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The city of Mansfield recently purchased the Episcopal church property on West Third Street for the site of the new municipal Library and the old church building, that has stood there for more than half a century, will soon be torn down.  The Judge Dirlam lot, on the southwest corner of Bowman and West Third Streets, has been bought by the vestry for the site for the new church edifice, to be erected the coming summer.  In the meantime services will be held elsewhere.  In the passing from the old to the new, many events and incidents of parochial history are recalled.

The first service of the Episcopal church ever held in Mansfield was on August 10, 1825, and was conducted by Bishop Philander Chase, in the log court house on the public square, now central park.  A remnant of this old building in a reduced form is now standing on the northeast corner of Mr. Dorman's lot in the court house alley, between Franklin avenue and Adams Street.  In the afternoon of the same day Bishop Chase held service and confirmed a class at Mr. Boyce's residence, six miles north of Mansfield on the old state road.

Grace parish was founded October 12, 1846, and the corner stone of the church was laid June 5, 1847, and on May 5, 1848, the building was consecrated for church purposes by Bishop McIlvane.  Of the charter members of the parish but few are now living -- but one in Mansfield -- Mrs. Elizabeth Fletcher, of 44 West Fourth Street (Mansfield).  The parish has had fifteen rectors since its organization, Rev. J.W. Cracraft, Rev. Benjamin Austin, Rev. Henry Blackaller, Rev. H.P. Jeffries, Rev. Joseph Muensher, Rev. R.L. Ganter, Rev. Thomas Wells, Rev. James Trimble, Rev. Charles A. Rand, Rev. S.A. Bronson, Rev. S.M. Holden, Rev. Joseph Fletcher, Rev. D.F. Davies, Rev. A.B. Putnam, Rev. J.J. Dimon.

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Sunday, October 03, 2010