USA > Connecticut > New London County > A modern history of New London County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 42
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57
Ever since the mission of Messrs. Keith and Talbot in 1702, the Epis- copal contingent in New London had been growing, gathering to itself many elements of strength. As a port of entry, with its official collector of customs, a group of English families somewhat different from the staid Puritan strain began to be formed, of people who had been reared in the older English traditions and who craved the forms of worship that followed the church year, with Christmas and Easter emphasized, and the venerable Episcopal liturgy. On June 6, 1725. a subscription had been begun for the erection of a "church for the service of Almighty God according to the Liturgie of the Church of England as by law established." The names of Mumford, Merritt, Buor and Goddard appear at the first, followed later by the Winthrops and Saltonstalls. The first church building (undedi- cated because of the absence of a Bishop) was erected on the Parade. It was built of oak, and had a bell, being first used in 1732. Rev. Samuel Seabury, Sr., was its first rector. Wide interest was taken in the establishment of this church, subscriptions coming from as far afield as Newport and New York. The belfry was surmounted by a staff at the end of which was a gilded ball at the summit. Once upon a time as a group of Indians was N.L-1-20
306
NEW LONDON COUNTY
parading by, one of the Red Men shot an arrow at the ball and the arrow's head became embedded so deeply in the ball that it became a fixture.
In the meanwhile, another of the Yale group reached through the library, Rev. Ebenezer Punderson, had been ordained in his twenty-first year as pastor of the North Groton Congregational Church, succeeding Rev. Samuel Seabury, Sr. After only two and a half years of service, Mr. Punderson suddenly announced to his congregation that he planned to seek Episcopal ordination. Strong effort was made to keep him, but in vain. A number of his parishioners in the northern part of the township and over in the town of Preston, came together and established the St. James's parish of Poquetanock, just over the border in Preston. After being inducted into the Episcopal ministry by a new ordination, Mr. Punderson made the Poque- tanock church the basis of a most extensive work for the cause he had espoused. The reactions from the extravagances of the Great Awakening proved helpful for the growth of his more orderly and dignified conduct of religious services.
The faithful ministry of Rev. Samuel Seabury, Sr., in New London terminated in the acceptance of a call from the church at Hempstead, Long Island, in 1743. That year was marked by the strange extravagancies of the followers of Davenport, who got the people to burn books and costly clothing, the leader himself bringing to the flames a pair of expensive velvet breeches as his sacrifice of luxury. St. James's Church, as it was now called, was without a rector until the coming of Rev. Matthew Graves, a native of the Isle of Man, who served the church until the days of the American Revolution. He was a bachelor, peculiar in manner, retiring in disposition, and who gave offense to his Episcopal brethren by attending the ordination of a Congregational minister. The growth of St. James was quiet and steady. When the revolt of the Colonies took place, Mr. Graves could not violate his oath or go back on the old flag, even though George III. was not a wise ruler. His church people, however, were filled with patriotic colonial fervor. Things came to a crisis. when on November 14, 1778, the church voted that the clergyman must pray for Congress and the United Colonies. Mr. Graves brought on a riot by attempting to pray for the royal family. He was sent under a flag of truce to New York, where he died soon after. During the Benedict Arnold raid (September 6, 1781), the church, probably because of the notorious American sentiments of its members, was burned to the ground. This catastrophe laid low the activities of St. James throughout the remainder of the war. But on the signing of the treaty of peace in 1783 and on Easter Monday morning, we find the usual annual meeting held (April 25, 1783) and the project of rebuilding was undertaken.
The origin of Episcopacy in Norwich is somewhat obscure. Services seem to have been held in private houses in Chelsea (Norwich) by Rev. Samuel Seabury, Sr., and later by Rev. Ebenezer Punderson until his re- moval from Poquetanok to New Haven in 1751. An edifice for worship was constructed on the site of the present Christ Church about 1750. Eighty subscribers assisted. Between 1751 and 1763 the new organization got on with lay readers and occasional clerical supplies. In that year, Rev. John
- --
307
RELIGION IN NEW LONDON COUNTY
Beardsley came from England, serving Christ Church for five years. He was succeeded by Rev. John Tyler in 1769, whose long ministry of fifty- four years (to 1823) seems to be one of the record ministries in the county.
