Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-06-12
200 YEARS OLD
Christ Church of Stratford Held Held a Memorable CeIe-
 braiion To-Day
F. J. KIVGSBURY TALKS

Stratford, June 12-A solemn com- memoration of the 20Oth anniversary of the establishment in Connecticut of the church of England, was held to- day in the ivy-coyered Christ church in the presence of one of the most distinguished bodies of churchmen that has been seen in the state since the consecration of Bishop Brewster ten years ago. This was the first par ish in the state and its history is closely woven with the story of the English church in all New England. There are much older parishes, many of which had only nominal existence. during the period of strong opposition on the part of the Puritans while Christ church lived through those troublous times and its people with energy and determination upheld their creed and form of ecclesiastical government and did more in the opinion of the church historians to re-establish the Episcopacy in New England than any other parish. Tie observance of to-day recognizes the adoption of the book of coiamon prayer by the parish, as it actually was or ganized in TOP, and the church edi- flee put up on the present site of which in architecture the present structure is a modern elaDoration. The parish itself in those early days was tl,o I., f.Nr the Propagation of the Gospel in For eign Parts. A severance with that body came with the complete sever ance of relations between the United States and Great Britain. The town and parish records show that a spirit ual welfare existed in 1T09 owing to the dangers of the Episcopacy" set forth by the Congregationalists and parishioners were not only fined for holding service, but were forbidden to vote or to hold office. Boycotts and heavy fines were used to compel Christ church members to assist in support of the orthodox church and state government. For tune the mis- sionaries sent to this parish had spirit ual oversight in the many parishes established in Connecticut and Rhode Island, and the influence of these men is also noted In the parishes later established in western New York
 To-day's celebration was divided into two parts, that of rle morning being rituallstic, and of the afternoon historical in character, both having many interesting features. The con- gregation came here from New Ha- ven on an early train. the diocesan convention having been held there yesterday. and took part in a commun- ion service at which Right Rev AL exander Hamilton Vinton, Bishop of eastern Massachusetts, was the cele- brant. A Te Deum was sung later, the music being that used at the corona ton of King Edward VII. The pro- cessional hymn by Dr J. A. Jaffery was that sung at the bi-rentennial at Albany. \. r., in 1896 and the collect was one written especially for the oc- casion. The Introit was Gregcrian and the Gloria Tibl Sanctus, Agnus Del and Gloria. were Hoyre in D. The thanksgiving was espechhy written for the day.
 The sermon was preached by Rev Dr Samuel Hart. vice dean of the Berkeley Divinity school at Middle town.
 X short address was given by Right Rev Henry Goldman Potter, Bishop of New York, after which tile clergy and laity were entertained at luncheon.
 The afternoon exercises were pre- sided over by the bishop of the ,lio- cese and were opeped by Re, N. Els worth Cornwall. rector of the parish, with an address of welcome Bishop Brewster made the response as f..- lows:
 Rev Joseph Hooper of the Church C. the Epiphany. rrrham. thea read a paper on ''The Church in Connecticut in the Eighteenth Century"
 Rt Rev Bishop Lines, bishop of Newark. then spoke on The Rev. erend Samuel Johnson. D. D.. and his Contemporarici. taking up the early ministerial history of the par ish.
 Frederick I. Kingsbury Of Water bury. spoke as laY,naI on "The Lay P'o-eers of thu chu..:h ir ronnectI- cu' as follows.
 MT Kingsbury prefaeed his paper with the scriptural instruction of, And he said unto them, Co. ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" saying that by these words was the church estab- llshed for the benefit of the laity. He said: "The church exists for the laity: the laity mainly constitutes the church. The bishops and other clergy who minister to the eougrega- tions are the appointed teachers and guides. Without a laity there is no church. And yet in the history of the church the laity fill a very in- conspicuous place. Nevertheless 1t has a history. and here in New Eng land, here in Connecticut. 1t has a definite history which can be traced"
 Mr Kingsbury then traced the coming here of the Puritans. their re- llgious differences in England with the established church. the success sions in government until the access sion of James I, when the title to the throne was fixed in the Protes- tant line. He described the reign oi prejudices against Puritsnism and then the change of opinion when the wave of feeling vent to the other ex- treme and spent itself against the ritual of the church of England. and then of the reaction when the forms of worship of the latter again became in a measure popular. At this stage the church h Connecticut began to
 s&-~rF --f~~Fr-- ~~. ~-~~