The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-09-29

EDIFICE IS YEARS OLD

With the regular services tonight
! the congregation of ST. .'sE1ss Epfs-
copal church, at Fifth and Marshall
streets, one of the oldest and most his
i toric edifices in Richmond, will bid
Farewell To the building In which they
and their ancestors have worshiped
for seventy five years. The parting
with the old church will bring many
signs of regret, for TO many of the
congregation it's holds tender les.
The regular services will be held
today prayer at II o'clock
and evening prayer at 80, but at
4 o'clock this afternoon VIII occur an
elaborate farewell service. The rector,
Rey. DIR. William Meade Clark, All
|deliser special address on this oc-
easion. reviewing the history Of the
. old church and the work OF it's con-
|crega ton. The service will be repiete
With interest not alone 10 the congre-
cation, but all the Episcopalians Of
fsichmond.
New Church Next Sunday.
Next Sunday the congregation u 81.
LANES will worship in the Sunday
school rooms. or parish house of the
magnificent new st. James at Franklin
and Birch streets The church proper
III
the first of the year and the congre-
sation will continue to use the parish
|hoase until the church IL ready for
ronsecration. The old building at
FYfth and Marshall streets Will be torn
|lown to make way for the march OF
krade. When Ii was erected 1t was
located In the heart of the fashionable
nrsidentiai section of Richmond, but
The congregation has gradually moved
westward until now the old building
! is the center of the activities Of COM
merce.
Has Interesting History.
| The old church is the third oldest
k.uiseopal edifice la Richmond, and
In that period the ST James con-
xregation has given birth to three sep
erate parishes: st. Marks, Holy Trim
.tty and st, Phillips, colored me
[original congregation Was organized
|an sSSsa and tbs cornerstone OK. the
Icdifice at Fifth and Marshall was taad
lin 1887 The first rector was Rev
Adam Empie. -. ~. who served 'ils
|congregation until 1858. He was sue
sss..ded by Rev George II. Cummins,
|afterward bishop of Kentucky He re-
signed the rectorate i'll 1855 Rev. Dr.
| Joshua Peterkin came next Some OF
3his assistants were the present bishops
{of West Virginia Virginia and Arkan-
3sas. He was succeeded IN 1892 by Rev.
benin X. Mason. who had been associate
ss6t.tor from 1890 until his elevation 10
4 INC rectorship The present rector.
REV. pr. william Meade Clark. was
the fifth. He took charge Of the par
tsn in 1885. and his rectorship. with
1.-THE exception Of that OF DIR. PeterhIn:
has been the longest in the history Oh
/ the church.
The New Church.
Thu new church. which IL located in
he fashionable residence district OF
! the West End. VIII be. when com
y,iated. one of the most bautiful church
adifises- In Richmond The massive
'tyorinthian columns of the main en-
|svance on Franklin street are relieved
AT the graceful lines OF the imposing
|sawer surmounting the front OF the
tedlfice, and about the whole there Is
ri air of dignity and majesty that
Ienchains the eye OF the artist Inc
structure is of bun brick and orna-
mental stone. and all who have view
"A the new church declare that In the
design Nolan L. Baskerville, the archi-
Itaets. have achieved a masterpiece.
The two story parish house. to the
nest az and connecting with the
Icfaurch, lis not shown in the iifustra-
|fsnn Tt liz complete with class rooms
land every convenience for Sunday
school purposes. II is OF the same
material and same general style OF
architecture as the church building,
HINT more modest. Work has just be-
vun on the interior of the church. so
That no idea can he gained now Of the
.uppearance when completed. but the
building committee OF the eongrega-
ton Is authority for the statement
| 1T will be In keeping with the beau
|4ifui exterior The church will cost
Fin the neighhorhood Of sf5oeoe.