Episcopal Parish of the Messiah (Auburndale, Massachusetts)

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The Episcopal Parish of the Messiah is a family-sized, Anglo-Catholic parish located in the village of Auburndale in Newton, Massachusetts, in the United States.^[1] Messiah is a member of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. The parish was founded in 1871, and is located at the corner of Commonwealth Avenue and Auburn Street. The Rev. Devin McLachlan is the 12th rector of the parish.

[edit] History

Based on "The Messiah Miracle: A History The Church of the Messiah of West Newton and Auburndale 1871-1971," (privately published, 1971)

The Church of the Messiah of West Newton and Auburndale ("parish" was informaly adopted only in the 1980's) was officially organized in 1871 in West Newton although even back in 1856 unattached clergy led services from time to time for a small group of neighbors in West Newton. The parish ‘constitution’ adopted was November 6, 1871. The congregation purchased property in Auburndale in 1877, and built a chapel (now the parish hall) in 1881. The move to Auburndale was not without controversy; parish by-laws at one point stated that Messiah would always be in West Newton, but as with many small mission churches of the era, property prices were tantamount in choosing a location.

After 10 years of supply and rectors who left within 6 to 18 months, Messiah called the Rev. H.A. Metcalf in 1882. He served for 9 years and the parish bloomed for a time, but a debate over who was qualified to vote at annual meetings led to an enormous fight - nearly resulting in fisticuffs - and for a time only the rector’s family came to services. Metcalf resigned in 1891, two years after the fateful annual meeting.

Messiah went through a period of healing and new growth under their new rector, the Rev. John Matteson, and congregation begins the process of desinging and building a sanctuary. Rt. Rev. Phillips Brooks laid the cornerstone of the new church on October 3, 1892. American composer Horatio Parker, baptised at Messiah, composed the hymn tune "Auburndale" in celebration of the laying of the cornerstone of the new church building. His father, Charles Parker, had been the architect for the original chapel. Services begin the next year, and in 1907 the chapel is moved and attached to the church (now serving as a parish hall). After paying off the mortgage, Messiah is consecrated in 1909 by Bishop William Lawrence. The Rev. Harry Beal (later Missionary Bishop of the Panama Canal Zone) serves as rector during WWI.

The Rev. Percival Matson Wood served as rector from 1917 to 1934. Wood was very active in youth leadership, organizing one of the first Young Peoples Fellowship groups in the Episcopal church. Commonwealth Avenue is extended in 1920 running right past the parish hall. Until that time, Auburn St. was the main street for the neighborhood and is the street Messiah's buildings are oriented to.

Messiah was destroyed by a fire, November 15 1943. The cause is unknown, and the sanctuary burnt to the ground. A very few items, including the parish bell (given by Grace Church, Newton, in 1882) survived the fire, and donations come to the parish from around the nation. The Rev. Richard McClintock, rector from 1938 to 1951, lead the parish through the challenge of rebuilding the church during wartime; he builds the current high altar himself just before the first Eucharist, out of wood that survive the fire. The rectory next door (sold in the late 1980's) is purchased a month before the fire (and is mortgaged to pay for the pipe organ). Messiah was rededicated by Bishop Sherrill on September 13, 1945

The Rev. Frederick W. Rapp, formerly an assistant at St. Paul’s Cathedral (and a Baptist minister before then), served at Messiah during the post-war boom. A large parish hall (now rented as a daycare center) was built in 1952 with room for the basketball team, a stage, etc., and a Youth Director is hired. The Rev. Bob Golledge (later the vicar of Old North) served as rector from 1960 (at the age of 27) to 1971. It is in this period that anglo-catholic liturgy begins to be more prevalent at Messiah.

The Rev. William C. Lowe was called as rector in 1971, at Messiah’s centennial, and serves at Messiah through 1999. During Lowe’s tenure Messiah at first continues to thrive, but slowly enters a period of decline, particularly during the last 15 years. Lowe did a great deal of community outreach and organizing, and was well known for riding his motorcycle through town.

The rectory was sold in 1988, and Brookline Infant Toddler Center (BITC) began to rent the parish hall in 1998.

After Lowe resigned in 1999, the Rev. John Clarke was appointed priest-in-charge from 2000–2003, guiding Messiah through its transition and healing time, including the composition of a parish profile and the start of a search process. In 2003, Paul West, a parishioner and former UCC minister, along with several others, begins “Parishes in Partnership and several local small churches join PIP. The Rev. Gareth Evans, followed by the Rev. Dr. Richard McCall, served as interims until the Rev. Devin McLachlan was called as rector in July, 2005.