The Episcopal Cottage of Chautauqua, established in 1919 and supported by interested Episcopalians and other people of faith, provides a ministry of hospitality in the name of Jesus Christ consistent with the teaching and doctrines of the Christian faith as received by the Episcopal Church.
From the By-laws of the Episcopal Cottage of Chautauqua, Inc.
Shortly after WW I a group of Episcopal women gathered to form an organization to support their summer ministry of hospitality at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, New York.
From the early 1920s until 1950, the first Cottage was located at 6 Pratt adjacent to Bestor Plaza. During the Depression this Cottage fell into disrepair and rather than rebuild at that site, the Board chose to relocate.
Their choice of the present Cottage at 24 Peck was purchased in 1949. One generous member loaned the corporation the funds necessary to acquire the property. Since that time, the corporation has repaid this loan and re-invested many times that original purchase price to make the capital improvements necessary to further our mission.
In its second century of service, the Cottage continues to provide a ministry of hospitality.
The Episcopal Cottage of Chautauqua, Inc. is lovingly shepherded by an eleven person Board of Directors. The election of directors by our Cottage members takes place at the annual meeting at the Cottage held on the last Sunday of Chautauqua’s Season. The term of service for directors is three years.
Past and Present Board Members
Glen Chichester, Jim Porter, Barbara Bumsted, Sue Chichester, Rick Schultz
Joyce Brasted, Sallie Holder, John Sampselle, Bob Seaman, Coleen Smith, John Tamplin
Rick Schultz, President
Jim Porter , Vice President
Sallie Holder, Vice President
Ginny Taylor, Secretary
Sue Chichester, Treasurer and Reservations
Glenn Chichester
Bryan Gorney
Nancy Graham
Margie Muldoon
Joyce Norris
Rev. Rob Picken
Toby Schermerhorn
John Tamplin
Our host, Catherine Davidson, was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She has dual U.S. and Canadian citizenship. She graduated from the University of Toronto and received a Graduate Degree in Communications from the University of Minnesota. Over the years, she has resided in Minnesota, Manhattan, Ithaca NY, and Pittsburgh PA. Catherine’s husband of 40 years passed away in 2017. She retired in 2021 as a writer and editor for research universities Columbia, Cornell, and Carnegie Mellon. She continues to work as a consultant on writing projects.
After her retirement, she worked as seasonal staff at Sperry Lodge, a backcountry lodge in Glacier National Park, Montana, and the Isle of Shoals marine biology research lab off the coast of New Hampshire. Those two staff positions allowed her to improve her cooking and perfect her guest relation skills.
Catherine has been coming to Chautauqua since 2012. She has been a guest at the cottage for numerous seasons. In May of 2023, she moved from Pittsburgh to Ormond Beach, Florida, to be near her daughter and family. She currently attends Saint James Episcopal Church in Ormond Beach.
The Cottage is thrilled to have Catherine as our host. Her pleasant and calming demeanor is a joy for the cottage and our guests.
David and Merry Kim Meyers are life-long natives of Michigan. They have been active at Chautauqua for fifteen years and both graduated from the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle last year. Familiar faces at the Cottage, they are looking forward to serving guests during the second half of the season.
David is a retired psychologist who worked many years with the courts, schools, and mental health agencies. Additionally, he assisted the Diocese of Western Michigan (now Great Lakes) for many years as a trainer and troubleshooter. David, a priest of the diocese, has just retired from his most recent parish, St. Peter’s By The Lake, in Montague, MI. In the past, he has enjoyed being a chaplain at the Chapel of the Good Shepherd. In his leisure time, David is a watercolorist and leads classes in iconography. The Meyers make yearly treks with Overseas Travel.
Merry Kim (Kim) holds degrees in Landscape Architecture and Educational Leadership. She found her calling as an Agriscience educator and FFA advisor teaching horticulture, botany, and animal sciences at the high school level, ending her working career as a program advisor for the Michigan State University Institute of Agricultural Technology. She and David, who met on the MSU campus, have been married for 47 years. They have two daughters, Eve and Caroline, and five grandchildren. Kim’s lay ministries are in Christian formation and music. She finds her joy in tending all things green and growing. Walking the Portuguese Camino in 2023 and camping in the Sahara Desert are some of her favorite adventures (so far).
Chaplains serving weekly at the Chapel of the Good Shepherd stay at the Cottage each summer. Chaplains are available for pastoral care to guests of the Episcopal Cottage upon request.
The Chaplains serving each week are listed on the Chapel of the Good Shepherd website in the spring:
One way we are able to continue to offer affordable housing at Chautauqua is through the generous help of volunteers. One very important area of need is the regular maintenance that is performed by volunteers every Spring and Fall.
Everyone, including members of the Episcopal Cottage, is invited to sign up for workdays that are scheduled each Spring and Fall to open and close the Cottage for the year.
There are many other areas of maintenance and administration that need attention as well. So no matter your skill level or abilities you can be of service. Please stop by the Cottage during the Season to inquire about volunteering or send us an E-Mail. We look forward to meeting you and to having your help.