USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Chester > The First Congregational Church of Chester, Skyline Trail, Chester, Massachusetts > Part 1
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The
First Congregational
Church of Chester
Skyline Trail
Chester, Massachusetts
The
First Congregational
Church of Chester
Skyline Trail Chester, Massachusetts
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/firstcongregatiofirs
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF CHESTER Skyline Trail - Chester, Massachusetts Organized 1763. Sunday Worship Service 9:30 a.m.
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PHOTO BY HARRIS P. BLANCHARD
We dedicate this church history to our beloved "Joseph M. Sherwood", who has faithfully served us as clerk, treasurer and deacon, from 1939- 1963. Through his untiring efforts, and financial sacrifices, these doors have been kept open, and the Word of God has been continually preached from our pulpit, going forth into other nations, through our missionaries
The First Congregational Church of Chester Chester, Massachusetts Skyline Trail
A HISTORY
If one edifice more than any other stands as a symbol of New England character, it is the beautiful white church which graces her grassy valleys and wooded hilltops. Among the most repre- sentative of these is the First Congregational Church on Chester Hill, facing the picturesque Skyline Trail. Topped not by glitter- ing spire but by a sturdy tower fashioned to withstand the gus- tiest of winter winds, it has a long and illustrious past and stands a monument not only to its builders but also to those who keep it alive today.
The first settlers in this area were principally of Scotch- Irish origin, and the proverbial caution and prudence of the Scotch- man were blended in equal proportions with the impulsiveness of the Irishman. The mingling of these seemingly diverse qual- ities formed a desirable and happy temperament. Such were the Elder, Moore, Holland, Kelso, Blair, Hamilton, Bell, Henry and Quigley families. Of English origin were the Ingell, Abbott, Lyman, Johnson, Searle, Smith, Shepard, Parmenter, Stevens, Sizer, Blackman, Toogood, and Oliver families.
These first settlers, who cut down the forests and lived in crude houses, were men of strong and abiding religious con- victions. Look at Jesse Johnson, whose life was without spot or blemish; at Zadoc Ingell, of patriarchal aspect and bearing, whose emotions were so intense that he gave utterance to them in shouts and exclamations of praise; at Stephen Lyman, whose religious experience was an exemplification of all the Christian graces; at the venerable James Quigley, who with uncovered head as he walked over his fields or along the highway was con- stantly engaged in prayer; and at John Smith and Deacons Mat- thews and Hamilton, whose demeanor and conduct were marked by unaffected humility and piety. While still few in number, their attention was directed to the organization of a church and the erection of a house of worship.
In June, 1762, the Colony of Massachusetts needing ready cash, the General Court issued an order for the sale of ten town- ships of land; of these the one designated as Number Nine was sold to William Williams for the sum of 1,500 pounds sterling. Soon afterward it was transferred to John Murray, Abijah Wil -- lard, Timothy Paine and John Chandler, who were the proprietors.
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On January 5, 1763, there already being 19 settlers in the township, the proprietors held their first meeting and voted that settlers be admitted upon meeting the following conditions: "That each one within the space of three years commencing from the first of June last build a dwelling house on their lot of the following dimensions, viz: Twenty-four feet long, eighteen feet wide, & seven feet stud, & have seven acres of land well cleared & fenced & brought to English grass or plowed, & ac- tually settle with family on the same & continue such family thereon for the space of six years, & shall also within three years from this time actually settle a Protestant minister of the Gospel there & pay one-sixth part of the charge thereof, & that each settler have 100 acres of land as an incourage- ment, & that they give bond to the treasurer of said proprietors (John Murray) in the sum of fifty pounds conditioned to perform said conditions, & that upon complying & performing said condi- tions the said lots be confirmed to them, their heirs & assigns forever." Then follows the list of those drawing the first lots of 100 acres each. Thirty-two thousand acres were included in the grant -- this includes parts of the present towns of Huntington and Middlefield. The present area of the town of Chester is 20,507 acres.
