COMMUNICANTS, 1890 - 1892

These records were copied from an original book at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Bellingham, Washington by WGS member Bob Witherspoon with the permission of the Rev. John W. Gibbs, Rector of St. Paul's, and the help of Cherie Little, St. Paul's Church Secretary. There are indications that most of this set of records pertain to St. James' Episcopal Church, Fairhaven, Washington. The "Communicants" record sheets include day/date of entry, entry number, name of communicant, a column marked "C.A.R" (showing whether the communicant was admitted by confirmation in this parish-"C", admitted otherwise-"A", or received from another parish-"R"), from "Whence Received" (if R), and comments about Removals, Marriages, Deaths, etc. Since a member of the church becomes a "communicant" through the confirmation process, usually not allowed before one reaches an age of reasoning or understanding, some children may be listed in the "Family" records but not in the "Communicants" records. Pages 88 and 89 of the record book: [The entry date is not given for the first 90 entries. These entries probably were made about March 1, 1891, when most of the "Family" records were entered.]

The "Communicants" record sheets include entry number, date of entry, name of communicant, a column marked "How Received" (usually showing whether the communicant was admitted by confirmation in this parish or by transfer from another church), a column "Where Received" (if transferred in, from where) ' communicant's residence, and space for dates/comments about "Removed", "Died", "Failed to communicate during the year" and "Remarks." Since a member of the church becomes a "communicant" through the confirmation process, usually not allowed before one reaches an age of reasoning or understanding, some children may be listed in the "Family" records but not in the "Communicants" records. The first 45 records were entered at one time and dated "Aug 1894." These probably were carried forward from an earlier record book (not found) since none had entries for "How" and from "Where Received." None of the remaining records were dated and no one confirmed from 1897 through 1908 were entered as communicants in this section. Page 99 of the record book: