The Press., 1904-04-14
Continued from last weekly
AN EVENING WITH HISTORY OF
STAFFORD.
The Churches.
BIT MRS. WIN MoRRALL.

church held in Stafford. The Rev.
Charles R. Fisher, rector of st. Paul's,
Hartford, ON one occasion years be-
fore came here and baptized some
children. An English family by the
name of Dobson, coming from Rhode
Island, settled in the north part of the
town of Tolland, in the Buff Cap
neighborhood, about five miles from
Stafford The members of the family
were earnest, consistent churc b
people. At the time of their coming
the nearest Episcopal church was
Broad Brook, eighteen miles distant,
and there they went on Sundays until
the establishment of lay services at
Rockville, eight miles distant.
While attending church at Rock
Vile they induced the lay reader. Mr..
Buckingham, to accompany them to
Stafford Springs and hold an after
noon or evening service after the
morning service at the former place.
The first service was held in Gen.
trail hall in June, 1872. From the
first goodly number of people pledged
themelves to support the church and
attend the services. After his ordi-
nation as deacon Mr. Buckingham
came here to live, and held the first
morning service July 7th, 1872, con-
tinuing to hold them in Central hall
until September goth of that year,
when the congregation moved into
" Mission hail. which had been ap-
propriately fitted up in what is now
Chamberlin's block on Main street.
Mr.. Buckingham was ordained to
the priesthood in mission hall" De-
cember 9th, 1872, by Bishop Will
liams. He celebrated the holy COM
munion for the first time Christmas
1872, at EMISSION hall".
At this time George M. Ives, Lyman
W. Crane, J. F. Chamberlin, r. s.
Hicks and NJ. B. Fisk purchased lot
on Main street to be held by them I'M
til such time as the society should
arrange to build upon it.
Rev. Mr.. Buckingham left the par
ish February I'd, 1878, and was fol-
lowed by George M. Stanley, who re-
manned few months, and was sue
ceeded by Rev. DR.. Fletcher J. Haw-
ley, who was largely instrumental in
building the church.
Owing to business depression incl
dent to the panic of 1878 the project
was delayed for a time. In 1876 the
question of building was again agi-
tated, and subscription of $4,000 Sc
cured and $1,000 more pledged by
Bishop Williams. In December of
this year Bishop Williams issued an
appeal to the diocese for $500 more.
Then came the awful disaster of the
flood. March 81. 1877, followed by
the bishops letter of the 9TH COM
mending the rector's earnest appeal in
behalf of the church enterprise. The
result was that less than one-half of
the parishes gave $4,000, the bishop
$1,000 and the Diocesan Missionary
society $1,000, making an aggregate
of $4,000.
The lot on Main street was given
up, and the one on which the church
now stands purchased of Julius Con-
verse. The corner stone of the new
church was laid by Bishop Williams
September It'll, 1877. The eongrega-
tion moved to the new church Deem
Der 9th, holding service in the base
ment until April 18th, when they
moved into the church proper.
1t was now thought best to convert
the mission into a parish, which was
organized May 9Th, 1878. The
church was consecrated by Bishop
Williams December Sd, 1878.
We are reminded of many of the
founders and early workers in the
parish by memorial gifts within the
church, notably Ella M. Baker, of
whom it is appropriate to speak at
this time. Beverly E. Warner, a
former rector, truly says, in a
-
Very much does Grace church owe
to this woman, who was a devout
communicate, a faithful seeker and
learner of the truth of God, a beloved
teacher in the Sunday school, a help
full hand at every occasion where her
heart and brain could be in possible
demand.
"For many years she had wished to
have an appropriate altar in the
chancel of her parish church. Some
thing always hindered. Her longing
to make the house of God beautiful,
which she could not effect in her life
time was accomplished by her death,
for over the grave on the hillside in
the May Eastertide a plan was agreed
upon, and the eighteenth Sunday after
Trinity, October 18th, 1884, a finely
carved black walnut altar was placed
in Grace church, to the glory of God,
and in sacred memory of the one
whose desire was thus accomplished by
the subscription of her many friends
in the parish. The inscription was
simply
In memoriam Ella M. Baker, May
Sth, 1S94-the day of her birth into
paradise.
The pipe organ was the generous
gift of the widow of the late Lyman
W. Crane as a memorial to him, who
was also the giver of the lot on Grant
avenue on which the pleasant rectory
now stands.
Among others, now deceased, who
early were active in promoting the
welfare of Grace church, may be
named Mr.. and Mrs. George M. Ives,
John Dobson and Franklin Wells
Patten.
From the holding of that first ser
vice over thirty years ago. through
her early struggle as a mission, and
IN through the many years since her