Of the lots which were laid out for the first division, lot No. 18, being centrally located, of good elevation, overlooking a good deal of the surrounding countryside, and otherwise well adapted to the purpose, was laid out as the "Ministry Lot." A plat of "Eight acres for a meeting house, training field and burying place" was laid out on the south side toward its westerly end. Within the limits of these eight acres is the present meeting house, the former school house, and the peaceful, stone-walled burial ground across the road from the meeting house, which was established with the making of the first grave, that of Abigail, wife of John Smith, who died in 1767.
Built in 1840, the present meeting house is in reality the grand- child of the First Meeting House erected on this quiet hilltop. The First Religious Society, organized in 1763, met originally in the tavern or in the various homes in the town of Murrayfield, so named in honor of John Murray. Before long, however, the need of a real meeting house was recognized, so in 1766 a build- ing was begun on a site atop the knoll just south of the present parking area. It was 45 feet long, 40 feet wide, and had 20 foot posts, but no steeple. The frame was set up, boarded and shingled, the lower floor laid and the doors made by the proprietors. The building was placed north and south, the front door opening to the north; there were two smaller doors, one to the east and one to west. Handicapped both by time and money, however, the settlers completed the building a little at a time, the windows being put in one by one as money became available. In 1769 the building was completed, but as there were no heating facilities, in winter the window openings were boarded up and the meetings again held in private homes. Before the weather became too unbearable, ladies only were permitted to bring small footwarmers with them
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Aaron Bascom House Pastor 45 Years - 1769-1814
Dr. Bascom's House today
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to the meeting house to help keep their feet warm during the long worship services. Undoubtedly these were sometimes passed around to the male members, especially the youngsters, who might also be suffering from cold feet. The stomping of men's boots often interrupted the minister's orations from the high pulpit.
This little plat of eight acres was the scene of many stirring events in the early history of the young town. The meeting house, the school house, the training field, the cemetery -- what a wealth of memory centers here!
The questions which engrossed the attention of the town more than any other matter were those pertaining to providing for preaching, but especially as to the places for meeting for re- ligious worship. At the first meeting called by the newly-elected board of selectmen to be held at the public meeting house on the 28th of June, 1768, the third article was "For the town to vote, if they think it proper, a suitable sum of money to pay for preach- ing, also to choose a minister for supplying the pulpit." Another article was "To see if the town will vote a place or places for to meet at for public worship." At the meeting the town voted to raise twenty pounds for preaching, and a vote was taken "That the preaching this year should not be all at the meeting house," which vote was immediately reconsidered, and a vote then taken that "The preaching this year shall be all at the public meeting house."
In a meeting held October 14, 1768, there was an article "To see if the town will vote to give Mr. Asahel Hart a call to settle in the gospel ministry in said town; also to see if the town will appoint a place or places to meet at for public worship." Mr. Hart is the first person mentioned as having preached in town, and no action seems to have been taken with reference to making him the permanent preacher. But the town voted "That the preach- ing for the winter shall be one-half of the time at Mr. Reuben Woolworth's or Jonathan Webber's, and that the other half of the preaching for the winter ensuing shall be at Mr. John Laccore's." Mr. Webber's house was on the Middle Branch near Littleville. At a meeting held on December 14 the town revoked its earlier vote, then voted "That the first six Sabbaths of preaching in Mur- rayfield shall be at the dwelling house of Israel Rose, and that there shall be three Sabbaths of preaching at the dwelling house of Israel Rose, and that there shall be three Sabbaths of preach- ing at the dwelling house of Israel Rose out of seven, for and through the year ensuing." Mr. Simeon Miller was another preacher to whom the town owed money, and three pounds and twelve shillings were voted to pay him. By the following May another vote was taken "That one-half of the preaching during the present year should be at Ebenezer Webber's barn, and the other half at the meeting house." Twenty-five pounds had been voted to pay for preaching during the year. There was so much dissension concerning the location of worship services that at a town meeting held in June of the same year it was voted to submit the differences between the people living on the Hill and the people
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On Left - School House On Right - Dr. De Wolfe's Home and Church in Background
Chester Hill School House Taken from Belfrey of Church
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living along the river to an impartial group. Three men were chosen, one each from Worthington, Becket and Chesterfield, and they recommended as follows: "Two-thirds of the time at the meeting house and one-third of the time at Mr. Isaac Mixer's; that is to say, two Sabbaths at the meeting house and one Sabbath at Mr. Mixer's successively for three years next ensuing the date hereof. Dated at Murrayfield this 9th day of July, 1769." Mr. Mixer's home was at Norwich Bridge. This arrangement was carried out for the time agreed upon.
