Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/534

 454 HISTOEY OF GOODHUE COUNTY 1906. Kev. Alex. Coffin was assigned to Grace church and closed his work with the parish May 10, 1908. On May 17, Albert Twichell was appointed. October 8 Bishop Edsall made his annual visitation to this parish. At 8 p. m. Grace church was well filled by a congregation of 125 people. The Rev. Charles W. Holmes, of West Concord, assisted Mr. Twichell in the service. Mr. Twichell presented a class of six adults for confirmation. October 9 at 9 a. m., Bishop Edsall ordained Albert Twichell to the deaconate. The candidate was presented by the Rev. Frank A. Me Aiwa in, warden of Seabury Divinity school. A student from Seabury Divinity School took up the work as a lay reader by appointment of Bishop Edsall. The sermon was preached by the Rev. William Wilkinson, of Minneapolis; Revs. Rollitt, Fow- ler and Holmes taking part in the service. After the ordination services, by invitation the clergy with the vestry and their wives repaired to the house of L. F. Irish, where they were entertained at a sumptuous banquet, which was followed by a most delight- ful social hour. On Sunday afternoon, November 15, 1908, fire caused by a defective flue broke out in the church edifice, which ruined the interior. Services were continued without a break in the Guild hall with a constantly growing congregation. As soon as the matter of insurance on the church edifice was settled they immediately commenced the renovation of the church. In March, 1909, one Sunday before Easter, services were resumed in the renovated church. The pastor. Rev. Twichell, having completed his studies and examinations for priest's orders, was advanced to the priesthood on Easter, April 11, 1909, by Bishop Edsall, in All Saint's church, Minneapolis. The rectory project, which was planned before the fire, was again taken up and sufficient money raised by the rector to pay the purchase price of a property that was originally built for the rectors of the church. The latter part of August, the rector moved into the rectory after it had been thoroughly renovated. The Church of the Redeemer (Episcopal), of Cannon Falls, was the outgrowth of the labor of Timothy Wilcoxson, who walked all the way from Hastings. Minn., a distance of nineteen miles, for the purpose of preaching a sermon in a small frame house owned by William P. Tanner. This event, important in the religious annals of Cannon Falls, took place November 3. 1857. At that time there were but four communicants in the village of that faith: Mrs. William P. Tanner. Mrs. A. E. West, Miss H. A. Love and Mrs. J. D. Wheat. Rev. Wilcoxson continued hold- ing monthly services until September. 1865, when the Rev. S. S. Burlson, of Northfield. took charge until June 24. 1866. Febrn- arv 20. 1866. a meeting was held at the school house, at which