USA > Connecticut > Contributions to the ecclesiastical history of Connecticut > Part 37
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
* Allen. + Sp. An. 1, 682.
THE CHURCH IN MIDDLE HADDAM, IN CHATHAM, ORG. SEPT. 24, 1740.
Benjamin Bowers,
Sept. 1740
1761
Benjamin Boardman, * Jan. 1762
1783
1802
David Selden,
Oct. 1785
Jan. 1825
Charles Bentley,
Feb. 1826
May,
1833
Stephen A. Loper,
Jan.
1834
Oct.
1841
William Case,
1842
1844
Philo Judson,
1846
1847
James C. Houghton,
Sept. 1847
Feb. 1851
William S Wright,
1851
1853
James Kilbourn,
May, 1853
July, 1857
Benjamin B. Hopkinson,
1858
Added to the Church under the first pastorate, 199; second, 171; third 281; fourth, 90, of whom 51 at one time, July 1, 1827; baptized under the second pastorate 690; third, 539; Marriages, 319.
From the formation of the Church the pulpit has very seldom been vacant. The Church has been blessed with revivals. Rel. Intel. 11, 619.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Israel Brainerd, James Brainerd Taylor, Thomas Tallman, Jacob H. Strong, David Selden, Sylvester Selden, William Wright, David A. Strong.
* Sp. An. 1, 513.
THE SECOND CHURCH IN MIDDLE HADDAM, IN CHATHAM, ORG. MARCH, 1855. J. H. Newton, March, 1855
423
History of the Churches.
This Church was formed at Middle Haddam Landing, in consequence of the inconvenience to many members of the Congregational Church of going a long distance to public worship, and of the need of having a house of worship of the Congregational denomination at the Landing. The Church was formed with 23 members.
THE FIRST CHURCH IN MIDDLETOWN, ORG. NOV. 4, 1668.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED.
Samuel Stow,
1651 ?
1667 ?
Nathaniel Collins,*
Nov. 1668
Dec. 1684
Noadiah Russell, t
Oct. 1688
Dec. 1713
William Russell,
June, 1715
June, 1761
Enoch Huntington, §
June, 1762
June, 1809
Dan Huntington,
Aug. 1809
Feb. 1816
Chauncey A. Goodrich, D. D. | July,
1816
Dec.
1817
Feb. 1860
John R. Crane, D. D., T
Nov.
1818
Aug. 1856
James C. Crane,
Jan. 1854
April, 1856
Jeremiah Taylor,
Oct. 1856
The congregation was gathered as carly as 1651. "The great object of the Colonists, who settled in Middletown, was to enjoy unmolested, the right of worshiping God according to the dictates of their own consciences." Difficulties arose in the congregation respecting Mr. Stow, and the question in debate became so serious that the aid of the General Court was finally in- voked to bring matters to a crisis. The decree of the Court was "that the town of Middletown is free from Mr. Stow as their engaged minister, and that the Court appoint a committee to further a settled ministry in that place."
In the ministry of Mr. Collins the Church had great prosperity. Cotton Mather says of him. "The Church of Middletown, upon Connecticut River, was the golden candlestick, from whence this excellent person illuminated more than that whole colony ; and all the qualities of most exemplary piety, extraordinary integrity, obliging affability, joined with the accomplishments of an extraordinary preacher, did render him truly excellent." He was a member of the Saybrook Synod: p. 7, 10. The Russells, father and son, were eminent in their day ; the father was one of the founders of Yale Col- lege; the son died on the 46th anniversary of his ordination. Whitfield, having been his guest for a night, said of him, " I think him an Israelite in- deed, and one who has been long mourning over the deadness of professors. Oh! that all ministers were like minded."
Enoch Huntington the fourth pastor, was a ripe scholar, and in connection with his parochial labors, engaged in teaching young men.
A number of seasons of revival have been enjoyed; and the num- bers added to the Church from time to time, when such special seasons have not been enjoyed evinces a healthy tone of piety at all times.
The Church and Society are now occupying their third house of worship.
