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St. John’s Episcopal Church July 2020 Huntingdon, PA 200th Anniversary Reflections
Sandy McBride, 1998
Ministers in History Inside this issue This month we continue our look at This Month Episcopalian style ...... 2 rectors at St. John’s in the 1800’s. This Month in St. John’s History …..... 3 Excitement was brewing back then as we 7. Rev. George Field (1843 - 49) .....… 3 have just joined the national church and 8. Rev. Henry Bourns (1849 - 53) …... 5 Rev. Francis Hoff has helped us raise 9. Rev. Alexander McLeod (1853-57).. 5 funds for our very own building. This 10. Rev. R. W. Oliver (1857-60) ……. 6 month we will begin with the year 1843 11. Rev. F. Byllesby (1860-61) ...... … 6 and Rev. George Field, our seventh rector. 12. Rev. William Depuy (1861-62)….. 7 13. Rev. James Abercrombie ...... 7 14. Rev A. J. Barrow ...... 7 Come join us on our journey as we look at 15. Rev. J. Wellesley Jones ...... 8 the last 200 years… 16. Rev. J. Newton Sprer ...... 8 Faithfully, 17. Rev. John Hewitt ...... 8 Bettianne Quinn 18. Rev. A. H. (William) Boyle ...... 9 19. Rev. Charles Mead ...... 9 Penna. Railroad Missionaries PRR ... 10 (Rev. A.J. Barrow, Rev. Neel Griffith, Rev. John Gregson) Special thanks & credits …..…....…... 11 Chart of rectors covered……...….….. 12 Fun trip through time ...... … last pages
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This month – Episcopalian Style
Did you know that there are Nuns in the Episcopal Church? Father Alfred Traverse had Sister Joyce Juniata come to talk to St. John’s in July 1977.
Pentecost season is the longest season of the church year. It is sometimes called the “growing season.” It will continue until Advent.
Summer Camp Summer is always a fun time to go to camp. While there is now (2020) a National Episcopal Camp for youth that happens every 3 years called EYE (Episcopal Youth Event) that is supposed to happen in Washington, DC this summer [However COVID 19 has caused it to be delayed until next year... ] Back in 1948 - “Miss Lois Ann Parker, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Parker is attending the Episcopal Youth Conference at the Grier School in Birmingham...The Rev. H. Lyttleton Zimmerman, pastor of St John’s Church in Huntingdon, is one of the instructors in the conference school. About 185 young people from the diocese of Harrisburg are attending the conference.”
Huntingdon Daily News, June 21, 1948 p 5 P a g e | 3
While this next rector was only here a short time This Month in – he is credited with 2 important items regarding St. John’s church... St. John’s History 7. Rev. George G. Field (1844 – 1848) In Vestry minutes dated April 15, 1844, the July 1935 the Daily News, Rev. Mr. Field, being only in Deacon’s Orders, Huntingdon began publishing the was about to apply to the standing committee of history of St. John’s written by a the Diocese for recommendation to the Juniata student – Harold Green. It was priesthood. He asked the Vestry for Canonical spread over 3 issues of the newspaper. Certification, which was accordingly granted. A Vestry notes from July 1836 mention month later, (May 19, 1844), he was ordained to that each Vestry member paid $2.00 to the priesthood at St. Mary's Protestant Episcopal pay the church gas bill. Church, in Philadelphia.
July 6, 1844 The vestry met and had First came Incorporation … some regard to the building of a church ... and motioned a committee May 13 th , 1844 (Vestry notes) of 2 to negotiate the purchase of a lot. By July 25 a proposal of a lot was “A meeting of the church wardens and reviewed and accepted. vestrymen of St. John's church was held this evening at Mrs. Clark's in the borough of
Various rectors joined us during the Huntingdon... There, being no evidence of the month of July parish having been incorporated, it was resolved 1. 1893 The Rev. William L Reaney to apply to the Supreme Court for an act of came for about 2 years incorporation. A charter having been prepared 2. 1896 The Rev. W.H.I. Houghton accompanying to the prescribed form was laid became the Missionary in Charge of before the vestry at this meeting and signed by St. John’s and died the following year. those present. The subject of a church edifice 3. July 1, 1980 – Rev Patricia M. was also discussed, and a disposition manifested Thomas started at St. John’s and was to urge on the undertaking.” the first woman priest in the diocese.
