The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-01-27
IA CHURCH
BIRTHDAY
UniversaIists OfSt. JOhnsbury
Celebrate
THEIR 4OTH ANNIVERSARY
Of the Church Of the Messiah at Ser
vices Held Yesterday-Address
by the Pastor, Rev A.
Francis Walsh N
THEIR 4OTH ANNIVERSARY

st. Johnsbury, Jan. 27--The church q
the Messiah (Uniyetsalist), celebrated
with special services yesterday the 4Otl
anniversary Of the organization Of the
parish and the 35th anniversary Of tns
dedication Of the church. At the morn.
ing service the pastor, Rev. A. Franci;
WaIch, preached the anniversary sermon
the theme being "Old Paths and New
Mem In the evening there was a SO.
cial service with short historical state
men BY the pastor, "reminiscences BY
the older members Of the parish and
letters from the four living pastors and
absent members.
While the church Of the Messiah is
the only fully organized uniyersalist or
gunization in st. Johnsbury az the pres
ent time, it is not the first in point Of
beginning, but really the child Of the
older one Of the little village Of st.
bloomsbury Center A church building
was erected there about 1890, large
and iourisning congregation was gain.
cred, and the pastors were among the
most prominent in the denomination. OF
this number was Rev. T. RI Spencer some
of whose children are still identified with
the cause in this town.
After time that part Of st. Johns
bury known as 1.-THE Plain began to
develop as manufacturing and mercan-
tile community and with this growth
the development at the Center declined.
This decline. together with a disastrous
fire about 80 years ago which burned
the church, nearly blotted out tie Uni
versalist movement in that section Of
the town
In the meantime "a movement was
started in the village of st. JohnsburY.
under The energetic leadership Of Rev.
p NJ. Tillotson and services were held
in the town hall. This crystallized into
the organization Of parish Jan. %,
1868. Among the charter members Of
this parish were +. A. Parks, r. r.
Brown, John A. Stevens, /. c. Wood
bury, Abel w. Roberts and J L. Couch
These men were all leaders in the bust
ness life Of the town
As tie parish grew IN size the matter
Of having a house Of worship was agi
tated and this resulted in the purchase
of lot at Cherry street and Eastern
avenue The building which still serves
the congregation was built according to
plans drawn by the late Lambert Pack
ard. and erected under the supervision
of John A. Stevens, one Of the charter
members Of the church. The church was
dedicated on Jan. %, 1873, thus making
services double anniyer-
sary.
Beginning with Rev B. NJ. Tillotson
the church has had eight pastors. in
GLIDING Rev George w. Jerks, Rev. Ezra |
A. Hoya, Rev Costello Weston. Rev. |
Fleryey IT. Hoyt, Rev. Harry u. Veazey, /
Rev. / r. Quimbv and tht present pas
tor, Rev A. Francis Walsh. The first |
pastor served the church the longest, 10 /
years. and tile present pastor has served I
the seeoHa longest term, seven years.
Mr. Wnleli isaa native OF Gorinth. Me-, /
Was educated at Tufts college, and be-
fore coming here had pastorates at three +
Mas acbpsetts towns, Methuen, Peabody
md AttIeborq. Mr. Walch is active in
he life Of tie town, being chairman of
.he town school directors and member
# many Of the fraternal organizations.