USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Woodbury > History of ancient Woodbury, Connecticut : from the first Indian dead in 1659 to 1854 > Part 32
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The whole number of admissions to the church since its organiza- tion in 1670, is 1,377, and the whole number of baptisms, infant and adult, 2,953.
In June, 1816, a fund of more than $6,000 was raised by subserip- tion among the members of the society,
" To be and remain a perpetual fund ; and the interest arising thereon shall be appropriated exclusively to the support of a presbyterian minister, to be ap- proved by the Association of ministers in whose limits we live, and who shall preach the pure doctrines of the Gospel generally called Calvinistie, or in con- formity to the shorter catechism of the Westminister Assembly of Divines. It is also expressly stipulated, that no part of the interest of this Fund, shall be applied for preaching the Gospel in any house of publick worship, North of the place fixed for a Meeting Ilouse by a Committee of the General Assembly, appointed in May, A. D. 1514, & whose report was accepted in October, A. D. 1814, which committee was composed of Daniel Porter, Daniel St. John & Diodate Silliman, Esqr, nor South of the present Meeting House in said society."
The church then occupied was the second one built in town, which was located near Mr. Marshall's hotel, and the other location men- tioned above, was that now occupied by the present church of this society. This fund will perhaps have some influence in preventing quarrels about the location of a meeting-house in future. It now amounts to $6,347. Besides this, the society has by a devise in the will of the late Hon. Noah B. Benedict the right of reversion to his homestead, and some fifteen acres of valuable land, as will be seen by the following :
" I give and devise to the First Congregational or Presbyterian Society in Woodbury, whereof the Rev. Samuel R. Andrew is now Pastor, the land and
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buildings" above alluded to, " to be by said Society used and forever improved as a parsonage, and never, under any pretence, or supposed benefit whatever, to be disposed of, or alienated ; and any alienation of the same by said Society shall work a forfeiture thereof, to my heirs at law. But it is further to be un- derstood, that it is my will, that the use of said property shall be appropriated to the Support of the preaching of the Gospel in no house of public worship, farther North than the present house, or Church, which has been built within a few years, and is now occupied by said Society ; nor shall said Society take benefit of this bequest, if it shall hereafter cease to maintain the pure doctrines of the Gospel, as now held, preached and understood by our Pastor, and his people. If the said society shall become extinct, or shall cease to maintain the preaching of the Gospel for such unreasonable length of time, as to show it is not intended permanently to support the public worship of God therein, this devise shall cease, and the estate revert to my heirs."1
Thus have we traced the history of this branch of the " Church universal" for 183 years. It is the honored mother of six useful and extended churches-six " well-settled children," which were nurtured in the " old homestead," and have arrived at a vigorous maturity. At times, ever since its own unquiet infancy, the storm and the whirl- wind have passed over it, but by the kindness of Providence, it still stands secure and prosperous, in a " ripe old age," among its children and " sister churches" of the various denominations.
1 Woodbury Probate Records, vol. 16, p. 276.
CHAPTER XVII.
HISTORY OF THE STRICT CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY IN WOODBURY.
1816 To 1853; DIFFERENCES OF OPINION IN REGARD TO THE LOCATION OF A MEET- ING-HOUSE THE OCCASION OF THE FOUNDATION OF TIHS SOCIETY ; TWENTY YEARS SPENT IN EFFORTS TO SECURE A NORTHERN LOCATION; COMMITTEE OF 1795 RECOMMEND THE LOCATION OF THE PRESENT NORTH CHURCH ; COMMITTEE OF 1811 RECOMMEND THE LOCATION OF THE PRESENT SOUTH CHURCH ; THIS NOT PROVING SATISFACTORY, SEVENTY-ONE "SIGN OFF," 1814; THEY PREPARE TO BUILD A CHURCH-ARE STOPPED BY THE STATE'S ATTORNEY ; THEY THERE- FORE PRONOUNCE THEMSELVES BAPTISTS, AND FORM A CONSTITUTION; STRICT CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY INCORPORATED, 1516 ; CHURCH GATHERED, BY REV. DR. TYLER, 1>16; CHURCH EDIFICE COMMENCED IN 1515-FINISHED IN 1818- DEDICATED, 1$19 ; REV. GROVE L. BROWNELL ORDAINED FIRST PASTOR, 1517; DISMISSED IN 1540 -- SUCCESS OF HIS MINISTRY ; REV. JOHN CHURCHILL IN- STALLED, 1540; STATISTICS AND STATE OF THE CHURCH ; MINISTERIAL FUND.