In the meanwhile, Samuel Seabury, Jr., had grown to manhood, and was graduated from Yale College in 1748. He went to Scotland to study medicine, but was led to change to the study of theology. He was ordained a deacon by the Bishop of Lincoln and as priest by the Bishop of Carlisle. Returning to America, he served several churches or missions in New Jersey before marrying and settling down as rector at Westchester, New York. During the Revolution he was a royalist, and served as chaplain in the British army.
Upon the proclamation of peace, the Connecticut clergymen asked Mr. Seabury to go to England and seek consecration as their Bishop. This he undertook to do. But such was the bitterness in England over the issue of the war that they refused to consecrate one who would not swear fealty to the British ruler. Whereupon Rev. Samuel Seabury, Jr., went to Aber- deen, Scotland, and was consecrated November 14, 1784, as a Bishop by a Bishop in the disestablished Episcopal Church of Scotland. He returned to America in 1785 via Newport, Rhode Island, and took up his residence in New London. His wife having died, his daughter took charge of his home. He at once took up the local work as rector in addition to the burden of his extensive diocese, to which Rhode Island was soon added. He began preaching in the new court house, until in September he could consecrate the new St. James's Church, then located on Main street.
The erection of this new edifice was a heavy task to the little company of faithful ones left after the war. A cupola was added in 1794, in which a French bell, brought by Captain Hurlbut from the West Indies, was hung. To New London from all over the United States came candidates for holy office for consecration. Innumerable problems came to Bishop Seabury for solution. He had much to do with the adaptation of the Book of Common Prayer to American uses. Here his connection with the Scotch branch of Episcopacy was especially marked. On February 25, 1796, at the age of sixty-seven, he was suddenly stricken down by apoplexy and left his many burdens to others.
His son, Charles Seabury, was elected rector on March 28, 1796, and con- tinued the local work until 1814. As noted elsewhere, these were years of greatest spiritual decline everywhere in New England, and it was especially so in New London county. Salaries of clergymen and cost of living were on a starving basis. When this pastorate came to an end, St. James was con- tent to get on for a while with a lay reader. Rev. Solomon Blakeslee found three years (1815-1818) as long as he could carry on the work. His leader- ship was, however, signalized by the installation of the first church organ in New London. Rev. Bethel Judd was the succeeding rector (1818-1832). While of the "evangelical school", he strenuously asserted the divine right of Episcopacy. . During his ministry a Sunday school was established at St. James. Mr. Judd had an admiring parishioner in a Colonel Walbach, a Roman Catholic, who had a pew in St. James. When Bishop Cheverus of
308
NEW LONDON COUNTY
Boston came to administer the rites of the Catholic church in New London, the rector had him preach in his pulpit. Not to be outdone in courtesy, the Congregational minister opened also his pulpit to the genial Catholic Bishop, who preached on "Martha and Mary".
The short ministry of Rev. Isaac W. Hallam (1833-34) was followed by the long and fruitful labors of Rev. Robert A. Hallam (1835-1877). During the enlargement of the church building, services were held by invitation in the Second Congregational Church. The growth of St. James steadily ad- vanced under this wise ministry, calling for still larger facilities. On Novem- ber 3, 1847, the cornerstone of the present beautiful gothic structure in which St. James worships was laid. Three long years of heroic struggle brought the consecration day (June 11, 1850). Mr. Hallam was formally constituted rector on August Ist of that same year. In 1855 the will of Jonathan Coit, Esq., of the Second Congregational Church, gave the community a thrill when it announced that each Protestant church in New London (seven in all) had received a substantial bequest. The sum of $3,000 came to St. James.
The present parish house was erected in 1859 as a rectory. In 1867 the church was enlarged by the addition of a vestry. In 1872 an associate clergyman was appointed (Rev. Robert M. Duff), who was active in the be- ginnings of the Bishop Seabury Memorial Church in Groton (1875). Dr. Hallam's long and blessed ministry terminated with his death in 1877. Rev. William Buckingham, the associate minister from 1876, succeeded as rector until 1885. The year following, Rev. Alanson Douglass Miller began a short ministry (1886-1889), when Rev. Alfred Pool Grint, Ph.D., came for a service of nineteen years. In 1896 the centenary of the death of Bishop Seabury was commemorated. In 1900, on St. Barnabas Day, the fiftieth anniversary of the consecration of the present place of worship was observed. In 1910, Rev. Philip Markham Kerredge began his work at St. James, during which the growth has gone on steadily. The installation of an organ in memory of Mrs. Morton M. Plant equipped the stately church to voice the deepest things of the spirit. Under its ministry a strong, broad, Christian fellow- ship is drawing all Christians together.
