the flame from the altar - Yaphank Historical Society

EIGHT
THE FLAME FROM THE ALTAR
“My heart an altar, and Thy love the flame”
In one of the perennial surveys conducted by every department and committee
of the Church, the question was asked: “What period of your parish’s history
would you call it’s ‘Golden Age’?” Well, the answer to that question is easy:
Our incredibly rich heritage is most certainly a treasure and is thoroughly cherished by us, and yet this is the beginning of a new Golden Age of St. Andrew’s
Church!
In his sermon on the occasion of our 135th anniversary in 1988, the Rt. Rev’d
Lloyd Gressle, the retired Bishop of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania said: “Take the
flame from the altar, not the ashes.” We know that God wants us to walk forward in the Light, and He also requires that we know from whence we came and
that we also remember and follow the faith of the saints. We are inspired by the
faith and dedication of the canonical saints, and also by such as Susan, James,
William, Clara, August, Willard, Alice, Auguste, Ruby, Edward, Henry, and so
many others. The ministry of the bishops, priests, deacons, and laity of St.
Andrew’s has been registered in heaven. The mantle has fallen to us and is upon
our shoulders.
AN EXPERIMENT
In a new departure, in the fall of 1971, Archdeacon Paul Wancura recommended to Bishop Sherman that the Rev’d Richard C. Chapin be appointed parttime priest-in-charge of St. Andrew’s Church. Fr. Chapin was employed fulltime by the Board of Cooperative Educational Services as a teacher / coordinator of special education, having resigned as Rector of St. Paul’s, Patchogue after
a nine year tenure. It was the first appointment of a “worker priest” in the diocese.
The new vicar and his wife, Jean, along with their son Jeremy, came to St.
Andrew’s on the first Sunday in January, 1972. Their daughter, Cynthia, remained at St. Ann’s, Sayville, where she was a member of the choir. The Chapin’s
had the advantage of a previous acquaintance with several families, primarily
through St. Paul’s Episcopal School, Patchogue. Olive Williams, who was a
member of St. Andrew’s Executive Committee and president of the Episcopal
Churchwomen, was also principal of St. Paul’ School, having been hired as a
teacher by Fr. Chapin in 1965. Other members of the Executive Committee with
connections to St. Paul’s School were Edward Ramshaw, whose son Dennis was
an alumnus of St. Paul’s, and Henry Overhoff, whose grandchildren had also
attended the school. The Middle Island Nursery School, founded by a former
teacher at St. Paul’s School, Patchogue, had been renting space in our parish
house on weekdays for several years, providing about one third of our annual
budget.
Fr. Chapin’s first goal was to visit each family belonging to the mission. The
old adage that “a home-going parson leads to a church-going people” is as true
as the day is long. In 1972 St. Andrew’s had an average attendance of 25. We
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parked our cars on the front lawn of the church and along the road. The first new
activity was a weekly coffee hour, so that we could spend a little time together
after service. Someone suggested that, since we had so many children attending
regularly, we might revive the Sunday School. Olive Williams volunteered to
teach on Sunday’s, as she had in the past, and Diane Heisser offered to help.
The three students were Jimmy Heisser, Eric and Karin Sives.
Even before all these signs of new life at St. Andrew’s, people in the neighborhood began hearing beautiful sounds from the church tower as the bell was once
again rung to announce the service. The bell tower was soon the object of an all
day cleaning project carried out by the vicar and his troop of special education
Boy Scouts. Many buckets of “matter” were lowered to the ground. In the
process of cleaning the tower, the old pew doors were found where they had
been stored many years before. Bob Heisser volunteered to clean and reinstall
them on the pews. The lighting inside the church was so poor that we bought
pewter wall sconces and proceeded to light the candles each Sunday. Although
they did not give a lot of light, they did provide a warm and cheerful glow. Two
of the sconces were later dedicated as memorials to Margaret and Charles Knight;
Margaret was our organist from June, 1973 until she died from injuries incurred
in an accident in January, 1975. One year, when the weather was pleasant, we
celebrated mass outdoors under the pines in front of the church using a portable
electric organ to assist in singing the hymns.
New activities at the church included a “Family Night” covered dish supper
which became an annual February event. During the first few years, most of the
active families attended; on one occasion, Henry Overhoff played his zither for
us. Margaret Cosier accepted the job of telephone communicator, and we had a
workable system of reaching all our members. The Episcopal Churchwomen
met regularly each month and sponsored two “Dutch treat” dinners each year, at
Christmas and in June. Olive Williams, who had been President of the group for
a number of years, asked that someone else give it a try, so the members elected
Olive Archer to succeed her mother. Margaret Cosier was Vice- President, Anne
Engelhardt was Secretary, Diane Heisser was Treasurer, and Marge Ramshaw
was in charge of the Merchandise Club, a major source of income for the ECW.
In 1972, the Executive Committee, included Ed Ramshaw, Treasurer; Beatrice
Kollett; Henry Overhoff and Olive Williams, Clerk. Bob Heisser, who had recently transferred to us, was asked to join. Meetings were held, when needed, at
Bea’s home diagonally across the road from the church. During the first two
years, several long term goals were established by consensus. One was that the
diocesan missionary asking would receive a high priority among the demands
on our budget. Other goals included the reduction of diocesan aid toward the
housing allowance, and the repayment of long standing loans from the Department of Mission. Within ten years, the first of the goals was reached; we were
contributing our full missionary quota and were completely self-supporting. Then
the committee began the process of raising the vicar’s stipend annually. Debt
reduction took a little longer because a new loan was arranged to pay for building materials for the new sacristy in 1981. By 1986, $7000. had been paid on
the low interest loans from the Department of Mission, some of which dated
back to 1960 when the parish house was built. In 1971 the total attendance at all
services was 862. In 1981 it was 3,102, and in 1982 3,425.
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Other projects during the first few years included the excavation of a small
cellar under the parish house for the installation of an entirely new hot water
heating system; Ed and Pat Sives had recently transferred to us and Ed provided
the heating installation at cost. Ed Ramshaw, who had almost single-handedly
cared for the church and churchyard for years, got to work repairing the parish
hall porch roof flashing, installing new fascia boards, and arranging for new
gutters and down spouts. He also completed the replacement of the rotted columns on the front porch of the church and repaired the parish house columns.
