USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Fairfield > 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 anniversary of public worship in the town > Part 4
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
Mr. Hobart entitled his first book on the subject " A Serious Address to the Members of the Episcopal Separation in New England, Occasioned by Mr. Wetmore's Vindication."
58
THE EPISCOPAL SEPARATION
The author discusses three questions which he answers in the negative-(1) Whether New Englanders ought to conform to the prelatic church-(2) Whether it be prudent for Congre- gationalists to go over to that communion-(3) Whether it be lawful.
His sharp, incisive language, his varied arguments, his zeal, warmth, passion evoked several rejoinders.
This necessitated another book entitled " A Second Address to the Member of the Episcopal Separation in New England. Occasioned by the few Exceptions made to the former by Dr. Johnson, Mr. Wetmore, Mr. Beach, and Mr. Caner." The first part of the book is distinctly personal-reading which contains not a little spice, revealing interesting conditions in Fairfield and correcting various misstatements on the part of his antagonists.
It had been reported that galleries must be built in Trinity Church so that the worshippers might have room for the throng desiring to worship according to the Church of England way.
" The truth of the case was this," writes Mr. Hobart, "my worthy Predecessor the Rev. Mr. Webb, who had been for some years in a languishing state, died a few months before the date of this letter. Mr. Caner and his People were sanguine enough to expect very considerable accessions to their Church on this occasion. In confidence of this, they began to build Galleries and he wrote this account to the Society. But they were disap- pointed in their expectations." The old edifice on Mill Plain was large enough for their needs.
When they built the new edifice near the village center, Mr. Hobart quotes Mr. Caner as saying that "the old Church was near a Mile from the Centre of the Town" and "by remov- ing it into the Town, Provision was made for a decent Attend- ance at All Times." "Agreeable to this," continues Mr. Ho- bart, "it is credibly reported that when Mr. Canerdetermined to leave this People, he gave it as a Reason of his Removal, that he had spent twenty years in Preaching to bare Walls."
59
THE EPISCOPAL SEPARATION
These extracts indicate the state of feeling which existed at this time. That fear filled the minds of men like Mr. Hobart-fear lest Tyranny might stalk through the land and forge fetters for the people-is manifest in various writings which have been pre- served. An end came to Sir Edmund Andros' tyranny and. the colonies received back "their invaluable privileges both Civil and Religious," but discussion raged with unabated violence.
Mr. Hobart answers with precision and amplitude the state- ments and arguments presented by his opponents. Apostolic Succession, Parker's Consecration, Ordination in the Primitive Church, Instalment of Ministers in the early New England Churches and various ramifications of the subject are treated. He refers to the fact that a large proportion of the first ministers in our churches were Episcopally ordained in England and never renounced their ordination, their setting apart to the pastorate in this country being an installation in particular service. "We do not go to New England as Separatists from the Church of England ; though we cannot but separate from the Corruptions of it. But we go to practice the positive part of Church Refor- mation in America," exclaimed Mr. Higginson only three months before his entrance upon work in the Church at Salem.
Mr. Hobart also reverts to the fact that our ministers with few exceptions trace their Presbyterial ordination back to these first Episcopally ordained preachers. Mr. Webb was ordained by Mr. Walker and others, Mr. Walker by Mr. Warham and others, Mr. Warham by his brethren the Bishops in England. Then he refers to the " deplorable state of ecclesiastical disci- pline in the Church of England " and its effect here in the col- onies. He concludes his treatise with caustic and elaborate observations relating to "The Conduct of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts" and "The Accounts transmitted to them by Their Missionaries in New England, by which Their Conduct is very much influenced and regulated."
60
THE EPISCOPAL SEPARATION
The prominence of Fairfield in the affairs of the colony at this time and the powerful advocacy of the Established Religion on the part of Mr. Hobart gave this church a most worthy name and a widely extended influence. For some years several of its members took a leading part in matters of state. We have referred to Lieut-Governor Gold who likewise served as Judge and Chief Justice. Judge Peter Burr was another important personage who contributed most generously to the upbuilding of life in the community and colony, occupying numerous places of trust, contemporary with Mr. Gold for a period, attaining the office of Chief Justice and discharging with honor and ability the various offices which he filled. A third gentleman whose home was in Fairfield imparted tone and dignity to life in church and state during this period. For many years Mr. Ebenezer Silli- man sat as one of the Judges of the Superior Court, a distin- guished and helpful servant among the people. His name is one which appears very frequently in the records of church and parish-showing his faithful labors through a long series of years.