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Rev. George G. Field continued To the Rector and Vestry of St. John's Church, Then a New Church building begins! The Ladies Missionary Association of Christ Rev. Field was present at the Vestry meeting Church, Phila., being deserved a place in your dated July 25, 1844 at the house of Mrs. Clark church, a Tablet which should declare what when it was reported that the committee had was that awakened their waters for purchased a lot for Church use, nearly opposite Huntingdon, and induced them to labour for the new courthouse, thirty-five in width and one the building of a house there for the worship hundred in depth. of God, have taken measures to prepare a slab of black and white marble for the palpable Rev. Mr. Field was requested to visit on Mr. purpose to place on it the following Callahan and ask him to execute a draft and inscription: prepare edifications of a church building. The Sept. 4th Vestry notes indicated that the proposals submitted in answer to the public advertisement (Text from letter were examined and it was decided that Mr. on tablet as Callahan's be accepted. Here is a copy of the ad described and that ran for multiple weeks. hanging in chancel at St. John’s. Complete tablet at end of newsletter)
If you should concur with us, you will oblige us by letting us know of when we shall send the tablet and taking care that it is put up properly, as considerable care is requisite to insure it is neatly in the wall. If the workmen are not careful, the fine Italian marble may be daubed with plaster to its great injury. A letter dated June 20, 1845 was transcribed into the Vestry minutes from a John W. Claghorn, of Asking the favour of you to attend to these, as Phila. where he presented to the Rector, Wardens also to send us a speedy answer, as to the time and Vestrymen of St. John's, a bell for the new you would wish the Tablet to be at church building. Huntingdon. The following is the letter sent to St. John's by We remain yours with much respect. the The Ladies Missionary Alliance of Christ Ann T. DaCasta, Church, Philadelphia. Secretary of the L.M.A. of Christ Church, March 13, 1845
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Rev. George G. Field continued The decease of the Rev. Wm. Bourns having left the parish destitute of a rector, Samuel On Nov. 23, 1845 the new church was Clement was continued under the appointment consecrated to the honor of God’s great name by of 26 April 1850 - Rectors Warden. the Right Rev. Alonzo Potter, DD, Bishop of the One may infer that Bourns had been deceased diocese. The Rev. G.G. Field, rector of the parish for some time and the Vestry decided to and the Rev. G. W. Nat of Bellefonte were present continue the appointment of Samuel Clement as and assisted in the service. Rector’s Warden. Typically, in the absence of a Rector, the Rector’s Warden assumes the Rev. Field left St. John’s in 1848 and from Nov. leadership duties of the Rector of the church 28, 1848 to April 12, 1857 he is rector of until another Rector is found, so this makes Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Phila. PA. logical sense that the Vestry would have noted It is worth noting that the Rev. W. Henry Bourns at their meeting that Mr. Clement should was the first rector at Emmanuel Episcopal continue in his appointed role. Church (in 1844) and later became the 8th rector of St. John's Church, Huntingdon in 1849 after Diocese Journal - Rev. De Witt C. Byllesby, Rev. Field left St. John's to become the Rector of rector of St. Mark’s church Lewistown, Mifflin Emmanuel Episcopal Church. county...Among the funerals reported is that of the Rev Wm. H. Bourns, late Rector of St John’s, 8. Rev. William H. Bourns (1849 to 1851) which was my melancholy duty to attend December last. In addition to the services at St. Rev. William Henry Bourns was the first rector of Mark’s, I have preached at Huntingdon 3 times. Emmanuel Church, Philadelphia in 1844. It is (year ending May 1, 1852)[plus a baptism] interesting and perhaps foreshadowing to note that he resigned from his ministry at Emmanuel 9. Rev. Alexander McLeod M.D. (1853 to Church in 1848 for reasons of ill health. In the 1857 same year St. John's seventh Rector, Rev. George ) G. Field, left Huntingdon and became the Rector In 1822 Dr. McLeod came to Philipsburg as a of Emmanuel Church in Philadelphia. physician. He left Philipsburg in 1830, but then The first mention of Rev. Wm. H. Bourns was in returned, "by the guidance of Providence to that the Vestry minutes of Tues. April 2, 1850. At this part of the country" as a minister in 1849. In meeting was a discussion about the 5-year-old 1850, directed by Bishop Potter he shared a church building that was to be advertised for sale ministry with Philipsburg and a parish in by the sheriff at the suit of Mr. Martin for Clearfield. painting. (A postponement was given, and the Vestry minutes of April 1, 1853 Rev. Dr. funds were raised to pay the painter.) The next Alexander McLeod took charge of the Parish as mention of the Rev. Bourns was as a note in the Rector. Further minutes of the vestry indicate March 28, 1853 vestry minutes in which the that he submitted a letter to the members following indicated that the parish was without a demanding full payment of his salary and some Rector for a few years after his death on indication of conflicting duties with his shared December 15, 1851. ministry in Altoona. P a g e | 6
Rev. Alexander McLeod M.D continued fourth Sundays. His title was “General or September 20, 1853 District Missionary.”
