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EN
.
An Old New England Church
By
Frank Samuel Child
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01823 3152
GENEALOGY 974.602 F1610L
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/oldnewenglandchu00chil
THE SIXTH HOUSE OF WORSHIP
AN OLD NEW ENGLAND CHURCH
ESTABLISHED RELIGION IN CONNECTICUT
BEING AN HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST AND THE PRIME ANCIENT SOCIETY, FAIRFIELD, COMMEMORATING THE TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTIETH ANNIVER- SARY OF PUBLIC WORSHIP IN THE TOWN
BY
FRANK SAMUEL CHILD D. D.,
ILLUSTRATED
FAIRFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY, CONNECTICUT 1910
THE PRICE OF THIS BOOK IS ONE DOLLAR IN CLOTH AND SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS IN PAPER COVERS.
Mr. J. Sanford Saltus has kindly rendered financial assistance in the publication of this book
COPYRIGHT 1910 BY FRANK SAMUEL CHILD
THE FAIRFIELD PRESS
FAIRFIELD, CONN.
To JUDGE ROGER M SHERMAN
CHRISTIAN SCHOLAR AND STATESMAN AND HIS LOYAL BENEFICENT COMPANION
ELIZABETH GOULD SHERMAN
WHO PERPETUATED THEIR HOME FOR THE MINISTERS OF THE PARISH
SHERMAN PARSONAGE JANUARY FIRST 1910
ILLUSTRATIONS
THE SIXTH CHURCH EDIFICE
THE HISTORICAL, TABLET
Frontispiece Pages 23
THE MEETING-HOUSE BURNED BY THE BRITISH
91
THE FIFTH CHURCH EDIFICE
105
THE ANCIENT CHURCH SILVER
123
SHERMAN PARSONAGE . .
· · 157
CONTENTS
Chapters
Pages
I. RELIGION ESTABLISED BY LAW IN CONNECTICUT
23
II. THE PRIME ANCIENT SOCIETY
26
III. FIRST ADVENTURERS IN UNCOA 31
IV. THINGS FUNDAMENTAL
37
V. ADOPTION OF THE HALF-WAY COVENANT 41
VI. THE SAYBROOK PLATFORM IS APPROVED 48
VII.
" THE EPISCOPAL SEPARATION '
54
VIII. THE SAYBROOK PLATFORM AND THE CONSOCIATION 61
IX. DAYS OF CONTROVERSY AND DISQUIET
75
x. RELIGION AND POLITICS . 81
XI. INFLUENCES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION 90
XII. LEADERSHIP IN SOCIAL REFORM .
97
XIII. CO-WORKERS IN DEFENCE OF ORTHODOXY 105
XIV. CONSOCIATIONISM OLD AND NEW IIO
XV. FORMS AND CUSTOMS . II6
XVI. A TREASURY OF LOVAL REMEMBRANCES
I22
XVII. THE MINISTERS AND THEIR CO-WORKERS
I34
XVIII. METHODS OF SERVICE
I45
XIX. THE OLD RECORDS
I51
XX.
A PASTORAL SURVEY
160
BIBLIOGRAPHY.
Town Records.
Church Records, Volumes I, II, III, IV, V, VI.
Records of the Prime Ancient Society, Volumes I, and II. Colonial Records of Connecticut. Church Manuals and Covenants.
Contributions to the Ecclesiastical History of Connecticut pre- pared under the Direction of the General Association.
Schenck's History of Fairfield, Volumes I, II. Walker's The Creeds and Platforms of Congregationalism. Hollister's History of Connecticut.
Barber's Connecticut Historical Collections. Hurd's History of Fairfield County.
Records of the General Association of the Colony of Connecticut. Trumbull's History of Connecticut. Centennial Papers of the General Conference of Connecticut.
Historical Discourses by Dr. Atwater and Dr. Rankin.
Sermons of Mr. Wakeman, Mr. Webb, Mr. Hobart, Mr. Eliot, Dr. Humphrey, Dr. Hewit, Dr. Atwater and Dr. Rankin. Hobart's "A Serious Address to the Members of the Episcopal Separation in New England."
