USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Woodbury > History of ancient Woodbury, Connecticut : from the first Indian dead in 1659 to 1854 > Part 31
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"the committee reported that we can have Mr. Baldwin, if he can not form his mission nearer his home, &c., and that he will preach to to us for 2s. 6d. per day as a candidate." The preaching was proba- bly a reading of printed sermons, and " a candidate" was probably a candidate for holy orders.
The following is a transcript from the records, and is probably a note of the first organization of the parish. The "East Greenwich" spoken of, was a part of the present town of Warren, near which the old and first church stood.
" June ye 26 Ad. 1781.
" the Inhabitants of New-preston and Eastgrinwitch of the Denomination of the church of England so cauled parishes, Having formed them Selves into a Lawfull Society acording to A late act of the gineral Assembly of this State of Connecticut, We the Subscribors Whose Names are undor Written being Desir- ous for the promoting of Religon and good Ordor do aeknoledg our Selves to be and beloung to aboue sd Body and do by these Presents Joine and incorporate into sd Society as witness our Hands."
Below is another extract from the records :
" These are to warn all the Professors of the Church of England, so called, in the Parishes of New Preston & East Greenwich to meet at the church in New Preston upon Augt ye 23: 1754, at one o'clock in the afternoon : First to choose a Moderator ; 2d to hire preaching, or some candidate to read prayers ; 3d to raise money for the aforesaid purpose, and to purchase a Prayer Book and Bible, and in what way ; 4th to choose Collectors and all necessary officers for said Parishes ; 5th in what way the meetings shall be warned for the future ; 6th and to act any other business as shall be necessary for the aforesaid purpose.
" By order of the committee, " July the 2d A. d 1781.
Test by mc, " Stephen Morehouse, Clerk."
The last report to the Rt. Rev. Bishop, for the year ending June, 1853, is as follows :
" The Rev. James L. Scott, Rector.
" Families, 75. Baptisms-infants, 1. Confirmations, 2. Communicants, added anew, 5; present number, 89. Marriage, 1. Burials, 7. Sunday School-Teachers, 8; Scholars, 15. Missionary and charitable contributions, exclusive of the communion offerings, $10 26."
Of late years, these two parishes have united in engaging the same minister, and have divided the time according to their respective ability to contribute toward the salary. During the last four years, services have been held alternate Sundays in each parish, but St. Andrew's, New Preston, will probably soon have the entire service of a clergyman.
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
The names of some of the clergymen who have officiated are Clark, Baldwin, Benham, Marsh, Jones, Andrews, Kellogg, Lueas, Atwater, Huntington, Gordon, Hitchcock, Sherman, Long and Scott.
EPISCOPAL CHURCH, BETHLEM.
A few families from Newtown moved into this town in the early part of the present century, who were churchmen. These, joined by some of the former inhabitants, organized a parish, March 30th, 1807. The names of those belonging to the society, at its first organization, are as follows :
Christopher Prentice, Benjamin Hawley, John Sperry, Michael Judd, Abel Hard, Glover Skidmore, Ebenezer L. Thompson, Robert Porter, Samuel Bloss, Reuben Tinker, Samuel Blackman, Daniel Skidmore, Henry Jackson. Amos Lake, David Pulford, and Benja- min T. Lake.
No church edifice was erected for some time, but the society voted January, 1829, that " Robert Porter be a committee to circulate a subscription paper for the purpose of raising money to build a church." The church was accordingly erected, and occupied some time before consecration. On the 23d of September, 1835, it was consecrated by the bishop, and named "Christ Church, Bethlem." The same cause prevents an extended history of this as of other so- cieties, the want or defectiveness of the records. It has been a " plurality," having a minister to officiate all the time but a few years since its organization. The following is a list of ministers who have preached in this parish, as far as it has been possible to collect them, together with the date of the commencement of their labors.
Rev. Russel Wheeler, 1807, Rev. William Watson, 1835,
66 Willard Welton, 1814, " T. W. Snow, 1837,
Sturges Gilbert, 1816, " Isaac H. Tuttle, 1839,
Isaac Jones, 1828, Win. Henry Frisbie, 1847,
Joseph Scott, 1832, Joseph S. Covell, 1848,
John Dowdney, 183-1, J. D. Berry, D. D., 1852.
BAPTIST CHURCH, ROXBURY.
