Norwich bulletin., 1910-02-16
AN OLD CHURCH
 AT WEST THOMPSON
Long List of Ministers Who Have Preached There During 118 Years.


 One of the old Methodist churches in eastern Connecticut is the Methodist church at West Thompson and doubt village know of the long list of people who have preached the good word there.
 The church at West Thompson is an outgrowth of the services conducted in Pomfret under the direction of Rev John Allen, who labored there during the winter of 179z-93. During that time Noah Perrin, who resided near Put nam was converted and opened his house for services. A class of six per sons was formed in 1793. and he was appointed leader. which position he held for nearly sixty years.
 In 1793 another class was formed at West Thompson, led occasionally by Noah Perrin. Portraits of himself and wife have been placed in front of the original pulpit, where they now stand.
 Another remarkable character was Capt. Jonathan Nichols, at whose house at West Thompson preaching was established as early as 1795. In 1796, in an upper unfinished room of the church. the conference of New England met. This notable conference was held September 1921, Bishop As- bury presiding. There were 30 preach CTS present and seven deacons and five elders were ordained.
 West Thompson in those early years was included in the Pomfret circuit, which in 1927 was changed to West Thompson circuit.
 The first Methodist church in Thompson was erected in 1797, a little east of where the church now stands. Rev. Daniel Ostrander preached the dedicatory sermon.
 A missionary society in connection with this old church was organized in 1888. The present church edif1ce was built in 1S41, and was dedicated July by Joshua Soufe. senior bishop of the Methodist church. It became the mother of 13 churches, including Dan ielson, Putnam, Eastford, East Wood stock, North .Grosvenordale. East Thompson. Webster and Attawaugans
 The centennial of the conference all ready referred to was celebrated in the church, December 6, 1896. Great interest was manifest by many per- sons assembling from these churches. Presiding El0er G. H. Bates delivered most interesting discourse.
 Through the generous assistance of N S. Johnson, Mrs Chamberlain and Elijah Nichols, the church underwent repairs in 1S92-93. The late J. w. ance in the financial support of the church.
 J. N. Perrin was elected Sunday school superintendent in 1887, which office he still holds
 The list of pastors is as follows:
 1793, John Allen; 1795, Daniel Os- trander, William Chapin: 1796, Joel Kitchen, D. Brunley; 1797, Stephen Hull. Joseph Crawford; 179S, Daniel Ostrander. Asa Heath; 17s9. William Hatcher; 1900. Daniel Ostrander: 1901. Peter Vanast, Phineas Peat, James Annis; 1902, John Nichols, Samuel Goslin; 1903, John Cove. Dyer Burge; 1894. Thomas Brenich. Noble w Thomas; 1905. Joshua CroweIl. Thomas Rawlin; 1906. Thomas Perry, Elisha Streeter: 1907, Ebenezer Washburn; 1908. Hollis Sampson, Abner Clark; 1909. Isaac Bonney. Samuel Cutler: ip Munger: 1913. TheophiIus Smith; 1914, Joel Winch. Job Pratt; 1915, Elias Marble, Job Pratt; 1916, Edward Hyde; 1917. John Walker; 1873, Eben- Ebenezer Blake; 1920. Amasa Cowies; 1821-22, Joseph Ireson; 1922 Samuel G. Atkins: 1923. Elias Marble. B. R. Avery; 1924, Elias Marble, Milton French; 1925, John w Hardy, John " Case; 1928. Heman Perry. George Sutherland: 1928, I. Bonney, M. Bid well. O. Robbins. P. Townsend: 1929. I. M. Bidwell. O. Robbins. P. Sabin. J. Lovejoy: 1880, P; sabin, R. Gould, J. William Livesey; 1892. Charles vir- gin, Ben Paine. E.. J. Scott: 1883, Charles Virgin. William Livesey; 1884 35. P. T. Kenney. Hector Bronson; 1ssS. W: Rimbat; lsa7-ss; }. w. Case; 1ooSs <ADrdIu I1OiWdyS 1cfV-74, dcOIBc May; 1s42, Erastus Benton; 1s43-44. Benjamin c. Phelps; 1845, Richard Livesey; 1S46-47. George Stearns; 1s48. James Mather; 1S4e-50, Sidney Dean; 1S51-52. Edward A. Lyon: 1853 54, Charles Morse; 1855-56, B. M Walker; 1s57-5s. L. M Bates; 1859 George Burnham: 1860, Albert NJ. AL len. 1S61-62, John w. Case; 1863, Jphn Cooper; 1s64-65, Silas S. Cummings 1866-7o, Warren Emerson; 1S71-74 Samuel Fox; 1875, S. V. B. Cross 1S76-77. D. C. House; 1S7s-79. Seth B. Chase; 18S0-S2 Lorenzo w. Blood: 1S83-s4, Charles Hammond; 1885-S6, Walter P. Stoddard; 18S6-8S, B. F. Raynor;' 1Sss-90, Daniel Brown; 1S91- 92, D. G. Ashley; 1S93-94, J. c. Ad- ans; 1S95-96, T. w. Douglass; 1S97- 1900, E. J. Sampson; 1S0006, Merrick Ransom; 1906-07, Amos Nichols. Frank W. Gray; 1907. John R. Miller.