The Savannah morning news., 1902-05-18
ST. PAUL'S DECADE
VERSARY OF ITS INDEPEND-
ENCE DAY.
ITS GROWTH IN TEN YEARS.
HAS RAISED 1T FROM THIRTEENTH
TO SEVENTH PLACE IN DIOCESE.

gained in 1S55-56 Under Name of
st. Matthews-Was n Dependence
of St Johns Church Until 1S92-In
1898 Was First in Convention in
Number of Baptisms and COnnrma-
lions, and Present Year Reported
Probably the Largest Easter Offer
ing in the DiOcese-Rev. j. L. Soul
Iy Celebrates the Tenth Year of
His Ordination to the Priesthood.
Rev. ]. L. Scully, rector of st. Pauls
Church. will celebrate at the II o'clock
service this morning the tenth ami
versary of the independence of his
church, and the tenth anniversary of
his ordination to the priesthood. AS
a part of this service Rev. Mr.. Scully
will give a short sketch of the history
of the church and parish. whose origin
extends back to ante-bellum days.
In order to get a complete history
of ST. Pauls parish it is necessary to
start as far back as 1886, at which
time a movement for a free church was
begun. mission church was founded
called st. Matthew's, and from the
movement grew a. parish which was
named st. Pauls. Among the promi-
nent founders of church and parish
were "Mr. Bogert," John Matthew
| Guerard. and Mr.. Haywood"
The church was built on a trust lot
at Abercorn and Gordon streets in 1858
1t was of brick and cost, perhaps. s1O,-
900. Mr.. Guerard paid for the roofing
and the chancel furniture and books
were given by Rev. John T. Pryse, who
became its first rector. The church
was adorned by a handsome east win
dow which was given by Mrs. Pryse
wife of the rector. as a thank Offering
Tor her recovery from a serious ILL
ness.
Rev Mr.. Pryse resigned the rector
ship in 1860 and was succeeded by REV
Mr.. Tchudi. This gentleman had been
a deacon of the church under his pre-
decessor's ministrations, was ordained
to the priesthood and assumed the
rectorship. But those were troublous
days, as the reverend gentleman
found, for in his efforts to obtain peace
he was looked on as a Union sympa-
thizer, and he, feeling that his use
fulness was impaired, also resigned
and went to Pennsylvania
The next rector was the Rev. Mr..
Easter, VINO remained with his charge
until just before Sherman's army in
vested the city. During the occupation
of this army st. Pauls was first used
as hospital and later as a stable for
the horses of the cavalry.
This dissertation being reported to
Gen. Grover he commissioned Capt
Stephens to take steps to protect the
church, but the seats had been de-
stroyed, the east window carried away
md he 6oIA HrVsl =
its furnishings that it was practical
ly deserted and its parishioners scat
tered.
A few weeks after some boys, while
at play, accidentally set fire to the
straw which the cavalry had left be-
hind, and the building was entirely de-
stroyed This happened in 1866.
When the city became more settled the
attempt was made again to found q
free church. A lot was secured at
Huntingdon and Tattnall streets and a
building erected which was called St
Matthews. Afterwards 1t was removed
to the present site Of St PauIs, at
Barnard and Duffy streets.
Rev. Owen P. Fitzsimmons became
curate of st. Johns Church in 1889 and
assumed charge of st. Matthew's, then
a mission of st. Johns. In 1892 a
movement for the independence of the
mission was begun and an agreement
was reached by the Guild of st. Mat
thew's and the Vestry of ST. Johns
whereby the mission became indepen-
dent and assumed the name of ST
Paurs. May Is, 1892, it was admitted
in the convention of the diocese.
Rev. Mr.. Fitzsimmons was succeed
ed in the rectorship by Rev. Mr.. Curtis
who staid but a short time, resigning
in 1891 and being in turn succeeded
by Rev ]. ]. Lanier who resigned in
September 1895. In December the same
year, the rectorship was assumed by
Rev. j. L. Scully.
How the church has grown under the
present rector may be gathered from
the following facts: In 1892 St. PauIs
entered the convention with 11S COM
municants. and was in point of num-
bers thirteenth in the list of the men,
bers of that body. At the last meet
ing of the convention. held in Augusta
last week, the church reported $50
communicates, and now holds seventh
place. in point of membership being ex-
| ceeded only by two churches in Sa-
vannah. two in Atlanta, and one each
in Macon and Augusta. Each of these
is much older organization that of
St. Pauls.
In 1898 st. Pauls reported more bap-
tisms and combinations than any other
church in the diocese. Of baptisms
there were IL adults and 40 infants.
and of combinations Sc. Last year the
church was second in baptisms and
third in combinations. This year the
Easter offerings were perhaps the larg-
est In the diocese, amounting to ST.
559 "a. AS these figures show the
church has grown with the city and is
to-day we'll up among the leading par
ishes of the diocese.
-S-e-S