424
History of the Churches.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Nathaniel Collins, Jeremiah Leaming, D. D., (Ep.) Robert Hubbard, Joseph Washburn, J. P. K. Henshaw, D. D., (Ep.) James B. Crane, Jonathan E. Barnes, Seth Wetmore, Israhiah Wetmore, Wait Corn- well, Seth B. Paddock, (Ep.) Simeon North, D. D., John H. Newton, Enoch Huntington.
* Sp. An. 1. 183. Allen. + Sp. An. 1, 261 ; 2, 237. # Sp. An. 2. 237. Allen. § Sp. An. 1, 606. Allen. | New Englander for 1860, 328. TSp. An. 2, 562. Cong. Y. B. 2,93.
THE SOUTH CHURCH IN MIDDLETOWN., ORG. OCT. 28, 1747.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED.
Ebenezer Frothingham,
Oct.
1747
1788
1798
Stephen Parsons,
Jan.
1788
Aug. 1795
David Huntington,
Nov.
1797
Oct.
1800
Horatio T. Mc Gregor,
Oct.
1801
Jan. 1802
Benjamin Graves,
Oct.
1803
Jan. 1812
Ahab Jincks,
Aug.
1816
May, 1820
Thomas T. De Verell,
May,
1822
1823
Horace Hooker,
1826
Sept. 1827
Edward R. Tyler,
Dec.
1827
Apr. 1832
Sept. 1848
Wm. H. Beecher,
Mar.
1833
Sept. 1833
Robert McEwen,
May, 1835
Aug. 1838
Arthur Granger,
April, 1839
May, 1844
Andrew L. Stone,
Sept. 1844
Jan.
1849
John L. Dudley,
Sept. 1849
Jan. 1854
John L. Dudley,
Jan. 1854
This church originated in the great revival of 1740. It was but one of the organized results of the stirring preaching of Edwards, and men who sympathized with him. It was no stranger to the salutary discipline at- tendant upon such as strove for the direct spirituality, pure doctrines, and simple polity of the pilgrim fathers. Notwithstanding early trials, the church advanced. Under its first ministry, its records show peculiar thrift and vigor. That of Mr. Huntington contributed to the spiritual well-being of the church. He labored with eminent success, and was a man of ardent piety. From 1812 to 1827, the church passed through a varied history, and some very dark and discouraging days. But under Mr. Tyler, it rallied. The present church edifice was built during his pastorate; the first was built in 1774. To him the church and society owe much of their present vigor.
THE FIRST CHURCH IN MILFORD, ORG. AUG. 22, 1639.
Peter Prudden,* April, 1640
July, 1656
Roger Newton, t Aug. 1660 June, 1683
Samuel Andrew, + Nov. 1685 Jan. 1738
425
History of the Churches.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED.
Samuel Whittlesey,&
Dec. 1737
Oct. 1768
Samuel Wales, D. D., !!
Dec. 1770
May, 1782
1794
William Lockwood, T
Mar. 1784 Apr. 1796
June, 1828
Bezaleel Pinneo, **
Oct. 1796
Sept. 1849
David B. Coe, D. D.,
Oct. 1840
Aug. 1844
Jonathan Brace, D. D., Sept. 1845
The church was organized before the settlement of the town was com- menced. The formation of the church is thus referred to in Mather's Mag- nalia : "There were then two famous churches gathered at New Haven ; gathered in two days, one following upon the other, Mr. Davenport's and Mr. Prudden's, and with this one singular circumstance, that a mighty barn was the place wherein the duties of that solemnity were attended." There have been two colonies from the church ; the first in 1741 ; the second in 1805. Both of these colonies were the germs of two now flourishing churches, viz: the second church in Milford, and the Church of Christ in Orange.