FOR more than a hundred and forty-six years after the gathering of the first church of Woodbury, it had remained a unit, firm and un- divided, while one part of the territory of the town after another had been incorporated into distinct ecclesiastical societies, to accommo- date the extension of the town, and the wants of its increasing popu- lation. The ancient church, under the snecessive ministrations of its first three worthy and revered pastors, had enjoyed great peace and prosperity. But the first society had, about the year 1794, become thiekly settled in its northern limits, so that a majority of its mem- bers were located in that part of its territory. The ancient meeting- house was within about two miles of the southern boundary of the society, while a part of the inhabitants lived nearly five miles north of the church. In March, 1794, the feeling to have a church edi- fice nearer the center of the parish became decided, and a vote was passed in a meeting of the society, 111 to 81,
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
" To build a Meeting House in the 1st Society for the greater convenience of said Society, on or near the Northwest corner of the land of John Martin, on the great plain, so called."
In December, the same year, the society appointed Gen. Hermon Swift, Aaron Austin, Esq., and Gen. David Smith, then judges of the Litchfield County Court, a committee to give advice " respecting the moving of the old, or building a new Meeting House." This com- mittee reported in March, 1795, that they would recommend the so- ciety, at some convenient future time, to build a new meeting-house about one mile north of the old house, near the dwelling-house of Mr. Elijah Sherman, Sen., being the place where the present north church stands : but advised them " neither to hurry, as the old house was comfortable, nor to lay out more money in its repair." On the 7th of February, 1796, the society
" Voted, that Noah Judson be appointed agent to draw a petition to the next County Court for the appointment of a Committee to fix a place for a meeting- house in the Ist Society."
The matter seems to have been dropped at this point, as no further action in regard to it was taken in the society, till April 23, 1810, when it was
" Voted either to build a new Meeting House, or move the old one, between April 1813 and April, 1516, to such place as shall be established by a Commit- tee appointed by the General Assembly, said Committee to fix the place in the month of January 1813."
" Voted, that Nathaniel Bacon and Noah B. Benedict, Esq., be agents to pre- fer a memorial to the General Assembly for this purpose."
At the following May session of the Assembly, a committee, con- sisting of Hon. Asher Miller, Hon. Jonathan Brace, Birdseye Nor- ton, John Kingsbury, and Samuel W. Johnson, Esquires, was ap- pointed, from which the society's clerk was to draw three, and they were to proceed to determine the matter in issue according to the foregoing vote. But this arrangement affected nothing, and the rec- ords show no farther action on the part of the society till the third Monday of February, 1814, when a vote passed
" To build a new, or remove the old Meeting House between 1 June, 1514 & 1 June, 1517, as the General Assembly's Comtee appointed in May Session next shall determine."
At the May session, Diodate Silliman, Daniel Potter and Daniel St. John, were appointed a committee
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
" To decide whether a new House for publie worship should be built, or the old one repaired, and to fix the place for said Meeting house, within 90 days from the rising of the Assembly."
This committee reported to the General Assembly at the October session, 1814, that
" A new Meeting House should be built on the West side of the Highway, at the junetion of the Middle Road Turnpike, Washington Turnpike, and the Litehfield County Road," and that they had " fixed a Stake 2 rods North of the North west corner of Hermon Stoddard's Dwelling house."
