1737-1979
Guide to the Collection
Abstract
This collection contains records of St. Andrew's Church, 1737-1979, primarily after the church moved from Scituate to Hanover, Mass. in 1811, reflecting the daily activities of the church. Included are annual reports; correspondence; records of births, deaths, and marriages; meeting minutes; and other administrative, committee, and financial records.
Historical Sketch
St. Andrew's Church records prior to 1780 were lost, presumably due to the agitation surrounding the Revolutionary War. Members of the Episcopal Church were at that time suspected of being (and often were) loyal to the king. Many members were arrested and imprisoned because of their prayers to the king and objections to paying taxes to the established (Puritan) church.
28 July 1725 |
At the request of several residents of the town of Scituate, Mass., Rev. Dr. Timothy Cutler, rector of Christ Church of Boston, Mass., conducted a service according to the liturgy of the Church of England at the North Meeting House in Scituate. |
1727-1733 |
Services were conducted in Scituate at intermittent intervals by Rev. Ebenezer Miller, a missionary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, from Christ Church in Braintree (now Quincy), Mass. |
11 Oct. 1731 |
Rev. Miller conducted a service and baptized eight children before more than 150 attendees at the opening of the first church building of St. Andrew's Church. The building, made of wood with a bell-tower and bell, was built on land that had been set aside by the town of Scituate for a common area in 1699. |
1733 |
Rev. Addington Davenport was appointed to be the first resident minister of St. Andrew's by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. He left to serve at King's Chapel in 1737. |
1737? |
Rev. Charles Brockwell was appointed rector of St. Andrew's by the Venerable Society. Brockwell only lasted a few short months due to dissatisfaction with him by church members. |
1743? |
Rev. Ebenezer Thompson was the next regular rector to be appointed by the Venerable Society. He served during the difficult times before the Revolutionary War, ultimately dying in 1775 "partly from bodily disorder and partly from uncivil treatment from the rebels of his neighborhood." It is believed that the early records of the church were lost when the "patriots entered the house of Mr. Thompson, seized and destroyed his library, together with the records of the church since 1730." |
1783 |
After a few years of temporary rectors, the Rev. William Wheeler was chosen to lead the church. He served until his death in 1810. |
24 Apr. 1810 |
A vote was taken at a parish meeting to move the church from its location in Scituate to Hanover, providing that "individuals will build a new church in said Hanover." |
1811 |
Rev. Joab G. Cooper was chosen as rector. He served until his retirement in 1816. |
11 June 1811 |
On June 11, the new church in Hanover was consecrated by Bishop Alexander Griswold. This was the first church to be blessed by him. |
1818 |
Rev. Calvin Walcott was chosen as rector and served until 1834. |
1834 |
Rev. Samuel Appleton was chosen as rector and served until 1838. |
1839 |
Rev. Eleazer A. Greenleaf was chosen as rector and served until 1841. |
1841 |
Rev. Samuel Cutler was chosen as rector and served for over thirty years until his retirement in 1872. |
1849 |
A new rectory was built on Washington Street. Rev. Cutler was the first minister to live there. |
1872 |
Rev. William H. Brooks was chosen as rector and served until he became private secretary to Bishop Phillips Brooks in 1888. Rev. Brooks was very active and beloved in the community. |
1879-1880 |
The interior of St. Andrew's was remodeled in the Gothic style, and a belfry bell was given to the church by the Ladies' Dorcas Society. |
1889 |
Rev. Frank S. Harraden was chosen as rector and served until his death in 1905. |
1902 |
A small parish house, consisting of a hall, stage, kitchen, and guild room, was erected behind the church, and a clock was added to the steeple of the church. |
1907 |
Rev. Marcus H. Carroll was chosen as rector, and he served for nearly twenty years. Rev. Carroll created several new programs as rector, including the Altar Guild, a Parish Aid Society (later the Women's Guild), a Boys' Club, and the Vestry Choir, which he led. He also wrote several songs that were sung during services and introduced the envelope system. |
1911 |
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the erection of the church in Hanover, a new organ and choir stalls were purchased for the anniversary celebrations. |
