Protestant Episcopal Church

Protestant Episcopal Church - Rochester

photo from “The Garden County of Minnesota, and Rochester, with its Wealth, Beauty and Business”, 1884

Protestant Episcopal Church.—The first services of the Episcopal Church were held in Rochester, by Bishop Kemper, in the summer of 1858. Rev. D. P. Sanford visited Rochester and held services and administered the holy communion to five or six communicants, in Morton Hall, January 2,1859. Calvary parish, the present name of the church society, was organized under Rev. Chas. Woodward, missionary in charge, June 7, I860. In 1861 he secured five lots on Zumbro street for a site, and in the fall of 1862 the corner stone of Calvary chapel was laid by him, and a brick edifice built in the following year, which was finally completed and consecrated by Bishop Whipple, in January, 1866. Rev. Mr. Woodward continued his faithful labors until the following summer, when he resigned. He was succeeded by Rev. W. J. Johnstone, a very popular preacher, under whom the church was enlarged, incurring a large debt. During the enlargement of the building he resigned, and the heavy debt was continued for years, until finally discharged through the indefatigable labors of the ladies' aid society of the parish. The following succeeded Rev. Mr. Johnstone as rectors, each serving their terms faithfully: Rev. David P. Sanford took charge March 13, 1869, resigned July 10, 1870; Rev. A. Spor took charge August 15, 1870, resigned June 30, 1872; Rev. A. W. Seabrease took charge May 1, 1872, resigned March 27, 1875; Rev. J. F. Walker took charge May 30,1875, resigned September 24,1876; Rev. J. K. Karchor took charge September 16, 1877, resigned September 15,1878; Rev. Chas. I. Coer, took charge December 1,1878, resigned March 1, 1882. The parish has lost many members by removals elsewhere, but is still a live parish, having the active support of a noble band of workers in the Ladies' Parish Aid Society, and its future assured by a faithful, zealous Sunday-school.
First Presbyterian Church.—In the fall of 1858 Rev. D. C. Lyon settled in Winona, and during the following summer the Rev. Sheldon Jackson moved to La Crescent, Houston county. These two ministers, with Rev. Harvey Chapin, at Owatonna, were the pioneers of the Old School Presbyterian church in southern Minnesota. It was during a missionary tour that Mr. Jackson reached Rochester, on January 27, 1861. Finding a few who had been connected with Presbyterian churches in other places he agreed to remain and preach for them on the following Sabbath. The services were held in the old court-house.

On February 9 Rev. J. C. Caldwell, missionary for the synod of St. Paul, visited the place and preached on the following sabbath. Learning that Mr. Jackson was to return that week, he remained, and on the arrival of Mr. Jackson, the two began canvassing, the result of which was a call for a meeting for the purpose of organizing a church.

On Sunday, February 17, 1861, in Morton's Hall, the Presbyterian church of Rochester was organized with four members, these being Mrs. John R. Cook, Mr. and Mrs. Robert McBride, and Mr. John H. Hyatt. Two weeks later Mrs. Elizabeth Hyatt and Mr. and Mrs. George Miller were added to the list. Mr. Miller was elected the first ruling elder. Mr. Jackson preached for the new congregation until the services of Rev. Robert F. Taylor. Owing to ill-health he was compelled to relinquish his charge alter six months labor, and finally died in Ohio in 1866.

In January, 1862, the church invited the Rev. George Anslie to become their pastor. He entered upon his labors with enthusiasm, begotten by his early training among the Choctaw Indians. Seeking to reach the destitute neighborhoods in the vicinity, he found the labors increasing to such an extent as to be beyond his power to accomplish, and he accordingly asked that a call might be made to the Rev. Sheldon Jackson to become co-pastor with him and take charge of the city work of the church, in order that he might give more of his attention to missionary labor.

Accordingly a call was made out in March, 1864, for the services of Mr. Jackson, which was accepted.

From this time the church entered upon an enlarged sphere of action. Immediate steps were taken toward raising funds for the purpose of erecting a church building. Mr. Jackson went east to solicit funds from the eastern churches, and returned with $5,000.

In the fall of 1865 the building (36x62) was completed at a cost of $8,000, and on the first sabbath of January, 1866, was dedicated to the worship of God.

During the fall of 1865 the manse was erected at the rear of the church, and a fifteen-hundred-pound bell placed in the church tower. The latter was presented by the first Presbyterian church of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Rev. J. T. Killen, formerly of Green Bay, Wisconsin, succeeded Mr. Jackson in 1868. In 1873 Mr. H. A. Newell succeeded him.

In 1882 Rev. Cyrus A. Hampton was employed as pastor of the church. The present membership is about 110, and the average attendance in Sunday-school about the same number.

Source:

The History of Winona and Olmsted Counties, 1883

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