Much of the record described in this chapter centers around the projects designed to repair and preserve our buildings; that is to be expected because it had
been some time since many of these things had been done and we were adjusting to new growth. Bricks and mortar, prayer, teaching and ministry went forward together.
RETURN OF THE LOST 1/3 ACRE
Soon after his arrival, Fr. Chapin visited the Rev’d Richard Gray at Brookhaven
and received from him a list of families, several envelopes containing minutes
of Executive Committee meetings, all the correspondence and plans for the building of the parish house in 1958-60, and the piece of siding removed from the
church during the 1960 construction containing the 1853 signature of Edmund
Petty, the builder of the church.
There was also some interesting information regarding the lot to the east of the
churchyard. Clara Weeks conveyed the one-third acre to the diocese for St.
Andrew’s in 1929. We have a January 1931 note from the archdeacon to the
treasurer of the diocese asking whether or not he had the deed, indicating that
members of the family had inquired. Subsequently, it was learned that the diocesan treasurer neglected to file for tax exempt status for the property and also
did not act when the lot was put up for tax sale. Kenneth Leeds, a land speculator, purchased the lot for the taxes. When he was approached by Fr. Gray in
1961 with the suggestion that he might donate the lot to the Church for a much
needed parking lot, he responded with an offer to give the lot as a cemetery, with
each burial lot valued at $300., giving the one-third acre a value of well over a
million dollars which he could then declare as a charitable contribution for tax
purposes. Needless to say, Fr. Gray recommended that the diocese refuse the
offer and that was done.
Because we were running out of parking space, with all of six or seven cars on
the front lawn and the rest along the road, a new effort was made by Fr. Chapin
to acquire the lot. Following a visit to Mr. Leed’s secretary, Helen DiBiase, and
to Trustee Marie Erny, within a few months we received a letter indicating that
the property had been conveyed, free and clear, to the diocese. By 1972 Mr.
Leeds was terminally ill and had begun to lose interest in the acquisition of
earthly treasures. Mrs. DiBiase was a good friend who had a major influence of
the future of St. Andrew’s. The Executive Committee asked Ed Ramshaw to
have some of the trees removed so that the lot could be used for parking. Tire
ruts were smoothed out and the front lawn was re-seeded.
On December 2, 1973 we celebrated the 120th anniversary of the building and
the 100th anniversary of the dedication of St. Andrew’s. Our guest preacher was
the Rt. Rev’d Jonathan G. Sherman, Bishop of Long Island. Prior to the anni75
versary, the Brookhaven Department of Parks and Recreation sent a crew of
men to clean out the old cemetery. This was an age wherein town and church
could help each other without benefit of contentious watchdogs busy blocking
up the doors in the “wall of separation”.
In 1975, the committee had reduced the diocesan subsidy toward the salary
from $1200. to $740. and had assumed responsibility for the vicar’s pension
premiums. The major accomplishments of that year were the erection of welcome signs at each end of Main Street and on Long Island Avenue, the installation of a post and rail fence around the parking lot, and well attended work days
on which whole families came out to clean the church and yard. Just keeping
the cemetery from being overrun with brambles and vines was a big job. Painting of the buildings was also attempted on a piecemeal basis; this effort went on
year after year. By 1976, we needed a new well and pump, so Ed Sives came to
the rescue, digging and installing a new well in the cellar.
The early 1970’s saw the reintroduction of acolytes. At first, it was Jeremy
Chapin, Marty Klein, Jr., Mark Skowron, and Bob “Beezy” Williams”, followed later by Jimmy Heisser, Karin and Eric Sives. By 1977, our acolytes were
vested, and the old processional cross had been repaired and embellished with
the cross of St. Andrew. Floodlights were installed in front of the church, insulation was added above the church and parish house ceilings. A cemetery committee was appointed, with Lucille Stroud as chairman, and several gravestones
were repaired and restored. Henry Overhoff, Lucille, and Wally Stroud worked
many days returning the cemetery to an acceptable appearance.
NATIONAL BICENTENNIAL
A letter sent out to our members in the fall of 1976 stated: “In the year 2003,
St. Andrew’s will be 150 years old and there will be, no doubt, a great celebration. In case you’re not sure whether or not you will be able to attend that
service, you might want to take advantage of this year’s celebration, when our
church will be 123 years old.... “We will mark the day with ... the 1776 Service,
using the liturgy of our forefathers.”
A major project, completed in time for the nation’s bicentennial, was the creation of needlepoint kneelers to supplement those that had been made from carpeting and horsehair in the last century. The members of the ECW chose Long
Island wild flowers as the theme, and the work went on for more than a year.
Another highlight was the Independence Day parade in Patchogue, in which St.
Andrew’s and St. Paul’s marched together representing the Episcopal Church.
We carried our flags and banners, and we had a float. Fr. Chapin’s recently
restored 1903 Concord Runabout (buggy) was pulled by two members of St.
Paul’s and carried three little children dressed in colonial garb. The vicar carried an 1801 Bible and wore 18th century vestments. The buggy appeared two
years later for our 125th Anniversary, being carried to church on top of the vicar’s
Volkswagen, and parked on the front lawn. The congregation posed for a photograph with JoAnn Amos, one of our new members, sitting in the buggy dressed
in mid -19th century clothing.
In 1977 a threat loomed in the west. Because Fr. Chapin was the first Long
Island “worker-priest” appointed to a cure, a group of clergy interested in guaranteeing full-time work for all clergy, proposed a diocesan policy paper severely
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limiting any future such appointments,
suggesting that it was an undesirable form
of ministry. There were by that time a few
other clergy serving in similar situations,
but none were asked to participate in the
writing of the proposal. Worker priests or
ministers had been in use in Anglican and
other denominations for centuries, but
were comparatively new to the modern
Episcopal Church. The vicar wrote an unsolicited and extensive evaluation of the
proposal, which received a warm response National Bicentennial, 1976
JoAnn Amos
Concord
Runabout
from Bishop Witcher, and the matter disappeared
intointhe
“round
file”.
