Ninety-five years in Noroton : a brief history of the Noroton Presbyterian Church, Darien, Connecticut, Part 1

Author: Horton, Lawrence MacColl
Publication date: 1959
Publisher: [Darien, Conn.] : [The Church]
Number of Pages: 42


USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Darien > Ninety-five years in Noroton : a brief history of the Noroton Presbyterian Church, Darien, Connecticut > Part 1


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Gc 974.602 D24h Horton, Lawrence MacColl. Ninety-five years in Noroton


NINETY-FIVE YEARS IN NOROTON


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NINETY-FIVE YEARS IN NOROTON A Brief History of the Noroton Presbyterian Church Darien, Connecticut


This brief history of the Noroton Presbyterian Church was prepared by Dr. Lawrence MacColl Horton, Minister, based on a sermon preached on November 9, 1958 on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the founding of the church.


Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270


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A NEW CHURCH IS ORGANIZED IN DARIEN


IN THE FALL OF 1863 there stood on the Boston Post Road, on the site now occupied by the Hindley School property, the Noroton Union Chapel. On the evening of September 9 several interested people met there with the Rev. James William Coleman and decided that a new church should be organized. A week later they decided that it should be a Presbyterian Church and they made a formal application to the New York City Presbytery. During October two Elders, one Deacon, and seven Trustees were chosen and on Wednesday evening November 4, 1863 a commission from the Presbytery of New York formally organized the new church with appropriate ceremonies, including prayer, a sermon and a charge to the officers. The new church was called the First Presbyterian Church of Darien. There were twenty-one charter members (sixteen women and five men) of whom sixteen were Congregationalists, four were Presbyterians and one was a Methodist. On December'21 of the same year the Rev. James William Coleman was chosen as the pastor and he was installed on March 6, 1864.


ORIGINAL OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH


Elders


WILLIAM A. CUMMINGS


BENJAMIN WEED


Deacon CAPTAIN ISAAC WEED


Trustees


WILLIAM A. CUMMINGS, President


CAPTAIN ISAAC WEED


BENJAMIN WEED, Secretary


CHARLES R. BISHOP DR. C. W. BALLARD


LEWIS E. CLOCK, Treasurer


JOHN S. WATERBURY


The Union Chapel, Post Road, Noroton


NELSON L.PAGE 1957.


IN THE EARLIEST DAYS


It took some self-confidence and faith to organize this new church, for there were already three Protestant churches in town. The Congregational Church had been established back in 1737 and its present building was erected 100 years later in 1837. The Darien Methodist Church had been established in 1850, the outcome of long years of Methodist groups which met in homes. St. Luke's Episcopal Church, also an outgrowth of the Noroton Union Chapel, had been set up as a Parish in 1855. The only church established at a later date was St. John's Roman Catholic Church, which came into being in 1888.


Once organized and possessed of a minister, the church began to collect money for putting up a building. By June of 1864 nearly $5,000 had been promised. The site of our old church was then purchased from Lewis E. Clock, a trustee, and church treasurer. The price was $720, of which Mr. Clock donated $200 himself. James A. Shaw and George W. Jones, builders of Stamford and Darien, were engaged to build the church. Gage Inslee, the architect, designed a building of a type known as rural Gothic, to be built not of bricks but of cement blocks which are somewhat larger than bricks. Only the supports to the tower were brick. The new building was dedicated on May 31, 1866, having cost a total of $8,000.


Dedication Hymn


Sung at dedication of Noroton Presbyterian Church May 31, 1866


Lord, grant Thy blessing as we meet In thine own courts, Thy name to praise, Our Saviour's presence we entreat, O, may His Spirit fill this place.


A company of Pilgrims, we Here resting 'neath the eaves of Heaven, Would as a people worship Thee, Led by the Pastor thou has given.


Seal with Thy smile, thou gracious Lord, The service which we now would pay; Make one among us-may Thy word Fill all our hearts with joy to-day.


Thy wisdom here hath cast our lot, Amid these scenes and homes most dear,


And in this temple, hallowed spot, Teach us to feel our God is near.