A communication was received from Dr. McLeod During his tenure in April 1859 the church in relation to his duties as Pastor of the Parish chose to sell a vacant lot of ground on and the necessity of his salary being promptly Cemetery Hill to pay their debts. paid and asking that a committee be appointed to confer with him on the subject. On motion David Freeds, A.P. Wilson and F.B. Wallace were appointed said committee - it being understood From 1861-1863 he was a chaplain in the that the church at Altoona did not intend to urge Federal Army. In 1863, in his capacity as their claim to one half of the Rev. Dr. McLeod's chaplain, he was sent to Lawrence, Kansas after time at present no further action in relation a raid there to see what their needs were. In thereto was taken. Nov. 1863, he was at a meeting of the Vestry of Trinity Episcopal Church in Lawrence when the Nov. 1853 The Ladies held a fair in the “Town Rector of that church resigned, and the Vestry Hall” for the sale of useful and fancy articles asked Mr. Oliver to take over the parish. He and obtained about $164.00 clear of expenses. accepted, resigned his position in Altoona, and $75.00 of this sum were appropriated to pay for moved to Kansas in 1864. He was instrumental a Melodian for the church, and the balance to in building the Univ. of Kansas and was Chair pay certain debts of the church. (Vestry notes) of the Board of Regents and First Chancellor of the University from 1865-1867. In 1867, he 10. Robert W. Oliver ( 1857- 1860) resigned from both the school and his Rectorship at Trinity to move to Nebraska, Robert W. Oliver was born Oct. 9, 1815 in where he was on the bishop’s staff, and was Scotland. He was educated as Dean of the Divinity School at Nebraska City; a Presbyterian minister, and and in 1884 became Rector of St. Luke’s served in Scotland until Church in Kearney, Neb. He died June 23, 1899. 1850, when he came to Western Pennsylvania to It is interesting to note that while a letter serve as Presbyterian dated June 20, 1845 mentions a bell being minister there. While in presented to St. Johns, a Bell Tower was not Pennsylvania, he met the built until 1860. Rev. Alonzo Potter, Bishop of Pennsylvania, and on Nov. 11, 1855 he was ordained as an Episcopal priest. 11. Faber Byllesby 1860 He served as Missionary to Altoona until 1863. Faber Byllesby was born May 16, 1830. He had He was instrumental in building St. Luke’s church two brothers who were also Episcopal in Altoona and during that time also served in Clergymen. (DeWitt Clinton Byllesby [above], Johnstown and Huntingdon. In the diocese and Marison Byllesby.) He was ordained a journals it lists that he went to Johnstown on the Deacon in 1857 and took charge of the St. first Sunday of the month, Huntingdon on the Peter’s Church in Uniontown. In 1859 he left third Sunday and was at Altoona on the second & P a g e | 7
Faber Byllesby 1860 continued 13. James Abercrombie (1863) Uniontown and went on to officiate in James Abercrombie was the grandson of James Huntingdon and Locke’s Mills. In our records Abercrombie, a noted Episcopal clergyman who he is listed for a marriage in Feb. 1860 and a was Assistant Minister at St. Peter’s in brief line of service in our vestry book that he Philadelphia from 1794-1832. took charge of the parish from 1860 to Sept. The younger James was received by the Diocese 1861. of PA from New York and was rector of St. Paul’s in Erie from 1859 to 1861. In 1863 he The Diocese of Pennsylvania had a was called to St. John’s in Bellefonte but was committee to review “Missionaries and only there a few months. It was during this time Stations” as who to employ and where (or he also visited St. John’s. While he is listed in stations) they were located. In 1860 one some histories of the church, his name is not modification was to put together Huntingdon found in our vestry book or parish records. and Lock’s Mills with Lewistown. Altoona From 1863-1874 he became rector of Christ was separated from Huntingdon. Church in Lockport NY, and then in 1874 was at Trinity Church in Santa Barbara, California. After retiring from Trinity, he agreed to help out In Dec. 1860, he was received into the in Martinez, CA and became Missionary in Diocese of Kansas and served at Trinity Charge at Grace Church. In connection with that Church in Atchison from 1860 - 1861 then mission, he was instrumental in establishing St. served in Iowa from 1862-1865. In 1867, he Paul’s Episcopal Church in Walnut Creek, CA. went to St. Peter’s in Hazleton. PA then in He officiated at their first service in April 1889. 