On eBay Now...Antique STERLING Communion Set Deacon Franklin Boyle Fitchburg / Shirley MA Mass For Sale
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Antique STERLING Communion Set Deacon Franklin Boyle Fitchburg / Shirley MA Mass:
$325.00
A wonderful and unusually personal vintage portable Communion / sick-call set, complete in its original fitted carrying case and memorialized to Deacon Franklin M. Boyle, whom period records place in Fitchburg, Massachusetts during the mid-20th century.
This is not simply an assortment of old church pieces—the fitted case, matching contents, sterling silver components and engraved memorial plaque survive together as a remarkably evocative piece of American religious history.
The exterior of the case bears its original engraved metal plaque:
“IN MEMORY OF
DEACON
FRANKLIN M. BOYLE”
Period records identify Franklin M. Boyle in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, where his name appears repeatedly in records and newspaper material during the middle decades of the 20th century. His documented period of activity corresponds extremely well with the construction and style of this Communion set.
The title “Deacon” is particularly significant. In many Protestant churches, deacons were lay officers entrusted with both the practical affairs of the congregation and ministries of care. Communion was not always celebrated exclusively inside the church building. Elderly, ill, hospitalized and homebound members of the congregation could receive Communion privately, requiring a minister or church officer to carry a small quantity of sacramental wine or grape juice along with individual Communion glasses.
That is precisely what this compact fitted set appears to have been designed to accomplish.
The Communion SetThe original black textured carrying case measures approximately:
7" long × 4 3/8" wide
It is remarkably compact and opens to reveal a beautiful deep burgundy / wine-colored satin-lined lid with a fitted compartment below.
The set includes:
Four individual clear glass Communion cups
These are wonderful little pieces in their own right, with unusually substantial glass construction. Each has a thick cylindrical foot, deeply recessed interior base and dramatically flared upper bowl. Their small scale and shape are characteristic of individual Communion service.
Sterling silver Communion vessel / cup
A small cylindrical silver vessel accompanies the set and fits onto the matching silver plate. The piece is marked STERLING.
Sterling silver plate / tray
The circular plate has a handsome stepped and molded rim and is clearly stamped STERLING on the underside.
The cup fits neatly upon the plate, creating a miniature Communion service suitable for bedside or home use.
Original liquid bottle
Also included is the translucent cylindrical bottle carried horizontally in the fitted case. This would have provided a convenient means of transporting the sacramental wine or grape juice.
Even more interestingly, its removable metal closure is also marked STERLING.
Thus this was not an inexpensive utilitarian church kit. Genuine sterling silver was deliberately incorporated into the principal Communion pieces.
A Memorial SetPerhaps the most intriguing aspect is that the case does not simply carry Boyle's name.
It specifically states:
“IN MEMORY OF DEACON FRANKLIN M. BOYLE.”
That wording strongly suggests that the set was presented to a church or congregation following Boyle's death as a memorial gift, rather than merely being Boyle's personal property.
Memorial gifts of useful ecclesiastical objects were a longstanding church tradition. A family or congregation could honor a deceased member by purchasing something that would continue to serve the church—a Bible, chalice, Communion service, altar furnishing, window, hymnal or, as appears to be the case here, a portable Communion set.
If that interpretation is correct, every time this case was carried to an elderly or sick member of the congregation, the name of Deacon Franklin M. Boyle traveled with it.
That gives this little set an unusually poignant history.
Franklin M. Boyle — Fitchburg, MassachusettsResearch into the name has produced a strong trail for Franklin M. Boyle of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, with his name appearing repeatedly in mid-century Fitchburg records.
The chronology is particularly compatible with the physical age of this Communion set. Boyle appears in Fitchburg-area records through the period in which this style of compact fitted Communion service would have been used.
The religious title engraved prominently on the case further distinguishes him from an ordinary namesake and provides an important avenue for continued church and genealogical research.
While the exact congregation has not yet been conclusively identified, the available period evidence points toward the Fitchburg, Massachusetts Franklin M. Boyle as the man commemorated by this set.
Approximate DateBased upon the construction of the fitted case, hardware, individual Communion glasses, sterling components and molded translucent liquid bottle, we would date the set approximately:
c. 1940s–1950s
The overall presentation is wonderfully evocative of mid-century American Protestant church life, when ministers and deacons regularly visited parishioners who were unable to attend Sunday services.
ConditionThe set remains in very attractive vintage condition and appears substantially complete as photographed.
The four glass Communion cups remain clear and attractive, showing ordinary minor evidence of age/use.
The sterling silver pieces retain their original surfaces and show age-appropriate scratches, tarnish, patina and signs of actual ecclesiastical use. The interior of the small silver vessel has some darker discoloration / residue as photographed.
The sterling has not been aggressively polished, preserving the character acquired over decades.
The translucent bottle remains present together with its sterling silver closure.
The original fitted case remains solid and attractive with normal age and handling wear. The black textured exterior has a wonderful period appearance.
The burgundy satin interior remains especially handsome and provides a dramatic backdrop for the glass and silver pieces.
The metal hardware and sliding front closure show expected oxidation, discoloration and finish wear from age.
Most importantly, the original memorial plaque remains firmly mounted to the top of the case and its hand-engraved inscription remains completely readable:
IN MEMORY OF DEACON FRANKLIN M. BOYLE
Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the description and document the individual pieces, sterling marks, memorial inscription and overall condition.
A genuinely fascinating piece of American church history, combining ecclesiastical silver, early individual Communion ware, a portable sick-call ministry set and identifiable personal provenance.
An especially appealing object for collectors of sterling silver, Communion ware, church history, Protestant Americana, Fitchburg Massachusetts history, ecclesiastical antiques, religious artifacts and named historical objects.
Unlike an anonymous Communion set, this example still carries the name of the man in whose memory it was given—a small surviving monument to Deacon Franklin M. Boyle and the congregation he served.
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