All this while, the Norwich phase of the Archdeaconry developed apace. The name "Christ's Church of Chelsea" was first used in 1785 as the ministry of Rev. John Tyler began to gather up the broken fragments after the Revo- lution days. In 1789, Christ's Church was moved to a more central part of Norwich, and dedicated by Bishop Seabury in 1791. The revered rector was also an adept in medicine, and went far and wide among all types of people in Norwich, healing the body as well as the soul. In 1823 he was succeeded by Rev. Seth Paddock, under whose administration the parish greatly ex- panded from sixty to nearly four hundred families in a score of years. It was during the succeeding ministry of Rev. William F. Morgan that the new parish of Trinity Church was set off in the growing city, with Rev. Edward O. Flagg for its first rector. Both churches have had a distinguished min- istry. The succession at Christ Church has such names as Walden, Banks, Binney, Geisy, Nelson (now Bishop of Albany), Emery, Davies (now Bishop of Western Massachusetts). The present rector, the Rev. Richard R. Graham,
309
RELIGION IN NEW LONDON COUNTY
is (1922) rounding out ten years of strong service. The rector of Trinity Church is also Archdeacon, the Rev. J. Eldred Brown.
In the meanwhile, Calvary Church was established in Stonington in 1847, with Rev. Junius Marshall Willey as rector. Its beautiful church was designed by the distinguished architect, Upjohn. St. Mark's of Mystic was organized into a full parish in 1865. In Norwich came a third parish in due course of time, St. Andrew's, and later another at Yantic. The missionary zeal of the Archdeaconry has added a number of smaller churches, chapels and mission stations, as set down in the roster at the beginning of this state- ment. It is as true of these Episcopal churches as it is of the churches of the other denominations, that today the ministry and the churches average as well if not better than at any time in the past and look forward to a strong future in closer relations with the common heart of Christianity throughout the county. The Archdeaconry embraces sixteen churches, chapels and other places of worship within New London county, several of them ranking with the most beautiful specimens of architecture in the State. It has a company of a dozen devoted clergy, who have leadership over 2,382 communicants and many more than ten thousand parishioners.
VI. METHODISM IN NEW LONDON COUNTY
No phase in the development of religion in New London county is more picturesque than that of the work done under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Though it was the latest of the larger Protestant bodies to enter and cultivate this field, and thus escaped all but the very minor and quite negligible persecutions incident to any religious propaganda, Methodism came to do a most needed work. The imagination follows the circuit rider as he made his way about the county from sympathetic house to house and from class-meeting to class-meeting, then from school-house to school-house and finally from church to church, pressing home in free utterance of prayer and sermon the vital things of a plain gospel.
We are particularly attracted by the heoric figure of Jesse Lee, who passed through the southern part of the county in 1789. Tradition tells of his preaching at Lyme and Niantic, but the date of September 2, 1789, comes clearly to view, as on that Wednesday he preached in New London at the newly-built court-house the first sermon under Methodist auspices. His reception seems to have been most kindly, according to a New London prece- dent, and the fervid apostle of a faith that was stirring the English-speaking race on both sides of the Atlantic was impressed with the hunger for warm- hearted and vital religion in New London. We will recall that the pastor of the First Church of Christ in New London at the time was Rev. Henry Channing, who was accounted a Unitarian in faith, and was receiving into membership into his church on the basis of reputable moral character, going to the limit in applying the spirit of the "Halfway Covenant." The Episcopal Church there was at a low ebb in its somewhat formal religious life. Bap- tists had not yet entered this seaport town. Indeed, Connecticut as a whole
310
NEW LONDON COUNTY
seemed to need something that Methodism could give, and was the open door to all New England. On September 25th of that same year (1789), Jesse Lee organized at Stratford, Connecticut, the very first Methodist church in New England, where some eighty years before Episcopacy, not without opposition, had also found its open door to Connecticut.
