Norwalk After Two Hundred & Fifty Years

Thf re have been five church buildings in the history. Three of these stood on East avenue, the first of all near the present East Norwalk station of the New Haven road, opposite or nearly opposite the bowlder erected by the Daughters of the American Revolution at the junc- ture of the road to Southport with East avenue. It is to be remembered that the church was a town institution for many years, supported by town funds, and governed through town-meetings. It is curious to notice in the town records how provisions for maintaining a pound, mending drains, pasturing cows, killing wolves, and keeping town taverns are mingled with arrangements for conducting religious services — and the close connection between church and state could hardly be more vividly suggested than by the note that the same man was ap- pointed to beat the town drum and sweep the meeting house, at the liberal salary of six dollars a year or there- about. The school clung close to the church, and when as a result of some twinges of conscience, perhaps, or some special spasm of virtue, it was determined by the town fathers that there should be no more town-meet- ings held as theretofore in the meeting-house, the school- house was chosen for such meetings, at any rate until the erection of a town-house. The first building was erected in 1659, was thirty feet long and was built on twelve foot posts. The other dimensions are given in the records, but the writing has become indistinct. An addition was made to this in 1664, nearly doubling the capacity of the church, but the building seems to have continued in use for only about fifteen years, for in 1679 another was planned. Then the first church trouble arose, at any rate the first trouble of which there is record. Some wanted the new church here. — some there. No doubt these thrifty and shrewd old settlers realized the com- mercial value of property close to a church ; perhaps some did not relish a longer walk in the heavy drifts rf winter to the morning service on the Sabbath. At any rate, the discussion waxed hot until it was finally" decided to leave the whole matter to three commissioners, of which the minister was one, who were given full power. It is plain that arbitration is not a modern invention, and if churches would refer their differences to a few reliable men and give them full power, we would be saved the story of many a disruption and many a scene disgraceful in itself; doubly disgraceful because of the Christian professions of its participants. Our history to- day has given us this hint, and if it gives us nothing more than this, we shall be amply repaid for the backward looking. We moderns cannot improve on this method of calming church feuds. The record reads: "These men arc to hear all reasons and arguments on both sides and the town engages to sit down satisfied with the deter- mination." The chturch finally sat down on the ast side of East avenue a little further up, about on the site of the present residence of Dr. Beard, and the old school-house stood on the site of the old building evidently once a school-house, just below Dr. Beard's. The meeting- house was forty-five feet square, and 16 feet between the joints, whatever that may mean. The story adds naively "the roof is to be after the manner of the Fairfield meet- ing-house." It would never do, of course, for Norwalk to be outdone by Fairfield, even in a roof. In 1697, an improvement was added in the shape of a gallery, and shortly afterward a bell was placed on the building, hav- ing been purchased from one Ralph Keeler on trial. I noticed that some time thereafter, this same Ralph Kee- ler had the contract not only for furnishing the bell, but also for providing a place in which to hang it. One may get a hint that these thrifty people found town jobs — otherwise called public works, as remunerative as the shrewd men of to-day find political pickings. This building continued in use until 1717, when the matter of a new building was agitated. The stated quarrel arose, but at this time it was centered about the question whether there should be a new church at all or whether the old one should be repaired. The vote was close, be- ing taken somewhat after the parliamentary fashion, a 40 division being called for and the ayes signifying their preference by adjourning to the church yard. The ori- ginal plan was finally followed, however, and the whole matter referred to a committee with power to act. It is worth noticing that when so exciting a question arose, the committee was composed of only three people — a suggestion worth heeding. In the multitude of counsel- lors there is wisdom, but the homely proverb which states the other side of the question is also worth notic- ing— "Too many cooks spoil the broth." Committees, with power, appointed to end a dispute on the arbitration principle had better be limited in numbers, and very lim- ited. The decision was ultimately in favor of a new building and the site was chosen on East avenue, still further up, or nearly opposite the present residence, as far as I can make out, of Mr E. M. Lockwood. We now reach the period from which dates the organization of this ecclesiastical Society as a separate organization. This was precipitated by a bitter dissen- sion that arose in connection with the then pastor, the Rev. Stephen Buckingham. He was accused of very serious misdoings, but he had his supporters, though I should judge from the tone of the records, these rapidly fell away from him, until he found it wise to resign. Three days after his resignation, the Prime Ancient So- ciety in Norwalk was organized ; the first minister of the new parish being Dr. Burnett. The church continued to use the old meeting-house which, by the way, con- tained the old pulpit presented to the new organization by vote of the town. In the heat of the Revolutionary War, Dr. Burnett died, and when General Tryon burned Norwalk the meeting-house was destroyed.. It was not until 1790 that the fourth building was completed, and though its erection was over a century ago, we are brought very close to it by the fact that several of the older members of this church worshipped in this old building for several years previous to the erection of the present church building. This meeting house stood on the Green, a little north of this church, or about opposite Lewis street. It was white and had green blinds and was graced with a spire. On this was the old weather- vane recently removed from our spire, and in the belfry the bell bought in New Haven by the father of our fellow-member, Mr. F. St. John Lockwood. This bell was a few years since melted down into souvenirs, and replaced by our present bell, the gift of Miss Julia Lock- 41 wood in memory of her parents. The building faced west, that is, in the opposite direction from the present church, and after a time a platform was extended across its front and a conference room was built over the vesti- bule entered from the gallery stairway by stepping down a step or so. Here the prayer-meetings were held, and here, too, Mr. Lewis was accustomed to tune his bass viol in preparation for the service in which he was gen- erally the only instrumentalist. Once in a while, how- ever, the well-known Judge Butler, the eminent jurist, would assist in the music with his violin, of which he was considered a skilful player, and the large choir of forty voices combined with these players to make for the first church the reputation for good music, which the latter choirs have done so much to maintain. The build- ing was heated by huge wood-stoves, the pipes from one of which ran the whole length of the church and made the ''droppings of the sanctuary" something more than a metaphor to the luckless people who happened to be beneath them at unfortunate moments. North of the old church and between it and the school-house which stood near the upper end of the Green, was low marshy ground, transformed into a pond when the weather was wet, which furnished the main attraction to the young people, when frozen over. Imagine the romances of which that Green has been the center. Romances of which we can notice even now the results. The school- house itself, in which taught for many years, and with signal success, Miss Susan Betts, whose heart was in proportion to her body, is still standing, though trans- formed into a dwelling-house — the last house on the north side of Lewis street. I am sorry to say that I have been unable to find any trace of any photograph of the old church. The present church was built in the late forties on ground previously occupied by the residence of Mr. Levi Clark. The old well remained in the cellar of this building for many years, but was finally filled up, when the new chapel was built. This building has seen but few important changes. It was thoroughly redecor- ated during the pastorate of Mr. Hamilton, the organ had already been introduced in the gallery over the vesti- bule during Dr. Childs'" pastorate, and was removed to its present position when the chapel was built, while Mr. Edward Anderson was pastor. Our present organist, Mr. Gibson, was its first regular organist remaining at that time for seventeen years. The old chapel which 42 was detached from the church was presented to the Afri- can Methodist church on Knight street, and the present commodious and beautiful chapel took its place. A fire breaking out in the roof on a winter's night and threat- ening imminently the destruction of the building was too recent an occurrence to need further mention. The record would not be complete, however, if I did not men- tion the debt-raising and large church improvements during the pastorate of my predecessor, our pastor emeritus.