Historic Pelham: The Creation of Christ Church and its Consecration on September 15, 1843

The Town of Pelham, as distinct from the Manor of Pelham, was created by New York statute enacted on March 7, 1788. The first church built within the boundaries of the Town was Christ Church, built by Reverend Robert Bolton and his family in 1843. Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog tells a little about the creation of Christ Church and its consecration on September 15, 1843.

Christ Church, Shortly After It Was Constructed,

as Depicted in the 1848 First Edition of Bolton's

History of Westchester County, Volume 1. NOTE:

Click on Image to Enlarge.

Reverend Robert Bolton and his family built their spectacular Pelham Manor home, known variously as the Priory, Bolton Priory, and Pelham Priory, in 1838. At the time, Rev. Bolton was serving as Rector of the Parish of Eastchester and oversaw services at St. Paul's Church in Eastchester.

In 1840, Rev. Bolton "first extended his ministerial labors to this town [i.e., Pelham], which was as yet destitute of the services of the Church." Bolton, Jr., Robert, History of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the County of Westchester, From Its Foundation, A.D. 1693, to A.D. 1853, p. 695 (NY, NY: Stanford & Swords, 1855). Bolton dreamed, however, of building a church on his Pelham estate to serve the growing Town of Pelham.

By 1842, Rev. Bolton and his family were actively raising funds for the construction of such a church. Advertisements appeared in regional newspapers published on July 25 and July 26, 1842, announcing that a fair would be held on July 27 on the grounds of the Priory to raise money for the construction of an "Episcopal Chapel" in Pelham Manor. See:

Fri., Nov. 21, 2014: Another Advertisement for Fair Held in 1842 to Fund Construction of Christ Church.

Fri., Aug. 29, 2014: Announcement of Two-Day Fair in Pelham in 1842 to Raise Money to Build Christ Church.

1842 Advertisement for Fair to Fund Construction of "Episcopal Chapel"

in Pelham Manor, New York. Source: A Fair, New-York Daily Tribune,

Jul. 26, 1842, Vol. II, No. 91, p. 3, col. 1. NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.

According to a brief history of Christ Church published barely a decade after the founding of the church:

"At this time [i.e., 1840] Mr. Bolton, besides his stated duties at Eastchester, held a Sunday service at his residence in Pelham, accommodating in the ample hall a neighborhood peculiarly destitute of spiritual culture. Through his instrumentality a parish was finally organized, and the corner stone of a church laid on his own estate, Friday, the 28th of April, 1843, being the first building devoted to religious worship and instruction ever commenced in the town of Pelham. The edifice thus happily begun was finished the same year. . ."

Source: Bolton, Jr., Robert, History of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the County of Westchester, From Its Foundation, A.D. 1693, to A.D. 1853, p. 695 (NY, NY: Stanford & Swords, 1855).

Although research has not yet revealed to this author an account of the laying of the cornerstone of Christ Church, it is believed that a poem written by William Jay Bolton, one of Robert Bolton's sons, entitled "The Foundation Stone" was read at the dedication of the cornerstone. The poem appeared in a book published by the Bolton family less than a year after the laying of the cornerstone. The book, entitled "The Harp of Pelham," was a collection of poetry by William Jay Bolton. The family sold the book for $1 with proceeds used to fund development and operation of a tiny one-room schoolhouse built by the family to serve the neighborhood. (That schoolhouse building, slightly altered, still stands on the grounds of Christ Church along Shore Road.)

Schoolhouse Built and Supported by Christ Church,
Shortly After It Was Constructed, as Depicted in the 1848
First Edition of Bolton's History of Westchester
County, Volume 1. NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.

William Jay Bolton's lovely poem entitled "The Foundation Stone" reads as follows:

"The Foundation Stone

Head of the Church with light divine

Deign on thy people's works to shine,

And make the building now Thine own,

By blessing this, 'The Corner Stone.'

Hence let the gospel's joyful sound

Enlighten every desert round

And here let sinners find the road

That leads them to the Lamb of God.

Oh, Thou! who wast Theyself the stone

Which haughty builders did disown

Let this Thy house uninjured stand,

Established by Thine own right hand.

The 'corner stone' surmounted thus

Shall be a footstool to the cross,

The church a fruitful garden prove,

To train us for the church above."

Source: Bolton, William Jay, The Harp of Pelham, pp. 93-94 (NY, NY: Windt's Printery 1844).

Before consecration of the new church building, Rev. Robert Bolton prepared a deed to transfer the church and the quarter-acre of land on which it stood to a parochial corporation. In the deed for the benefit of the rector, wardens, and vestrymen of the new church, he reserved six "free seats" (parishioners paid for their pew seats at Christ Church and other regional churches at the time) as well as the south-eastern transept and two burial vaults beneath the floor of the church. See id.

According to a history of the church written by Rev. Bolton's son, Robert Bolton, Jr., and published in 1855, a subsequently-prepared instrument of donation of Christ Church read as follows:

"I, Robert Bolton, of the town of Pelham, county of Westchester and State of New York, having by the good providence of Almighty God erected in said town a house of public worship, do hereby appropriate and devote the same to the worship and service of Almighty God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, according to the provisions of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, in its ministry, doctrines, liturgy, rites and usages, by a congregation in communion with the said Church, and in union with the Convention thereof in the Diocese of New York.

'And I do also hereby request the Rt. Rev. Tredwell Underdonk, D., D. of the said Diocese [Editor's Note: The reference is to Benjamin Tredwell Onderdonk who was the the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York at the time], to take the said building under his spiritual jurisdiction, as Bishop aforesaid, and that of his successors in office, and to consecrate the same by the name of Christ Church, and thereby seperate [sic] it from all unhallowed, worldly and common uses, and solemnly dedicate it to the holy purposes above mentioned.

'And I do moreover hereby relinquish all claim to any right of disposing of the aid building,, excepting those rights reserved in a certain deed conveying the said Church to the rector, wardens and vestrymen of the same, or allowing of the use of it in any way inconsistent with the terms and true meaning of this instrument of donation, and with the consecration hereby requested of the Bishop of this Diocese.

'In testimony whereof, I, the said Robert Bolton, have hereunto attached my seal and signature at Pelham, this fifteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and forty-three.

ROBERT BOLTON.' a

[Footnote "a" reads as follows: "Copied from the original document in the possession of the Rt. Rev. B. T. Onderdonk, D. D."]."

Source: Bolton, Jr., Robert, History of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the County of Westchester, From Its Foundation, A.D. 1693, to A.D. 1853, p. 696 (NY, NY: Stanford & Swords, 1855).

On Friday, September 15, 1843, a divine service was held in the newly-completed church. During that service, the "Instrument of Donation" transcribed above was read to those gathered to worship by order of Bishop Benjamin Tredwell Onderdonk. The consecration of the new church followed immediately. See id., pp. 695-96.