COMMON FAITH AND PURPOSE
In the face of radical innovations in our national Church, dividing us from
other Anglicans and all Catholic Churches, most of our members, along with the
vicar, signed a statement of faith affiliating them with other Episcopalians in an
association called Episcopal Synod of America. Some years later, the synod
voted to change its name to Forward in Faith, North America, in keeping with
like-minded Anglicans in the Church of England and around the world. FIF/NA
continues to grow in membership and witness at this writing. We affirmed the
following so that faithful witness to apostolic Faith and catholic Order may be
continued within the Churches of Anglican heritage:
* I believe our Lord Jesus Christ, has given His Church an Order
which claims the loyalty of faithful Christians above and beyond
any deviation sanctioned by any humanly-invented institution,
whether secular or ecclesiastical.
* I accept the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament as
“containing all things necessary to salvation,” and as being the
rule and ultimate standard of faith and morals.
* I accept the Apostles’ Creed as the Baptismal Symbol; and the
Nicene Creed as the sufficient statement of the Christian faith.
* I accept the two Sacraments ordained by Christ Himself Baptism and the Supper of the Lord — ministered with unfailing use
of Christ’s words of Institution, and of the elements ordained by
Him.
*I accept the historic episcopate, locally adapted in the methods
of its administration to the varying needs of the nations and
peoples called of God into the Unity of His Church. I do not
consider that the churches of the Anglican Communion have authority to change the historic tradition of the Church that the
Christian ministerial priesthood is male, and I will refrain from
any and all actions which might signify acceptance of such purported change.
* I will do what God grants me the strength to accomplish to
uphold the Church’s Order, both materially and spiritually.
* I will resist all present and future attempts to compromise the
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integrity of this Order, without regard to the temporal consequences that may be inflicted by any agency.
FIF/NA also took a stand on other issues, including the position that congregations should be permitted to use classical Anglican prayer books along with
the official book, and that the Church should continue its historic pro-life witness in a culture determined to change the moral landscape of our nation.
ALL THINGS NEW
The year 1977 brought the purchase of our “Coronation Tapestry” altar
frontal and pulpit hanging (the latter sewn by Ann Engelhardt), followed by
matching mass vestments in 1985. Bea Kollett sewed a number of new altar
linens. A literature rack was also donated in memory of Fr. Willard Kile.
In 1978, on a school summer sabbatical, Fr. Chapin went to England as part of
a LI University course to study British primary schools. On one of the school
visits in East London, the students were scheduled to “beat the bounds”. They
walked the boundaries of the old parish, which included walking through a modern office building located across parish boundaries; the office staff was expecting them and happily greeted the procession. At each of the four corners of the
boundary, usually on a busy street corner, the adults spread out a sturdy blanket
and a student stepped into the center, to be tossed in the air three times. It was
explained to us that in former times, a boy would be selected to be switched with
a branch or rod; the purpose was to impress upon the boys the location of the
boundaries of their parish. Modern sensibilities brought about the substitution
of a gentler attention getting method. Since the London school was a secular
institution carrying on an old custom, no prayers were said.
Upon return home the custom was explained to the parish family, and on the
next Rogation Sunday we introduced the yearly custom. After mass, while singing a hymn, we processed to the back of the churchyard, to the grave of “Little
Susy”. We reminded the children about our parish beginnings and offered prayers
for our forebears. After prayers, we tossed one child. Our second station was at
the corner which we had blessed as a memorial to all unborn children, using the
collect for Holy Innocents (adapted). Two children were tossed. The third station was at the front corner next to our parking lot. One at a time, three children
were tossed following the prayers. At the final corner under the old pines, we
tossed every remaining child who wished to be included. Each station called for
different prayers, including some for those who harvest our food, for our nation,
etc.
November 1978 brought our 125th anniversary Festival Evensong, with the
Rt. Rev’d Reginald H. Gooden, Retired bishop of Panama as our guest preacher.
The Ven. Harry B. Sherman, Archdeacon of Suffolk and Rector of St. Paul’s,
Patchogue, and the Rev’d Herman P.J. Schramm, Vicar of St. James’, Brookhaven
assisted. Based on Clara Weeks’ earlier account, Margaret Cosier wrote a brief
history of St. Andrew’s. The following year we were fortunate to be able to
engage Greg Sherman as our organist. He is the son of Fr. and Mrs. Sherman
and a very skilled musician. In November of 1980 we celebrated the vicar’s
25th anniversary of ordination as priest with a special service, at which we had
a collection for theological books for our seminarian assistant, Henry Chan.
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BUILD WE MUST
The increased number of people coming to St. Andrew’s was once again beginning to create a problem with space. A growing Sunday School had already
filled the one room parish house. ECW meetings were held in the parish hall,
which was crowded on weekdays with the Middle Island Nursery School equipment, acolytes and clergy were squeezed into our tiny sacristy, not to mention
the problems when there was a visiting bishop and other clergy! The Altar
Guild had little room in which to work and less room to store the vestments. It
was becoming increasingly obvious that we would have to do something. By
1980 everyone was convinced that it was time to build!
We measured a space, 24 x 24, behind the old sacristy, JoAnn Amos put our
rough sketch on a blueprint, and we commenced acquiring all the necessary
approvals. We had saved about $4,000., so we borrowed another $3,000. from
the Department of Mission and went to work. On the third Sunday of Eastertide,
May 3, 1981, we processed out of church to the site and had a proper ground
breaking. The vicar had to take his turn at the shovel, then dash off to St. James’,
Brookhaven, where he was once again filling in between incumbent priests.
Within a few days, Danny Tew provided the excavation as a donation. However,
on the day before the bulldozer arrived, we found that we had miscalculated the
location of some of the grave sites and had to reduce the size of the building to
20 x 24! We hired a mason contractor and an electrician, and Ed Sives provided
the plumbing labor as a donation.
