A Berkshire Experiment

A Berkshire Experiment

From the Archives

Karen Warren, Diocesan Archivist

In the June 1925 issue of Pastoral Staff (the former title of ABUNDANT Times), the Rev. Latta Griswold, rector of Trinity Church, Lenox, reported on a new diocesan endeavor to help our small churches. It was hoped that this experiment could be a solution to the long-standing problem of small town parishes and country churches, which were unable to attract and retain clergy.

Further complicating the issue at that time was the challenging New England winters. Residents of small towns and rural areas were often isolated over the winters due to bad weather, lack of transportation, and impassable roads. It is possible that these small congregations at times had no access to a parish priest at all. It was not unusual for congregants to meet together in homes, to read the Gospel and pray together. An increased number of cars and bus lines over the 1920s would facilitate travel and be a great improvement.

1926 issue of Pastoral Staff

Photo: Episcopal WMA

Then-Bishop Thomas Frederick Davies recognized that without clergy, our small parishes were unable to spread the Gospel to the residents in outlying areas. Bishop Davies envisioned and proposed that the smaller, more challenged parishes be united with the larger, stronger nearby parishes under the direction of one person, thus unifying them. This proposal would be called the Country Church Department, and it would be a trial of a few years. The Berkshire region was chosen to host the test program as the towns of Lee, New Lenox, and Otis had difficulty keeping a rector.

Bishop Davies outlined his program to diocesan clergy, and the plan was accepted “with much enthusiasm”. The new project began in Lenox, an already well-established, adequately supported parish. The Lenox rector already had jurisdiction over New Lenox, and he was chosen to oversee Lee and Otis as well. The congregation in Lee elected him as their rector, and the Bishop appointed him Minister-in-Charge of Otis.

With this plan in place, the rector and his assistant priests were able to maintain services in Lenox, New Lenox, Lee, Otis, and East Lee. Early results showed that the plan appeared to be working well. Subsequently, parishes were able to make better use of material resources, such as their parish buildings and rectories. An additional benefit of this program was a sense of community that extended out geographically—parishes considered themselves allies, and were able to see a much larger vision of their work.

In December 1925, Bishop Davies appointed a newly ordained priest, the Rev. Wolcott C. Treat, to serve as Director of the Country Church Department. He was placed in charge of St. Andrew’s in Washington, MA, designated the Key Church in this project, and carried out his responsibilities with assistance from Mr. Harris Hall and Mr. William Cole, candidates for Holy Orders. The June 1926 Pastoral Staff states “Another Ford car is to be put into service in the pioneer work—and a very active summer’s campaign has been planned.”

Programs were planned at St. Andrew’s, Washington, in order to unify the people. Events included a picnic, square dances, and a Labor Day barn dance. Everyone was invited to attend a service in which 20 candidates from many different towns were presented to be confirmed by Bishop Davies.

By the second summer, 1926, services were being held every Sunday in each center—Blandford, Chester, Middlefield, Huntington, and Russell.

Services of the Country Church Department continued through the summer of 1928, with services still being held at St. Andrew’s, Washington, and at a schoolhouse in Blandford. Additionally, St. Paul’s, Stockbridge was reported as holding regular Sunday evening services in West Stockbridge, where the priest from St. Paul’s was accompanied by his choir and congregation. Treat continued as director of this project, stressing to the clergy the importance of visiting families in their districts who may be especially in need following the long hard winter.

It is difficult to know what degree of success the Berkshire Experiment resulted in. The November 1928 issue of Pastoral Staff is the last to mention it. Mention is made, however, that vicars were appointed to New Lenox and Lee in the summer of 1928. Perhaps the Berkshire Experiment en livened the region enough to attract clergy to those parishes. ♦

Karen has served as diocesan archivist since 2010.