1927 |
Rev. Walter Whitehill was chosen as rector and served until his death in 1933. During his service, the parish house was enlarged. |
1927 |
Rev. Stanley Ross Fisher was chosen to take the non-Eucharistic services until an ordained Episcopal clergyman could be found. However, Rev. Fisher took the examinations of the Episcopal priesthood and was ordained at St. Andrew's in 1935. He was the rector until he retired in 1949. |
1949 |
Rev. Robert Lewis Jones was chosen as rector and served until he retired in 1974. |
1956 |
The church was restored with Gothic touches removed, and a new organ was installed. |
1957 |
The old rectors' house on Washington Street was sold, and the house adjacent to the parish was purchased to become the new home of the rector and his family. |
1961 |
St. Andrew's celebrated the 150th anniversary of the erection of the church in Hanover. |
1962 |
Rev. Donald Lunetta was chosen as the first curate, and then assistant minister. He was ordained the following year at St. Andrew's and served until he left for another position in 1964. |
1964 |
Fanny H. Phillips was the first women to join the vestry. |
1966 |
Rev. Wilbur Kingwill was chosen as co-minister and served until he retired in 1971. |
1974 |
Reverend Robert Allen Mackie was chosen as rector. |
1977 |
Along with the town of Hanover, St. Andrew's celebrated the 250th anniversary of the founding of the parish. |
Sources
Briggs, Lloyd Vernon. History and Records of St. Andrew's Protestant Episcopal Church, of Scituate, Mass., 1725-1811, of Hanover, Mass., 1811-1903. Boston, Mass.: Press of Wallace Spooner, 1905.
St. Andrew's Church, 250th anniversary brochure, by Fanny Phillips, 1977.
Collection Description
The St. Andrew's Church (Hanover, Mass.) records consist of 16 document boxes, two oversize boxes, and 32 volumes that span the years 1737-1979. The collection is divided into seven series: Parish Records, Rectors and Ministers' Sermons, Parish Club and Organization Records, Scrapbooks, Historical Records, Printed Materials, and Miscellaneous Oversize.
The bulk of the collection consists of records created after St. Andrew's relocated from Scituate to Hanover in 1811. Although St. Andrew's was founded in the early eighteenth century, almost all of the early parish records in this collection date from after the end of the Revolutionary War. Most of the records from before 1780 are thought to have been destroyed by patriots before or during the war because members of the Episcopal Church were believed to be supporters of the king.
Parish records document the daily management of the church and the formal services and programs offered by the church. These records, created or received primarily by rectors, wardens, vestry, and other staff, include annual reports; correspondence; records of births, deaths, and marriages; meeting minutes; and other administrative, committee, and financial records kept from 1774-1979. In addition to the parish records, there are many printed materials that reflect the daily management of the church and the formal programs and services offered by the church, including orders of service (1835-1975) and several iterations of church bulletins from 1910-1975. The records in both of these series also reflect St. Andrew's relationship with the Massachusetts Diocese and the Episcopal Church in general.
Parish club and organization records reflect the involvement of church members in activities, programs, and events, and include records of a few women's organizations.
The earliest materials in the collection are sermons written and preached by the clergy of St. Andrew's (and elsewhere), including anonymous sermons beginning in 1737 that were formerly attributed to Rev. Ebenezer Thompson.
The collection also contains a series of scrapbooks that document many of the activities, programs, and events held at St. Andrew's and a series of historical records that includes accounts and notes about the history of the church and its members.
Acquisition Information
Deposited by St. Andrew's Church (Hanover, Mass.) in 2005. Additions deposited in May 2015.
Detailed Description of the Collection
I. Parish records, 1774-1979
A. Annual reports, 1965-1979 (with gaps)
Arranged chronologically.
This subseries contains annual reports for St. Andrew's Church from 1965-1979 (with gaps). The reports include accounts of activities, programs, and monies spent from the rector, wardens, treasurer, Church School, committees, clubs and organizations, and the church historian.
