Truth and Reconciliation

In his 1892 parochial report detailing the events of 1891, the Rev. Clarence Buel, rector of Emmanuel Church, Cumberland, and a native of New York, noted the opening of a mission in south Cumberland, called the Memorial House of the Holy Cross, built in memory of Estelle Taylor Perry by her three children. He also added, “In addition to this work, the Rector has undertaken special services with the Colored people of the Parish and is greatly encouraged by the interest which has been aroused. Indeed, there is every reason to believe that it will result in the erection of a Chapel for the special use of the Colored people.”

What can be learned from examining the answers to a few questions posed in 1844? One obvious observation is that while white clergy did not seem to be opposed to baptizing, marrying, or burying African Americans, they were less committed to holding special religious services or teaching African Americans the faith. Preparing African Americans for confirmation and thereby including them as communicants of the parish, was even more rare