1868 at Trinity Church in Athens, Bradford He died in Sept. 1889 at age 74. County, PA. He was deposed from the ministry on Nov. 1, 1870. In Oct. 1870 he was admitted as a 14. Alfred J. Barrow (1863 – 1867) Presbyterian minister in the Presbytery of Alfred James Barrow was born in England and Westchester, NY. He left there in 1872 and came to the USA when he was 21. He studied at went on to Iowa and Minnesota, as a supply the Divinity School, was admitted to the minister (Presbyterian) in those states. He was Diaconate June 12, 1864, and became rector at living in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at his St. Paul’s Harrisburg. death on May 9, 1898. In 1865 became minister of St. James, Bedford and St. John’s, Huntingdon. Our Vestry Notes 12. William(?) Depuy (1861) say he took pastoral charge on Nov.14, 1865 but Here we have our first mystery person! Our he withdrew “from having charge of our parish Vestry notes state Rev. Mr. Depuy visited on Nov 4, 1867.” He did continue as minister of occasionally during 1862 and held services. St. James, Bedford and was ordained to the Other histories we found spell his name as priesthood Dec 16, 1868, but left by 1870. Dupree. Our only parish register shows a “James Du Pui” as having performed a baptism in 1862. Where was Barrow in 1879? Jump to Rev. # 21 CIVIL WAR TIME P a g e | 8
Alfred J. Barrow continued Philipsburg.) In connection with this, he also did By Nov. 1870 he became the third Rector of St. some mission work in Tyrone, and in the Broad Mark’s in Evanston, Ill. From 1871-1877 he went Top area of Huntingdon County. His parochial to St. John’s, Huntington, NY. He subsequently reports list specifically the coal and iron mines served in Brooklyn NY, MD, and VT, but in Huntingdon and Centre counties as his returned to Pennsylvania and became Rector of primary work. His association with St. John’s St. James, Perkiomen on May 1, 1890, as well as was primarily during his tenure at St. Luke’s, a Missionary at Royers Ford. He died on June 30, however the St. John’s parish register shows he 1902 at age 77. did perform a baptism at St. Johns in 1867. 15. James Wellesley Jones (1864 – 1865) James Wellesley Jones was In 1866 a new fence was erected around the born in England in 1832, church. In 1867 the roof of the church was went to school in Canada, repaired, as well as plastering repaired inside and was ordained a Deacon and glazing to the windows by the Bishop of Quebec in 1858 and ordained a priest 17. John Hewitt (1868 – 1869) in 1859. In 1859 he came to Pennsylvania and served John Hewitt was born in England. He was the as an assistant minister in son of an Episcopal minister and descended Philadelphia, and also as from a long line of Episcopal ministers. The Chaplain to the Seaman’s family came to America when he was young. Mission (in Phila.) He became Rector of St. He came to St. John’s in April 1868 from Luke’s, Altoona and St. John’s, Huntingdon in Mississippi. The vestry’s plan was to have him 1864 but died April 15, 1865 at age 32 in Altoona. take charge of the Parish, with the aim of having services every Sunday instead of every other Sunday, and also to establish a Classical School By 1865 the Diocese of Pennsylvania had become in Huntingdon. He resigned in January 1869, so large that the Diocese of Pittsburgh was citing ill health from “overmuch work.” Prior to formed. St. John’s was still a part of the Diocese his departure he was able to obtain an organ to of Pennsylvania. replace the old melodeon on Sept 12, 1868. Part of Rev. Hewitt’s salary came from the 16. J. Newton Spear (1865) Ladies Missionary Alliance at Christ Church in Rev. Spear was ordained to the Diaconate Feb 1, Philadelphia. A letter written to the ladies states 1863 and became rector at St. Luke’s, Altoona in Rev. Hewitt, “was held in high esteem not only 1865. During this time, he officiated at St. John’s by the parish members, but by persons generally on the 4 th Sunday of every month. Upon St. who attended the services, and had his health Luke’s becoming debt free and being admitted permitted would no doubt have been into the diocese as a parish, he was succeeded instrumental in building up and enlarging our there by his father the Rev. W.W. Spear. He church attendance.” continued his mission work, briefly at Shamokin, While he was here an “Academy” was in and then at Powelton, Centre County (near Huntingdon. In our Vestry notes it stated that, P a g e | 9
