Norwalk After Two Hundred & Fifty Years

The pastorate of Rev. Gerald H. Beard, Ph.D., be- gan October 1, 1892. A young man, well equipped for the ministry by natural qualifications and educational ad- vantages, to this, his first charge, he gave himself unreservedly. He was a preacher of unusual strength and a worker of excellent executive ability. He strengthened the organized work of the church, and added to it until it included all classes of the members of the church and congregation, including The Men's Sun- day Club; The Woman's Missionary Association, with its charity and visiting committees ; The Y. P. S. C. E., including an Intermediate and Junior organization; three circles of King's Daughters ; one circle of King's Sons. A most helpful service was rendered the young people and the children of the church by the pastor's S3 classes for instruction, in which church membership and Christian living was presented in simple form. The value of this work was apparent in those who came before the church committee for admission to the church. Dr. Beard's pastorate was terminated by a call to the College Street Congregational Church, Burlington, Vt. The pre- sent pastor, Rev. Paul M. Strayer, began his work with us January ist, 1901. The favorable beginning of this ministrv argues well for its success. 53 AT TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF SOUTH NORWALK Rev. Romily F. Humphries, of this church, spoke as follows: NE law of the kingdom of God is ex- tension, or, to use a word made familiar to us to-day by happenings of state, expansion. That is the mission- ary spirit. Trinity church, South Nor- walk, was the result of expansion. On September 5, 1858, a number of par- ishioners of St. Paul's, Norwalk, 01- ganized "a Missionary and Benevolent Society for the purpose of establishing services of the church and build a chapel for that purpose,'' in South Norwalk. The fol- lowing officers were elected: Rev. William Cooper Mead, D. D., president ex-officio; John H. Smith, vice-presi- dent ; F. St. John Gibbs, secretary ; Charles F. Osborn. treasurer. According to records of St. Paul's parish, Al- fred H. Camp was elected secretary, but according to letter dated September 5, 1859, and attested by secretary of the meeting, F. St. John Gibbs was elected to the office of secretary. A piece of ground was bought for $1,163.37, and paid for. Two-thirds of this land was reserved for future sale in the hope that it would soon be worth the cost of the whole. At the time of sale it brought $2,500. On March 23, i860, it was resolved to proceed at once to erect a chapel at South Norwalk, with the very positive understanding that when the chapel should be furnished and ready for use it should be free of debt. Unfortunately Trinity parish has more than once felt the pressure of debt, but this spirit of our fathers has not been lost ; it is the grain, so to say, to-day, and is a worthy inheritance. With the rector, Dr. Mead, were associated John H. Smith, Jonathan Camp and Charles F. Osborn as building committee. The final report of this committee was submitted July 15, 1861. The corner stone had been laid on May 9, i860, by the Rt.-Rev. John Williams, assistant bishop of Connecticut, and the chapel consecrated by him on May 7, 1861. John Ff. Smith and D. H. Webb were appointed general super- visors of all minor affairs of the chapel. The Rev. Thom- 54 as Edward Pattison, curate of St. Paul's church, Nor- walk, was placed in charge of the services. Prior to the erection of Trinity chapel services had been held in Ely's hall, South Norwalk, when, on July 8, 1859, the in.itial steps were taken toward the organization of the Mission- ary and Benevolent society. For the next six years the history of Trinity chapel is the record of a growing mission faithfully watched and sustained by the mother parish. But now the young child began to be conscious of its own strength ; it still desired some of the fostering income, but suggested that it could dispense with parental control. In 1867 Dr. Mead, Joseph W. Hubbell, Samuel E. Olmstead and Winfield S. Hanford were appointed a committee to take the stature of this ambitious child and judge if she could walk alone. This committee reported adversely. In "numbers and in some other respects" the members of the chapel were not judged strong enough for separate and independent parish life. Probably had they been strong enough "in some other respects" their deficiency in numbers would not have defeated their am- bition. However, the committee hoped "that the time is not far distant when these conditions will be met, and then it is not doubted that the parent will give sympathy and liberal aid." Nothing daunted the chapel worship- pers declared in the following year that they had grown and were anxious to try their strength. The parish of St. Paul's heeded this cry and voted that the growth and prosperity of the church in South Norwalk would be furthered if the chapel should become independent. The gentlemen of Trinity chapel responded, expressing pleas- ure at the vote and desiring to be set free, with their chapel property intact, that they might proceed "to or- ganize a new parish at South Norwalk in the town of Norwalk for the worship of Almighty God according to the forms, rites and usages of the Protestant Episcopal church." This communication was read at a parish meeting of St. Paul's, April 5, 1868, and on motion of SamueJ Lynes, consent was given for the foundation of a new parish, and Charles F. Osborn, treasurer of the parish, was authorized to convey the chapel property to the new corporation when all ecclesiastical and state requirements were satisfied. On April 7, 1868, the new organization was formed and the Episcopal society of Trinity church, South Nor- as walk, became independent of the mother parish with the following corporate members: Winfield S. Hanford, El- birt A. Woodward, Walter C. Quintard, Burr Knapp, Lemuel A. Austin, Charles R. Bennett, Ira F. Hoyt, Robert I. Tolles, Edgar B. Hoyt, Edward D. Cornell, John H. Smith, Benjamin F. Wilcox, Alfred Chichester, Thomas Wilcox, Henry C. Ely, Henry R. Fitch, A. L. Vanderbilt, Stephen S. Hatch, E. A. Curtis, Samuel Waters, David H. Webb, Isaac N. Smith, Henry R. Gil- man, Edwin Grumman, William S. Knapp, George A. Kecler, Walter D. Smith and Royal D. Higgins, M. D. E. A. Woodward was elected clerk of the parish. Win- field S. Hanford was the first senior warden, which office he held until 1882. John H. Smith was elected junior warden, was re-elected each year until 1882, when he be- came senior warden. This office he held until his death in 1895. The first vestrymen were: David H. Webb, Lem- uel A. Austin, Edgar B. Hoyt, A. L. Vanderbilt, Burr Knapp, John H. Smith was elected treasurer. The Rev. Curtis T. Woodruff resigned the curacy of St. Paul's, Norwalk, to become the first rector of Trinity church. He was called April 13, 1868, and resigned April 21, 1870. The record of the next four rectorships may be passed by with brief notice. It is a history of tips and downs. Pastors worked faithfully and people responded with loyalty and devotion. If some days were not so bright and hopeful as others, still priest and people worshipped and worked in earnest service, they planted and watered in faith that God would give the increase. The Rev. William G. Spencer, D.D., accepted a call to the rectorship September 21, 1870, and remained until May 8, 1882. A rectory was built for Dr. Spencer, which, with the lot on which it stood, was sold later when the parish was in need of funds. The Rev. George P. Hebbard became rector in July, 1882, and resigned No- vember 30, 1885. The Rev. Thomas Bell was called January 28, 1886, and resigned charge September 19, T887. An interval of more than seven years elapsed before another rector was called. The Rev. Olin Hallock ac- cepted a call May 1, 1888, and resigned on account of ill health June 1, 1895. On October 28, of the same year, the Rev. F. W. Norris became rector. His resignation was accepted to take effect June 1, 1900 The rectorship 58