1965
1966
1967
1968
1971
1972
1979
B. Correspondence, 1806-1975
Arranged chronologically.
This subseries contains letters written and received from 1865-1975 by St. Andrew's rectors, wardens, vestry, and other members of the church staff. The majority of the correspondence is either letters from the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts or letters received by Rectors Carroll, Whitehill, and Fisher. Correspondence primarily relates to St. Andrew's and Massachusetts Episcopal church issues. The subseries also contains general mailings sent to parishioners from 1806-1975, including meeting announcements, event flyers, and informational form letters.
Correspondence, 1806-1975
General church mailings, 1865-1975
C. Administrative records, 1774-1979
Arranged by record type.
i. Loose records, 1806-1979
Loose administrative records kept from 1806-1979 include vestry and annual parish meeting minutes, by-laws, parochial reports to the Massachusetts Diocese, contracts and resolutions, canvasses (fund-raising campaigns), various parish lists, and event programs.
Meeting minutes, 1865-1970
Vestry meeting minutes, 1963-1970
Wardens and vestry meeting minutes, 1926-1950
Annual parish meeting minutes, 1865-1964
Records pertaining to St. Andrew's by-laws, 1947-1948, 1963-1967
Parochial reports, 1926-1941
Contracts, 1806-1904
Resolutions, 1966, 1970-1972
Canvasses, 1885, 1936-1975
"Not Only with Our Lips, But Our Lives: A Program for St. Andrew's," 1965
Parish lists, 1854-1979
Event programs, 1918-1969
Service notices, 1927-1933
Miscellaneous parish records, 1876-1969
ii. Bound records, 1774-1965
Arranged by record type.
Bound administrative records kept from 1774-1965 document administrative activities before and after St. Andrew's moved from Scituate to Hanover. The records include vestry, wardens, and parish meeting minutes; reports from rectors and other church staff; and lists of services, members, marriages, baptisms, confirmations, and communicants.
"Records of St. Andrew's Church, Scituate, Massachusetts," 1780-1812
"Records of the Episcopal Protestant Society of St. Andrew's Church in Scituate," 1807-1945
"Records of St. Andrew's Church, Hanover, Mass.," 1774 and 1815-1871
"The Records of St. Andrew's Protestant Episcopal Church, Hanover, Mass.," 1946-1965
"Parish Register of St. Andrew's Church, Hanover, Mass.," 1872-1888
"Parish Register, St. Andrew's Church, Hanover, Mass.," 1889-1905
"List of families, individuals, baptized persons, and communicants," 1923-1926
"Service Record Book," 1920-1946
"Service Record Book," 1946-1963
D. Committee records, 1883-1974
Arranged alphabetically.
This subseries contains records created by committees of St. Andrew's Church from 1883-1974, including meeting minutes, member lists, accounts, correspondence, drawings, blueprints, proposals, goals, and missions, among other materials. Some committees' records are more complete than others.
150th anniversary committee, 1960-1961
Auditing committee, 1883
By-law study committee, 1972
Building committee, 1929-1962
1955-1962
Oversize blueprints, 1929-1956
Challenge committee, 1967
Christian Education committee/St. Andrew's Church school, 1949-1972
Community committee, 1968
Fair committee, undated
Missionary committee, 1962
Nominating committee, 1966-1967
Parish organization study committee, 1967
Parish program study committee, 1965
Rector search committee, 1974
E. Financial records, 1806-1971
Arranged by record type.
