Evening star., 1928-10-10

pledged themselves to raise $25,000 for
the purchase of a site and erection OF
a church building Two of the signers
of this appeal still are prominent In
the affairs of the church-Melville
Church and Charles J.. Bell. The par
ish was created on June IL, 1891, with
Rev. j. A. Aspinwall as rector. The
corner stone was laid in 1894. Rev. Mr..
Aspinwall served until 1902. when Rev
DR.. Smith was called to the rectorship
He succeeded in paying of debt OF
$72,500 in 10 years, and has financed
and directed many notable improve
ments. During his incumbency the
parish has increased from 800 to 672
communicates, 551 have been baptized
800 persons confirmed, and there have
been 379 marriages and AIT burials
Some of the present pew holders have
held their peWs continuously since 1902,
Among these are Miss A. B. Armet, c.
j. Bell, George w. Brown, Melville
Church, Mrs. H. NJ. Clabaugh, Mrs.
H. e. Copenhaver, Miss Eva Cox, Mrs.
j. C. Davidson, Mrs. Ben HELEN, Robert
McReynolds. Thomas p Morgan, Mrs.
H. c. Moses, Theodore w. Noyes, Mrs.
Frank G. Smith and DR.. Guy F. Whit
ing.
Windows Striking Feature.
A striking feature of st. Thomas
Church is the series of windows illus
trating the progress Of the Anglican
Church from its foundation at Glas-
tonbury by ST. Joseph OF Arimathea.
Each incident is presented with artistic
fidelity to detail. The windows are as
follows, following the one dedicated to
st. Joseph: st. Alban, Britains first
MARTYR. representing the ancient Celtic
Church; st. Patrick, missionary to Ire
land of the Celtic Church; st. Colum-
bia. missionary from Ireland to the
western isles of Scotland; Queen
Bertha. who received st. Augustine to
Britain; St. Augustine, leader of an
Italian mission to Kent; ST. Adrian,
leader of Celtic mission to the Eng
hsh in Northumbria; ST. Hilda, abbesS
of the monastery of Whitby; Venerable
Bede. father of English history; st.
Swithun, a typical medieval bishop;
Archbishop Langton leader OF the
barons who secured the Magma Charta !;
John Wycliffe; Archbishop Cranmer,
chief agent OF the Reformation: Arch
bishop Laud, church martyr during the
Puritan regime; Queen Anne and
Bishop Seabury, consecrated in Scot
land as the first American bishop.
Besides these windows the church
has some notable memorial windows
presented to the church in memory of
parishioners who have died.
Church of the Ascension.
The Church of the Ascension. beau
tiful Gothic structure at Massachusetts,
avenue and Twelfth street, started
March 4, 1874, with afternoon services
in a small house on II street. The
next year a small church was erected
at II and Tenth streets with Rev. Lewis
j. Gillis as rector. He was succeeded
by Rev. Henry Stanley, Rev. William
Pinkney and Rev. John H. Elliott, DUR
ing all of whose incumbencieS the
parish grew rapidly in population and
wealth. The old church soon became
inadequate to meet the needs of the
parish and on Easter day, 1873, offer
ings amounting to $4,000 were made
toward the erection of a new building
more in harmony with the wealth and
position of the communicates. The
church on its present site was COM
pleted in 1875 at total cost of $685.
600, of which nearly 100000 was given
by w. W. Corcoran.
This church has one of the finest
interiors in Washington. During re-
cent years 1t has changed from neigh
borhood to a downtown" church as
the neighborhood has changed, indi-
vidual homes giving way to apartment
houses. The result has been a some-
what migratory membership. A note
worthy feature Is the Chapel of the
Intercession, place Of sacred quiet
which is kept open at all hours for
those who wish to make use of it for
revery or prayer. The church is active
in welfare work, maintaining a social
service worker especially for the chill
dren of the neighborhood.
The interior is one OF the loveliest In
Washington and the gilded cross over
! the entrance can be seen for block;