1853-present: Grace Episcopal Church ~ Yantic
The mill village of Yantic in Norwich was home to the Yantic Woolen Mill. In 1824, Captain Erastus Williams purchased an existing mill and expanded it to produce woolen products. He and his wife, Elizabeth Dorr Tracy, oversaw the organization of Grace Episcopal Church in Yantic in 1853. Their daughter, Elizabeth, was the first church organist. Erastus was succeeded by his son and then by his grandson, Winslow Tracy Williams.
Grace Church was first organized in 1851 as a Sunday school, with classes held in the local schoolhouse. It was encouraged and supported by Reverend Edward Flagg, the first Rector of Trinity Church, Norwich, and support also came from Reverend B. H. Paddock, the second Rector of Trinity Church.
The first records date back to October 1853. Incorporated as a parish and legally organized in 1853. The first Rector was Reverend William Studley, and the new church rapidly outgrew the schoolhouse.
Yantic Woolen Mill ~ circa 1909 (Place cursor over image to magnify)
One of the original communicants was Captain Erastus Williams, owner of the Yantic Woolen Mill. He gave the parish use of a newly built stone house for its chapel. It was located in front of and below the bank in front of the current church.
Several beautiful memorial furnishings were donated to the church, including, in May 1897, a brass pulpit from the Lamb Company in memory of Captain Erastus W. Williams. The brass eagle lectern, in memory of Lydia Marvin Williams, and the oak altar rail, supported on brass posts, were the finest available.
Services were held in this chapel, and as the congregation continued to grow, space became much too crowded for services and parish activities.
By the mid-1890s, it was clear that the congregation once again needed a new, larger church. Under the leadership of Capt. Williams’ grandson, Winslow Tracy Williams, the congregation planned a series of fundraising events. Many of these were held at the Yantic Fire House over the years when fairs and socials were very popular.
In 1895, the Ladies Guild and St. Cecelia’s Guild had two booths at the fire hall fair, which was held for two days from 3 to 10 pm. A variety of needlework items, including rugs, sofa pillows, aprons, and shoe bags, were sold, along with refreshments. Another fair at the engine house in 1897, this one a three-day event, earned them $102.84. In 1899, a dollar social was held, where each person shared how they had earned their dollar. They also sold cookbooks, raising $260 with a prize of a painting of roses to the one selling the most books. In November of that year, each parish member donated a sum corresponding to their age for the new church building fund.
Grace Episcopal Chapel ~ circa 1907
The New Church Building
The building committee formulated plans to erect a church at a cost of $8,000 to $10,000. However, thanks to donations from local individuals, organizations, and businesses, nearly $20,000 was raised and made available. The architect chosen was Francis V. Hoppin of the firm Hoppins and Koen in New York. The building contractors were Peck and McWilliams of Norwich, who awarded the contract for $14,500. In September 1900, the stones were delivered to the site, which was donated by the Yantic Woolen Company, with land almost entirely on ledge.
The mill was closed for the long-awaited day, and nearly the entire male population of Yantic turned out to lend a hand. Over a two-day period, 110 loads of stones were transported by wagons pulled by horses and oxen from William Kilroy’s farm in nearby Bozrah. These stones were taken from the walls of the Kilroy farm, and the men hand-picked out stones with a horizontal base and a straight face; very few round stones were used. The Ladies Guild served lunches at Kilroy’s farm for these hard-working men. On May 20th, 1901, a rainy Thursday, the cornerstone was set in place.
Construction Details
A newspaper article described the construction process of the new church in great detail. It is a “perpendicular Gothic style of the transition period in England,” based on drawings and photographs from England. The trimming stones are Indiana limestone cut in Tudor detail moldings. The heavy beams of the porch lead to the base of the tower, forming the Narthex (vestibule), which is 13 feet, 4 inches square. There are triple gothic windows over the porch and rose windows on the opposite side. A circular staircase leads to the gallery and room on the second story of the tower, then upward to the belfry and lookout on the tower top. The dimensions of the Nave (the body of the church) are 56 feet long by 40 feet wide, with a Gothic arch 16 feet high at the point leading to the Chancel (choir), which measures 22 feet by 27 feet. No debt was incurred during the construction. The pews, made of quarter-sawn oak, were installed to seat 300 at a later date.
.The official consecration was held on June 28, 1902. The mill was closed for the day so that workers, many of whom were members of the church, could join the state and local officials and residents attending the ceremony, and the luncheon which followed. Senior Warden Winslow Tracy Williams’s son of E. Winslow Williams, who was largely responsible for the beginning of the Grace Church, was master of ceremonies. The service began at 11:00 am and included confirmation of thirteen people. The offertory was designated for use in the construction of the new pews. At 1:30 pm, those present adjourned to the adjacent “old chapel” where the Ladies Guild served luncheon of salads, cold meats, rolls, strawberries, cake, and ice cream.
Much more information about the church and its history can be found at the Grace Episopal Church website.
Acknowledgements
Grace Episcopal Church, Yantic History
Public Domain
1910-present: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox ~ Norwich
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In the year 1779, a public debate on the subject of Universalism was held in the Congregational Church at Chelsea, between Mr. Niles and Mr. John Murray, which excited considerable interest at the time.
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Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church website
“Flag raising commemorates Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church’s 115 years,” (03/27/2025), by Matt Grahn
1957-present: St. Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church ~ Norwich
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Seventy German-speaking families formed the First Evangelical Lutheran Church on Franklin Street in 1857. The members bore the total cost of building the first Lutheran Church in Connecticut — $7,800, a staggering sum for 1869.
In 1927, seven decades after its founding, the church began services in English. In 1957, the congregation merged with Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church, a Swedish parish formed in 1892, to become St. Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church at 248 Broadway.
Acknowledgements
“Diverse, historic, spiritual: Norwich centers of worship reflect changing city,” (12/23/2007), by John-Manual Andriote
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “St. Mark’s” in the SEARCH box.