  June  of  1867  the  work  was  carried  on  by 
the  Rector  of  Christ  Church,  to  whom  it  had 
been  assigned,  until  the  Rev.  Daniel  Flack  was 
appointed  to  the  field  June  10,  1870,  as  assis- 
tant to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Battershall.  A  parish  was 
organized  July  6,  1871,  with  the  Rev.  Daniel 
Flack  as  Rector,  under  the  title  of  St.  Clement's 
Church.  A  lot  was  secured  and  during  1873- 
'74  the  Chapel  and  Chancel  of  the  proposed 
Church  was  completed  and  occupied,  the  Rev. 
David  A.  Bonnar  having  become  Rector  Feb. 
8,  1874.  The  Rectory  adjoining  the  Church 
was  erected  in  i874-'75.  The  Guild,  in  the 
Spring  of  1876,  erected  a  frame  building  to  be 
used  for  reading  room,  sewing  school  and  social 
purposes,  at  a  cost  of  $230,  the  members  doing 
the  work.     With  the  exception  of  this  building, 


138  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES. 

which  was  moved  off  the  lot,  the  property  of 
St.  Clement's  passed  through  foreclosure  and 
judgment,  into  the  possession  of  Mr.  Wm.  B. 
Douglas  in  1877.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Bonnar  con- 
tinued to  hold  service  in  the  Guild  building 
until  Dec.  22,  1878. 

The  Bishop  and  Standing  Committee  having 
authorized  the  formation  of  a  new  parish  in 
the  field  formerly  occupied  by  St.  Clement's, 
the  organization  of  St.  Andrew's  Church  was 
effected  Feb.  7,  1879.  The  services  preliminary 
to  organization  and  until  June  i,  1879,  were  held 
by  the  Rev.  Albert  Wood. 

The  first  Wardens  of  the  Church  were  Wil- 
liam B.  Douglas  and  William  Ratt,  and  the 
Vestrymen,  John  J.  Luckett,  William  Dove, 
Thomas  A.  Evans,  Frederick  Suter,  George 
Yeares,  Abner  Burbank  and  Christopher  Rob- 
erts. 

The  Rev.  A.  S.  Crapsey,  an  assistant  minister 
in  Trinity  Church,  New  York,  was  elected  first 
Rector  of  St.  Andrew's  and  entered  upon  the 
field  June  i,  1879.  The  completion  of  the  plan 
of  the  church  was  undertaken  in  the  following 
August,  and  on  Whitsunday,  May  16,  1880,  it 
was  consecrated  by  the  Bishop  of  the  Diocese, 

The  entire  property  is  valued  by  the  Wardens 
at  $45,000.     There  is  also  an  endownment  fund 


ST.   ANDREW'S   CHURCH.  I  39 

of  $15,000.     St.  Andrew's   is  a  "  free   church." 
Its  current  income  for  the  year  ending  Sept.  i^ 
1883,  is  $2,804.63. 
The  present  officers  are : 

Rector, 
Rev.  A.  S.  Crapsey. 

Wardens, 
William  B.  Douglas,  John.  J.  Luckett. 

Vestrymen, 

William  Dove,  Thomas  A.  Evans, 

Frederick  Suter,  George  Yeares, 

Henry  B.  Ellwanger,  Samuel  L.  Seldcn, 

Henry  S.  Crabbe. 

Clerk  of  Vestry, 
Thomas  A.  Ev^ans. 

Treasurer, 
William  Dove. 


mmi 


In  the  Summer  of  1878,  a  mission  on  a  mod- 
erate scale,  under  the  name  of  St.  Mark's  Mis- 
sion, was  begun  in  the  northeast  quarter  of  the 
city,  by  the  Rev.  Albert  Wood.  The  first  ser- 
vice was  held  June  30,  1878,  in  an  unused 
building  corner  of  North  and  Wadsworth  Sts., 
and  service  was  continued  regularly  thereafter 
on  Sunday  evenings,  with  a  Sunday  School  in 
the  afternoon.  In  November,  1879,  the  mission 
was  removed  to  a  more  convenient  room,  cor- 
ner of  Channing  St.  and  Concord  Ave.,  where 
its  services  and  Sunday  and  Sewing  Schools 
have  continued  to  be  held  up  to  this  time. 
Rent  is  paid  for  this  building,  and  the  mission 
as  yet  possesses  no  property  except  the  chapel 
furniture.  The  usual  attendance  at  the  services 
ranges  from  twenty  to  forty.  The  Sunday 
School  has  eight  teachers  and  over  a  hundred 
scholars,  the  attendance  ranging  from  sixty  to 
a  hundred. 


Ibsinn. 


