USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Oxford > History of the town of Oxford, Connecticut > Part 17
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The strict basis of Congregationalism was that the church should have no bishop and no interchurch organization. But by 1708 the old Puritan churches were in a bad way and it was felt in New England that something should be done to hold the churches together. So the General Court of Connecticut, in that year, called a Synod of the forty one churches of Connecticut to meet at Saybrook. This Synod drew up a statement which has become known as "the Say brook Platform", and as it was somewhat akin to Presbyterianism (which favored a strong organization) the names "Presbyterian" and "Congregational" became somewhat interchangeable. It is known that at the time of the founding of the Oxford church, Congregationalism was strong in Massachusetts while Connecticut favored "Presbyterianism".
* Columbia Univ. Press
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It was the time of the religious revival known as "The Great Awakening" which began in December 1734 when Jonathan Edwards was preaching throughout New England. By 1740, the movement was at its height, and it may have influenced the Oxford Society in voting for a church "according to the Presbyterian Constitution". The name "Presbyterian" persists in the Oxford church records, for at a meeting held in December of 1819, it was voted to have "a minister of either the Presbyterian or Congregational Order". Another record of the same kind is found in "Dwight's Travels", published in 1822, which says, "Oxford includes two congregations, a Presbyterian and an Episcopal plurality", (the latter term referring to St. Peter's and Christ Church). And a map of Oxford in an atlas of New Haven County published in 1868 shows a Presbyterian church at the location of the present Congrega- tional church. All of these seem to indicate that the Oxford Church has at least always favored an interchurch organization. But mort- gages dated as early as 1812 speak of "The Ecclesiastical Congrega- tional Society of Oxford".
We have already stated that at first there was no settled minister. At the beginning, in 1741 the meeting voted to give a Mr. Buckingham a "call upon probation", and in 1744 they did the same for a Mr. Davlin. In August of the same year they voted to give Mr. Joseph Adams a call "upon probation for three Sabbaths". Finally, in 1745 they voted to give Mr. Jonathan Lyman a call to preach. Mr. Lyman apparently won their hearts, for on the first Monday of July of that year, they voted "to give the worthy Mr. Lyman a call to settle over the parish in the work of the gospel ministry".
The word "settling" meant that the minister was there to stay. This was a serious move for a church to make, "as at his installation he was given a home and land, received a stated salary, small though it often was, and sometimes, in addition, a sum of money to induce him to settle. Each parish took its time about selecting its pastor, minute- ly investigated his life, character, and training, carefully tested his theology, and was deeply concerned over the method of his ordination and installation".
Mr. Lyman stayed with the Oxford church for eighteen years until his death in 1763, when he was killed by a fall from his horse. After Mr. Lyman, the next settled minister was the Rev. David Bronson who was installed Apr. 25, 1764 and his pastorate continued until his death in 1806. It was during his ministry that the new meeting house was built.
The next settled minister (after Mr. Bronson, who died in 1806) was the Rev. Nathaniel Freeman, whose tenure was from June 1809 to September 1814. After that, the Society was without a settled minister
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sixteen years, during which various ministers "supplied" with preach- ing, principally the Rev. Ephraim G. Swift who is said to have been of much personal worth, and highly respected. Then, on June 2d 1829, the Rev. Abraham Brown was settled, and served until he was "dis- missed" Oct. 16, 1838. (Here it should be noted that the word "dis- missed" meant at that time merely that the minister was thereby freed from all contractual obligation, and did not mean "fired").
During Mr. Brown's pastorate, namely in 1833, it was voted that the town of Oxford be permitted to hold all necessary town meetings in the society's house for one year, the town to pay $12. Next after Mr. Brown came the Rev. Stephen Topliff who was called April 21, 1841, but for some unknown reason was not installed until the following September. He remained for twenty years (to 1861). Judge Wilcoxson says of him, "He was a man esteemed for his integrity, for his faith- fulness in the discharge of his personal duty, his kindness as a neigh- bor, and the wisdom of his actions as a citizen". Truly, high praise, and it would seem that Mr. Topliff must have been one of the leading men of Oxford.
After Mr. Topliff, there was no settled minister for about two years, the pulpit being supplied by several men, - Rev. Mr. Hollister, Oct. 17 to Dec. 30, 1860, Rev. Mr. Barton Jan. 1, 1861 to May 1, 1862, and from that date to Aug. 1862 by the Rev. Messrs H. D. Woodruff, John S. Hannah, Burrit Smith and Mr. Day. They were followed by the Rev. Jacob Strong, who commenced in August 1862, but was not installed until Feb. 11, 1863. He continued for two and a half years, at the end of which time the Society voted that he should hand in his resignation "at an early date". The records are discreetly silent about the reason for this drastic action. He was dismissed on June 28, 1865.