Mr. Andrew was one of the three prime movers in founding Yale College ; also a member of the Saybrook Synod, in 1708, and Rector of the college; pp. 4, 8, supra. The church has been destitute of a settled pastor, since its formation, twelve years and eight months. None of the nine pastors were driven away ; and the average term of official service of each pastor is about a quarter of a century.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Samuel Treat, Job Prudden, Nehemiah Prudden, tt Gibson Tomlinson, Abijah Carrington, Samuel Rogers Andrew, Samuel Mer- win, Elijah Baldwin, Joseph Fowler, Benjamin Fenn, -- Platt, Joseph Whiting, Phineas Stowe, Samuel J. M. Merwin, William G. French, David B. Davidson, Green Tibbals, Lewis French, Elijah C. Baldwin, John Gunn Beard, W. I. Budington, D. D., Calvin Lord, Alanson Clark.
* Math, Mag. 1. 357. +Sp. An. 1. 37. Allen. #Sp. An. 1. 269. Allen. § Allen. Į Sp. An. 1. 710. TSp. An. 1. 413. Allen. ** Sp. An. 1. 605. tt Allen.
THE PLYMOUTH CHURCH, IN MILFORD, ORG. 1741.
Job Prudden,*
May, 1747
June, 1774
Josiah Sherman,
Aug. 1775
June, 1781
Nov. 1789
David Tullar,
Nov. 1784
Dec. 1802
Sherman Johnson, t
Feb. 1805
May, 1806
Caleb Pitkin,
Mar. 1808 Oct. 1816
Jehu Clark,
Dec. 1817
1826
Asa M. Train,
July, 1828
Jan. 1850
J. M. Sherwood,
May, 1841
Oct. 1852
S. G. Dodd,
Oct.
1852
July, 1854
Wm. Scofield,
Nov. 1854
Apr. 1858
W. Nye Harvey, (c.)
Oct. 1858
55
426
History of the Churches.
A large and respectable minority of the first church objected to the settle- ment of Mr. Whittlesey, on suspicion of his being an Arminian. After several months trial, they failed to gain satisfaction, and applied to the church, then repeatedly to the Association, and next to the town, to' relieve their grievances. Failing in these, they petitioned the County Court for re- lief, and next, they were induced to dissent from the constitution of our churches, and " declare for the excellent establishment of the church of Scotland." After this, they repeatedly applied in vain to the court for relief. Gov. George Law, of the First Society, sent Mr. Benajah Case to prison for preaching to them ; issued warrants to arrest other ministers ; and sentenced Rev. Samuel Finley, afterwards President of Princeton College, to be trans- ported from the colony ; and Mr. Pomeroy, of Hebron, was called to answer to the General Assembly for preaching to them. At length, after five years, the County Court granted them liberty to erect a house of worship, though the doors of their own house were closed against five evangelical preachers du- ring the very year of its completion. In seven years more, the Legislature released them from taxes to the First Society, but did not grant them ample society privileges till ten years later. At length, in 1770, thirty-three years after they began their dissent, they were allowed their proportion of the funds for the support of the gospel. While other denominations were early tolerated, thus intolerant were "the powers that be" to dissenters of their own order,-a course of procedure well calculated to build up other sects. See Trumbull, 2, 335-9, and Church Manual.
* Allen. + Mendon. As. 278.
THE CHURCH IN MILLINGTON, IN EAST HADDAM, ORG. DEC. 2, 1736.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED.
Timothy Symmes,
Dec. 1736
1743
Hobart Estabrook,
Nov. 1745
Jan. 1766
Diodate Johnson, July, 1767
Jan. 1773
Eleazer Sweetland, May, 1777
Mar. 1787
William Lyman, D. D .*
Dec. 1787
Aug. 1823
1833
Herman L. Vaill,
April, 1825
Apr. 1828
Nathaniel Miner,
May, 1833
Oct. 1857
A. C. Beach,
Feb. 1859
The Ecclesiastical Society was formed Oct. 1733. Till some time in 1743, when their meeting house-fifty feet by forty-was prepared for use, the people worshiped in the dwelling house of Jonathan Chapman.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Nathaniel Emmons, D. D, t Edward Dorr Griffin, D. D., # Warren G. Jones, George A. Beckwith.