To Thee we dedicate this shrine: Within its sacred circle come ! Be with us here, O Lord Divine, Until Thy summons calls us Home!


The original church, with horse stalls of those days


The original physical plant remained substantially unchanged until 1897 when a generous contribution made possible the erection of Sunday School and social rooms at the rear of the church. Those rooms were the smaller rooms of the old Parish House, and later included kitchen facilities in one corner. This addition was built by the contractor Richard Skelton, whose son Richard Skelton, Jr. was the church organist from 1905-1947 (except for the 10 years 1918-1928) and thus served the church for 32 years. He was succeeded in 1947 by our present organist and choir director, Gilbert T. Gledhill. The original hand pumped organ was in the front of the church, but when the Estey organ was given by the Trow- bridge family in 1913, it was installed in its present location in the rear of the church.


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A JUNIOR CHOIR


For many years Junior Choirs have given an opportunity for training in church music and have become an important part of our church worship. From one Junior Choir, the musical program has been expanded to include four youth choirs in addition to the Chancel Choir for adults. The Junior Girls Choir is for girls in Grades 5 and 6. The Intermediate Choir is for girls in Grades 7, 8 and 9. The Boys Choir is for boys in Grades 4 through 9. The Westminster Choir is for young people in Grades 10 through 12.


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DISCOURAGING TIMES


The early days were often discouraging. Numbers were few. When the building was dedicated there were only forty-five members. There were long spans of years when the church was without any settled minister and depended upon students from Union Theological Seminary, Yale Divinity School, or whatever itinerant preachers could be located. After Mr. Coleman, the first minister, left for a church in New Haven, there was a seven year period (1874-1881) with no minister. The Rev. Edward P. Cleveland, who came in 1881, only stayed one year and then left to accept a college professorship. The next five years saw the church again without a regular minister, until the Rev. Arthur Requa came in 1887.


During the six year period 1877-1883 only one new member was added to the church, and in the thirteen year period 1890-1903 the number of new recruits averaged four. But with or without a minister, with or without new members, the church carried on. The Session met regularly to consider the welfare of the congregation. The Trustees met regularly to care for the physical and financial needs of the church. A Sunday School to instruct the young was held continually under volunteer leadership. One of the guiding lights of these early days was


DOORWAY OF THE ORIGINAL CHURCH "Enter into His gates with Thanksgiving and into His Courts with Praise"


Benjamin Weed. He was the Clerk of the Session for thirty-nine years, and Sec- retary of the Trustees and Superintendent of the Sunday School for almost as long. When he died in 1909 he left his house to the church as a manse. The Benjamin Weed House today is used by the Church School, the weekday Nursery School


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LOROTON .. .. + .. . . TERLAS


PIWCH


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BENJAMIN WEED HOUSE The original manse


and provides an apartment for the assistant minister. He also left $2,000 in en- dowment which he hoped would encourage others to remember the church in their wills with large or small bequests. That hope of Mr. Weed has not borne much fruit as yet, for after these ninety-five years our endowment funds amount to only $13,766.10, $10,000 of which was received from the estate of Mrs. James A. Trowbridge.


Beginning with the pastorate of Mr. Requa (1887) the church showed a steady growth and by 1896 there were 65 members. During the ministries of Thomas G. Elliott, Carlos Martyn and William Sinclair the progress continued.


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THE REV. DR. GEORGE R. MONTGOMERY


A NEW DAY DAWNS


The modern period of the church, however, really began with the coming of the Rev. George R. Montgomery in 1925. Dr. Montgomery, born in Turkey of missionary parents, was a man of a remarkable breadth of experience. In addition to his theological training he held a law de- gree and a doctorate of philosophy. In addition to several pastorates he had taught at various times, college Philosophy and French, had served as special assistant to the American minister at Constantinople, had been a secre- tary of the Paris Y.M.C.A. and a technical adviser on Near Eastern Problems at the Versailles Peace Conference. He had written several books, had served as a war correspondent, and from 1930 until his death in 1945 he was an editorial writer for the Stamford Advocate, while serving this church. Dr. Montgomery served the church with distinction until his retirement in 1940. Dr. and Mrs. Mont- gomery, Mr. and Mrs. Martyn, and Thomas G. Elliott are buried in a church plot in Spring Grove Cemetery.


