Cuyahoga County, Ohio - Chapter 49: Protestant Episcopal Churches, 1870

Chapter 49: Protestant Episcopal Churches

Trinity - St. John's - Grace - St. Paul's - St. James' - Christ Church - St. Mary's - Grace (Eighteenth Ward) - All Saints' - St. Mark's - Memorial Church of the Good Shepherd - Emmanuel - Sst. Luke's.

Trinity

TRINITY parish was organized on the 9th day of November, 1816, at the residence of Phincas Shepherd. The communicants were very few. Darius Cooper was chosen lay reader. 'There was then no Episcopal clergyman, not even a missionary, in this part of the State.

In March, 1817, Rev. Roger Searle, a clergyman from Connecticut, visited Cleveland and reorganized the parish; there being thirteen families and eleven communicants. IZe-repeated his visits and administered the sacraments annually during the three suceecding years, but in the intermediate time the services were conducted by a lay reader. Part of the time at least they were held in Cleveland village. The rite of confirmation was first administered by Bishop Chase, in September, 1818. In 1820 the parish was located in Brooklyn, where most of the efficient members resided, but about 1822 it was moved back to Cleveland. Up to 1825 services were occasionally held by Mr. Searle; in that year Rev. Silas C. Freeman was installed as rector, but served at the same time at Norwalk.

On the 12th of February, 1828, the parish was legally incorporated; the following gentlemen being named as wardens and vestrymen: Josiah Barber, Phineas Shepherd, Charles Taylor, James 8. Clark, Sherlock J. Andrews, Levi Sargeant and John W. Allen. 'The same year Mr. Freeman went Hast and obtained a thousand dollars to aid in building a church edifice. A framed house of worship was accordingly begun in 1828, on the corner of Seneca and St. Clair strects, and completed the following year, the total cost being three thousand dollars. It was consecrated on the 12th day of August, 1829, and was the first house devoted to the worship of God in the present city of Cleveland.

In 1830, Rev. Mr. McElroy succeeded Mr. Freeman, being the first rector who gave his whole time to the parish, for which he received an annual salary of four bundred and fifty dollars. Thenceforward the parish continued to grow in strength and influence, keeping pace with the flourishing village and youthful city.

In 1852 the church lot, which had been bought for two dollars and a half per foot, was sold for two hundred and fifty dollars per foot, possession being agreed to be delivered by the first day of May, 1854. The building was destroyed by fire, however, before that day arrived. In 1853 a large stone house of worship was begun on Superior street, near Bond.

*The churches are arranged chronologically by denominations; each denomination taking place according to the time when its first church was formed, and the churches of each denomination being also ar- forty feet, and the width, including the buttresses, sixty-six fect. 'The tower, which rises from one of the rear angles of the building, contains a chime of nine bells. Passing to the interior the visitor finds a nave one hundred feet by fifty-two, connected with which by a lofty arch is a chancel about twenty-five fect square. Both nave and chancel are richly ornamented in polychrome, and are lighted with stained-glass windows. <A valuable organ adds the charm of music to the fit attractions of the place. 'The guildrooms, school-rooms and parsonage are on the same lot with the church edifice.

The church is now ina highly flourishing eondition, and numbers about three hundred and fifty communicants. The Sunday school contains a hundred and eighty scholars. The Guild of the Iloly Child and the Women's Guild are also effective parochial agencies. St. Peter's, St. James', and Ascension Chapels, Trinity Church Home and the Children's Home are institutions connected with the parish.

The following are the present officials: Rev. John W. Brown, D.D., rector; Rev. James A. Bolles, D.D., and Rev. W. T. Whitmarsh, assistant ministers; Charles Ranney and Herbert C. Foote, lay readers; Ansel Roberts, senior warden; Samuel L. Mather, junior warden and treasurer; Bolivar Butts, secretary; William J. Boardman, Rufus P. Spaulding, John Shelley, Bolivar Butts, Oliver H. Brooks, Orville B. Skinner, Robert D. Lowe and John F. Whitelaw, vestrymen.