* Allen. t Mendon Assoc. 109. Sp. An. 1. 693. Memoir and Works. # Sp. An. 4. 26.
427
History of the Churches.
The Church in Millplane, in Danbury, Org. Oct. 29, 1851.
MINISTERS. SETTLED. DISMISSED. DIED.
Enoch S. Huntington, Oct. 1851 1854
Nathan Burton,
Oct. 1854
Oct. 1855
This church began with eighteen members, under the leading of a man of energy and property-Mr. Birchard. But he soon died ; and after that event it drooped and flagged. It had a neat meeting house, but no funds. After being supplied by Methodist ministers about four years, it disbanded April 28, 1860.
THE CHURCH IN MILTON, IN LITCHFIELD, ORG. AUG. 19, 1798.
Benjamin Judd,
May, 1802
June, 1804
Abraham Fowler,*
Sept. 1807
1813 1815
Asahel Nettleton, D. D.
1813
Levi Smith,
1825
Ralph Smith,
Oct. 1841
1844
John F. Norton,
Oct. 1844
Apr. 1849
Herman L. Vaill,
June, 1849
Dec. 1851
Francis F. Williams,
Dec. 1851
Apr. 1853
James Noyes,
July, 1853
July, 1854
George J. Harrison, Sept. 1854
This is the parish described in the Life of Nettleton (p. 67) as "a waste place"-" the people not only without a pastor, but so weakened by divisions, and by the loss of their parish fund, that they almost despaired of ever en- joying again the privilege of a preached gospel." The history of this feeble missionary church is a deeply interesting and eventful one ; filled with sad- ness-and yet with many signal interpositions of God in its behalf. For long periods of time, the regular services of the sanctuary have been sus- pended, and the scattered members of the church left to wander as sheep without a shepherd. But when the church seemed ready to perish, Nettle- ton, in 1813, and Levi Smith, in 1825, under the providence of God, were sent to revive his work, gather in a new band of converts, and so strengthen the things which remained. It appears to have been an error of great magni- tude, that after the successful labors of Nettleton and Smith, the regular ministry of the word was not secured and sustained. God's providence was strikingly seen in causing the church to resume their efforts, and secure reg- ular preaching in 1841. Had the effort been deferred for a single month, there is reason to believe that the church would have been now extinct.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Noah Bishop, James Kilbourn.
# Sp. An. 2. 229.
THE CHURCH IN MOHEGAN, IN MONTVILLE, ORG. JULY 9, 1832. Anson Gleason, April, 1835 Sept. 1848
428
History of the Churches.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED. DISMISSED. DIED.
D. W. C. Sterry,
June, 1848
Apr. 1851
William Palmer, (Bapt.)
May, 1851 Dec. 1855
Oliver Brown, Jr.
Oct. 1856
May, 1857
H. C. Hayden,
June, 1857 June, 1858
J. W. Salter,
Aug. 1858
The meeting-house was erected by donations of their friends, in 1831. The people number about two hundred persons-one third Indians, and two- thirds whites, settled on the tribe land. The origin of the church was in this wise : "Miss Sarah L. Huntington, of Norwich, and Miss Elizabeth Raymond, of Montville, commenced a day school at the house of Deacon William Dolbeare, in December, 1829. Their compassion was moved, in view of the moral desolations, and in 1830, they commenced a Sabbath School, assisted by other sisters and brethren, of kindred spirit, from Nor- wich and New London. Miss Huntington furnished her own supplies, and often walked six miles to her charge. These labors of love she continued until her marriage with Rev. Eli Smith, and her entrance on a foreign mission. See Memoir of Mrs. Smith, Sept. 1831. Since the organization of the church in 1832, which was composed of five whites and one aged female Mohe- gan, there have been numerical and moral improvements in the church, schools and society. The funds for the support of the ministry and educa- tional purposes, are obtained from the United States, and from friends in Norwich, New London and vicinity. Since 1848, Gen. William Williams, of Norwich, assisted by other brethren in Norwich and New London, has had a careful supervision of their religious affairs. For several years, Gen. Williams has left the ministrations of his own pastor, attended service here, superintended the Sabbath School, distributed thousands of tracts, and mostly supported the minister. Their schools, congregation, society, deco- rum and progress, would not suffer in comparison with those in any of our rural districts.