“Owing to the sudden and unexpected resignation of Mr. Hewitt, the school is lost to us. He ended In 1871 the Diocese of Pennsylvania splits his last quarter on a Friday and left town the same again, this time forming the Diocese of Central night and on the Monday morning next following, Pennsylvania, to which we were assigned. the Presbyterians had a teacher in this Academy Bishop Howe was the first bishop of this diocese. and the trustees informed me he is to remain for
some time.” 1971 - 1873 Rev. Hewitt went on to become rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Bloomsburg in 1870. When the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania In March 1872, he became the Principal of started in 1871, St. John's was without a Bloomsburg Normal School, the predecessor of Clergyman, and continued so for about 18 Bloomsburg University, in addition to continuing months longer. During this time occasional to serve as Rector. He served as principal until services were held by The Rev. Messrs. Abel, June 1873, when he stepped down in order to Martin, Jarrett and Morgan. return to full-time ministry. He continued at St. 19. Charles Mead (1873 – 1878) Paul’s until 1877, and subsequently served at St. Peter’s in Hazelton, and later in Bellefonte, PA. Charles H. Mead came to St. John’s June 5, Finally, he moved west to Lincoln, Nebraska, and 1873. The church was in sad shape. Prior to Columbus, OH. He was the Rector of St. Mark’s Huntingdon he was the Assistant Rector at the in Coldwater, MI at the time of his death in 1918. Church of the Nativity in South Bethlehem, and before that St. Paul’s, Marietta, PA. Rev. Mr. Mead graduated from the Philadelphia Divinity Quick tidbit on the national front is that the School in 1869. He was ordained with A. J. Transcontinental Railroad was finished in 1869. Boyle in 1870 at Christ Church. Rev. Mead was the instigator in getting the
church building repaired. He wrote a letter to 18. A. H. Boyle (or William ?) (1869 -1870) the bishop in 1873 which started with, A. H. Boyle came to St. John’s on May 2, 1869 “St. John's is poor. The church has until and was elected as the rector on July 24, 1869. He recently, been without a pastor for more than 3 only stayed for a year, with some reports saying years. The people are again making a brave he was fired. He started as a deacon and applied effort, and, with the aid of the Board of for priesthood around Jan. 2, 1870. He was Missions, are supporting a minister.” He ordained on Jan 9, 1870 at Christ Church, whose continued on with details of the dilapidation, the Ladies Missionary Society donated $200.00 to St. incomplete bell tower, a sad altar, and no John’s for help with repairs in 1869. The diocese Sunday School. He finishes with. “ Yet the journal lists receiving him from Huron – but I am building is substantial; the plan is a good one, not sure if that was New York or Canada. Many and with a comparatively small outlay the whole of his entries in our church books (baptism, might be made tasteful and attractive. Five funerals) were done by the warden at the time. hundred dollars would make it comfortable. After leaving St. John’s he is found at Calvary One thousand would make it even cheerful. If Episcopal church in NC from 1877 – 1880, and the wish is not extravagant, we would like to died in Cambria, CO in 1908. attain the cheerful. P a g e | 10
