St. Luke's Church, Somers.

Previous to the erection of this church in 1842, Episcopal services were occasionally performed in the town, by the neighboring clergy. They were held usually in an edifice erected by the liberality of persons belonging to the various religious societies and others, possessing no denominational connection, under the name of the Union Meeting House. Here the churchmen of this section of country were favored with the occasional ministrations of the Rev. R. C. Moore, the late pious and beloved Bishop of Virginia, and many other respectable and laborious clergymen. As early as 1808, we find the Rev. Evan Rogers officiating here. Before the 26th of January, in the year 1835, the present parish was organized under the rectorship of the Rev. Alexander Eraser, and about this time, arrangements were made for disposing of the interest which the Episcopal party held in the Union meeting house and parsonage, and building a church for themselves. This was quickly effected through the active and zealous exertions of the vestry, to whose liberality together with that of several other individuals of the neighborhood, friendly to the undertaking, the parish is indebted for its present commodious and beautiful church.

This building was consecrated to the service of Almighty God, on the 19th of January, A. D. 1842, by the Right Rev.

Vol. it. 18

J3$ HISTORY OF THE

Benj. Tredvvell Onderdonk. It had been previously incoyporated upon the 28lh Feb., 1835.

Isaac Purdy, and Frederick J. Coffin, church wardens, Thaddeus Barlow, Aaron Brown, William Marshall, Gerard Crane, Edwin Finch, Charles Wright, William Clock and Ray Tompkins, vestrymen. *