The Sunday school was organized January 1, 1865, 25 being present, soon growing to 80. It had a library of 400 volumes, costing $122.25. John H. Cassidy was superintendent and T. M. May secretary. Wm. McCracken was president of the Temperance Meeting and Joseph W. Cassidy president of the Band of Hope.
But the man that was most prominent at this time in the church's history is never mentioned in the official records.
Hanson K. Corning
Hanson K. Corning was a shipping merchant, who knew from his own business connections the helpless condition of seamen when in port.
He was born in 1810 in Hartford. The Cornings conducted a large South American import business, with offices at 74 South Street. Three generations were active in it.
Hanson K. Corning lived in Brazil for a few years, paying special attention to the rubber business and also acting as United States Consul.
On his return to the United States he became a member of the firm, and the business prospered greatly. Altho Mr. Corning in later life became an invalid, he went to his South Street office until 1860. Thereafter he gave his time completely to religious and philanthropic work.
When, in the early sixties, the decline of the Market Street church became evident, Mr. Corning conceived the idea of making it a sailors' church.