5
CHAPTER VIII
THE SAYBROOK PLATFORM AND THE CONSOCIATION.
Two centuries ago there stood on "Meeting-House Hill" an humble, wooden house of worship erected by the pioneer folk of the settlement called Stratfield. Hardly a decade had passed since the primitive structure was reared for the convenience of the families scattered over this region midway between Fairfield and Stratford.
Two centuries ago the door of this simple, rough-hewn edi- fice swung open on a certain day at the bidding of the Colonial Legislature. The wisdom and piety of Connecticut had assem- bled in Saybrook and devised a new ecclesiastical system. The Legislature said that it was very good and recommended that the wisdom and piety of each county assemble by representatives and adopt this system for the common governance and benefit of the Established Religion of Connecticut.
It was the middle of March when the six ministers and the twelve messengers saddled their horses and plodding through a greater or less portion of wilderness wended their slow, difficult way to the Meeting-house on the Hill. Old-fashioned winters then prevailed; and winter generally lingered in the lap of spring. The snows were deep, the ice which bridged creeks and rivers in Fairfield county was breaking up so that dangerous streams had to be forded or swum. Indians still haunted the deep forest and stole down to the shore settlements harassing the pioneers, com- pelling men to travel with gun and other necessary equipment. We can see these eighteen citizens moving cautiously upon Strat- field, alert, wearied, purposeful-subduing distance, perils, March winds and the uncertainties of adventurous travel. They would start in the morning-the more remote brethren getting an early
62
THE SAYBROOK PLATFORM AND THE CONSOCIATION
start so that the first coming together would be in the afternoon. As they arrive one after another we observe their rugged appear- ance-men inured to hardship, outdoor activity and the inci- dental strain and wear of pioneer experience.
The territory embraced by the representatives of the churches was large. Fairfield extended over a portion of what is now Litchfield county and it also included the region along the Connecticut line which 'at a later date was incorporated into the state of New York. But no ministers or messengers from these distant parts were present on this occasion. Fairfield, the county seat, Danbury which became the half-shire place of county . government, Stamford whose church had migrated from Weth- ersfield, Norwalk and Woodbury, younger settlements than those already named, and Stratfield the convenient place of assembly, each sent the minister. Stratford was represented by two messengers, her pulpit having been vacant since the death of the Rev. Israel Chauncey. Seven churches had twelve mes- sengers present-Norwalk one, Stratfield one and the others two apiece.
There was the Rev. John Davenport of Stamford whom the brethren placed in the chair of the Moderator. Mr. Davenport might be described as a true scion of the old stock. Fame descended to him from the first minister of the New Haven Colony and many of his grandsire's characteristics. This first American Davenport was an English clergyman in the city of London during the Great Plague. His fearlessness, energy and devotion were nobly illustrated by the splendid work which he did on that occasion. And fame is reflected upon him through the noteworthy conduct of his son Abraham, who stood up in the House of Deputies on the dark day when brother legislators feared the crack of doom and exclaimed in response to a suggestion of adjournment :
"Let God do his work. We will see to our's." "Bring in the candles."
63
THE SAYBROOK PLATFORM AND THE CONSOCIATION
Or words to that effect. A born leader, honors came naturally to him and he bore them with becoming grace. It was fitting that he preside over this first meeting of a body which was to take a conspicuous part in the religious history of Connecticut.
Mr. Davenport is described as "one eminent for learn- ing .... a bulwark and a barrier of our frontiers." An excellent scholar in Hebrew and Greek-endowed with remark- able memory, alert to the signs of the times, he was particularly suited to the task of presiding over the meeting. A trustee of Yale College and therefore intimate with the leaders of thought and affairs in New England, a member also of the Saybrook Synod, whose action and platform was to be reviewed and explained at this time, he had in hand the various subjects which were to be discussed. His pastorate in Stamford extended over a period of thirty eight years.