The seventy-fifth anniversary of the church was observed on Sunday, Novem- ber 20, 1938 with about 300 present. There were anthems by the Senior and Junior Choirs, and Dr. Montgomery preached on "The Time and the Season." Following the service the Women's Guild served a fellowship luncheon, the more remarkable when you consider the tiny size of the kitchen facilities and the small space available for tables.


BUILDING A PARISH HOUSE


It soon became evident that, due to Dr. Montgomery's tireless calling and the growth of the town, more space was needed if the church was to adequately serve its function in the community and especially to care for the increasing num- bers of children in the Church School. In 1935 the school numbered 168 and by


"This Parish House is dedi- cated to Dr. George R. Montgomery Minister of this church 1925-1940 A Tribute to his Devoted Leadership" (This is from the plaque which was in the building)


1940 it had grown to 252, not much behind the church membership. A committee was organized under the direction of John P. Richmond which resulted in the erection in 1939 of the old Parish House facilities. There were many who thought the project far too ambitious and the space much larger than anything the church would need. Few suspected in how short a time the new facilities would be crowded and would have to be replaced after 19 years of use. The cost of $15,000 was largely borrowed from the Stamford Savings Bank over the personal signatures of three members of the Board of Trustees, John P. Richmond, Stanley High and Miss Elizabeth Carse.


Dr. Montgomery resigned as pastor when he reached the age of 70, and remained with the church as pastor emeritus until his death in 1945.


PRESENT MINISTER CALLED TO PULPIT


The Rev. Lawrence MacColl Horton, formerly assistant minister of the First Presbyterian Church of Buffalo, N. Y. was called to succeed him and began his pastorate on September 15, 1940. He was installed by the Connecticut Valley Presbytery on Friday, October 25, 1940. The Sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Henry P. Van Dusen, president of Union Theological Seminary, the charge to the pastor was given by the Rev. Dr. James T. Cleland, now Dean of the Chapel, Duke University, and the charge to the congregation was given by Dr. Montgomery.


THE REV. DR. LAWRENCE MacCOLL HORTON, PRESENT PASTOR


MORTGAGE BURNING


In the fall of 1943 the church determined to free itself from the mortgage on the Parish House which then amounted to $12,000. A committee of fourteen members, headed by J. Roger Hull, was formed and set to work. This Debt Re- tirement Committee, as it was called, finished its work in about two years, having conducted a special drive and solicited extra gifts at Christmas in 1943, 1944, and 1945. The mortgage was actually paid off on January 27, 1945 and was publicly burned at the Loyalty Sunday service of March 4, 1945. By this time, with church membership at 480 and Church School at 334, it was evident that the church was in for a period of rapid growth, and that enlarged Church and Church School facilities would soon be a real necessity.


PLANNING A NEW CHURCH


At the Trustees' meeting of January 7, 1945 the Debt Retirement Committee was increased in size to 35, the name was changed to the Church Planning Com- mittee, and J. Roger Hull continued as chairman. The committee was authorized to study the future needs of the church and to prepare plans for meeting those needs with an adequate physical plant. A careful survey and appraisal was made, showing the growth and projected growth of Darien's population, public school enrollment, and our Church and Church School. Authored by Charles P. Pelham, the study was published in 1945 as a booklet entitled "Pre-Destined Progress." The future growth estimates made at that time later proved to be on the con- servative side, and when the booklet was reprinted in 1950, the revised charts showed how every prognostication had been generously exceeded, especially in the growth of the Church and Church School.


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The church serves more and more families in a growing community


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From 1945-1947 the Planning Committee of thirty-five, aided by twenty-five others who served on sub-committees, studied the problem. Within the Planning Committee there was set up an Executive Committee to coordinate the work of all and expedite the entire project. Its active members were Milford Baker, head of the Building Committee, Windsor C. Batchelder, head of the Finance Com- mittee, Charles P. Pelham, head of the Promotion Committee, together with J. Roger Hull, general chairman, Stanley High, and later, Norris E. Pierson. Mr. Arland A. Dirlam of Boston, a church architect of distinction, was engaged to draw plans based on the studies of the committees. By December of 1947 the plans were ready and were presented to the congregation in a distinguished brochure, handsomely illustrated, which received wide praise.


