New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-23
LONG RECTORSHIP ENDED
DEATH OF THE REV DIR. u. NJ fARhiN'
TON. WHO WAS FOR FIFTY-SIX YEARS
Dr-Crop IN cpEENWICH CONN.

RECTOR IN GREENWICH. CONN.
The Rev DR. benjamin Mowatt Warrington died
on Saturday night at his home, In GTeeh"'ch'
Conn He was eighty-sx years old ana was reV'''
Of Christ Protestant Episcopal Chnron' IN "'ee"-
,vicb for aftv-slx years This tho only rector
shin he had ever held. Il was said wnch he ~
tired that there was no other clergyman ID INC
history Of the Episcopal ministry OF the Chi'eo
States who had had only ore passionate ana n"n
held (, for n period Of so many years
DR. Warrington was born in Flushing Long
Island on March IS 1872 His father was trah
Warrington. who figured prominently In inc war
~ 1879 as had his father in tho American Revosu-
49,, NJ yo-rnp,on's father died IN 1871. and
,ounc Warrington was sent to this city Few years
la,or % 10 educated RE attended c'assicaI
.oroo, ION. by Dr Edmund Barry ana
,bor entered the General Theological seminary
After plrsuiag his studies IN tha' "'''u
,ior r., sor-o time his health failed hih' ana
10 greatly feared that he would have 10 GIVE w
tho idea o. booming clergyman A't''9 ~
,5c olvico ~ the Roy d. Francis l.. hawkes.
ur.long friend however. ne passed year VI ,'9
un~le's farm i'm the interior o. the S'a'e' ~" "
return he could not he graduated rom ''''
mary with his class as he was 10 Ionee' d IN"
~ {, and so he examined for u'' I'''.'
by Dr. Hawkes.. ,hc Rev. Ir. Prise nnd ne re-
r- Jackson He passed a most thorough am
cxboustfye examination with much credit 70 MN
80 and N his instructors. showing conNIueNeN
Tan, nc had continued his studes with tne
NJ Diligence even whcn his health hsd oseh p'o'
ON December % 1898. he was ordained deacon "a
8, Tborass church. IN this city. OF wn'ch u
ttouloe vos ,hcr the rector. by the Right Kew III
r. T Ondo-donk. Bishop ~ New-forN. i"""b ."
he was Dr. harrington was much sought aI'c'' ""-
on June O. 1870. he was ordained priest ~ ~
r.t-b, pev Or william Heathcote DE l-ancey'
acting for the Right Rev. Or. Thomas - bfo"He''
ElsAop % Connecticut. In Christ Churcn' "re''l-
,tcb Ite was rector Of Christ Church from AprH
1920 70 April Is 1885, period Of hfty-sik years OF
continuous service Or Warrington was Hgh'E-three
yeare old when he finally gave up MS cha'e'' dlu
his narishloners were reluctant 10 lose him he
noss.sscd an unusually strong and robust physlqu''
but re felt that his powers were failing MN. ana
although he had all possible assistance. the duties
o, .hn rectorship became burdensome lie hal
thought of retiring for years before ne did but
Tishop Williams and his congregation had urged
him to defer the step.
Finally when he did retire Dr. Warrington let;
his beloved church in which nc had served 50
lorg in the same unostentatous manner which
had characterized all his acts IN HE. Hc would
have no ceremony 70 mark the retirement on
t1c last Sunday OF his rectorship he preached
s-ronr sermon and at its close told the congrega-
ton that he had sent his resignation 10 the yes
try o, the church and that the vestry had ac-
,eptcf IT, DIT. Warrington was made rector emer.-
tis and continued TO live In the rertory next 10
the church until his death.
The present Christ Church Is the third structure
I'm which the congregation mas worshpped. and
It was erected by DIR. Warrington in the early
years Of his ministry II s a handsome old stone
structure near the brow Of Putnam Hi. The
first Christ Church built on the brow OF the
hill and its site made famous by General
Israel Putnam's perilous ride down the steep stony
steps there TO escape tho British soldiers when they
thought hts capture was certain. The Daughters
Of the American Revolution talking OF building
a monument 10 mark this historic spot.
When Or. Warrington left Christ Church It was
free Of debt Of any kind. and there was surplus
IN the treasury. He had not only built the chuTcn
but the rectory as well while ne was rector, May
~ C;reenwch's most prominent families attended
Christ church in Or. Yarrington's time. inciudlnB
tl,ose Of f. G. Benedict II o. Hayemeyer and A
Foster Higgins The youngest daughter OF NJ
March Is Or Warrington passed his eighty sixth
birthday. and the rectory bloomed with no"ers
which the members Of his old congregation sent
him with their congratulations and gooc wishes
While continuing his pastorate Or harrington mao
many calls from other churches. including one
from St Clements. in this city, and one from
At the ;irne Of his death Or. Warrington had the
Episcopal cane OF Connecticut, and had held II
longer than all It's previous possessors comoined'
as the oldest Episcopal minister in point OF service
in the State. ,,,
Or warrington leaves n widow. but no children
The funeral will be held az O'Clock this afternoon
q, CtrIet Chrrch Greenwich The pallbearers will
he the members OF the vestry. Among the clergy,
mon who will oficiate Archdeacon sherman, OF
Connecticit the Rev. DR. Louis French, the Rev
Or " Brathwaite. and the Rev. Dr. NJ George
Thornson the present rector q, Christ Church. The
burial will be in the family plot in the church cene-