Norwich bulletin., 1915-03-30
PLAINFIELD
Something About the Ancient First Church and Its Pastors-First Min ister Game from Norwich in 17O5,

The First Congregational church of Plainf1eld was organized and the first pastor. Rev Joseph Colt, whom the society called from Norwich, was or dained Jan. 8. 1705. MT. Colt had been preaching in the Quinebaug Plan Plainfield) kince their first town meeting in 1899. This was the first church of Christ in the town of Plain field, the third in Windham county and the thirty seventh in the colony It numbered ten men and the two deacons were William Douglass and Jacob Warren. This church included Canterbury until June II. I'll, when church was formed in that town. Second Church in 172o. The first meeting house was built by the town on the top Of Black Hill, near 9, crossing place of the Quine- baug river, convenient for the inhab- ltants Of the entire Plantation, but after the Canterbury church was formed it was voted to build "by the country road that goes from north to south end of the town" about half mile north of the present church The second house of worship was ready for use in September, 1720. Pastor for 4s Years. Rev. Mr. Colt resigned as pastor in 174S and died here in 1750, aged TT, after devoting 4s years to this people | The second pastor. Rev. David P. Rowland, served the church faithfully from 1748 to 1761
 Rev. John Fuller served from 176e to TIT and he drew the Separates back to the old church home and was pastor over a united people until his Heath, Oct. 3, TIT.
 The Third Edifiee. A third meeting house was built in 1784 on the spot where the present | church stands. Dec g2 of that year Rev. Joel Benedict became pastor and | continued to serve until his death. | which occurred at the Benedict par | sonage the old Wing house now occupied by William Adams) Feb. 13, 1916.
 Church Blown Down. This church was laid in ruins bv l the gale of Sept. 23, 1915.
 | Present Church Opened in 1920, Ten days after the disaster. steps were taken to build the present church on the same spot. This church was opened for use before the installation of Rev. Orin Fowler in 1920, but the | galleries on three sides and the steeple were not finished until the following year. The first Sunday school in Plafnfield was held in White Hall schoolhouse (now the cottage occupied 1 by Dan Brown) and was taught by | Mrs. Elkanah c. Eaton and her sis ter, Miss Martha Smith In the spring
 of 1920 the Sunday school in the church was started. While MT. Fowler was pastor here he built for himself the house now owned by Edward Pike
 From April 1882. to April, 1S41, Rev Samuel Rockwell was pastor here
 During his ministry the church ex- Rockwell married for his second wife
 Elizabeth Eaton, daughter of Col
 Elkanah c. Eaton.
 Married One of 14 Daughters,
 From 1s42 to 1S47 the pastor was
 Rev. Andrew Cunning. who, while
 here, married Ruth Colt, one of the fourteen daughters of Roger Colt
 Early in his ministry a revival of re- Hgion refreshed the church and 2 number united. Al in two years. Marct 2, 1S46. 45 members were dismissed with expressions of Christian love an6 sympathy to form the church at Cen.
 tral Village.
 Twenty Indian Students.
 Rev. Henry Robinson was installed here April 14 1847, and remained til
 April 10. 1856. MT. Robinson was 6 pathetic and had a fund of humor IT
 his audience were about twenty Chick asaw Indians, then students at Plain. field academy.
 | In 1857 Rev. William A. Benedict
 one of the principals of Plainf1elt
 academy. became pastor here Hi. II wife, who was Eliza w. Eaton o
 P1ainfield, died during his pastoral,
 here and at the outbreak of the Re.
 bellion MT. Benedict accepted an ap,
 pointment as missionary agent of tn,
 American Trace society for work fl
 the army and among the freedmen
 Few records are found of the ministry
 of Rev. Joshua L. Maynard from
 March 30, 1864. to Oct. 26, 1865.
 Parsonage Cost $1,5oo.
 For a year and a half, during 1867 a
 Rev. James D. Moore was pastor O.
 both the stone church. at Plainfielt
 and the church at Central Village. Tht ] society had provided for MT. Moor,