In the meantime, on December 31, 1946, Mrs. Henry C. Hodges, Jr. pre- sented to the church the large corner lot next to the old church as a site for the new edifice. With the initial plans approved, it became necessary to turn full attention to the urgent matter of raising funds. The first building fund campaign was launched on December 14, 1947 with a three year goal of $200,000. William B. Okie was the chairman. The Debt Retirement Committee had ended up in 1945 with a surplus of $135 and this, together with special Christmas envelopes in 1946 and 1947 plus slight surpluses from the operating fund in those years, brought the so-called expansion fund to about $10,000. This was the nucleus of the building fund. This first campaign ended with about $130,000. From then on, as many will remember, it was an unending series of drives. We had no pro- fessional money-raising advice, we had no financial angels, and the only way the necessary funds could be secured was to keep at it, again, and again, and again. See the efforts: Follow up drives in December of 1948 and 1949 - The May 28, 1950 "Let Us Rise Up and Build" campaign which netted $50,000 - Another drive in April 1951 - Another drive in May 1952 - Organization benefits of all kinds in the fall of 1952 - The Memorial Gifts campaign in November 1952 - The Finish and Furnish campaign of May 1953, raising about $54,469.


BUILDING THE SANCTUARY


When actual bids were secured on the proposed building it became evident that the plan was too ambitious and our funds too limited, and prices were still going up. It became necessary to revise the plans. Instead of the three units pro- posed for worship, education, and fellowship, it was decided to leave the old church untouched and to combine as many features as possible into one unit which appeared to be within the range of possibility. This, of course, meant the sacrifice of many desirable features, but there was no choice save to trim the plan to suit our pocketbooks. After competitive bidding the contract was awarded to the Vuono


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The Church as it appears today, 95 years after its founding, dedicated to serving the Kingdom of God in a growing community.


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Construction Company of Stamford. Page and Franklin of Darien were engaged as associate architects, and the ground breaking ceremony was held beneath a scorching sun on Sunday July 15, 1951. As many will remember, the construction proceeded apace with no more than the usual delays, and the cornerstone was laid with appropriate ceremonies on November 9, 1952. One year and seven months from the ground breaking the new church was opened and dedicated on Sunday February 15, 1953, with services all day long, hindered not in the least by a heavy all day rain.


CORNER STONE LAYING OF THE NEW CHURCH, NOVEMBER 9, 1952


The guest preachers for the Day of Dedication were the Rev. Dr. Eugene Carson Blake, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, in the morning, and the Rev. Dr. Henry P. Van Dusen, president of Union Theo- logical Seminary, in the evening.


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And just as a dedication hymn was sung at the first services in the "New" Church 87 years ago in 1866, for this occasion a dedication hymn was written by one of our Elders, S. Bayard Colgate, and set to especially composed music by our organist and Choir director, Gilbert Taylor Gledhill. Thus, it was eight years, one month, and eight days from the appointment of the committee to the opening of the new building.


Dedication Hymn Sung at dedication of New Church Building February 15, 1953


Larger Thy Church has grown, O Lord;


Greater the need to teach Thy word.


Open our hearts that need to see; Bring we our gifts to Thee. Faith in the future shapes our plans;


Courage and work the task demands. With brick and iron, rock and tree; Build we this house for Thee.


If we follow Thy commands,


We'd build a house not made with hands.


Let us each one Thy temple be;


Build we our lives for Thee. Strong our foundations in Thy way;


Adding our deeds like bricks each day.


Teach us to honest builders be;


Raising our walls toward Thee.


Often in laziness and pride


Far from Thy plans we turn aside.


Forgive us, Lord, those days that we


Cease building walls toward Thee.


Or worse, the times when greed and sin,


Anger and selfishness come in,


Tearing down walls that prayerfully Once we built up toward Thee.


Tight be our roof; let it keep out


The rains of fear, the fogs of doubt.


