Grace Church

[dgriffin]

Our discussion of the Genesee Flats Fire in another thread, as well as the interactive story/novel/movie/Broadway play , "On Genesee Hill," has brought us to the topic of Grace Church. John B. Wood, his wife Sarah Miller Wood and their daughter Mary B. Wood ... the latter two lost in the Genesee Flats Fire ... were parishioners of Grace.

Fiona is in contact with folks at Grace and I have published on the web a remembrance of the pastor and wife who was the rector of the downtown Utica church when I was a boy. ("Good News," at:
www.windsweptpress.com/essays.htm

Grace was a central institution in the lives of the men and women who formed the ruling set of businessmen and politicians of Utica at that time, whether they were members or Episcopalians or not.
In a time when a person's church affiliation meant much more than it does today, in their beliefs and conduct and friendships, I believe we can gain some small insights into 1890's Utica by looking at Grace Episcopal Church.

On line is the complete text from the Seventy-fifth Anniversary of the church, 1838-1913. A few items of interest are posted following.

[dgriffin]

Evidently from the bulletin, regarding the brass Tablet given in memory of Sarah Wood and daughter, Mary B. Wood. I've included it among other items listed. The names are interesting.


gifts, for the advancement of the Parish and the building of this
edifice, 1867." The second memorial was The Good Shepherd,
given by the Sunda}- School and Parish, in memory of the Rev.
John Jacob Bran('egee, D. D., 1823-1864, third Rector, 1854-1864.

The Pulpit— Ward Hunt, 1810-1886, given by his wife, Maria

Taylor, Hunt, and children, \\'ard and Eliza Hunt Johnson.

The Lectern — In memoriam : The Eve of the Ascension, 1873,
the Morn of the Ascension, 1881, Alfred Munson, James Watson
Williams.

The Altar Service Book— Charlotte Ann Barnard, 1830-1886.

The Altar Service Book Rest and Chalice Spoon — Sarah Thom-
son Watson, 1830-1881, presented by her children, Lucy Carlile
Watson and William Livingston Watson.

The Altar Cross, Large Vases and Purple Altar Cloth — Jennie
Nelson Hoffman Spencer,

The Litany Desk and Books— Harriet Esther Buell, 1819-1888.

Corona and Fund for Lighting — Ebenezer Brown Shearman,
1821-1890, given by his sister, Julia Tyler Shearman Doolittle.

In Oratory — Brass Tablet given by John Brandegee Wood, in
memory of his wife and daughter, Sarah Miller Wood, 1845-
1896. Prayer Desk and Brass Vase — Given by Helen and Blan-
dina Miller, in memory of their mother, Mary Foreman Seymour
Miller, 1807-1897. Brass Vase— Rutger Bleecker Miller, 1805-
1877. Brass Cross— Margaret Davidson Miller, 1850-1894.
Prayer Book— George Perkins Miller, 1866-1892. Small Brass
Vases— Florence Hart, 1849-1888.


Above at:

www.archive.org/stream/gracechurchseven00utic/gracechurchseven00utic_djvu.txt

[dgriffin]

Even in 1913, Grace was possibly worried about having a reputation as a "Show Church."

I bolded the second point about the Men's Club, below, but also found interesting the third, concerning the Sisters of St. Margaret.

From the 1913 Anniversary address by The Rev. Octavius Applegate, D. D., Rector:


"How fitting it is that these closing words of our anniversary-
should point to present duty and utter a hope based on present
needs and growing accomplishments.

Our personal problems are in the main those of our fathers.
Like them we must work out our own salvation.

But as a Parish we must, of necessity, reflect the changing con-
ditions of our community. Our city has grown in the past twenty-
five years ; and it is reasonable to expect a greater growth in the
near future. With this growth comes a constant change in the
conditions of our life. Some of our old characteristics and stand-
ards are bound to disappear, alas, under the pressure of more
complex life. There is less permanence to our population, a
greater difficulty in assimilating new people and securing financial
support. Our Church is destined to be a down-town one with
many of its families residing at a considerable distance ; and we
already have reached the state where we have no neighborhood
life as a Parish.

