The chancel’s tile floor was installed in 1917 in memory of The Rev. Frank Westcott, the rector of St. James’ from 1884 to 1913. In 1909, The Skaneateles Democrat said of our rector, “His ministry has been eminently successful and gratifying, not alone to himself and his friends, but to the members of his parish, by whom he is held in affectionate regard.”

The Democrat also noted, “During Mr. Westcott’s rectorship, the church edifice has been greatly improved, the more important features being a new sanctuary, containing altar, reredos and baptistry with font, and a chapel and guild room in the basement, all of which were built from designs and working drawings by the rector himself.”

Frank Nash Westcott (1858-1915) was born in Syracuse, N.Y., the son of Dr. Amos Westcott and Harriet Nash. He studied at Syracuse University and the Berkley Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Shortly after being ordained as a priest in 1884, he came to Skaneateles to serve as the rector at St. James’ Episcopal Church.

Recognized as a scholar, he was the author of Philosophy of a Change in the Name of the Church (1898); Catholic Principles (1902), which he dedicated to St. James’ warden William Marvin; The Church and the Good Samaritan (1905) and Heart of Catholicity (1905).

The Rev. Westcott may have been inspired by his brother, Edward Noyes Westcott (1847-1898), a Syracuse banker who gained fame as an author. Diagnosed with tuberculosis, Edward sought a way to provide for his family after he was gone. A friend suggested he write a book based on characters he had known in Central New York; the result was David Harum (1898). Edward did not live to see its success, but the novel sold more than 800,000 copies, was produced as a play, a silent film, a sound film with Will Rogers, and as a popular radio serial.

Frank Westcott also wrote two novels: Hepsey Burke (1914), billed as “a sister to David Harum,” and Dabney Todd (1916).

The Rev. Westcott’s final words to the parish came in a letter found among his papers after his death: “Having been rector of the parish 28 years, having spent the best part of my life, the happiest part, the most successful part in Skaneateles, it is natural that no other place should seem like home to me. I came as a very young man and was received by the older generation, now largely passed away, with the utmost cordiality and kindness, and remained long enough to baptize their grandchildren and watch them mature. Naturally, I learned to love the church and its people… As to the work itself, you must be the judges. The best part, the personal part, you will never know anything about except as individuals. And it is this personal work to which I look back with the greatest satisfaction and delight. I rejoice to know the work has gone on and grown firmly.”