The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-12-02
Early History of Christ Church.

written by II. C. Knir published Jan. 18th
1871, in the Press.)
This place was first occupied by the
church as a missionary field by Messrs.
Cumming of Grand Rapids (who now
rests from his labors) and Brown of Flint,
in the year 1914, but the services were
only occasional and were discontinued in
short time, and the station was num-
bered among the waste places of Zion I'M
til the year 1856, when the Rev. John
Bramwell, then rector of st. Pauls. Lam
sing, visited Owosso at intervals, sowing
the Gospel seed with good effect The
only commitment in the place at this
time was Madame F. Lebrun. The sec
ond was the late lamented Mrs. Kilpat-
rick, daughter of B. o. Williams, ESQ.
In the spring of 1858, the Rev. II. B.
Dooley, then of Pontiac, and the Rev.
Henry Banwell, of Howell, TOUR present
rectoD held occasional services which
were hailed with much delight; the Rev.
Robert Wood, of Plainfeld, also preached
on two occasions, and through the energy
and zeal of the above named clergymen,
a parish was organized by the name of
Christ Church, May 10th, 1858, and the
following vestry chosen, Rev. r. b. Doc
ley being chairman of the meeting:
T.. Leach, Senior Warden j. q. Stat
ford, Junior Warden; B. o. Williams,
treasurer; Jay L Qnackenbush, secreta-
ry; D. Ingersoll, Henry Rixon, Nj. w.
Quackenbush, D. Lyon Thorpe, A. l..
Williams, w. II. Payne.
1t was then decided to give the Rev. Fl g.
Banwell call to the the rectorship which
was accepted by him, and the work stead
lily progressed under his judcious and
untiring efforts in his Masters cause I'M
til Sept. 23d, 1861, when he removed to
another field of labor.
From the organization to this time
there were many obstacles to be removed
and difficulties to surmount, and well do
l remember how hard it was to get
place to worship in; sometimes the hall,
which was kindly loaned by its owner !;
sometimes in the school house, by the
kindness of the School Board, and where
| attended the first service, when the Rev.
Il. B. Dooley ofliciated.S As long as men,
DRY lasts | shall recollect the beautiful
simile made bv Mr.. Dooley on this occa-
sion. Comparing the tenn ptations of this
world to beautiful flower floating down
stream, and being caught at, as it pass
ed, by little child, never thinking of the
fatal consequences in being over anxious
to possess the coveted prize, when 10,
splash was heard in the water and the de-
luded child sank to rise no more | also
well remember how few of the young
men and maidens used to manifest deep
interest in the services by carrying a me-
lodeon from place to place, and assisting
in the singing and Sunday School, and
otherwise taking an interest in church
work, for which | am sure all were duly
thankful, and which services will ever be
held in remembrance by some.
In 1861, the Rev. T. B. Dooley received
and accepted call to the parish, and was
very successful in his work, until his
country required his services as chaplain
of the 14th Michigan Infantry
The vestry, not being willing to give
up his services entirely, gave him leave
of absence, during which time the servi-
ces were kept up by lay reading. Mr..
Dooley through sickness returned in
about eighteen months. and finally gave
up pastoral charge of the parish in Sep
TENDER, 1866. The parish was then va
cant about eight months, when the Rev.
"A. Bush received and accepted call, and
continued in charge until the fall of 1869,
when his genial face and morning calls
were lot to sight by his removal to an
other charge. After that time the pulpit
was partially supplied by Rev. II. Ban
well until last spring, when he received
call to take full charge of the parish.
The important work of erecting a
church edifce was undertaken in the
summer of 1859, under what was consid
cred favorable auspices, a most eligible
site having been given the society by our
worthy townsmen, A. l.. q B. o. Will
l..
to lend helping hand in any laudable
undertaking.
As the work progressed many obstacles
presented themselves, and il was only
through united and untiring eXertions
that they were overcome. We are also
indebted to our friends in Detroit and
otherplace for helping hand in the time
of need our present governors and 9th
ers having subscribed literally on more
than one occasion, and am of the opin-
ion that had it not been for the assistance
received from abroad, we should not have
been able to carry out our cherished
plans. Our present rector was very sue
cessful in his appeals in New York and
other places, the final result of which
added one thousand dollars to our funds.
Other moneys were also obtained from
"piptl'i AMOUNTING III SiOSS w dDOuI lIlI-
teen hundred dollars. The church at the
present time has cost about five thousand
seven hundred dollars, and for its size,
style of architecture and finish, is consid-
cred by good judges to be as cheap a
church as there is in the diocese;
and it stands alone in point of architect
ure, it being Romanesque.
*Gov. III. T. Baldwin.