The Rev. Charles Chauncey was chosen scribe. He prob- ably furnished the paper which was a rare and expensive com- modity. A happy thing it is that the minister of the entertain- ing Church was elected to this important office, for it is perhaps owing to that fact that the record of the meeting was incorpo- rated in the Records of the First Church in Bridgeport and thus preserved for us to-day.
Mr. Chauncey was another minister with ancestors. His father Israel, had faithfully served the people of Stratford through a long, happy pastorate. He was one of the ministers who discharged the office of physician, combining treatment of soul and body, greatly to the comfort and benefit of his loyal people. His grandfather Charles, (a Trinity man of Cambridge and a professor of Greek) for whom he was named, attained enduring renown as the president of Harvard College.
With such blood running in his veins it was inevitable that he teach and preach with edification. Although comparatively young at the time when this initial meeting of the. Consociation was held in Stratfield, he had shaped the church here into good
64
THE SAYBROOK PLATFORM AND THE CONSOCIATION
form and had rendered acceptable public service in the colony.
"Present from ye Chh of Fairfield the Revd Mr. Joseph Webb," says the Record. This agreeable gentleman and shep- herd of the Prime Ancient Society came from the neighborhood of Boston. He had been what some of the brethren term "a lively and ingenious youth." His spirit of fun and mischief involved him in trouble while a student at Harvard and resulted in his temporary suspension. But the ebullition of life simply expressed the ardent, vigorous spirit which ruled him through- out his career-a spirit which later became tempered with wis- dom, kindliness and good will.
Mr. Webb was the wit of the meeting. A happy, facetious style of conversation made him exceedingly popular. We are not to think of these Puritan divines as long-faced, gloomy men, frightening the children by their severe manners and sepulchral speech. Many of them abounded in humor-making their very congregations laugh immoderately at times. The sprightly fun- loving young minister from Fairfield was one of the most hospit- able of hosts, a generous, blithe entertainer, remarkably frank and free of speech and withal a most acceptable and eminent preacher. For thirty years he acted as trustee of the young Col- lege which he had helped to found.
His faithful labors in Fairfield cover thirty-eight eventful years-one of the transitional epochs in local affairs. A large factor in the life of town and colony, he gave himself with unstinted generosity to the various forward movements of the day.
The Reverend Mr. Seth Shove, another member of the coun- cil, was the first pastor of the Danbury Church. He brought to his people the Boston atmosphere. Like Davenport, Chauncey and Webb he graduated at Harvard. The length of his pastor- ate-thirty-nine years-speaks well for him and his people. The tasks of organization in his parish fell to him by fore-ordi- nation and these tasks appear to have been performed with com-
65
THE SAYBROOK PLATFORM AND THE CONSOCIATION
mendable fidelity. He was known as a great lover of peace- the olive branch fittingly representing his controlling spirit. Need there was-great need-of wise, sympathetic men, whose office might be to pour oil upon troubled waters. The conditions of society both political and ecclesiastical were such that frequent opportunities for peace-making occurred. "It was not so in Mr. Shove's day, when all things went well," is a saying still quoted in Danbury-testimony to the noble character of the man. A friend of Judge Sewall speaks in high terms of praise concern- ing Mr. Shove-an efficient school-master for several years, a man of affairs, a modest, reserved yet capable public servant. He added dignity to the occasion when the Fairfield Consocia- tion was organized.
The Reverend Stephen Buckingham came from Nor- walk. His father, the Reverend Thomas Buckingham, was pastor of the Church at Saybrook, one of the founders of Vale College, and one of the moderators of the Synod in 1708 which formed the Saybrook Platform. His brother Thomas had served the second Church of Hartford as minister. The family was of Welsh descent. The Norwalk brother manifested characteristic force and determination. His people dealt generously with him when he settled in their midst as the record of ordination shows. A salary of eighty pounds with fire-wood was allowed him. The town built for him a house 42 feet in length, 22 feet in breadth, two stories high, with double chimneys, a comely porch and a cellar. A home lot of four acres was given him with sixteen acres of swamp and upland, ten acres of upland lying in the woods, sixty acres of other land lying in the woods, and two acres of salt meadow. There was also included in the settlement three hundred pounds right in commonage. Mr. Buckingham began preaching at Norwalk in 1695 but was not ordained until two years later. He continued in the pastorate for twenty nine years when the relation was terminated by reason of parish diffi- culties.
