Litchfield enquirer., 1870-05-19
BI-CENTENNIAL JUBILEE OF THE 1sr CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
 IN WOODBURY.
(To De Continued. )

The long anticipated Bi-Centennial Ju' bilee of the first Congregational Church. occurred on Thursday, the 8th inst, and is numbered with the events that were. The church at it's annual meeting, last Septem Der, after discussing the subject and decid' ing to observe the day, placed the details of the arrangements in the hands of Dea- cons Linsley and Trowbridge. and broth CT William Cothren. The committee soon commenced it's labors, and after fully and carefully canvassing the various elements which would enter into the occasion, and nearly perfecting programme, reported it's action to the church early in March, which was fully sanctioned. From that time the committee has been incessant in it's efforts to make the occasion one of in- terest and profit, one to which not only the present members of the church and citi- zens of the town, but the future occupants of this ancient heritage, could point with that true pride which only those who love the onward progress of Gods King dom can feel. As the result of the com mittee's labors, seconded by many citizens and especially by the efficient and ready aid of the ladies, ours is the pleasure of reporting the most successful celebration of any kind which has occurred in the an- cient town, unless we expect the civil Bi- Centennial of 1859. No accident of any kind occurred to mar the joys Of the occa- sion.
 The church was most beautifully decora- ted by MT. Henry o. Curtiss. special ar tist of Hartford, A more striking and ap- propriate mode of decoration could not have been desired, than that adopted by MT. Curtiss, whether considered historical ly or artstically. It is remarkable fact that the first four pastors of the church oc- cupied the pulpit in the aggregate, the long period of 172 years, out of tue two hundred celebrated. We think this length of time unparalleled in the history of the churches in this country. This fact was beautifully represented by introducing the four names: Walker, Stoddard, Benedict and Andrew, into large cross composed of six circles, the names occupying four ol the six circles, "172 years" the center, and cross the lower circle. This was placed in the recess behind the pulpit. Beneath the cross were two tablets, the one contain. ing the covenant of 167O," and the other the names of the original signers. Between the tablets was the name of the present pastor, Rev. Gurdon W. Moves. in golden letters. At the apex of the recess above the pulpit was an elegant golden cross and crown. At the top of the pillars orr either side of the pulpit. was large golden ''C. on which app cared the years 167O-187O, under which, respectively, was list of the deacons of the first and second centuries on the tablets upon the pillars. On the panels of the gallery face were the names of the mother church of Stratford, and the six churches which have gone out from the first church with the date of their organi- zation, viz: Stratford, 1889; Southbury, 1731; Bethlehem, 1739, Judea, TAI; Box bury, 1743; South Britain, 1766, and Wood bury, 1916. On the two panels nearest the pulpit were the names of the pastors succeeding the first four, viz:-Wright, Strong, Curtiss, Williams, Johnson, Little and Winslow. A beautiful white dove was suspended from the pulpit desk beneath the bible, which, with outst1etched wings, seemed to be alighting upon the commu- nion table below. The pulpit was splendidly decorated, festoons extended from the cor ners ofthe church to the center ornament in the ceiling. whence descended a large an- chor, beautifully wreathed in evergreens and flowers, while wreaths ran along the galleries. over and below the recess, and to the letter 70" at the caps of the pillars, above which appeared two century plants. The whole was completed with the notices