Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-01
CHURCH TO MARK
S5TH ANNIVERSARY
Special Exercises Tomorrow
viii Celebrate Founding of
Church of Ascension.

The eighty-fifth anniversary of the
founding of the Church of the Assem-
sion, now at Twelfth street and Massa-
chusetts avenue, will be observed with
special exercises tomorrow.
The services will be: am. holy
communion: $50 am, church school,
IL am, holy communion and historic
sermon preached by the rector. Rev.
Thomas w. Cooke; pm, Chinese
school; pm, Young Peoples So
ciety: pm, cantata entitled Con
version" under the direction of Mrs
Henry Hunt Mckee.
The church was organized March f.
1S45, and held the first services in a
school room of John Mcleod, on Ninth
street between G and H streets. The
following year a lot on H street between
Ninth and Tenth streets was donated
by Mrs Marcia Burns Van Ness on
which TO erecc a church Rev. Levin
j. Gilliss was the first rector. He was
assisted by Rev Henry Stanley until
June, 1856. The following year Rev.
William Pinckney became rector, as
sisted by Rev. William Christian.
The church building was taken over
by the Government during the Civil
War and in April, 1868. was returned
mated and elected Bishop CoadjutJr of
Maryland and was consecrated October
6, 1870. His rectorship was followed by
Rev, Orlando Hutton. After two years
he was succeeded by Rev. John H. Ell
lott, who became the associate rector
to Bishop Pinckney, the bishop haV-
ing been urged after his consecra-
ton to assume oversight of the parish,
aided by assistants. The bishop and
the associate rector, with the leader
ship of an active veStry consisting of
w. w. Corcoran, Henry S. Davis, w. M.
Shuster, j. T. Stevens, Lowndes Jack
son, N. w. Burchell, Thomas L. Hume
and r. w. Burgess, formed a building
committee, the ground having been
donated by William w. Corcoran and
the contract was made for the new
church at the corner of Massachusetts,
avenue and Twelfth street. the corner
stone being laid June 9, 1874, and on
Advent Sunday, 1875, the congregation
worSniped IN the new building for the
first time
In the work at the new church Rev.
William Morrison became DR.. ElIiott's
assistant. July 4, 1888, Bishop Pinck-
ney died. DR.. Elliott asked Rev. Green
Shackelford to be his assistant for the
next three years. The next in success
sion was Rev. Augustine j. Smith as
assistant 70 DR.. Elliott. Rev Tayloe
Snyder followed him for five years until
he became the rector of the Parish of
the Incarnation
In 1896 Rev. Thomas w. Cooke came
to be the assistant at the church. who
was followed by Rev. Allen Griffith.
short time later DR.. Elliott was made
rector emeritus and Bishop Satterlee
took over the church and made it the
p!o-cathedral of the diocese, with Rev.
Clement Brown, priest in charge. with
Rev. Jesse r. Bicknell as assistant. He
was followed by Rev. Enoch Thomson
and Rev. Robert E. Browning. secretary
TO the bishop, in 1906
Rev. j. Henning helms became rector
January 6, 1908. and after IL wears. on
account of poor health, resigned and
became the rector of the church at
Woodside. Under his rectorship the
parish had several assistants. Rev .Tohn
v. Quinn, Rev. Pinkney Wroth and
Rev. w. G. Davenport.
Aft"r the resignation of DIR. NeIms
IIe church was temporarily placed in
Cnarge OF Rev. D. w. Curran by Bishon
Harding, who directed the parish nnfii
November l, 1922.
Inc former assistant to the Rev Dr
5llott during the years 1896 to 1900
rev. Thomas w. Cooke, was called r.
become the rector of the parish and he
assumed leadership November / 1000