This church was constituted in South Britain, January 21st, 1790, at the house of Justus Pierce, by a meeting of delegates from several churches of the " Baptist order." Elder Higbee, of Stratfield, was moderator, and Elder Hull, of Ridgefield, clerk. Elder Finch, of Danbury, preached on the occasion. The church thus organized, consisted of ten males, and twelve females, residing at South Britain,
20
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
Roxbury and Zoar Bridge, in Newtown. In April, 1794, a portion of this church, with others, were organized into a new church, at 1 Zoar Bridge. In January, 1803, the
" Society agreed younanimous to have Mr. Fuller ordained as an Elder in said Society."
He was accordingly ordained, May 18th, 1803, at the meeting- house in Roxbury, the churches represented in the ordaining council being those at Colebrook, Bristol, Newtown, Danbury, Winchester and Warren. The records show seventy members admitted to the church before Mr. Fuller's ordination, and forty-one since. Mr. Fuller moved to Vermont. in 1821.
December 30th, 1800, the society voted to build a meeting-house, " a little this side of Benjamin Rumsey's," to be thirty feet long, twenty-five wide, with ten feet posts. This building was finished and ready for use the next year. It was turned into a school-house in 1825, reserving the right to hold meetings in it.
In 1809, a vote was passed by the society, " that the names of such 1 persons as have certified to our society, but have never attended our meetings, nor given any thing to support our ministers, be handed over to the presbyterian Society's Clerk, as the names of persons who do not belong to our society." From 1821 to 1833, there is no entry on the church records. At the latter date, there were twenty-one members of the church remaining. Since 1833, there is no entry on the records. The present number of members probably does not ex- ceed ten, although they have preaching once in four weeks, by Elder Biddle, of Brookfield.
METHODIST CHURCH, WOODBURY.
In 1789, Connecticut was visited by Jesse Lee, a distinguished and devoted preacher of the Methodist denomination, who preached all over the state, laying here as in the rest of New England, the foun- dation of Methodism. This denomination rapidly increased, and it has continued to be prosperous, beyond precedent, till the present day. The church had gained some footing in New York as carly as 1766.
About the year 1790, before the general conference was formed in 1792, the first Methodist sermon in Woodbury was preached in the open air, in the street under the Rock, on which the Masonie Hall stands, by Rev. Samuel Wigdon, who was sent to preach in Litchfield circuit. This town was added to that circuit, and
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
there was occasional preaching here after that to such as would " hear the word." The first class was formed some time between the date of the first sermon and the year 1800. The church continued in a feeble condition till 1812, when Elijah Sherman, senior, better known to the people of this communion, and of the town, by the name of " Father Sherman," became dissatisfied with the Episcopal church, on account of some difference of opinion, as is understood, in relation to the adoption of the Episcopal church constitution, joined the Meth- odist denomination, and became very active and zealous in advancing its interests. The exact date of this transaction is not now at hand, but he was appointed the first regular elass leader in 1812. Previ- ous to this, the several ministers who had officiated here, had fulfilled the duties of that office. At this organization of the class, in 1812, the number of communicants was forty. From this time till 1824, " Father Sherman" threw open the doors of his house, and it became the place of public worship for this church. Having increased in numbers and means, they erected the first meeting-house on the site of the present church edifice, in 1824. But the class and social meetings of the society continued to be held at the house of Mr. Sherman, till the erection of the present commodious church, in 1839. This edifice is furnished with a good basement, and from that date the social meetings of the church have been held in it. The society here continued to constitute a part of some other circuit till 1832, when the circuit of Woodbury was formed, and this became the place of residence for its ministers. Rev. Raphael Gilbert was the first minister who statedly resided here. This has continued to be a cir- cuit or station, and the residence of the stated minister, ever since. It has for some years been a station, and enjoyed the undivided labors of a minister. From the first meetings in the dwelling of " Father Sherman," the church has enjoyed a continued prosperity till the present day, and now numbers within its folds 215 communicants. "The Lord of the harvest" has smiled upon it, and it now occupies a useful and honorable position among " sister churches."
METHODIST CHURCHES IN SOUTHBURY.
The first society of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the present town of Southbury, was organized at the south part of the town, on " George's Hill," about the year 1803, and consisted of abont six members. They met at that time in a building formerly occupied as a school-house. But, in a few years, it was greatly enlarged, remod- eled, and made more convenient and ample in its accommodations.
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
The society continued to increase in numbers until the church was filled to its utmost capacity. It soon became quite too small to ac- commodate the worshiping congregation.