Hobart's "A Second Address to the Members of the Episcopal Separation."
Hobart's "Principles of the Congregational Churches."
Hobart's "A Vindication of the Piece, entitled The Principles of the Congregational Churches." Timothy Dwight's Travels in New England. Beer's The Rev. John Jones. Memorial of Dr. Atwater.
XII
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Memorial of Thomas B. Osborne.
Memorial of Dr. Hewit.
Memorial of Judge Roger M. Sherman.
Beer's Roger M. Sherman.
Dexter's Congregationalism.
Walker's History of Congregationalism.
Palmer's Historical Discourse on the First Congregational Church and Society of Bridgeport.
Davies' Historical Discourse in Greens Farms, 1839. Peter Parley's Reminiscences.
Beardsley's History of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. Guilbert's Annals of An Old Parish.
Child's The Prime Ancient Society, An Old New England Town,
The Colonial Parson of New England, Ministers of the Prime Ancient Society, Major Nathan Gold.
The Sixth Sanctuary.
Church Work-a Monthly.
Annual Reports since 1889.
Records of the Fairfield West Consociation.
Records of the Fairfield and Fairfield West Association.
Remonstrance and Complaint of the Association of Fairfield West to the Hartford Central Association.
One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the Fairfield County Consociation.
The Confessions of Faith-First Church of Christ, Fairfield.
Report of A Committee in regard to Change of the Constitution of the Fairfield West Consociation-1873.
Considerations in Favor of Consociation (A Reply to the Above Report) prepared by Messrs. S. J. M. Merwin, Edward E. . Rankin, B. J. Relyea, Martin Dudley, 1874.
Manuscripts of the Fairfield Historical Society-The Platting of
the Town-Colonial Houses-Genealogical Records-etc. Historical Discourse-Greenfield Hill Church.
Records of the Norfield Congregational Church.
XIII
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Burr's Historical Discourse on the One Hundredth Anniversary of Norfield Church.
Child's Historical Discourse on the One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the Church at Weston.
Perry's Andrew Ward.
Fragments of Old Journal kept by Rev. Joseph Webb.
Private Correspondence of Rev. Andrew Eliot.
Reminiscences of Prof. Benjamin Silliman.
Child's " A Score of Years"-An Anniversary Address. Child's "An Address Descriptive of Memorial Windows."
Child's "Rev. Andrew Eliot A. M." A Biographical Sketch. Child's "The First Meeting in Stratfield." An Historical Ad-
dress on The Two Hundredth Anniversary of the Fairfield Consociation.
-
A SUMMARY OF DATES-FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST.
Organization of Public Worship 1639
Erection of Log Meeting-House 1640
Installation of Rev. John Jones-First Pastor 1644
Approval of Hooker's "Survey " by the Church 1645
Meeting-House rebuilt
1663
Death of Rev. John Jones
1664
1665
The Church in Fairfield follows the "Half-Way Cov- enant "
1669
Meeting-House altered and repaired
1671-80
Election Sermon before the General Court in Hartford by the Rev. Samuel Wakeman, May 14th
I683
Decease of Mr. Wakeman
1692
Installation of Rev. Joseph Webb
1694
Organization of the Church in Stratfield (First Church, Bridgeport) 1695
New Meeting-House finished
1698
Mr. Webb assists in founding Yale College
1700-I
Fairfield Consociation formed-the representatives from this Church being Mr. Webb, Deacon John Thomson and Mr. Samuel Cobbett 1709
Parish of West Farms (Greens Farms) set off 1711
Parish of Greenfield Hill set off I725
Parish of Redding organized 1729
Death of Mr. Webb 1732
Installation of Rev. Noah Hobart
I733
Installation of Rev. Samuel Wakeman-Second Pastor Appointment of Mr. Wakeman by General Court (with other ministers) to meet and "consider some ex- pedient for our peace "
1668
XVI
A SUMMARY OF DATES
General Association of Colony of Connecticut at Fair- field 1743
New Meeting-House ordered to be built on site of the old House-the new edifice to be 60 feet long, 44 feet wide, 26 feet high, with steeple 120 feet high
1747
" A Serious Address to Members of the Episcopal Sep- aration in New England " by Rev. Noah Hobart, published 1748
Election Sermon before the General Court by Mr. Ho- bart, printed 1750
" A Second Address to the Members of the Episcopal Separation in New England," by Mr. Hobart, published 1751
Mr. Hobart elected Moderator of the General Associ- ation I753
" Principles of the Congregational Churches" by Noah Hobart, published I754
Norfield Parish set off 1757
North Fairfield Parish set off
1767
The Death of Noah Hobart brings to its end a pastor- ate of forty years I773
Installation of Rev. Andrew Eliot
1774
General Association of Connecticut convened in Fair- field 1777
Capture of Deacon Silliman by the British on thenight of May Ist
I779
Meeting-House burned in the Conflagration of the Town July 9th 1778 .
