New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-06
FORMATION OF THE SOCIETY.

The first steps toward the formation of the soci-
ety which has for seventy-fve years been known
as Grace Church parish were taken in 1905. On
May 20 Of that year the trustees Of the German
Lutheran Church in the city ofNew-York conveyed
to Matthew ClarksOn, Herman lie Roy, Peter
SchermerhoIn Henry Rogers and Julian Ludlow,
as trustees the lot at the south corner of Broadway
and Rector-st., with the church building upon it.
Nothing further was done until three years later,
when those VINO were interested in forming the
new church met and elected building committee
consisting of Rufus King, Anthony L. Blocker and
Moses L.. Rogers. Through the efforts of this com
mittee a new binding was erected on the lot pur-
chased in 1905, and cOnsecrated Grace
Church on December 81, 1903. The Rev. Samuel
Bowen, oil Charleston, s c. was chosen rs the first
rector of the church in the following April The
church was without an organ. and Mr. Bowen
off red II the use OF an instrument which had been
in his pariOr. The vcstry spent 500 IN having the
organ repaired. and II was placed in the church.
This building formed paTaelOgram 10l feet long
within the walls. ana 81 feet wide. The exter or
was mainly Of brick. and was built in the plancst
manner. The projections were OF marble and wood,
and the Donc cornice surmounted by balus-
trade divided into panels. The building was sur
mounted by a wooden cupOla. cylindrical III form,
resting upon an octagonal pedestal. The roof of
the cup0la was dome shape, supported by Ionic col
umns, and had springing from IT "A small fanciul
splre terminating III Yane which represented a
dart. The interior of the church had a lofty CON
cave ceiling supported by four massive Ionic col
umns with corresponding .pilasters. The church
of Trinity Church. When the building was
pleted the veStiy sold the pews and offered the pro-
ceeds to Trinity Church. TRINITY refused to take
the money! and 1t invested IN real estate
fund for the man tenance of Grace Church.
In 1916 DR.. Bowen resigned bis rectarship and
was succeeded by the Rev. James MOntg omeIy, of
Trenton, n. j. He was followed i'll 1921 by the
Rev. Jonathan Wainwright, an assistant minister
of Trinity Church. DIR. Wanwnght's rectorshp
continued TILL 1888. and under his guidance the
church made great and substantial progress. The
parish clerk was no longer allowed to make the
sponses in the church liturgy, and the rector en-
cOuraged the congregation 10 take an active and
efficient interest III that part of the service. DR.
Wainwright was accomplished musician. and he
compiled and arranged collection Of sacred music
for bis church. which the veStTy had published.
This collection has found its way to all parts of the
country In Nav, 1884, the Rev. Thomas House
Taylor, of South Carolina, succeeded DR.. VAN
wright. who had accepted call to be rector OF
Trinity Church, Boston. DR.. Taylor continued as
rector until his death in 1867 Under his ministry
the church was removed TO its present site. where
the new church was built at a cost of S10O.O00 aud
was cOnsecrated on March z, 1916 Through Dr.
Taylors efforts, also the Free Mission Chapel
which is now Gracs Chapel, was built in East
Fourteenth-st. IN 1853 The first building
burned IN 1872. and the present handsome struc-
ture was butt IN It's place.