In the year 1832, the society erected and dedicated a larger and more convenient house in South Britain. There they worshiped until the year 1851, when the edifice was enlarged and made a neat and elegant house of worship. The society now (1853) numbers about sixty-five communicants, and the church is well filled with a devout worshiping congregation.
The second society of the Methodist Episcopal church in the town was organized at Southbury several years ago, and consisted of one small class. About the same time, another class, or small church, was organized at Southford. They worshiped for several years in a small church which is now completely out of repair. In the mean time the church at Southbury met in the brick school-house, and were under the pastoral care of the Rev. Sylvester Smith. In the year 1847, the two societies united, and the same year erected a neat and commodious church, in the village of Southbury.
The church at Southbury now (1853) numbers sixty-five commumi- cants, and their house of worship is well filled with a respectable and devoted congregation.
Thus have we traced the various forms of church government and religious belief, as they have exhibited themselves in our town, and are full of the conviction, that not the form, not the particular creed, is of so much importance as a pure heart and a guileless life ; and that these may subsist, in full perfection, under all the various forms and ceremonies and creeds of the several evangelical churches. For this reason it will ever be a matter of astonishment to the lofty intel- lect, the mind of extended and liberal views, when it sees bitter con- tentions among professing Christians, "about quips and quibbles and non-essential points."
CHAPTER XVI.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY CONTINUED FROM CHAPTER, VIII.
1760 TO 1553; REV. NOAH BENEDICT SETTLED, 1760; HALF-WAY COVENANT SYSTEM ABOLISHED, 1760; STATE OF THE CHURCH; REV. WORTHINGTON WRIGHIT SETTLED COLLEAGUE WITH MR. BENEDICT, 1511, AND DISMISSED, 1813 ; DEATH OF MR. BENEDICT, 1813; HIS CHARACTER ; REV. HENRY P. STRONG SETTLED, 1511-DISMISSED, 1516; REV. SAMUEL R. ANDREW IN- STALLED PASTOR, 1517-DISMISSED IS46 ; THIRD CHURCH DEDICATED 1519 ; SKETCH OF MR. ANDREW'S LIFE; REV. LUCIUS CURTIS SETTLED, 15-16; CHURCH STATISTICS; MINISTERIAL FUND ; HON. NOAH B. BENEDICT'S DEVISE TO THE SOCIETY ; REMARKS.
IN a former chapter we traced the history of the "Second Church in Stratford," or first church in Woodbury, from its commencement, its stormy origin, for ninety years, " down the stream of time." In the early part of 1760, Mr. Stoddard having become very aged, the church and society took the necessary measures to settle a colleague with him. The matter was all arranged. Rev. Noah Benedict had been called, and the day for his ordination had been appointed before Mr. Stoddard's death. IIe was, however, suddenly taken ill, and died after a sickness of two days, not long before the day of ordina- tion. This event took place October 22d, 1760. It is thus recorded on the church records by Mr. Benedict :
" October 22, 1760. This Day was ordained to the Work of the Ministry, in the first Society in Woodbury,
Nech Benedict
on the call of the Church and Congregation : the Sermon was preachd by the Rev. Mr: Bellamy from 1 Tim. 5, 21, the ordaining Prayer and Charge by Rev. Mr: Graham, the right hand of fellowship by Rev. Mr. Brinsmade, the conelu- ding Prayer by Rev. Mr: Canfield."
It is to be noted, that the church did not go out of town for minis- ters to assist in the ordination services. The four ministers men-
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
tioned were all then settled within the limits of the ancient town, and remained with their people till the death of each separated them from all earthly friends.
At the death of Mr. Stoddard, the half-way covenant system was not yet done away. Ile, as well as his father, Rev. Solomon Stod- dard, were advocates of the system, though Rev. Mr. Edwards, the grandson of the latter, taking a different view of the matter, had done so much to overthrow it, wherever it existed. As we have seen, it had been voted out of Mr. Bellamy's church nearly twenty years before. It existed here only in a mild, or rather a strict form. Many of the church had for some years been against the practice, yet from respect to their aged and beloved pastor, they had " held their peace." But Mr. Stoddard was now dead, and the system was not in accordance with Mr. Benedict's views. Within two weeks, therefore, after his settlement, we find the following action on the part of the church :
" Nov. 6, 1760. At a meeting of the Members of the Chh. at the Meeting House, the following things were voted, (viz.)
" 1st that Baptism and the Lord's Supper are seals of the Covenant of Grace. " Ply, that the Covenant of Grace is but one Covenant.