Another subject in the warrant was "To see if the town will discover how they approve of the performance of Mr. Bascom while he has been in town." The record states that the town "Voted that they like the performances of Mr. Bascom well." Mr. Bascom had recently graduated from Harvard College; he was a native of Warren. At a town meeting held July 17 the follow- ing action was taken: "Voted to give Mr. Aaron Bascom a call to settle amongst us in the work of the ministry, and to give him for a settlement 70 pounds, one half to be paid in money and the other half in work; to give him 40 pounds salary yearly for three years and then raise it 5 pounds per year to 60 pounds; and then 60 pounds per year whilst he is our minister." Several special meetings were held concerning Mr. Bascom; at one meeting it was voted to furnish him with firewood in addition to the money voted earlier. Mr. Bascom accepted the call, replying in part, "I, having fully considered the matter & taken the advice of my friends & of my Rev. fathers in the ministry, am inclined to think it my duty & hereby express my sincere willingness to settle with you in the work of the Gospel." A parsonage was built for the new minister; this building is still standing on the curve just beyond the meeting house, and is probably the oldest house in the town.
Possibly some readers have wondered why the town took such an interest in the matter of securing a minister. The law at that time read somewhat as follows: "The inhabitants of each town shall take due care from time to time to be constantly provided of an able, learned, orthodox minister or ministers of good con- versation, to dispense the word of God to them, which minister or ministers shall be suitably encouraged and sufficiently sup- ported and maintained by the inhabitants of such town." Churches were permitted to choose their own ministers, but were required to submit their choice for the approval or disapproval of the inhabitants of the town. If the church and town disagreed, a council consisting of representatives of three or five neighboring churches was called to consider the controversy. If the council agreed with the town the church had to elect a new minister; if the council agreed with the church their elected minister would be the minister of the town and be supported and maintained the same as though he had been chosen by the town. Not only were all the inhabitants made to aid in supporting religious institu- tions, but they were also required to attend public worship, under legal penalties for neglect of the same. A fine of five shillings was at one time the penalty for absence on the Lord's
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Church with Horse-sheds on Left
First Congregational Church Cemetery Across the Way
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Day, a Fast Day, or Thanksgiving. The statute respecting ab- sentees was modified in 1791 but not repealed until 1835; our forefathers thus seemed to regard the morality and religion taught in the Bible as necessary, not only for the individual welfare but as vitally essential to the stability and prosperity of the State; they hence aimed to make this the foundation of all their institu- tions.
There were 18 male and 16 female members of the new church on December 20, 1769, the day the ordination of Mr. Bascom took place. This was a great event for Murrayfield and great preparations were made for the entertainment of the ministers and delegates from other churches whose presence was required for the occasion. Some of the items of expense look odd to us, but they were in keeping with the view of the people at that time and are a part of the history. Some of the bills coming before the next town meeting and voted to be paid included the following: "Three pounds and two pence half penny to Stephen Lyman for keeping the council and their horses and for going after rum and wine. Eleven shillings and three pence to Isaac Mixer for keeping the council. Five shillings and nine pence to Caleb Fobes for keeping ministers. Eight shillings to James Hamilton for going to Brookfield and to Weston after ministers. Six shillings and five pence to Malcom Henry for keeping ministers." One of the articles inserted in the warrant for the March, 1770, meeting was "To see if the town will give Stephen Lyman three shillings and two pence more for that wine that he borrowed for the ordination." The town voted to give it.
The church when organized was the 286th Congregational church in Massachusetts; there were also 11 Episcopal, 16 Baptist and 18 Quaker groups active at the time.