St. John's Church, on the West Side, was organized 1n 1834, but until 1836 public worship was held in Columbus Block, in school-houses and in the houses of members. In 1836 (Rev. Seth Davis being the rector), the membership having reached a large number, the commodious stone church now in use, at the corner of Church and Wall streets, was erected at an original cost of seventeen thousand dollars.

For two years the congregation worshipped in the basement; then, under the rectorship of Rev. S. R. Crane, the andience-room was completed and furnished with seats, the rector himself advancing the funds. The prosperity was shown by a confirmation class of seventy the first year. In 1839 Rev. D. W. Tolford followed Mr. Crane, and after a pastorate of three years was himself followed by Rev. William Burton, who supplied another three years of work. About 1848 he was succeeded by his brother, Rev. Lewis Burton, D.D.

April 3, 1866, came a serious calamity in the partial destruction of the church edifice by fire. This necessitated an additional expense of about twentyfive thousand dollars in rebuilding and improvements.

In 1871, after Rev. Dr. Burton's rectorship had continued nearly a quarter of a century, his place was filled by the present rector, Rev. J. Crockar White, D.D. In 1875 the Sunday school had increased so much as to outgrow its former quarters, and a beautiful chapel was built at a cost of about seven thousand dollars.

The Sunday school now numbers, with its branch at West Cleveland, fifty teachers and three hundred scholars, and is doing excellent work; among other things supporting, at Kenyon College, Gambier, a Japanese candinate for missionary work, at a cost of four hundred dollar per year.

Grace Church

The parish of Grace Church was organized July 9, 1845, at the residence of its rector, Rey. Richard Bury, by former members of Trinity Church. 'The object of the organization was to provide additional church accommodation, <A lot was purchased at a cost of nine hundred dollars, on the corner of Erie and Ifuron streets (then the eastern limits of the city), on which a substantial brick building, forty by a hundred feet, was erected. This building cost about ten thousand dollars. Subsequently a chapel was built and a chancel added, (the latter as a memorial. ) These were erected under the supervision of a former rector, Rev, Lawson Carter, who paid the larger portion of the expense. The exact cost is not known, but may be estimated at fifteen thousand dollars.

The style is gothic, and the interior, including seats, chancel furniture and fixtures, are of solid oak. It contains eight memorial windows, some of which wre of superior excellence in artistic design and coloring.

The names of the first vestrymen were A. A. Treat und EK. I', Punderson, wardens; H. A. Ackley, Moses Kelley, J. F. Jenkins, 8. Englehart, William Richards, John Powell, Thomas Bolton and George F. Marshall, vestrymen.

The several rectors, with their times of service, have been as follows: Rev. Alexander Varian, from May 25, 1846, to October 1, 1849. Rev. Timothy Jarvis Carter, December 20, 1849, to November 15,

The City Of Cleveland

1852, when he died. His remains and those of his wife are interred beneath the chancel. Rev. James Cole Tracy succeeded and remained only five months. Rev. Lawson Carter, from July 10, 1852, to July 10, 1860. Revs. Gideon B. Perry, William A. Rich and William Allen Fisk were successively assistants under Mr. Carter - the latter succeeding to the rectorship. Rey. Alvah H. Washburn, from April 1, 1866, to December, 1877, when he died. Rev. G. G. Carter was soon after elected rector, but declined to accept. He however continued the services until November 1, 1877, when Rev. George W. Hinckle, the present rector, assumed the charge.

The money to build Grace Church was subscribed and donated on condition that the seats should remain forever free. This is supposed to have been the second church (St. Peter's at Ashtabula being the first) in this country to return to the primitive customs of free seats and weekly communion. It has always been noted for its rigid adherence to the rubrics and teachings of the Prayer Book, and its freedom from sensational and doubtful expedients for maintaining the service; and is a noticeable fact, that the objected to have since been geuerally adopted. The founders and supporters of this parish have always made special and unremitted efforts to furnish accommodations and services to a class of persons who for various reasons feel unwilling to attend other churches.