Public Worship held in private houses
I779
The New Court House used for Public Worship
1780
Public Worship conducted in the unfinished Meeting- House I786
Andrew Eliot a member of Committee on Union be- tween Congregational and Presbyterian Churches
1790
.
XVII
A SUMMARY OF DATES
"Voted and agreed that the Society Committee take some convenient opportunity (after all the pews are built), to set up warnings for venduing the Pews in the Meeting-House for ready money "- Society Records 1790
Demise of Rev. Andrew Eliot
1805
Installation of Rev. Heman Humphrey
1807
Disuse of the Half-Way Covenant
1807
1807
New Confession of Faith and New Covenant Adopted General Association of Connecticut meets in Fairfield Mr. Humphrey appointed by Consociation on Com- mittee to prepare a Public Address on Intemper- ance 1813
18II
Mr. Humphrey publishes a Series of Articles on the subject of Intemperance 1813
Fairfield Charitable Society organized at the residence of Mrs. David Hull the first Thursday of June 1815
Rev. Nathaniel Hewit succeeds Mr. Humphrey in the Pastorate 1818
Congregationalism the Established Religion of Connec- ticut, is dis-established by Law 1818
The Female Prayer Meeting Society was organized at the Home of Mrs. Nathaniel Hewit in March 1821
(This Society was formed through the influence of Mrs.
Hewit, the accomplished daughter of U. S. Sen- ator Hillhouse.)
The Sunday School becomes a flourishing part of the Church 1825
Dr. Hewit is elected Secretary of the American Tem- perance Society 1827
Rev. John Hunter installed Pastor 1828
Westport Congregational Church is organized 1832
Rev, Lyman Atwater succeeds Mr. Hunter 1835
The Congregational Church of Southport is organized 1843
XVIII
A SUMMARY OF DATES
Judge Roger M. Sherman, a deacon of the Church, be- queathes his mansion and nine acres of land to the Prime Ancient Society, to be used after Mrs. Sherman's death, as a home for the minister of the Parish 1844
The Congregational Church at Black Rock is organ- ized 1848
Fifth House of Worship is erected by the Prime An- cient Society 1849
Dr. Atwater is elected to the Chair of Logic in Prince- ton College 1854
Dr. Willis Lord becomes pastor of this Church 1854
Dr. Lord is made Professor in the Theological Semi- nary of the Northwest, Chicago 1856
Rev. Alexander McLean is installed Pastor 1857
The Chapel is erected on the lawn adjoining the Church 1858
Dr. Mc Lean called to the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Buffalo I866
Rev. E. E. Rankin D. D. installed Pastor I866
Hope Chapel erected in Jennings Woods
1872
First Volume of Church Records copied by Miss Han- nah Hobart 1873
(On the old vellum cover of the original book was the following inscription-"This Booke of Records belongs to ye Church of Christ in Fairfield of which I am Pastor, Joseph Webb. Bought in ye year 1704, cost, 6, 8 in money, paid for by ye Church.")
