- THE CROWN OF GLORY -

       "Hold fast to what you have, so that no one may seize your crown," the Angel of the Church in Philadelphia was told. St. Bartholomew's did hold fast despite the fact that events in the world were taking a turn for the worse. The world was moving from economic depression to military aggression. The Second World War was at hand.

On July 1st, 1939, the Reverend Robert J. Sudlow was called from St. Paul's Church, Yuma, Arizona, to become the fourth Rector. Like Mr. Chillson and Mr. Voegeli before him, the Mr. Sudlow was assigned other duties as well. This time the Rector of St. Bartholomew's serviced the Church of the Epiphany in Allendale. Bishop Washburn sent him to these two places with the admonition that unless they showed some signs of life he would shut both down and direct their members to attend services at Ridgewood or Ramsey. As it turned out Bishop Washburn did not appreciate the changes that were already underway. The population of Ho-Ho-Kus had actually grown significantly after the opening of the George Washington Bridge. It had increased by three quarters in the decade of the thirties and totaled 1626 in 1940. The statistics of the Parish began to reflect this growth beginning in 1939. By 1942 Mr. Sudlow could be supported by St. Bartholomew's alone and the Reverend Edwin Carson took charge of the work in Allendale. A new Rectory was built in 1942 on Hollywood Place just around the corner from the Church.

       Again the issue of the Church's location was much debated. Some favored moving the Church to Sheridan Avenue and placing it next to the Parish House. Others favored reappointing the Parish House in order to make it the Church. Entering the debate some new lay leaders emerged including John Weyble, Hector McKenzie, and Al Walden. But as eager as the parishioners were to resolve this issue, most people's minds were on the progress of the war in Europe and the Pacific. At least nine men from the Parish went off to war. Their names appear in a photograph taken in 1942 of a little shrine set up in the Church, which enabled the Parish to remember them in Prayer. Charles Millett, Eugene Andrick, Theodore Nason, Robert Watson, Alan Brown, Eugene Weiss, Jr., Harry Weiss, John Weyble, and Glendon Alfast are the men listed. Even the Rector could not stay out of the action and in May 1945 he resigned in order to assume duties in the U. S. Army Chaplain Corps.

       The war in Europe was already over when Mr. Sudlow entered the Army and before the next Rector, the Reverend Wallace Pennepacker, came to St. Bartholomew's the war in the Pacific had ended as well. He became the fifth Rector in the fall of 1945. Even before the Mr. Pennepacker's arrival the Vestry had decided to build a new Church next to the Parish House and to that end plans were drawn and a Building Fund established. Contributions were slow in coming, however. Consequently, by the spring of 1948, sentiment had swung back in favor of moving the existing Church from its site on Hollywood Avenue. In the fall of that year the building was moved and partially reconstructed with the addition of a foyer and sanctuary. The cost of this project was about $13,000 and was borne by securing another mortgage. For thirty years there had been talk of moving the Church and now, at last, it was accomplished. A young couple who had just moved into Waldwick came to shop in Ho-Ho-Kus the day the Church was moved and determined then and there to become members. Angus and Thail Simpson testify that if the Church was picked up and moved more often it would attract other new members.

       In those days, Alice Child, whose son was about to become the Rector of St.Bartholomew's used to read the Parish newsletter with interest. St. Bartholomew's was a busy place, she can recall. Perhaps her observation can give us insight into profound changes that were taking place in both church and society. The focus of activity and vitality was shifting from the city to the suburbs. Alice lived in Paterson with her husband Charles, who was the Rector of Trinity Church. Their son Judson was a curate at the prestigious St. Paul's Church. But the traditional constituents of these and churches like them in other cities were beginning to leave for the greener pastures of suburban communities. So dramatic was this migration that some have suggested the church, which had been very strong in the cities, was literally taken captive by the suburbs with the consequence that the surban churches went into a deep decline. But the urban church's decline meant the suburban church's rise. St. Bartholomew's was one such suburban church on the rise in the late 1940's. It was beginning to benefit from the influx of people, not only into Ho-Ho-Kus, but also into Waldwick and the surrounding towns. It would soon benefit from another source of growth as these new residents, with the cares and preoccupations of the war years behind them, settled in to raise their families inpeace. The baby boom was gaining momentum.

