, 1935-02-03
San Benito:s New
Episcopal Church
Will Open Sunday

flock was Rev. w. II. Morrison Of
Rio Hondo who built q church here
in 1911. Only two original members
OF the parish are left. They are
Mrs. Mamie King and w. 3. Hink-
ly.
When Rev. Mr.. johnson came to
San Benito in 1921 there was no
congregation and the church had
not been In use for seven years.
Not only were services again held
in the local church but St. Adams
mission was organized at Harlingen
with Rev. Mr.. Johnson as vicar.
1t was not long after word of the
destruction Of the church by the
hurricane Of Sept. As, 1888 got to
the outside world that contributions
began flowing in. They came from
400 contributors in 26 states. Those
who gave are from the parish where
the rector va born at Little Falls.
N. X. Others are from parishion-
ers at his first charge In Bristol.
Conn. and nearby towns where he
organized churches. Among the
contributors were many Of the
acolytes who served under him at
the Church OF the Redeemer. New
York. Everywhere that Father
Johnson served. he was remember
ed when disaster struck the local
church. Many came from Wis
consin where he served some years
in several cities.
San Benito, Harrington and other
Valley people also gave generously.
Contributions ranged all the way
from a few cents to $500 and they
we're supplemented by a $500 grant
from the Mother church making
$500. Much OF the material IN
the building was donated and II Is
estimated that the church repre-
SentS a physical value OF about
$4,000, all without indebtedness.
The altar Is from a frame church
IN Yorkville and was a side altar
in the Church Of the Redeemer
served by Father johnson in New
York. 1t was damaged by the hur-
ricane but has been restored by DIR
Frank Hinkly who put in many
hours OF painstaking work. II is
over a hundred years old.
A number Of pews we're salvaged
from the wreckage and these were
restored by H.. II. Hagedorn. 9th
ers we're replaced with new ones.
various memorials given from
time TO time have been preserved
10 the church. These include the
communion chalice. memorial 10
SaIlie KretZ ElStner: altar o
memorial to Betty Balcom RoSsiter.
missed desk, memorial 10 Meta
chadwick Booth; missed, memorial
TO Frederick Hagedorn: six office
lights candleSticks. memorials to
Mabel Ellen Norman. paten. mem
orial 70 Herman, Milton and Joe
esther; professional cross. mem
orial TO Mary Beulah Hinkly. ELL
chariStic c~andlesticks. memorial to
Kenneth Magill Smith; vases. mem
orials TO Walter Harold Norman.
New memorials include crosses al
the gables given in memory Of j
L. Perkins, a church warden ever
since Its beginning. Mrs. johnson
gave the reredos in memory OF her
mother. Clara Norman.
Construction Of the church was
In charge OF the wardens. +. c.
Ludden and Raymond Slaughter.
Officers Of the church include the
vestrymen, Henry Hagedorn. Will
liam GreenSlade, Jr, and w. D.
Holland.
The contract was let TO McMil-
Ian a. Ferguson and the plans we're
drawn by Stanley Bliss. Harrington
architect. The pews we're given BY
the women's Guild, and the carpet
BY the Junior Guild.
An apse. Sacristy room and side
entrance are additions to the
church. All save the apse and sa-
cristy room were built on old foun-
dations. The architecture Is Gothic
and construction Is Of red brick
with limestone trim. The roof is
Shingled. The pilastered walls are
further braced by means Of a re-
inforced concrete beam along the
top. Inside OF the church is plas-
tered and the walls are much thick
er than in the original building.
Woodwork is finished in walnut.
The church will seat about l40
persons.