The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-08

Gothic design. It comprises, In adds
tien to the main church building. 8 Z
commodious Sunday School room. kim
dergarten and class room and apart
ments for the vestry and choir. Un-aS
der tho supervision of the committees.
COMPOSED OF F.. l.. Ruffn, chairmanfss
Amos NJ Cover and S. Rutherford
Rose the handsome edifice was erected
hy W. l.. Raglaud e. CO. contractors
II was completed Der, 1913, and
since that time all of the debts in-8
Cured by the congregation have been
entirely cleared away.
The cost OF the church and equip-
ment is approximately s20.C1e It's
location at Walton and Hawthorn Ave-
nues Is an admirable site for church.
The property on which the church n
built was the gift of Miss Grace Arentu
and her sisters, Miss Joanna B. Arents
and Mrs. Minnie f. Young, the two
last named ladies being residents Of
New York. II was through the gener-
oslty Of these three noble women, who
have devoted much of their money to-
wards helping Episcopal Churches In
Virginia and other States. that the
original organization OF the congrega-
tlon was promoted and the erection OF
the house Of worship made possible.
Long before there was church
xbulldfng of any kind in this section OF
Rfchmond--it was then in Henricos
County-the Misses Arents and MIRA
Young donated this tract in the cen-s
trail portion of the suburb, built q
rectory and schoolhouse. reserving am>s
pie space for future church builds
Ing In November, 1907. Rev. r. A.
/ Rftput was, sent to the park to es.s
tablish a mission. Miss Arents and her
sisters contributing the money for the
minister's salary.
In the spring of 1908 the mission
| was organized at meeting Of tbs
! church members in the home of Amos
! v Cover on Chamberlayne Avenus.
| The hrst service was held in the Au-s
/ ditorium of the school building in May
/ of the same year and "a Sunday School
/ was organized Some time later funds
! were subscribed and a room In the
/ school building was fitted up al u
chapel Through the generosity Of
ST Pauis Episcopal Church a COM
munton service was provided.
Miss 'Arcnts Names Church.
| It was through the suggestion Of
! Miss Arents that tho church was called
st Thomas The growth of the
church has been coincident with the
rapid development of Ginter Park. q
As the church gradually increased
! and the chapel became too small to
accommodate the members OF the
church. plans were made for the erec-3
I tion of a handsome new church BUILD
! ing BY voluntary subscriptions Of
members Of the church and its numer.4
Gus friends one fourth OF the amount
. needed to construct church was So
cured. The remainder was immediately
subscribed by Miss Arents and her
sisters With Masonic rites the corr
nerstone was laid May s. 1912. thu
services being conducted by Lewis
Ginter Lodge of Masons. In FebFu-
! arr. 1919 the church was completed
by the contractors and turned over u
the congregation. A short while later
the first service was held In the new
edihce. the address OF the occasion be-
ing delivered by Bishop Gibson.
When 1t became self-sustaining. thA
church took formal action to have &
declared a separate cnngregatinn- frnx1
the Henrico parish. The rectorship was
then resigned by Mr.. Rtdout, and Rev.
F. Ernest Warren. who was then rec-
tor of Meade Memorial Church. 0k
South Richmond was rendered the
charge. He accepted and began hia
rectorship IN November. 1918.
Since MIR. Warren assumed charge Of
the congregation the church has made
bership has more than doubled. and In
Sunday school. In proportion, Is now
one 81 the most aourishing In tha
CITY. The church has always contrfn-
uted literally to all mission causes. B
The church has bright future be-
fore II. and under tho able rectorshfp
Of Mr. Warren. II should make even
greater progress in the future