       Upon Mr. Pennepacker's resignation, and a brief tour by the Reverend Arthur J. Torrey, who served as interim, the Reverend Charles J. Child, Jr. was called to be the sixth Rector of St. Bartholomew's in April of 1951.

       There is always debate as to whether events make the man or the man makes the events, but in the case of Mr. Child the man and the events seemed to be in perfect harmony and complicity. At the time of his call he had the offer of another Parish which was well endowed. When he sat down to discuss the matter with Bishop Washburn, the Bishop set out the options for him saying, "Either you can go to a Parish where you will be comfortable and everything will be easy or you can go to a Parish where you will have to work." Being a man of great energy he chose the work. Such vitality was well suited to the burgeoning suburbs. When he came he was also young; too young some thought, not even being thirty years of age. But the suburbs were young then and his age proved to be an asset. Nor was he married, which some considered a detriment, though it proved to have certain advantages. The Parish became his family, and he gave himself over to the care of it, as he would to his own life, for indeed he viewed it as his life. Needless to say, the Parish thrived under his leadership, given the happy coincidence of the man and the times.

       The Parish statistics, during his tenure, reveal some of the story. On average there were 27 baptisms and 29 confirmations per year. At times over 300 children were enrolled in Sunday School, and 40 children sang in the youth choir. After his father retired from his position at Trinity Church, Mr. Child invited him to come and assist at St. Bartholomew's. Thus, for a time services were held simultaneously in the church and in the Parish House at 9:15 a.m. These were in addition to the services held at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. Complaints about overcrowding were chronic. Two major building projects were undertaken to alleviate some of the cramped conditions. Another newcomer to the Parish, George Clark, offered his architectural expertise in planning and overseeing these projects. The first project, begun in 1954, enlarged the Church. The old chancel and sanctuary were demolished, the nave extended, and a new chancel and sanctuary added. Suitable new furnishings were purchased, including an altar, altar rail, dossal, choir pews, light fixtures, prayer books, hymnals, and other items. A sacristy and new rear entrance were also added. At the same time, eight classrooms were added to the Parish House to help alleviate crowding in the Sunday School. On April 2, 1955 dedication services were held and the congregation rejoiced in its larger and more beautiful home. The design of the enlarged and refurbished church reflected Mr. Child's style of churchmanship. His orientation was more toward the "High Church" views than previous Rectors. Consequently, the altar was placed within a sanctuary, three steps above the level of the chancel, which was itself, elevated two steps above the nave. It became, therefore, the central focus of the building. Above the altar was suspended a beautifully carved Christus Rex and behind the altar a tabernacle was placed. Reservation of the sacrament was a practice that had fallen out of use but was now restored. Five years after the dedication of the church, another dream was fulfilled when a new pipe organ was installed. This greatly enhanced the music of the church, something Mr. Child took a keen interest in. Some years later he would serve on the commission, which revised the Hymn Book and produced our current Authorized Version, entitled The Hymnal 1982.

       Despite the tremendous growth in the Parish, the finances were always stretched thin during these years. What was lacking in receipts from regular pledging and collections, was made up for by numerous fund raising activities. These were, of course, a social outlet for the various groups in the Parish as well. Countless events were organized including suppers, dinners, luncheons, fairs, bake sales, bridge parties, auctions, circuses, parades, minstrel shows, concerts, operas, flea markets, fashion shows, and bundle teas. The one fundraiser, which has proved to be the most enduring is the Antiques Show, held in the fall of the year. Begun in 1956, it is now in its 34th year of operation. Among the many workers on this event over the years, Thail Simpson, in particular, deserves special credit, having begun with it and continued to this day. Since St. Bartholomew's inaugural show, this form of fundraiser has been widely imitated by other churches in the area. Finances were a problem for many churches in the suburbs. Typically, these churches were relatively young, had little or no endowments, and few wealthy benefactors. Fund raising was one solution to the problem, but at the time another solution was beginning to be discussed. In 1959 the National and Diocesan Conventions addressed the issue of stewardship and, for the first time, the tithe was promoted as the standard of Christian giving to Church and Charity. In the last thirty years this emphasis has borne fruit to the extent that giving has increased despite a declining membership.

