USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Stratford > The genesis of Christ Church, Stratford, Connecticut : background and earliest annals, commemoration of the two hundred fiftieth anniversary 1707-1957 > Part 8
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havo several times assembled in our congregation between two and three hundred persons; and if encouraged by your honours, may be as flourishing a Church as any country Church in America. Wo humbly bescech your honours to
consider that there is not any government in America but what has our settled Church and ministers, but this of Con- necticut.
17191 Samuel Johnson settled in West Haven and continued his reading, now in the Yale Library. His extant list of books completed102 might frighten a modern Anglican seminary student into a nervous break- down. About this time, he began introducing Prayer Book collects and longer prayers into his Congrega- tional services to the delight of his people, who did not know the source.
1722: An Abstract of the Proceedings of the S.P.G. (Feb., 1720 --- Feb., 1721) 103 announced the good news that Stratford was at last to have a missionary, a parish library, and a generous supply of Anglican propaganda:
The Society have this Year fupply'd the following Places with Miffionaries, who have been well recommended to them both for their Abilities and pious Life and Conver- fation, and to be duly qualified to anfwa the Ends of the Million.
To Lewis Town in Suffex County in Pensilvania, they have fent the Reverend Mr. William Becket with a Salary of Sixty Pounds per Annum: To Hopewell and Maiden-head in New Ferfey, the Reverend Mr. William Harrifon, with the like Sala- ry : To North Carolina, in the Room of Mr. Urmftone, who is return'd from that County, the Reverend Mr. Thomas Now- nam, with a Salary of Eighty Pounds per Annum : To Newbury in New England, the Reverend Mr. Matthias Plant is ap- pointed with a Salary of Sixty Pounds per
Annum : The Reverend Mr. Fames Orem to New Bristol in New England, with the like Salary, where the People have late- ly built a Church at their own Charge, and promifed to contribute handfomely towards the Maintenance of a Miffionary : And the Reverend Mr. George Piggot is appointed to Stratford in Connecticut with the fame Salary ; with each of which Miffionaries the Society have fent a Library of Ten Pounds, and Fice Pounds worth of devotional Tracts to di- ftribute among their Parifhioners : The Society have alfo appointed the Reverend Mr. Thomas Barclay, formerly their Miffio- nary at Albany, to remove to Rye in the Province of New York, with a Salary of Fifty Pounds per Annum, if he fhould think fit ; and have given him Ten Pounds in Confideration of the very hard Circumftan- ces he lies under ; and have alfo given to
1722, early: From the "Autobiography" of Samuel Johnson: 104 "At length these conversations [among the Yale tutors] which used to be very delightful begun to grow troublesome; they grew uneasy to find them- selves in a state so very different on several accounts from the state of Christianity when the Apostles left it and particularly with regard to the government of the church. They all loved their country, and were beloved by it, and were esteemed the most considerable persons as to their literary accomplishments of any in it. It was therefore very grievous to them to think of going into conclusions that they knew would be very distressing to their friends and very grievous to their country. They therefore honestly tried to satisfy themselves if possible to continue as they were; they resolved to examine things im- partially and read the best things on both sides of the question .... The result was, that from the facts in Scripture, compared with the facts of the primitive church immediately after, and so downward it ap- peared very plain that the episcopal government of the church was universally established by the Apostles wherever they propagated Christianity. And that though the presbyters preached and administered the Sac- . raments, yet no act of ordination and government was ever held lawful without a bishop at the head of the Presbytery. This appeared as evident from the universal witness of the church as the canon of Scripture itself and indeed more evident than infant baptism and the first day Sabbath. So that they began to be considerably dubious of the lawfulness of their ordination."
1722, April 23 : Shortly after the Rev. George Pigot reached New York, he addressed the following let- ter to his prospective flock at Stratford, reminding them of the usual arrangements whereby the S.P.G. paid 50 ord 60 sterling toward the missionary's salary and the parish, the remainder (approximately .50. ). Pigot did not remain in Stratford very long, but he prepared the way for Samuel Johnson's min- istry here, which extended in all directions and brought Connecticut's "first, parishes" into being. (Caleb Heathcote, who had so long befriended the Churchmen of your community, had died in 1721. It is interesting to note that Pigot's letter is dated on the anniversary of Shakespeare's birth and death -- not inappropriately since it was directed to the American Stratford -- not on the Avon but very much on the Housatonic!)
