The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-29
DECONsECRATING A CHURCH.
The Form Used Composed by bishop Potter
to Fit the Occasion.

A reader OF THE SUN wants to know where ia
to be found the form used by Bishop Starkey Of
the Protestant Episcopal diocese of Newark
when he deconsecrated last Sunday the old
Church of the Holy Cross at Claremont avenue
and Clark street. the congregation having taken
possession of q new edifce. The inquirer says:
at would be very interesting to some of US
old school Episcopalians' to learn through
your columns how such Recommendation Is sup
posed to have been brought about. Where in
our canons or rubrics Is there warrant for q
proceeding with that end In view2 and in what
edition of our Book OF Common Prayer Is to DO
such a result 2"
There is no such Office In the Prayer Book. nor
apparently in any Of the manuals from which
the Prayer Book is derived. The form used on
such occasions Is composed by the officiating
Bishop TO 1T the circumstances through which
the proposed secularization OF the church edifce
is brought about. Old Grace Chapel, in Four
tenth street, at the foot of Irving place. on tho
site Of which a music hall is now being erected,
was deconsecrated by Bishop Potter on Sept. o.
Tho decree Of deconsecration which no pro.
nounced read az follows:
"In the name Of the Holy and Undivided
Trinity. the Father, the Son and tho Holy
Ghost. Amen.
"Forasnuch as hereto fore. that is to say. on
the goth day Of September in the year or our
Lord, 1876. by our predecessor OF happy mem
DRY. the Right Rev. Horatio Potter. d. D., LID.
Bishop Of the diocese Of New York, according to
the good order of the Catholic Church. and the
CanOns of this Church In the United states OF
America, tins fabric WAS duly cOnsecrated and
h%ailowed by the name Of Grace Chapel; ard
forasmuch as his sentence OF conservation 10 Of
full force and effect unit! this date.
but now; for the glory Q food and the in
crease Of His Church, II II rightly and canon
ically adiudged that TINS sentence OF consccra-
ton should be annmlled, 10 he end that u better
stead. by the same name and title Of Grace
Chapel, and devoted to the same sacred uses.
and for the perpetual worship of Cod by the
came congregation, their children, and others
hereafter; now, therefore, to the charitable in
tent that they who shall hereafter use. alter, or
destroy the same. or who shall occupy IL for
other than sacred purposes, may not be guilty
OF sacrilege, or OF dish9noring God by tho abuse
I'VE, Henry Goldman Potter, I'D, Ii. D.,
Bishop OF the diocese aforesaid. do hereby de-
clare satd, sentence Of our right reverend prede-
ctssor TO DO revoked and economically annullei,
and by our divine commission to bind and loose
in like cases, do hereby revoke and annul the
thereof TO secular and common uses for any
lawful and reputable employment by honest
men Tor their good and honorable work, busi-
ness, or profession. according To the laws OF tho
land. ,,,
ever secuIarized, and the sentence afore.aid is
voided and revoked. and this place. heretofore
a holy place, and sacred to the preaching OF
Gods Holy Word and the ministration OF HIS
Holy Sacrament is hereby pronounced secular
and uEconsecrated, and no longer within our
canOnlcal jurisdiction, but given back solely TO
the projection OF tho laws of the land. and TO
control AS by said laws are recognized aud
allowed.
"Given under our hand and seal, In the city
OF Now York and before divers witnesses duly
published within the walls OF the fabric
aforesaid, on this 9th day OF September, in The
year Of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ
one thousand eight hundred and ninety-s!x.
"(Signed) HENRY GOODMAN POTTER,
Bishop of New York,
GEo. +. NELSON,
MELVILLE X. BAILEY,
"MURRAY BARTLETT"