A Missionary for Monongahela

On October 1, 1862, after more than two years of meeting together and maintaining a Sunday School, the small band of Anglicans in Monongahela City was finally assigned a clergyman to conduct regular services. This missionary, the first official shepherd of our flock, was the Reverend William Pray TenBroeck (seen here).

Born on June 13, 1841, TenBroeck graduated from Nashotah House Seminary. On Trinity Sunday in 1862 he was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Kemper of Wisconsin, and that fall he reported to Monongahela. In addition to his duties here was also initially assigned to congregations in Connellsville and Mount Braddock as well as Old West. He made three visits to Old West before deciding that the low attendance did not warrant the treacherous journey. After the priest of St. Peters – Uniontown began serving Connellsville and Mount Braddock; TenBroeck could devote all of his time to Monongahela but did so only for a couple of months. On January 1, 1863 TenBroeck broke ground for a new church which he had planted along the Ohio River, St. Stephen’s - Sewickley. Thereafter he came to Monongahela only once a month. Later in 1863 when the Monongahela Mission was organized into St. Paul’s Church, TenBroeck left to serve at Sewickley full-time.

The Reverend TenBroeck reported of his activities during his short time here to the Convention of the Diocese of Pennsylvania: TenBroeck did present those seven candidates, St. Paul’s first confirmands, to the Right Reverend William Bacon Stevens (seen here), Suffragan Bishop of Pennsylvania, during St. Paul’s fist episcopal visitation in 1862.

In 1865, Tenbroeck was ordained priest in Pittsburgh but soon thereafter returned to the west. He served parishes throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota, and was an influential figure in both dioceses. In 1892, TenBroeck accepted the position of Professor of Church History and Polity and Canon Law at Seabury Divinity School in Fairbault, Minnesota. In 1903 he was awarded, by Seabury, a Doctor of Divinity degree. The Reverend William Pray TenBroeck died on October 12, 1913, he was survived by four sons, three of which were priests in the Protestant Episcopal Church.

It was said of Rev. TenBroeck “He was a forceful speaker and an eloquent preacher, and as a parish priest became the confidant of all his parishioners and held their affections long after his pastorate ceased.”

Many thanks go to Jamie Mair of Christ Church in Woodbury, Minnesota who scoured the parish archives and provided us with TenBroeck’s photograph and obituary.