There’s a very old chalice in the sacristy. The following note is rolled-up inside of the chalice:
A little research was necessary to validate this intriguing note and the provenance of our chalice.
In 1847, Henry Ward Beecher was the founding pastor of Plymouth Congregational Church in Brooklyn, New York. He was a passionate abolitionist and a social activist and led a fascinating and at times controversial life (including a notorious adultery trial in 1874). Most importantly for us, he was at Plymouth Church during the time frame mentioned in the note and until his death in 1887. So that part of the note checks out as accurate. You can read more about Henry Ward Beecher’s inspiring ministry here:
John Noble and Mabel Harcourt Blair were members of St. Mark’s in the 1950’s. John was a retired lawyer. He and Mabel (who was from Brisbane, Australia) were married in San Francisco in 1909. They moved to Palo Alto by 1926 and eventually lived at 435 Santa Rita in Palo Alto until their deaths (John in 1958 and Mabel in 1970) (US Census Records)
John was born in New York, so his family seemed the most promising connection to Plymouth Church. John grew up in Brooklyn and was the son of Benjamin Franklin and Mary Blair. A newspaper search on Benjamin Franklin Blair turned up a strong connection to Plymouth Church. In 1907, the Brooklyn Eagle said “the Blairs have long been prominent in Plymouth Church and Benjamin F. Blair himself, is one of that congregation’s leading members.” (The Brooklyn Daily Eagle) Benjamin Franklin Blair’s obituary indicated he was a long-time Trustee of Plymouth Church and had first become a member the year he moved to Brooklyn – 1866 (The Brooklyn Daily Eagle).
So the chalice was indeed gifted by a family that did have a strong connection to Plymouth Church during the time that Henry Ward Beecher was active in his ministry there.
There is one discrepancy with the note, though. The stamp on the bottom of the chalice is “Adams Chandler – New York.” Adams, Chandler & Co. was an active silver company in Brooklyn, New York…but was not founded until 1869. So the chalice was made no earlier than 1869 and could not have been used before and during the Civil War (1861-1865).
An Adams, Chandler & Co. add, though, from 1869 displays the communion set the company made for Plymouth Church in 1869 – and the chalices in the ad seem identical the one gifted to St. Mark’s!
The upshot? We likely do have a chalice used by Henry Ward Beecher at Plymouth Church in Brooklyn, and generously gifted to St. Mark’s by John Noble Blair – who grew up at attending Plymouth Church and spent the last years of his life attending St. Mark’s!
Very interesting. Thanks for featuring the chalice and detailing the history.