Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-13

| Things did not improve materially until about
| $50. The country around was sparsely settled,
| the soil not especially good and the city close
enough to absorb the people. In 1920. how
i ever, it was decided to repair the church some
| what 1t was decided that tho original struc-
/ turc was too large and walls were put up inside
| the old walls, making a church within church.
| Rev. G. G. Austin was pastor at the time.
| In 1850. however. the church having received
| some small requests, the artificial walls were
| removed aud the church restored to its oriyi-
! nal size. Other ministers at Rock Creek were
! Rev. William Mccormick 1928; Rev. r. Ash.
| 1890; Rev. Christian Wiltburgcr. 1881; Rev. d.
NJ. Miller. 1887; Rev. X. J. Stewart. 1889; Rev.
| W. A Harris. 1871; Rev. Mr.. Wood. 1919; Rev.
Mr.. Kerr, 1851, and the present incumbent,
/ Rev. James 4. Buck, 1853.
| At the time DR.. Buck took charge in 1853 the
church and parish was much run down. The
church itself was dilapidated and fairly in
tested with squirrels. The glebe and grounds
were overrun with sassafras. blackberry and
cupancy. Around TIE church about an acre
wa fenced in for burial purposes.
| In ;he period of DIR. Bucks able ministration
what change has taken PLACE. The church
| has been enlarged by the addition of n COM
| modiOus chaneei and of an organ and vestry.
The rectory has been changed into one of the
prettiest OF rural retreats, while the grounds.
with the fine trees. rolling slopes and magnif-
cent verdurc. have become a splendid park and
| forms one of the most beautiful church yards in
| the world.
In 1858 it was decided by DR.. Buck that the
| condition of the parish must be improved.
o. twenty parishes had been cut out Of its
| original territory. The doctor went vigorously
to work and Improvement followed rapidly
Finally in 1870 it was decided to use
the grounds of the church for a church
yard on grand scale. A charter was
taken out and the result can be seen. The
church was not regularly consecrated until 1872,
when one of Bishop Pinckney's first official acts
the of the church Rock
Creek has had a long and interesting past and
its future promises to be even brighter still, as
many people are of the opinion that when
Washington becomes a diocese and possesses
bishop, the place for the cathedral and resi-
dence OF the bishop is among the pleasant
glades and green woods which surrounds st.
Pauls Rock Creek.
Not the least in interest connected with Rock
creek is the venerable pastor. Rev. Jas. A.
Buck, who has labored faithfully at this charge
since 1858. DIR. Buck was born in Baltimore
county, Md. and raised at Mount Peru, be-
tween the Big and Little Gunpowder falls.
The locality was beautiful one, abound
ing in game, and DR.. Buck no doubt
absorbed portion of the love of nature which
is one of his MAJ ked characteristics. His edu-
cation was begun at school at Arlington,
Md, and he afterward attended college at
Bristol, Pa. from where he went to Alexan-
dria Seminary in 1886. His first passionate
far from the busy world in Calvert county on
the Patuxent. From there he went to st. Thomas
Parish in Hancock. His next charge was Leon
ardtown in st. Mary's county, where he re-
manned eleven years to come here and take
charge of Rock Creek parish in 1853.
st. Johns.
One of the historic buildings of the city is
the church edifce of st. Johns parish. 1t was
built in 1916 and the parish was the first laid
off within the bounds of the city for the terri
tory of the Washington parish. Of which Christ
Church, Navy Yard, was the parish church.
1t has been. perhaps more than any other one
church in the city. the church of the Presidents,
as Preside nts Madison. Monroe. Van Buren,.
Tyler. Taylc-: and Arthur worshiped there.
The original edifice still stands although it has
been enlarged and improved from time to
time. 1t was built from designs of b.
III. Latrobe. one of the architects of
the Capitol, in the form of Greek cross. each
of its four arms being Of the size Of one of the
present transepts. 1t WAS lighted by means of
a lantern on the dome, and by means of a semi
circular window i'll each arm of the cross. and
by windows above and below on each side of
each arm, such are il part still preserved in
the transepts There was a gallery in the
ehancel well as in the rest of the church.
The organ was over the chanceL The pews
were high pews and in many cases square pews.
The floors were of brick, laid upon the ground
with NO cellar. The building was warmed with
stoves. 1t was without portico or steeple.
This was the original church building, and
fee, enlarged and beautified and filled with the
soft light that falls through the fine stained
glass window gives a very good idea of the
city seventy-five years ago and as 1t is today.
During the year 1921 the west transept was ex-
tended toward the building line on 10th and
a pOrtico and steeple were erected. No further
material changes were made in the church
building until 1888, when the chancel was ex-
tended to the east line of the lot an organ room
was constructed to the north Of the new chan
eel, the entire interior was decorated in the re-
Nuisance style. the windows were filled with
magnificent stained glass and other improve
ments were made.
The first rector Of the church was Rev. W. H.
Wilmer. who served in connection with his
duties as rector of Christ Church, Alexandria
He was succeeded by Rev. William Hawley. who
served the church for twenty-eight years, and
upon his death was succeeded by the assistant
rector, Rev. Smith Pyue. The latter resigned
after service of nearly twenty years. and in
1865 Rev. j. Vaughan Lewis appointed
rector. The latter was succeeded by kev. Vim.
A. Leonard, who resigned when elected
bishop. The present incumbent, Rev. George
William Douglass. entered upon his duties
November 1, 1889. He is graduate of
the General Theological Seminary and was
chosen tutor of Greek. He was canon of the
Cathedral in Davenport. Iowa, and was assist
ant rector of Trinity Church New York city,
when called to st. Johns church. The num-
Der Of COMMITMENTS in the parish ia estimated
at ], 200 and for the year ending May ultimo
the contributions for parochial purposes
amounted to Sal ,203. Tho total contributions
for the year were s4s. 1873.
Trinity
Trinity Church on Sd street northwest from
the size and standing of Its congregation, from
its pas. history, replete with great names, and
from strong personality
of its present rector, ~
Rev. DIR. Addison, Ii an
interesting study. The ( n
first services were held /1~ ~M
in Trinity parish in 1880 /JEka MI
7. /.
under the direction of NEN T/%
Rev. Henry Vandyke VIM h> EW
Johns who was the first eM< tx
rector. The congrega- fIGLA~ IN
tiOn at the time nClO"
shipped In the court NI ~
house. Afterward it MI n
was decided that ~ II
church should be built, W.
and after considerable RE-. DR. ADDISON.
sum had been raised and several sites investi-
gated a site was chosen on 5th street and
edifce erected being the buildings used now
as the law buildings. As time passed by the
church grew in size and influence until becom-
ing probably the most powerful congregation
in the city the quarters on 9Th street, which at
one time had been deemed ample for all time,
were found inadequate. and il was decided to
erect a new church. The congregation was q