The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1899-05-12
Trumbull'S New Church.
NEW EDIFICE OF THE
TRUMBULL CONGRE-
GATIONALISTS.
Interesting Dedication Exercises
Yesterday.
A DESCRIPTION OF THE HAND
SOME BUILDING.

The new Congregational church at
prumbull has hardly been like the tabled
pt enix. Destroyed by fire, it has not
risen from its very ashes; for the beauti-
full new church occupies q different site
from the old one. The old church for
many, many years was landmark.
Standing as it did almost upon the rail-
road tracks, even the stranger could not
catch a sight of Trumbull without know
ing that it possessed that ordinary mark
OF New England landscape, a white,
wooden church with It's Heavenward
pointing spire.
The Trumbull church came out of the
womb of the Stratford Congregational
church. The daughter is not ashamed
of her mother; and yet the daughter can
no longer boast of the freshness of youth,
for she is q maiden we'll advanced in
years. The Trumbull church was or
ganized in 1890; and it's records, which,
by the way, are as complete as those of
any church in the state, tell history
that has the touches of humor, romance,
spiritual elevation and spiritual depres-
sion. Indeed the history of this church
is a reflection of human life, as it ever
has been, as it ever will be, checkered,
filled with contrasts, which, though some
of them not bright, save from the dead
ness of bare monotony. But we do not
mean to imply that the history of the
Trumbull church has not been one to
look back upon with pride. This church
has sent her sons and daughters every
where. She has followed In the pathway
of our Lord In ministering unto others,
rather than being ministered unto. She
has given literally of her strength, OF
her best; and many q church has reJOic
ed because OF sturdy acquisition from
the Trumhull church at a critical time
The destruction of the former church
Ia matter Of such recent history thai
every one will recall it. On the night Of
April 20, 1898, an entertainment had beer
held in the church. All had left the
church, the lights had been extinguished
and everything had been quiet for al
hour or more when the alarm came
When discovered, the fire had gained
such Roadway that, no proper means FOL
fighting 1t being at hand, all hope Of
saving the church was abandoned. The
loss was peculiarly trying when it il
remembered that nearly %, 900 had just
been spent in putting the edifice in splen
did order. The ceiling had been frescoed
new and modern seats Of comfortable
pattern had replaced those which did mo-
make a nap in sermon time luxurious
the basement had been remodeled; bu
all these improvements went up in smoke
The new building has not come without
struggle. at the beginning it seemed 8
great task to undertake; but 1t wal
undertaken in the spirit Of con quest. ant
the victory has been won. The womel
who were going to the sepulchre on thu
morning of the resurrection day wert
asking themselves, "Who shall roll u
away the stone from the door of tn,
sepulchreF" They went ON and found
when they reached the sepulchre, tina
the stone was rolled away; and that i
the way that most big stones, whethe
in the matter of building new churche
in a small parish or meeting great diff
culties in individual lives, do get rollet
away, by going straight ahead in tia
path of duty.
The new church Is fine one. 1t make
noticeable object from the car window
1t is church that, because of its sub
stantial structure, will long remain. VIII,
can tell how many centuries shall hav
taken their fight before its stone moul
ders or the need to replace it by anothe
building comes. 1t is built of nativ
granite, that was gotten out at Evers
quarries in East Bridgeport, near to tn
Trumbull line. This point was aboa
three miles distant from the site of tn
church, so that much heavy hauling ha
had to be done. The land on which tn
church stands was bought OF William
Wheeler. 1t adjoins the parsonage prop
erty, and sloping as it does with gentl
decline from the steps OF the church t.
the road makes an attractive spot. Tn
architect was Joseph Northrop OF Bridge
port. Ii you wish to see testimony Il
his good work, when within and withou
the church look around you. kay 4
Fairfield OF West Haven did the WOO,
work, Behrens q Son of East Bridgeport
the mason work; and the result Ia
credit to them all.
Ooe thing that you especially notice a
you approach the church Eve think yol
would more especially notice 1t and valu
Ice uses on rainy day CIa covers
carriage-way, porte.cochere we believ
they call 1t in French, Brother Whit