The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-04-19
GRACE EPISCOPAL
CHURCH ALMOST
z YEARS Of AGE
Organized in May, 1897, 1t Has
Had a Glorious Career
in Newark.

Inc parish OF Grace Episcopal Cnurcn'
one of the largest of that faith in the
city. was organized and Incorporated
in May, 1887, and admitted to the con
vention of the Protestant Episcopal
the thirty-irst day of that month. The
Rev. George 7. Chapman, who was the
first rector. came to Newark as rector
of Trinity, but as 1t seemed desirable
to have two churches in the city. sew
erai gentlemen agreed to organize an
other under his leadership. The first
officers were: Luke Reed and Charles
M. King, wardens; Joel w. Condit,
Thomas d. James, J. c.. Garthwaite,
E., e. Boudinot, Horatio Holden. John
H. stephens. William Johnson, Henry
Evans, Daniel Condit and William
Stevens, Vestrymen.
The first services of the church were
held in a room in the building formerly
near Mechanic street, in Broad street,
and nearly on the same ground where
now stands the Globe building. From
that room on the first Sunday in April,
1888, they removed to a small white
building, with pillars in front and con-
tanning sixty-six pews and an organ
gallery, which stood in Clinton street.
1t was erected and owned by
another denomination. The first build
ing erected by Grace Church was
in Market street, opposite Beaver street,
December 20, 1888. and took eighty-two
days to build. 1t was a frame struc-
ture. The cornerstone of the present
building was laid on May II, 1S47, and
was finished and consecrated on Octo-
Der S, 1S4S, by the late Rt. Rev. Bishop
Doane.
Early Rectors.
The Rev. George t. Chapman vas
rector of the church from 1887 to 1S4l,
when he removed to the Vermont do
cese. He died in 1879. The Rev. AM
thony Ten Brock, who succeeded him,
was rector until 1916, when the Rev.
DR.. John Ogilby was called and ac-
copied, but never served, as he was
taken with a severe illness, necessitat-
ing a trip to Europe. On his return he
became a professor in the theological
seminary in New York city.
The Rev. DR.. John Leep Watson ac-
cepted the call from Grace Church on
May %, 1916, and remained until NO
vember, 1858, when he became presi-
dent of the Burlington College in Bur-
lington, this State. During the latter
part of his rectorship the need OF a
larger building was felt, and the site
of the present structure was bought
and the. building was erected thereon,
according to plans prepared by Richard
Upjohn, sr., the architect of Trinity
Church, New York. The church is
built of brownstone from the old Belle
Vile quarry, and the design is early
English Gothic. 1t has a seating ca
pacity for 700.
When completed the congregation
marched in a body from the old church
in Market street to the new edifice. At
the head of the laity was the late Cen
era Winfield Scott 1t is interesting to
note that the town Jail was located on
the site of the present church, and the
remains of some of the cells are to be
found in the cellar today.
The Rev. WILLIAM Fl. Stewart sue
ceeded DIR. Watson, inc was rector
until 1856, when he accepted a call from
st. Clements Church, of Philadelphia.
The next rector of Grace Church was
the Rev. DR.. Philander X. Cady, who
served until November, 1850, when he
went to the theological seminary In
New York. During his administration
IL was made a Free Church." an UNI
usual thing in those days. The Rev.
John Sebastian Bach Hodges was his
successor. and continued so until 1870,
and is now rector emeritus of st. PauIs,
Baltimore.
First Vested Choir.
He is we'll known as a musical COM
poser. He established the. first vested
choir in Grace Church on Easter Day.
1865. Vested choirs in those days were
considered unusual and of so great i'm
portance that the Rev. DR.. Dix, of
Trinity Church, New York, came over
and preached at length on the innova-
ton.
Tn Rev. Robert e. Dennison served
from 1871 to 1873. During his incum-
bency he caused the extension of the
chancel and the erection of the parish
buildings. A high altar of stone
was also erected by him from designs
furnished by the late Albert c. Neu-
man, who designed the old City Hall,
The parish building was used for school
purposes for many years. Many OF
Newark's prominent citizens received
their early education there.
The Rev. DIR. William H. Harrison
was rector from 1874 to 1879, followed
by the Rev. Or. George M. Christian
in January. 1880. Early in that year hi
Right Rev. Thomas A.. Sharkey wa
consecrated. He was the first bishop O
northern New Jersey. The advanced
ritual was used and 1t occasioned con
siderable comment. though it would no
be considered extreme at the presen
day. DIR. Christian was. rector for nine
teen years. ~resigning March /. 1899
when he accepted a call to st. Mary tn,
Virgin in New York. During his rector
ship he caused to be erected the st
Margaret altar, and the reserve sacra
ment was introduced.
The Rev. C. C. Edmunds succeeded
DR.. Christian, and remained in charg'
until September. 1905. He introduced
the envelope system of contribution
and reduced a mortgage to absolutel.
nothing. He also organized the Sister
hood of st. Margaret, which has con
tinued ever since. They work amoni
the poor.
vestments stolen.
1t was also during his time hat {
large quantity of the elaborate silk em
broidered vestments were stolen. sTh'
recovery incidentally opened up a bill
police scandal, as he reported to tn,
police board that an effort had beef
made to extort $3.50 from him for re
covery of the articles.