" 3ly, that whosoever makes a credible Profession, that he believes and em- braces the covenant of Grace, and appears to walk accordingly, has a right to Sealing ordinances.
" Aly, that he, that has a right to Sealing ordinances for himself, has also a right to Baptism for his children.
" 5ly, that the Lord's Supper is not more holy than Baptism.
" It was likewise voated, that those Persons, that had ownd the Covenant, and yet had absented themselves from the Lord's Supper, had ownda Cove- nant of Grace, and upon their manifesting that they mean to be understood as having ownd a Covenant of Grace, shall be looked upon as Members in com- pleat Standing, and admitted to the Seals of the Covenant."
This was a mild way of getting rid of the practice. As these half-way members had professed and taken upon themselves precisely the same covenant as the members in full communion, they were now called to show whether they had made that profession sincerely or not. If so, they were members in "complete standing," like the rest of the church; if not, then they were entitled to no privileges from the step they had taken. At the same meeting a covenant and pro- fession of faith were drawn up and approved by the church, which with slight verbal alterations is the same now used by the church on the admission of members. It is a fact worthy of notice, that the first church covenant, adopted by our fathers just before removing into this wilderness, stood unaltered for the long space of ninety
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years, and that the second, the one now in use, is the same adopted ninety-three years ago.
Mr. Benedict spent a long and useful life among his people. Few contests, or differences in feeling and action, arose among the people of his charge, during the long period of his ministrations, till near its close. This was a controversy in regard to the location and build- ing of the third meeting-house. That everlasting source of bitter animosity and mischief, the location of public buildings, was the only thing that disturbed the serenity and happiness of a period of pasto- ral labor extending through more than half a century. But he lived not to see the heat of the battle, having departed this life about three years before the final disruption of his church. He died April 20, 1813, in the seventy-sixth year of his age, and the fifty-third of his ministry. The church was prosperous under his administration of the ordinances. The number of persons admitted to the com- munion of the church under his pastoral care, was 272, and 758 persons were baptized. The following were chosen deacons :
Capt. Gideon Stoddard, August 19th, 1767 ; Clement Minor, Feb- ruary 10th, 1773 ; Jonah Minor, October 1st, 1782; Matthew Minor, November 25th, 1793; Daniel Huntingdon, November 25th, 1793; Nathan Atwood, January 4th, 1803; Ens. Seth Minor, Jr., Septem- ber 26th, 1805 ; Benjamin Judson, Jr., August 31st, 1806.
There were several revivals of religion under Mr. Benediet's min- istry, the last near the close of his earthly labors.
As early as 1810, the society gave Rev. Gordon HIall a call to settle as colleague with Mr. Benediet, with a salary of $600, but he did not see fit to accept the invitation. During the same year, the same offer was made to Rev. Worthington Wright. He accepted the call, and was ordained as colleague to Mr. Benedict, on the last Wednesday of January, 1811, and dismissed early in 1813, at his own request, before Mr. Benedict's death, on account of an affection of the eyes, which prevented his application to study. After his ordination, the ministers present on that occasion, among whom were Dr. Beecher, President Tyler, Rev. Mr. Swift, Rev. Mr. Clark, Dr. Backus, Rev. Philo Judson and the newly ordained minister, retired to Bethel Rock, and there held a prayer-meeting, in imitation of the early fathers, who amid the dangers which beset the early settlers, retired to this secluded dell for the same purpose .!
Shortly after Mr. Wright's dismission, Mr. Benedict was called
1 Rev. Philo Judson informed the author of this incident.
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from this earthly scene of toil and labor. He was a man of sound piety, and of great dignity and amiability of character. He held an honored place in the affections of his people. He was successful as a spiritual teacher, and was followed to the tomb by his parishioners, with hearts throbbing with grief. This church has been noted for the length of time it has enjoyed the services of its ministers. There is, perhaps, no other instance in the country, where a church has been presided over by three pastors, as has been the case with this, for the long period of 143 years.
Mr. Benedict was a native of Danbury, and graduated at Nassau Hall, in 1757. He received the degree of Master of Arts ad eun- dem from Yale College, in 1760, and was a fellow of that institution from 1801 to 1812.
