St James Episcopal Church - Proclaiming the Kingdom of God
 

St. James' Memorial Windows Sitting in the sanctuary of St. James' you will notice the ray of light filtering through the beautiful stained glass windows. They are unique because they are very much like paintings from the traditional stained glass which are little shapes of glass. Stained glass goes back to the Middle Ages, 1200s, or even up to Gothic and Romanesque Cathedrals. Most people could not read or write, so reading and writing was left to those who were in monasteries. The stained glass served as teaching instruments to these cathedrals so they could understand the Gospel, the message of love through Christ Jesus our Lord, through pictures.

The Resurrection Window	This beautiful window above the altar was dedicated on Easter Sunday in 1933. The first memorial window in St. James' Episcopal Church was given by Mrs. Alonzo Brandenburg in memory of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. George W. Faber and of her husband, Alonzo Brandenburg. Alice Faber Brandenburg was born in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, August 14, 1857 and came to Fergus Falls with her parents in 1870.Mr. Brandenburg was born in Dayton, Ohio in 1849 and came to Fergus Falls in 1871 from Wisconsin. He engaged in the machinery business here. He was sheriff of Otter Tail County from 1883 to 1891 when he became President of the First State Bank and also served on the School Board. Alice Faber and Alonzo Brandenburg were married in this city on August 19, 1874. Their only child died in infancy. Mr. Brandenburg died in the June 22, 1919 tornado in this city. He was walking to his home on Cavour Avenue West when the storm broke and he took refuge in the Grand Hotel on the corner of Lincoln and Vine. The hotel was destroyed and several persons in the building died in the wreckage. Mrs. Brandenburg was a devoted member of the St. James' Episcopal Church. She was popular with young people and the older residents in her youth. Throughout her lifetime her greatest pleasure was helping others. She died on September 4, 1930 and the Fergus Falls Journal in recording her death stated: There are many in Fergus Falls who benefited from her kindness in their time of need. The following notation in church records gives an idea of how much St. James' Church was and is indebted to this pioneer: "The Vestry in 1897 called on the women of the parish for regular contributions to defray the general expenses and named Alice Brandenburg Parish Treasurer. She held the office for a number of years. During 1899 the St. James' Guild, St. Agnes Guild and St. Mary's Guild contributed $843 and secured $560.35 additional congregational pledges. By 1904 the three Guilds were contributing nearly $1,000, church subscriptions were over $800. Choir members gave $185. There were 100 active communicants. The Rev. O.A. Worthing was the Rector from 1897 to October 1904. The Resurrection Memorial Window, provided for in her Will, was Alice Brandenburg's last generous gift to St. James' Church. Mrs. Brandenburg was a slender little lady who spent very little on personal adornment, wearing the same black straw hat for years, summer or winter. She was generous to others.
The Annunciation	The stained glass memorial window of The Annunciation was given by Mrs. Cyrus (Louise) Wright in memory of her mother, Mrs. Robert Hannah and was dedicated on February 18, 1962. Mary Ely was born in Northfield, Vermont on July 1, 1868. She came to Fergus Falls in 1893, rented an office and a typewriter and became the first and only stenographer in Fergus Falls. She handled all the typing for the lawyers in town and on three days each week walked to the State Hospital to handle the stenographic work for the hospital superintendent and his staff. Mary Ely and Robert Hannah were married June 1, 1899. They were the parents of a daughter, Louise, born November 26, 1905. Mrs. Hannah was always very active in the church as well as in the community in spite of the fact that she was crippled for the last fifty years of her life. On January 30,1917 she organized a group of high school girls as an auxiliary to the Women's Auxiliary. This group was named the Junior Auxiliary, a name under which the members worked for church projects until after Mrs. Hannah's death, when the name was changed to the Mary Ely Hannah Guild. This guild remained active until absorbed into the Episcopal Church Women. Among the many things this group accomplished was the raising of funds for the purchase of the present pipe organ, which was dedicated on Christmas Day, 1927. Mrs. Hannah died on February 27, 1961.