The Church re-decorated-stained glass windows placed-doors removed from the pews 1875
The Centennial of the Burning of Fairfield observed- Historical Discourse delivered by Dr. Rankin 1879
Rev. George S. Burroughs succeeds Dr. Rankin in the pastorate 1880
XIX
A SUMMARY OF DATES
Public Worship conducted at Hope Chapel by students from the Yale Divinity School 1880
Mr. Burroughs receives the degree of Ph. D. from Princeton College 1883
Dr. Burroughs accepts a call to the pastorate of the of the First Congregational Church of New Britain Rev. John E. Bushnell is installed Pastor June 30th The Church Parlors erected
1884
1884
The Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor organized 1888
1885
Mr. Bushnell accepts a call to the Presbyterian Church of Rye, N. Y. 1888
Rev. Frank S. Child begins his ministry November 15 1888 The Prime Ancient Society commemorates the Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary 1889
" The Children's Mid-Week Service "-A Catechetical Exercise-published 1889
Sketch of the Prime Ancient Society is printed 1890
The Fifth House of worship burned on the night of May 29th and the morning of May 30th
1890
Corner Stone of the Stone Church is laid May 2nd 1891 " Church Work " published 1891
Dedication of the Sixth Sanctuary, May 2nd 1892
Fresh Air Home instituted 1892
" The Friendship of Jesus" published 1894
New Church Manual issued 1895
" The Colonial Parson of New England " published Sherman Parsonage renovated and the Sherman
1896
books and papers arranged for a Memorial in the old Library of Judge Sherman 1904
The Church grants the Pastor a six months' vacation for the purpose of travel in Egypt, Palestine and Europe 1906
An Historical Tablet containing the names of Pastors
XX
A SUMMARY OF DATES
who have served the Parish is placed in the vesti- bule of the Church 1906
" Ministers of the Prime Ancient Society" by Frank S. Child is published 1906 1906
The new Fresh Air Home is erected and used Jewel glass windows are placed in the north end of the Church in memory of Deacon Oliver B. Jennings and Mrs. Esther J. Jennings 1908
" A jewel glass window in memory of Rev. Andrew Eliot A. M., is placed in the west transept of the Church 1909
"A Church of the Established Religion in Connecti- cut"-An Historical Sketch by Frank S. Child- is published in commemoration of the Two Hun- dred and Seventieth Anniversary of Public Wor- ship in Fairfield 1910
ʻ
FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST FAIRFIELD, CONNECTICUT. 1639
PASTORS
REV. JOHN JONES
1644-1664 1665-1699
REV SAMUEL WAKEMAN
REVJOSEPH WEBB
1694-1:32
REV NOAH HOBART
1733-1773 1774-1805
REV ANDREW ELICT
REVHEMAN HUMPHREY D.D.LL.D. ISCT-ISIT REV NATHANIEL HEWIT D.D. ISIS-ISST
REV. JOHN HUNTER
1898-1834
REV LYMAN H.ATWATER D.D.LL.D./1835-1854
1554-1856
REV. WILLIS LORD D.D.LL.D REV. ALEXANDER Mc LEAN D.D. REV EDWARD E.RANKIN .D.D.
1857-1866
1866-1819
REV GEORGE S. BURROUGHS DD.LL. D. 1880-1864
REV. JOHN E BUSHNELL D.D.
1884-1888
REV FRANK S. CHILD DD.
1745
1849
7529
THE HISTORICAL TABLET IN THE VESTIBULE
A Church of The Established Religion in Connecticut
CHAPTER I.
RELIGION ESTABLISHED BY LAW IN CONNECTICUT.
UNION of church and state in the colony A was the natural expression of life. The Puri- tan ideal did not picture a relation of absolute independence. Many of the first planters simply protested against the corruption and tyranny of the Church of England while they retained a measure of affection for the Establishment. When circumstances favored the organization of churches on a prim- itive model like that of the church in Plymouth, the breth- ren followed the practice with which they were familiar and ordered that the church should be supported by a common tax in the town. The brief experiment of a voluntary church sup- port had failed. It was not long before a Religious Establish- ment became thoroughly intrenched here in Connecticut. The General Court gave the planters permission or a command to organize a church in each of the various settlements. The little company of believers covenanted together, elected their officers and ordained the minister. The men in town meeting voted the rate necessary for the minister's salary, set apart for his use par- sonage land, appointed the collector and managed all the busi- ness affairs of the Society.