We could write a whole chapter about Wally Stroud — our “diamond in the
rough”! Wally’s first reaction to the vicar’s request that he take a couple of
months from his recent well-earned retirement and build the sacristy, was predictable. He said “No way!”. However, encouraged by Lucille to persevere, the
question was asked again, and Wally said “Maybe”. His one condition, since Fr.
Chapin had volunteered to help full-time for one month, was that the vicar must
promise not to tell Wally how to build. Apparently there had been some conflict
of opinion regarding the building of the parish house twenty years before. The
vicar at that time had experience in the ancient art of carpentry and a need to
make the decisions. With the promise cheerfully given, the work began at 8:00
a.m. sharp on July 1, 1981, with Wally, Lucille and Fr. Chapin on site, with Al
Rowland, Mike Seif and others working the occasional “night shift”.
Building the Sacristy Left: Lucille & Wally Stroud with Jason & JoAnn Amos,
Right: Fr. Chapin, Assistant Carpenter
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Day by day, with help from others as their time permitted, we built the sacristy. Some of those who helped were Artie and JoAnn Amos, Mike Seif, Frank
Ierardi, Eric and Karin Sives, Ed Ramshaw, Jr., Margot Rosenka, and Carol
Rosenka Mauro, and Al Rowland. Leon and Sue Molini carted away many
loads of debris, while Debbie Ierardi, Ann Engelhardt and Judy Seif worked on
landscaping and other tasks. Several of our young people back filled the foundation after church one Sunday. Henry Overhoff, as senior adviser, came over
from across the street occasionally to supervise. As the building progressed,
there was an outpouring of generosity which surpassed anything we had ever
seen before. Members and friends gave donations toward everything. The carpeting, the chandelier, the large table, chairs, and the picture window to name a
few. At the same time other replacements were made including carpeting in the
church, a new dossal behind the altar, American and Church flags, and sconces
on the walls. The long list of donations is inscribed in the Book of Remembrance. For a few weeks, we were entrusted, by Jean Croswell Rogers Cahn,
with the sewing case of her great-grandmother Susan Jones Weeks. A note written by Susan said that it was a gift from James before their marriage. A variety
of precious family heirlooms were in the case.
Sewing Case of Susan Jones Weeks, 1818
Olive Williams, 1981, in new sacristy with
running water!
The dedication service, October 25, 1981, was a time for rejoicing and was
presided over by our kindly and beloved Suffragan Bishop, the Rt. Rev’d Henry
B. Hucles, III. The building was dedicated to the glory of God, and in memory
of Edward T. Ramshaw, Robert Heisser and Mary Taylor. There were many
memorial gifts to furnish the sacristy and the church proper. It was good to
know that we were able and willing to do most of the work ourselves, just as a
previous generation, which included Wally, had built the parish hall themselves.
The cost of materials and the few necessary contractors was only $7,000. In all,
we spent under $10,000. and the debt to the diocese was paid up in five years.
Before the paint was dry on the new building, Wally was building shelves in
the old sacristy. We renamed that little room the Library and began our collection with a grant from the Bishop White Parish Library Association of Philadelphia. Later, a food pantry was begun and a few library shelves were set aside for
that work of mercy. Another project completed during the same year was the
installation of exterior Plexiglas over the windows of the church. Lucille Stroud,
one of our artists-in-residence has delighted many with oil paintings of St.
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Andrew’s on slate for special occasions, such as the honoring one of our members, or an active family moving away. Lucille also has painted several of our
Paschal candles, with the Cross of Christ over St. Andrew’s, and has taught
groups the skill of painting miniature landscapes. Claudia Stroud Liere, a professional cake decorator, baked cakes for many special occasions such as anniversaries and confirmations.
With the completion of the new sacristy, we had room to expand the Sunday
School space and our young peoples’ group enjoyed the peace and quiet of their
own room. From a modest reorganization in 1972 with three children, our Sunday School continued to be the fastest growing part of our parish family. Special note should be made about those parents and others who have made it all
work. From the first, Olive Williams continued for may years as Sunday School
Superintendent, followed by JoAnn Amos, and then Olive Archer. They were
assisted at various times over twenty-odd years by Art Amos, Karen Budd, Anne
Burge, Miriam Cancel, Henry Chan, Karenjean Dickhoff, Sue Fischer, Fran
Goldhorn, Terree Hamilton, Diane Heisser, Nancy Hirsch, Denise Kern, Ginny
Krumsiek, Howard Krumsiek, Gail Lattanzio, Claudia Liere, Carol Maggio, Carol
Mauro, Maggie McCutcheon, Maureen Mercandetti, Ellie McSweeney, Tara
Norton, Lorraine Ramshaw, Kathy Rate, Helen Reilly, Frank and Gail Riccardi,
Margie Rosenka, Linda Rowland, Judy and Mike Seif, Pat Sives, Annabelle
Stipes, Enid Tooker, Linda Weeks, Bob Williams,Jr., June Wilson, Christina
Wolansky, Karen VanKleef, Kathy Verbiar, and our enthusiastic guitarist Karen
DeVries.
Christmas pageants were directed in turn by Judy Seif, JoAnn Amos, and Sue
Fischer. In 1987 we had two pageants in one week; the first by the children of
Canterbury School, and the second by our Sunday School. In the early 90’s, we
initiated a schedule of playground monitors to help prevent accidents or misbehavior during coffee hour. Most of the parents on duty were the same people
who were already fully involved in parish activities.
HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION?
In 1982, we reported forty two children in Sunday School, total church attendance was 3,425, annual budget had reached $13,000, all debts were down to
$3,000, we over pledged Episcopal Charities, we participated in the food pantry
at St. Paul’s, Patchogue, and we had a highly successful quilt raffle and a yard
sale.
