Complex sentence: At that time local Episcopalians and Congregationalists were considering uniting to hire one minister to serve both groups, but this never happened although the next year the Rev. Daniel Barber, who had once been a Congregational minister, did became Union's rector.
Split into simpler sentences: At that time local Episcopalians and Congregationalists were considering uniting to hire one minister to serve both groups, but this never happened. The next year the Rev. Daniel Barber, who had once been a Congregational minister, did become Union's rector.