In 1791, Bishop Asbury came through New London on his way to Lynn, Massachusetts, and preached by way of paying for the hospitality received. In 1793 a Methodist conference held at Tolland, Connecticut, appointed George Roberts the elder in charge of all work in Connecticut. The State was organized into five circuits, of which one was the New London circuit, embracing all Eastern Connecticut from the Massachusetts line to the Sound. In October of that year (1793) a "class" was formed in New London, and Elder George Roberts began preaching in the court-house. One early con- vert was Epaphras Kibby, who in 1798 began his work as a travelling preacher. known throughout New England, carrying on a ministry sixty-seven years in length. We have seen elsewhere the mighty stirring of waters in New Lon- don county during a general revival in 1794, and Methodism must be given credit for its pervasive power. Throughout the circuit 219 persons were now gathered into "classes," and thirty-nine of these joined the Methodist mem- bership in New London. One of these was Daniel Burrows, who became a local preacher, a member of Congress, and one in the convention that adopted the present State Constitution. On July 15, 1795, Bishop Asbury held a conference in the home of this Daniel Burrows, when nineteen preachers were present. In 1798 the first church was built. On a Friday it was "raised," and on the Sunday following it was dedicated, Jesse Lee and Bishop Asbury being present and preaching. This first Methodist church building (com- pleted in 1800) stood on Golden Hill, at the corner of Union and Methodist streets. On April 17, 1808, a second conference was held in New London, with fifty preachers in attendance. The little church not being large enough. the authorities of the First Church of Christ (Congregational) courteously tendered their church for the ordination services, Bishop Asbury officiating and preaching. In 1816 a revival of exceptional proportions swept the whole region round about, affecting all classes in the community and all denomina- tions. Its principal human agency is manifested by the fact that three hun- dred persons were received at that time into the Methodist church.
This made it necessary to build a new church. The original structure was sold and removed (to be again used, however), and the new building was erected on the old site in 1818. In that year the New London church at its own request was made a station, and Rev. Asa Kent was placed in charge. Of necessity, a careful reorganization of the church ensued which, with many other causes, brought many years of discord to New London Methodism. By 1820 one hundred and fifty persons were admitted into the church, sixty-eight names were removed from the roll, twenty dropped, three persons withdrew, and twenty-four were expelled.
In 1820, Rev. Elijah Hedding (afterwards Bishop) came to the charge. He found in the church a "boisterous element" that overtaxed his strength, and he had to leave with broken health. In 1827 things came to a crisis in
311
RELIGION IN NEW LONDON COUNTY
the church, with disagreements among trustees, church people and minister, which led to an open rupture. In 1829 the church building was shut by the trustees against the members, who thereupon secured the use of the original church building. The trouble brewed for ten years. Then (1830) a new board of trustees with Rev. James Potter (1831-2), managed by good admin- istration and firm discipline to settle the difficulties. Some were expelled, others withdrew. A revival ensued. But bitter contention over the slavery question led forty members to form a Wesleyan Methodist Episcopal church, which discarded the bishopric, and were given the use of the church building by the trustees.
The original Methodist church was now reduced to one hundred and fifty-five members. The meetings were held as best they could be, finally in the court house. Here the work prospered, a gracious revival added largely to the membership, a project for a new building went forward, and the new sructure on Washington street was dedicated in 1842.
In the meanwhile, the larger work of the New London circuit went on apace. Jesse Lee had preached the first Methodist sermon in Norwich Town, in the home of Mrs. Thankful Pierce, on June 25, 1790. Bishop Asbury had secured an enterprising audience at 8 a. m. on July 20, 1795, and a "class" had been formed in 1796 with Solomon Williams as class-leader. The "Nor- wich North" Methodist church building was dedicated in 1831, Erastus Wentworth, Esq., a local Congregationalist, materially assisting. The con- version of his son Erastus in the ensuing revival amply repaid him. This was the Rev. Erastus Wentworth. This church had a steady career, broken by a marked revival in 1857, when sixty were received into the church.
