African Americans -- New York (State) -- Buffalo
Vestry minutes recorded by St. Philip's Episcopal Church from 1861-1874. The first page of the vestry minutes book contains a list of families, documenting the core members of the St. Philip’s congregation. Many of the minutes document meetings of the Board of St. Philip’s Colored Episcopal Church, with a great deal being written by the Bishop Augustus Thomas. In addition, these minutes capture the early development and decision making of the church such as appointments of board members and clergy, repairs, and event planning. Lists of committees and their members may be found in various sections throughout the book. The content covers the complete rectorship of Reverend Orlando Witherspoon and several years of the first Black rector of St. Philip’s, Reverend Samuel L. Berry.
St. Philip’s Episcopal Church (Buffalo, N.Y.)
St. Philip's Episcopal Church records (MS-0269)
State University of New York at Buffalo. University Libraries
State University of New York at Buffalo. University Archives
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The Parish Register, kept by the Rector, contains several sections describing family lineage of congregants, communicants, historical data, baptisms, confirmations, burials, marriages, and offerings of St. Philip's members. While this ledger begins with Reverend Robert Joseph Love’s tenure, several ministers are listed throughout. Between the beginning of Reverend Joseph Robert Love’s rectorship in 1876 and the year 1916, several others held the position as part-time rector of the church. The historical data of the ledger remains blank save for a brief note detailing the assessment of the rectorship. The first section of the ledger lists the family lineage of the congregants. Information included in this section of the ledger consists of the date, family members names, age, and status of either baptized, confirmed, or communicant. The baptismal records list the name of the baptized member, along with their birthplace, birthdate, sex, baptismal date and location, up to three sponsors, and a signature of the clergymen. The record of confirmations lists the confirmed member, age, date and location of confirmation, the rector, and the bishop. The record of communicants lists the name, date, and status of removal, marriage, or death. The record of burials contains the names of the members who were buried, along with their sex, age of death, last residence, date and cause of death, place and date of burial, and signature of clergyman. The marriage records list the date and location of the marriage, the groom and bride, their ages and status’ of either bachelor, maiden, widower, or widow. In addition, the marriage records list the residence of the groom and bride, their parents, signature of clergyman and witnesses, and the officiating minister. The offerings record lists the date, object, amount, and number of offerings.
The Parish Register, kept by the Rector, contains several sections describing the communicants, historical data, baptisms, confirmations, and marriages of St. Philip's members. This ledger spans the rectorship of several ministers beginning with Mark H. Milne and extends throughout the tenure of the Reverend Edmund Robert Bennett. The communicant records list the names, date, and status of removal, marriage, or death. The baptismal records list the name of the baptized member, along with their birthplace, birthdate, sex, baptismal date and location, up to three sponsors, and the officiating minister. The record of confirmations lists the confirmed member, along with their date of birth, birthplace, date and location of confirmation, the rector presenting the confirmation and the bishop confirming. The marriage records list the date of the marriage, the groom and bride, and their ages and status’ of either bachelor, maiden, widower, or widow. In addition, the marriage records list the residence of the groom and bride, their parents, signatures of witnesses, and the officiating minister. Several of the sections throughout the ledger remain either blank or incomplete.
The Parish Register, kept by the Rector, contains several sections describing the communicants, historical data, baptisms, confirmations, burials, and marriages of St. Philip's members. The baptismal records list the name of the baptized member, along with their birthplace, birthdate, sex, baptismal date and location, up to three sponsors, and the officiating minister. The record of confirmations lists the confirmed member, along with their date of birth, birthplace, date and location of confirmation, the rector presenting the confirmation and the bishop confirming. The record of burials contains the names of the members who were buried, along with their sex, age of death, last residence, date and cause of death, place of interment, date of burial, and the minister. The marriage records list the date of the marriage, the groom and bride, their ages and status’ of either bachelor, maiden, widower, or widow. In addition, the marriage records list the residence of the groom and bride, their parents, signatures of witnesses, and the officiating minister. The Parish Register includes instruction of how to keep the parish records, detailing the need for immediacy when record keeping, examination by the Bishop at his annual visitation, and protocol for permanent and temporary entries. While the instructions state that “a new name entered on any page should also be entered in the Index”, the index remains blank. This book also includes a page of historical data, documenting the transition from Reverend E.R. Bennett to Reverend Osmond Henry Brown.