THE CHURCH IN MONROE, (FORMERLY NEW STRATFORD,) ORG. DEC. 14, 1764
Elisha Rexford,
Jan. 1765
Apr. 1808
John Noyes,
1813
1814
Asahel Nettleton, D. D.
1814
1815
Chauncey G. Lec,
Oct. 1821
Apr. 1826
Amos Bassett, D. D.,*
1826
1828
Daniel Jones,
Sept. 1828
July. 1835
James Kent,t
1837
1840
Robert D. Gardner,
Mar. 1841
Sept. 1851
Lewis M. Shepard,
Aug. 1853
June, 1857
Edward B. Emerson,
April, 1858
As the first volume of the Church records is lost, many important facts are buried in oblivion. Several revivals been enjoyed here ; two while Mr. Net- tleton was here ; one in 1814, and one in 1815,-when about thirty were
429
History of the Churches.
added to the church. Memoir of Nettleton, 66. Also under, the ministry of Mr. Lee, Mr Jones and Mr. Kent. The last, and most powerful one, was in 1851, under Mr. Morgan's labors, when between thirty and forty were re- ceived to the church. The house of worship is new, handsome, and paid for.
MINISTER RAISED UP .- Tillotson Babbitt.
* Sp. An. 2. 294. Allen. Rel. Intel. 12. 735. + Allen.
THE CHURCH IN MONTVILLE, (FORMERLY NEW LONDON NORTH, ) ORG. 1721.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED.
James Hillhouse,
Oct. 1722
1740
David Jewett, *
Oct. 1739
June, 1783
Roswell Cook,
June, 1784
Apr. 1798
Amos G. Thompson,
Sept. 1799
Oct. 1801
Abisha Alden,
Aug. 1803
Apr. 1826
1836
Rodolphus Landfear,
Aug. 1829
May, 1832
Erastus Ripley,
Jan. 1835
Nov. 1837
Spencer F. Beard,
July, 1838
June, 1846
John W. Salter,
Aug. 1847
Apr. 1858
Thomas L. Shipman,
April, 1858
1859
H. C. Hayden,
Sept. 1859
Mr. Hillhouse received his call at Boston, Feb. 5, 1721. His family re- main to this day. The distinguished Senator, James Hillhouse, of New Ha- ven, was his son. The church has been blessed with revivals at several different times. For an account of a revival in 1741, see Tracy's Great Awakening, pp. 156-8. The house of worship is new and commodious.
* Sp. An 3. 192. Allen.
THE CHURCH IN MORRIS, (FORMERLY LITCHFIELD SOUTH FARMS, ) ORG. 1768.
George Beckwith,*
1772
1781
Amos Chase, t
1787
1814
Dec. 1849
William R. Weeks, D. D., }
Jan. 1815
Oct. 1815
June, 1848
Amos Pettengill,§
April, 1816
1822
Aug. 1830
Henry Robinson,
1823
1829
Veron D. Taylor,
1831
1833
James F. Warner,
1833
1834
Ralph S. Crampton,
1834
1836
Stephen Hubbell,
June, 1836 ?
1837 ?
B. Y. Messenger,
1837 ?
1838 ?
Richard Woodruff, (c.)
Oct. 1838 ?
Jan. 1841
David L. Parmelee,
Aug. 1841
H. H. McFarland,
Nov. 1859
The grant for "winter privileges " dates back to 1747; the incorporation
430
History of the Churches.
of the Society, 1767. There have been several revivals, with considerable in- gatherings at frequent intervals, from 1799 ; in six different years, from 23 to 73 were added. In 1814, was the most extensive work, under the labors of Dr. Nettleton ; an account of it was written by James Morris, and carefully preserved in manuscript. It gives the names and age of 80 individuals, the time of each one's hopeful conversion, and some account of the religious ex- ercises of almost all of them. See extracts in Memoir of Dr. Nettleton, pp. 70-77.
