St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Medford, Wisconsin

The following history is a contribution from Mark E. Hull.

Source:Pages 60-61, (picture of St. Mary�s included) from: History of the Diocese of Fond du Lac and Its Several Congregations, Complied Under the Direction of the Bishop, in Commemoration of its Fiftieth Anniversary, A.D. 1875-1925. By Rev. Reginald Heber Weller, Bishop of Fond du Lac, 1925.

In 1876, Rev. C.D. Mock laid the foundation of the Church in Medford. With the assistance of a few zealous laymen and encountering the inconveniences and disadvantages of a frontier saw-mill town, he began his work by saying the services in dwelling houses, then he rented the public hall, called Music Hall. He established a mission and named it Holy Cross. Those who assisted him at that time were: Mr. J.B. Hull, Mr. Edgar T. Wheelock, Mrs. Clem. L. Brown, Dr. and Mrs. Frederick Barrett, Miss Delia Damp, now Mrs. Cook of Stevens Point, Mrs. Tom McCourtney now Mrs. McDonald of Corrizoza, New Mexico; and Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Anderson. In beginning this work for God, these raised for themselves a memorial that can never crumble.

Mr. J.B. Hull perceived that the mission should have a church building, so he raised by popular subscription, an amount of money sufficient to erect a suitable edifice to be dedicated to the service of God. A church was built with the money and it still stands. From the faithful, diligent efforts of these earnest people grew the present St. Mary�s; for in 1881, according to the parish register, page seven, St. Mary�s was organized and in 1900 admitted to the Council. The lot on which the Church building stands was donated by Mr. T. McCourtney and Mr. Wheaton. St. Mary�s was consecrated by Bishop Brown.

The records of the mission are very imperfect but it was served for several years from 1890 by Ven. Reginald H. Weller, Archdeacon of Stevens Point, now our Bishop, and from 1901 by Ven. A. George E. Jenner, Archdeacon of Stevens Point, and Rev. Carlton M. Hitchcock. Rev. Charles E. Huntington became Vicar in May, 1909, and served until the autumn of 1912. During the last year of his pastorate the present very comfortable vicarage was erected, it being the gift of the late Bishop Grafton.

Rev. Alfred L. du Domaine was Vicar during 1922 and 1923, and Rev. Samuel Evans was Vicar from April, 1924 until April, 1925.