From that date to Jan. 1, 1867 the pulpit was supplied by the Rev. Messrs. Brace, Atwater, Day, Hatch, and Burritt Smith, and the Rev. Charles Chamberlain preached from Jan. 1, 1867 to July 1, 1869. He was hired from year to year for about two and one half years. By this time the Society had increased the minister's salary to $800. per year.
After Mr. Chamberlain, the church got along without any settled minister for seven years, but was well "supplied" by the Rev. John Churchill of Woodbury, who is described as a man "who, faithful to his calling; as a preacher, deservedly ranks with the ablest; as a friend, the kindest; as a neighbor, unselfishly loving; and as a citizen, dis- creet, just and true." Like Mr. Topliff, he must also have been one of the neighborhood's principal men.
Towards the end of Mr. Topliff's ministry, namely in 1860, the records mention the playing of the melodeon. This was a big step for- ward in the rendition of the music, as for some curious reason any form of organ seems to have been frowned down upon in early years.
Mr. Churchill's seven years supply ended in 1876, and from that time until 1879, the pulpit was supplied by the Rev. Messrs R
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(indecipherable), Bilder, Ives, Johnson, Dodson and John Churchill. For the next two years, it seems to have been a struggle to keep the church open, some services being held by lay readers and on one Sun- day no service was held. On two Sundays in 1877, the Rev. Mr. St. John preached, and other preachers were the Messrs. Swing, Waite and Seeley.
Things then became better, and the Rev. Frederick E. Snow com- menced Oct. 20, 1878 but was not ordained and installed until Apr. 21, 1880. He was dismissed July 30, 1883. Then followed another period of "supply" to Jan. 6, 1884 by the Rev. Messrs. Lum, Miller, Duncan, Spaulding, Billman, Izell, Hubbard and Peck, and still more "supply" to May 1, 1885 by the Rev. Messrs. U. O. Mohr, Bowden and Robert Bell.
The Rev. James Bradford Cleavland commenced to preach Sep. 27, 1885 and after preaching six Sundays was hired for one year, and he moved his family to Oxford Dec. 1, 1885. On Dec. 1, 1886 he was hired for another year and the record says "as we commence the year 1888 he is still preaching for us." And he presided over a meeting Jan. 5, 1888. On July 15th, at his own request, he was "dismissed" and re- commended to the "United Church of Christ in New Haven." Whether he was not available, because of illness or otherwise is not clear, but there were no services in April 1888 (although a Sunday School was held "each Sabbath") The Rev. Messrs Gantle, Reid and Hazeltine "supplied", some Sundays in May and June. On June 16th. 1888 the church voted "to hire Mr. Hazeltine, if possible, "and on July 1st. he was engaged as pastor for one year. (It may be noted that the rather harsh word, "hired", which had been in use for so many years, was be- ginning to be discarded, and the word "engaged", substituted. ) Mr. Hazeltine continued as pastor until January 1893, when he resigned because of ill health. During his ministry the ladies had the stove pipes carried up into the galleries (thus giving the galleries some heat), and they calcimined and papered the interior walls, and re- carpeted the floors. And in 1890 they purchased new pulpit furniture, consisting of desk, three chairs and a communion table.
After Mr. Hazeltine resigned, the Rev. J. W. Norris was engaged for the year 1893. He resigned in May 1894 and was succeeded by the Rev. L. P. Armstrong. On Oct. 22, 1896 an ecclesiastical council was held at the Congregational Church in Oxford to examine him, and if expedient, ordain him to the Christian ministry. After examination of Mr. Armstrong, the ordination service was held.
The church records show that he was quickly followed by the Rev. Ansel E. Johnson. They also show that a Mr. E. A. Johnson was or - dained in the church April 22, 1897. Presumably A. E. Johnson and E. A. Johnson were one and the same man. As the man who was or- dained was a member of the Oxford church, and the account in the church record book gives in some detail the form prevailing at that time we quote from it as follows:
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"Pursuant to letters missive, an Ecclesiastical Council assem- bled at the Cong. Church in Oxford on April 22d, 1897 at 11 A M on request of the Cong. Church in Oxford for the purpose of ex- amining of E. A. Johnson to the Christian ministry.
