Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-19
RELIGIOUS HISTORY.
Scotland the First Parish and Eben@
 ezer Devotion the First Pastor.

ezer Devotion the First Pastor.
 The religious history of the town of Wlndham is woven so closely into the development of the town that it is al most impossible to treat it under a separate head. Scotland parish, which took it's name from the nationality of it's first settler, David NIagoon, engag- ed Ebenezer Devotion as it's first pas- tor. He worked as farmer through the week, but was none the less re- vered by his parishioners all through the 36 years of his service from 1735- 1 Fl, and was the motive force in the in- | tenectual and civic work of the com munity.
 Jabez Fitch.
 | The earliest religious leader in wfnd- l ham was MT. Jabez Fitch, whose home | was fortified and used for a meeting | house for a number of years. Con | temporaneous with Ebenezer Devotion l was Rev. Samuel Whiting, who served 1 the people in Windham parish for B ' years, and whose name appears in many real estate transactions. His de- | scendants, bearing the Bradford strain | through his wife, Elizabeth (BradfordD and Colonel John Whiting to the French and Indian war Lieutenant Colonel Whiting to the seize of Louis burg and Lake George.
 Rev. Thomas Clapp afterward pres. ident of Yale university, succeeded Rev. MT. Whiting, and ruled so harsh ly that his parishioners were quite re- lieved when he accepted the call to New Haven.
 Seated According to Station, Age and
 Estate.
 In 100 the front part of the home lot of William Bacl1us was purchased by Rev. MT. Whiting and Ensige Crane, and given to the town for meeting house plat, and here the first
 meeting house was erected the plat forming the neucleus for Windham Green. This is the real birth of the Windham Congregational church. In 1713 this meeting house was en- Iarged. and orders given to seat every
 one according to his station, age and estate
 The pastorate of Rev. Stephen White, who followed Rev. Thomas l, Clapp in 1739, and which extended over a period of fifty years, marks the be- ginning of a less moral. but decidedly 3 more prosperous era for Windham The separatist agitation disturbed the
 community at this time, but made no
 immediate destructive impress on the
 religious history of the town.
 Episcopal Society With Norwich Pas-
 tor.
 MT. White was followed by Elijah 1 Waterman of Bozrah. This ardent
 young preacher started a crusade
 against prevailing heresies, which fore l GU d portion or the more liberal m1nd-
 ed to form an organization of their 1 own, known as the Episcopal society, | and this sect chose John Tyler of Nor | wich for their pastor. These divis-
 ions caused a shortage of funds nec- | eSSary for the support of the church, 1 and from 1895 to 1908 they were with | out a pastor.
 Rev. MT. Andrews then took the
 helm, but he could steer the unfortun-
 ate craft into no quieter waters.
 Tn T.
 took charge of the parish, remaining
 for 12 years, and leaving it in a much
 more satisfactory condition. He was
 succeeded by Rev. R. F. Cleveland, | father of the late ex-president. Rev. l MT. Cleveland's ministry covered a
 period of three years, at the end of
 which time a faction joined the Bap-
 tist church which had been organized
 in 1927 in Willimantic. For nine years, A again, the mother church was without = a pastor. In 1887 Rev. J. E. Taylor nl n came, and remained fl years. 4 The present church was dedicated in U 1887, and those who have had charge
 of the pastOrate since Rev. Tyler are I' the following: Rev. George T. Stearns, Lf Rev. Samuel Hartley, Rev. Hiram Day, L ,LL Rev. A. F. Keith, Rev. F. K. Thompson, v Rev. F. A. Holden, Rev. w. s. Kelsey, U Rev. F. M. WiswaI, Rev. Frederick H. ', Means, Rev. Charles B. McDuffy, Rev. T L Harry Grimes, and the present incum- s bent, Rev. M. Raymond Plumb. d Congregational Church. I The Willimantic Congregational - church was organized in 1927, and
 Rev. Dennis Platt was the first pastor,
 and preached in the new church, which I, is now the NIaIoney block. There fol- II lowed Rev. Ralph s. Crampton of Mad ~' ison, PhiIo Judson of WoOdbury, A. S. Il Sharpe and Samuel A Willard, who !: was prominent in educational affairs IL and a fellow of Yale. Then came Rev. !5' Horace Winslow. to whose efforts was }: due the erection in 1871 of the present ,,L edifice at the corner of Walnut and 99' Valyey streets He was followed by D' Revs. s. R. Free, Andrew Jackson Sul- T. Iivan, c. P. Crofts, c. A. Dinsmore, : Edward George. Ashley D. Leavitt and l' the present incumbent, Rev. William > $. Beard, who has been prominently 1 identified with public interests and to
 whose efforts is due the erection of o- the fine church house recently con- = structed.
 $ The Episcopal Church in Nindham. |; 1 The Episcopal society, as noted