A 160th Anniversary Homecoming
By Tripp Jones
Chairperson, 160th Anniversary Committee

You might be wondering what Epiphany’s Homecoming, the 160th Anniversary Celebration and the Webster-Ashburton Treaty have to do with each other. Let me try to tie them all together. When I first started gathering information for this year’s 160th celebration, I looked at an American history timeline to get a sense of what was going on in the country back in 1842 when Epiphany was founded. The one thing that was listed for that year was the Webster-Ashburton Treaty. I must confess I had never heard of it or if I had, it was long ago forgotten. The more I researched it though, the more it tied in with this year’s celebration.

In April 1842, the British Government sent Alexander Baring, Lord Ashburton to negotiate with Secretary of State Daniel Webster the disputed border between the United States and British Canada. This was an unresolved problem dating back to the American Revolution, later did not get resolved in the War of 1812 and in 1842 was threatening to start another war between the United States and her mother country.

Lord Ashburton took up residence in Washington at the home just east of St. John’s Church, Lafayette Square (today, St. John’s Parish House; you might recall from the May 160th events that this home was later owned by the Coleman-Freeman-Buckingham family, loyal Epiphany members). Daniel Webster’s home was two blocks west, where the Chamber of Commerce building stands today. Negotiations went on for several months. Webster and Ashburton became good friends. There are stories of lavish parties being held at both of their residences. They also happened to worship at the same church – the Church of the Epiphany, then in its first year of existence and then meeting at Apollo Hall (which stood near where the J.Willard Marriott Hotel is today).

The treaty was signed on August 9, 1842 (sorry, the 160th Anniversary was on vacation in August). In thanksgiving to God for the successful conclusion of these intense negotiations, Lord Ashburton presented the new church with two chalices. These are the ones we will use in the Eucharist at 11:00 a.m. For this Homecoming service, we will honor the Shinkman family and give thanks for their long and faithful service to this parish. Paul and Betty Shinkman, both now deceased, moved to Washington in 1942 with their three young sons. At the 11:00 service, we will “welcome home” Paul and Judy Shinkman (visiting from their home in Chapel Hill, NC), Chris and Marcia Shinkman (whose presence  we have the pleasure of all the time, Buck and Gillian Shinkman (returning from Buck’s recent assignment as press attache at the American Embassy in Ottawa, Canada.). A wonderful tie in to the theme of the day is all the British-Canadian-American connections in this family.

The service in the afternoon at 5:00 p.m. specifically remembering the Webster-Ashburton Treaty does not go without precedence here at Epiphany. In 1957, rector Charles Kean held a similar service remembering the 115th Anniversary of the treaty. For the guest preacher, Dr. Kean invited the Rev. Terence J. Finlay, Canadian born, but at the time rector of St. Bartholomew’s Church in New York City. Forty-five years later, for the 160th Anniversary of the treaty, our guest preacher will be his son, the Most Rev. Terence E. Finlay. In October 2000, Finlay was elected the 16th Metropolitan of Ontario and Archbishop of Toronto in the Anglican Church of Canada. The ecclesiastical Province of Ontario includes the dioceses of Algoma, Huron, Moosonee, Niagra, Ontario, Ottawa, and Toronto. We are indeed honored to have Archbishop Finlay travel to Washington in the footsteps of his father to be with us for this service.

On September 8th, we will reflect on our past, celebrate with fellow parishioners our faith community today as we look toward our ministry in the future. Please come, bring a friend and spend September 8th at Epiphany. 

by Tripp Jones, Parish Archivist

Over the summer of 1842, the new Epiphany congregation takes the final steps in official organization. The original governing body of trustees is replaced by a vestry and wardens. The Rev. John French is made the official rector and is requested by the vestry to inform the bishop that the Church of the Epiphany is officially organized. A more earnest effort then begins towards obtaining a city lot upon which to build a church.