St. Paul's Church was organized October 26, 1846; at which time forty-five persons associated themselves as the '' Parish of St. Paul's Church in the City of Cleveland."

At a meeting held November 6, 1846, the following named persons were elected wardens and vestrymen, to serve until Easter Monday, 1847: D. W. Duty, Aaron Clark, wardens; James Kellogg, H. L. Noble, Moses Kelly, W. J. Warner, T. W. Morse, O. A. Brooks, Oliver Arey and Edward Shepard, vestrymen.

'the church. Dr. Perry accepted the call, and commenced services on the first Sunday in December, 1846. These services were celebrated in an upper ° room of a building located on Superior street, near Seneca, at which place the public worship of the church was regularly held until January, 1851.

In March, 1848, a lot of ground on the corner of Sheriff street and Euclid avenue was purchased for two thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars, for the erection of a church edifice; ''to be built of wood, at a cost not to exceed five thousand dollars." This~ building when nearly finished, was destroyed by fire on the 3d of August, 1849, The next day the vestry met, and resolved to '' build another church of brick and stone on the same lot." A brick edifice was built at a cost of seventeen thousand one hundred and twentyeight dollars, not including spire or bell, which were added several years later. This church was opened for divine service in January, 1851, the first sermon being preached in it by Rev. Dr. Perry. In order to bring the parish into exact conformity with then existing statute laws, it was re-organized in January, 1852, at which time three trustees were chosen, in whom and their successors was vested the title to the church property. On the 19th day of October, the Rev. Dr. Perry resigned the rectorship of the parish.

On the 31st of November, 1852, Rev. R. B. Claxton, D.D., was called. He began work March 7, 1853, and continued nearly seven years. Under his admin-

The Rev. Wilbur F, Paddock was next called as rector in February, 1860. During his rectorship a lot of ground was secured adjoining the church, upon which a chapel was built, at the cost of six thousand five hundred dollars. Dr. Paddock resigned in April, 1863.

In July, 1863, Rev. J. H. Rylance was called to the parish. He resigned March 18, 1867. Rev. Dr. Rylance was succeeded, November 15, 1867, by Rev. Frederick Brooks, who assumed the duties of rector. During his service the wardens and vestrymen of the church were elected and constituted trustees and clerk of the parish of St. Paul's church of Cleveland, in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio.

In 1874 the church property was sold for one hundred and fifteen thousand dollars, and the services were held in a rented building on Prospect street, until the completion of the chapel on the corner of Euclid and Case avenues.

Mr. Brooks' rectorship ended in his accidental death, September 15, 1874. His place was supplied for several months thereafter by Rev. W. O. French, D.D., and Rev. C. M. Sturgis. On May 16, 1875, Rev. C. Maurice Wines was called. On July 2d, of this year, the corner stone of the new edifice was laid by the Rt. Rev. T. A. Jaggar, D.D., Bishop of Southern Ohio, assisted by the rector and other clergy. Rev. Mr. Wines resigned May 1, 1876, and was suceceded by the Rev. Nelson Somerville Rulison, who assumed the duties of rector November 10, 1876, and still performs them. On December 24, 1876, the new church edifice was opened for public worship; the entire cost of construction and appurtenances being nearly one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars. ;

The register from October 26, 1846, to Easter, 1877, shows eight hundred and fifty-eight baptisms; five hundred and twenty-three confirmations; two hundred and seventy-nine marriages, and four hundred and fifteen burials. The present Church officers are: Rev. Nelson Somerville Rulison, rector; Rev. W. OC. French, D.D., assistant minister; C. J. Comstock, senior warden; J. H. Devereux, junior warden; Zenas King, A. C. Armstrong, F. W. Hubby, H. C. Ranney, George A. Tisdale, J. M. Adams, E. S. Page, C. K. Stanley, vestrymen; C. E. Stanley, clerk and treasurer.

St. James' Church stands on a large lot at the corner of Superior and Alabama streets; adjoining it and on the same lot is a very commodious rectory. The church edifice, a brick structure, is thirty-one feet in width and sixty-five feet in length, exclusive of the robing room.