The location here indicated, is that now occupied by the South Congregational Church, which the first society voted unanimously to build, March 27, 1817, after the secession of the northern inhabitants, so that this house stands at the place appointed by the Assembly. The northern inhabitants were still dissatisfied, and procured the passage of a vote in the society, " to oppose the acceptance of the re-" port," which they knew was to be made at the October session, and appointed Benjamin Judson, Reuben Martin and William O. Bron- son, agents for this purpose. But the report was accepted by the Assembly, and on the 29th of November following, Hon. Charles B. Phelps, who, at this time, acted with the northern inhabitants, to- gether with seventy others, lodged a certificate with the clerk of the first society, giving him " distinctly to understand," that
" We do not belong to the first, or Presbyterian Society in this Town, but for conscience and duty sake do pronounce and hereby certify whomsoever it may concern, that we, and each of us, are of and do belong to the sect or persua- sion denominated Independent and Strict Congregationalists, to follow their doc- trines and diseipline, strictly and without deviation. You [the society's clerk ] and your successors are therefore directed, according to a statute law of this State, in such case made and provided, to consider each and every one of us ever hereafter as strict and independent Congregationalists, and distinct from your society, and exempt from all further taxes, or rates, or from any benefits and immunities of, in or belonging, in any view, to said first society in Woodbury. " Witness our hands this seventh day of November, A. D. 1814."
In order to understand the design and effect of these proceedings, a word in relation to the law existing at that time is necessary. Be- fore the constitution of 1818, all the territory of the state was carved out into ecclesiastical societies. As various causes led to the erec- tion of new societies, they were, with few exceptions, incorporated by the Assembly with local limits. A few irregular parishes, ac- knowledging the general faith of the churches, made such by slight
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
differences of opinion, were, after 1784, designated by enrollment. With these few exceptions, which had been made for cause, two dis- tinet societies of the "standing order," were not allowed to occupy the same territory. It therefore became necessary for the northern inhabitants to call themselves by some other name in order to be re- leased from the regular society.
By an aet, passed in 1748, soon after the feud between the " Old Lights" and " New Lights" had agitated the religions community, entitled " An Act directing how to proceed when it shall be neces- sary to build a Meeting-House for divine Worship," it was provided, that when by a two-thirds vote a society should declare it to be nec- essary to build a meeting-house, the county court in the county where the society was located, should " appoint and aflix the place whereon" the house should be erected. It was further enacted, that it should not be lawful for any society, or part of a society, " to build, or set up any meeting-house for religious worship," without first procuring the appointment of a place by the county court, under penalty of $134, " to the treasury of the county ; to be recovered before the county court. in the county where the transgression is committed."
After repeated efforts on the part of the northern interest, as we have seen, to procure a location, acceptable to themselves, and for which they several times obtained a major vote in the society, but never the necessary two-thirds, a voluntary subscription was started by them, in 1814, to build a house on the site occupied by the present North Congregational Church. This subscription embraced some persons not members of the society, and a day was appointed to transport the timber to the place appointed. At this crisis, Gen. Elisha Sterling, state's attorney for Litchfield county, addressed a let- ter to some of the leaders in this project, declaring their conduct to be illegal, that each person engaged in the enterprise would ineur the penalty of the statute, and that it would become his duty to prose- eute the offenders, which he should not omit to do. Accompanying this letter was an opinion of Judge Reeve, then on the last year of his judicial authority, confirming this position of Gen. Sterling. Dr. Lyman Beecher also addressed a letter to some members of the church, remonstrating against these measures, as inconsistent with their religions obligations and duties.
To avoid these penalties, and the formidable array of enemies to " their movement," it was necessary to take some other measures. They believed that Dr. Beccher, and the other surrounding elergy- men, were adverse to their interests, and, asserting the same right of
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independeney, that our Puritan fathers asserted in their conflict with ecclesiastical and political power in England, they determined to es- tablish a " church, free and independent." A committee, on which was HIon. Charles B. Phelps, was raised to frame a constitution for the government of the church and society. The first proposition of this constitution was,
" This Church under God is free and independent of all Synods, Consisto- ries, Associations, Conventions, Classis, and all other Ecclesiastical authority, save that of the Lord Jesus."
In its general tenor, it gave large authority to the church and so- ciety, in all matters relating to their interests ; but this power was modified by the appointment of a ruling elder, who was, ex officio, moderator of all church meetings, and possessed an unqualified veto upon all votes of the church, which did not meet his approbation. Benjamin Judson was appointed ruling elder, the name of the " Bap- tist Church" was adopted, and a minister of that denomination em- ployed, for a time, to preach to the church.1
In May, 1816, an application was made to the General Assembly by this church, for incorporation into an ecclesiastical society, with the same privileges as other societies, but it failed. At the October session, the same year, a petition signed by 102 individuals renewed the application for society privileges, which were granted, and the ap- plicants were incorporated by the name of the " Strict Congregational Society" in Woodbury, with the same limits as the first society, leav- ing all persons within those limits to signify in the month of March annually, to what society they chose to belong, by leaving with the clerk of such society, a certificate to that effect, which is by him en- rolled on the records of the society .?
