Christ Church of Herkimer, NY

Episcopal Church located on the northeast corner of Main and Mary streets in Herkimer, NY. Photo taken July 2000 Courtesy of Lisa Slaski

        Services of the Episcopal Church began to be held in Herkimer and German Flatts in 1833, and a parish was organized in that year by the name of St. Luke's Church, German Flatts, which organization seems to have been abandoned later.  In March, 1839, the parish of Christ Church, Herkimer, was organized.  Andrew A. Bartow and Matthew Myers were the wardens.  Services were held irregularly for a few years in the Court House, and, by courtesy, in the Reformed and M. E. Churches, by Rev. O. P. Thackera.  Visitations were made by Bishops Wainright and Horatio Potter.
 
        Ground was broken for a church on the northwest corner of Washington and Green Streets; subsequently a corner-stone was laid on Liberty Street (now Park Avenue) near Preospect Street.  But it was decided to disband the organization, and later, in February, 1854, a new one was formed, under the same name.  In July 1854, the lot on the southwest corner of main and German Streets was purchased and a church was erected there, and in october, 1855, it was consecrated by Bishop Horatio Potter.  At that time there were only two communicants, both ladies, mrs. Charles Kathern and Miss Magdalene Hoffman.

       The Rev. O. P. Thackera was rector of the parish, with Byron Laflin and Samuel Earl as wardens.  Mr. Thackera had a group of clergy under his supervision, Revs. Fairbanks, Capron and others, who did work in a wide circle about Herkimer and Richfield Springs.  Part of Mr. Thackera's work was a large and successful boarding and day school.  In 1857 Mr. Thackera removed from this vicinity and soon after his associates also went away.

       For More than a year services were held and a Sunday-school was conducted by Rev. Mr. Perry, of Utica.  During part of 1858 Rev. Mr. Ludlum was in charge.  In November, 1858 Rev. J. Julford Hedges became rector, and remained until 1861.  Rev. Edward Pidsley was in charge from March 17, 1861, until the end of 1862, when Mr. Hedges again took charge until 1864.  Rev. Herman G. Wood then became rector and remained until 1871.  In his rectorship a rectory was built and also a school-house, in which was maintained a parish school until 1877.

        Rev. J. D. Morrison was rector from March, 1871, to August 18, 1875; Rev. W. B. Walker, August 15, 1875, to October, 1884; Rev. Charles C. Edmunds, from January 1, 1885, to June 1, 1893; the present rector, Rev. William C. Prout, has been in charge since September 1, 1893.  During the rectorship of Mr. Edmunds, July 1, 1886, land was purchased for the present church on the corner of Main and Mary Streets.  The corner-stone was laid by Bishop Doane, October 6, 1888, and the church, parish-house, and rectory were completed in 1889.

        The church was consecrated on November 7, 1889.  The old church was taken down and the old rectory and parish-house were sold.   Since July 1, 1858, (date of first record) there have been baptized 858 persons; confirmed, 461; marriaged, 247; burials, 361.  At this date, December, 1900, the parish has 125 families, numbering over 500 persons, of whom more than 200 are communicants.

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