Delaware County, Indiana - Chapter 6: Protestant Episcopal - Grace Mission Church, 1881

Mr. Wysor had let the opera house to the society ata nominal rental, and the services were conducted in this room until it became necessary to have fires, which, in so large a room, would involve a largely increased expense. The council room in the city building was there-

_ said church in the Diocese of Indiana; and John M. Kirby, Warden, _and George W. Spilker and A. N. Galbraith, Vestrymen of Grace Mission, in the City of Muncie, Delaware Co., Ind., organize a religious association, under an act of the General Assembly, approved February _ 12, 1855, entitled, 'An act concerning the organization of voluntary associations, and repealing former laws in reference thereto, as amended

| Grace Mission in the city of Muncie, and to secure in said mission the _ doctrine, discipline and worship of the Protestant Episcopal Church." within the past few years. Indeed, among the earlier residents, Mrs. | Van Horn and Mrs. Carrie J. McCulloch were the only Episcopalians. - About the year 1859, a gentleman who was a member of this church | came to Muncie as a music teacher, and it was chiefly through his influ- | ence that the first Episcopalian services were conducted here. Divine worship was first conducted in 1859, by the Right Reverend Bishop Upfold, of the Diocese of Indiana, assisted by Rev. Mr. Wakefield, of Richmond, Ind. The services were held in the audience room of the

Episcopal service, so that nothing was detracted from the beauty of the ritual and the services were properly rendered. No effort was made to organize the few scattered members of the flock into a congregation at that time, and, so far as can be learned, the services of the church were not again celebrated in public until about the year 1870, when Rey. George H. Engle came from Indianapolis, at the invitation of Miss Mary Burbank and Mrs. Carrie J. McCulloch, and conducted public worship in the Presbyterian Church, preaching on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Although these ladies desired an organization, they were not sufficiently well versed in the ways of the world to know what preliminary steps were necessary, and five years elapsed without any further effort in this direction. It was largely due to the influence and labors of Mrs. J. A. Heinsohn that the organization was finally accomplished. After her return to Muncie from Louisville, Ky., she called upon Bishop Talbott at Indianapolis, and represented the needs of the church here. In the meantime the Episcopal Church had gained itself, a business meeting of the members and friends convened at the parlors of the Kirby House, one evening in March, 1875. The persons composing this meeting had under discussion the organization o: 2 church society which would secure to them the desired opportunity of worshiping at their own altar, according to the customs of their fathers and mothers. After a full and free discussion it was decided to carry

Rev. Mr. Bicknell remained in charge of the mission three months, when, at his own request, he was transferred to another field, and Rev. Herbert Root was assigned to this charge. _

During the year 1876, steps were taken toward erecting a church for the congregation. Mrs. J. W. Burson donated the lease upon a lot immediately north of her residence, on Walnut street, and in the fall of that year a neat frame structure was completed at a cost of $650, which amount was paid immediately upon the completion of the building.

. Rev. Mr. Root continued as Rector until after the completion of the church, remaining long enough to conduct a few of the services of the Lenten season, in the spring of 1877. Then there was an interim in which the church had no regular Rector. Rev. Charles D. L. Allen

_ officiated in this capacity for three months, and Rev. Mr. Wells, for one - month during this time. Rev. J. R. Bicknell was again called in 1877, and took pastoral charge of the parish on the Ist day of J anuary, 1878, remaining until January 1, 1881, when he resigned on account of failing health, and went tothe South. He was succeeded by Rev. F. Duncan Jaudon, the present Rector. |