1 The chairman of the committee that drafted this constitution, informed the an- thor, that the theological postulata advanced in it " were gathered up and down the Scriptures, Confessions, Catechisms, Platforms, Articles, Theses and Creeds-where- ever a word of seasonable doctrine could be found. The precise amount of author- ity for it could not now be stated." Ile further remarked, that, in his opinion, not- withstanding this excellent constitution, the church had very soon after their regular incorporation into an ecclesiastical society, in 1816, by a process of " unconscious mu- tation," relapsed into a close affinity with the " associated churches."
2 The late Reuben Walker, availing himself of this privilege, lodged with the clerk of the Strict Congregational Society, the following certificate:
" To Leman Sherman, Clerk of the North Society.
IFear the words of Reuben with the strictest propriety.
This may certify to all who gathier tithes,
That Reuben has done with the South Society till he die's.
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
After the incorporation of the new society, the bitterness of feeling began to wear off. Even before the incorporation, a committee had been appointed by the south part of the first society, consisting of Stiles Curtiss, John Strong, Esq., Simeon Pearce, Jesse Minor, and Moses Clark,
" To meet and confer with a committee from the northern part of the society, on the situation and affairs of the society, and to devise some method for the reconciliation of the existing differences in the same, and make report."
'The " differences," however, were not healed, as has appeared, and considerable feeling existed for many years-in short, some of it has even reached the present day. But it is mentioned with profound gratitude, that the present generation meet each other on a more generous footing, laying aside, in a good degree, the prejudices of the " fathers ;" and the ministers of the two societies meet and ex- change pulpits with each other, in the bonds of true Christian fellow- ship. It is gratifying to see this, for there is no need of contention, and surely there is no pleasure or profit in it. There is room enough for both societies, and both are in a very flourishing condition. Doubtless there are at present more professing Christians in the two churches than there would have been in one. Two laborers have effected more than could have been done by one. Let them continue on in this course, and show the world "how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity."
The north church was organized December 25th, 1816. The per- sons who composed it were all of them members of the first church, and had been, at their own request, formally dismissed from that. church. and recommended as in good and regular standing, for the purpose of being constituted into a separate church. The church was formed by Rev. Dr. Tyler, then pastor of the church in South Britain. By special request, he came and preached a sermon, and after its delivery he read the articles, or confession of faith, that had been prepared, which were assented to by thirty-one persons, eleven males and twenty females, upon which he pronounced them a church. The sermon preached on this occasion was on Ephesians iv. 3. " Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace." The church was constituted such, it seems, by a voluntary act, on their part, in assenting to certain articles of faith, and adopting a mu-
Therefore wish to be considered not as one of the Theologicalists, But as belonging to the Strict Congregationalists. Woodbury, March 13th, 1818.
Reuben Walker."
21
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
tual covenant. The only ministers present, it is believed, were Rev. Dr. Tyler and Rev. Mr. Dwight. The latter was at this time offi- ciating as minister to this people. Since this organization, though nominally not connected with the Litchfield South Consociation, it has usually been represented in its deliberations. During the year previous, the present north meeting-house had been erected, and was at the time of the organization of the church, inclosed, but not fin- ished at all in the inside. A congregation had been for some time in the habit of meeting here for the purpose of religious worship, and the duties of the ministry had been discharged by Rev. Mr. Weeks, afterward Rev. Dr. Weeks, of Newark, N. J.
Thus was the church constituted and brought into a formal exist- ence. As yet, however, it was without pastor or deacon. Five days after its organization, Benjamin Judson was chosen deacon, Decem- ber 30th, 1816, and Deacon Nathaniel Minor, who still holds that office, was chosen the following year, 1817. He has consequently discharged the duties of that office about thirty-six years.