Charles Mead continued The next 4 rectors have a unique similarity – They were all In September 1873 the bishop responded with a letter to the churches in the diocese asking for Missionaries of their support. Rev. Mead and Vestry also tried to the Pennsylvania procure money from The Pennsylvania Railroad Railroad, in to help pay for building repairs. cooperation By 1875 he reported, “ With unfeigned thanks to (assumed) with Almighty God, to whose blessings alone our the Bishop and success is due, I report that the repairs and furnishings of our church are at last completed. the Diocese They gradually grew more extensive and cost The nation was still more than we at first anticipated...To many good recovering from the effects of the Panic of 1873. friends we are, under God, greatly indebted for Railroads were emerging as the first truly “Big their ready help to enabling us finally to ‘attain Businesses” in the world, and the Pennsylvania the cheerful.’” Railroad was first among that group to so Charles Mead led a series of lectures when he emerge. Rate wars between neighboring first came on Baptism and the Eucharist which led railroads depressed earnings for the to having weekly Eucharist, and “singing of Pennsylvania Railroad, causing a second responses in the ante-communion and singing reduction of 10% (since 1873) in the wages of certain hymns in the kneeling position in Lent.” railroad workers, leading to the riots in The Vestry complained about these new ideas Pittsburgh in 1877. In Huntingdon, the railroad and wrote a letter to Mead, and Mead’s response served as the link to the outside world. The was forwarded to the Bishop. Unfortunately, we Pennsylvania Mainline Canal had ceased do not know how it was resolved. operation west of town in 1876, although the canal continued to operate east of town until Murray Africa, our researcher for Rev. Mead felt, 1889. “I think that C. H. Mead was too progressive for St. John’s at that time.” St. John’s as a Missionary Post for the Rev. Mead was listed in J. Simpsons Africa’s Pennsylvania Railroad Directory of 1876 as living in the Exchange Hotel. By Fr. Gene Tucker The next year, the Huntingdon Journal had an There probably aren’t many churches that can article that his sister Stella Mead passed away at claim that they were a missionary post for a the Rectory. In Feb 20, 1924, The Daily News railroad, but St. John’s can claim that listed that Rev. Mead was very popular. distinction. For a short period in our history, Unfortunately, St. John’s went downhill after he from 1879 – 1882, St. John’s was served by four left in March of 1878 and went to Delaware. clergymen (remember that ordaining women was still almost a century in the future), who In the 1878 parochial report, “the church, as were employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad. well as other places of worship in the town, was Marcia Reynolds recalls the nature of this closed for 1 month by the civil authorities on ministry by saying, “Several of these railroad account of the prevalence of Small Pox.” missionaries wrote of getting off the train in Huntingdon, conducting services, then getting P a g e | 11 on the next train for Tyrone or some other town 21. Alfred James Barrow (1879 – 1881) along the main line.” The commute for these The second to serve was the Rev. Alfred James itinerant missionaries was a short one, for the Barrow, whose tenure spanned the time from tracks of the Pennsylvania Railroad ran right December 1 st , 1879 until January 31 st , 1881. down the middle of Allegheny Street in those Born in England was ordained as Deacon in days. (For the truly curious about local history, 1864. Later, he lived in Providence, the Pennsylvania Mainline Canal, which was Pennsylvania. owned by the Pennsylvania Railroad since 1857, still served Huntingdon at the time of this Does this name sound familiar? We think it cooperative arrangement with the railroad. The could be the same A. J. Barrow, Rector # 14, canal ceased operation west of Huntingdon in who came back but are not 100% sure ... 