P a g e | 1 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 P a g e | 2 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 – he is credited with 2 important items This Month in 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. Most churches were not incorporated P a g e | 4 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 P a g e | 5 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.