From snows of hardened hearts be free;


Sheltered, O Lord, in Thee. Large be our windows to receive


Light for the guidance Thou dost give And in the darkness beacons be Giving light back from Thee.


Into Thy house let music come To dedicate Thy earthly home. Make of our lives a harmony Singing, O Lord, of Thee. Raise we the steeple now on high Making a path from earth to sky. Shining at last Thy cross we see Raising our souls to Thee.


The three-manual pipe organ, which was the gift of Mrs. E. S. Auchincloss, was dedicated at a special service held on December 13, 1953.


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The contract cost of the new church was in rough figures $350,000, of which $250,000 had been raised in cash and pledges through the successive campaigns, and $100,000 had been borrowed from the Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co. on a fifteen year mortgage. Through appropriations in the annual budget and special gifts, the amount as of December 31, 1958 was $28,686, carried by a loan from an individual with no interest charge. In addition to the building costs about $100,000 was raised and spent on pews, organ, decorating, landscaping, etc. So was completed a new and distinguished house of worship in Darien.


"I deliver to you the keys of this building, erected for the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, and pray you now to dedicate it to the worship of Almighty God''


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A CHOIR RECOGNITION SUNDAY IN THE NEW CHURCH


MORE CHANGES


While waiting for the new building other changes had been taking place. In the fall of 1948 the Church School, which had traditionally been held at 9:45 a.m., became, with an enrollment of 489, too large to handle at one hour. After exploring various solutions it was agreed to split the school into two sessions. To accommodate all who wished to worship and to meet the schedule of two Church School hours, it was decided to hold two church services. The first 9:30 service was held on November 5, 1950 with 64 present. Attendance at the early service has continued to grow and often equals that at the 11 o'clock service.


Also during this period the Church acquired the White property, between the church and Weed properties. A congregational meeting on October 17, 1949 authorized the purchase at a cost not to exceed $22,000. This purchase rounded out the church holdings and now provides a home for the sexton.


THE WHITE HOUSE


PROVIDING A MANSE


The next project was to provide the church with a manse, since the Weed House has not been used for this purpose since 1932 and the church had been renting a home for the minister. The Joint Boards on May 12, 1954 authorized a fund raising committee for a manse with Frank H. Orr as chairman. The campaign was launched with Manse Sunday on May 23. On September 23 a Manse Acquisi- tion Committee was appointed with Cleveland S. White as chairman. Upon the recommendation of this committee, a special congregational meeting held on January 20, 1955 authorized the purchase of a lot on the newly developed Nicker- son Lane, and approved the construction of a manse at a cost not to exceed $40,000. Mr. White served as chairman of the committee, a contract was nego- tiated with the Arthur Olson Associates, and on May 18, 1955 ground was broken. By October 24, 1955 the house and grounds were substantially completed and the house was occupied. In December of 1956, through the funds raised in two drives and a special gift, it was possible to pay off the mortgage on the manse, leaving it free and clear of debt.


A HOME FOR THE MINISTER ON NEARBY NICKERSON LANE


STILL PLANNING AND BUILDING


During the fall of 1954 the Boards of the Church began discussions of the fact that the growth of the Church and Church School made increasingly important the completion of plans for the educational and administrative unit of the church plant, which were a part of the long range plans when the sanctuary was opened on February 15, 1953. These discussions resulted in the appointment of the Church Planning and Development Committee, James J. Cochran, Chairman, at the annual congregational meeting on January 28, 1955. This committee, with the help of over seventy-five members of the Church, studied carefully the future needs of the Church and developed plans to meet these needs. They reported to the Boards on October 28, 1956 and to the annual meetings of January 27, 1956 and January 25, 1957. $4,000 had been included in the 1956 church budget to provide for preliminary architectural consultation and advice. Further studies by the com- mittee, assisted by a Joint Boards committee, revised the plans to bring them within the financial ability of the church. Daniel D. Merrill of Merrill and Holmgren of New York City, was engaged as architect.