The council was called to order by Rev. H. A. Campbell of Seymour, who read the letter missive calling the council together. Rev. F. N. Hollister of Waterbury was chosen temporary scribe of the roll of members of the Council and found it to be as follows:
Name of Church Pastor
Delegate
Saugatuck
Sherwood Soule
L. D. Warner
Prospect
Wm. H. Phipps
Seymour
H. A. Campbell
E. A. Lum
Thomaston 1st
E. C. Stoughton
Waterbury 2nd
F. N. Hollister
H. N. Keeler S. N. Chapman
Waterbury 3rd
Litchfield
F. L. Grant
The Rev. Prof. L. O. Bogston of New Haven
The Rev. L. P. Armstrong, of Brooklyn, N. Y.
Rev. Sherwood Soule of Saugatuck was chosen moderator and the temporary scribe was made permanent scribe of the Council.
The Council was led in prayer by Rev. L. P. Armstrong, former pastor of the Oxford Church.
The Candidate stated that he was a member of the Oxford church and presented his certificate of Licensure. He then made a state- ment as to his religious experience and his call to the ministry. Additional facts as to his home life and Christian training were brought out by questions asked by members of the Council.
A paper stating the theological belief of the Candidate was read, and further examination by the members of the Council was thorough and interesting, touching upon the questions of the Per- sonality and Divinity of Christ, the inspiration of the Scriptures, the sense in which Christ is a fullfillment of phrophecy, the mean- ing and design of Punishment and who may partake of the Lord's Supper.
The Council being then by itself and the examination of the Candidate being deemed highly satisfactory, it was voted to pro- ceed to the public services of ordination.
A Committee consisting of the Candidate, the Scribe and Rev. F. L. Grant was appointed to arrange a program of services of ordination and reported the program below after which it was voted that at the close of the program presented the Council ad- journed, sine die.
The report of the scribe was then read and approved.
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Services of Ordination Hymn
Introductory Prayer Reading of Scriptures
Rev. F. L. Grant 11 F. N. Hollister
Hymn
Sermon Ordaining Prayer Right Hand of Fellowship Charge to the Pastor
Rev. Prof. L. O. Bogston Rev. Sherwood Soule H. A. Campbell Rev. L. P. Armstrong
Hymn
Prayer Benediction
Rev. W. H. Phipps Rev. A. E. Johnson
Rev. Sherwood Soule Moderator F. N. Hollister, Scribe"
The Rev. Mr. Johnson was followed May 1, 1897 as pastor by the Rev. Grant L. Shaeffer, who served from 1898 to 1904. About 1903 the church arranged a parsonage for him by taking over the old Masonic Hall and building an addition to it at the north side. He seems to have been well thought of, as is evidenced by the following resolu- tion which was passed upon his resignation, -
"Whereas the Rev. Grant L. Shaeffer for nearly seven years, the acting pastor of the First Congregational Church in Oxford, Conn. has in the providence of God deemed best to accept a call to service with another church, there be it resolved:
That we desire to express our appreciation of the services of Mr. Shaeffer ---- and to bear testimony to his zeal and fidelity --- to his efficient leadership, his capable ministry, his stimulating preaching, his upright and sympathetic life as a man, minister and citizen and to our sense of loss sustained in his departure from us. etc. etc."
From October 1904 to about August 1905, the acting pastor was the Rev. George L. Patterson, who then left for the West. During Septem- ber 1905 a former pastor, the Rev. John W. Norris ministered to the church and on Oct. 8, 1905 the Rev. J. E. Kirkpatrick began his minis- try, also engaging in Graduate Study in Yale Theological School.
During the year 1908 the Society acquired, partly from funds given by Mrs. R. B. Limburner, the Dr. Barnes property and occupied the same as a parsonage. The former parsonage thus became available to remodel or use as a parish house. After 1908 no record was found until 1917 when a list of marriages was reported by The Rev. G. E. Leiper, followed by the record in 19 19 of a marriage solemnized by the Rev. Mr. Stuart. A call for a church meeting, Apr. 15, 1923 is signed, "Elijah Sawyer, Pastor." Then the record continues, "In 1924,
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services were resumed, Mr. Jones, from Yale College being engaged for the Spring and Fall Months.
The Rev. Edwin G. Zellars became pastor in 1937, and in 1943 it is recorded that sixteen members of the church were serving overseas or in this country in the armed forces in the second World War. The 150th. Anniversary of the building of the Second (present) meeting house, and the 204th. Anniversary of the formation of the Society was celebrated with appropriate ceremonies, on July 15, 1945.
Towards the end of Mr. Zellars' ministry, namely in 1948, a pro- posal was made for the merging of the Evangelical and Reformed and Congregational churches of the United States. This proposal was laid before the Society for its consideration but was voted against because of the incomplete form in which it was presented.