66
THE SAYBROOK PLATFORM AND THE CONSOCIATION
The sixth minister who sat in the Council was the Reverend Anthony Stoddard. Like several other of the pastors present he came of clerical stock. His father, the Reverend Solomon Stoddard of Northampton transmitted various notable qualities to his son. And not less worthy of remark is the inheritance received from his mother, Mary Downing, the sister of Sir George Downing, who held office under Cromwell and Charles II in England. Mr. Stoddard graduated at Harvard in 1697. He ministered intermittently as a supply in Woodbury from 1700 to 1702. In this latter year he was ordained as pastor of the Woodbury Church where his service continued until death in his eighty-third year, 1760-a pastorate of fifty-eight years preceded by two years as a supply. And he likewise served as physician and lawyer-having prepared himself for these other labors by special study. Physicians were scarce and the law of the colony in that day allowed only two lawyers for Fairfield county. It was therefore a large and onerous task which this minister performed during two generations-a period fraught with important events political, social, educational and ecclesias- tical. Mr. Stoddard took active, earnest part in the various affairs of the parish, county and colony. Clerk of Probate for his district for nearly forty years, he drew nearly all the wills of his parishioners. He was also a shrewd, successful farmer, the inventory of his estate at death amounting to nine hundred pounds, exclusive of books and wearing apparel.
An all-around man, broad minded, incessantly useful, brave, generous and benign, his presence was a distinct contribution to the weight and influence of the Stratfield convention.
This was a notable company of ministers-the pick of the colony. Learning, good family, ample means, leadership in public affairs, wisdom and influence characterized the men. It was truly a representative selection, distinguished for ability, patriotism and worth.
The twelve laymen who accompanied the ministers stood
67
THE SAYBROOK PLATFORM AND THE CONSOCIATION
high in general esteem. Deacon John Tompson and Mr. Sam- uel Cobbett of Fairfield, Joseph Curtiss Esq., and Mr. Samuel Sherman of Stratford, Lieut. James Bennett of Stratfield, Dea- con Samuel Hoyt and Mr. Joseph Bishop of Stamford, Lieut. James Beebee and Mr. James Benedict of Danbury, Deacon Zerubbabel Hoit of Norwalk, Deacon John Sherman and Deacon Matthew Mitchell of Woodbury, being names familiar these days in various fruitful, distinguished lines of descent-the years since this first meeting of Consociation being filled with the hon- orable achievements of numerous sons who have served church and state.
The churches which these ministers and messengers repre- sented were sturdy exponents of healthy conditions in pioneer life noteworthy strongholds of orthodoxy and conservatism. They had shared largely in the shaping of community and colony. Although the changes made since the first emigrants settled Fairfield county had registered themselves in a relaxed piety yet the churches contained a nucleus of earnest, devout men who constituted a stalwart body of believers.
The church first named in the record of this meeting was the Church at Fairfield. It had attained leadership in this region. The fact that Fairfield was the county seat perhaps gave the first parish a sort of precedence. Several of the prom- inent men in the colony made their home in Fairfield. Beards- ley in his History of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut speaks of Fairfield as "the chief seat of opposition to the Church of England and honored with the residence of Lieut-Governor Gold, eminent persecutor."
The second church named in the Record was the Prime Ancient of Stratford. The Rev. Timothy Cutler entered upon the pastorate of this church in the year of the Consociation's organi- zation. He was not present at the Council. Dr. Cutler became Rector of Vale College at a later date and later still resigned his office and entered the ministry of the Church of England. Strat-
68
THE SAYBROOK PLATFORM AND THE CONSOCIATION
ford parish had already been disturbed by threatened defections to the Church of England and when Mr. Muirson, the missionary ordained by the Bishop of London in 1705, came to Rye he soon visited Stratford and in 1707 a parish with wardens and vestry- men was organized. The intensity of feeling engendered by this action resulted in the freshening of that hope for better conditions which expressed itself in loyalty to the Saybrook Platform and the Fairfield Consociation. But the atmosphere of Stratford appeared to have been even more controversial than that of Fair- field for the parish had already divided on the question of the Half-Way Covenant. It was a strong church and a notable par- ish-this Stratford company of men and women-but there were many contrary winds of doctrine blowing across the country and various riotous storms gathered and broke in the neighborhood.
