Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-12-15
The Congregational Church in
Salrl,ayep
RE DEDICATION AND oHDIEATIoN.
SERVICES.

SERVICES.
, The Congregational Church and Soci
I ETY. of Fairhaven, having recently thor
oughly repaired and remodeled the in
terror of their church edifce, appropriate
, services re-dedioating it to the purposes o
of divine worship were held yesterday
commencing at two o'clock in the after
{ noon. So important an event as this il
} the history of the church, constituting a
{ it does q new era in its existence, will
render brief sketch of its origin ant
growth peculiarly appropriate and inter
, esting.
, SKETCH OF THE CHURCH.
The First Congregational Church O
Fairhaven was organized January ID
1906, the school house being used as the
first place of meeting.
Rev. Mr.. Higley was settled as the first
pastor, at salary of $500 per year, pro
he left before the expiration of that time
he was to pay back $3.50. Mr.. Higley
did not remain during the stipulated
period, but his place was supplied by
another candidate, Mr.. Rufus Cushman.
who was ordained and installed February
18th, 1907. --...
On the 10Th of April, 1910, the first
/ steps were taken towards pio'iai-e Q
house of worship, and on May 10Th of the
same year "a vote was taken that a church
edifoe be built. The house was raised on
the 10th of May, 1911, and completed in
the fall of that year but was not dedioat-
ed until the 18th of June, 1919, Rev. DIR.
N. s. s. Beaman preaching the dedioatory
sermon. There are many now living who
remember this old meeting house, with
its high galleries, tall pulpit, and square
box pews, all Of which were of good work
manship and highly ornamented. The
house stood as finished, with only alight
alteration, till about 1851, when it was
remodeled to the form it has held till the
recent changes.
Rev. Mr. Cushman died February Sd,
1899, and was succeeded in the pastorate
by Rev. Amos Drury Of West Rutland,
whose ministry continued till May 1887
The next pastor was Rev. Charles Doo-
little, who was hired for two years, and
was then succeeded by Rev. Francis
Woodwork, who was installed October
28th, 1910. Mr.. Woodwork remained
only year. however, on account of ILL.,
health, and was succeeded by Rev. Philo
Garfield, who was hired for two years.
Rev J. B. Shaw of North Granville,
n. Y, became the settled pastor in
February, 1847, remaining till Nov. 1850.
From this time till August 1856, the
ahnrGh was without a settled pastor, the
pulpit being supplied for the greater por-
tion of the time by Rev. S. L. Herriok
of Crown Point Rev. DIR. Edward w.
Hooker became the pastor in August
1856, and was dismissed in November
1862, when the pulpit was supplied from
year to year by Rev. FL. l.. Herbert until
the spring of 1869. Rev. +. P Hooker,
now of Middlebury, commenced supply
ing the pulpit in the fall of 1869, and
continued in that capacity till last fall.
THE REMoDELED CHURCH EDIFICE.
The members of the Church and So
t ETY., with most commendable spirit of
progress and with much taste in design
and skill in execution, have made very
essentia changes in their ancient church |
edifice during the past few months. By
the efforts chiefly of the ladies connected |
with the society, aided by an appropri-
alton FROM the parish, the sum of about
$4,000 was raised for this purpose. OF
tbis amount about $3,500 has been ex-
pended in repainting the exterior and SO
renovating the interior that it
Is hardly recognizable in its new dress.
The walls have been replastered and
frescoed in the most tasteful and elegant
manner, while the pulpit and orchestra
nave been remodeled and made to con-
,orm more to the requirements of modern
aste and convenience than the ancient
model. The pews have also been repaint-
ID and handsomely upholstered with GRIM
on rep, while the floor is covered with
inc ingram carpet of elegant and tasteful
pattern. The color employed in repaint-
ng the interior is light purple tint, and
his harmonizes so perfectly with the
light drah of the fresooing as to give a
cheerful and attractive appear
nee to the whole interior.
The pulpit is of a very fine model, and
; handsomely adorned with panel work. /,
IN the wall at each side of the desk, in /,
road panels, are the illuminated inscrip- I
ions, "Jesus our Savior" and "God the .
'ather.' The orchestra is also adorned
nth appropriate inscriptions, which add !,
,uoh to the beauty of the walls. The
huroh will be lighted by an elegant
handelier suspended from the ceiling,
nd by bracket lights of handsome de-
gn. The work of renoyating the in
srior has been done with great care and '
lste, and certainly reflects much credit \
pom those engaged upon it. The fresco- .
,g was done under the supervision of
[r. Geo. r. Bennett of Manchester,
hile the upholstering was in charge of c.
Ir. Peck of Fairhaven. )
THE RE-DEDIGATIoN EXERCISES. o
The church was opened TO the public "
r the first time yesterday afternoon,
hen appropriate dedieatory services {.
ere held, commencing at two o'clock. q
The exercises opened with an anthem ~
? the choir, "Praise ye the Lord" which u
as followed by prayer by Rev. IA. M y
dimes OF Benson. After the reading OF %
,propriate portions of scripture. the ~
.oir rendered the anthem, Gin the Lord q
trust Rev. Lewis Francis of Castle ol
n, then followed in q fervent prayer, ~
hen an appropriate dedicatory hymn
L. xlo oho:r Tbso fo11oYo1 IT