In 1946 a garage was built back of the parsonage the builder of which was given the church's property on the far (east) side of the brook (Jack's) in exchange for his labor, and in 1948 the present heat- ing system was installed.
Mr. Zellars resigned Nov. 26, 1949, becoming Pastor Emeritus, and the Rev. Kenneth Johnston followed as student pastor for a short period, January to June 1950.
He was succeeded by the Rev. Robert Eversull who resigned in June 1952, and the Rev. James A. Bradford was installed as a two year student at Yale Divinity School in New Haven, and May 30th, 1954 he was installed as full-time minister, and Ordained in the church June 27, 1954.
During Mr. Bradford's pastorate an historical step was taken by the church. On Nov. 30 1953 the old Ecclesiastical Society, which had governed the church's affairs since its creation in 1741, was formally dissolved. All property etc. was transferred to "The Oxford Congre- gational Church" which was officially incorporated under the laws of the State of Connecticut, on Dec. 18, 1953.
Mr. Bradford resigned Sep. 29, 1955, and in that year a Building Committee was formed to consider the possibility of building a new parish house. After Mr. Bradford's resignation, the Rev. James A. Glass served as Interim Pastor until Apr. 29, 1956 when the Rev. James A. Farmer was called.
In 1957 a Parish House Building Study Committee, a Building Com- mittee, and a Building Fund Project Committee were appointed and a total of $41,000 was pledged by the parishioners. Mr. Carl Blanchard of New Haven was employed as architect, and the new building was erected. The Rev. Mr. Farmer resigned in 1959 and was followed by the Rev. David C. Hall, called on Jan. 1, 1960 and installed as pastor Feb. 21, 1960. He was ordained at the same service.
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Christ Church P. E. Quaker Farms Rd.
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The Old Parish House of the Oxford Congregational Church.
The "Old Parish House" (still standing at the northeast corner of Oxford Road and Academy Road) consists of two parts, the southern part being of the "Greek Revival" style of architecture, (the same as the present, second, Meeting House), and the northern part being an "el" which has a piazza with posts and railing, all of "Queen Anne" architecture.
The southern part was built for the "Morning Star ( Masonic) Lodge No. 47" for use as a Masonic Hall. The Lodge was instituted Oct. 18, 1804. It was occupied by the Lodge until 1848, when because of the de- cline of population in Oxford, the Lodge removed to Seymour. The building continued to be shown as "Masonic Hall" as late as 1868, ap- pearing as such on the map of that date of Oxford Center.
From about 1870 to 1903 it is thought to have been used as a store and U. S. Post Office. In 1903 the Oxford Post Office was discontinued. In 1898, the Rev. G. L. Schaeffer became minister and about 1903 the Congregational Church took Masonic Hall for use as a parsonage, and added the "el" and piazza at the north end. Mr. Schaeffer is said to have declared that he was never able to use the piazza, because of the drinking going on at the Hotel across the way. The building continued to be used as a parsonage until 1908, when an item appears in the church record book, - "During the year, the Society acquired, partly from funds given by Mrs. R. B. Limburner, the Dr. Barnes property and occupied the same as a parsonage. The former parsonage thus becomes available to remodel as a parish house." (The Dr. Barnes property is the present parsonage on the Green at the southeast cor- ner of Oxford Road and Academy Road, it being shown as Dr. Barnes' residence on the 1868 map of Oxford Center.)
The Oxford Episcopal Churches.
The first Episcopal Church in Oxford was St. Peter's in Oxford Center. It was founded in 1764 by the Rev. Richard Mansfield, rector of St. James Church, Derby, as a mission of that church. He was born in New Haven in 1724 and was ready to enter Yale College at the age of thirteen, but was not allowed to enter, because of his youth, until he was fourteen, in 1738. After graduation from Yale in 1741 he went to London so as to be ordained as an Episcopal minister. He must have come with high recommendations, for he was ordained by the Arch- bishop of Canterbury, the head of the Church of England. This action apparently shocked his family, for his sister, upon hearing that he had sailed for England to receive ordination from the bishops, prayed that he might be lost at sea (as many men were). Her prayer illustrates the degree of Puritan bitterness against the Episcopal Church which prevailed at that time in New England.
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St. Peter's Church P. E. Oxford Center.
