A look back at Saint James' in the late 19th century

Assuming the Rectorship

Statements recorded in the Parish Register by newly arriving rectors

To review – Until the 1960s, it was the practice of the new rector to write a statement in the Parish Register of his findings on arrival at Saint James’ Church.  The earliest such record was written on May 15, 1876 by the Rev. John S. Lindsay, and carried in this series of essays on March 22, 2015.  The following entry was written by his successor, the Rev. George Washington Nelson ten years into his ministry:

Mr. Nelson –

“I succeeded the Rev. John S. Lindsay as Rector of this Parish and took charge on the 1st Sunday in January 1880.  The official acts of my Ministry from January 1880 to the first Sunday in Advent 1889 are recorded in the Parish Register begun by Rev. J. S. Lindsay.

“The debt remaining upon the church for the enlargement under Rev. J. S. Lindsay was all paid in 1884 and the church is now free from debt.  This book is opened the 1st Sunday in Advent 1889.  The first recorded act is the Baptism of Heyward North Spilman on the 23rd day of December 1889.

           Geo. W. Nelson, Rector

Jan 1st. 1890”

Oct. 18th, 1898 (a further entry) –

“Rt. Rev. R. A. Gibson, Bishop Co-adjutor consecrated “Christ Church” Chapel at Baldwin’s Ridge.                Geo. W. Nelson, Rector.”

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Note: As to the debt noted above, in 1874 – only 9 years after the Civil War, Saint James’ was enlarged during Dr. Lindsay’s ministry.  The main body of the building was extended 18 feet, to which a recessed chancel was added (see early photo).  The capacity of the church was increased by 100 sittings.
The entire chancel, its furnishings, and the triplet stained glass window (a memorial lost in the fire of 1910), were given by Dr. David C. Gordon (1836-1917) of “Dixie” on Culpeper Street – now known as ‘Menlough.”  He engaged a young Baltimore architect, T. B. Ghequiere, to design the chancel.  Some of the furnishings survived the 1910 fire and remain in use today, e.g., the lectern, as seen in the photograph.