The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-02-22
CONGREGATIONAL CHuRCu

As early at least as l764 band of Christian
| men anu women in Newbury associated them
SCI together as church, the first ecclesiasti
va va, oilgahlzalon north and west of Boscawen
anu 1aipole n Ill the only other church In Yer
mont peihg at Bennington AS other settlements
5fil Up IN the vicinity OF Newbury and Haver-
mn NIL ~ -, letters ofdismission and recommen-
uation were often directed to this church as the
CoWneregauonal church of the Cohos Country
Notwithstanding the great expense of estab-
Mshine colony 50 remote from other settlements
the proprletors and freemen of the town of New
bury qua not hesitate from the very beginning to
IMPOSE taxes upon themselves to maintain
toopel nlillstfy among them On the 10Th OF Jan
uary 100 they voted to give Rev Peter Powers
a., cali 70 settle among them This call he accept
ely t.io anu became the pioneer preacher of this re-
glon o1tciating at weddings and funerals ard
iulhllng appointments to preach in ali the towns
around as settlers began to appear in them.
po opum t nc acceptance of this call by Rev. Mr.
heard -. s'e churches In the older settlements
nealu voice crying in the wilderness" but
seem not TO have been brave enough to endure
Pe peri anu hardships ola freshly opened bridal
paen snr;ongh the forests Of New Hampshire to
reotgahlZe the church and ordain and install its
Pastor. therefore General Jacob Bailey was
t On ~ me town to represent it at council
porers IN Hollis, the former home of Mr.
FoWers TO attend these formalities,
MI. foWers continued in this pastorate about
seventeen years, seeing churches spring up all
nr n'itin Ia the adjoining towns and gradually
.'nieinS MS sphere of labor to Newbury and
I ,iaVefhll During the later years of the Revo.
iaClohary war such an out spoken patriot as Mr.
fomuIs coulu not i've safely in so exposed
frontier settlement as Newwbury therefore he
moved across the river into Haverhill 1t was
propaply this that caused the disaffection of his
neWtpury people, and led to dissolution of the
The church first worshipedin rude log struc.
lure near the present residence of Mr. Richard
Doe Afterwards they assembled in what was
a Know as the court house opposite the cemetery
The church edfce on the "iittle plainn com.
pleted about 1870, the first church ihsVurmont
erected with steeple. In 1910 the third house of
worship was built on the present site In 1913
Ihe Vestry was erected, but it has been enlarged
i ILL le'lioueIed more than once since On Sab
pain morning January 18th 1885, this church was
Il 70 the ground but so enterprising were
the people that the present house was dedicated
oePt og go OF that same year In the spring
Oh 1872 the lecture room of the vestry was quite
tasteIuliy reftted and was occupied for pnblic
worship While the church edifce was undergoing
repairs In May 1893, the audience room of the
cnurc i wa. was completely transformed aud now is
forums in all this region 1t was rededicated
on the first Sabbath in December, 1893 The
church, Vestly and parsonage have also received
lresll coats OF paint and are without dispute an
ornament to the village
The pastors OF the church have been since Rev
refer Powers Revs Jacob Ward, Nathaniel
Lambert Luther Jewett, Clark Perry, George
W. W, campbell, Artemus Dean Horatio n. Bur
ION; y. ~, ana Samuel L. Bates, Rev William
a. bashee supplied the church one wear during
the interim between Mr.. Bates and the present
pastor, Rev.J. L Merrill, who began his labors
aug. !, 1871. There have been more than one
beginning
we hope to hear more about the early history
OF TINS church as well as of the town with which
u mas oeeh so closely associated, when Mr.. Fred
L. wells, That enthusiastic aud successful dis
cover of historical facts shall receive sufficient
pecun ~. Encouragement from this town or
pr1A1 ~ ais to wr>se and publish n history
81 81 1ls'V''1 gym Suoiras he Is 50 weii q'fisii