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

n tangular structure with
REV. DIR. M'KIM. low ceiling and pointed
windows was erected The new building was
occupied for the first time for religious
purposes on the 18th of July. 1874 The parish
was feeble financially and building debt of
about y, 400 WAS heavy burden. The pur-
chase OF an organ for $500 exhausted for q
time the ability of the congregation to contrib
ute for pressing needs. In June, 1852. the
debt was paid. and the church was consecrated
by Bishop Nottingham. Rev. Mr.. French
continued rs rector on the moderate salary of
81 200 year, which was often in aryears, until
his appointment as chaplain of the United
States Military Academy at West Point in 1856.
He was succeeded by Rev. Charles H. Hall,
ID, who left to take charge of Holy
Trinity Church. Brooklyn. in 1869. In
1888 the transepts tower and a build
ing for the Sunday and parish schools were
added and a new altar and new front pro-
vided. Rev. Thomas A. Starkey. d. D., now
bishop Of northern New Jersey, succeeded DIR.
Hall in 1889 and remained rector until April,
1872. During his rectorship recessed chancel
was constructed. He succeeded by the
Rev. Wilbur +. Watkins, who was instituted
january 5. 1878, and left in 1876 to take charge
OF church In Baltimore. In 1873 the roof was
found to be unsafe and changes we're made
which greatly altered the entire structure: An
open high roof was built, the chancel was en-
larged, new windows and pews and new organ
were provided, 30 that nothing of the orig
inal structure remained, except portions
OF the walls and floor. Over S5O, 900
was expended. Rev. William Paret D. D.,
succeeded to the rectorship in October
1876, and continued as rector until January 8,
1885. the date of his conservation as bishop Of
Maryland. During his administration the
building debt, which in 1876 was over S26, 900,
was wiped out and his first official act as bishop
was the conservation Of the reconstructed
church on the 14th of January, 1885. DR.. sam
uel II. Giesy succeeded DR.. Paret in May, 1885,
and remained in charge of the church until his
death in 1888 He was followed by Rev. DIR.
Randolph II. Mckim, the present rector, who
was called from Trinity Church in New Or
leans He had been rector of Chris. Church,
Alexandria, and of Holy Trinity Church, New
York city The statistics OF the parish for the
year ending April 80, 1891, are as follows:
Fourteen adults and 80 children baptized,
numbering 1OO4 teachers and schol-
ars, and S43,S04 contributed by his parish.
In 1850 plans were prepared and carried out
Tor the enlargement and decoration Of the
rear gallery to the chancel the interior walls
handsomely frescoed and about s35, 900 was ex-
pended, OF which amount S25.00O bor-
rowed by the vestry. The improvements have
been completed with the placing of the stained
glass window in the chancel. The glass has
been manufactured in London and will proba-
bly, be In place this fall In connection with
parish work the vestry is now constructing a
mission house and chapel ut the corner Of 18th
and Z streets southwest at an expenditure of
80. QUO. The mission house will be finished it
is expected, this fall. This mission was started
February, 1850.
Christ Church, Georgetown.
Christ Church parish in Georgetown is one of
the historic parishes in the District, and al
though the present beautiful church building
is OF modern construction the edifice which
was torn down t., make room for the increased
needs of the congregation had many historic
memories clustering around it. which have de-
scended in a measure to the new building.
1t was at sunrise on Christmas day, 1875 that
the first early service was held in Christ Church
More than year previous an organization had
been effected at the residence Of Mr.. Thomas
Corcoran. At this meeting, besides Mr.. Cor
coran, there were present Mr.. VIM. Morton,
Clement Smith, Francis S. Key, John H. Haw,
John Myers, james A. Magruder and Ulysses
Ward. With the addition Of James s. Morsell
and John Abbott the above gentlemen made up
the first vestry Of Christ Church. The Lam
castrian school house was Immediately secured
for Sunday services and Rev. Ruel Keith called
as first rector. Under his hcadship a commit
tee consisting Of Thomas Corcoran, Charles A.
Ulysses Ward ard John Myers secured sub
scriptions, purchased the lot on which the
present church stands and contracted for a
church building. The church was begun on
the 9Th OF May, 1918. and on the festival Of the
nativity the first services were held in the new
Christ Church. then the largest church in the
District. Throughout its existence Christ
Church has had as vestrymen and in its con-
gregation many Of the historic names of
Georgetown.
After the resignation Of DR.. Keith. which
occurred in 1870. the Rev. Charles P. MclIvane
labored as rector for five years and after him
the Rev. H. w. Gray, three years. and Rev.
John Thompson Brooke six years. Mr. Brooke
was followed by Rev. Phillip Slaughter, in 1895,
under whom, through tho efforts Of Messrs.
Morton, Burgers and Matthews, the steepls Of
tho first church was finished. In 1888 the Rev.
j. f. Hoff succeeded Mr.. Slaughter remaining
five years. Under Mr. Hofrs successor, Rev.
Stephen g. Gassaway, in 1874, q rectory was
purchased on Beall street and in 1S47 the
church building much improved. Mr.. Gassa-
way was succeeded by kev. David Cald-
well, during whose ministration the pres
ent rectory was secured and the organ
now in use purchased. Failing health in 1854
compelled the resignation Of Mr.. Caldwell and
Rev. DR.. Norwood entered upon the charge.
After soven years Of faithful labor DIR. Nor
wood was followed by the Rev. Mr.. Harris, who
had temporary charge for one year. Rev. J.
n. Z. bonte then became rector and was sue
ceeded after q few months, in lS66, by Rev. Dr..
Williams. whose pastorate Of ten years was
| rich in good deeds and material advances. In
June, 1876, the present pastor, Rev. DR.. Stuart,
entered upon his duties a. pastor. During DR..
Stuarts earnest pastorate the new church has
been built The vestry met in April, 1885, and
be built. Within two months an architect had
been chosen, plans adopted and the contracts
given out, and on October Of the anne year
the corner stone was laid. On November
10 the chapel was occupied. and ON the
nineteenth Sunday after Trinity, 1885, the hrst
services wore held In the church. For the new
church building e16.O 900 Was raised by subscrip-
ton, and this sum. added 10 the invested funds