The third church in the order of the register is that of Stratfield. This was the youngest church represented. When it was organized in 1695 two-thirds of its familes came from Fairfield and one-third from Stratford. The name you observe is a courteous acknowledgment of kindly debt to these two mother parishes. The people were closely identified with the people of Fairfield and Stratford so that a family feeling pre- vailed in a large degree and the three churches were thoroughly sympathetic in their conservatism and hopefullness. The young church at Stratfield had made good advance at this period and stood by no means as an inferior among the churches in respect to zeal, ability and aggressiveness.
The fourth church named on the book is that of Stamford. The men who figured prominently in its affairs were typical Puritan adventurers with a larger degree of spirit and progress perhaps than characterized some of the other settlements. There was considerable unrest among members of the parish. It was a task which might well try the nerve and patience of a large man, the leadership of such a people. But Mr. Davenport was equal to it. His election as moderator of the Council was quite a
69
THE SAYBROOK PLATFORM AND THE CONSOCIATION
much an honor for the Stamford Church as for the minister. His advice and co-operation were eagerly sought on every side. The church became one of the strong churches of the colony under his inspiration.
Stamford was settled two years later than Fairfield and Stratford. The church of that town however was first in senior- ity among its sisters in the county.
Our beloved brother Mr. Scovill who has passed to his reward after a long and fruitful ministry states the case clearly in his historical discourse preached in the year 1886. The Church at Wethersfield organized by permission of the Massa- chusetts "Corte," probably in 1636, having seven voting mem- bers, divided into two bodies in 1640. The minister and three laymen with other people left Wethersfield in the spring of 1641 and migrated to the Rippowams (now Stamford.) It is said that they carried the Church Records with them, leaving the remaining three laymen to organize a new church in Weth- ersfield. This claim to seniority is respectfully denied by other historians, but I state it as a mark of respect for the long time pastor of Stamford Church.
The fifth church to have its name inscribed in the member- ship of the Council was the Prime Ancient Society of Danbury. The exact date of this church's organization is unknown, but it was probably about the year 1696 when Mr. Shove became its first pastor. The entire neighborhood manifested great interest in the building of the first Meeting-House-a frame structure forty feet in length by thirty feet in breadth. Mr. Robbins, the historian, says "It is remarkable that after the frame was raised every person that belonged to the town was present and sat on the sills at once." The parish was so fortunate as to enjoy the services of a regular physician, born and educated in England, a rare and precious privilege, which turned to the advantage of the minister inasmuch as he generally was compelled to play the part of healer when better services could not be commanded.
70
THE SAYBROOK PLATFORM AND THE CONSOCIATION
The church grew vigorously during these early years so that when minister and messengers attended the Stratfield Council it would have been impossible for the people of the parish to have crowded upon the sills of the Meeting-House. Danbury was a frontier settlement. But peace prevailed and the church was esteemed a substantial accession to the sisterhood of churches.
Norwalk stands next in the register. This church was notable for its zeal and energy. Organized probably in the year 1652 it had become one of the leading and important centers of ecclesiastical and religious activity at the time of the Stratfield Council. The parish had built its second house of worship, had. enlarged this structure, had built a long gallery where men and women sat apart in dignified reserve, had purchased and hung a bell which served the public, had attended strictly to such pro- prieties as covering the minister's desk with expensive cloth, seating the meeting according to " age, quality, and the estates of persons in the public list," the seat under the pulpit being "sequestered for such as are orderly constituted or officiate in the place or office of a Deacon or Deacons." Their prosperity and kindliness had been manifested by their generous regard for Mr. Hanford the first minister who had been requested "to proceed, though grown old in the work of the ministry, until the Lord shall dispose of him." It is interesting to note the fact that when the Lord did dispose of Mr. Hanford, the good man left one of the largest if not the largest estate in Norwalk. This influential parish was well represented in the Council.
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.