'The establishment of St. James' parish was mainly the result of the labors of Rev. R. Bury, who, in consequence of advanced age, resigned the rectorship in 1871. Under the charge of Rev. W. E. Toll, successor of Mr. Bury, the church was largely increased in membership. In July, 1874, Rev. J. J. A. Morgan accepted a call to the pastorate, which position he retained until Easter Sunday, 1879. Since this time the vestry has connected the church with Trinity Parish by calling its rector, Rev. J. W. Brown, D.D., to the rectorship of St. James'. Rev. W.'T. Whitmarsh, assistant rector of Trinity, has been placed in charge of the parish. W. B. Lane is treasurer, and M. Green clerk, of St. James' Church.

Christ Protestant Episcopal Church was organized in 1868, as a mission of St. Paul's, with Rev. J. W. C. Duerr, minister in charge. Services were held in an upper room of the old '' Knitting Mill" on Pittsburg street until the following autumn, when by permission the society used St. Luke's Church. In December, 1869, the mission was changed and regularly incorporated as Christ Church and admitted into convention of the diocese. By contribution, on the part of the other Protestant Episcopal churches and individual donations a house of worship was built at a total cost of twelve thousand dollars, on Orange street, corner Belmont, and consecrated November 19, 1871, by Bishop Bedell. The present number of communicants is about two hundred.

The officers of the church are: J. W. O. Duerr, rector; Wm. Hilscher, Conrad Schmitt, wardens; John Stuber, Casher Pfeffer, Wm. Becker, -Adolphus Kaske, William and Augustus Orschekowski, vestrymen.

Grace Church was organized in 1869, under the ministerial charge of Rev. Frederick Brooks, rector of St. Paul's. The early services were held in the old Presbyterian Church building, which was subsequently purchased by the society of Grace Church, and moved to its present location on the corner of Harvard and Sawyer streets. Rev. Royal B. Baleom was the second pastor, conducting the service in connection with his regular duties as rector of St. Mary's Church, and as such continued to the summer of 1871. At this time Rey. Stephen W. Garrett became the rector of Grace Church, remaining until the fall of 1874, when he was succeeded by Rev. Marmaduke M. Dillon. In the latter part of 1878 Rev. Mr. Dillon resigned his charge, and the parish of Grace Church then became a mission; being now under the care of Rev. Mr. Pittenger.

In 1863 Mr. 8S. N. Sanford, having associated with him Mr. Levi Buttles, purchased the '' Cleveland Female Seminary" and made of it a "'Church School for Girls." From that date, and in consequence of Mr. Sanford's acting as licensed lay reader for the school, the desire grew to have a regular and permanent parochial organization, either in connectio with the school, or in its immediate vicinity. In 1868 this desire took shape. The rapid increase of population in that section of the city necessitated action, and therefore at a meeting held on the 25th day of May, in that year, articles of association were signed and the following wardens and vestrymen were elected: S. N. Sanford, senior warden; Levi Buttles, junior warden; Walter Blythe, Lorenzo R. Chapman, H. C. Deming, J. W. Fawcett and F. W. Mason, vestrymen.

Efforts were at once made to secure the services of a resident rector. The Rev. W. OC. French, rector of Christ Church, Oberlin, had acted for several years as chaplain of the seminary. His services were free to all who chose to attend, whether connected with the school or not. Many persons were baptized and confirmed. It was found impossible to secure a settled pastor at once, and therefore regular services on Sundays and weck days were maintained, partly by -the assistance of Rev. Wm. F. B. Jackson, and partly by lay-reading.

On Easter Monday, 1869, at the first regular annual parish meeting, a vestry was chosen for the year composed as before, with the exception that F. W. Mason's place was filled by James Withycombe. On the 2d of June, the same year, the parish was admitted into union with the Convention of the Diocese of Ohio, at its session, in All Saints', Portsmouth.

On the 5th day of September, 1869, the Rev. Royal B. Balcom was called to the rectorship, accepted the same and entered upon his duties the 26th day of the sume month, having also temporary charge of a missionary work of the church at Newburg.

