New Britain herald., 1915-06-28

QlrectlOn or Henry IL. Welcn, HlTaH Hills, and Edward N. Pierce who were authorized to expend $3,500.00 for a building, to be located on land belonging to William A. Ives, pro- vided he would agree to give this piece of property for the purpose. pr. George A. Moody, George T. Steele and Levi Beach were to act as a subcommittee, secure plans, an es- timate of cost and make report
 On November 12th. all this was re- scinded and the meeting adjourned without date.
 Regardless of this setback, anoth- CT meeting was son called. at which, practically the same votes were passed as before, except that it was now decided to expend $4,500.00 and the original comittee of three men were authorized to proceed with the work Mr. Ives was prevailed upon to give the land, which he deeded to the society, July IS, 1850. The one acre so given, was originally a part of the Ives farm, then being divided and sold. Polk street, named in honor of President Polk (Now church street) had just been opened and two houses,the Asa Blakeslee place, and tiS IiOIiiC ol 1 1h1AShOotCi hdu been built by Mr. Ives, in teh hope of increasing the value of his land and inducing the townspeople to build upon it.
 The new meeting house was begun without further delay and on April 10th, 1850 we find arrangements be- ing made, to accept an offer by Prof Olmstead to lecture here and apply the proceeds on the building funl; to borrow money to cancel the church debt upon completion of the building and to arrange to accept new bell that the Ladies Benevolent society had provided
 The old building now became a meeting place for the Baptists who organized society in 1851, it was moved shortly after to what is now Canal street, where it was sawed in- to two parts, one becoming the John F. Trowbridge house, the other, moved to the corner of Canal and Broad streets, was used as school house and as chapel by local Meth odists who organized church in 1880 and built their present house of worship in 1881. The Methodists in turn sold to Deacon Lucas H. Garter who moved the old relic onto our church lawn where it again did duty as a schoolhouse and Congregational chapel; from here the Good Tenn plars', lodge moved it to the head of Canal street, on Main, where 1t was torn down a few years since
 New Church Built.
 On July 31st. 1850 the new meet ing house, this present building, was dedicated. The Rev. William Wright preached the sermon, taking his text from Psalms 11s, verses Is and 1s. and the Congregational ministers of Pennington, Unionville, Southington, and Newington, took part in the ser vices.
 The expenses incurred in this inn provement had been heavy paymnts on the subscriptions slow and accord ingly we find Deacon Roderick Stan ley going about Plainvi1le and vicin- ity at the close of the 1850 soliciting funds engaged for the work by the society at s1.50 per day and neces- sary expenses.
 One June 30th, 1851 the society dj- rected its Prudential committee to confer with the Rev. MT. Wright and Ascertain if it would be agreeable for him to resign" This action did not meet with unanimous approval and on July 7th. we find the society attempting to smooth over their act in resolution, saying, That whereas the resolution of June 30th. has been generally understood as expressing dissatisfaction with our pastor and whereas it was no design of this so- ciety to make any such expression it resolved to withdraw and annul our former act.'' Notwithstanding this, MT. Wright resigned and was dis missed September 16th. 1S51
 Succeeding MT. Wright the Rev Joel l.. Dickinson of Northfield was installed pastor June 9th. 1852 and dismissed owing to ill health, No- vember 9th. 1858.
 During the latter years of his life he travelled extensively, spending some time in missionary work in Constantinople, returning finally to Plainville, where he died, July 7th, 1867.
 As the fourth pastor of this church, the Rev E.. Livingston Wells was called, but the council that convened, refused to install him, on the ground that his Congregationalism was unsound. .
 Episcopalians Organize.
 On September 22, 1859, the year in which the Episcopal church was or ganized in Plainvil1e and three days after the co1ner stone of their House of Worship had been laid, the Rev. Moses Smith was ordained and in- stalled as orr fourth pastor.
 March 17. 1860 was celebrated by this church as the twentieth anni-