Our commanding location is already in the center of the busi-
ness section ; and there we must remain, with doors always open,
to bear witness to the aspirations of humanity and the power of
the Gospel, close to the heart of the city and its business. The
buildings around us are closed one day in seven. Grace Church
is always in use. Every day in the year its bell calls to prayer;
and priest and congregation offer to Almighty God the homage of
a busy working city.

The changing conditions of our city life must be met by a
Parish so situated, and already has opportunity opened and, been
generously seized.

Three events in the past two years clear the vision of our future
and give confidence to our hope; and for them I am profoundly
grateful, and so are you.

First — There has been a considerable increase in the endow-
ment of the Parish. The past generations have given us this
noble Church, and set a high standard for the frequency and
dignity of its worship. Its maintenance should be fixed above
doubt, and guarded against the days of shrinking income by an
ample endowment.


Second — A men's club has been started in generous quarters,
open every day and with a membership of two hundred and fifty
men. Here sounds the democratic note for a Parish to which has
been imputed wrongly, I believe, the term aristocratic. That
would be true, alas, if we should deteriorate to the plane of a
Parish that consisted of a fashionable Sunday morning congrega-
tion, with a popular preacher and a brilliant choir; but thank
God that is far from the thought of any of us, though the practice
of some might seem to leave them open to the suspicion.

The Men's Club is a daily expression of the church's desire to
win men to its service and support, and to a closer fellowship with
the Clergy and each other; and it will have increasing value as
the growth of the city multiplies the offices in our vicinity, and
increases the number of young men who. in coming to Utica. must
leave home and friends for strange surroundings and a city's temp-
tations.


Third — Most recent of our advances is the establishment of a
mission house under the Sisters of St. Margaret. If the Men's
Club seems to lay a special emphasis on the social attitude of the
Parish and its desire to interest and entertain, though, as I have
indicated, it has deeper motives and a higher purpose, the work
of the Sisters lays a much needed emphasis on the religious life.

After all that can be said about church methods and activities,
the real force of a Parish is in its spiritual life. That is where
you and I will make our mark on the years to come.

Below all the surface indications of Parish life lie the victories
over sin, the arousing of the impenitent, the strengthening of the
weak, the ceaseless struggle against the devil and all his works, the pomps and vanities of this wicked world and the sinful lusts of
the flesh, and the building up of souls in the nurture and strength
of the Lord.

This is the profession of the Sisters and their ever-present con-
cern ; and their sympathetic welcome by the parishioners and the
hearty co-operation they are receiving make their advent one of
richest promise for the future.

Thus we stand, my dear parishioners, at the door of the future,
with the past seventy-five years full of earnest effort and focused
upon sterling men and women. And feeling upon our shoulders
the mantle of their devotion to the work of the Master in this our
family of Grace Church, we pledge ourselves to be in truth their
children, and face the last quarter of a century in Parish life
strong in hope and clear in the vision of ever-widening duty.

[Sisters of St. Margaret
Sister Julia Margaret Sister Laura Margaret

Through the support of a parishioner the Rector was enabled
to invite the Sisterhood of St. Margaret to assist in the life of the
Parish. A brick house. No. 11 Court Street, was rented and
November 5, 1912, two sisters began a work of great value to the
girls and women. ] "

Bing and Google disagree by a half a block, but there is a large brick building with a 19th century style mansard roof on the corner of Court and Varick, in the vicinity of where No. 11 Court would be today. Is anyone familiar with it?

[dgriffin]

I was just thinking.

In view of the problems we see in the cities today, is there anyone left among us bold enough to suggest that the churches in our midst might somehow hold the key to a cultural recovery? A renewal of our spirit as a people?