The corner stone of the church building was laid by Bishop Bedell on the 29th of September of this same year. 'The edifice was opened for Divine worship March 20, 1870, and the church has gone on ever since in its work, both temporal and spiritual, proving a blessing to the neighborhood. Yearly additions have been made to the roll of communicants, and considerably over two hundred have been made members of Christ's Church in holy baptism. In 1872 a very fine organ was placed in the church as a memorial.

The Rev. Mr. Balcom resigned in 1872 and the Rey. J. J. A. Morgan succeeded to the work. He remained rector for eighteen months and was followed by the

St. Mary's Guild has a president, vice president, secretary and treasurer, with about forty members. The organization of the Guild was made in July, 1879, and the entire lay-work of the parish will be carried on under its name and rules.

Beginning with the summer of 1855, services were held in that neighborhood by several of the clergy of Cleveland, but especially by the Rey. Lewis Burton, D.D., rector of St. John's Church. In 1868, on the first Sunday in April, the North Brooklyn Union Sunday School by reorganization became Episcopal, and connected itself as a mission school with St. John's Church. In this same year the first subscription was made for the purpose of building a church.

During the winter of 1869-70 semi-monthly cottage lectures and Sunday services were held by Dr. Burton at the residence of Mr. James Craig, in the schoolhouse at the corner of Wade avenue and Mill street, and in the Hights' Congregational Church.

So much interest was awakened by the labors of Dr. Burton, that on the 5th of May, 1870, he was able to lay the corner-stone of the present church building. On the 31st of July, in the same year, the building was opened with appropriate services, under the name of All Saints' Chapel. From August 1st regular services were held in it by the rector of St. John's, Dr. Burton, and his assistant, Rev. William Lucas.

In June and July of 1871 the society, which had been a mission of St. John's Church, was duly organized into a parish and legally incorporated, fortyfour persons signing the articles of association. At that time the following vestry was elected: A. James, senior warden; John Greening, junior warden and treasurer; James Craig, I. H. Amos, J. J. Boote, E. Gilchrist, C. E. Loper, Harry James, and R. M. Thompson, secretary. On August 1st of this year the Rev. Lewis Burton, D.D., began the joint rectorship of All Saints' and St. Mark's Churches; giving one service to each every Sunday. Lay readers under his direction performed a second service each Sunday.

On the 14th of May, 1874, (Ascension Day,) the church being free from debt, it was consecrated by the Bishop of the diocese, the Rt. Rev. G. T. Bedell, D.D. This year the parish became self-supporting.

the rectorship of All Saints' Church. About September Ist, 1875, Rev. John Henry Burton began his labors as rector of the parish. On 15th of October, 1876, a large frame building which had been erected in the rear of the church, chiefly for Sunday school purposes, was opened with apprepriate exercises.

In April, 1877, Rev. J. H. Burton resigned, and Rev. Lewis Burton, D.D., by request, resumed the rectorship of All Saints'. On the 12th of August of this year Rev. Lewis William Burton, son of Rey. Dr. Burton, was called to be assistant minister of the church, and began his labors as such September 1st. On the 12th of June, 1878, Rev. Lewis Burton, D.D., resigned, and Rev. Lewis William Burton was called, accepting June 21st.

In his report to the convention of the diocese, May 1, 1878, the rector reported one hundred and fourteen communicants, and two hundred and four scholars and twenty-four teachers in the Sunday school. In connection with the church, are the Parish Aid Society, the Brooks' Association, the Mutual Improvyement Club, and the Burton Cadets, the latter named after the founder of the parish, Rev. Dr. Burton. The present officials of the church are Rey. Lewis William Burton, rector; I. H. Amos, lay reader; John Greening, senior warden and treasurer; James Craig, junior warden; I. H. Amos, secretary; J. W. Pearce, assistant secretary; T. J. List, Robert Curtis, C. E. Loper, James Boyd, Asa Foote and Ralph James, vestrymen.

