In 1824, he published a small volume of poems "of great beauty and power" among them, "Thou art the way; to Thee alone," and "Softly now the light of day" the latter being one of the few American hymns which has found its way into English hymn books. Bishop Doane played a conspicuous part in carrying out the Church's early Foreign Missions program and was the author of "Fling out the banner, let it float," often called "one of our greatest missionary lyrics."
The Rev. Dr. Titus Strong was another active friend of the church from 1817 until his death, July 11, 1855. He was asked to come as rector to this parish, but felt that his life work lay in another field.
Dr. Strong died in Greenfield during Mr. Child's rectorship, and his death called forth an expression of sympathy and gratitude in the form of resolutions adopted by Christ Church. Let us add a brief description of this rare old Christian gentleman, so great in his simplicity. He lived the life of a country parson of the first half of the 19th century. His meagre salary helped by "Donation Parties" barely sufficed for his humble needs and those of his large family. He worked in his garden, split his own firewood, studied, wrote his sermons with a "goosequill on foolscap paper," was a member of the School Committee, Rector of the Parish of Greenfield, and of Montague. He also preached in Ashfield, one Sunday each month. The Episcopal Church of today owes much to men like Dr. Titus Strong.
Now if at this point, we review the history of Christ Church thus far presented, we see it was founded under unusual circumstances. It was not a mission of a neighboring church. The idea of The Chapel on Armory Hill was conceived in the mind of Colonel Roswell Lee. Its purpose was to furnish congenial religious ties for his workmen. Being government employees they were exempt from taxation. The Old First Church in those days admitted no one within its doors who could not be taxed for her support. The life of the Chapel was Colonel Lee's responsibility, and he never shifted that
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