Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-08

choristers can be seen from the church.
The colors selected for the church are all
quiet shades of green. which harmonize
with each other and with the color of slate
on the roof and the front gable.
Cathedral glass windows have been Sc
lected of simple and harmonious colors. A
cellar has been placed beneath the church.
In which the heating apparatus Is located.
History of the Church.
In the year 1850 the locality where the
new church now stand was sparsely
settled neighborhood, with fields OF wheat
and corn. There were no fine streets and
parks About the year 1S4S Rev. Alfred
Holmead came from Baltimore to build up
a church in some part of this city. Look
ing over this section, then known as the
island" he decided that no better field
for labor could be found. An old one-story
frame building which stood in the middle
of Maryland avenue at the intersection
of 10th street and about 100 feet north Of
the present Ryland Chapel was rented
1t contained two long rooms, one occupied
by the Island fire engine company ana the
other used as a school room. 1t was con-
sidered the most desirable place for holding
the services of the church. Having secur-
ed this building, Mr.. Holmead began to
look around for families ana others VINO
would attend the meetings. SUCCESS
followed these efforts, and soon there were
gathered a number of persons, and scrv-
ices were held every Sunday. Among the
names of these pioneer members were tne
Thomas family, McGees, Heatmans, Will
iams TayIorS, Cooks, Martins, Stones, etc.
A Sunday school was established, and
many had their first instruction in the
little church. The congregation grew In
numbers and prominence.
About the year 1851 a church was erected
on the site of the present structure. IL
was hard work to obtain means for the
payment of the debt incurred, but by per-
severing efforts II was at last PAID ana
the church consecrated. Increase OF con-
gregation and prosperity followed until the
breaking out of the civil war. From this
time the numbers of the congregation
were on the wane.
After the second battle of Bull Run the
church was used a hospital for two
years or more. In the meantime as many
of the people as possible were brought
together and services held elsewhere. MIR.
Holmead was rector Of the church about
thirty-five years. He was succeeded by
Rev. Mr.. Gilliatt, after whom came Rev.
Mr. Lee, and then Rev. John Phillips The
building was damaged and weakened to
some extent during its occupancy as a
hospital Several years after this il was
condemned by the city authorities as I'M
safe. and 1t was necessary to look else
where for place for worship. A claim
for damages amounting to several hun
dred dollars was paid after lapse Of
time. This money was spent In repairing
the building and restoring the organ and
furniture Altogether Grace Church has
had no easy time in maintaining its ,ex-
istence. More than once 1t has been on
the verge of dissolution, but always relief
has come in some way.
OF those who composed the first vestry
are recalled the names of Leonard o. Cook
Arthur H. Yeatman. William Roberts and
Stone. Mr.. Yeatman was choirmaster
for several years. and was succeeded by
his son, VIM. s. Eeatman, who. for more
than twenty years. had charge of the
music.
In April, 1891, Rev. John w. Phillips
died, and in November of the same year
he was succeeded by Rev. Thomas o,
Tongue, the present rector.