These revised plans were approved by the Joint Boards on September 15, 1957 and by a special congregational meeting on October 16, 1957. The latter meeting also authorized a fund raising campaign for $400,000, the estimated cost of the project, and the appointment of appropriate committees to conduct the fund raising drive and upon its completion to proceed with the building. Windsor C. Batchelder was appointed chairman of the permanent committee. The building fund drive was held during January and February 1958. Norris E. Pierson was chairman, with the professional guidance of Ketchum and Company.


John A. Lincoln was appointed chairman of the Building Committee and after competitive bidding the contract was awarded to Wenzel Co., Inc. of Stamford. Work was begun on May 12, the ground breaking ceremony was held on May 25, 1958 in the rain, and the cornerstone was laid on a beautiful October 19, at 12:15 p.m.


GROUND BREAKING FOR THE EDUCATIONAL, AD- MINISTRATIVE AND MUSIC BUILDING, MAY 25, 1958


The building provides nineteen rooms for the use of the Church School and for weekday activities. It also provides a rehearsal room and robing rooms for our five choirs of over 200 voices. Administrative offices for the Assistant Minister, the Director of Christian Education, and the church and educational secretaries are grouped together in a central location. With the building completed it has been possible to refurbish the original church as an adequate and attractive chapel for small weddings and funerals, worship services for various departments of the Church School and youth groups and other purposes.


Construction was finished in February 1959 and the service of Dedication was held on Sunday, March 15, at 4:00 p.m. The guest preacher for the occasion was the Rev. Dr. James D. Smart of Union Theological Seminary in New York City, the author of several books on Christian education and the first editor-in-chief of the Faith and Life Church School Curriculum of the Presbyterian Church.


Thus, after ninety-five years in this one spot, The Noroton Presbyterian Church finds itself with a membership, as reported to the last General Assembly, of 1900, a Church School with over 1100 pupils and staff, and a physical plant providing adequate space for the program.


From the small original group of twenty-one Christians has come this stronger church, seeking to serve the spiritual needs of a rapidly growing suburban com- munity and through denominational and interdenominational agencies to extend its Christian influence out across the world. Let us thank God then and take cour- age for the future.


THE NEW BUILDING TAKES SHAPE


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MINISTRY OF THE NOROTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH


MINISTERS


James W. Coleman 1864-1874


Edward Park Cleveland 1881-1882


Arthur Requa 1887-1903


Thomas G. Elliott 1904-1905


Carlos Martyn 1906-1917 William Sinclair 1918-1924 George R. Montgomery 1925-1940 Lawrence MacColl Horton 1940-


STAFF


ASSISTANT MINISTERS


STUDENT ASSISTANTS


Nathaniel T. Goodwin


Sept. 1, 1954-Aug. 1, 1957


Norman S. De Wolfe


Aug. 1, 1957-


ORGANISTS AND CHOIR DIRECTORS


Richard Skelton, Jr. 1905-1947 Gilbert Taylor Gledhill 1947-


SECRETARIES


CHURCH


Miss Agnes W. Valentine 1946-


EDUCATIONAL


Mrs. F. W. Bloecher, Jr. Sept. 1954-July 1957


Mrs. Donald F. Shipman Aug. 1957-


Mrs. Carl G. Baumes


April 15, 1958-


THE OFFICIAL CHURCH FAMILY DURING THE PRESENT PASTORATE


Our church records prior to 1940 are so incomplete that it would be im- possible to list all of the earlier "official church families" without unintended errors and omissions. There follows a listing of the members of our "family" since the beginning of the present pastorate. Obviously, however, these names are but a few of the dedicated hundreds in our growing congregation, many of whom have not filled official positions but all of whom have given untiringly of their time, devotion, efforts, financial support, labor, and prayers for the strengthening of the Church and the Kingdom of God.


