|
About us — (Click the links to view pictures)
In 1785, Judge William Cooper of Burlington, New Jersey, acquired a large tract of land in the vicinity of Otsego Lake. He journeyed northward on horseback to inspect his new possession, and the decision was to plan for immediate settlement of the area.
In 1797 the Rev. Thomas Ellison of Albany preached in the courthouse in Cooperstown, the first time divine services according to the rites of the Episcopal Church were performed here in this village. In 1806, Judge Cooper set aside a tract of land for the construction of a church following these rites.
Construction of the new church began in 1807. It was consecrated by the Rt. Rev. Benjamin Moore, Bishop of New York on July 8, 1810. On January 1, 1811, the Parish of Christ Church Cooperstown was legally organized, and the Rev. Daniel Nash was installed as its first rector.
The nave and tower are of the original building which was 54 ft long and 42 ft wide with three windows on each side. By 1840, an addition in stone was erected on the west (or pulpit) end of the church. In the same year extensive alterations to the windows and ceiling changed the original Romanesque design to the newly popular Gothic under the direction of James Fenimore Cooper on his return from abroad. The original outline of the windows is clearly visible on the exterior. In 1891 the west wall was moved back and a stone chancel erected in memory of Mrs. Jane R.A. Carter. A model showing both exterior and interior of the original church was made by George Pomeroy Keese, vestryman and warden, around 1900 and is still available for study. |
|
The white oak rood screen separating the congregation from the chancel was given in memory of William Cooper by his great grandson, James Fenimore Cooper.
The matching screens in the chancel side aisles incorporate wood from the 1840 reredos given by James Fenimore Cooper, the author, in honor of his father, and which had been unceremoniously removed in the 1890s. They were replaced during an enlargement of the chancel in 1916.
The marble baptismal font (located at the rear of the church under the balcony) was a gift in 1842 by Theodore Keese, George Pomeroy Keese, and Alice Bailey Keese. The bowl embedded in the font is the original baptismal bowl used by Father Nash.
A new church bell weighing 1500 lbs., given by the Rev. Dr. William C. Dix, rector of Trinity Church in New York City, in memory of his father, General John A. Dix, (a former member of the parish) was installed in June, 1893.
On Easter Day, 1897, the pulpit in memory of Father Nash, first rector of the parish, was put in place and used for the first time. The pulpit is of oak and brass with a bronze frontal of Christ blessing little children in relief. On April 27, 1997, the pulpit was rededicated, using the prayer book and order of service of 1897 together with excerpts of the original sermon.
The chancel pavement was given as a memorial to James Averell and his descendants by Mrs. E. H. Harriman in 1913. The tiles were made and set after the manner of medieval pavements. In the sanctuary are reproductions of tiles from old ecclesiastical pavements in Europe: a quatre-foil from Jervaulx Abbey, Yorkshire; a chequer of the 14th century from the Hotel deClugny, Paris, the wheel and the foliate circle from Castle Acre priory, England; the crossed lozenge of Saint Cross, in Hampshire; the eagle of Castile, quatrefoil and flowerets from the Ecclesiological Society collection, the locked squares from Chertsey Abbey, Surrey, the bird of Sienna, 16th century Italian tile, the wheel of Bayeux, Normandy; the triangles of S. Benet, from Westminster Abbey; petals in double circle, a striped tile, Maltese Cross, fleur de lys. An especially interesting tile is one of quaint design inscribed in Latin with a quotation from the 46th Psalm. “There is a river the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God.” The tablet in the center of the chancel, EXULTEMUS IN DOMINE, is a thanksgiving for the recovery from illness of Gertrude Birdsall Duane. |
|
St. Agnes Chapel was erected in 1860 largely through the efforts of George Pomeroy Keese. It was enlarged and reconstructed in 1880 and made a memorial to Marcia Carter by her mother, Mrs. Jane R. A. Carter. It was extensively renovated in 1999.