By 1983, we were involved in ambitious new projects. Almost by accident,
we found that the main girder, running the full length of the church, was rotten
and in danger of collapsing. A new pressure-treated girder was installed at about
the same time that we heard of an entire congregation that had fallen through a
rotten church floor! Of course, with only a crawl space under our church, we
wouldn’t have had far to fall. Because of the increasing number of church burglaries in the area, and the increased awareness of the danger of fire in an old
structure, the committee contracted to have a fire detection system installed
throughout, and a security alarm in the new sacristy. Several years later, Richard Rosenka donated and installed a central station monitoring device so that an
alarm would be relayed to fire or police departments. In 1989, the complex was
severely damaged by lightning and was replaced with a new state-of-the-art
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system. Painting of the buildings also took place in 1983, as did the gravel
surfacing of the parking lot and the building of closets in the parish hall for the
use of the Middle Island Nursery School.
Not all projects were related to the upkeep and improvement of our place of
worship, although those are the easiest to document. From 1984 to 1989, our
members were involved in the weekly Yaphank “Feed-A-Need” program housed
at the Presbyterian Church. Once each week dinner was prepared and served to
families in need, most of whom were being housed by the county in the old
motel. St. Andrew’s was represented by Anne Burge, Ginny Gautier, Hazel
Kohlmeier, Dian Schwetje, Marge Schaefer, Judy Seif, Eric Seif, Lillian Stafford,
and Enid Tooker. When the program ended, our food pantry continued, later to
be allied with “We Care” of Middle Island. We called our effort the “Inasmuch
Program” (see Matt. 25:40 KJV).
Among our children and young people who served week by week at the altar
were: Elizabeth Amos, Jason Amos, Jamie Archer, Leslie Budd, Iris Cancel,
Noemi Cancel, Tomas Cancel, Anthony Chan, Kelly DeVries, Linda Fischer,
Laurie Foy, Randy Foy, Jennifer Geiger, Jeff Goldhorn, Stephen Goldhorn,
Patricia Hamilton, Jim Heisser, Adam Hirsch, Eric Hirsch, Jennifer Hirsch, Bruce
Keegan, Michelle Keegan, Amy Kern, Heidi Krumsiek, Becky McDonald, Bobby
Lattanzio, Michael Lee, David Liere, Michelle Maggio, Chris Mallory, Jason
McCutcheon, Jamie Merriam, Bruce Meuschke, Michelle Meuschke, Laurie
Polonski, Todd Polonski, Dustin Riccardi, Erica Riccardi, Eddie Ramshaw, Jackie
Roudabusch, Melissa Rowland, Donna Russello, Erika Schaub, Michael Schiavo,
Brian Seif, Eric Seif, Tim Seif, Eric Sives, Karin Sives, Donn Stipes, Jennifer
Stipes, Melissa Stroud, Doug Tooker, Kelly Tooker, Robbie Tooker, John Walsh,
May Walsh, Coleen Watson, Lance Watson, Jessica Weeks, Nicole Woods, Heidi
Wrobel and Kelli Wrobel. Assisting the vicar, Al Rowland served as director for
several years, followed by Bob & Judy Williams.
We were greatly impacted by events at St. Paul’s, Patchogue in 1984, due to
some unfortunate leadership problems. First, the parish/regional day school, with
which several of our members were associated, was expelled from the parish.
For two years after leaving St. Paul’s, it was a “private school”, chartered by
New York State and named Canterbury School. Bishop Witcher and Bishop
Hucles then made it possible for St. Andrew’s to sponsor the school as part of
the diocese. St. Ann’s, Sayville joined us in the sponsorship, with an offer of
educational facilities. However, the quarters failed to meet building code requirements. Rental facilities at a Roman Catholic parish in East Patchogue continued for another year, followed by an additional year at the United Methodist
Church, Bayport. After twenty-seven years of continuous operation, the school
was finally forced to close due to financial failure. Meanwhile, thousands of
children had been given an excellent education in a Christian environment. During
the final years, Olive Williams remained as principal and Fr. Chapin became an
active member of the school board. One of our members, Pam Foy, was chairman, and another, Annabelle Williams Stipes, was treasurer. At about the same
time a number of people left St. Paul’s, some of whom transferred to St. Andrew’s.
We were blessed by their addition to our family and by their leadership and
enthusiasm. After the problem at St. Paul’s was resolved, some returned and
others remained with us, having become integral members of “Little Susy’s
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Church.”
In 1985 we finally had the opportunity to begin a project that had been talked
about for a long time - the complete restoration of the interior of our church.
The 1938 hurricane damage was still there, hidden from view by the dropped
ceiling. The ceiling tiles were dingy and full of brown spots. The old blue
wallpaper was very dirty, with heavy deposits of carbon above the wall sconces.
The chair rails, tops of the pews and altar rail were scratched and chipped. Archdeacon Stretch’s favorite red carpet was worn and faded. One of the first steps
was to remove a few of the tiles in an area which had not been damaged so that
we could see the molding. Those of us who had never seen it marveled, and
those who had been here in ’38 remembered the beauty which had been hidden
for so many years.
Plastering, electrical and painting contractors were engaged, scaffolding
erected, and the work begun. About 40% of the ceiling and molding needed
replacement. Patterns were made and new molding cast. One of the original
three rosettes for the chandeliers was intact; from that one, four more were made,
allowing five chandeliers and a ceiling fan. During the painting phase, JoAnn
Amos applied the new stenciling below the molding and above the chair rail.
New chandeliers were purchased and shades installed. Our Early Federal chairs,
probably from the “Lilacs”, were restored by Richard and Dorothy Douglass as
a memorial to their son Richard, Jr. Before painting, we consulted with the
Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities and the Athenaeum in
Philadelphia. Victorian period colors were chosen for the interior and we made
similar choices for the exterior several years later, all in keeping with the architectural research. The entire project was under the direction of Churchwarden
Michael Seif. Nathalie Dickieson wrote from Michigan: “The church must look
beautiful again and how proud James and Susan Weeks would be if they could
have been with you to celebrate. Maybe they were!”