South Farms Society became the town of Morris in 1859.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Samuel Whittlesey, Simeon Woodruff, Samuel G. Orton, John Pierpont, (Unita.) John W. Peck, D. D. (Bapt.)
* Litchf. Centen. 72. + Sp. An. 1, 592. Litchf. Centen. 72. # Sp. An. 4, 473. § Sp. An. 2, 524. Allen. Litchf. Centen. 127. Memoir by Rev. L. Hart, 1834.
THE CHURCH IN MT. CARMEL, IN HANDEN, ORG. JAN. 26, 1764.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED. DIED.
Nathaniel Sherman, *
May, 1769
Aug. 1772. 1797
Joshua Perry, t
Oct. 1783
1790
1812
Dan Bradley, #
1792
1800 ? 1838
Asa Lyman, §
Sept. 1800
April, 1803 1836
John Hyde, ||
May, 1806
Jan. 1811
1849
Eliphalet B. Coleman,
Feb. 1812
Nov. 1825
1857 ?
Stephen Hubbell,
May, 1830
May, 1836
James Birney,
June, 1842
March, 1846
Israel P. Warren,
July, 1846
Sept. 1851
D. H. Thayer,
Jan. 1853
This Church has had a frequent change of ministers, and none have ever died among them in office. Revivals have been usual, as in other Churches in the vicinity. The Church and Society have for several years been grow- ing in numbers and strength, with some increase of population and the in- troduction of manufactures. Rel. Intel. 13, 218.
MINISTER RAISED UP .- George A. Dickerman.
*Sp. An. 1. 480. Allen. +Allen. # Sp. An. 1. 656. § Allen. | Sp. An. 2. 192.
THE CHURCH IN MYSTIC BRIDGE, IN STONINGTON, ORG. JAN. 20, 1852. Walter R. Long, Sept. 1853
The Church was organized with a membership of 37, mostly from the First Church in Stonington. There have been four seasons of revival during its brief existence, one immediately after its organization, also in '53, '55 and '58.
431
History of the Churches.
The Nazareth Church, in Sterling, (formerly Voluntown,) Org. Feb. 13, 1772.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED. DIED.
Solomon Morgan,* April, 1772
Feb. 1782
Sept. 1804
Allen Campbell,
1794
This Church has had but one pastor, who afterwards was settled in Canterbury and North Canaan. They encouraged Mr. Campbell, one of their own members to preach for them, in which they had the approbation of the Association. The Church though not formerly dissolved, is virtually extinct.
* Allen. Sp. An. 2, 526.
THE CHURCH IN NAUGATUCK, (FORMERLY SALEM SOCIETY, ) ORG. FEB. 22, 1781.
Medad Rogers,
1781
1784 ?
Abraham Fowler,*
Jan. 1785
Mar. 1799
Nov. 1815
Noah J. Simons,
Oct. 1799
1800
Jabez Chadwick,
Dec. 1800
Mar. 1803
Matthias Cazier,
May, 1804
Stephen Dodd, t
1811
April, 1817
Feb. 1856
Amos Pettengill,}
Jan. 1823
Aug. 1830
J. B. Richardson,
1832
1834
Seth Sackett,
Oct.
1834
Jan.
1838
Chauncey G. Lee,
Jan. 1838
Nov. 1840
H. A. Taylor,
1840
1841 ?
Marshall Eames,
1842
April, 1843
C. S. Sherman,
July, 1843
April, 1844
Albert K. Teele,
June, 1845
Oct. 1849
Charles S. Sherman,
Nov. 1849
This Church was originally formed of 16 members, mostly from the First Church in Waterbury. The town was then a parish of Waterbury, and known by the name of Salem.
