Norwich bulletin., 1922-05-30
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y O1N
Monday evening closed the three days
program of the 18th anniversary of Cal
vary Episcopal church. The question of
having an Episcopal church in Stoning-
ton was considered during the early days
of the new railroad, when several resi- |
dents attended divine services in West |
erly, R. l., in those days making trips |
regularly on Sunday in horse-drawn |
car. So churchly were the visitors and |
complete in regular attendance that the |
matter of establishing a church in Ston- |
ington borough was earnestly thought |
about by the rector who took primary |
steps and did much work in connection |
with the prospective church. Jan. 20, |
1S47, Rev. Thompson Vail, Cater Bishop |
of Kansas brought the matter to the at
tention of the members of the Missionary
association of New London and Wlndham
counties. diocese of Connecticut, which
later was changed to the name of the
Eastern Convocation. After a lengthy !
statement, the association offered the
services of a missionary on and after
May l, upon consideration that they make
meantice such rovisions for public wor
ship as necessary. The offer was accept
ed and a room was selected in the house
owned by DR.. William Lord, corner Main
and Harmony street.
This building being built at the time
when dancing was considered an evil and
being q hall given to general entertain
ments the Episcopal followers were the
subject of ridicule for holding religious
service in such a place The building
at present does not resemble any of its
former appearance, having been remodel
ed for tenement purposes being occupied
by two families and owned by Westerly
parties. The securing of the place caus-
ed services to be maintained by Rev
Thomas Vail and Rev. William Hallam,
who acted as missionary to the borough
until the formation of the church Feb
7th, 1847, two committees were appointed
to obtain church, ETC., they were K. H
Van Rensselaer,, f. IT. Mercer, Ezra
| Chesebro, Edward c. Denison, Amos Al
len Palmer and a committee of Dyer B.
Potter and John Hallam, on corre-
spondence. March 5, 1S47 the formation
meeting was held with Samuel L. Cheese
bro chairman and William Whitney sec
rotary, when the resolutions of formation
were made and signed. The signers to
| the declaration were K. H. Van Rensse-
lair, E. G. Denison, John Hallam, W. H
Woodbridge, William Higgins, D. B
Potter, Jesse Dean, E. w Thayer, C. p
! Capron. A A. Palmer, Giles r. Hallam,
! James G. Albro, William Whitney, Jr.,
Horace Lewis Jonathan w. Thayer Geo.
E. Palmer and Ezra Chesebro
| The first choice of parish officers re-
suited in, senior Warden, James C. Al
bro; Junior warden. William Higgins
vestrymen, X II. Van Rensselaer,, E. C.
Denison, D. B. Potter, Ezra Chesebro
Allan A. Palmer; clerk of treasury, will
liam Whitney, Jr.
/ March 16, 1S47, Rev. Junius NJ Wiley
was called TO the rectorship, being the
| first settled rector. Soon the parish en-
tered into union with the convention of
the diocese, with e. C. Denison delegate
and William Whitney Jr. substitute. The
holy communion was first celebrated in
the parish Whitsti1day, 1S47 and the
first baptism was performed by j. NJ
| Wiley, Sept. &c, 1s47. December 1, of
the same year, $500 having been raised
for the church buildings, the church Of
| f1cially proceeded to the erection Of a
church edifice and appointed a committee,
K. H. Rensselaer,, James c.. Albro and
John HallaW to locate a lot for the
church. Jan. IS, 1S4S the committee re-
ported the offer of Samuel Denison, was
accepted and a building committee Rev.
~. NJ. Wiley, chairman; Ezra Williams
and Dyer Potter was chosen and April
4 Ii, 1913 the deed concerning the land
i was received from Samuel Denison.
The church was designed by Architect
! Richard Upjohn Of New York and is said
to be modelled from the old parish church
at st. Boniface, England The contract
was let to A. R. Brayton and May 81,
1S48 the cornerstone was laid by Rt,
| Rev. Thomas C. Brownell, D. D, bishop
! of Connecticut, who adso administrated
the rite of confirmation for the first time
on that date. May 81, 1S49 the church
was consecrated by the bishop, the SER
mon being preached by Rev. Robert Hal
lam, D., D. of New London. The complet-
ed church was built Of native stone at
50 z -
one Of which was a communion service
from st. James church, New London In
1854 the church was remodeled and a
committee consisting of the rector, Hor-
ace Pendleton and E. G. Denisoi was
appointed to go over the accounts and
found the parish to be in debt. In 1859
REPAIRS and improvements were made on
the interior of the church, service being
held in tha hall Of j. F. Trumbull now
occupied by the Stoningto1 Publishing
Company.
In 1859 the church was built over
at cost of $500. During the period
gifts were received Of strips of land ad-
joining the church and in 1855 a mis-
sion was formed at Wequetequock and a
chapel built at the cost Of $500. In 1884
/, the church became free, with use Of the
voluntary. system of collection the com
mite in charge being Ephrairn Williams
Thomas Wilkinson and James H. Stivers
Jan. 10, 1892 a committee consisting
of George w. Burtch, N. J. Kelsey, Miss
Emma W. Palmer and Mrs. Thomas
Mallaby was appointed with power tc
builr rectory on the church grounds
The parish in the years of life here hat
many valuable memorials placed in The
church by friends and relatives and /.
regarded as one of the handsomes
churches in this vicinity. The rector.
| were as follows: Rev. j. M. Wiley, 1877
1854; Rev. William W. Bronson, 1854
1856: Rev. Charles Bennett, assistan
, rector. Rev ID @ Weston 1shR-1 $50