St. Peter's plans celebration of 140th anniversary

On Saturday, Aug. 9, at 4 p.m., St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 305 North Minnesota, Carson City, will have a re-enactment of the first service held at the Church 140 years ago. A reception will follow the service. The public is invited.

The following is a chronology of events printed in the Daily Appeal 140 years ago leading to that day.

On Aug. 9, 1886, St. Peter's Episcopal Church had its first sermon by Rev. A. B. Allen. The church had been completed for months. Reverend Allen had resigned the charge of a parish in Manorsville, Penn., but there were many delays before he actually arrived.

The Carson Daily Appeal presents the news on July 17, 1868: The Rev. G. B. Allen ... has recently resigned the charge of a parish ... is about to assume the rectorship of a church in Carson City, Nevada. A neat little church building has just been finished in Carson, and the parsonage was expected to be completed and fitted up in time for the arrival of the rector.

On Aug. 11, 1868, the Appeal reported the arrival of Rev. Allen in time for services on Aug. 9, 1868. Religious services were held on Sunday, for the first time in the house of worship just completed by the St. Peter's Church Society ... George B. Allen Rector, conducted the services and delivered a sermon. The exercises were appropriate and brief. After the services Mr. Allen congratulated the members of the Society upon the completion of the edifice ... There was good attendance of Episcopalians and others on the occasion.

On Aug. 9, 1908, 100 years ago, there was a celebration of the 40th Anniversary. At that time Rev. Allen returned to Carson City for the event. The article printed on Aug. 10, 1908, states: Forty years ago yesterday, August 9, 1868, George Barbour Allen, the first rector of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in this city arrived in Carson City from Oakland. On that date, Sunday, at 11 o'clock he preached the first service. He remained the rector of the local church until January 1876. During the period of his rectorship the church edifice was enlarged, the lecture room was added to provide for a Sunday school which had increased from thirty-three members to two hundred and fifty ... Mr. Allen is now a resident of Oakland, California ... In part he says: I recall my residence in the Silver State with much pleasure and should be pleased to visit once more. I still remember many of my old acquaintances in Carson City and desire to be remembered to them. Three sons were born to the Allen family while they were residents of Carson City.