CHURCH SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS


John P. Richmond 1940-1942, 1946-1947


Merwin M. Brandon 1943-1945 Luis Weil 1947-1951


Myron F. Warner


1952-1955


Robert B. Thomas


1956-


CHURCH TREASURERS


John P. Richmond 1940-1942


Richard F. Skelton III 1943 Richard E. Myer 1943-1945 F. Beardsley Foster, Jr. 1946-1949


Milo L. Voight


1950


J. Gordon Atkins 1951-1953


F. Beardsley Foster, Jr. 1954-1955


William T. Johns 1956-1958


CHAIRMEN OF BOARD OF TRUSTEES


James J. Johnson 1940


Stanley High 1940-1945


Windsor C. Batchelder


1946-1948


Milford Baker 1949-1952


Richard E. Myer 1953-1954


Frank H. Orr 1955-1957


John O. Larson 1958-


CLERKS OF SESSION


Ernest Thompson


1940-1946


Charles R Peddle


1947-1948


Lester Hazen King


1949-1953


Edward O. King 1954-1955


Maxson R. Crandall


1956


Lauren O. Lindstrom 1957


Charles N. Swenson 1945 Harriet VanRiper 1946-1948 Charles E Poling 1951-1952 Robert A. Morgan 1953


James Phillips 1954


Earl MacCormac 1956 Burton Cantrell 1957 J. Philip Zaeder 1958


DIRECTORS OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION


Mrs. Richard K. Smith ( Harriet VanRiper)


1949-June 1950


Sally Cahill Sept. 1, 1950


Ella-Jean Streeter Nov. 15, 1951-June 30, 1956 Mrs. James W. Campbell July 1, 1956-April 15, 1958


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LOYALTY SUNDAY CHAIRMEN


Charles P. Pelham 1941-1942


Lorimer B. Slocum


1943-1944


Milford Baker


1945-1946


Richard E. Myer


1947


Eugene D. Towler


1948


Harder Smith 1949


1950


Clyde E. Vaughan


T. K. Woods


1951


Francis C. Miller


1952


Harder Smith


1953


Howard I. Earl


1954


John S. Gaines 3d


1955


Harry W. Knight 1956


William T. Leslie


1957


Robert H. Lane 1958


PRESIDENTS OF WOMEN'S GUILD


Mrs. Mildred Leach 1940-1942


Mrs. Lester Hazen King 1942-1944


Mrs. James J. Johnson


1944-1946


Mrs. John P. Richmond 1946-1948 Mrs. Stanley High 1948-1952


Mrs. John G. Belcher 1952


Mrs. Donald H. Powers 1953-1957 Mrs. Irving H. Kingman 1957-1958 Mrs. Cotton Rawls 1958-


CO-CHAIRMEN OF COUPLES CLUB


Mr. and Mrs. Richard Seipt 1945-1946 Mrs. and Mrs. John M. Keese 1947 Dr. and Mrs. Ralph L. Roberts 1948-1949 Mr. and Mr. William T. Johns 1950


Mr. and Mrs. John H. Sandham 1951


Mr. and Mrs. Raymond P. Devoluy


1952


Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Brown 1953 Mr. and Mrs. Beecher N. Claflin 1954


Mr. and Mrs. G. Emerson Cole 1955


Mr. and Mrs. James F. Lunn 1956 Mr. and Mrs. Warren I. Smith 1957


Mr. and Mrs. George L. Fox, Jr. 1958


LAYMEN'S SUNDAY PREACHERS


Milford Baker


Norris E. Pierson §


Feb. 1952


John P. Richmond


1952


Merwin M. Brandon


1953


J. Roger Hull 1954


Dr. Joseph R. Kidd 1955


Myron F. Warner 1956 Gordon C. Aymar 1957


Robert B. Thomas 1958


Those who have served as Elders since 1940


Abbott Abercrombie


Ernest Allen


Gordon C. Aymar


Mrs. William H. Bagnal Windsor C. Batchelder


Francis C. Miller


Richard E. Myer


Carl W. Nichols, Jr.


Merwin M. Brandon


Victor D. Broman


Eugene T. Burgesser


Mrs. Charles P. Caruso


Frank W. Chambers


Donald H. Powers


Dr. Cotton Rawls


John P. Richmond


Howard I. Earl


Wilbur S. Edwards Dr. Newell W. Giles


Mrs. John H. Sandham


Richard Seipt Miss Lucy P. Shaw David B. Sutherland Robert B. Thomas


Ernest Thompson, Jr.