In respect to matters purely spiritual the church as a church had its voice, but the early history of religion in this colony shows that the men acting in civil capacity had chief shaping influence over the church. The example set by the English parish seemed
24
RELIGION ESTABLISHED IN CONNECTICUT
paramount. The pioneers yielded unconciously perhaps to the traditions and customs which prevailed in the mother country.
A sketch of the life running through the succeeding genera- tions in Fairfield, discloses the various methods and changes in New England Congregationalism and distinctly traces the stages of development in thought, polity and experience. A strong church planted in an elect, rural community which exercised leadership during important, formative periods in American his- tory is called to contribute in generous way to the great move- ments of the time. It is therefore interesting to observe the spirit of action and the course of events in a church which has touched life closely through the entire history of Congregation- alism in America and at the same time has been so happily situated in a quiet, cultured, influential town, that the church has retained its essential character, developing the underlying principles of our faith and polity in a normal, systematic and harmonious way.
Here we feel the urgent, healthful impulse which moved a pioneer community of high-minded, congenial people to organize a Church of Christ in the simplest form, according to the New Testament pattern.
They had recently emigrated from a country where Church and State were united. They did not protest against such union but against certain ecclesiastical abuses and persecutions. They naturally therefore reared their little state in the most intimate association with the church. The time came when the larger thought concerning liberty prevailed. Church and State became in a sense independent of each other and men were given the privileges of worship irrespective of form or creed. Meanwhile the Established Religion of Connecticut passed through note- worthy transitions, subjected to a thorough sifting process and strenuous discipline. Its polity grew more complex, a necessary adaptation to the needs of passing generations. Its articles of
25
RELIGION ESTABLISHED IN CONNECTICUT
faith were re-adjusted by advancing thought, a fresh interpreta- tation being given to life.
We now hear little concerning meeting-houses. We call our places of worship, churches. The rigid symplicity of primi- tive days has yielded to the ornate and dignified expression of wide spread culture. The leadership necessarily connected with an exalted office is a thing of the past. Leadership in this later century belongs to the man who achieves it.
We are members of the ninth generation in the succession of men who have contributed to the history of this Church, in the succession of men who have been nourished by this venera- ble, and vigorous Society. What is the message and lesson of these many years ?
CHAPTER II.
THE PRIME ANCIENT SOCIETY.
THE Prime Ancient Society was a name given by our New England forefathers to the first ecclesiastical organization in town. The phrase has an historic flavor. It suggests early, strenuous beginnings, the struggles and triumphs of many worthy adventurers, the lay-out of the original plantations and settlements, and a lodgment for the Church of Christ in the vast mysterious wilderness of the west.
It was with heart-ache that the fathers said farewell to mother country. They loved the old, familiar associations, well-tilled fields, trim hedge-rows that were the nesting-places of birds, comfortable homes and pleasant villages, gray massive architecture of public buildings and picturesque dominating cas- tles. These things all had a certain charm for the eye and a practical or sentimental worth. But the staunch, thoughtful emigrants tore themselves away from the dear old home, braved unfriendly seas, tarried a few months on the edge of the forest in the neighborhood of Boston, Watertown and Concord, and then with their women and children, their precious household goods and their cattle, plunged into the trackless wilderness in search of their Promised Land.
When Rodger Ludlow purchased from the Indians in 1639 the tract called Uncoa, a transaction finally approved by the Gen- eral Court, his purpose was to follow the lead of other town fathers in Connecticut and organize a settlement which would enjoy a fair degree of civil and religious liberty ; but the funda- mental principles of such liberty had not yet been stated in full- ness and the logical outcome was a thing that passed all imagi- nation.
27
THE PRIME ANCIENT SOCIETY
Fairfield, the name given to this new home of adventurous planters in 1645, ultimately extended from the Stratford line on the east to the Norwalk line on the west, its territory running back into the thickly wooded hills some twelve miles from the seashore. These boundaries describe the original parish. A patent confirming this purchase was granted to the proprietors in possession by the General Court of Connecticut, May 25th, 1685, a quit-claim deed having been previously executed by the Indians.