       What with all of the necessary expansion of building and programs, the regular church budget could support little outreach work. But still the vision for the needs of others was kept alive at St. Bartholomew's, in large part through the work of the Women's Guild. They supported the Seaman's Church Institute and the food pantry and clothing shop at Grace Van Vorst, Jersey City. That in itself indicates how the times had changed. Grace Van Vorst had been one of the cardinal parishes of the Diocese, supported by a large, relatively affluent congregation. That congregation had moved on, however, and another smaller, poorer congregation took its place. The vision of the Women's Guild extended overseas as well as they also raised funds to support the rural missionary and charitable endeavors of the Church in South Africa.

       Despite the apparent outward success of the church in these times, there were some inner undercurrents of anxiety. In 1961 the St. Andrew's Guild, a men's club, sponsored a discussion entitled "Is Our Church Living Up to Modern Times?" One of the significant issues that was coming to the fore was the role of women in the church. Women had served in many capacities but seldom in leadership roles. In the past, it had been considered unseemly for women to exercise authority. St. Bartholomew's took a step forward toward recognizing women in 1962 by electing Mae Cordes as the first vestrywoman in its history. She served as stewardship chairperson. Curiously she was always referred to as a vestryman in the minutes, indicating that present concerns for inclusive language had not yet entered anyone's consciousness. Other issues within society were also beginning to impact the Church, especially racism, as the cries for justice and equity were beginning to be voiced through the Civil Rights Movement. The Cuban Missile Crisis was a frightening reminder of the Cold War tensions and the threat of nuclear annihilation. Then, too, more reports were being aired concerning a tiny Asian country that few had ever heard of before Vietnam. Toward the end of the 1960's, all of these movements and anxieties seemed to coalesce into great social unrest, which, especially among the youth, prompted many to challenge every authority. Religious authorities were not excepted and, much to the bewilderment of the clergy, not to mention the parents, young people adopted a different credo which can be summarized in three words: sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Many a shepherd was certain that the wolves had come to scatter the flock and devour the sheep.

       It was at this juncture, in 1967, that the Reverend Judson Child, Jr. resigned in order to accept a call to become the Canon Pastor at the Cathedral of St.Philip in Atlanta. St. Philips was, and still is, one of America's premier Episcopal Congregations. He had served the longest tenure of any Rector to date at St. Bartholomew's. The Parish was thriving when he handed in his resignation, for it had not yet begun to feel the effects of those forces and events mentioned above. That would soon change. The times were changing when he arrived at St. Bartholomew's; the times were changing when he left. He was certainly fortunate to have led this Parish in what many look back upon as the best of times. We cannot, however, discount Mr. Child's abilities in the least. His abilities were recognized by all. In 1960 he was invited to study at St. Augustine's College in Canterbury, England. The Vestry granted him a leave of absence for one year, and the Reverend D. Allen Easton, a native of Scotland, became the Priest-in-Charge during his absence. Mr. Child was elected by the Diocese to represent it at the Anglican Congress held in Toronto, Canada, in 1963. That same year he was urged to allow his name to be placed in nomination for Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese. He refused, however. Fifteen years later, though, he was elected the Suffragan Bishop of Atlanta, and only recently, January 1, 1989, retired as the Bishop of Atlanta. Even in retirement, he is much called upon to serve his Diocese, The National Church, and his beloved Alma Mater, the University of the South.

Daniel W. Kreller, Kreller@aol.com