The sun., 1897-12-04
CHURCHES WENTT0O FAST.
AND WOW BISHOP POTTER HAS
BROUGHT THEN UP SHORT

y stsphsa's Pnrchuss or q. uptsws site ua-
terdteted, ahd tire CsneTeEniien NAY Wave
to netuFn to Hirth Avense-The Ascenuien
Chureh IN m hImest sir,iiar Predioanent-
Bishop Potter has spoiled the plans of two prom.
inent churches In the diocese by refusing to per
init them to carry out certain changes which, In
each instance, had been practically accom-.
plished, and now the rectors Of these churches
md themselves in rather awkward prodica-
uent At the meeting Of tho Standing Commit
tee OF the diocese this week the Bishop In
formed that body tina. he refused the applica-
tion Of St Stephens Church, at Forty sixth
street. near Fifth avenue. to remove TO tho
building lately occupied as the chapel OF the
TRANSPORTATION. on West Sixty ninth street, near
the Boulevard. This was unexpected in Wow Of
the fact that the congregation Of st. Stephens
Church In already installed In the forbidden site.
d For long time the affairs Of st. Stephen'F
Church, the Rev. Charles r. Treat, rector, and
those OF the Chapel Of the TRANSPORTATION. the
Rev. Father Lawson @. Rich, vicar, have occu-
pied tho attention Of the authorities Of the do
cese. The cause Of the discussion was the de-
nire Of both the church and the chapel to retain
control OF the edi1ce in which the congrega.
tion Of the latter had been worshipping for the
past twenty years, when the late Rev. DIR.
George II. Houghton, rector Of tho Church Of the
TRANSPORTATION, established the uptown chapel
as mission Of his church. Last spring the yes.
Gy OF the church, acting ON the wishes of Dr.
Houghton, determined to dispose OF the chapel
and put tho proceeds Of the salo. into the en-.
dowment Of the parent church. The price
hxcd was $4,000. and before the fact that the
chapel was for sale had become generally
known. an offer to purchase was made by the
vestry Of st. Stephens parish. This offer was
speedily accepted by the vestry Of the Church
Of the 1ransnguration.
As soon as It reached tho ears Of the con-
GreEation worshipping in the chapel that their
religious home was about to bo sold over their
heads an effort was at once made to secure
the property by purchase from the mother
church. in order that they might establish an
Independent parish. For the greater part Of
the twenty years Of its existence tho chapel had
not been especially prosperous, but within the
numbers and zeal. They lost no time me in % inform. n
ing the vestry q the parish that they were pre-
to SSy ts in sas
claim on the chapel to any outsider % and should Hi
appeals were in % vain The mother not M church n sns der
clinod to listen to the petitions and the chapel
worshippers in the chapel remained % there until It'll
they were ELECTED and then adjourned to q near
ing orSani1ed as the CONGREGATION n Of The Chapei
Of the Transhguration.
earled s 81 S s
moved there last October. there was much oppo
ton who wished to remain Where re- they SSgEse Were
and these protests have been called to the atten
Soweye. that the reauisits consent lor ottiSH the
change had been obtained from the authorities
yssrs believed the deparare of B. ae stephens
Church from Its former homo to the chapel
building would result in the consolidation Of
In vbAr fr.yao ,,,,l
that the congregation of the TRANSPORTATION
Chapel held oloof and refused TO be united with
she DOWNTOWN parish, tho situation became
Il is likely, however. that the protests of
Church. at The boulevard and Seventy .irst
street; ABOUT two blocks away from the chapel
and Al 1as rsr NsS fs End RSs
ection Of the Bishop The Rcy. DR.. !shipman,
tho rector OF the former. who is a member OF
Toxnsend rector Of Ali Angels. both protesied prot ted
that there was no room for another Episcopal
perienced in ecclesiastical law said Yesterday
that there seems nothing to be- done by ST.
Sstepnsns now 6nt to pack up and return to its
The other parish which has become involved
OF the Bishop Is that Of the Ascension nc Church,
Etfth avenue and Tenth street. Not long ago
sas parish the
purchased at 10 Horatio street. No sooner @ had d
.. De Costa, rector of the Church OF ST. John the
Evangelist, put in q most vigorous protest
He declared that by engaging in work in the
Horatio street building the Chapel of the ON.
DR.. De Costa's protest was fortified by the
protests Of the Rev. Philip A.: H: Brown.
a Wear OF 81 LHkes Chapsi M OF Trinity Church. ON
Of Ct. Peters Church on West Twentieth street.
The Ascension Church is therefore left with o
chapel on its hands which IL has been forbidden
by the Bishop to use. and. IL 1t shall continue its
west side work. 1t must return to the old Green
Wich street site.