THIS I REMEMBER – Sixty-nine years ago today, the ground was broken for the beautiful stone Christ Episcopal Church, one of the most attractive in the city. While the ceremonies were going on, I was the kid on the corner looking on with a dirty face.
As the kids said, “I lived catty-corner from the church lot.” That lot had a wood picket fence, and the hail was visible from Park Avenue, where sheds were erected in the street so stone cutters could chip the stone in the rain, and those stonemasons were said to be the best-paid workers in town.
The building of the new church was a record-breaker for rapid construction. When bids were opened, the low was $7,350. The ground was broken on October 8, 1896, in the presence of 300 people.
Three prominent church members assisted the pastor, Rev. William H. Hampton, in breaking ground…They were the wife of Judge W. W. Johnson, who lived at Seventh and Center streets, now the Furlong home; James Bull and Mrs. Brush of Haverhill.
The cornerstone was placed on Friday, November 13, just short of six weeks. Two Portsmouth pastors participated in that program with six prominent Torontonians, C. C. Clark, James Bull, Wright S. Ranson, Frank A. Bixby, B. S. Garvey, and E. S. Wilson, the weekly newspaper editor.
Among things placed in the copper box in the stone were copies of the three Ironton newspapers and the German newspaper published in this city, a typed list of Ironton Industries, and a copy of the city directory prepared by John K. Richards, a prominent attorney who was appointed Solicitor General by President William McKinley in 1897 and US Appeal Court judge by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903.
The new church was dedicated on October 10, 1897, a year and three days after the ground was broken. Rev. Hampton, who had been in charge of the little frame church, now the site of the Parish house, since 1891, delivered the sermon. Two lodges he was a member of made gifts for the new church.
The Knights Templar of the Masonic order presented the beautiful altar, and Myrtle Lodge Knights of Pythias presented the pulpit chairs…The beloved pastor, who died in 1935, was chaplain of Elks Lodge No. 177 for 35 years.
Written by Charles Collett
Huntington, WV Newspaper – October 8, 1965
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