St. Andrew's 75 Years Old

Celebration of Its Diamond Anniversary Sunday

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MR. AND MRS. PALMER

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Honored by Bishop Davies in His Address - Sermon by Bishop Gillespie and History Given

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Into St. Andrew's, Sunday, came the young, the old, from far and near, for it was a day of jubilee to celebrate the seventy-fifth anniversary of the foundation of the parish. There was a spirit of reverence, a spirit of praise, which made itself felt among the large audience. Out of the dead hush that announced the beginning of the services, the music of a hymn arose while down the south aisle marched the vested choir in procession with the clergy, their young voices in melodious chorus, rising high and sweet above the song of the congregation. In the Palmer Memorial Tower, through which they passed, a collect was said by the Rev. Dr. Tatlock. It was an impressive service, sounding through the long name of the open church:

"Blessed be Thy Name, O Lord, that Thou didst put it into the heart of Thy departed servant to provide for the completion of this Sanctuary by the building of this Tower. Remember, Gracious God, for good this pious work accomplished through her benefaction, and grant that all they who shall pass through these doors into Thy Holy Temple may offer unto Thee a pure and acceptable service; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord." 

It was the regular Episcopal service of song and prayer and chant. "I was glad when they said unto me, let us come into the house of the Lord" said the rector of St. Andrew's, and the heart of his people responded. Within the dimly lighted chancel, the Te Deum was sung with thanksgiving, and the Jubilate Deo with praise, and above all was the Gloria, triumphant. The address, which was an ovation to Dr. and Mrs. Alonzo B. Palmer, was delivered by the Right Reverend, the Bishop of the Diocese, Dr. Davis. "You are rich in precious memories," he said. "I congratulate you on the completion of your church, the erection of its stately tower, the wise administration of your honored rector, the presence of the Bishop of Western Michigan who for fourteen years was your pastor and has been spared to visit again this diocese, where he is ever an honored and a welcome guest." After words of great commendation for Dr. Palmer and his wife, he concluded: "I hold up to you this man who devoted all his powers to the service of God and his fellowmen, for your imitation. He found a sympathetic helpmeet in the sweet, gentle woman who bore his name, whose memorial to her husband is one of the grandest ever erected."

"Rejoice in Christ and sing," sang the choir and congregation, while the rector led by the hand that grand old man, the Right Reverand George De-Normandie Gillespie, Bishop of Western Michigan, who delivered the sermon of the morning. Memories of things past haunted the address of this man, who stood again in his old parish, after many days, recalling the fondness that clings to old recollections and incidents in the history of the diocese up to the present time. "In remembrance of things past you find much for congratulation," said Bishop Gillespie, and enumerated spirituality, protection, progress, charitableness, opportunity, responsibility, good morals, and good citizen ship, as the ways wherein the church has rendered unto God the things that are God's. Looking too the future, he pointed out the admirable capabilities of the church, which, complete in its erection, without that most odious of all debts, a church debt, with an activity for recognizing the signs of the times, can claim all things, for surely this is none other than the house of God, this is the gate of heaven.

At the evening service, Dr. Arthur L. Cross, of the University, delivered an historical account of the parish, a sort of a prelude to a more extended history which it is understood he has been compiling material for.

The parish of St. Andrew's, he said, was the second oldest in the state and antedates the organization of the diocese by nearly five years. There are in the parish today a great many descendants of its founders and he was particularly indebted to Mrs. Chapin for much information, as well as to Miss Corselius, whose history of the parish was published in the Ann Arbor Daily Argus in June, 1899. Bishop Gillespie's historical sermon in 1869 had also been published. It is not to be regretted that Gen. Clark had not left a written history. The journals of the annual conventions contain much material as do the minutes of the vestry, but it is to be regretted that there are extant no vestry books back of 1843. The only parish in the state which antedates St. Andrew's is St. Paul's in Detroit. In July, 1824, Rev. Mr. Cadlo was sent as a missionary to Michigan. He is said to have visited Ann Arbor as early as 1825. In 1827 or 1828 he organized a missionary church in Ann Arbor, the following taking part in the organization, Henry Rumsey, Andrew Cornish, Marcus Lane, Samuel Denton, Elisha Belcher and Edward Clark. The exact date is not known, but an entry in the vestry book in 1843 shows that the bylaws were written April 19, 1828. Apparently lay readers officiated at first. In 1830, Rev. Silas W. Freeman was sent as a missionary to Ann Arbor, Dexter and Ypsilanti. He reports preaching in Ann Arbor to a congregation of 50 in a brick building which he calls an academy. The rectors of the parish have been as follows:

1830-33 - Rev. Silas W. Freeman.

1834-35 - Rev. J. P. Dorman.

1836-38 - Rev. Mr. Marks.

1838-43 - Rev. Francis H. Cummins.

1844-50 - Rev. Charles Taylor.

1850-54 - Supplied by Prof. Geo. P. Williams and for some months by Rev. Chas. Taylor.

1854-61 - Rev. David F. Lumsden.

1861-75 - Rev. George D. GIllespie.

1875-84 - Rev. Wyllys Hall.

1885-88 - Rev. Samuel Earp

1889-     - Rev. Henry Tatlock.

The wardens and vestry men of St. Andrew's church were incorporated by a special act of the territorial legislature in 1833. A frame church was erected and consecrated Nov. 13, 1838. In 1834 George Corselius conveyed an acre of land to the church and on this the present rectory stands. In 1841 the church purchased a strip fo land adjoining this and on this purchase the present church building now stands. The frame church was apparently unpainted for some time, but later was painted white with green blinds. At first each pew-holder furnished his own carpet and cushion for his pew and candles to light the church for evening service. In 1841 the ladies raised money to buy a handsome communion service. In 1848 money was raised for lamps and in 1858 gas was put in. 

The present church organ has nearly celebrated its fiftieth anniversary as it was put in in 1855. 

The church narrowly escaped destruction by fire in 1841.

The parish has had two parsonages, one built in 1851, rented and finally sold in 1849, and the present parsonage was erected in 1880-1. 

The church built in 1838 was soon inadequate and in 1843 the rector was authorized to extend the limits of the church building. In 1844, $6,000 had been raised. In this church seats were sold at auction. 

During the vacancy after Rev. Mr. Cummings' resignation, Rev. Mr. Lyster served, but declined a call. The salary was $400 a year and the rectory.

During Bishop Gillespie's rectorship the present church was built. It was apparently first planned to put the new church on Huron street, but this project was defeated by a vote of 32 to 10. The estimated cost of the new church was $20,000, but it turned out to cost $30,000. All but $1,200 of this was raised in the parish and Mr. C. H. Millen was the largest contributor. Dr. Silas H. Douglass oversaw the construction and the plans were drawn by G. W. Lloyd of Detroit.

The corner stone was laid on June 15, 1868, and the church was consecrated Nov. 10, 1869. The pews were not sold, but rented.

In 1879 plans for a new chapel were submitted. The building of a new chapel and rectory went hand in hand. The corner stone of the chapel was laid Nov. 28, 1880. The rectory was not occupied by Mr. Hall, btu was rented for $500 a year.

Mr. Cross spoke of the erection of Harris hall and the founding of Hobart Guild in 1885, of the building of the chancel, of the decorating of the new church and of the improvements during Mr. Tatlock's rectorship, the longest with Bishop Gillespie's, in the history of the church. The address was a very able one and prepared in excellent literary style to which this digest does scant justice.