The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1865-01-20
Trinity Church, Fairfield.


Trinity Cnurcn, fairhtlu'
To THE TRANscRIPr
On Sunday, Jan Let the new odfce Of Trini-
" Church, Fairfield, was opened for public wor-
ship. To some of your readers presume, this
announcement viii be very gratifying
This Church is the oldest Episcopal society in
Northern Vermont, and one Of the first organ
lied religious bodies in Franklin County. It was
organized June Goth, 1903. 1t was favored at an
early period with frequent mnstrations by the
Hon. and Rev Charles stewart, Of st. Armand,
O. e., afterwards Bishop Of Quebec. In 1Sll-12
Mr.. j. T. X. Henshav, afterwards Bishop of
Rhode Island, officiated in The parish, with great
success, as lay-roador In 1918 church odiilce
of wood was erected which was considered, for
thai day, and this section Of the country, very
handsome structure The building was unfor-
tunatcly placed on poor foundation, and not
many years elapsed before it was badly shaken
and much injured by the severe frosts Of our
northern winters. 1t was occasionally repaired,
but nevor thoroughly, and, after standing forty
nine years, had become dilapidatcd as to pre-
sent very unsightly appearance, and to be en-
tirely unfit for use in cold weather. In the
meantime the society had experienced more than
the usual vicissitudes of country parish. From
it's organization to the year 1882, it was uniform
ly prosperous. At the last date it numbered 81
communicates and was the most flourishing
Episcopal society in the County. But from this
period began gradual falling off in the number
of communicates, with only an occasional inn
provement until the year 1861, when only %
were reported. The principal cause of this de-
crease emigration. There is, perhaps, not
another town in the State which in the last thr-
ty years, has lost large proportion of its in
habitants by removals as Fairfield And of all
religious societies in the town the Episcopal
Church has seemed 30 suffer most in this re-
spect. This reduction of numbers weakened, OF
course, the resources of the society, and was the
cause of numerous and prolonged ministerial va
cancies. For several successive years there was
no minister regularly officiating in the parish.
In July, 1861, the present Rector. the Row Fran
cis w. Smith, took charge of the church in Fair
field. The scattered flock was gathered togeth-
or and finally encouraged to make an effort to
build up and restore the waste place of then
Zion. The work was begun and continued I'M
der great disadvantages, but has been attended
with such a. to fill our hearts with graft
tude. Last New Years Day witnessed the con
summation of our long INDUCED hopes On this
occasion the new building was opened for public
worship and crowded with deeply interested
congregation. There were present OF the Clergy
besides the Rector, the Rev. j. A. Hicks D. d.
who preached, morning and afternoon, two mos
appropriate and excellent sermons; and the Rev
J. A. Fitch, lately Of the Diocese of Minnesota
formerly Rector of the Church in Fairfield.
The new Church is built of wood, and is 46 b,
&c feet including the chancel. The walls are i
feet high, supporting a steep roof At the ives
end is tower, 0 By Q, and 3S feet high, from
which rises a tau and graceful spre surmounte'
by cross 7S feet from the ground The exteri
or is painted with two shades of brown, produc
ing by their contrast an agreeable effect. TIL
interior arrangements aud decorations are sim
pie, but pleasing. The chancel, by Is, has OF
one side small vestry room, on the other Ii
brary room. Tho walls Of nave and chancel ar
tinted with light shade Of yellow, and the cell
ing, which is arched with ultra marine blue
The windows are Of stained glass from the manu-
factory OF Mr.. Samuel West, Boston Mass an
arc quite effective. In this, as in other matters
we had to study the closest economy; but tn
result il, nevertheless, very satisfactory. A
aisle feet wide extends through the middle c
the Church. with a row of open pews ON eth
or side. The building iscapable of seating 25C
The wood work in the nave is stained black
walnut color; in the chancel it has been graine
in imitation Of oak. The chancel furniture wa
colored to correspond with the pulpit which, un
til recently, stood in st. .Luke's Church, st. Al
bans. 1t was designed by the late Mr.. j. Cole
man Hart. The vestry Of st. Luke's, having de
cided to make some changes in their chancel al
, rangements which necessitated the removal {
: the pulpit, very kindly presented it to us, and
now forms one of the chief ornaments of our me-
5 place of worship A gallery opens into tn
I Church from the second story Of the tower. 1t
dimensions are enlarged somewhat by a sma
balcony in front. 1t contains a small but swcc
toned organ, procured by tho zeal and lbcralit
2 of the ladies of the parish The Church
t warmed by furnace. Its cost thus far has bee
o about $4,000.
Although we have succeeded in erecting til
= building above described and have opened it t,
= place of worship, it is not yet completed
= the first place we have no bell a very desirab
article for every country church. We have, il
deed, the fragments of an old one, broken l
u hundred dollars in addition to get new OF
: that will be suitable. We need also new servic
: books for the chancel. And lastly we need a ca
pet both for nave and chancel, If we were o.
. of debt l should hesitate thus publicly to me
z ton these wants; but in spite of the close
II economy we have been obliged to incur liabiiti
to the amount of four or five hundred 'dolla
over and above our subscription. Under the
circumstances l feel constrained to appe
o again, to the liberahty of our neighbors, al
!. frieAds, wherever they may be. Any offering
supply the above mentioned wants viii be We
~ gratefully received and acknowledged by t
J. Rector, Rev. Francis W Smith, st. Adams, Vt
/. l cannot close this communication witho
thanking, very warmly, our friends in the neig
boring towns, particularly in st. Adams a
J. Enosburgh, who have already given us substs
2 tial tokens of their kindly interest in our undo
,. taking. +. W. s.