First Congregational Church
Under Contruction
This article is under construction
Acknowledgements
“History of Norwich, Connecticut: From Its Possession From the Indians, to the Year 1866”, page 352, by Frances Manwaring Caulkins
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “freshet” in the SEARCH box.
1676-1715: Second Congregational Church
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Thomas Adgate was one of the first two deacons of Rev. James Fitch’s congregation in Norwich. The exact time frame that he served as deacon is unknown, however, it is known that the other first deacon was Hugh Calkins . Thomas Adgate was slightly older than Rev. Fitch, and perhaps worked closely with him on matters of the church. It is believed that Adgate served as deacon for at least a half a century.
The image on the left is an artist’s rendition of how the Church on the Hill where Adgate served as Deacon appeared.
“The Methodist Episcopal Churches of Norwich, Conn.,” (1867), page 59, by Reverend Edgar F. Clark
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “1823 flood” in the SEARCH box.
Since 1844: St. Mary's Church ~ Greeneville
Under Construction
“In 1831, Father James Fitton administered the first baptism, and the first Catholic marriage occurred in 1840. The “great hunger,” the potato famine in Ireland, brought the Irish immigrants to Norwich & Worcester Railroad.”
“The first Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was on December 25, 1844 at St. Mary’s Church in lower Greeneville. By 1853, the Catholic population numbered over 4,000. In 1867, it was determined that another church was needed.”
“Father Daniel Mullin, Pastor of St. Mary’s, purchased this site, and on Good Friday, April 7, 1871, the work on St. Patrick’s Church began. The Irish from Greeneville marched 1,700 strong, led by Dr. Patrick Cassidy, to the present site. Horses and carts, filled with picks and shovels, arrived with the workers, and form Good Friday morning to Easter Sunday the volunteer army dug the complete foundation by hand.”
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Acknowledgements
“Many Survived 1728 Shetucket River Bridge Disaster” (12/27/1989), Hartford Courant, by Diana Ross McCain
“History of Norwich, Connecticut: From Its Possession From the Indians, to the Year 1866”, ppg 343-346, by Frances Manwaring Caulkins
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “1728 bridge” in the SEARCH box.
Since 1879: St. Patrick's Cathedral & Church
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The first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held on March 17, 1601 in St. Augustine Florida. On St. Patrick’s Day. And, 244 years later, on March 17, 1845 Reverend Daniel Kelly of the St. Mary’s Church in Norwich planted a cross at site of today’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Twenty-three years later, a former Civil War chaplin, Reverend Daniel Mullin arrived in Norwich in 1868 and followed in Reverend Kelley’s footsteps as the the new leader of St. Mary’s Church. Reverand Mulling was the creative spark that ignited efforts to design and build St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
On Good Friday, April 7, 1871, the ground work on St. Patrick’s Church began. The Irish from Greeneville marched 1,700 strong, led by Dr. Patrick Cassidy, to the present site. Horses and carts, filled with picks and shovels, arrived with the workers, and form Good Friday morning to Easter Sunday the volunteer army dug the complete foundation by hand.
During the next several years Rev. Mullin purchased tracts of land on Broadway that could be used as a convent and school.
On St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1870, Rev. Mullin left the St. Mary’s Church in Greeneville and marched with 1,547 parishioners to consecrate the land for the future cathedral. On Good Friday, April 7, 1871, a second procession took place, and the first shovel fulls of dirt were dug for the foundation.
Upon the completion of the excavation, work began on the foundation and the walls, the walls rising to the water table. July 13, 1878 must have been a memorable day in Norwich, for on that day the cornerstone of Saint Patrick’s was laid. chitect of this magnificent gothic church which, as the work progressed, soon revealed that it was to be no ordinary church. The measurements of the church were 200 feet in length and 100 feet across the transept.
As it has been said of the place of Father Mullin’s birth, “A land without sorrow is a land without memories”, so too, Saint Partick’s without sorrow would be a church without memories. It was not given to Father Mullin to behold his dream come true. On March 3, 1878 he was called before the Great High Priest Whom he had held before him as model; his life-work, materlally speaking, unfinished. At the time of Father Mullin’s death, the church walls and the roof to the ridgepole had been completed, and this had satisfied Him to Whom he was called to render an account of his stewardship.
Saint Patrick’s Parish was incorported on March 26, 1878 by Reverend Patrick P. Shahan, the pastor of St. Mary’s Church.
On September 28, 1879, St. Patrick’s Cathedral was officially opened and dedicated. the Most Reverend Lawrence McMahon presided, his first official
act in the Diocese of Hartford. Cardinal Gibbons preached in the morning; Bishop Shanahan of Harrisburg and Father Fitton, the famous missionary, in the
evening.
Acknowledgements
75 Anniversary ~ St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Norwich 1879-1954
“History of Norwich, Connecticut: From Its Possession From the Indians, to the Year 1866”, ppg 343-346, by Frances Manwaring Caulkins
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “1728 bridge” in the SEARCH box.
1816-1823 First Methodist Episcopal Church
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On March 6, 1823 a powerful freshet caused by 24 hours of continuous rain falling upon a deep snow flooded downtown Norwich. Six bridges over the Yantic were carried away, viz., three in Norwich, two in Bozrah, (at Colonel Fitch’s Iron Works and Bozrahville), and one in Franklin. The oil mill at Bean Hill was swept off, and the oil mill and machine shop near the Falls much injured. The Methodist Episcopal Chapel on the Chelsea (present-day downtown Norwich) Wharf Bridge suffered one of the most remarkable consequences of the flood.
The Methodist Episcopal Chapel On the Chelsea Wharf Bridge
Reverend David N. Bentley and his wife Letitia were regarded as the pillars of the Methodist Church in Norwich for more than 50 years. He organized a church in 1811 at his home. In the early spring of 1816 Rev. Bentley requested assistance from others, but meeting no success, contracted, upon his own responsibility, for the erection of a church, 36×30 feet, to be located on the north side of Wharf Bridge. In order to complete the undertaking, after having expended his personal means, he mortgaged his house upon a loan of six hundred dollars.
During the 1823 flood some of the buildings on the wharf bridge shifted their position, or partly turned round. Most notably, Reverend Bentley’s Methodist Chapel, which stood on the bridge, was entirely swept away.
Acknowledgements
“History of Norwich, Connecticut: From Its Possession From the Indians, to the Year 1866”, page 352, by Frances Manwaring Caulkins
“The Methodist Episcopal Churches of Norwich, Conn.,” (1867), page 59, by Reverend Edgar F. Clark
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “1823 flood” in the SEARCH box.
Since 1874: Park Church
Under Construction
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Source 1 states :“Perhaps no better description of the character of the man could be given than that which appears on the tablet at the entrance to the beautiful parish house of the Park Congregational Church, erected to his memory: “An interested and generous member of Park Congregational Church from its organization; a sincere and earnest Christian; a public-spirited citizen; a broad-minded patriot; a wise counselor; a devoted and unselfish friend; a man of noble powers, nobly used. ”The last clause is the keynote to his whole life.”
His legacy is alive and well in Norwich today. The plaque, shown in the photo, is still on proud display on the walls of Park Congregational Church.
Acknowledgements
“Many Survived 1728 Shetucket River Bridge Disaster” (12/27/1989), Hartford Courant, by Diana Ross McCain
“History of Norwich, Connecticut: From Its Possession From the Indians, to the Year 1866”, ppg 343-346, by Frances Manwaring Caulkins
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “1728 bridge” in the SEARCH box.