In 1986, a handicap ramp was built along the south side of the parish house,
and a new well was drilled; in the same year, considerable hurricane repair was
required. At about that time, the kitchen cabinets were invaded by a family of
flying squirrels, dubbed “Perri and the Yaphank Nine”; anyone walking past the
kitchen door was surprised by dark objects flying by. Eventually parts of the
cabinets had to be ripped out and rebuilt. In 1987, the parish house was reroofed and a hand crafted stained glass window was given by Robert “Buddy”
and Marge Schaefer. The window was installed in the blocked-off opening next
to the parish house extension, and provided with electric lighting. A full description of the window is inscribed in the Book of Remembrance. In 1988, the
front porch of the church was completely restored, with a pressure treated wood
deck and new columns. The work was dedicated in memory of Wally Stroud,
Bill Stafford, Charles Merwin, Gertrude Pusins, Ed Ramshaw, and departed
members of Episcopal Churchwomen of St. Andrew’s. At the same time, the
front sill of the church was discovered to have rotted, and was replaced with
pressure treated lumber.
THE CHURCH IS A MISSIONARY MOVEMENT
Despite the pain and sadness endured by many of the active members of the
congregation in the face of radical innovations and trends within the Episcopal
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Church, we repeatedly responded to appeals for Christian charity with a spirit of
generosity. When the diocese launched the Venture in Mission program in 1982,
our people rose to the occasion, giving more than our proportionate share in
each of the three years. Henry Chan was serving here as seminarian and he was
instrumental in generating our enthusiasm for VIM. He and his wife Jean, along
with their three children, became active members of our parish family. Henry
continued to serve with us as a deacon and, after ordination to the priesthood,
celebrated his first Eucharist at our altar before being assigned to a parish.
When parishes and missions were asked to recommend projects for VIM, we
suggested that Episcopal schools be included. When that was rejected, we embraced available projects such as the Episcopal Boy’s Home and the Nehemiah
Project to build low income housing in Brooklyn. When the diocesan program
ended after three years, we voted to continue our own VIM, supporting Canterbury School for the next three years. After the school closed, grants were made
to missionary projects, seminaries, religious orders, small churches of various
denominations, homeless persons, handicapped children, and other Christian
work which our congregation could support enthusiastically. From 1984 to 1994
a grand total of $23,500. was given and distributed through our VIM. Some
causes were on the Bishop’s Committee list every year, including We Care, Birthright, Nashotah House Seminary, Episcopal School for Ministry, and Episcopal
Synod of America (later renamed Forward in Faith / North America). For the
first three years, VIM was chaired by Sue Molini, assisted by Ann Engelhardt
and Linda Rowland, For most of the fourteen years of VIM, Pearl Merwin
served as Coordinator and Treasurer.
The Bishop’s Committee, formerly called the Executive Committee, had been
for many years a group annually nominated by the vicar and appointed by the
bishop. Later, board members were elected at the annual meeting. Those who
served during the period covered by this chapter were JoAnn Amos, Olive Archer, Richard Boyarjian, Julie Budd, Karen DeVries, Paul Fischer, Robert Heisser,
Harvay Herring, Robert Hirsch, Beatrice Kollett, Howard Krumsiek, Pearl
Merwin, Sue Molini, Henry Overhoff, Edward T. Ramshaw, Ed Ramshaw, Jr.,
Jack Rate, John Rate, Frank Riccardi, Al Rowland, Michael Seif, Pat Sives, Ed
Sives, John Ventieri, Jeff Weeks, Olive Williams, and Robert Williams, Jr. 1991
saw the introduction of a rotation system to encourage a sharing of responsibility by a larger group of parishioners. During the 90’s, Paul Fischer served as
chairman of our Every Member Canvass drives, variously called “Pony Express”,
“Loyalty Sunday”, etc.
When the diocese launched a capital funds drive in 1990 to raise four million
dollars to build two nursing homes, St. Andrew’s again rose to the occasion.
Eighteen families or individuals pledged over $10,000., far above that promised
by many larger congregations. This was accomplished at the same time in which
we were reminded of our status as a diocesan mission, in the form of a direct
order to remove our 1928 prayer books from the pews. Unfortunately we lost at
least one family and most of us were deeply disturbed, but we adapted. It was
encouraging to see the resilience and determination of the parishioners to “remember who we are.” Like generations before under duress, we were able to
continue many important old liturgical forms by memory. True doctrine and
classic forms are bound to surface again in history.
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A few years earlier there was a transient communicant who came from a “charismatic” parish in another diocese, and indeed, had been a secretary to the original leader of the movement. She spent several months praying for us and talking to the vicar about a revival of the sort in vogue at the time. One day she
announced that she had received an answer to her prayers to the effect that St.
Andrew’s, in its own way, already had the signs of the presence of the Holy
Spirit. We knew that, and so did our forebears! We were grateful that the Holy
Spirit took the initiative, and all we had to do was respond with faith.
In 1990 a Wurlitzer organ with chimes was given, in memory of their parents,
by Charles and Marjorie Metzroth. This was the second of three organs used
during the vicar’s twenty-three year tenure. One lesson we learned is that technological changes often make repair more expensive than replacement.
On St. Andrew’s Day 1990, a needlepoint project, two years in progress, was
completed with the dedication of fourteen altar rail kneelers depicting historic
buildings significant to our history. In addition to St. Andrew’s, there are representations of the mother parishes, Old Grace Church, Massapequa, and St. John’s
Church, Cold Spring Harbor, the Yaphank Presbyterian Church, the Lilacs, the
octagon house, the Gerard house and Mill, the Hawkins/Jacobsen House, the
Booth/Kinney House, the Petty/DeLappe House, the octagon school, and the
old post office. In addition, one kneeler depicts the Jubilate Deo, another the
Sarum Primer, and one the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. Alice Woods served
as chairman of the project. Needlepointing was accomplished by JoAnn Amos,
Olive Archer, Jean Chapin, Dot Frend, Dot Keiser, Nancy Kreppein, JoAnn
Martucci, Janet Rate, Lucille Stroud, Linda Weeks and Alice Woods. Additional help was provided by Nancy Hirsch, Ginny Krumsiek, Kathy Rate and the
late Julie Budd. The kneelers were dedicated in memory of Julie, Russell Crosby
and Florence Wilson. During this period, several families and individuals who
were moving away were presented with Lucille’s likenesses of the church hand
painted on slate.
