Evening star., 1928-10-10
CITY'S EARLIEST PARISHES
STILL FOUND CARRYING ON
Christ Church and Rock Greek Oldest in
District-Many Other Romantic
Shrines Remain.

the ancestor of that splendid structure.
st. Adams was built in 1855 and long
was known as the little red church on
the hill" The land on which it stands
originally was a part of the estate of
Joseph Nourse the first registrar of the
Treasury. 1t was his practice to kneel
in prayer among the oak trees on the
hill. Originally there was a boys
school, st. Johns Institution, on st.
Adams Hill. When Miss Phoebe
NourSe, a granddaughter of Joseph
Nourse. died, 40 gold dollars we're found
ii her effects with the provision that
they be used as the nucleus of fund to
found" free church on the hill.
Other gifts followed and the boys of
st. Johns School dug the foundation.
In 1914. when the first offering for
the present stone church was taken. in
the offering was found a box contain
ing $40 in gold marked, For increasing
st. Adams free church in stone to the
glory of God and in loving memory of
Louisa Oakley Bratenahl." During its
long history the church has had only
six rectors. The first was the Rev.
Worthington L. Childs. Others were:
Rev. William Christian. Rev. John H.
Chew. Rev. Nelson Falls, Rev. DR..
Bratenahl. The present rector Is the
ICcN. SIldLlcS 4 WdIIlcIs
st. Luke's Church.
One of the most beautiful of the
Episcopal churches of Washington Is
st. Luke's, at Fifteenth and Church
streets, the place of worship of a con-
gregation of colored people 1t started
as a mission of st. Johns Church to
care for the liberated slaves who came
to Washington following the Civil War.
The church came into existence in 1866
under the fostering care of Rev. G. II.
Hall. rector of the Church of the
Epiphany, who first held cottage meet
ings'' in homes in various sections OF
the city. Secretary of War Stanton gave
the congregation frame building which
was erected at Twenty-third and @
streets. The present property was &C
quired and the building erected in 1879.
Notable among the historic Episcopal
churches of Washington Is old Christ
Church in the Southeast.
There had been a scattered settle
ment along the Potomac in that Sec
tion before the Revolution, and from
1880 Episcopal services were held In
former tobacco warehouse on what is
now New Jersey avenue, near d street.
This was a meeting of the old Broad
Creek Church. A petition for the for
nation of new parish was made to
the Maryland Assembly in 1894. Ac-
cordingly, the Legislature the next year
created Washington Parish, consisting
of the cities of Washington and George
town.
An Early Vestry.
At a congregational meeting held
May Is. 1895. the following were chosen
as the first vestry: William Deakins, ir.,
John Templeman. James Simmons,
Joseph Clarke, Thomas johnson, jr,
Gustavus Scott and Dr. Charles Worth
ington. DR.. Worthington having de-
clined, George Walker was appointed to
the vacancy. The vestry elected as
wardens Clotworthy Stephenson and
William PrentiSs, and the Rev. George
Ralph, who had previously taught a
school. became the first rector The
Rev. Edward CAN'T was appointed as
sistant minister, in charge of the work
at Georgetown. The Georgetown con-
maintained a practically sep
arate life from the beginning and soon
built church, becoming an indepeu-
dent parish in 1909.
In March, 1907, the vestry bought
square Ills for 5000 as a burial ground.
This has been enlarged from time to
time, until it now embraces 80 acres,
being popularity known as Congressional
Cemetery, because of the graves and
cenotaphs of deceased Congressman
which it contains. The remarkable par
ish seal now in use, consisting Of q
crucifix surrounded by the words Christ
Church City Of Washington" was adopt-
ed in 1903.
Anacostia Parish.
Anacostia parish was established in
1869. Services were first held in a pub
lie school building A small brick church
was built in 1870, and was replaced by
the present church, with its chapel, in
1891.
The Church of Our Savior, in Brook
land, is an Outgrowth Of Rock Creek
parish. The corner stone of the present
church was laid in 1895, and two years
later the new parish was created.
Esther Memorial Church, at Congress
started with a mission Sunday
school organized in a private residence
In 1895. The corner stone Of mission
church was laid in 1902.
st. James Church, on Eighth street
near Massachusetts, avenue northeast.
affords delegates to the convention who
desire to attend the Anglo Catholic
service an opportunity to see this at it's
best. The pastor, Rev. George w. At
kinson, is leader of the high church
party in Washington. ST. James par
ish was set aside from Christ Church
parish in 1873.
st. Marks Church. at Third and A
streets southeast, is notable particularly
from the fact that it formerly was the
pro-cathedral of the Diocese of Wash
ington. 1t originated as mission Of
Christ Church in 1859, when two frame
houses on the present site, one an OLD
school building. we're purchased. While
the church was the pro-cathedral some
of the most noted clergymen who have
served IN Washington were stationed
there.
Noted for Windows.
There is no church in the diocese that
has a greater wealth of stained glass
windows. and the building is notable
for its Old World interior treatment and
its remarkable clerestory.
st. Pauls Church. on Twenty-third
street south of Pennsylvania avenue. Is
an outgrowth of st. Johns Church. The
parish was established In 1868, with the
Rev. Augustus Jackson as first rector.
Among its rectors was the Rev. Alfred
Harding, afterward Bishop of Washing
ton.
The church has many handsome me-
MORALS and valuable gifts. st. Paurs
Church was the first in Washington to
use the eucharistic lights and also the
first to have a vested choir.
The first Episcopal services In Ia
koma Park we're held by a clergyman
Rev. James o. Dorsey, in his home. AS
the congregation increased in number
a hall was rented, and the church at
Piney Branch road and Dahlia street
was opened in 1898. The building was
consecrated by Bishop Harding in 1918.
Grating Consumes Much Lumber.
1t has been estimated that nearly 10