This  effort  to  establish  the  Church  in  East 
Rochester  was  undertaken  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  J. 
A.  Massey,  formerly  of  Mobile,  Ala.,  at  the  in- 
stance of  a  number  of  the  clergy  and  laity,  who 
felt  that  the  time  had  come  for  a  missionary 
movement  in  this  field.  A  Sunday  School  had 
been  maintained  on  or  near  University  Ave.  for 
some  two  years,  and  another  on  Park  Ave.  for 
one  Summer  by  Church  workers  in  the  vicinity. 
In  May,  1882,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Massey,  with  the 
cordial  approval  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Doty,  the 
nearest  Rector,  and  the  other  city  clergy,  and 
with  the  official  sanction  of  the  Bishop,  began 
prospecting  in  the  field,  and  in  September  fully 
entered  on  the  work.  Three  lots  were  pur- 
chased on  Hawthorn  St.,  extending  through  to 
Culver  Park,  120  x  140  feet,  and  on  the  12th 
of  February  a  chapel  46  x  24  feet  was  com- 
menced, which  was  finished  and  occupied  on 
the  1st  of  April,  the  Rev.  Mr  Doty  and  the 
Rev.  Drs.  Piatt  and  Anstice  making  addresses 
at  the  opening  service. 


142  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES. 

The  cost  of  the  chapel  with  all  its  appoint- 
ments complete  was  $2,063.40,  of  which  over 
$400  was  contributed  by  ladies  of  St.  Luke's,  to 
furnish  the  chancel  and  provide  the  font,  altar, 
linen  and  sterling-silver  communion  service. 
The  total  gifts  of  St.  Luke's  parishioners  toward 
the  building  and  site  amount  to  $1,263.95. 

The  first  visitation  of  the  Bishop  occurred 
on  the  loth  of  June.  Two  services  each  Sun- 
day and  a  Sunday  School  have  been  regularly 
sustained  since  the  chapel  was  opened,  with  a 
gratifying  attendance. 

The  property  is  held  in  trust  for  the  future 
Church  organization  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  J.  A.  Mas- 
sey,  Richard  Wright,  (who  was  architect  and. 
builder  of  the  chapel,)  Charles  P.  Boswell  and 
Wm.  H.  Averill. 


^Ijin;t(l 


(onu. 


This  institution  sprung  from  the  conviction 
of  the  Clergy  and  Laity  that  the  Church  should 
possess  and  control  a  Home  where  her  orphan 
and  destitute  children  might  be  cared  for  and 
taught,  and  aged  communicants  be  sheltered  in 
their  declining  years.  The  idea  was  first 
broached  by  the  Kev.  Dr.  Claxton,of  St.  Luke's, 
and  readily  adopted  by  the  other  Clergy.  The 
offerings  at  the  joint  services  on  Maundy 
Thursday  were  for  several  years  devoted  to 
forming  the  nucleus  of  a  fund  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  such  an  institution. 

Under  appointment  by  their  respective  Rec- 
tors, five  ladies  from  each  of  the  four  then  exist- 
ing parishes,  met  on  the  1st  of  June  1868,  for 
the  purpose  of  organizing  a  Church  Home. 
The  of^cers  elected  were  Mrs.  Geo.  H.  Mum- 
ford,  Pres.;  Mrs.  D.  M.  Dewey,  Vice  Pres.; 
Mrs.  Edward  M.  Smith,  Cor.  Sec;  Mrs.  J.  L. 
Booth,  Rec.  Sec;  and  Miss  Mary  J.  Clark, 
Treas. 

On  the  2nd  of  July,  a  letter  was  received 
from    Mr.  G.    R.   Clark,  and  Mr.  G.  E.   Mum- 


144  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES. 

ford,  proposing  to  give  for  the  purposes  of  the 
Home,  a  house  and  lot  on  Mt.  Hope  Avenue, 
valued  at  $5,300,  which  offer  was  most  grate- 
fully accepted,  and  a  meeting  of  the  lady  man- 
agers was  held  on  the  premises  July  21,  1868. 
The  Home  was  soon  filled  with  inmates,  and 
the  necessity  of  inci'eased  accommodation  be- 
ing evident,  a  committee  of  gentlemen  was 
appointed  to  solicit  subscriptions  for  the  erec- 
tion of  a  new  building  upon  the  site,  and  Mr. 
George  R.  Clark  was  requested  to  act  as  the 
building  committee. 

The  corner-stone  was  laid  by  the  Rev.  Henry 
Anstice,  in  the  absence  of  the  Bishop,  April  20, 
1869,  and  on  the  26th  of  October,  the  building 
was  formally  opened,  all  the  city  clergy  taking 
part  in  the  exercises  of  the  occasion.  The  total 
cost  of  the  new  structure  was  nearly  $15,000. 