In 1990, St. Andrew’s moved out beyond the parish, to be represented in the
councils of the Church. Michael Seif, Sr. Warden, was appointed by the Archdeacon, the Ven. John E. Madden, to serve on the Suffolk Archdeaconry Executive Committee. Harvay Herring, Bishop’s Committee member and Lay Visitor,
was elected as the Suffolk Archdeaconry Lay Delegate to the diocesan Department of Mission. Howard Krumsiek, Jr., Warden and Lay Reader, was elected
Lay Delegate to the national Episcopal Synod of America legislative body, representing the Convocation of the dioceses of Long Island and New York. In
1992, Michael Seif was elected as Suffolk Archdeaconry representative on the
diocesan Department of Budget. Harvay and Judy Seif served as trained and
licensed Lay Visitors.
In 1992, the church was given a new roof, but not before many previous layers
were removed and rotted portions replaced by new plywood. The roof and tower
project, under the direction of Michael Seif, cost $9,000. In the same year, Mike
built a new wood shed for our lawn care equipment. The following year, the
entire complex was painted at great expense; unfortunately, the paint began to
peel almost immediately. Within a very few years, the job had to be repeated.
Though the church had been painted white for many years, it was decided to
return to Victorian colors at this time. Unfortunately, this paint job also began to
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peel very soon afterwards, and had to be replaced. More than once, the Bishop‘s
Committee discussed covering the siding with modern synthetic material, but
refrained from doing so because it would destroy the historic authenticity of the
building. A new and very stately roadside sign was installed in memory of Louise
Rosenka Licari.
ANOTHER MILESTONE
Our 140th Anniversary was celebrated with the Rev’d Canon Dougald Maclean
as preacher at the Sunday Eucharist on November 14th, the Rev’d Peter Jacobsen
at Evensong on Friday, and the Rev’d Dr. Herman Blackman at the Eucharist on
Sunday the 21st.. Canon Maclean had served here in 1941 as a seminarian. On
Saturday we had a church supper and a public Chinese Auction. Sunday School
students presented a program called “I Love St. Andrew’s”.
In every period of history, there are individuals who are not only “pillars of the
church”, but who are prime gatekeepers who keep things going. In the case of a
small parish church, these are the lay people who maintain the building, usually
pay the bills, and make sure that preparations are made for worship. Historically. some clergy who do not enjoy sharing authority with lay members have
referred to such gatekeepers as “lay popes”. Even those priests, as they age,
usually recognize and appreciate the dedication and hard work of such laymen
and laywomen. Without them, a small congregation can scatter and be lost.
Some of the known gatekeepers of St. Andrew’s have been James Weeks, William Weeks, George Lord, Clara Weeks, Joseph Lawless, Dr. William Neuss,
Augusta Neuss, Charles Kollett, Louis Vogel, Alice Sheridan, Olive Williams,
Edward Ramshaw, Bob Heisser, Michael Seif, and Jack Rate. May their tribe
flourish, may they be kind to their itinerant clergy and vice versa, and may they
continue to ensure that all who come are made welcome in God’s house of prayer.
Another thing which happens to a priest as he ages, if he is blessed with the
ability to learn, comes from the lessons taught by wise and/or holy parishioners.
Though he is called pastor, the teaching works both ways. The elderly widow
who, with every word and deed, teaches the wisdom of trusting a loving Father,
waiting with patience the day of reunion with loved ones, and the secret of being
complete through attention to the needs of others. The parent or parents who, in
the face of the violent loss of a child, reflect in their eyes the pain of God the
Father in the offering of His Son on the Cross. Such parents are far ahead of the
rest of us in the journey toward knowing the meaning of Easter. The couple
who, by loving deeds more than by words, teach the mind of Christ on the moral,
yea theological, significance of being “pro-life” in a culture of death which confuses and divides God’s people in order to secure another empty “right”. The
children who, by innocence and enthusiasm, teach him what’s important, and
the beauty of a trusting faith. And the old friends, who walk together with him
on the “King’s Highway”. They may sing “Those were the days, my dear...”, but
they know that the best is yet to come.
MANY HANDS...
Lenten weekday services were enriched during the 1990’s through the leadership of Lay Readers Olive Archer and Howard Krumsiek. Olive and Florence
Taylor also served for many years as substitute organists. The weekly coffee
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hour, begun in 1972, was a significant part of our fellowship and was made
possible by many volunteers who prepared refreshments, often baked goods
from home, and snacks for the children. Most of the hosts and hostesses were
the same loyal parishioners listed elsewhere in other capacities. In 1992, Janet
Rate became coordinator, though she and a few others had been making it work
for years.
In 1994, Fr. Chapin produced a little booklet entitled: “St. Andrew’s Memory
Book”, in which were reprinted texts from the Bible, Prayer Book, and Hymnal,
arranged in age appropriate order for memorization. Many people have come to
the belated realization that we are “missing the boat” in Christian education by
ignoring the wisdom of the past, i.e. the value of immersing ourselves in the
sacred treasures of our Faith. Our children deserve the privilege of learning the
classic texts which will be with them for life, sometimes as lifesavers. A few
years earlier, we rediscovered the value of reciting in unison the Ten Commandments every Sunday. In the negative sense, if God is to be banned from our
public schools and the public square, we must prepare our children for a different kind of future. In the positive sense, we have a responsibility to give them
the best that our heritage offers. And if our children are to walk with Christ,
sometimes through difficult times, they really do need to know the sacred words
he knew as a child, and the Word which he gave us through the apostles and
evangelists.
St. Michael’s Conference for young people, founded in 1960, has been a bright
star in the lives of several of our members. Located in New England, it is an
indelible week with Christ for those fortunate enough to attend. Miriam Cancel
testifies to the change it made in her life. Tim Seif returned year after year and
eventually became a conference counselor. If parents and priest want to give the
young people of this congregation the most meaningful spiritual experience
possible, they should see that each of them has the opportunity to go to St.
Michael’s Conference <www.saintmichaelsconference.com>.
