Saint James' Celebrates 150 years of Ministry!
The Watkins Review & Express, on August 14, 2013 published an article in the Column – FROM THE FILES – 100 YEARS AGO. It talks about Saint James' Church 50th anniversary that was 100 years ago from 2013.
Please take a look at the article to get a sense of what was going on at the time.
Please take a look at the article to get a sense of what was going on at the time.
SAINT JAMES CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY. St. James’ Church celebrated its semi-centennial last Sunday evening by appropriate services and an interesting address delivered by the rector, Rev. F. N. Bouck The following is Rev. Boucks address:
THE OBJECT of this gathering is to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the laying of the corner stone of the present building, to thank God for the willing hands and devoted hearts of the men and women who laid the foundation stones of the parish and also to reverently honor the names and memories of those faithful ones, who have worshiped here and who now, by the mercy of God, enjoy the rest and calm of Paradise.
ON SEPTEMBER the fourteenth, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty. a few devoted and God fearing persons from the town of Catlin. Tioga County and the town of Reading, Steuben County. met for the purpose of organizing a parish of the Episcopal Church. Some of these persons were doubtless baptized and confirmed before leaving England. The Reverend Amos Baldwin acted as chair-man of the meeting and Mr. Isaac Q. Leake as secretary.
AFTER SOME discussion it was decided to call the new parish Saint James Church of Catlin and Reading. At the end of all due formalities the organization was finally consummated by the election of a vestry. The wardens were: Isaac Q. Leake and Harry C. Leonard; Vestrymen: William B. Ireland, Winthrop E. Boothe, Alanson G. Everts, Asa A. Norton, Charles Tilling-hast, Ebenezer Hanly, Samuel J. Beebe, and John Mitchell.
ON OCTOBER the seventh, 1830 A.D., the newly created parish was admitted to the union with the Convention of the Diocese of New York. Steps were promptly taken to secure a place for the public worship of Almighty God. Dr. Samuel Watkins quickly and cheerfully gave a lot upon which to erect a church building. This lot was Situated on the corner of Monroe and Division streets. Ways and means were intricate problems then as they always have been. Mr. Samuel Beebe offered this suggestion as a solution to the present problems: members of the congregation were to raise all the money they could toward the new building. Mr. Beebe agreed to erect the Church, assume all the responsibility and pay all the deficit.
ALL THE money was contributed save $250, which amount Mr. Beebe gladly gave. On the first Sunday in August, 1832, the building was completed to warrant the holding of public worship...
THERE WERE not many people in this region in the year 1830, so the parish at its best was small, weak, struggling and Very often destitute of regular services.
AT TIMES, in fact, it seems to have been extinct. From 1836 to 1843 there are practically no records to show the course of events.
IN THE spring of 1843, the Reverend Mr. Nickerson seems to have been in charge and gathered once more the scattered and disheartened flock. From 1843 to 1857 there are no records.
FOR TWO years, from 1857 to 1859, The Reverend Peter S. Roth had the oversight of the parish. From all the knowledge we can acquire he labored with much fervor and with varying degrees of success to revive the interest in the work.
MORE DARK days. From 1859 to 1861 there seems to have been no regular ministrations, no regular resident shepherd of the flock.
ALL SAINTS Day, November the first, 1861, will always be an occasion to be hailed with joy and gratitude by Saint James Church. On that auspicious day Reverend Duncan C. Mann began his labors as pastor of the discouraged flock...The leader just and holy inspired, encouraged, quickened and emboldened the timid flock. Activity began on every hand. Public worship was resumed at one time in the ' Methodist chapel, at another in the public hall. The old church on the hillside was so dilapidated it was impossible to use it for divine worship.
A SECOND house of prayer must be erected. Land was immediately purchased on the corner of Decatur and Sixth streets. In due time ground was broken, the foundation laid, and on August the 11th, 1863, the corner stone of the present edifice was laid by the Right Reverend William Heathcote DeLancey, D.D., Bishop of Western New York.
...IN LESS than three years after the corner was laid, all indebtedness of character was paid and the building was therefore prepared to separate for divine worship.