Helena weekly herald., 1879-10-23
ST. PETERS CHURCH.
| Opening Services ON Sunday-The Build
| ing Completed for Worship.

Sunday was an interesting day to the
members of the Protesent Episcopal Church
in Helena Religious services were held in
their new ediice for the first time. The
house was filled to ove1aowing. Rev M. N.
Gilbert, Rector of the parish, assisted by
Rev. E. G. Prout, of Virginia City, conduct
ed the services. Mr. Gilbert preached the
sermon, and took for his text: Genesis 18th
chapter and 9Th verse; ''And there built he an
altar unto the Lord and called upon the name
of the Lord" and the first verse of the 122d
Psalm: Il was glad when they said unto
me, let US 60 into the house of the Lord"
The sermon was able and listened to with
undivided attention. The argument was to
show that in oil ages and among all people
| the religious sentiment existed, and found ex-
preston in some form of worship, and that
| from the simple altar on which sacrifices
| were laid and around which worehippers
knelt in the early ages of the world to the
present day, some kind of structure was
erected for the accommodation of the people
and dedicated to the worship of the God or
superior power in which they believed. As
people grew in knowledge and wealth,
churches, temples and cathedrals grew in
beauty and grandeur, and were dedicated to
the living God. After many years of hope
and hard struggles the congregation were
able to meet for the first time in their beauti-
full building constructed by their lberality,
- IoI 1>ryr rI> >ot ~f 4 A.
people of Helena, who were most heartily
thanked. MIR. Gilbert said after concluding
his sermon, that the church cost about $10,-
900 and was in debt about $4,000, and when
that was paid it would be formally consecra-
ted by Bishop Tuttle. 1t was against the
laws of the Episcopal church to consecrate
churches in debt. The singing on this occa-
sion was very fine. The excellent choir was
assisted by a portion of the Helena silver
cornet band. The anthems, "Heavenly
Father Sovereign Lord" by Farmer, and
"Daughter of Zion Awake From Thy Sad
ness" &C.. were performed exquisitely
The noble chants, STE Deum Laudamus'
and Addison's grand hymn ''The Spacious
Firmament on High, &C.. as executed, satisfied
the ear of the most exacting. The acoustic
properties of the church are perfect. The
church edi6ce is the finest building, archi-
tecturally, in Helena. 1t is bull, of stone
and will be an enduring monument to the
lberality and good taste of the Episcopalians
of our city and others. The following is brief
history of the Episcopal church in Helena,
which we quote from our last New Years
edition of the HERALD, at the request of
many members:
The first service of the Protestant Episco-
pal Church in Helena was held on Sunday
morning, August II, 1867, by Rt. Rev. D. S.
Tuttle, assisted by the Rev. E. N. Goddard,
in the school house, or Helena Academy
building, on Rodney street. Three days af-
ter the Bishop returned to Virginia City, the
Rev. Mr.. Goddard remaining in charge
the citizens of Helena interested in the fcrma-
ton of parish of the Protestant Episcopal
Church, met in the Helena Academy buildinc,
pursuant to an invitation given by the Bishop.
Gen. r. G. Ewing was called to the chair,
and committee to advise with and help the
Bishop in his efforts to sustain the services of
the Church in Helena was appointed Said
committee consisted of five members, viz:
Thos. E. Tut, Judge VIM. Chumasero, John
s. Atchison, John Mccormick and Francis
Pope.
The Rev. Mr.. Goddard remained in charge
until October 28th, when, having been called
East, the Parish remained vacant until Decem
Der, 1868, at which time Bishop Tuttle, with
his family, arrived in Helena and assumed
charge, holding services regularly in the
Court House.
In July the following year the condition of
church affairs in salt Lake City requiring his
personal attention and oversight, the Bishop
removed thither. The rectorship of st. Peters
parish was filled by the Rev. w. F. Lloyd
until July, 1870, when i'll health compelling
him to resign the parish became vacant. In |
August the Rev. Horelle Fowler took tenn
porary charge of the parish, and, although in |
exceedingly frail health, he performed an ex-
cellent work and won the affection of the |
congregation.
After his resignation in December of the !
same year, the parish remained without q |
rector until the 7th of May, 1875, when the |
Rev. E. L. Toy, of Franklin, N. Y, took |
charge of the work. The Rev Mr.. Toy lab |
ored most efficiently and successfully until |
November 1877, when he rendered his resig-
nation and returned to New York.
In March, 1878, Rev. NJ n. Gilbert, rector !
of St. James church, Deer Lodge, was called !
to the charge of ST. Peters church, and enter
ed upon the rectorship July 18th of the same
year, and is still in charge Although in
many respects st. Peters church has had a
trying experience, especially in frequent and
protracted vacancies, yet its progress has been
most encouraging. One hundred and ninety
two persons have received the sacrament of
and 107 hovn h>ovn 4