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Gentlemen, I take this Opportunity by your own. Townsman of informing you of the Society's great Care of you, who have been pleased to appoint Mc, a mean yet willing Watchman, over you for the ford. I chose to settle among you, because my Family might be more easily transported from Road-Island (where They now reside) to your Town, than to any other vacant Mission in America. It is expected from you, that you will make some Provision for Me & Mine; that I may not be necessitated to settle elsewhere, as the Society have promised, if you do not take Care accordingly. I am now waiting for a Passage to Road-Island from whence, after Settlement of my Affairs, you may expect Your hitherto Unknown And very Humble Servant
: New-york iAur: 23. 1722 George Bigot
1722, May 20 (Trinity Sunday) : " ... it was not till Trinity Sunday ... that the mission [at Stratford] received its priest .... A few weeks later he was able not only to ad- minister the holy communion to thirty, and to baptize twenty-seven infants, but also to record his 'expectations of a glorious revolution of the ecclesiastics of this country, ' the 'President of Yale College, and five more, ' having had a conference with him, and be- ing determined to declare themselves professors of the Church of England. "105
David Humphreys, in An Historical Account of the Incorporated Society for the Propaga- tion of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, London, 1730, 334-345 and 337-338, supplies details of the parish at the time of George Pigot's arrival-details that deserve to be pre- served in a historical sketch like this one.
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"The People of Stratford in Connecticut Colony, about the Year 1708, expressed an earnest Desire of having the Church of England Worship settled among them .... However the Society could not send a Mis- sionary here till the Year 1722, so much were they engaged in supplying other Places. The Reverend Mr. Pigot was sent Missionary here, and so heartily were the People inclined to the Church of England, that the Disappointment of having no Missionary for near 20 Years, did not make them change their well- grounded Judgment. They received Mr. Pigot with all Kindness, and immediately sat about building a Place for Publick Worship. Accordingly ... the Building [was] carried on and compleated, partly at the Charge of the Church of England Members there, partly by the liberal Contributions of pious Gentlemen of the neighbouring Provinces, together with the Bounty of some Travellers, who occasionally passing by, contributed. It is a Timber Building, small, but neat, 45 Feet and a half long, and 30 broad, and 20 up to the Roof.
"It was very necessary to have a Church built at Stratford. That Township is ten Miles square, and there was no Church Westward, within 40 Miles (except lately one at Fairfield, which is eight Miles off, ) none Eastward within 100 Miles, and there is no Church at all, Northward. Stratford lies upon the Sea- Coast, and directly over against it to the Southward, lies Brookhaven upon Long-Island, about 20 Miles distant from Stratford. If there were no Missionary here, a very great Body of People would be desti- tute of the Means of Publick Worship. The Towns in this Country lie thick, scarce any at above ten Miles Distance, some not five Miles off each other. Some of these Towns also, have several little Vil- lages belonging to them. Most of the Towns consist of 2, 3, or 400 Families. Tho' scarce any of them live contiguous, yet the main Body of the People of a Town, live in near Neighbourhoods. The Roads are generally well cleared, and much used. It is a fruitful and thriving Country."
1722, May 29: The wardens of Christ Church sent their thanks to the Secretary of the S.P.G. with a request for additional financial help.
May 29th, 1722.
Sir, After a long expectation we are supplied from the Honour- able Society with a Missionary, for whom we do hereby re- turn our most grateful acknowledgments. As to Mr. Pigot's care over us we are well satisfied that it will be to the advan- tage of the Church of England, and the edifying of all of us who belong to that Church, as far as can be guessed by his deportment hitherto. We received a letter with him from you, and should be glad, sir, to comply therewith, if our abili- tics would permit us to do it ; for our number indeed is great, but we have no leading men to support us under our difficul- ties in a country resolved to fleece all of our persuasion as long as their charter continues. We are about to build a Church
at our own expense, and should be extremely happy if the HIonourablo Society would bestow the same allowance ou Mr. Pigot as they did on Mr. Philips, especially since ho so much inoro deservedly merits it, and promises so much satisfaction therein. We also render our hearty thanks for those necessary books he has brought among us, and shall always retain in our memories a sincere affection for the aus- picions Society who sent them, and therefore beg leave grate- fully to subscribo ourselves, in the behalf of tho whole Church,
Their, and, sir, Your obliged humble servants, JOIN JOHNSON, Church WILLIAM JEANS, { Wardens.
