History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

The directors appointed Patrick T. Jackson and
Kirk Boott, December 27, 1822, as a committee
to build a church, and five thousand dollars were
appropriated for that purpose. This vote was
amended April 15, 1824, a little more than a
month after Mr. Edson came, so that the church
was to be built of stone, and a sum not exceeding
nine thousand dollars was appropriated for this
purpose.
March 16, 182.5, the church was completed, con-
secrated, Mr. Edson was ordained as a priest, and
the parsonage occupied.
During the year 1827 it was thought desirable
to dissolve the connection between the Merrimack
Religious Society and the Merrimack Manufactur-
ing Company. For three years the affairs of the
society had been managed at the counting-room.
In order to effect this change, and establish a
parish on an independent foundation, it was neces-
sary that the company's contract with the rector
be assumed by the society, and that the society
should have the use of the church and parsonage.
Accordingly, September 23, 1827, the church and
parsonage were leased to the society ; the company
discharged from all further obligation on account
of taxes, rector's salary, repairs, and insurance, and
the society to have possession for fifteen years at a
mere nominal rent.
At this time (1839) the parish had become large
enough to warrant the employment of an assistaut
the Rev. Mr. McCoy was engaged for one year,
and Chapel Hall was rented for services. This
movement resulted in the formation of St. Luke's
Church.
April 17, 1811, a committee was appointed by
the directors of the Merrimack Manufacturing
Company to sell the church. The lease expired
November 23, 1812, and February 27, 1843, the
church alone was sold to the society for $12,000,
and a deed given, with tiie condition that the par-
sonage should be vacated.
The experiment of a second Episcopal Church
(St. Luke's, located in Belvidere) did not prove
successful.
In 1844 the Rector's Library of St. Anne's
Church was commenced, which now numbers over
2,000 volumes of valuable, useful, rare, and curious
books.
In 1857 a chime of bells was placed in the
tower of the church, obtained through the per-
sistent efforts of George Hedrick, Esq., who seldom
fails in accomplishing whatever he undertakes.
;
LOWELL. 105
The rector of St. Aime's, Rev. Theodore Edson,
D. D., presents the almost unparalleled example of
a clergyman ofiiciating in one church fifty-five consecutive
years. In 1858 he was confined to The
Manse thirteen weeks by sickness. On his re-
covery, at the suggestion of his parishioners, the
Rev. C. W. Homer became his assistant, and ser-
vices were held in the chapel as well as the church.
The engagement of the Rev. C. W. Homer led to
the formation of a new society, called St. John's
Church, a notice of which will appear in its order.
June 20, 1866, the parsonage of St. Anue's
Church was purchased of the Merrimack Company
and presented to the parish. B. F. Butler, in behaK
of the donors, said, in presentuig the documents
to the rector : —
" Our gift is a perfect title, coupled with a sin-
gle condition only, — that it shall be appropriated
to charitable, educational, and religious uses, in
conformity with the Protestant Episcopal canons,
rites, and usages, under the direction of the church
of St. Anne's in Lowell, forever."
St. Anne's Chapel was finished iu 1869 at a cost
of about $7,000. It will seat two hundred per-
sons. The tower was erected at an expense of
§1,200, which sum was contributed by Mrs. Mary
Dunimer Carleton, widow of George H. Carleton.
November 3, 1877, Rev. A. E. Johnson commenced
his labors as assistant rector.
The House of Prayer, a mission of St. Anne's
Church, was built in 1876, and dedicated Decem-
ber 29 of that year. Rev. B. F. Cooley, rector,
was succeeded in 1878 by Father Browne.
September 29, 1875, No. 13 Anne Street was
opened as a Home for Orphans, luider the charge
of the Sisters of St. Margaret, an American sister-
hood having headquarters iu Boston. April 20,
1876, the Home was organized under the statutes,
and the property conveyed by the Rev. Dr. Edson
to a board of trustees ; Rev. Theodore Edson was
elected president. Rev. N. Hoppin treasurer, H. H.
Grosvenor secretary. The object is " the education
and mahitenance of orphan and other children, and
such charitable work as may be incidental thereto."
In 1876 twenty, in 1877 twenty-one, and in
1878 twenty-nine children found a home in this
institution. It is supported by voluntary contri-
butions.
First Congreffational CJmrcli. — January 7, 1824,
William Davidson, James M. King, Nathaniel
Holmes, and others met at No. 21, Merrimack
Company's Boarding-House, and held a union