Ludlow, Lieut-Governor of Connecticut, a man of purpose, knowledge, energy, ambitious and confident, was not dilatory we feel assured, in pushing forward the tasks of town and church organization ; but the records of these first movements and trans- actions have been lost.
The men who shaped political and religious affairs those days were the same so that church and state became practically identical in the colony. The town of Fairfield was the paro- chial territory of the minister. And no sooner had the new comers erected their log cabins and stockaded the little neighborhood gathered about the Green than they began to extend their bor- ders, taking possession of lands farther and farther away, until the bold, aggressive pioneers were widely scattered through the parish.
The Church of Christ was the name used by the fathers in or- ganizing these first religious societies of New England. This church has been known by that name during its entire history, the later descriptive word Congregational never having been adopted by any vote that I have been able to discover. So there are two descriptive titles which serve these venerable organiza- tions-the Prime Ancient Society, designating the people when ordering the business affairs of the parish, and the Church of Christ, designating the people when engaged in the exercise of their spiritual privileges.
A larger liberty was granted to the settlers in Connecticut, than that enjoyed by Massachusetts colonists. Church members
W in
y d st
28
THE PRIME ANCIENT SOCIETY
alone had the privileges of the franchise in the older colony. Connecticut allowed others than church members to vote although it was speedily enacted that a close relation should exist between church and state and all the property owners in each settlement must share the burden of taxation for the support of the Established Religion. The first church was the church which ministered to the needs of all planters in the town. The planters were with few exceptions christian men driven to exile by harassing conditions in the home country. The town or par- ish church was the one which came near to the realization of their ideal-its independence, fellowship, primitive forms and simple methods forcibly interpreting their spirit of protest against the tyranny and oppression of the English Establishment.
Eight generations have passed since this town was legally constituted. The original parish has been divided and sub-divi- ded many times. The people in the eastern part of Fairfield, bordering on Stratford, first expressed the wish for a distinct organization. This was in the year 1690. The petition to the General Court was signed by forty-six tax payers of this town and thirteen from Stratford. There existed a natural reluctance on the part of the people here to set off such a thriving portion of the parish and carve out a new parish, but the request was finally granted in 1695 and what is now called the First Church of Bridgeport was organized.
A second division of territory was made when Compo and Maximus had gained a considerable population-nearly three hundred people-in 1711. These worshippers travelled three, or five or eight miles on foot, on horseback or in ox-cart in order to reach the Meeting-House on the Green. Roads were rough and the way seemed long. So their appeal for more convenient church privileges was granted and the Greens Farms church came into service.
A third movement of similar character took place in 1725, when the people of Greenfield Hill, petitioned the General Court
29
THE PRIME ANCIENT SOCIETY
for the organization of a separate church. This embraced the northern part of the parish including a portion of Redding.
The action of these petitioners seemed to spur on the people who lived in the extreme limits of the original parish, for only four years elapsed before the church of Redding was organized in 1729.
The people of Weston had long felt the burden of weary travel and infrequent ministerial visitation, so they besought the Legislature in 1757 to give them relief and another parish was organized, Mr. Samuel Sherwood of Fairfield being ordained to the pastorate.
That section of the town now known as Easton was set apart as a new parish in 1763, and called New Fairfield. The church was organized with nine male members including the first pastor, Rev. James Johnson, and the Council "owned them" as a consociated church.
That part of the original Fairfield parish known as West- port organized a separate church in 1832, Southport in 1843, and Black Rock in 1848. Meanwhile the old parish has passed through numerous important changes. The once thickly wooded territory is studded with well-tilled farms, prosperous industries and beautiful villages, while the suburbs of a neighboring city encroach until generous portions of contiguous territory are now controlled by Bridgeport.
The mother church whose ministry once sufficed for the undi- vided town now shares its labors with eleven or twelve other churches of the same faith, while thirteen or fourteen churches of other denominations join with the First Church of Christ in Fairfield and her associates in the evangelization and religious training of the original parish.
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