The minutes book, kept by the clergy of the vestry, contains documentation of the vestry meetings held by the church. While many of the minutes detail the attendees of the meeting, the officiating minister, and financial planning, the minutes book also contains records of church celebrations planning, events, and community outreach planning. This particular book captures the financial hardships experienced by the church during the great depression.
The record of services details the month, day, and year services were held at the church. In addition this book lists the hour and nature of services, such as low or sung mass, the quality and quantity of attendance, and the preacher and officiant. Along with attendance, communicants and number of days holy communion or other services were provided are numbered.
The record of services details the month, day, and year services were held at the church. In addition this book lists the hour and nature of services, such as low or sung mass, the quality and quantity of attendance, and the preacher and officiant. Along with attendance, communicants, and number of days holy communion or other services provided are numbered. Some notes about the congregation can be found which were written by the rector Henry Osmond Brown.
The guest register lists the year and month of visitation, along with the name and address of the visitors. It also includes visitors who attended the churches anniversary and holiday services.
The record of services details the month, day, and year services were held at the church. In addition this book lists the hour of service, a memornature of services, such as low or sung mass, the quality and quantity of attendance, and the preacher and officiant. Along with attendance, communicants, and number of days holy communion or other services provided are numbered. In addition to the record of services, a memoranda is included at the end of the ledger. It details the inception of Reverend Henry Osmond Brown's tenure, along with a few important anniversary and holiday services.
The Parish Register contains four sections describing the communicants, historical data, baptisms, confirmations, burials, and marriages of St. Phillip's members. The baptismal records list the name of the baptized member, along with their birthplace, birthdate, sex, baptismal date and location, up to three sponsors, and the officiating minister. The record of confirmations lists the confirmed member, along with their date of birth, birthplace, date and location of confirmation, the rector presenting the confirmation and the bishop confirming. The record of burials contains the names of the members who were buried, along with their sex, age of death, last residence, date and cause of death, place of interment, date of burial, and the minister. The marriage records list the date of the marriage, the groom and bride, their ages and status’ of either bachelor, maiden, widower, or widow. In addition, the marriage records list the residence of the groom and bride, their parents, signatures of witnesses, and the officiating minister.
Bound volume kept by the Rector containing several sections describing the communicants, historical data, baptisms, confirmations, burials, and marriages of St. Philip's members, 1943-1971.
Bound volume containing handwritten records and vestry meeting minutes for St. Philip's Episcopal Church, 1947-1956.
Bound volume containing monthly reports that detail the salaries of the rector and other clergymen, repairs, and miscellaneous expenses.
Bound volume containing handwritten minutes for St. Philip's Episcopal Church vestry meetings between 1953 and 1967. While this book of vestry minutes begins under the rectorship of the Reverend Henry Osmond Brown, the majority of the minutes continue throughout the rectorship of the Reverend Kenneth Stewart Curry. Throughout the minutes are various boards and their members, acknowledgments of letters of resignation, marriages, and welcoming of new members, event planning, repairs, and financial concerns.
Bound volume detailing the date, name, address, and church home of visitors to St. Philip's Episcopal Church between 1956 and 1961. The guest register was given by St. Joseph’s Guild in memory of A. B. Parker.
This record of confirmations lists a congregants full name, sex, date and place of birth, date and place of baptism, and date and place of confirmation. This record also lists who the confirmation was presented by and the bishop confirming. Despite having a wide range of dates, there are many missing years especially in the 2000s. The majority of the ledger spans the rectorship of Reverend Kenneth Stewart Curry. The record also includes an incomplete index of names indicating which page to locate a confirmation.
Bound volume containing handwritten records and vestry meeting minutes for St. Philip's Episcopal Church, 1969-1976.
A Proposal to Establish Standing Working Committees of the Vestry of St. Philip's Church, circa 1970s
Typewritten proposal written by the Committee on Committees of the Vestry to create standing working committees for finance, budget, stewardship, property, religious education, housekeeping, church organizations, community relations, and personnel, circa 1970s.