It has already been stated that the church edifice, at the time of the organization of the church, was only inclosed. It was not fin- ished till two years after this time. Plain benches formed the seats of the worshipers, and a few boards only, an elevation for the pulpit, during that time. It is believed that the first sermon ever preached in the house, was delivered on the last Sabbath in July, 1816, from these words : " Behold ye trust in lying wonders, that can not profit." Jeremiah vii. 8.
In February, 1817, came Rev. Grove L. Brownell, who com- menced preaching to this church, and continued to do so till the fol- lowing July, when he was ordained first pastor over the church and congregation. The sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Catlin, of New Marlborough, Mass., from 1 Thessalonians ii. 4. "But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts." Shortly after the formation of the church, eight members were received into it, and in the following April, eleven more were added, so that at the ordination of the first pastor, the church consisted of fifty members, eighteen males and thirty-two females, eleven of whom had been added after he commenced his labors here. The church was dedi- cated January 7th, 1819. The sermon on the occasion was preached by Dr. Lyman Beecher. In 1821, there was a revival of religion in the church, and about thirty members were added to it. In 1827, there was another revival, which, from the records of the church,
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
would seem to have continued some years. From 1827 to 1839, a period of about eleven years. 167 persons were added to the church. The following is taken from a manuscript sermon of Rev. John Churchill, present pastor of the church, to which we are indebted for a statement of many of the facts in its history :
" There were no additions to the church subsequent to 1538, during the min- istry of the former pastor, (Mr. Brownell, ) which eontinned for nearly twenty- three years. During that period of time there were received into the church by profession, under the ministry of the former pastor, two hundred and thirty-six persons, who may be regarded as the proper fruits of his ministry. There can be no better encomium passed upon the labors of your former pastor, than that during his ministry, he was the honored instrument of leading 236 of your number, your relations and friends, and many of yourselves, to the Lord Jesus Christ. No one can look at these fruits, without the conviction that his labors were not in vain in the Lord. I take pleasure in testifying from the records of the church, and from living records, which are known and read of many, that his ministry was a highly useful ministry. It would be a matter of devout joy and thanksgiving, could his successor ever be permitted to look back upon such proof of the usefulness of his labors for the cause of Christ."
" Besides those who were connected with this church by profession, there were added to it under the ministry of Mr. Brownell, by letters from other churches, fifty-six, making the whole number added, from the time he began his ministry, 292. If we add to this number, thirty-nine, who were connected with the church when he came, it will make the whole number of persons eon- nected with the church during his ministry, 331. The number of children bap- tized by him was 1ss."
Two deacons were chosen during the ministrations of Mr. Brownell. Moses Clark, in 1821, and Elijah Sherman, Jr., to succeed him at his death, in 1831. Mr. Brownell graduated at the University of Ver- mont, in 1813. and received the degree of master of arts from Yale College, in 1816. Ile now resides in Sharon, Conn., and is the prin- cipal of a flourishing academy at that place.
On the dismission of the first pastor, Rev. John Churchill received a unanimous call from the church and society, to settle with them, and was installed into the sacred office, April 22d, 1840. Mr. Churchill graduated at the theological department of Yale College, in 1839, the year preceding his installation here, and received the honorary de- gree of master of arts from the same college in 1844.
Under the care of the present pastor, who has now accomplished his twelfth year in the duties of the ministry, the church has greatly prospered, steadily advancing in strength and numbers. At the ac- cession of Mr. Churchill, twelve years ago, there were living, 183 members of the church. Of these, thirty have died, and thirty-one
2
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
have been dismissed to other churches, leaving now 122 members, that were such before that date. During his ministry, 165 persons have been added to the church, thirteen of whom have died, and twenty-two have been dismissed to other churches, leaving 130 who still remain members of the church, of those who have joined it with- in twelve years. The whole number of members of the church, at the present moment, leaving out, as has been done in the foregoing estimates, absent members of whom little or nothing is known, is 250. Of absent members not included in the above statistics, there are some fifteen or twenty. There are but six persons of the thirty-one who formed this church, thirty-six years ago, now remaining among the living. Of the eight that next joined the church, not one re- mains, and two only are living of the eleven who joined next year. There are only thirty-three out of the whole number of 155 who united with the church up to 1830, now living. More than 125 members have been removed by death since the church was organ- ized, thirty-six years ago.
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