1876, and it ceased operation east of town in 22. Neel C. E. D. Griffith (1881 – 1882) 1889, whereupon the railroad moved its tracks over onto the canal bed, where they are located The Rev. Neel C. E. D. Griffith served from today.) We only know the names and the tenures June 5, 1881 until March 26 of the following of the four who served St. John’s. For the most year. We have no other information on him. part, these individual’s names are simply that: 23. John Gregson (1881 – 1882) Entries in a book. We do know, from other sources, however, some other details about their Finally, the Rev. John Gregson served from lives. That part of their story is easy to tell: May 7, 1882 until Nov. 24 of the same year. He was born in Philadelphia in 1841 and was 20. Thomas O. Tongue (1879 ) ordained as Deacon in 1871. Later, he lived in The first to come via the agency of the railroad Worcester, Mass. in 1898, and died in 1912. (one must presume, in coordination with the Bishop and the Diocese…that part of the story would require a lot of research to determine with Unfortunately, the parish has no Vestry accuracy) was the Rev. Thomas O. Tongue, who records for this time frame, which might shed served from April 1, 1879 until November 1 of some light on the exact nature of the that same year. (We also know that he served the arrangements that had been reached between parish in Tyrone during his tenure here.) the railroad, the Bishop, and the Diocese. We He was born in Maryland in 1838. His wife was do have service book records which show named Maria. Together, they had seven children. some of the activity of these 4 clergy while His young son, Raymond, was baptized by his they were here in Huntingdon. father here at St. John’s. Following his tenure here, he served in Greenport, Long Island, New Special Thanks and Credit York (located over 100 miles east of New York th City on the extreme end of the north fork of the While our church is celebrating its 200 Island). He was serving there in 1880. By 1898 Anniversary our committee is finding that there he lived in Washington, D. C.. is quite a bit of information on the web besides that which we have at church. Our goal is to go deeper into our past not knowing what we will find. As we continue to dig we will share this information with you in future newsletters... P a g e | 12
*Please note: We do have Here is a quick list of who we covered and the next in line! additional information and citations that are available start end order primary rector - full name researcher upon request. Our plan is to Last month make a separate document with detailed information 1774 1 Dr. William Smith, D.D Bettianne Quinn American Church met to unify all Episcopal churches into and citations for all the 1789 single national church ministers once we have presented everyone. 1814 2 Rev. Jackson Kemper Allen Terrill 1820 RECEIVED INTO DIOCESE OF PENNA 1821 3 Rev. Charles Snow den Allen Terrill 1823 4 Rev. Norman Nash Allen Terrill Rev. H F M 1836 1836 5 Information this month Whitesides Doug Tietjens primarily came from the 1836 1843 6 Rev. J.T. Hoff Doug Tietjens following sources: Our own This month Service Books, a Sermon 184 4 184 8 7 Rev. George G. Field Doug Tietjens written in 1910 by Rev. Henry 1845 NEW BUILDING ERECTED S. Smart; The Journals of the Protestant Episcopal Church 184 9 185 1 8 Rev. Henry Bourns Doug Tietjens on Google books for the years Rev. Alexander in this newsletter, 1853 1857 9 McLeod D.D. Doug Tietjens http://anglicanhistory.org/usa/, 1857 1860 10 Rev. R.W. Oliver Kathleen Barlow History of Huntingdon and 1860 186 0 11 Rev. F Byllesby Kathleen Barlow Blair counties, 1861 1862 12 Rev. William D epuy Kathleen Barlow Pennsylvania.by J. Simpson CIVIL WAR TIME Africa, Published 1883 by L. H. Everts in Philadelphia . We 1863 13 Rev. J Abercrombie Kathleen Barlow also have found articles written 1863 186 7 14 Rev. A. J. Barrow Kathleen Barlow in the local Daily News 1864 1865 15 Rev. J. Wellesley Jones Kathleen Barlow Newspaper, Huntingdon, PA. 1865 DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH FORMED Prayers come from the Book of Common Prayer. ~Bettianne 186 5 1868 16 Rev . J. Newton Spe ar Kathleen Barl ow Quinn 1868 1869 17 Rev . John Hewi tt Kathleen Barlow 1869 1870 18 Rev. A. H. Boyle Murray Africa 1871 DIOCESE OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA FORMED 1873 1878 19 Rev. Charles H Mead Murray Africa Rev. Thomas E. 1879 1879 20 Tongue Rev. Gene Tucker 1879 1881 21 Rev. A . J. Barrow Rev. Gene Tucker 1881 1882 22 Neel C. E. D. Griffith Rev. Gene Tucker 1882 1882 23 Rev. John Gregson Rev. Gene Tucker 1883 24 Rev. Wm . C Langdon Bettianne Quinn
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