The Rev. Charles H. Howell, his wife Elizabeth, and their daughter Georgis

Paul McCartney wrote a song called "The Long and Winding Road" way back in 1968 that has absolutely nothing to do with a parish finding a priest who seem so tailor-made for each other, but the title suggests the arduous journey it took to get to this place and time. Even though the the song is about a road in Scotland, and we are an Episcopal church in America. And the song is rather melancholy, and Fr. Chuck and his family's arrival here at Christ Church has been one of the most joyous events we've witnessed in a long, long time. And the song was written during a turbulent time in the history of the Beatle's relationship, and our relationship with Fr. Chuck and his family seems like it was manufatured in Heaven itself. Okay, so the song has less than nothing to do with oour situation, but the title jogs something in my mind.

The Rev. E. Michael Allen

Earl Michael Allen, the ninth rector of Christ Church, started his ministry on a relatively sad note. His younger daughter Micky had been involved in a serious automobile accident and was hospitalized for several weeks, and spent several long months afterward recuperating.

Fr. Michael's ministry was cut short due to his own ill health, and there followed nearly three years without a full time rector. (Thankfully, his health has gradually improved and Fr. Michael is currently the Rector of The Church of the Epiphany in Allendale, New Jersey.) The Rev. Rhoda Treherne-Thomas filled in ably on many Sundays, as well as Mother Barbara Crafton and several other local priests. Christ Church was blessed for an eighteen-month period in 2005-2006 with the interim ministry of The Rev. Clarke French. Clarke brought with him his wife, Sally (also an Episcopal priest), and the energy of youth (Fr. Clarke was just thirty years old when he came here). Sally took a position as interim priest at All Saint's Church and within a year of arriving here Clarke and Sally were blessed with their first child, a son they named Jack.

The Rev. Clarke French

Clarke used his time here at Christ Church wisely, quickly learning the ins and outs of running a large parish church, and dealing with the spiritual needs of the congregation and the business, personnel, and financial needs of the parish. Clarke helped us in our transition, guiding the Rector Search Committee with timely advice and well-intentioned suggestions when necessary. He also helped out in more tangible ways by updating our secretarial and custodial staff and suggesting improvements in the rectory and grounds. When all is said and done, Clarke and Sally French helped Christ Church get through an emotional, tough exhaustive time and step into a new era, ready to select a new rector with confidence and an optimistic view toward the future. In May of 2006, Clarke accepted a position as Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Watertown, New York.

The Rev. George Dowdall Johnson

The Reverend George Dowdall Johnson, D. D., 1834 - 1906. Second Rector of Christ Church New Brighton, from 1875 until 1901, Archdeacon of Richmond from 1888 until 1906. One of Christ Church's most distinguished rectors, the Rev George D. Johnson was born in Stratford, Connecticut. He was descended from illustrious figures in American history: on his mother's side from the Rev. Jonathan Edwards (1703 - 1758), the famous Puritan preacher and president of Princeton, and on his father's side from the Rev. Dr. Samuel Johnson (1696 - 1772), a famous convert to Anglicanism and first president of King's College (now Columbia University).

Dr. Samuel Johnson took part in a notable scandal, the "Dark Day at Yale": On September 22, 1722, he and five other Congregational ministers of the Yale University faculty, including its president, doubted the validity of their ordination and lamented that they were not "in visible communion with an Episcopal Church"—to the consternation of Congregationalists. Samuel Johnson undertook the perilous voyage to England to seek Episcopal ordination, which he obtained. Returning to Connecticut, he served as Rector of= Stratford's Christ Church for 30 years, until being called as president of King's College in 1754.

George Dowdall Johnson came the Christ Church New Brighton during the "Golden Age," a time of great prosperity and optimism in the United States and Episcopal church building and growth in the Diocese of New York. (Mr. Johnson came from St. Paul's Church in Newburyport, Massachusetts.) The Johnsons lived first at 105 Franklin Avenue, in the red brick Italianate house that still stands across from the church. New Brighton sported large, elegant resort hotels and the country estates of wealthy and prominent families, some of whom, like the Anson Phelps Stokes and the Erastus Wimans, were Christ Church parishioners. Easter celebrations and fashionable weddings featured lavish floral displays. At the same time "Social Christianity"—translated as active concern for the poor—was in vogue. George Johnson ministered to residents of the County Home, a refuge for the destitute. He became greatly respected and admired on Staten Island. In 1888 he was named Archdeacon of Richmond and in 1891 he was awarded a Doctorate of Divinity by St. Stephen's College (now Bard College).

King's College changed its name to Columbia after the American Revolution. In the 1890s Columbia moved from midtown Manhattan to Morningside Heights, becoming one of America's great universities. On October 31, 1904, George Dowdall Johnson presided at the laying of the cornerstone of the university's chapel, St. Paul's—which held daily Episcopal services until the 1970s. In our own day, Bishop Sisk is making substantial and successful efforts in the Diocese of New York to revive Episcopal university chaplaincies and to create new ones.

George Dowdall Johnson lived to see the demolition of the old Christ Church and the construction of the new. He died on August 28, 1906, and is memorialized by Christ Church's present altar and reredos, which were dedicated on All Saint's Day, 1908. © 2006 by Nick Dowen, Parish Historian