1722, June: From Samuel Johnson's "Autobiography : "106 "In June 1722 Mr. Johnson made [George Pigot] a visit and invited him to come and see our college, which he promised him to do on such a day; of this he gave notice to his friends who agreed to meet there on that occasion. They did no more than express their charity and veneration for the church, but this was so unexpected to Mr. Pigot, and so much pleased him that he could not forbear giving some hints of it among his people. Their [the tutors' ] frequent meetings and intimacy begun also to be much noticed and talked of and they began to be suspec- ted of Arminianism, and soon after some very ill and untrue things of their opinions were reported about so that by Commencement in September 1722 the country was much alarmed .... "
1722, August 20: George Pigot sent the news to the Secretary of the Venerable Society, indicating the importance of having a bishop in the colonies for emergencies of this sort. 107
Stratford, August 20th, 1722.
Sir,
In my last of tho 4th of June, by the hands of Mr. Wil- liam Gardner, whose receipt I have, I gave you some account of my progress in the ministry here; but I am now more capable of guessing at the aims of the people about inc. Since Trinity Sunday, when I first gathered a Church,
(thoughi by mistake I mentioned the Sunday following in my former,) I have administered the Communion to thirty persons, and baptized twenty-seven infants, as you may perecive by the enclosed, which is my notitia parochialis thereof. The leading people of this colony are generally prejudiced against their mother Church, but yet I have great expectations of a glorious revolution of the ecclesiasties of this country, be -.
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canso the most distingnished gentlemen among them aro re- solvedly bent to promote her welfare and embrace her bap- tism and discipline, and, if the leaders fall in, there is no donbt to be made of the people. Those gentlemen who are ordained pastors among the Independents, namely, Mr. Cutler, the President of Yale College, and five more, have. held & conference with me, and are determined to declare themselves professors of the Church of England, as soon as they shall understand thoy will be supported at homo ; they complain much, both of the necessity of going home for or- ders, and of their inability for such an undertaking ; they also surmise it to be entirely disserviceable to our Church, because, if they should como to England, they must leave their flocks, and thereby give the vigilant enemy an opportu- nity to seizo thicir cures and supply them with inveterato schismatics ; but if a Bishop could be sent us, they could se- enre their parishes now and hereafter, because the people here are legally qualified to choose their own ministers as often as a vacancy happens, and this would lighten the IIon- ourablo Society's expenses to a wonderful degree. I am in- formed, also, by these, that there are other gentleinen dis- posed to renounce their separation, not only in this colony,
but also in other provinces of North America, and those a body, considerablo enough to perfeet a general reformation. Sir, the Honourable Society will perceive by this, that many sound reasons are not wanting to inspirit them to proenro the mission of a Bishop into these Western parts ; for, besides the deficiency of a Governor in the Church, to inspect the regular lives of the clergy, to ordain, confirm, conscerato Churches, and the like, amongst those that already conform ; there is, also, a sensible want of this superior order, as a suro bulwark against the many heresies that are already brooding in this part of the world. I shall say no more on that sub- jeet till I have your and my Lord of London's sentiments on this affair. I have distributed what books I brought, and have reason to bless God for the good influence they have had on the people. I hope the Hononrable Society will be pleased to order me somno Common Prayer Books and Cate- chisms, than which nothing, (besides a Bishop) can be more advantageous to the successful ministry of, sir, your and the Honourable Society's very humble servant,
GEORGE PIGOT.
P. S .- I have frequent invitations to come to Providence, in Rhode Island Government, where I am a proprietor, and do humbly cravo the patronage of the Honourable Society for that residence, when they aro determined to send a mis- sionary thither, whom it may suit as well to como to Strat- ford.
1722, September 13: An uproar was heard at Yale College. 108 (The day following Commencement)
Timothy Cutler, rector of Yale; Jared Eliot, pastor of Killing- worth; John Hart, pastor of East Guilford; James Wetmore, of North Haven; Daniel Brown, tutor at Yale; Samuel Whittelsey, pastor of Wallingford; and Samuel Johnson, pastor of West Haven, presented their written declaration "to the Rev. Mr. Andrew and Mr. Woodbridge and others, our Reverend Fathers and Brethren, present in the library of Yale College."
