The Natchitoches enterprise., 1917-06-07
Trinity Episcopal Church


was large congregation at the
o'clock service when a vested choi
rendered the music under the directio
of Miss Myra AXE, assisted by Nh
Aage Fredericks, who played the violin
The congregation was composed o
many of the old members, as well g
those of the younger generation an
others of our towns people intereste
in this old historic church. A larg
thank-offering was given for the beau
tifying Of the church. After servic
some of the members made pilgrinag
to the old church now used for a stor,
by Mr.. Prrdhomme. The following
historic sermon was preached by thu
present rector:
There were found few protestant
in Natchitoches in 1910 and these cheer
fully co-opera led in the attempt to es
tablish an Episcopal church. By the
direction Of Bishop Polk, who came t.
the diocese Of Louisiana in 1889, the
Rev. Jno. Burke came to Natchitoches
on May II, 184I. This gentleman was
by birth and education an Irish Roman
| Catholic and was formerly a priest If
| that church. On the Sunday after his
arrival divine service was held in the
court house and Immediately after SER
vice those present proceeded at once to
the organization of the church by the
election of the following officers. S.
NJ. Tibbitts and F. Williams, wardens;
VIM. Hunter, Louis G. DeRussy, Jas.
G. Campbell, Victor Sompayrac, Am
brose Sompayrac, Geo. w. Lewis, D.
M. Heard, Alfred Bludworth, Daniel
H. Vail, Martin Fearing, Adolph Som
payrac and yThos. II. Airey, vestry men.
Thos. P. Jones was elected parish
clerk. Jas. Taylor and ID. F. Royeden
were also present and took an active
interest in the meeting. On the follow
ing Sunday after service, May 20, 184l,
the vestry met and tho following
changes occurred: E. 0. Blanchard was
elected warden in the place of F. Will
liams, who declined to serve; and Z.
HOLSTER was elected parish clerk or
secretary i'll the place Of Thos. P. Jones
who declined; Thos. H Airey was elect
ed Treasurer and d. F. Takes was
chosen sexton for one year. There was
established the fourth Episcopal church
in the diocese and was called Trinity
the rector was fixed at 81, 900, but this
was reduced shortly afterwards to
S1400, $500 being received from the
Board of Missions. An act of incorpo-
rations by the State was granted March
u, l843, Alexander Mouton being Gov
ernor of Louisiana. Divine services
were continued at the Court House in
st Denis street, but, at much incOn-
venience, when on Aug. 10, 1843, the
vestry represented by Jas. G. Campbell
and E. o. Blanchard purchased from
Ambrose Sompayrac, Senior, acting as
the attorney in fact of Mrs. Widow
Huerretta +. Trinolet, widow Costousi
of the city of New Orleans, for the sum
of 81, 900 in cash, house and lot at the
S. w. corner of Front and Trudeaux
streets. This house formerly used for
a store, being 40ft long and soft wide
was easily coverted into a convenient
pla:e OF worship. On April %, 1874, it
was set apart as holy temple and con-
secrated to the service OF Almighty
God by the Rt. Rev. Leonidas Polk, ID.
D., Bishop of the diocese. Here the
church continued to prosper under the
fostering care of the Rev. Jno. Burke,
until Oct 1914, when this gentleman
resigned, having been in charge three
years and five months. He was sue
ceeded by the Rey. Elijah Guion from
the diocese of N. Y. He arrived in
Dec. 9, 1874 and held SER
vice the next Sunday. The following
persons constituted the vestry at this
time: Peabody A. Morse and Louis G. /
DeRussey, wardens; Ambrose Sompay-
rae, Senior, Jas, t. Campbell, Jas. |
Taylor, Stephen NJ. Tihbitts, Adolph |
Aaron H Pierson and Geo. |
5. Walinsley, vestrymen. A congrega- /
ton having been organized in the month |
Of May at Alexandria, Mr.. Guion
offered that church whatever
might be in his power. He
also OBLIGATED occasionally at the U. S.
encampment near Natcni- |
5oches. Mr.. Guion resigned in May,
l848 and in his last report to the do
,esan convention he says: "Our af-
fairs continue unchanged in their
spiritual features and in the midst of
many discou1 agements and trials. we
nave reason to be thankful for the
comparatively good measure of success
With which we have been blessed The
school at Natchitoches which has been
conducted by the Rector's wife, for
more than three years is discontinued
rom the first instant in consequence of
he anticipated removal of the Rector's
.amlly." There were "a communicates
'eported at their time in Trinity church.
The church was without a rector until
he arrival of the Rev. Thos. Scot
3acons July 80, 1858. During the long
interval however. the congregation
we're not unmipdful Of their spiritual
interest. Monthly services were held
y the Rev. Mr.. Mccoy. Tue Sunday
chool also was regularly kept up by
he women of the parish among whom
s the most prominent and energetic
vas the widow OF Paul Victor Sompay-
&C, whose name must ever be CRATE {
ully associated with the first dawn of
be Episcopal church in Natchitoches. {
vestry was also elected every Easter
1onday during the long interval. The
rival of the Rev. Mr.. Bacon caused
luch happiness to the church, so long
Tithout settled minister. Being a {
Dung man, social and energetic, Mr..
'acon very soon become favorably
nown to the community. 1t was not
ing before the church determined to
improve the advantages which it then
njoyed, by the erection of a larger
nd more commodious place of worship.
LAYING selected the lot of ground upon t
'hich the present church stands, at the ;
orner of Second and Trudeaux streets,
resolution was passed on May |, 1856, t
lthorizing the rector to make the pur- +
base. And on the 10Th May, said lot,
eng 232 #. in length by 60 it. wide i
as purchased for the sum of $1,000 :
ash, from the widow, Rene Trudeaux
New Orleans. Plans for the new t
lurch were drawn by Frank Wills of .
!. Y. City and the present beautiful
I'D commodious edifce was commenced t
the autumn of 1857. In the spring !
the next year on ash-W ednesday,
Ia cnnara rafion first aranr,n hlod II, thoirl