Saint James Celebrates Its 150th Anniversary
St. James' Church celebrated its semi-centennial on a Sunday evening with appropriate services and an address delivered by the rector, the Reverend F. N. Bouck. The following is Reverend Bouck's address.
— Rev. F. N. Bouck
The Founding, 1830
On September 14, 1830, a small group of 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. The Reverend Amos Baldwin served as chairman and Mr. Isaac Q. Leake as secretary.
After deliberation, it was decided to call the new parish Saint James Church of Catlin and Reading. A vestry was duly elected: wardens Isaac Q. Leake and Harry C. Leonard, and vestrymen William B. Ireland, Winthrop E. Boothe, Alanson G. Everts, Asa A. Norton, Charles Tillinghast, Ebenezer Hanly, Samuel J. Beebe, and John Mitchell.
On October 7, 1830, the newly created parish was admitted to union with the Convention of the Diocese of New York. Steps were promptly taken to secure a place for public worship. Dr. Samuel Watkins generously gave a lot for the erection of a church building, situated on the corner of Monroe and Division Streets.
Building the First Church
Financing the building presented considerable challenges. Mr. Samuel Beebe offered a practical solution: members of the congregation would raise all they could, and Mr. Beebe agreed to erect the church, assume all responsibility, and pay any deficit. All the money was contributed save $250, which Mr. Beebe gladly provided. On the first Sunday in August 1832, the building was sufficiently complete to hold public worship.
There were not many people in the region in 1830, and the parish at its best was small, weak, and struggling — very often without regular services. At times it appears to have been nearly extinct. From 1836 to 1843 there are practically no records to show the course of events.
Revival and Dark Days
In the spring of 1843, the Reverend Mr. Nickerson came into charge and gathered once more the scattered and disheartened flock. From 1843 to 1857, however, there are again no records. For two years, from 1857 to 1859, the Reverend Peter S. Roth had oversight of the parish and labored with fervor and varying success to revive interest in the work.
From 1859 to 1861 there appear to have been no regular ministrations and no resident pastor.
A New Beginning: All Saints Day, 1861
All Saints Day, November 1, 1861, would always be remembered with joy and gratitude by Saint James' Church. On that auspicious day, the Reverend Duncan C. Mann began his labors as pastor of the discouraged flock. His just and holy leadership inspired, encouraged, and emboldened the timid congregation. Activity resumed on every hand. Public worship was held — at one time in the Methodist chapel, at another in the public hall — as the old church on the hillside had become too dilapidated for use.