In January, 1781, it was "voted to make a petition to the General Assem- bly, to lay a land tax of one shilling upon the acre, upon all the land in the Society of Salem, for the purpose of building a meeting house." This meeting house was completed in 1782. Another was built occupying a new and more central site in 1831. In 1853 this was sold and removed, and the present house of worship dedicated in Sept. 1855.
The Church has experienced a varied and often a trying history ; at one time the Presbyterian and Congregational elements in it refused to coalesce ; at another, intemperance affected the standing and divided the ranks of its members ; and still later, there was a division of feeling on the question of Old and New School Theology.
In addition to these troubles, the Society has had to struggle with limited means and a change of ministry, the latter growing in part out of the former.
432
History of the Churches.
With the growth, however, of the manufacturing interests of the town, the Society has increased in ability and has erected its present beautiful edi- fice at a cost of $16,000, expecting at the time to cancel every pecuniary obli- gation in a period of five years. This would probably have been done but for the commercial distress which intervened. It is gratifying, however, to add that the Church has for a long time been in a very harmonious state, has gradually increased in membership, and been repeatedly favored with the gentle and refreshing dews of the Holy Spirit. The whole number of per- sons who have been admitted to the Church is 645.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- John H. Pettengill, John G. Hull, (Ep.) Thomas Lewis.
* Sp. An. 2. 230. t Allen. # Sp. An. 2. 524. Allen.
Litchf. Centen. 127. Memoir by Rev. L. Hart, 1834.
THE FIRST CHURCH IN NEW BRITAIN, ORG. APRIL 19, 1758.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED.
John Sınalley, D. D.,*
April, 1758
June, 1820
Newton Skinner, t
Feb. 1810
March, 1825
Henry Jones,
Oct. 1825
Dec. 1827
Jason Atwater,
1827
Nov.
1828
Jonathan Cogswell, D. D.,
April, 1829
April, 1834
Dwight M. Seward,
Feb. 1836
June, 1842
Chester S. Lyman,
Feb. 1843
April, 1845
C. S. Sherman,
May, 1845
1849
E. B. Andrews,
June, 1850
Nov. 1851
Horace Winslow,
Dec. 1852
Dec. 1857
Lavalette Perrin,
Feb. 1858
This Church has been greatly blessed of God, having enjoyed frequent revivals, and some of great power. The frequent changes in the ministry during the last twenty years have been occasioned chiefly by failure of health in the pastors.
The most signal work of the Spirit under Dr. Smalley's ministry was in 1784-5, adding 38; 253 in all, during his ministry ; 28 admitted to certain Church privileges, previous to 1767, without professing vital piety. There was a signal revival under the second pastor in 1821, 119 making profession of faith, 248 in all. Mr. Skinner was a man of great physical as well as mental strength. Under every pastor there have been consideraable acces- sions, and also in 1828-9, when without one. The progressive and conserv- ative elements, which agitated churches largely through New England, led to a division of the church in 1842.
The first meeting house, a plain building, has long since disappeared; the second, a house much admired in its time, built in 1822, is now used for sec- lar purposes; the third, built in 1855, is regarded as a model of church ar- chitecture. Its centennial anniversary was observed April 19, 1858.
433
History of the Churches.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- William Whittlesey, Eliphalet Whittlesey, Levi W. Hart, Henry Eddy, John S. Whittlesey, Jonathan Bird, Burdett Hart.
* Sp. An. 1 559. Allen. #Sp. An. 1. 563.
THE SOUTH CHURCH IN NEW BRITAIN, ORG. JULY 5, 1842.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED. DISMISSED. DIED, Samuel Rockwell, Jan. 1843 June, 1858 C. L. Goodell, Feb. 1859
The growth of the village prepared the way for a second church, besides those. of other denominations. Its house of worship was erected immediately. Original number of members, 120, who were dismissed from the Central Church. Added during fifteen years, 270; baptisms, 144. Contributions for benevolent objects in fifteen years, $13,418.91 ; in 1854, $1,983.49. Ag- gregate with home expenses, $26,000, exclusive of cost of house of wor- ship.
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.