" Mr. Benedict was spoken of, during his life, and is remembered, as one of the fairest specimens of the good clergymen of Connecticut. Constitutionally he had a well-balanced mind; singularly discreet and exemplary in his every- day deportment, and in all the relations of life ; as a preacher and counselor, he held a high rank. His temper was even, and his condition was plaeid and easy. Temptations he was cautious, and even zealous, to put, if possible, ont of his way. He onee had a favorite horse, young, sound, gentle, active and graceful ; the animal was admired by his rider's parishioners. But Mr. Benedict, to the surprise of all, sold the horse. A neighbor expressed his astonishment at the event, and inquired the reason of it. 'He was growing unruly,' was the grave pastor's reply. 'But I thought,' said the man, ' that he was a very orderly horse.' 'No,' was the rejoinder, ' he was growing quite unruly ; he once got into the pulpit, and I thought it was time to part with him.' This minister was blessed in his family, and honored in the alliances of his children by mar- riage, and by their eminent usefulness, and the distinctions to which they at- tained in public offices and employments. His people never desired his sepa- ration from them ; death effected it in the year, 1813. He lives in the sweet and grateful remembrance of the aged in his parish, and ont of it; and the present generation of Woodbury have heard from the reverential and affection- ate, the story of his goodness."1
After the death of Mr. Benedict, Rev. Dr. Tyler was appointed moderator of the church, and continued in that ofliee, till May 25th, 1814, when Rev. Henry P. Strong, a native of Salisbury, was in- stalled pastor over the church. He was dismissed, January, 1816, less than two years after his ordination. In some particulars, he was not fitted for his holy calling. It did not engage his careful, or best attention. He appeared to be much more interested in having the best animals of the male gender, of all the domestic kinds, than in
1 Rev. Dr. McEwen's Discourse at Litchfield, 1852, p. 74.
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advancing the interests of his " Master in the vineyard of the Lord." The church and people of the town will always recollect him, for one thing, with no great pleasure, and that is the loss, through his heedless recklessness, of a valuable volume of church records, con- taining, among other things, a complete list of marriages for nearly 150 years. That loss has been severely felt by business and other men, and can never be repaired. Thirty-eight persons were admit- ted to the church in the interval between Mr. Benedict's death, and the settlement of Mr. Andrew.
After the dismissal of Mr. Strong, Rev. Fosdick Harrison was appointed moderator of the church, till the installation of Rev. Sam- uel R. Andrew, after a unanimous eall of the church and society, as pastor over this church and people, October 8th, 1817. He preached his farewell discourse, January 4th. 1846, and was dismissed during the same year, on account of failing health. The division in the church, caused by disagreement about the location of the new meet- ing-house, had ended in the formation of another church before his installation into the pastoral office, and the church, under his care, for nearly twenty-nine years, continued to enjoy uninterrupted peace and prosperity. Two hundred and sixty-three members were added to the communion of the church, and two hundred and forty-three persons were by him baptized. The present church edifice was dedi- cated to the purposes of publie worship. Jannary 13th, 1819, seventy- two years after the dedication of the second church. Three revivals of religion took place during his ministry, in one of which forty per- sons became converts, and twenty-six joined the church on one day, being the largest number by one, that has ever joined the church on one occasion, since its organization in 1670. During his ministry, three deacons were appointed-Judson Blackman, July 2d, 1818, Eli Summers, 1830, and Truman Minor, June 29th, 1838.
Mr. Andrew is the only son of Samuel Andrew, who was grand- son of Rev. Samuel Andrew of Milford, one of the founders of Yale College, a fellow and pro tempore a rector of that institution, and for fifty years pastor of the first church in Milford. Mr. Andrew was born at Milford, May, 1787, and graduated at Yale College, in 1807. He studied law for a year or two, and spent a few years at the South in editing a newspaper, and in teaching. He studied theology with Rev. B. Pinneo, of Milford, and was ordained pastor over this church in 1817. He was chosen a fellow of Yale College, in 1837, which office he resigned in 1847, on moving out of the county of Litchfield, and was at the same time appointed secretary
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of the college, which office he still holds. In 1848, he was chosen a member of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences. Mr. Andrew now resides at New Haven, his health not allowing him to assume a pastoral charge.
1
Immediately after the resignation of Mr. Andrew, Rev. Lucius Curtis received a call from the church and society, was installed pas- tor over the church, July 8th, 1846, and still remains in his pastoral relation to the people. He is a native of Torrington, a graduate of Williams College, class of 1835, and of the Andover Theological Seminary, class of 1845. During his administration, the church has been very prosperous, eighty members having been added to its num- bers, and thirty-six persons baptized. Its present number of mnem- bers is 222, not including some twenty-five absent members whose location is not known.
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