In April 1889, plans for the proposed new rectory at the corner of Church and River Streets were "inspected, discussed, and adopted by the vestry." It was completed in 1890 at an estimated cost of $8445. The exterior was renovated in 1998. The interior was renovated in 2004-2005.
Music has played an important role at Christ Church since its founding. At the first vestry meeting of January 1, 1811 two men were put" in charge of the singing. " The earliest mention of an organist at Christ Church is the appointment of Moritz Richter in 1839. The organ and choir were originally at the entrance end of the church. In 1850,recordsindicate"A new and beautiful organ has been erected..." In 1909, Christ Church received a brand new organ given by Mrs. Elizabeth Scriven Potter in memory of Henry Codman Potter, seventh Bishop of New York, who had retired to Cooperstown and worshiped at Christ Church. The 'Potter Organ' served our church until replaced in 1983 by the Gilbert Adams organ purchased from Grace Church, Utica. A new console was built by the Austin Organ Co. and the dedication was held in May 1984. State trumpets and chimes were installed in 2006.
The Parish House The original parish house, at the rear of the church and facing on Fair Street, was erected in 1906 by Florence Virginia Sill as a memorial to her mother, Mrs. Levantia Sill. To respond to the growth of the parish and its needs through the years, a new and expanded parish hall was constructed and dedicated in 1968. The original Sill house was retained and incorporated into the new building. |
|
The Cemetery "CHRIST CHURCH, in Cooperstown, is surrounded by one of the most picturesque country churchyards in America." — Ralph Birdsall, rector of Christ Church, 1911.
The most famous tomb in the churchyard, of course, is that of James Fenimore Cooper. Surrounded by other members of the Cooper family and enclosed within the iron fence of the Cooper plot, this simple marble marker bears only his name and the dates of his birth and death.
The oldest tomb in the churchyard bears this inscription: 'Here lies -SAM GRIFFIN: -Son of JOSEPH GRIFFIN -Who Died Oct 11th A.D. 1792 -Aged 4 years and 6 months -Happy Infant early blest! -Here in peaceful slumber, rest-,-Early rescu’d from the Cares -Which increase with growing years”
'SHADED by venerable pines and noble elms, there stands in Christ churchyard a marble shaft inscribed to the memory of' Father Nash, first rector of Christ's church' and 'Mrs. Olive, wife of Father Nash, " -Ralph Birdsall.
The Stained Glass Windows Our beautiful windows include two by Tiffany. Most were installed some one hundred years ago, those in the chapel from the 1960s. They commemorate some of the church's leading parishioners of earlier times. In 2000 a new window was installed in the chapel in memory of Gerald Ellsworth, a beloved third generation parishioner.
At the entrance to the churchyard, the lych gate (under which a bier rests during the initial part of a funeral service) was erected in 1921 as a memorial to the Rev. Ralph Birdsall, rector of the parish from 1903 until his death in 1918. Birdsall is noted also as the author of a major village history. The gift was from members of the parish and friends in the village. |
|
The Future of Christ Church The sanctuary was closed for repair and renovation in the summer of 1999. Services were held in the previously renovated chapel until Palm Sunday, 2000 when the congregation joyously re-entered the nearly completed church. The final steps in restoring and enhancing the beauty of the church have taken place, and we look forward to work on the grounds to complement the already accomplished cleaning of the stones and removal of dying trees. A new columbarium wall along the north side of the churchyard was dedicated in November 2006 as were several paintings in the chapel arches that depict “The Peaceable Kingdom.
A master site plan for the church yard is currently under development.
We have been blessed with the hard work of many volunteers from our congregation in planning and guiding the work that has been done so far. We have been fortunate to have the services of skilled artisans to carry out the work.
*** If you would like to learn more about Christ Church and our parish activities, or would like to contribute toward the restoration projects, please call or contact the church office:
The Rev. Samuel B. Abbott, Rector Address: 69 Fair Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326 Regular office hours: Mon/Fri, 9:00 a.m.--l:00 p.m. Telephone: (607) 547-9555 |