"Reverend Gentlemen,
"Having represented to you the difficulties which we labor under, in relation to our continuance out of the visible communion of an Episcopal Church, and a state of seeming opposition thereto, either as private Christians, or as officers,
and so being insisted on by some of you (after our repeated declinings of it) that we should sum up our case in writing, we do (though with great reluctance, fearing the consequence of it) submit to and comply with it, and signify to you that some of us doubt the validity, and the rest are more fully persuaded of the invalidity of the Presbyterian ordination, in opposition to the Episcopal; and should be heartily thankful to God and man, if we may receive from them satisfaction herein, and shall be willing to embrace your good councils and instructions in relation to this important affair, as far as God shall direct and dispose us to it."25
All the signers were graduates of Yale, with the exception of Cutler -- a Harvard man. They were identified with the Con- gregational system, which was now assailed by them in its principal stronghold. Great consternation followed. It was an humiliating rebuff; the men were of unimpeachable character and recognised ability.
1722, October 3: George Pigot wrote to the Secretary of the S.P.G. of latest developments in New Haven and Fairfield Counties.109
Sir,-I write this from New-York, where I am soliciting for subscriptions towards tho building a Church at Stratford, for the glorious work wo have already undertaken, notwith- standing the poverty of the oppressed inhabitants. I have not been idlo sineo my dismission ; and as I mado quick dispatch on my setting ont from home, so I've been diligent in promoting the good of our Church in this country. I shall, before Christmas, according to appointment, preach thrice at Fairfield, which is eight miles distant from my abode-as often at Newtown, which is twenty-two miles from Stratford-thrice, also, at Ripton, at the same distance -in which places I have and shall take care to improve the festivals of our Church to such purposes ; and where theso
do not intervene, on other week-days. On the 4th of the last month, at the desire of the president, I repaired to the Commencement of Yalo College, in New-Haven, where, in the face of the whole country, the aforesaid gentleman and six others, hereafter named, declared themselves in this wise, that they could no longer keep ont of the commimion of the Holy Catholic Church, and that some of them doubted of the validity, and the rest were persuaded of the invalidity, of Presbyterian ordination in opposition to Episcopal. The gentlemen fully persuaded thereof aro the five following, viz. : Mr. Cutler, president of Yalo College; Mr. Brown, tutor to the same; Mr. Elliot, pastor of Killingsworth ; Mr. Johnson, pastor of West Haven, and Mr. Wetmore, pas-
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tor of North IIaven. The two gentlemen who seemed to doubt aro Mr. Hart, pastor of East Guilford, and Mr. Whit- tlesy, pastor of Wallingford. These seven gave in their de- clarations in writing, and, at the same time, two more; and these pastors of great note gave their assent, of whom the one, Mr. Buckley, of Colchester, declared Episcopacy to be jure divino, and the other, Mr. Whiting, of some remote town, also gave in his opinion for moderate Episcopacy.
This great outset towards a reformation in this de- luded country has brought in vast numbers to favour the Church of England. Nay, sir, Newton and Ripton, if not Fairfield, do intend to petition the Honourable Society for Church ministers. The gentlemen above mentioned de- sign, some of them, to go home for orders, and the rest will tarry till a Bishop comes, if ever it should please God to in- spire those in authority to promote him. I mention this, sir, that those of the worthy gentlemen I have been writing about, who make application, may not be disappointed at their coming to England ; but may, with the Honourablo Society's good approbation, be sent back into the colony and parts adjacent at the same time.
Sir, I hope the Honourable Society will consider me, and grant me, according to a former vote, entered into their minutes, the preference of Bristol, if they shall dispose of Providence to another.
