Alameda County, Oakland, California
St. Paul's (Episcopal) Church
St. Paul's (Episcopal) Church -- This church affords a striking example of what may be accomplished by a few persons in a short time. It has derived its remarkable prosperity through the zeal and wisdom of a few vestrymen, materially aided by a popular and energetic rector. Its inception was begun in a desultory way by a few small gatherings of persons uncomprehending the magnitude which the enterprise thus born was shortly to attain. Speedily, however, they realized the work before them, and the church was duly organized in February, 1871. It has drawn within its doors a congregation comprising large influence and wealth from a field comparatively unoccupied before, and is solidly established on a broad temporal and spiritual basis as a great and growing Christian power. The organizers were peculiarly happy in the purchase of the church property. It consisted of a chapel with a rectory, belonging formerly to the California College, and a lot one hundred feet square situated at the corner of Twelfth and Webster Streets. The purchase price was ten thousand dollars, payable in ten years, and was secured by an individual note of four of the vestrymen, with mortgage on the property. The deed was made a third party in trust, for conveyance to the church whenever, within a certain time, it should pay one-fourth the purchase price. The chapel was arranged interiorly to fit it for church purposes at an extreme of two thousand dollars, obtained on loan by individual members of the vestry. Sixty pews were put in, capable of seating comfortably two hundred persons. They were tastefully upholstered, carpets laid, an organ purchased, and real work was then begun. Pew rates were fixed to produce two hundred and twenty dollars monthly, allowing free seats for forty persons. The first twelve months showed an increase from pew rentals from fifty-seven to one hundred and fifty-three dollars, demonstrating a steady growth of membership. Fifty dollars a month was received for rental of the basement for school purposes, and of the rectory for a residence. By the end of a year the regular income, including offertories and subscriptions met all current expenses, comprising interest, salaries, and incidentals and it has since kept pace with the increased expenses. In 1880 the church building was moved to the corner of Fourteenth and Harrison Streets where it is now located. The rectors in charge of the parish up to date have been Rev. Charles W. Turner, 1871; Rev. J, L. Parks from 1874 to 1879, the first of July in which latter year the present Rector, Rev. Hobart Chetwood entered on the Rectorship.
The first officers and vestry were: Allen I. Gladding, Senior Warden; Capt Watson Webb, Junior Warden, and. Secretary; R. C. Alden, Treasurer; Hon. John A. Stanley, John B. Harmon, Dr. W. C. Parker, Thomas J. Hyde, Dr. H. P. Babcock, Thomas Yolland. Those at present serving are Alien I. Gladding, Senior Warden; William. R. Wheaton, Junior Warden and Secretary; D. M Kent, Treasurer; S. W. Bugbee, Secretary.
The Sunday-school in connection with the church was organized in 1871, and at present consists of two hundred and twenty-five scholars and twenty teachers under the superintendency of the Rector.
Alameda County, California,
Including Its
Geology, Topography, Soil and Productions
Oakland.: M.W. Wood Publisher, 1883
Transcribed by Julie Appletoft, November, 2007 Pages 725-726
Archive Church Records ~ Archive Index
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