The Nativity	The memorial window of The Nativity was dedicated October 5,1952 and was given in memory of Mr. and Mrs. E.A. Brown by their children, Mrs. E.A. Calhoun of New York City, Charles Brown of Summit, New Jersey and Lyndon Brown of Evanston, Illinois. A fund for the preservation of the Brown Memorial Window was established in 1964. Edward A. Brown was born October 25, 1859 in Baltimore, Maryland and came to Fergus Falls March 11,1882 where he was always known an "E.A." Brown. He operated his own barber shop in this city for fifty years. Mr. Brown took an active interest in civic affairs, serving for several terms as Alderman from the Fourth Ward and also as Acting Mayor during that period. He was a member of Company F, the local militia, a member of the Modern Woodmen and at his death was the oldest member of the Masonic Lodge in point of years. He was also a charter member of the Eastern Star and Knights of Pythias. Irene Walbridge and Mr. Brown were married at St. James' Episcopal Church in this city on October 12,1888. Mr. and Mrs. Brown were both active in St. James' Church. He was choir director for a great many years and had a fine tenor voice. Mrs. Brown was active in the Guild and Women's Auxiliary and taught a Sunday School class for years. She also took an interest in other activities, being a member of the D.A.R., Eastern Star and Reading Club. Mr. Brown died in his 83rd year. Services were held at St. James' Church. Mrs. Brown died at Summit, New Jersey March 18, 1953 at the age of 88 years.
The Lord Blessing the Little Children	The memorial window of The Lord Jesus Blessing the Little Children was given in memory of Mrs. and Mrs. Walter B. Windsor. The Windsor’s came to Fergus Falls from Aberdeen, South Dakota in 1899. Mr. Windsor was born in Wheatchief, New Jersey on November 21, 1859 and was educated at Canaserage and Hornettsville, New York. He went to South Dakota in 1883, headquartering at Aberdeen. Mrs.Windsor's maiden name was Sarah Tennant, daughter of Richard and Ann Livingston Tennant. As a young woman she moved with her parents to Faribault, Minnesota and ten years later was married to Walter B. Windsor, their first home being at Aberdeen, South Dakota. Mr. Windsor served as Vestryman and also as Junior Warden of St. James' parish for many years, was a member of the Otter Tail County Red Cross Committee, a director of the First National Bank and from 1899 until his death, was interested in the milling business with his brother-in-law, David Tennant. They owned and operated the Otter Tail Flour Mill and the Fergus Flour Mill which they consolidated, and in 1904 purchased a mill in Fargo, North Dakota and the Globe Mill in Perham, Minnesota in 1912. Mr. Windsor died March 30, 1930. Mrs. Windsor was an untiring worker in the St. James' Guild, the Women's Auxiliary and in the Sunday School as long as her health permitted. She suffered severely from arthritis and in the last years before her death, came to church in a wheelchair. Mrs. Windsor died on July 9, 1941. Mr. and Mrs. Windsor adopted two nephews whom they raised from early childhood. The eldest son, Harold, died in 1921 and the altar in this church was given in his memory by the Windsor family. Robert Windsor, the younger son, became a physician and practiced in Rothsay and later in Fergus Falls. Dr. Windsor died December 30, 1942. A bequest of $3,000 from the estate of Mrs. Windsor paid the mortgage on the Rectory in 1941.
The Sermon On The Mount	This window is in memory of Mrs. and Mrs. George B. Lowry, early parishioners of St. James' Episcopal Church. The window as given by their daughter, Mrs. J. Frank Shay (Mildred) and their son, Markham Lowry of Rochester, Minnesota. This window was dedicated February 18, 1962. Mr. Lowry was born at Rochester, Minnesota on January 3, 1862, the son of Mr. and Mrs. William D. Lowry. William D. Lowry was a member of the Minnesota Territorial Legislature. George B. Lowry was ten years old when he first came to Fergus Falls to visit his brother, Milnor Lowry, a resident since June 11, 1871. George B. Lowry returned to Rochester to complete his schooling before returning to Fergus Falls to engage in the Land, Loan and Insurance business in the firm of Lake and Lowry. Mrs. Lowry's maiden name was Hettie Chamberlain. She was born at Lima, New York on June 6,1862 and came to Fergus Falls with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Chamberlain in 1881. Her father came to open and manage the new Grand Hotel at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Vine Street. The Chamberlains, after a few years in this city, moved to Windsor, Ontario, Canada. George B. Lowry and Hettie Chamberlain were married at Windsor on April 7, 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Lowry were the parents of two sons and a daughter; Seldon C. Lowry, who died in the Service when stricken with influenza while stationed in Sacramento, California in World War I, Markham Lowry, who resides in Rochester and Mildred, who married J. Frank Shay of this city. They were the parents of one son, John F. Shay. Mr. and Mrs. Lowry were faithful members of St. James' Episcopal Church. Mrs. Lowry was a member of the Women's Auxiliary and St. James' Guild, Red Cross, and a Golden Star mother. Mr. Lowry served on the Vestry and in 1958 made a generous donation for new lights in the church, for new hymnals and prayer books as well as improvements in the Undercroft. Mrs. Lowry died on February 20, 1952 and Mr. Lowry died on November 15, 1961.
Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane	This memorial window in the west wall of the church was dedicated on September 27, 1935 in memory of Marjorie Webber Dell, who died August 18, 1934. The memorial was given by her husband, Roger L. Dell, prominent Fergus Falls attorney and later Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. Mrs. Dell was born in Fergus Falls on December 3, 1894 and was a lifelong member of St. James' Church. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Webber, came to Fergus Falls in 1882 from Niles, Michigan and were parents of a son, Herbert E. Webber and a daughter, Marjorie. Their home was later built at the corner of Oak Street and Lincoln Avenue. Mr. Dell came to Fergus Falls in 1920 to be associated with James A. Brown, an attorney here since the 1880's. Mr. Brown was also an Episcopalian and served as Senior Warden of St. James' for many years. Marjorie Webber and Roger Dell were married on March 15, 1923 at St. James' Church. Mr.Dell became the senior partner of the firm of Dell, Rosengren and Rufer following the death of James A. Brown and was appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Court on January 12, 1953 by Governor C. Elmer Anderson and six months later became Chief Justice. Mr. Dell served as Senior Warden of St. James' Church, was a member of the Bishop's Council of the Diocese of Duluth and was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Minneapolis Episcopal Foundation. Mr. Dell married Agnes Collier, a native of the State of Virginia. She was born August 12, 1904. They were married in Washington, D.C. in 1941. Their home in Fergus Falls was on East Lakeside Drive. Mrs. Dell took an active interest in the work of St. James' Church and was interested in the missionary work of the Episcopal Church. Mrs. Dell died December 18, 1964 and Mr. Dell established a $15,000 Memorial Fund for St. James' in her memory. Mr. Dell died on March 8, 1966. Prior to his death and his wife, Agnes Collier Dell's death, he and Mrs. Dell established a very considerable Memorial Fund for Missionary work in the Episcopal Church to be administered by the Minneapolis Episcopal Foundation and also a very generous Dell Memorial Fund, the proceeds from which were received by St. James' Church annually. Mr. Dell was born at Bird Island, Minnesota on July 19,1897 and worked in construction work in St. Paul day times, attending Law School class in the evening to fit himself for his chosen profession.
The Good Shepherd	This memorial window was given by Mrs. W.B. (Sarah) Windsor in memory of her sister, Mrs. Anna Tennant. Anna Tennant was born in St. Lawrence County, New York and came with her parents, Richard and Ann Livingston Tennant to Faribault, Minnesota when a young woman. Later she moved to Aberdeen, South Dakota to live with her brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. W.B. Windsor and in 1899 came to Fergus Falls to live with her brother, David A. Tennant, a widower and help make a home for him and his two daughters, Gertrude and Florence. Mr. Tennant was in partnership with his brother-in-law, W.B. Windsor in the operation of flour mills in Fergus Falls and also in Fargo and Perham. Miss Tennant took an active part in the St. James' Episcopal parish, was an enthusiastic worker in the Guild and Women's Auxiliary, a member of the Women's Club and P.E.O. and after the death of her brother-in-law, W.B. Windsor, became secretary of the Wright Memorial Hospital Association. Anna Tennant was of cheerful disposition and the Tennant home at 311 North Whitford was open to various church groups, and when her nieces became Sunday School teachers, children of the Sunday School for many years looked forward to the pre-Christmas Party at which popcorn and cranberry chains were strung to decorate the Christmas tree for the Children's Christmas Eve Service. Anna Tennant died on February 1, 1935 and was survived by her sister, Mrs. Windsor, her nieces, Gertrude Tennant and Mrs. William (Florence Tennant) McLaughlin and one nephew, Dr. Robert Windsor.