This series includes loose and bound St. Andrew's financial records kept from 1816-1971. The loose records include treasurers' reports, subscription lists, wills and bequests, pew taxes, collectors bonds, and bills and receipts. Bound volumes include tax bills, Church Fund account books, transcripts of account books kept by church treasurer R. C. Waterman, and subscription lists.
i. Loose records, 1823-1971
Treasurers' reports, 1928-1971
Subscription lists, 1860-1956
Wills and bequests, 1868-1971
Pew taxes, 1880
Collectors bonds, ca. 1823-1829
Savings bank deposits, 1931-1944
Insurance records, 1943-1948
Bills and receipts, 1823-1936
1823-1879
1880-1936
Receipt stubs, 1887
Miscellaneous loose accounts and notes, 1873-1886
ii. Bound records, 1806-1887
Tax bills, 1806-1841
1806-1825
1826-1841
St. Andrew's account book, 1812-1838
"St. Andrew's Church Fund. Treasury Book," 1815-1860
"St. Andrew's Church Fund. Journal Book," 1815-1849
Bound subscription lists, 1873-1886
"Transcript of Accounts of R. C. Waterman, Treasurer, St. Andrew's Episcopal Parish, Hanover, Mass.," 1873-1887
II. Rector and ministers' sermons, 1737-1926
This series contains manuscript and printed copies of sermons written from 1737-1926 by rectors from St. Andrew's, ministers and lay people who preached at St. Andrew's, and other miscellaneous clergy. This series also includes a manuscript volume of sermons preached at Wellesley College from 1918-1920 and a unidentified commonplace-book of quotes and prayers.
A. Sermons formerly attributed to Rev. Ebenezer Thompson, ca. 1737-1779
Arranged chronologically.
Note: These sermons were previously thought to be written and preached by Ebenezer Thompson. The true author is unknown.
Undated
1737-1739
1750, 1756
1757
1758-1759
1760
1761
1762
1764-1765
1766-1767
1768-1769
1771
1777-1779
B. Sermons by Rev. Samuel Cutler, 1847-1857
Arranged chronologically.
Funeral sermon, 21 Feb. 1847
#276, "The Christmas Rest," 6 June 1847
#277, "The Import of the Name, Christian," 20 June 1847
#278, "This Way to Heaven, Thro' Much Tribulation," 27 June 1847
#283, "The Parable of the Pharisee and Publican," 15 Aug. 1847
#298, "The Design and Advantages of a Liturgy," 16 Jan. 1848
#299, "The Sin of Distrusting Providence," 30 Jan. 1848
#334, "The Return of Judah and Israel to Palestine," 26 Nov. 1848
#335, "The Feast of Ingathering," 30 Nov. 1848
#347, "The Success of Every Work, Dependent on God," 11 Mar. 1849
#348, "The Bible, the Word of God," 18 Mar. 1849
#350, "Then He Exhorted to Maintain a Holy Fear," 22 Apr. 1849
#608, "The Predicted Fathering of Saints and Angels," 14 Dec. 1856
#613, "Jesus, the Infallible Teacher," 15 Feb. 1857
#620, "The Ascension of Jesus Christ," 24 May 1857
#624, "The Law, and the Gospel," 30 Aug. 1857
C. Sermons/speeches delivered at St. Andrew's, 1810-1926
Arranged chronologically.
"Sermon on Religious Melancholy," by James Bowers, 1810
The Strong Staff and the Beautiful Rod Broken: A Sermon Commemorative of the Life and Character of Joseph Smith..., by William Henry Brooks, 28 Jan. 1877
"Dedication of Banner," by Robert Steton, 30 Nov. 1926
Sermons by Stanley Ross Fisher
"The Life and Work of St. Wilfred of Ripon: Apostle of Sussex," ca. 1940s
"Can Any Good Come Out of This War," 1945
D. "Wellesley College Sermons," 1918-1920
Arranged chronologically.
E. Miscellaneous sermons and related materials, 1858-1893
The True Glory of a Nation, by Rev. William Bacon Stevens, 1858 (Philadelphia)
Characteristics of the Ministry of Bishop Phillips Brooks, by Rt. Rev. Thos. A. Jaggar, 1893 (Philadelphia)
Commonplace-book, undated
III. Parish club and organization records, 1829-1975
Arranged chronologically by organization.
This series contains records of St. Andrew's clubs and organizations kept from 1829-1975. The records include constitutions, meeting minutes, accounts, member lists, and reports, among other records. Some clubs' and organizations' records are more complete than others.