On February 20, 1771, the proprietors turned the meeting house over to the town, with the notation: "Whereas the pro- prietors have of their own free will and action built a Meeting House in the Town of Murrayfield of the following dimensions, 40 feet by 50 feet, with 20 foot posts, which they were not enjoined to do by the General Court when they purchased the same, and the said proprietors being willing that the settlers and inhabitants have the benefit of said House, therefore Voted that the said Meet- ing House, together with the eight acres of land round the same as has been already for public use marked andlaid out, be and here- by is granted to the settlers and inhabitants of said Murray- field."
There were frequent cases of church discipline in the early days, some of which we will mention. In 1771 a meeting of pastor and elders was held to hear a complaint made by Jonathan Wait, who was the miller at what is now known as Littleville, against Reuben Woolworth and his wife. The nature of the complaint does not appear in the church records, which show only that a hearing was held and resulted in a dismissal of the complaint with a statement that Woolworth was guilty of only a human infirmity. But the Waits were not to be silenced in this way; they jointly preferred another complaint that Woolworth and his wife were
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Chester Hill Parsonage Associated with First Congregational Church of Chester
Picture of Parsonage Being Repaired
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making scandalous reports about Mr. and Mrs. Wait taking undue toll at their gristmill. It was ordered that Mr. Woolworth make a private confession to Mrs. Wait and ask her forgiveness. But Woolworth afterwards complained that Mrs. Wait would not forgive him, and brought it again before the pastor and elders; after a hearing Mrs. Wait was adjudged innocent, which set the matter at rest as far as the church was concerned. In 1772 Abra- ham Flemming was summoned before the pastor and elders on a complaint made against him for fighting. He was found guilty but refused to admit his fault. Later the matter was taken up again and he confessed, whereupon he was restored to good and regular standing.
In 1773 Abner Smith preferred a complaint against his brother Timothy, for swearing. Timothy was found guilty but refused to acknowledge his fault; continuing obstinate and incorrigible he was excommunicated with solemn formality and declared to be as one of the heathen. At some time in 1774 however, Timothy, finding the odium of excommunication too much to bear, repented of his ob- stinacy and confessed his fault, whereupon he was taken back into good and regular standing the church. John Lathrop confessed to contending with Joseph Henry, running a race, using profane language, being present at a tavern several times in company where profane and unhallowed language was used, being the worse for liquor on several occasions and once in particular of staying out all night; which shortcomings he did confess in penitence and implored the forgiveness of the church. Caleb Bascom was also dealt with severely for the excessive use of intoxicating liq- uors and for profane swearing.
In July, 1772, the agreement fixed by arbitration to have preach- ing part of the time at Isaac Mixer's Inn had expired. The town then passed the following vote: "Mr. Bascom shall not preach any more at the River on the Sabbath." Right here began a diffi- culty which resulted in a division of the town. A protest was en- tered by the people from the River section and beyond, declaring they would not pay any part of the minister's salary. A petition was sent to the General Court asking for a division of the town. On June 29, 1773, the section was made into a separate district under the name of Norwich and the church on Norwich Hill was organized, being the only offshoot of the mother church.
At the first town meeting in Murrayfield after the division of the town an article to repay Mr. Mixer for the use of his inn for the three years preaching had been held there, was voted down. At the same meeting it was voted to seat the meeting house floor (evidently until this time there had been no permanent seating in the building). Considerable time was spent deciding where the various people were to sit when the new seats were completed. There was some sort of gallery in the building, as it was voted that those building pews must also share the cost of building gallery stairs, also "That the young men that are seated in the front gallery shall build the seat through the front & make a division in the middle, one half for them & the other half for the girls."
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A Group at the Centenial of Chester Center 125 Year Reunion
The religion of these early settlers embodied the essential principles of civil and political liberty. They manifested a lively interest in all measures adopted to secure the freedom of the colonies; and the natives of Chester can point with pride and exultation to the fact that on the 17th of June, 1776, it was voted "to a man in full meeting" that Congress ought to declare the country independent of Great Britain. Lesser problems also took up town meeting time; for instance it was "Voted, to sweep the meeting house 12 times a year."