The  Institution  was  incorporated  July  24, 
1869,  with  a  board  of  thirteen  trustees,  the  cer- 
tificate being  filed  September  20,  in  the  County 
Clerk's  office  and  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary 
of  State,  September  21.  Mr.  George  R.  Clark 
was  elected  President ;  Rev.  Dr.  Foote,  Vice- 
President  ;  George  H.  Humphrey,  Secretary, 
and  John  H.  Rochester,  Treasurer.  The  prac- 
tical management  of  the  Home  remained,  under 
the  legal  organization,  in  the  hands  ofthe  Board 
of  Lady  Managers. 


CHURCH    HOME.  1 45 

The  desirability  of  still  further  increased 
facilities  bein;^  apparent,  the  lady  managers  re- 
solved, March  5,  1880,  that  "The  interests  of 
the  Home  require  the  erection  of  an  additional 
building;"  which  resolution  was  approved  by 
the  Trustees  and  a  building  committee  consist- 
ing of  Messrs.  Mumford,  Douglas,  Perkins  and 
Rochester,  were  appointed  to  prepare  and  exe- 
cute the  necessary  plans.  The  new  wing  was 
completed  and  thrown  open  at  the  annual  dona- 
tion reception,  Nov.  18,  1880.  Its  cost  was 
$11,590.44. 

The  present  number  of  inmates  is  eleven  old 
ladies  and  thirty-four  children.  Mrs.  Sarah  E. 
Godfrey  is  the  matron,  and  Mrs.  Albert  Wood 
the  teacher.  The  Rev.  Fortune  C  Brown  has 
officiated  as  Chaplain  by  appointment  of  the 
city  clergy,  since  April,  1879.  Services  are 
maintained  everj'  Sunday  in  the  chapel. 

The  Home  is  supported  by  monthh'  collec- 
tions in  the  churches,  and  individual  donations 
from  its  friends.  There  are,  however,  invested 
funds  held  by  the  Trustees  amounting  to 
$8,787,  the  income  of  which  is  applicable  to  the 
purposes  of  the  Home.  The  annual  expenditure 
averages  $4,500. 


146  IIIST0RIC7\L   SKETCIIES. 

The  present   officers  of   the  Board    of    Lady 
Managers  of  tho  Church  Home  are  : 

President, 
Mrs.  D.  M.  Dewey. 

Vice  President, 
Mrs.  Hiram  Sibley. 

C(  )RRESPONDING   SECRETARY, 
Mrs.  M.  M.  Mathews. 

Recording  Secretary, 
Mrs.  W.  C.  Rowley. 

Treasurer, 
Miss  C.  L.  Rochester. 


^mml  3M$im 


OF   THE 


fijttwfi  in  |(fft(ic$tti*. 


148  GENERAL 

FOR  THE  YEAR 


,    STATISTICS. 
ENDING  SEPT.  1, 


1883. 


-x 

7. 

0 

NAMES. 

i 

< 

J 

p 

j; 

K 

< 

c2 

< 

0 

< 

K 
D 

£ 

CQ 

U 

% 

03 

0 

St.  Luke's, 

41 

24 

20 

36 

$14,502  28 

St.  Paul's, 

23 

37 

7 

17 

6,299  31 

Trinity, 

45 

20 

5 

10 

3^564  15 

Christ, 

32 

27 

14 

30 

9.859  33 

Good  Shepherd, 

18 

9 

8 

16 

794  37 

St.  James', 

14 

8 

10 

16 

2,007  87 

Epiphany, 

51 

12 

10 

20 

4,161   55 

St.  Andrew's, 

32 

19 

16 

13 

4,375   88 

St.  Mark's, 

7 

I 

3 

54  09 

St.  John's, 

4 

3 

4 

2,791  05 

Church  Home, 

6 

I 

3 

35  00 

Totals, 

273 

156 

95 

158 

$/|8,^/|^   88 

GENERAL    STATISTICS. 
STATE  OF  THE  CHURCH  SEPT.  1,  1883. 


149 


NAMES. 

< 

H 
Z 
< 

z 

Q 

U 

I 

< 
a 
H 

'ji 

'A 

< 

5 

u 

to 

2  . 

"  X 

z  :j 
■7i 

St.  Luke's, 

312 

579 

44 

348 

900 

St.  Paul's, 

200 

382 

20 

151 

700 

Trinity, 

130 

180 

16 

140 

520 

Christ, 

234 

440 

23 

236 

600 

Good  Shepherd, 

67 

112 

9 

79 

200 

St.  James', 

100 

120 

30 

300 

300 

Epiphany, 

157 

225 

20 

165 

300 

St.  Andrew's, 

159 

225 

16 

150 

600 

St.  Mark's, 

15 

16 

8 

120 

80 

St.  John's, 

21 

18 

8 

70 

170 

Church  Home, 

23 

2 

28 

60 

Totals, 

1395 

2320 

196 

1787 

4430 

^2^ 


cV 


DEC  2   C    193fi