Taylor Stained-glass Window Dedication

April 28, 1940

Sunday, April 28, 1940, at the morning service of the North Tewksbury Baptist church, a beautiful memorial

window was dedicated. This window is placed in the centre archway behind the pulpit, and was given by the

late Mrs. Annie Varnum, as a memoriam for her father and mother Mr. and Mrs. John P. Taylor. Mrs. George

A. Taylor gave a short history of the family before the dedication.

Mrs. Annie Taylor Varnum is well remembered by the older members of the church. She was a member of

this church from 1873-1877 when she married Mr. Varnum, a real estate dealer in Centralville, and took her letter to the Paige Street Baptist Church. She lived at Bridge and Tenth in the Varnum home many years

after the death of her husband. John Philips Taylor and his wife, Mrs. Henrietta Foster Taylor were members

of this church from 1858 until their death. Mr. Taylor died in 1873 and his widow survived him by many

years, passing away in January 1902, and they were lifelong residents of North Tewksbury. Mr. Taylor’s

parents came from Andover and Mrs. Taylor’s family came from Carlisle. Flowers were placed in the chancel

by Mrs. George L. Taylor in memory of her sister-in-law, Mrs. Annie Varnum, also another bouquet was given

by Mrs. Frank B. and Miss Frances Trull in memory of Mrs. Mary Taylor Trull, a sister of Mrs. Varnum.

The dedication was given by Rev. R. J. Winslade, D. D., and was accepted by the members of the church. The

junior and intermediate choir, under the direction of Mrs. Harry Dawson and Miss Eugenia Farwell, sang

“Awakening Chorus and “Ivory Palaces.” Mrs. Everett Boutwell sang, How Beautiful upon the Mountains,” by

Harker. Rev. Dr. Winslade spoke of the topic, “The Good Shepherd,” appropriate to the subject of the window.

The beautiful red, green and blues in this window make the picture one that you would never tire of

looking at. This will be a day to belong remembered by all in   attendance. Mrs. George Taylor, a member of

this church but who has moved to temple, N.H., was given a hearty welcome during the day, and was the guest of Mrs. Frank B. Trull.

Read at dedication by Mrs. George Taylor

The committee who have been responsible for the placing of this beautiful window in our church has asked

me to say a few words regarding the donor of the gift. Mrs. Annie Varnum and her father and mother, Mr.

John Phillips Taylor and Mrs. Henrietta Foster Taylor in whose memory it was given.

Mrs. Varnum, who made this gift possible was born here in No. Tewksbury in the Taylor homestead on North

Street, which was burned many years ago. She was one of a family of ten children, some of whom you knew

very well. Mrs. Mary Trull, a faithful member of this church, who passed on just recently. Mr. Albert Taylor

and my husband, George Taylor.

Mrs. Varnum spent her girlhood in this neighborhood and attended this church, as the young people of

today are doing, interested in all its services and social functions. She joined the church when she was 17

years old.

The following year, she married Daniel H. Varnum, a real estate dealer of Centralville and a few years later,

in 1877, she took her letter from this church to the Paige St. Baptists church of Lowell.

Later she attended the Eliot Congregational church, where she was a member until she died. She was very

much interested in charitable work and left small legacies to several institutions, this church being among

them.

Her father, John Phillip Taylor came her from Andover and I understand that his middle name came from

the same name Phillips Academy derived its name from.

It is interesting to know that he was a lineal descendant of John and Ann Winslow, the later being a

granddaughter of Mary Chilton of the Mayflower, the first woman to step upon New England soil.

Mrs. Varnum’s mother, Henrietta Foster Taylor, came from Carlisle, Mass and I am sorry that I knew so little

about her. But in the few months that I did know her I felt that she was a very dear old lady, and realized

she mist have been a remarkable person, for her family gave evidence of wonderful training.

Mr. Taylor joined the church in 1858 and Mrs. Taylor joined by letter in the same year.

Mr. Taylor died December 15, 1873, when he was 61 years old. Mrs. Taylor survived him 27 years, dying in

January 1902.

Surely this beautiful window is a fine tribute of a loving daughter to her parents.

I think Mrs. Varnum might have been pleased with the efforts of the committee and I can almost hear her

say, “Well done.”

As we look upon this memorial window each Sunday, may it remind us, not as much of the giver, but of the

Good Shepherd who is ere watching over this little flock in the little church in N. Tewksbury.