A. Ladies Dorcas Society records, 1829-1907
Loose records, 1829-1876
Bound records, 1829-1907
Constitution, meeting minutes, and accounts, 1829-1858
Proprietors of the Episcopal Society Library (part of the Ladies Dorcas Society) meeting minutes and accounts, 1841-1858
"Book of Records of the Dorcas Society of St. Andrew's Church," 1875-1888
Constitution, meeting minutes, reports, and accounts, 1888-1907
B. St. Andrew's Parochial Society records, 1844-1875
C. St. Andrew's Young Ladies Sewing Circle records, 1847-1859
Loose records, 1847-1859
Bound records, 1847-1858
D. St. Andrew's Guild records, 1882-1961
Loose records, 1897-1961
Constitution and by-laws, undated
Budget reports, 1942-1943
Meeting minutes, 1897-1956
Letters received, 1932-1958
Calendars and programs, 1934-1961
Church events, 1933-1947
Member lists, 1921-1922
Songs, 1957-1958
Loose items removed from St. Andrew's Guild volumes, 1933-1960
Bound records, 1882-1953
Constitution, meeting minutes, and accounts, 1882-1909
Meeting minutes and reports, 1909-1919
Treasurers' records, 1920-1924
Meeting minutes, 1932-1951
"Quantity Menus for Luncheon and Suppers," 1933-1953
E. St. Andrew's Altar Guild records, 1926-1975
Loose records, 1926-1975
Bound records, 1937-1943
F. St. Andrew's Evening Guild records, 1955-1956
G. Women of St. Andrew's records, 1955-1969
IV. Scrapbooks, 1812-1963
Arranged chronologically.
This series contains scrapbooks pertaining to St. Andrew's history, activities, events, and church practices from 1812-1963. Some of the scrapbooks pertain entirely to a specific topic or event, while others are general and include photographs, event programs, letters and flyers, clippings, and other memorabilia. Oversize scrapbook 4 was compiled by the church historian Fanny H. Phillips. The rest of the scrapbook compilers are unknown.
Due to preservation concerns many of the scrapbooks have been disbound, but the original order has been maintained.
Oversize scrapbook 1, ca. 1812-1955
(disbound volume)Scrapbook 1, 1880
(disbound volume)Scrapbook 2, 1911-1918
Scrapbook 3, "Service for the Dedication of the Memorial Cross," 1915
Oversize scrapbook 2, "Historical Address," 1915
(disbound volume)Oversize scrapbook 3, 1941
(disbound volume)Oversize scrapbook 4, "Historian's Scrapbook," ca. 1950-1963
(disbound volume)V. Historical records, 1812-1977
Arranged by record type.
This series contains St. Andrew's historical materials from 1846-1977 that were gathered and compiled primarily by church historian Fanny H. Phillips. Records include reports and addresses, loose and bound genealogical and historical notes, and other related historical records. This series also include a few typescript letters written in 1918 by Arthur B. Church, a World War I soldier, to his Aunt Annie, who was perhaps a member of St. Andrew's. The letters pertain to family business and Church's service overseas.
A. Loose records, 1846-1977
Arranged by record type.
A. Historian's report, 1962-1966
B. Brochures, histories, and historical addresses, 1846-1977
History of St. Andrew's Church, 1846
A Memorial of St. Andrew's Church, 1882
Historical address, 1915
James C. Waterman address and history, 1921
"The Episcopal Church," 1954
150th anniversary brochure/history, 1961
250th anniversary brochure, 1977
C. Genealogy and historical notes, undated
D. Arthur B. Church World War I letters, 1918
E. Miscellaneous historical records, ca. 1942-1970
B. Bound records, 1812-1883
"Extracts: Records of St. Andrew's Church," 1812-1858
"Historical Records of St. Andrew's Church," 1880-1883
VI. Printed materials, 1835-1977
Arranged chronologically by publication.