Early in that century, at the Landing, a Methodist church had been organized and a meeting-house erected. But the great flood of February, 1824, had swept away the building. Baptists, Universalists, Congregational- ists and Episcopalians hastened each to offer the bereft Methodists a place for worship. The General Assembly at Hartford voted to have the Governor issue a proclamation to all churches in the State to set aside a certain Sunday for raising funds to help replace the Methodist church at Norwich Landing. This netted $463.32, and the new house was dedicated in 1825 and was called the Sachem Street Church. The East Main Street Methodist Church, in another part of the city, had been organized and its meeting-house dedicated in 1816. In 1854, the Norwich Central Church was organized and endorsed by the Conference. It dedicated its meeting-house in 1859. At last, in 1895, through the wisdom and indefatigable energy of Presiding Elder E. Tirrell, aided by the pastors of the three churches, a consolidation was accomplished, which secured the approval of the Quarterly Conference. The new church was called the Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church of Norwich. It has fully justified the wisdom of those who brought it into existence. It has had a succession of strong pastors. On its quarter of a century milestone it re- ported (1920) a membership of four hundred and seventy-two, which has since had a marked increase. Its present (1922) pastor, Rev. R. L. Roberts, has the work strongly in hand and the prospects are most cheering.
But the genius of Methodism is quite as much seen in its rural activities.
312
NEW LONDON COUNTY
Colchester was reached as early as 1806, though a church was not built until 1842. Methodism did a distinctly valuable work at that point as long as the mills were active. Since the closing of these, the church has dwindled. and is now little more than a supplied preaching station.
The Gales Ferry Church is a successful rural exemplar of Methodism in New London county. George Roberts preached here at an open air service in 1793, and for ten years there were occasional services in homes or out under the sky. A class was formed in 1803 under the leadership of Ralph Hurlbutt. In 1806 he was licensed to exhort, and in 1810 to preach, becoming practically the pastor. He is set down in the histories as their first preacher, 1806-1840. An abandoned building formerly used by an old Separatist Congregational Church, three miles to the east of Gales Ferry, was purchased and moved (1803) to the site of the present church. In 1859 the present church edifice was dedicated, and later there came a parsonage. The laymen and women of this church have been especially active. Its mem- berbership in 1920 was 54.
The Old Mystic Methodist Church dates from 1826, ten years after school-house services had been held. The first pastor lived and preached in the home of John Bennet for a year. In 1827 the mill proprietors (Hydes) became deeply interested in the organization, and the school-house was re- opened. In 1831, Rev. Daniel Dorchester was appointed to the Mystic Circuit (including Griswold, Preston and North Stonington). The church building came in 1849, only to be destroyed by fire in 1851. The Jubilee was cele- brated in 1876.
The prosperous Uncasville church dates from 1829, when a small society was formed not without opposition. But in 1835 the first meeting-house was erected and the work put on a strong basis. Revival after revival blessed the church. In 1872 the present fine structure was erected, and later a chapel added. Rev. Charles Smith is in the midst (1922) of a strong pastorate. The church is an active member of the Federation of Churches of New London and vicinity.
The Griswold or Voluntown organization (Bethel) dates back to 1841. In that year the meeting-house was erected on land deeded for 999 years. In that same year (1841) the Mystic (Bridge) Church was started, con- nected at first with the old Mystic organization. It was the outcome of a great revival in which the famous Elder Swan (Baptist) of New London co-operated with the Methodist pastor, Rev. Benjamin C. Phelps, at Old Mystic. At the close of the meetings, both Baptist and Methodist converts went down into the river together and were baptized by immersion. In 1842 the first settled minister was appointed at Mystic. The present church was erected in 1867. Rev. Jerome Greer is (1922) in the midst of a very success- ful pastorate in Mystic and Noank.
Jesse Lee, en route through Lyme, preached, as tradition would have it, on September 1, 1789. The growth of Methodism, however, was very slow. In 1843 a church was dedicated, largely through the assistance of Stephen Peck, who, tradition says, had been a leader of a rough opposition gang. At a meeting in a private house he had arisen as a sign for a riot to begin, when
313
RELIGION IN NEW LONDON COUNTY
a cat leaped upon his back from a bureau and so frightened him that before the meeting was over he had yielded to the earnest appeal of the preacher. The Methodist work does not seem to have thrived in this region, and in 1920 a membership of only twelve was reported.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.