Another 5th great-grandfather of Fr. Chapin was Josiah Willard, a veteran of
the American Revolution, who was captured by the British at Newark, New
Jersey and imprisoned on an old ship in New York harbor. Many of the American soldiers died of disease and starvation on such ships. Josiah said later that
he ate the leather of his shoes to stay alive. Several years before the end of his
life in 1817, he traveled by horseback to visit his relatives and laid hands on the
head of each child with these words of blessing: “Remember now thy Creator in
the days of thy youth.”(Ecclesiastes 12:1) Children who are helped and encouraged by their parents and Sunday School teachers to memorize classic sacred
texts will surely be blessed. Parents who send their young people to St. Michael’s
Conference will have made an investment of a lifetime.
Some of the following members have given of their time faithfully, sometimes
for many years. In 1972, most of the work of the Altar Guild was performed by
Olive Williams, Bea Kollett and Mary Taylor. Altar Guild work goes on week
by week all year, including cleaning, ironing and the careful handling of sacred
things. There is a devotional aspect to this ministry, bringing many blessings to
those who participate. Others who have served since 1972 include Olive Archer, JoAnn Amos, Julie Budd, Jean Chapin, Karen DeVries, Diane Heisser,
Denise Kern, Pearl Merwin, Janet Rate, Helen Reilly, Gail Riccardi, Margot
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Rosenka, Judy Seif, Lillian Stafford, Enid Tooker, Linda Weeks, and our first
and only male member, Al Rowland. It might be of interest that in former times,
this was exclusively “a man’s job” and they were called sacristans. Jean Chapin
also took care of the altar flowers for twenty years. Every week fresh flowers
were purchased and arranged, with special arrangements and decorations for
Church festivals and holy days. Before Jean’s retirement, Joanne Martucci was
recruited to help with this ministry. After Sunday services, the altar flowers,
which had been given by parishioners and others as memorials, were given or
delivered to those who were sick or elderly.
The Episcopal Churchwomen of St. Andrew’s continually engaged in activities to enhance our fellowship, fundraisers and handicrafts. Annual quilts were
crafted, needlepoint kneelers were created. Officers included Olive Williams,
Olive Archer, JoAnn Amos, Margaret Cosier, Ann Engelhardt, Diane Heisser,
Beatrice Kollett, Margot Rosenka, Judy Seif, Marge Shaefer, Enid Tooker, and
Alice Woods.
The Bishop’s Cross for Distinguished Parish Service has been awarded to several of our members who have rendered extraordinary service to their Church
during the past twenty five years: Henry Overhoff, Olive Williams, Margaret
Cosier, Olive Archer, Jack Rate, Lucille Stroud, JoAnn Amos, Jean Chapin, Ann
Engelhardt, Pearl Merwin, Patricia Sives, Judy Seif, Michael Seif, and Hazel
Kohlmeier. Hazel served as organist from 1981 to 1993. She and her niece,
Dian Schwetje, were confirmed and became members of St. Andrew’s. Hazel
was succeeded by James Gleason. These and many others have been “pillars”
of St. Andrew’s, with whose reliable support we have thrived. Although the lists
of tithers and reliable contributors is always confidential, they know who they
are and they are appreciated by their priest and lay leaders. God bless them, for
they make it work!
LONGEST TENURE ENDS
As Ecclesiastes reminds us, there is a time for everything. On January 15,
1995, Fr. Chapin retired, having finished his public school teaching the previous
June. The Bishop’s Committee honored him with the title “Vicar Emeritus”.
Before moving to northeastern Pennsylvania, he and Jean were given a memorable retirement party on November 19th, the 39th anniversary of his ordination
to the priesthood. Among many memorable gifts, one was a quilt of an illustrated Benedicite, omnia opera Domini (1928 BCP, p. 11), signed by each child
and teacher in the Sunday School. Another special gift was the restored small
chalice and paten which had been used long ago in the services. Also on that
occasion, a permanent Paschal Candle was presented to the parish by the Episcopal Churchwomen, dedicated to the Glory of God, in honor of Margaret Cosier,
who was about to move to Florida. Margaret died soon afterwards, making the
Paschal Candle a cherished memorial. The last wedding performed by the vicar
was for Enrico Baquerizo and Andrea “Sissy” Cancel, long time friends and in
recent years active members of the parish. Ricky and Sissy were the first couple
to use the newly blessed wedding kneeler.
The last Sunday of this chapter saw the chiefs, officers and members of the
Patchogue Fire Department attend the service in full uniform, with fire trucks
lined up in front of the church. They were on hand to show solidarity with their
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chaplain of the past 35 years. Forming an honor guard as the vicar entered the
church, they each received either the Sacrament or a blessing, and shared in the
final blessing. Thus the vicar had both of his parish families together for his last
celebration of the Holy Eucharist. He and Jean had completed the happiest 23
year tenure in their 44 year ministry.
This account of one hundred and fifty years has told only part of the story. It
could not begin to relate the heart of the life of this parish. The joys of new
birth, both natural and spiritual, the precious years of our children and grandchildren, the promise and pain of our young people, the bright hopes and plans
of our newlyweds, the pleasures and sufferings of people who love and care
about others, and the spiritual maturity of our seniors who have walked with
Christ and are his friends. As in any parish family, we have prayed, rejoiced,
wept and worked together until this place we call holy has become for us, in the
words used by Bishop Littlejohn at the dedication, the very gate of heaven itself! May those who journey after us treasure what we have held dear, and remember the words that William and Mary placed upon the gravestone of Little
Susy: “Our treasure is in heaven”!
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God be in my head, and in my understanding;
God be in mine eyes, and in my looking;
God be in my mouth, and in my speaking;
God be in my heart, and in my thinking;
God be at mine end, and in my departing.
A-men.
-Sarum Primer, 1558
Father Richard A. Norris
Collect for St, Andrew’s Day
Almighty God, who didst give such grace unto thine apostle
Andrew that he readily obeyed the call of thy Son Jesus Christ,
and brought his brother with him: Give unto us, who are called
by thy Word, grace to follow him without delay, and to bring
those near to us into his gracious presence; who liveth and reigneth
with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
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