Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1870-04-09
History of Ashtabula Township.
Written in 1s50-JrOm tile Times.
Ry the Late Rev. JOHN HALL.

Try the Late Rev. JOHN HALL.
From October 1884 to 1885, the Rev.
Seth Davis was the minister of the par
ish of ST. Peters. The parish was va
cant one year after Mr.. Davis left. Mr..
Hall, while missionary, during the two
preceding years, performed services here
more or less, as occasions required, every
year. In September, 1886, Mr.. Hall
was reelected rector and pastor of this
parish and church, who permitted him,
at their expense, TO oflciate at Union
Vile onc-fonrth of the year 1867, as
missionary, while that parish were buid-
i:g their church. Thus Mr.. Hall has
served this parish and church during ten
years, more than half his time, during
five years n considerable portion of his
time, and for ten years constantly, with
some exceptions, when he has been per
mltted TO officiatc abroad, for the twen-
ty-tive years which terminate this day,
June 9th ls47. A quarter of century
is long period, in our days OF change
and Innovation, for the same minister to
reside i'll and serve the same parish. But
divine providence can so overrule that
strange things may come to pass.
| have omitted the houses of Worship
excepting the log school house, winch
this PARISH had furnished for its congrc-
CATION. In 1919 the parish voted that
their services, whether held by a clergy
man or lay reader, should be held on al
ternate weeks, one-halt the time in south
and the other halt in north Ashtabdla.
For this purpose the parish applied for
permission to finish the lower story OF
the present academy in the West Village,
Of which Messrs. Fisk, Smith, Hubbard
and Booth were the proprietors. They
consented that the parish might
so finish it that district school might
be kept in it, and then they might use it
as their own on every alternate week on
Sundays, and on week days when it
would not interfere with the school, and
allowing it to be used by other denom-
nations the other alternate weeks. The
house was furnished in the course of the
year as ,proposedj and the conditions
were strictly observed. The house was
thus occupied by The parish as proprie-
tors of one-halt of the lower story, from
February 1919 to February 1929. They
then gave their part OF the aceommoda,
tions III that house to the MethGdlsis,
sud commenced holding services in their
new church, which was flashed in Feb
ruary, 1929, and consccra' ell by Bishop
Chase, in August of the same year. III
South Ashtabula chapel was furnished
by individuals Tor the use Of the parish
the other half of the time, which was
also finished in 1919, aud used until til,
church ediHce was completed.
The church in this parish has about 52C
members, of whom ll3 are communi
cants, June 0, ls47.
Shce lS47 the Rev. John Hall ha'
served this church SIX years and tel
months, to April 80, 1854. The mem
beers of the church were $50, of whom
1876 were COMMITMENTS. These wer,
all baptized persons. The congregation
included also many un6aptized persons
In May, 1894, the Rev. Homer Wheeler
took charge Of this parish and church at
rector and pastor. His report i'll June
1885, showed l75 commandments.
The ministers of this church and rec
tors of this parish, with their assistant
rministers. have been as follows, viz:
Rev. Roger Searle, rector and minister
from 1917 TO lS24-about seven years
Rev. John Hall was his assistant minis
tfr from June 1921 TO March 1924, abou
one year and, nine months; then MIR
Searle resigned.
Rev. John Hall rector and ministe
from March 1924 TO January 1882, abou
seven years and ten months. Then MI
Hall resigned the reetorship, but con
tinued to otficiate as minister until Apri
1892, aud occasionally, as his impaired
and much interrupted health would pei
nit to May 1884.