Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-16
The History Of the Church.


am extended history of the church. ex-
tracts of which are here given: 1t is
more than 100 years Since services of this
denomination have been held. The his
tory of the church is really the history
of the town. The Smiths and Bakers be
gan to settle here IN 1775 and four years
later brought their families here Re
iisious meetings We're held first in the
homes, later in the church. The first
service of any record was held in the
house of Barnabas Baker The first reg
ular sermon was preached in l7S3 by Rev.
James Potter
On June 6, 1911. an ecclesiastical council
was called for the purpose Of arranging
10 constituting a church But first the
applicants had to be examined to see
as to their fitness Tie ministers who
constituted this council were Revs. Eli
phalet Gillet of HalloweH David Thurs
ton of Winthrop Ebenezer Davenport,
Charles Harris, James Sewall of Win
throp. These examined carefully those
who expressed a desire To become mem
beers of the proposed church and were
satisfied with their qualifications. These
persons We're: Thomas and Benjamin
Smith. Elkanah Baker, Samuel Smith
Mehitable Baker Hannah smith, Eliza
beth smith, Desire Springer, Elizabeth
Smith, Jr., Rebekah Hutchinson all the
members of the three original families
Thus was organized the Congrega-
tional church of Christ of Litchfield
The first business meeting was held on
June %, 1911. Thomas smith was the
moderator and Benjamin Smith was
the clerk. They We're also the deacons
Up to the present time 275 persons
nave become members Of this church
OF this number. 49, have been the
children or grandchildren of the three
original families who settled here and
organized the church. Ii is also inter
esting TO note that from this number.
49, there have been II ministers and
i've ministers wives. Although this
church has never been large i'm num-
bcrs i has always been strong ia faith
and works
Preachers in the church since its or
ganization, these are mentioned Rev.
Samuel Sewall was the first in 1909
The next was Rev Daniel Loveioy
who OBLIGATED from 1872 to 1873 Rev
David Starrett was the first installed
pastor in 182S. The next was Rev.
Thomas W. Lord in 1896. Timothy
Davis followed in line and then Benja-
min Smith supplied until 1868. In 1859
Rev. David Thurston, y. D.. was the
pastor and continued for six years. In
1865 Rev, Joshua T. Halves commenced
a passionate of 26 years and died soon
after he resigned from active work in
1892 at the age OF 81 years. From 1892
To 1888 Rev James Richmond served
.ae ttaG CT IA.
kis 4. ABRAHAM. a syrian, served for
two years. Rev. Edwin A. Harlow be-
gan pastorate of several years. re-
signing in 1907 At that time Rev. j.
5. Richards came to the church and
has remained up to the present time
and has been very successful.
Deacons Of the church, and special
mention was made of them by Dr.
Baker in his address. were Thomas
Smith, Benjamin Smith. Elkanah Bak-
er, Thomas Smith, Jr.. Isaac Smith.
Smith Baker, John Hancock, Jesse
Lombard, Cowper S. Aver, Samuel
Grovener Nutting, David Thurston
Smith and Asa 7. Smith.
The first meeting house was erected
in about 1901 and was located short
distance north Of where the present
church stands. The second house was
built in 1924 on the present site of the
Litchfield Academy. This was a large
building for those times and had a
gallery on three sides. The pulpit stood
up high While the pews were walled
in. In 1S45 the building was moved
across the street and a second story
added. This second floor was used for
the High school and later became the
Academy building. In 1861 a fund for
new building was started after con-
siderable agitation and finally a build
ing vas erected i'm 1863 al a cost of
1850 In 1903 a furnace was installed
and in 1906 the chapel was built
The history of the church would not
be complete without some mention of
the women who through all the years
II has been in existence have been 10y
al supporters and have played import
ant parts. Away back in the early days
the children We're given instruction in
the Bible and a Sunday school was an
important part of the church life The
first women's organization was formed
in 1897 and called the Female Benevo~
lent Society with Mrs. Lucy Davis as
the first president. During the years
the organization has been in existence
the ladies have contributed much 10
the support of the church. especially
in the way of furnishings for the
church interior. OF late years the
name of the society has been changed
to the Ladies Home Circle.
The present officials of the church
are Rev. J. $. Richards, pastor Asa
+. Smith, clerk; +. w. Libby, treasur-
er; J. f. Smith, Henry Taylor and 3.
@. Nntting, executive committee Mrs.
Rachael Nutting. solicitor; f. w. Lib
by collector; S. G. Nutting, d. f.
smith and A. p Smith, deacons Hen
ry Taylor is superintendent of the sun
day school