Because of depreciated currency during the Revolution, Mr. Bascom requested he be paid in specie rather than paper money; at one time forty dollars in paper money was worth only one dollar in silver, so it is no wonder that he complained. It was voted to pay him in specie and labor.
As early as 1775 there had been action taken toward changing the name of the town; mainly because of a town name Myrifield in Hampshire County (now called Rowe), which caused great confusion. The town voted to have the name changed to Mount Asaph; there is no record of this ever being presented before the General Court. In 1782 the town voted to request the name Mountfair; before the General Court could act another town meeting was held and this time they selected Fairfield. The General Court, however, refused this request and selected the name Chester, on February 21, 1783.
A party of prisoners taken by the Americans following Bur- goyne's surrender at Saratoga halted at Chester Center en route to Boston and were confined in the meeting house for the night. Among the inhabitants who assembled for a curious glance at them was Fannie Holland (who lived at what is known now as the Holcomb place) and it appears that her charms so smote one of the prisoners, David Cross, a Scotsman, that upon his arrival in Worcester he managed to escape from imprisonment by means of a forged pass, made his way back to Chester Hill, sought out Fannie, became her suitor and eventually won her for his bride.
At a town meeting held in August, 1782, it was voted to have "Edward Wright, Jr., come and view the glass windows of the meeting house and fix them up as well as he can, and the town will pay him." In 1789 a committee was appointed to see if the old meeting house could be repaired. The next year the committee reported it was impractical to try to repair it, and another committee was formed to find out the cost of a new building, patterned after one in Southampton. The matter ran along until 1794 when it was voted to build an edifice 50 by 60 feet, modeled after one in Pittsfield, having 100 pews and three tiers of seats in the gallery; also that the building should stand north and south on the site of the old meeting house and would seat 700 per- sons. This building had a portico 18 feet square, a steeple, bel- fry, high pulpit and sounding board. Pews were reserved for persons unable to pay, and the rest were sold. Reuben Slater contracted to erect the building and it is supposed he was paid by the sale of pews, as several years afterward it was "Voted not to allow Reuben Slater any more money from the sale of pews in
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the building."
Although the new meeting house had a belfry, up to 1800 it did not have a bell. In 1799 Alexander Gordan offered 100 pounds for that object, in memory of his son. Pounds and dol- lars were used interchangeably in the first years of the new country. At the next town meeting it was voted the accept the gift and a committee was appointed to draw up suitable resolu- tions thanking the donor. These resolutions were read by the speaker with religious fervor, at the same time expressing deep gratitude. Another committee was appointed to raise more money and make the purchase. Funds were borrowed, and afterward paid from the sale of pews, so the bell was secured. How they got the huge bell up into the belfry is not disclosed, but probably it was done with oxen and ropes. It was voted to paint the roof of the building red, the body of the house cream, the window and door casings brown, the doors chocolate, the interior a light stone color. Records do not show whether this color scheme was ever carried out.
In October, 1801, it was voted to procure two flaggons holding two quarts each; two tankards holding one quart each; six pint cups; two large platters; one basin and a cloth; these to be used for communion and baptismal services. Prior to that time the dishes had to be borrowed to carry out these functions. The ex- pense of these items was defrayed by subscription.
At this time in the history of the church on Chester Hill there began a dissension among members. For many years after his settlement there was great unanimity of feeling and purpose between the inhabitants and Mr. Bascom; but political feeling had been rising during and after the Revolution, and Dr. Martin Phelps severed his connection with the church, his group even- tually forming a Baptist church which was incorporated on Feb- ruary 26, 1811. Church records contain many notices to the ef- fect "I hereby notify you not to consider me a member of the first congregation society after this date." The Baptists erected a meeting house near the intersection of Crane Road and Skyline Trail, on land donated by Dr. Phelps. It was first used on June 23, 1812, with Rev. John Grant as their first pastor. The build- ing was in use for about fifteen years, then it was moved to North Chester.
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