I admit it does not seem to have worked in the past. But neither today are the government programs, bailouts, and handouts.

Sometimes it's tempting to be a believer.

[fiona]

Thank you ,Dave. This information is very moving and timley as well. I think that in the thread, Revitalizing Utica, I made an attempt to talk about the churches in just such a fashion. Even though I am a fallen away from the church RC I do believe in the power of religion and of the churches as a bulwark of neighborhoods and a change agent for the social good. Also, I must thank you for mentioning the plaque, which is central to the story. I want to post the story of my involvement with this plaque and how I came to view it. I have photos I took of it which have yet to be developed. Where would you prefer I post it? Here or in the OGH thread? It's a beautiful story, very moving and the words, all very moving and I want to do it justice.

[fiona]

Can we do a photo of Grace Church?

[chris]

Thank you ,Dave. This information is very moving and timley as well. I think that in the thread, Revitalizing Utica, I made an attempt to talk about the churches in just such a fashion. Even though I am a fallen away from the church RC I do believe in the power of religion and of the churches as a bulwark of neighborhoods and a change agent for the

Fiona I do too, but sadly I am also a RC fallen away. I don't participate in mass but I do believe. Recently visiting the Mt. Carmel site I noticed in their on line bulletin that they have started a class for people like us to get reaquainted with the church. Sort of a catch up since we left. I thought that was an excellent idea and was even thinking of writing to my mom's pastor at her church about it. Especially since reading a recent article in the Catholic Courior about churches closing due to lack of support from parishioners. I just can't imagine not having a church , my church no longer there for me. This is scary to even think about. It is not just the RC but other denominations also.

[jon hynes]

Oct 11, 2009 8:14:50 GMT -5 @dgriffin said:

Bing and Google disagree by a half a block, but there is a large brick building with a 19th century style mansard roof on the corner of Court and Varick, in the vicinity of where No. 11 Court would be today. Is anyone familiar with it?

Are you referring to the Knights of Saint John?

[dgriffin]

Jon, don't know. When searching for "No. 11 Court St.," from the 1913 Grace Church 75th Anniversary closing remarks, where the Rector mentioned the Sisters of St. Margaret had come to stay, Bing put me down in this vicinity. And the only likely building appeared to be the one in the middle of this shot, at the intersection of Court and Varick Streets.

[dgriffin]

I like this photo of Grace Church, circa 1906.

[dgriffin]

And here's an interior from 2 years ago. "Five Young Organists In Concert."

Precious.





From a great set of photos on a small Blog, "At Home in The Huddle 2: Life in the Small Village of Waterville, in Upstate New York," at:

athomeinthehuddle2.blogspot.com/2007_08_05_archive.html

[fiona]

It's hard to say about 11 Court Street. Whatever was there then is surely gone now, ripped down in "the name of Progress" The photo of the church is beautiful. Where shall I post the story about the plaque? I want to keep the info in the threads continuous, but after the story is posted we can use it anywhere.

[dgriffin]

Since I believe it's really about the Woods, why not post it in the "On Genesee Hill: Questions and Comments," because I'm not sure now what the "Annie Sullivan, On Genesee Hill" thread is for. Probably mostly for Annie stuff.

[Clipper]

Were the sisters of St Margaret Episcopal nuns? I remember seeing Episcopal nuns at Grace Church when I was a kid. There is also a convent or retirement home or something for Episcopal nuns in Greenwich NY. My first wife was from nearby Cambridge NY in Washinton County, East of Troy. I saw the nuns from Greenwich a couple of times at the fair in Greenwich or Salem. I can't remember which little town had the fairgrounds.

[fiona]

The Sullivan thread is currently for the bios which are slow going, but moving in the right direction , and I will post it in the OGH ques and comments. I have mary B.'s bio ready to go, I just needed to tweak it a little and back check my facts. The post about the Woods at Grace Church helped me tremendously. I have been searching all over for any info on the father for several months and now I have something to go on.