St. Mark's church, a small, neat wooden structure, stands upon the rear end of an eligible lot on Franklin street, having a frontage of sixty-six feet, and a depth on Liberty street of one hundred and sixty-six feet. The church was built under the auspices of the Missionary and Church Extension Association of St. John's parish, which, pursuant to the call of the rector, Rev. Lewis Burton, D.D., was organized for this purpose, January 11, 1870. About the first of February, of that year, the lot was purchased, and a contract made for the erection of a chapel thereon, twenty-two by forty feet; with a vestry-room, twelve by fourteen feet.

This building was completed and opened, with appropriate services, on Sunday, July 3, 1870. On the morning of the same day, a Sunday school was o:ganized, numbering forty-five pupils; Mr. S. L. Shotter, being the superintendent.

Dating from August 1, 1870, for the term of one year, St. Mark's was a mission chapel of St. John's parish. In accordance with the unanimous wish of the members of the church and society, St. Mark's mission was duly incorporated as a parish of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and was admitted into nnion with the convention of the diocese, May 15, 1872. Since August 1, 1871, Rey. Lewis Burton, D. D., has been rector of the parish.

On Wednesday, May 21, 1879, the church was consecrated by the Rt. Rev. G. T. Bedell, D.D., the Bishop of the diocese, assisted by the rector and other clergy of Cleveland and vicinity.

The annual report of 1879, shows one hundred and fifty communicants; also one hundred and eighty-five scholars and twenty-three officers and teachers in the Sabbath school.

The officers of the church are G. T. Smith, senior warden; Wm. T. Timlin, junior warden; R. T. Coleman, treasurer; W. A. Eaton, secretary; O. L. Baker, W. 8. Craine, Charles F. Mills, Edward T. Peck, Robert Fletcher, R. M. Thompson, vestrymen.

Memorial Church Of The Good Shepherd

This church was built in 1873, as a memorial of the life and labors of the Rev. Alexander Varian. His widow and children gave the large lot on which the building stands, to be devoted to church purposes forever. The church isa beautiful edifice of wood, upon a foundation of cut stone, Gothic in style, and containing about three hundred sittings. The seats are free to all. The chancel window contains a well executed representation of our Saviour as the Good Shepherd. There is a marble tablet in the chancel, to the memory of the the Rev. Mr. Varian, and other tablets, memorials of departed members of the church, are on the walls of the nave. Several of the windows are memorial, as also are the font and altar.

During the few years of the existence of this parish, sixty-five have been baptized, forty confirmed, and fifty-eight registered as communicants. There is a Sunday school of about one hundred and thirty children. The Rev. W. E. Toll had charge of the parish in 1873-4, the Rev. J. J. A. Morgan in 1875. Since January, 1876, the Rev. Thomas Lyle has been rector. The present wardens are H. G. Cleveland and J. S. M. Hill; the vestrymen are John R. Sked, G. A. Haver, H. L. Morris, T. Lewis, E. E. Hudson and Josiah Williams.

Emmanuel Church

Emmanuel Chureh, Euclid avenue, was organized as a parish in February, 1876, the wardens being Dr. J. B. McConnell, senior, and W. OC. Miller, junior. The vestry consisted of Thomas O. Early, Enos Foreman, Zenas King, A. OC. Armstrong, George Wratten, William Snape, B. C. Field.

The Rey. B. T, Noakes was elected rector. At the convention of the diocese in June, 1876, no communicants were reported. At present the number is seventy-four. The congregation is increasing, and the Sunday school, of which E. W. Adams is superintendent, is in a flourishing condition. The chapel is owned by two trustees, and was formerly situated on the corner of Case avenue and Prospect street, and then known as Emmanuel Chapel.

St. Luke's is practically a ' mission" of St. Panl's, having for its rector and a majority of its vestrymen the rector and certain members of St. Paul's Church. The church edifice was built by St. Paul's. The church subsequently changed from a '' mission" into a regularly organized parish, in union with the convention of the diocese, .but is still largely dependent upon the mother church for support. It has asubstantial brick edifice on Broadway, near Cross street, and a comfortable rectory on the same lot.