REV. HENRY VAUGHAN’S PASTORATE, 1863-1864.
When Rev. I. E. Bill resigned, in 1863, Rev. Henry Vaughan, son of Simon Vaughan, of St. Martins, was called to the pastorate and entered upon his labors in March. He was a graduate of Acadia University and Newton Theological Seminary, and was ordained at St. George in 1862. He was a sound preacher and well qualified to fill the pastoral office, and his friends looked forward to a long life of usefulness in the Master’s service.
The Second Building.
The old Church, built in 1818, and enlarged in 1838, was out of date and not in keeping with the progress of the city. It was therefore resolved, in March, 1864, to erect in its place a substantial brick building. To this work the pastor gave himself with untiring zeal and unabated energy, contributing of his own means and obtaining subscriptions from his relatives and friends to forward the undertaking on which he has set his heart. The corner stone was to have been laid on the 24th of August, but the pastor was suddenly taken ill, and died on 14th of September, 1864. On the 22nd of September the corner stone was laid with appropriate ceremonies, but a shadow was thrown on the scene, for the loved and laborious pastor was not there, but had gone to his rest and reward.
The vestry was completed and dedicated on the 6th of February, 1864, when a discourse was delivered by Rev. I. E. Bill commemorative of the life and work of the Rev. Henry Vaughan.. Mr. Vaughan is the only pastor of this Church since its formation who has died while pastor.
The Church was completed in 1866, and was built of brick with cut stone trimmings. It was of the Gothic style of architecture in use in the early part of the fourteenth century, with some adaptations. It had a frontage of fifty feet on Germain street, and seventy-five on Queen. The entrance was through the tower in the centre of the building and was surmounted by a portal pleasing to the eye. The vestibule had a groined roof, and the ceiling of the main auditorium, being supported by pillars, together with the Gothic roof, gave a very pleasing appearance to the interior. There were galleries on three sides of the church, the choir and the organ occupying the one facing the minister. The main audience room was dedicated on the second Sunday in November, 1866. It was a beautiful sanctuary, commodious, homelike and pleasant, suggesting the words of the Psalmist: “How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts.” The Baptistry was in the Vestry, on the northern side of the room, the platform being over it, and the seats arranged to face the same way. Off the Vestry were the Parlor and Infant classrooms, in the same positions as in the present building, while the library was in the south-west corner. The cost of the building was $40,000.
The Parsonage faced on Germain street, and was built of wood, being the building erected in 1840. In 1872 it was remodeled at a cost of $1,400, and made very comfortable for the family of Rev. Dr. Carey.