At special meetings in August 1842, the vestry appoints a committee to work on obtaining a lot. The “Genl. Van Ness” that is referred to in the August 22nd entry is John Peter Van Ness, a New Yorker who had come to Washington to serve in Congress in the early 19th Century. He later made Washington his home, serving in the militia, later a city alderman, and then mayor 1830-1834. Probably most significant to Epiphany’s vestry was his marriage to Marcia Burns, sole heiress of David Burnes, one of the original landowners of the area. When Washington became the new federal city, Burnes’ farm was converted into a vast number of lots.

The September Vestry Minutes do not bring much good news with regard to obtaining a lot. Money is scarce and the rector and vestry realize that it is essential for the new church to get its own building in order to survive and step number one in that process was getting land upon which to build. The forecast does not look good. Tune in to next month’s installment to hear of a miracle of sorts for the new congregation. 

From the Record of the Proceedings of the Vestry of the Church of the Epiphany of Washington City, D.C. 1842:
Monday, August 15, 1842, 5 o’clock P.M.
            A special meeting of the Vestry was held this afternoon, at the house of Mrs. E. James.
            Present: The Reverend Mr. French, Rector, all the Vestry, the Wardens, and Register.
            On motion of Mr. Edwards, it was
Resolved: that, a Committee be appointed to enquire the lowest rate at which a lot in the City of Washington can be procured on which to erect a Church, and that they be authorized to offer a sum not exceeding twenty cents per square foot, and to report thereon at the next meeting.
            Resolved: that, this Committee consist of those to be appointed by the Chair.
            The Chair appointed, Messrs. Edwards, Burgess, and Rodman.
            On motion of Mr. Burgess it was
            Resolved: that, those members of the vestry who are not already on the committees to solicit subscriptions for building the Church, be placed upon them, and that certain districts be assigned them for that purpose.
            On motion, it was
            Resolved: that, the Register be authorized to procure a suitable book for the Parish Register, and a seal for the same.
            On motion of Mr. Edwards, it was
            Resolved: that, all the acts of the Trustees of this Church, be, and the same are, hereby, ratified and confirmed.
            The vestry then adjourned to this day week, same hour and place.

James J. Dickins,
Register.

Monday, August 22, 1842, 5 o’clock P.M.
            An adjourned meeting of the Vestry was held this afternoon. Present the Reverend J.W. French, Rector, Messrs. Gillis, Edwards, Rodman, McIntyre, C.H. James and W.B. Berryman, Vestryman, and the Register.
            The committee appointed at the last meeting, reported that they were unable to procure a lot at 20 cents per square foot.
            They were then on motion of Mr. McIntyre, empowered to offer a sum not exceeding 25 cents per square foot.
            On motion of Mr. Gillis, it was
            Resolved: that, a Committee of three, the Rector to constitute one member, and the other two to be selected by him, be appointed to wait upon Genl. Van Ness, and endeavor to procure, from him, a lot on which to build the Church.
            Messrs. Gillis and Edwards were appointed.
            On motion of Mr. Gillis, it was
            Resolved: that, an official communication be sent to the Bishop of this Diocese, informing him of the organization of the Church of the Epiphany, in the city of Washington, in due form of law.
            On motion of Mr. Edwards, the vestry then adjourned.

James J. Dickins,
Register.

Monday, September 5, 1842, 4 o’clock P.M.
The regular quarterly meeting of the Vestry, was held this afternoon. Present: the Reverend John W. French, Rector, Messrs. Gillis, Edwards, Burgess, McIntyre, Moss, and Berryman, Vestrymen, Mr. Morrison, Warden, and Mr. James J. Dickins, Register.
The meeting was opened with a prayer by the Rector.
The Committee appointed at the last meeting to wait upon Genl. Van Ness, reported that they were unsuccessful in their effort to procure a lot from him.
The Rector informed the Vestry that agreeably to a resolution adopted at the last meeting, an official communication had been sent to the Bishop of the Diocese of Maryland, informing him of the regular organization of the Church of the Epiphany of the City of Washington, D.C. in due form of law.
A conversation took place on the subject of lots, but the committee on that subject, said they could report nothing definite at present.
The Register informed the Vestry that he had procured a Parish register and seal agreeably to a resolution of a previous meeting.
On motion of Mr. Edwards, the Vestry then adjourned.

James J. Dickins,
Register.