I shall now inform you, sir,. of what obstructions I meet
with in my ministry, and they are several, viz. : that of Lieutenant Governor Nathan Gould, who is a most invete- rate slanderer of our Church-charging her with popery, apostacy and atheism-who makes it his business to hinder the conversion of all whom he can, by threatening thein with his authority-and who, as a judge of the courts here, dis- franchises men merely for being Churchmen ; also, that of living under a charter government, in which there is not the least mention of ecclesiastical affairs ; so that they have boldly usurped to themselves, and insultingly imposed on the necks of others, the power of tuxing and disciplining all persons whatsoever, for the grandeur and support of their self-created ministers ; also, that of lying slanders, continually spread against our Mother, as if she were a persecutress, and gaped for the tenth of the country's increase; and, though these deceivers pretend a firm attachment to the illustrious house of Hanover, yet they are frequently op- pugning the king's supremacy. Lastly; another great obstruction is the want of Common Prayer- Books and Catechisms. I shall, in a short time, inform my Lord of London of the result of the affairs, after a meeting of a General Assembly some time this month, when the fate of those gentlemen and myself, in relation to the resentment thereof, will be determined.
1722, October (early) : From Samuel Johnson's "Autobiography : "110 "Mr. Johnson's parting with his [Congregational] people [in West Haven] was very tender; they loved him and he them. He therefore told them that if they could see reason to join with him in conforming to the Church [of England] he would go and take orders and return to them again, but their prejudices were so great, that they could not think of that. He urged them to consider and said they had hitherto admired his preaching and instructions, and above all his prayers, insomuch that several of the neighboring parishes would often come on purpose to hear them. Now he told them his instructions and prayers had all along been from the Church of Eng- land, and if they were so good while they did not know it, why should they think them less so now they did. They seemed much surprised at this. However, there were but four or five of them that could be reconciled to receive him again in orders. So after a few days he took a very affectionate leave of them and proceeded with Mr. Cutler and Mr. Browne on their journey. They were received with the ut- most respect and kindness by the gentlemen of the Church of England both at Rhode Island and Boston. They were just then about building a new church at Boston and they chose Mr. Cutler to be the minister of it. The gentlemen [of the Church of England] there had engaged a passage in a ship just ready to sail, and very kindly at their own expense laid in every thing for their voyage and after a few weeks stay there, they embarked Nov. 5."
1722, December 15: From Samuel Johnson's "Autobiography : "111 "After a stormy but safe voyage of five weeks and four days they arrived in the Downs and landed on Saturday at Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet, Docember 15th, 1722, and soon took horse and went that night to Canterbury. They there were obliged to wait three days for the stage coach. Meantime they desired to see everything curious in that ancient city and next day went to church at that venerable Cathedral where the music and appoar- ance of every thing gave them an exquisite delight. They had no letters to anybody there; however next day after dinner they asked the landlord whether he knew the Dean, who at that time, was the most worthy Dr. Stanhope, whose character they knew; he said he knew him well, and upon their asking that favor, said he would very willingly introduce them to him. Accordingly upon his telling tho servant that came to the door that they were some gentlemen come from America for Holy Orders, and desirous to pay their duty to the Dean, and the servant's making the report, the Dean was so far from bidding him to conduct them in that he came himself to the door, and taking them by the hand to their surprise said, "Come in, gentlemen, you are very welcome, I know you well for wo have just been read- ing your declaration for the Church' (which it seoms had got into the London newspapers with their names to it and the Dean with sundry prebends who had dined with him were that moment reading)."
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1723, January 11: Letter from General Francis Nicholson to the Secretary of the S.P.G., dated January 11, 1722/23 indicates how quickly news spread throughout the Atlantic seaboard and how much of a stake Churchmen in all the colonies felt that they had in Connecticut. Note his willingness to contribute to the travelling expenses of the Yale men and to the funds of the Society. 112
Charles City and Port, [Charleston,] S. C., Jun. 11th, 1722. Sir,
Tho affairs of tho Reverend the gentlemen of Yale College, in Connecticut Colony, if rightly managed and encouraged, may be of great service to our holy mother, the Church of England, as by law established ; and with submission I think that tho ministers and people of thoso parts cannot, with justice or reason, blamo the Church of England for taking care and encouraging tlioso Reverend gentlemen who, out of conscience, left tlicir communion. I am in hopes that the thirco Reverend gentlemen who are gono from New-England will receive Episcopal ordination, and 'tis probable that, ac- cording to their encouragement with you, others may follow their example ; and it may be a very good way for the So- cicty, or My Lord Bishop of London, to send missionaries to these parts, tho procuring of whom hath been so very diffi- cult and chargeable to the Society. -
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