Summary of Persons Interested in Forming a Board of Directors, October 18, 1970
Typewritten list of people from St. Philip's Church interested in forming a Board of Directors, October 18, 1970.
Annual Parish Meeting minutes, December 13, 1970
Typewritten minutes for the St. Philip's annual parish meeting on December 13, 1970.
Committees of St. Philip's Church, March 27, 1971
Handwritten list of St. Philip's Church committees and their members as of March 27, 1971.
First part of handwritten minutes for the regular monthly meeting of the vestry and vestry associates of St. Philip's Episcopal Church on June 4, 1972. Written on back of notice and agenda for meeting.
Second part of handwritten minutes for the regular monthly meeting of the vestry and vestry associates of St. Philip's Episcopal Church on June 4, 1972. Written on back of notice and agenda for meeting.
Handwritten warden's report, June 4, 1972. Written on the back of notice and agenda for the regular monthly meeting of the vestry and vestry associates of St. Philip's Episcopal Church on June 4, 1972.
Third part of handwritten minutes for the regular monthly meeting of the vestry and vestry associates of St. Philip's Episcopal Church on June 4, 1972. Written on the back of notice and agenda for the meeting.
Fourth part of handwritten minutes for the regular monthly meeting of the vestry and vestry associates of St. Philip's Episcopal Church on June 4, 1972. Written on the back of a notice and agenda for the meeting.
Vestry Meeting sign-in sheet, June 4, 1972
Sign-in list for the regular monthly meeting of the vestry and vestry associates of St. Philip's Episcopal Church on June 4, 1972. Written on the back of a notice and agenda for the meeting.
St. Philip's Episcopal Church, Annual Parish Meeting agenda and minutes, December 3, 1972
Typewritten agenda and minutes for the Annual Parish Meeting of St. Philip's Episcopal Church on Advent Sunday, December 3, 1972.
Sexagesima Sunday Mass program, February 25, 1973
Program for Sexagesima Sunday Mass at St. Philip's Church on the second Sunday before Lent, February 25, 1973.
St. Philip's Episcopal Church, Vestry Meeting attendance and minutes, July 1, 1973
Typewritten attendance list and minutes of the Vestry Meeting of St. Philip's Episcopal church on July 1, 1973. Also includes signatures of those in attendance.
Vestry and Associate Vestry of St. Philip's Episcopal Church, meeting minutes, September 2, 1973
Typewritten minutes for the meeting of the Vestry and Associate Vestry of St. Philip's Episcopal Church on Sunday, September 2, 1973.
Typewritten financial statement for St. Philip's Episcopal Church for October 1973. Includes handwritten notes on the back.
Typewritten financial statement for St. Philip's Episcopal Church for November 1973.
Minutes recorded of St. Philips Episcopal Church's Vestry Meeting on August 5, 1973.
Letter from Robert D. Edwards to James Parks and Henry VanLandingham, October 6, 1973
Typewritten letter from Robert D. Edwards to St. Philip's Church members of the vestry James Parks and Henry VanLandingham about his absence from the previous Vestry meeting as well as a progress report, October 6, 1973.
Minutes of the Vestry Meeting of St. Philip's Episcopal Church, October 7, 1973
Typewritten minutes for the October 7, 1973 St. Philip's vestry meeting.
Minutes of the Vestry Meeting of St. Philips Church, November 4, 1973
Handwritten minutes for the Vestry Meeting of St. Philip's Church on Sunday, November 4, 1973.
Notice of Meeting and Agenda, November 4, 1973
Typewritten notice and agenda for corporate communion and regular monthly meeting of the Vestry and Associate Vestry of St. Philip's Episcopal Church on November 4, 1973. Includes sign-in sheet on back.
Letter from William A. Goldbach to James Parks, November 26, 1973
Typewritten letter from Lutheran Cooperative Ministry of Buffalo president William A. Goldbach to St. Philip's warden James Parks concerning the church's interest in property at 222 Northland, November 26, 1973.
Letter from Harold Barrett Robinson to rectors and wardens of the Diocese of Western New York, December 9, 1973
Typewritten letter from Bishop of Western New York Harold Barrett Robinson to Diocese of Western New York rectors and wardens concerning the 1974 pledge to the Diocese, December 9, 1973.
