The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1891-07-03
CHRIST CHURCH, BRIDGEPORT.

Standing on CORTLAND street, in the
city of Bridgeport, is as fine church
cdifice in architectural design as can be
seen in New England. 1t is we'll and
substantially built of solid brown
stone, the front arches supported with
heavy columns of the same material
Situated we'll back from the street, it al
lows ample room for large lawn in
front, with wide stone walk leading to
the church doors, through which, for the
past 50 years, people have passed. To-
day, it is growing more and more popu-
lar and fast becoming the leading Epis-
copal church of the city. August 3, 1850,
the rector of st. Johns church read the
call for the first meeting of persons in
terested in the formation of new parish.
August 6, in the vestry room of st.
Johns church, the first meeting was
held. Charles Bostwick presided and
John S. Smith was chosen secretary. At
the next meeting, August 10, 1850, a res
olution was passed that new parish be
formed and the name, Christ church par
ish, was adopted. The parish was Or
ganized at a meeting, August 16, 1850, by
the election of the following officers:
Senior warden-Charles Bostwick.
Junior warden Russell Tomlinson.
Vestry-Charles M. Booth, Samuel Stratton,
Aaron T. Beardsley, Charles b Ferguson,
Chauncey NJ. Hatch, Philip b. segee.
Treasurer,-Henry shelton.
Clerk-John S. Smith.
The first edifice that they had was
Congregational church which they pur-
chased and removed to John street,
where Nichols, Peck & Co.'S carriage
works are now located, where it was de-
stroyed by fire in 1851 leaving the people
without house of worship. The land
on CORTLAND street was purchased and
the corner stone of the present edifice
was laid on Good Friday, April 8, 1852.
The committee on the new building were
S. B. Ferguson, Stephen Tomlinson and
Aaron Il. Beardsley. The building was
completed in 1858 and was consecrated
by Bishop Thomas Church Brownell on
April 81 of the same year. The edifice
cost about $50, 900.
The first rector was Rev Howard
Smith, who was rector from November
7, 1850, to April, 1854, and it was during
his time that the new parish building was
erected. Since that time, the following
rectors have had charge of the parish:
Rev william Preston, 1854 to 1856.
Rev George e. Thrall, 1856 to 1859.
Rev l.. w. Bancroft, 1860 to 1861.
Rev Henry NJ. Stewart, 1861 to 1868.
Rev John Blake Falkner, 1868 to 1870.
Rev John j. Harrison, April to November,
1870.
Rev Nathaniel L. Briggs, 1871 to 1875.
Rev DR. III. N. Powers, 1875 to 1885.
Rev Beverley Il. Warner, 1856
The wardens since the existence of the
parish have been as follows:
Charles Bostwick.
S. b. Ferguson, Russell Tomlinson.
7. III. Sl<idmore, S. s. Clapp.
Clapp Spooner, L. w. Clark.
Daniel Hatch, George c. Waldo.
william II. Noble, George Munger
The parish clerks have been as follows:
John S. Smith, Il. II. Clark Robert G. Booth,
John s. Beers, j. b. Hay, NJ. II. Tomlinson,
Edwin Hurd, d. W. Nissan, L. NJ. Segee, S. r.
Tomlinson, c. w. McCord and the present
clerk, W. Henry Wilson.
In the year 1867, at meeting of the
vestry, it was voted to build chapel in
the rear of the church, which was done
at cost of about $4,000. OF the vestry
who were chosen at the founding of the
parish, only one remains, Philip B. Sc
gee, who is now the senior vestryman
and who still retains deep interest in
the welfare and prosperity Of the parish.
At meeting of the wardens and YES
trymen in the Spring of 1889, it was vot-
ed that committee be appointed, Charles
II. Brothwell w. Henry Wilson, j ohm M.
Wheeler, A. S. Middlebrook and the rec
tor, Rev Beverley E. Warner, to take
charge of alterations and improvements
necessary to be done. This was no easy
task, as the church had been sadly neg
lected and the usual wear and tear had
done much to make the edifice rather an
uncomfortable place for worship. But
when the parish building was opened on
September /, 1889, the members of the
parish were more than pleased with the
change. The old single roof had been
replaced by first class slate roof. The
mason work on the exterior had been
pointed up and repaired. The side gal
leries, which had long been detriment
to the beauty of the interior, were re-
moved and the whole interior, including
the chancel, had been painted and decor
ated by r. Geissler of New York. The
old worn-out furnaces were replaced by
two large Mahoney heating boilers and
the building throughout fitted up with
steam pipes and radiators. The old plain
glass windows were removed and, in
their place, neat and appropriate cathe-
dral glass windows added, much to the
beauty Of the church. Since that time,
four of these windows have been replac-
ed by memorial windows designed and
executed by r.. Geissler Of New York,
ono each to the memory OF Russell Tom
linson, tor many years senior warden;