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The church of England had sometime previously formed a mission- ary society, known as "The Society for Propogating the Gospel in Foreign Parts", and Mr. Mansfield received appointment as one of their missionaries and returned to this country, taking up his post at Derby in 1749. A post is hardly the word for it, as his parish extended as far as New Haven and Waterbury, requiring much travel on foot or on horseback, the roads not being fit for vehicles. He was forty years old and thus in the full vigor of the prime of life. He is said to have been a man of indomitable zeal and energy, which certainly must have been true, in order for him to cope with his difficulties.
While St. Peter's Church was founded in 1764, land for the church building was not acquired until 1766, when Joseph Davis sold to the church a plot of some five acres "known by name of Meeting House lot, lying near Oxford Meeting house." This plot is presumably the present St. Peter's Cemetery on Governor's Hill Road, and the original church building was probably erected in 1767 at the south west corner of the plot., Its site is definite, as all of the grave stones there are dated after 1834 (the date when the old church was demolished), whereas it is surrounded by stones of an earlier date. A slight depression is visible at the site about 30 by 40 ft., indicating that the building was about that size.
In 1834, the old church building was torn down and a new building erected at its present location on the west side of Route 67 on the Lower Green. An artist's sketch made in 1838 shows that it was of "Gothic" architecture, about as it is to-day, except that it had a rather tall, square tower, instead of the present pointed structure. A tower was specified in the building contract, same as in the artist's sketch. It is not on record, at what date the tall tower was taken down.
With a strong Congregational Society already in existence in Oxford, the question may well be raised, how did it happen that in about twenty years from the founding of that church, Episcopal services had begun to be held in some Oxford homes (1760) and that St. Peter's was founded in 1764 ? One reason was undoubtedly that there were a num- ber of Episcopal families who had come to live in Oxford by that time and who, like their Congregational neighbors, balked at traveling down to Derby for church each Sunday. One of these was that of Joseph Davis, who in 1766 deeded to the Church of England people in Oxford, the so-called "Meeting House Lot". Others were Abel Gunn, William Bunnel, Arthur Wooster, Abel Wooster and Benjamin Bates.
The other and perhaps the strongest influence was the missionary zeal of Mr. Mansfield, for there seems never to have been any thought of Oxford having a settled minister of its own, and surely no man would want to undertake to be such a charge, out of Derby, unless he had within him a burning evangelical fire.
As an instance, it is recorded that "on one Sunday Mr. Mansfield appointed to preach and hold a baptismal service in Oxford, and weeks
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previous rains fell in torrents, the streams were greatly swollen and bridges swept away; but, mounting his horse in the morning, around gullied roads, through lots and travelling eight miles out of his way to cross the Naugatuck River, he reached Naugatuck, and found his little flock waiting his arrival. This he considered no hardship in the line of duty.
Dr. Mansfield was very familiar with his laymen, who loved him as a father, and always provided "something good" when he came among them. Visiting a farmhouse one day in Oxford, the wife had prepared him a meal with the luxury of coffee, sweetened, as was common those days, with molasses, "fretted in". Passing his cup for more sweeten- ing, the good lady said "La me, parson, this coffee would be none too good for you if it was all 'lasses."
In person, he was tall, venerable and commanding, and it is said of him for fifty years, he scarcely changed the cut or color of his gar- ments, which were the small clothes and shoes. He wore a large white wig, surmounted with a broad, flat brimmed hat.
"Prior to the organization of the Congregational Society for winter preaching at Great Hill, in 1779, the Rev. Dr. Mansfield of Derby, (the Episcopal minister) had held services some years in Great Hill school house, once a month, and the same at Oxford and Quakers Farm."
In 1792, at the age of 68, he received the degree of Doctor of Divinity. He died in 1821, aged 97.
As to the sympathies of the Church of England people in Oxford, during the Revolution whether patriot or loyalist, there is not a great deal on record. The rector of St. Peter's Church before and during the Revolution, was its founder, the Rev. Richard Mansfield, whose main charge was the church in Derby, where his home also was. Dur- ing this period, he labored under the same difficulties which beset all the other Anglican clergymen, one of the chief of which was that they had sworn to use the "Book of Common Prayer" in their daily ser- vices, including Sunday. This book was the same as the English Prayer Book and it contained extreme expressions of loyalty to the King.
It is reported that "Dr. Mansfield encountered troubles during the Revolution, when at one time he was forced to flee to Long Island for a time because of objection to his devotion to the English crown, but he returned shortly to resume his labors and as one historian states, "Dr. Mansfield's sympathy with the cause of the crown was forgotten in the piety and zeal he manifested toward his church, his devotion to his people, and the meek but dignified deportment he exhibited towards all who entertained different religious views from himself."
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