Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1915-10-29
History Pomfret Congregational Church

History Pomfret Congre gaiionaI Church
For the second time within week Il
Congregational church OF Windham
county has observed its 200th orgsni-
cation anniversary. On Sunday last
the First Congregational ichurch held
its exercises as given above and today,
Thursday, the Pomfret Congregational
church observed a similar event. Both
churches were organized while this
country was under the domination of
the mother country, both saw dissen-
sentions in their midst, both have
raised three meeting houses and both
afe existing todayl
There were morning and afternoon
sessions at the Pomffet church, the
program being as follows.
DaXoiaey
Scripture
Pru9 er, Professor Alexander r. Meffi-
am Hartford Theological seminary
Hymn Anthem rs
Anniversary poem, Rev.John p. Trow:
bridge, West Grotau
Church History, Rev. Harry A, Bea'
die, Pomfret
The ministers OF the church, Rev. W
b. Greene, the FIRST Presbyterian
church, Philadelphia
I he meeting houses, Rev Charles h.
Gordon, Derby, Vermont
Afternoon session at l,45
Hymn $50
The Church members, Darius Mathew
son, Norfolk, Neb.
The Church in the World Rev. Sher-
rod Soule, superintendent Home
Missionary society OF Connecticut
Greetings from the grandmother
church, RoXbury, Rev. James De-
Nofmandie
The mother church, Woodstock, Rev.
Fosdiek b. Harrison
The fellowship OF churches, Rev. f. -.
Sargent, Putnam
Pomfret. Vermont, Re. Geo r. Laid
Pumfret, Conn, Rev. w. b Olmsted,
Head master Pomfret school
| From absent mem heFs Letters
Hymn As
The sacrament of the Lords supper,
administered by the ministers Of
the two Daughter churches, Rev.
Albert T. kinmouth, Brooklyn,
Rev. Frpnk a. Fuller, Abingdon
| Hymn 279
| Benediction
Following is short outline history
of the church:
After receiving confirmation of
bounds In l713, one of the first things
/ Pomfret did was 10 settle religious
worship. The town in that year voted
7 fNr 81 ?
with which to buy land and build
himself house, and 80 pounds salary,
until the town should contain sixty
| families. Rev. Ebenezer Williams
was secured for six months, religious
| services being held in some convenient
private house. Feb. 18th, TIA, the
town gave Mr.. Williams permanent
call and he accepted. Work was soon
I tegun on meeting house which the
town had voted TO build. The frame
was raised April 27th and il was Gov
cred during the summer. II stood on
The east side of the road about quar-
Ter mile south of the present Congrega-
lional church. The house was opened
for public use ia the autumn and priv.
ileses granted to build pews in speei-
led parts. A church was organized
with eleven male members, Oct. 26th,
Ills, and Mr. Williams was at the
same time ordained pastor of it. In
l7l6 The meeting house was fenced in
and n privilege granted TO build a
"Sabba-day house, an institution OF
that period common in New England,
though this is the only record of one
in Windham county. Ii WAS small
house with good fireplace and Chin
ney, in which a few persons could sit
and warm themselves, and eat their
lanch, when they had come q long dis.
tsnee to church and wished 10 stay
through both n orning and afternoon
services. \ good fire was kept up,
and from the Goals thus accumulated
their foot stoves were filed 10 carry
into the meeting house 10 help them
keep warm during the long service,
there being no IRE in the meeting
house. Sometimes single family