Minutes of the Vestry Meeting of St. Philip's Episcopal Church, December 9, 1973
Handwritten minutes for the Vestry Meeting of St. Philip's Church on Sunday, December 9, 1973.
Sign-in sheet for the December 9, 1973 Vestry Meeting of St. Philip's Church. Written on back of notice and agenda for meeting.
Bound volume containing date, name, and address of visitors. While the dates range from 1973-1984, many of the pages were written out of yearly order. The first half the register remains blank.
Letter from Helena J. Lee to St. Philips Episcopal Church, January 6, 1974
Typewritten letter from Helena J. Lee to St. Philip's Episcopal Church summarizing the initial meeting of persons representing parishes of the Central Erie Deanery in planning a Deanery Lenten Program, January 6, 1974.
Financial package agreed upon with Father Taylor at the January 12, 1974 meeting of the Vestry of St. Philip's Episcopal Church. Includes salary, ultilities, car allowance, F.I.C.A., hospital insurance, life insurance, pension, and housing.
Letter from T.L. Burson to St. Philip's staff and members, March 6, 1974
Buffalo (N.Y.) -- Church history ; African Americans -- New York (State) -- Buffalo
Letter from Reverend Tommy L. Burson to the staff and members of St. Philip's Church thanking them for their contribution of a piano, pulpit, and pews, March 6, 1974.
Letter from Henry L. VanLandingham to Charles Simmons, March 11, 1974
Letter from Henry L. VanLandingham, warden to Charles Simmons at Cecil Brown Funeral Services, Inc. thanking him for providing 1974 Church Calendars for St. Philip's Episcopal Church.
Note from Lil concerning correspondence, 1974 March 11. Written on back of crossed-out Building Fund Committee thank you letter template.
Letter from Dinner-Dance Committee to Vestry of St. Philip's, 1974
Typewritten letter from the Nursing Home Ministry Lay Readers Dinner-Dance Committee to the vestry of St. Philip's Church asking for donations for a fundraiser, 1974.
Bound volume detailing the month, day, and year services were held at St. Philip's Episcopal Church from 1974-1978. In addition this book lists the hour and nature of services, such as low or sung mass, the quality and quantity of attendance, and the preacher and officiant. Along with this, attendance, communicants, and number of days holy communion or other services provided are numbered.
Bound volume containing minutes for St. Philip's Episcopal Church vestry meetings during the year 1975. Throughout the minutes are various boards and their members, acknowledgments of letters of resignation, marriages, and welcoming of new members, event planning, repairs, and financial concerns. Throughout this year, community outreach and collaborations with other churches seem to be prevalent.
Certificate of Boiler Inspection, April 1, 1976
Document given to the Protestant Episcopal Church of the Diocese of Western New York certifying that Boiler Number 1 at St Phillips Episcopal Church has passed boiler inspection by the Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company, April 1, 1976.
Document given to the Protestant Episcopal Church of the Diocese of Western New York certifying that Boiler Number 2 at St Phillips Episcopal Church has passed boiler inspection by the Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company, April 1, 1976.
Minutes recorded of St. Philips Episcopal Church's Vestry Meeting on July 11, 1977.
The record of services details the month, day, and year services were held at the church. In addition this book lists the hour and nature of services, such as low or sung mass, the quality and quantity of attendance, and the preacher and officiant. Along with attendance, communicants, and number of days holy communion or other services provided are numbered.
Bound volume detailing the month, day, and year services were held at St. Philip's Episcopal Church from 1988-1996. In addition this book lists the hour and nature of services, such as a private, visit, sermon, or memorial, the quantity of attendance, and the preacher and officiant. Along with attendance, communicants, memoranda, and number of days holy communion or other services provided are numbered.
Bound volume detailing the month, day, and year services were held at St. Philip's Episcopal Church from 1994-2005. In addition this book lists the hour and nature of services, such as a private visit, sermon, or memorial, the quantity of attendance, and the preacher and officiant. Along with this are, attendance, communicants, memoranda, and number of days holy communion or other services provided are numbered.