William H. Timbers


Eugene D. Towler George F. Tyler Milo F. Voight Mrs. L. E. Waddington


Myron F. Warner John A. Weed


Cleveland S. White


Henry R. Kreider Arthur B. Langlie Mrs. Mildred Leach Lauren O. Lindstrom


Mrs. Franklin McDermott Franklin McDermott


William G. McTaggart


Alexander Maxwell


John G. Belcher Everett D. Bivens


J. Arthur Olson Frank H. Orr


Mrs. Francis J. Pataky Charles R. Peddle Norris E. Pierson


Beecher N. Claflin S. Bayard Colgate


Maxson R. Crandall


Mefford R. Runyon


Wayne Hicklin T. R. Higgins Mrs. Stanley High Stanley High Kellam Hooper J. Roger Hull James J. Johnson Benjamin Kendall Edward O. King Lester Hazen King


John S. White Theodore K. Woods


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Those who have served as Deacons since 1940


Abbott Abercrombie


Mrs. John C. Gledhill


Mrs. Gordon C. Aymar


Gordon C. Aymar, Jr.


Douglas A. Greig Wayne Hicklin William T. Johns William H. Kendrick


Windsor C. Batchelder Mrs. Gertrude E. Baur Mrs. John G. Belcher Mrs. Clarence E. Bouton Merwin M. Brandon Carl A. Brannan


Mrs. Lester Hazen King


Lester Hazen King Mrs. William H. Lange


Jonathan A. Brown


Harry F. Carlson


Lawrence K. Carpenter


Frank W. Chambers


Hugh H. Conklin


Maxson R. Crandall, Jr.


James L. Crider, Jr.


George Cushman, Jr.


Arthur H. Sherin, Jr.


Riley Denny


Mrs. David B. Sutherland


George P. Drowne, Jr.


Mrs. Bruce L. Taylor


Gilbert M. Dunnet Mrs. Howard I. Earl Howard I. Earl


Robert B. Thomas Richard E. Tibbetts


James W. Flynn


Arthur L. Trowbridge Mrs. Milo L. Voight Myron F. Warner


Those who have served as Trustees since 1940


J. Gordon Atkins


Mrs. Mildred Leach


William H. Bagnal


William T. Leslie


Charles C. Baker


John A. Lincoln


Milford Baker


James F. Lunn


Windsor C. Batchelder


Walter T. MacAdam


P. Hurley Bogardus


Alexander Maxwell


Clarence E. Bouton


Francis C. Miller


John S. Bowman Victor D. Broman


John O. Nicklis


Donald E. Burgesser


Frank H. Orr


Miss Elizabeth Carse


Randolph G. Pack


David Carson


Mrs. Francis J. Pataky


Renwick E. Case


Charles P. Pelham


George Champion Beecher N. Claflin


Richard N. Rand


S. Bayard Colgate


Dr. Cotton Rawls


Phil C. Coulter


Walter E. Remmers Herbert N. Repp


L. McGregor Demarest


Mrs. John P. Richmond


John P. Richmond


Mrs. Howard I. Earl Howard I. Earl


Mrs. Norton V. Ritchey


James W. Flynn


Mefford R. Runyon


F. Beardsley Foster, Jr. Willard R. Foster John S. Gaines 3d


Richard Seipt Richard F. Skelton III Harder Smith


Lester F. Grieb John C. Griswold


David B. Sutherland


John H. Thomas


William H. Timbers


Eugene D. Towler George F. Tyler


Clyde E. Vaughan


J. Roger Hull


Milo L. Voight Myron F. Warner Luis Weil


Cleveland S. White


T. K. Woods Emile J. Zimmer, Jr.


William T. Johns Mrs. Lester Hazen King Harry W. Knight John O. Larson


Mrs. Alexander Stuart


Lurelle V. A. Guild Mrs. Oliver S. Hagerman Charles H. Hashagen Royal F. Herdeg Stanley High Kellam Hooper Robert C. Hopkins


Mrs. Donald H. Powers


B. Alden Cushman


Richard E. Myer


Mrs. Alan P. Fort


Mrs. L. Farley Lindskog G. Thomas McElwrath Hugh F. MacMillan


R. Lee Mitchell William J. Rahe J. Reid Roller John H. Sandham


Mrs. Andrew J. Shaw


24





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