A. St. Andrew's printed materials, 1835-1977
Printed materials produced by St. Andrew's from 1835-1977 include orders of service, church bulletins, Lenten schedules, informational pamphlets and handbooks, and prayer cards.
i. "Orders of Service," 1835-1975
1835-1966 (with gaps)
1967-1975 (with gaps)
ii. Church bulletins, 1910-1975
St. Andrew's Message, 1910-1922 (with gaps)
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church Monthly Bulletin, 1924-1943 (with gaps)
St. Andrew's Parish Quarterly, Apr. 1937
St. Andrew's Messenger, 1949-1975
1949
1951-1955
1956-1962
1963-1975 (with gaps)
iii. St. Andrew's Lenten schedules, 1890-1901, 1945, 1975
iv. St. Andrew's informational pamphlets and handbook, 1942-1977
v. St. Andrew's prayer cards, undated
B. Massachusetts Episcopal Diocese printed materials, 1880-1975
Arranged by record type.
This subseries contains printed materials received by St. Andrew's from the Massachusetts Episcopal Diocese from 1880-1971. The Diocese printed materials include their bulletin The Church Militant, newsletters, an annual report for 1940, and event schedules.
i. The Church Militant, 1905-1943 (with gaps)
ii. The Protestant Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts Newsletter, Vol. 1, No. 8, Feb. 1971
iii. Printed materials pertaining to the Massachusetts Diocesan Advance Fund, 1964-1967
iv. The Church Service League of the Diocese of Massachusetts Eighteenth Annual Report, 1940
v. Schedule for the "Winter Diocesan School at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul" (Boston), 1963-1975
vi. Miscellaneous Massachusetts Episcopal Diocese publications, 1880-1962
C. Episcopal Churchwomen printed materials, 1959-1969
Arranged by record type.
This subseries contains printed materials received by St. Andrew's from the Episcopal Churchwomen section of the Massachusetts Diocese from 1959-1969, including annual reports, newsletters, meeting information, and workbooks.
i. Episcopal Churchwomen of the Diocese of Massachusetts Annual Report, 1962-1966
ii. Episcopal Churchwomen of the Diocese of Massachusetts Newsletter, Sep. 1966-Jan. 1969 (with gaps)
iii. Our Part of the Church's Work for 1959-1960: Annual Conference of the Women's Division Church Service League, Diocese of Massachusetts, 11-14 June 1959
iv. Episcopal Churchwomen at Work: Parish Presidents Workbook, 1964-1965 (Diocese of Massachusetts)
v. Miscellaneous Episcopal Churchwomen publications, undated
D. General Episcopal printed materials, 1892-1957
Arranged by record type.
The Episcopal Church; Its Doctrine, Its Ministry, Its Discipline, Its Worship, and Its Sacraments, by George Hodges (New York: Thomas Whittaker, 1892)
Miscellaneous Episcopal brochures, pamphlets, and programs, 1946-1957
E. Hanover, Mass. printed materials, 1878-1927
Dedication of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, Hanover, Massachusetts (Boston: Williams and Company, 1878)
"Community Patriotic Service," Hanover, Mass., 26 May 1918
200th Anniversary: Town of Hanover, Massachusetts, 1727-1927,[1927]
F. Clippings, 1870-1975
G. Miscellaneous printed materials, 1858-1966
Loose records, 1939-1966
Bound records, 1858-1886
The Christian Minister's Affectionate Advice to a Married Couple, by Rev. James Bean (New York: American Tract Society, ca. 1858)
Light in the Gloaming, by unknown (England: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, ca. 1882)
Blind Maggie, by unknown (Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, ca. 1886)
VII. Miscellaneous oversize, undated
This series contains oversize undated color drawings of Christian symbols that may have been used for education or decoration at St. Andrew's.
Preferred Citation
St. Andrew's Church (Hanover, Mass.) records, Massachusetts Historical Society.
Access Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in ABIGAIL, the online catalog of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related persons, organizations, or subjects should search the catalog using these headings.
Organizations:
Subjects:
Materials Removed from the Collection
Photographs from this collection have been removed to the MHS Photo Archives.