1845-1854: Main Street Congregational Church ~ Norwich
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In 1842, a group gathered primarily from Norwich’s Second Congregational Church formed a new congregation which met in the town hall until their own church building was constructed on Main Street in 1845. Known as the Main Street Congregational Church, they eventually built a new building on Broadway after the Main Street structure was destroyed by fire in 1854. The Broadway Congregational Church, a much larger building than the first, was built in the Romanesque Revival style between 1855 and 1857. Broadway Congregational later merged with the Second Church congregation and has since been known as the United Congregational Church. The building originally had a spire that was 200 feet high, but it was struck by lightning and removed in 1898.
The Main street Congregational church was built on the site in 1844, but destroyed by fire in 1854. A free church has since been erected by the Methodists on the same ground, making three successive churches, of three different denominations, on the spot.
A fifth Congregational Church, now ranking fourth in the order of time and formed principally by a colony from the second, was organized on June 1, 1842, with 112 members, 98 of whom were from the Second Church. It stood forth at once upon a solid foundation and has ever since been a strong and prosperous church.
The meetings were initially held in the town hall, but a house of worship erected on Main Street was dedicated on Oct. 1, 1845, and the association took the distinctive title of Main Street Congregational Church.
llev. Willard Child was installed over the church on Aug. 31, 1842, but resigned from the office at the close of three years.
Rev. John P. Gulliver was ordained pastor on Oct. 1, 1846, and under his efficient ministry, the church has largely increased in numbers and influence.
The meeting house of this society, constructed of Chatham free-stone at an expense of $14,000, was destroyed by fire on Sept. 17, 1854, after it had been occupied for about nine years. A more eligible site was then chosen, at the corner of Broadway and Bath Street, and a new church was built of far greater capacity and convenience than the former. The foundation stone was laid in July 1855, and the edifice was completed and dedicated in October 1857. A title change became necessary, and that of Broadway Congregational Church was adopted.
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Caulkins – pg 559
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “Second Congregational” in the SEARCH box.
1857-present: Broadway Congregational Church ~ Norwich
This article is under construction
In 1842, a group gathered primarily from Norwich’s Second Congregational Church formed a new congregation that met in the town hall until their own church building was constructed on Main Street in 1845. Known as the Main Street Congregational Church, they eventually built a new building on Broadway after the Main Street structure was destroyed by fire in 1854. The Broadway Congregational Church, a much larger building than the first, was built in the Romanesque Revival style between 1855 and 1857. Broadway Congregational later merged with the Second Church congregation and has since been known as the United Congregational Church. The building originally had a spire that was 200 feet high, but it was struck by lightning and removed in 1898.
The Main street Congregational church was built on the site in 1844, but destroyed by fire in 1854. A free church has since been erected by the Methodists on the same ground, making three successive churches, of three different denominations, on the spot.
The congregation’s Main Street meeting house, constructed of Chatham free-stone at an expense of $14,000, was destroyed by fire on Sept. 17, 1854, after it had been occupied for about nine years. A more eligible site was chosen at the corner of Broadway and Bath Street, and a new church was built of far greater capacity and convenience than the former.
The foundation stone was laid in July 1855, and the edifice was completed and dedicated in October 1857. A title change became necessary, and Broadway Congregational Church was adopted. This church, the most costly and complete of any sacred edifice ever erected in Norwich, is 64 feet by 94, and the spire 200 feet high. It is built of brick, with free-stone dressings, in the Roman style of architecture, and in its admirable system of ventilation, is regarded as a model church.
The organ, of great compass and purity of tone, was the gift of William A. Buckingham. The Sabbath School room in the basement seated 450 persons, and the adjoining lecture room seated 120.
This society numbers about 200 families, and the church has 300 members.
After a nineteen-year pastorate, Mr. Gulliver resigned his charge to accept an urgent call from the New England Congregational Church in Chicago and was dismissed on Oct. 24, 1865. He left a prosperous and progressive church, attached to his ministry and reluctantly consenting to the separation.
Mr. Gulliver is a native of Boston and graduated from Yale College in 1840.
Acknowledgements
“History of Norwich, Connecticut: From Its Possession From the Indians, to the Year 1866”, page 559, by Frances Manwaring Caulkins
HistoricalBuildingsCT.com
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “Broadway Congregational” in the SEARCH box.
1874-present: Park Congregational Church ~ Norwich
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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
Park Church
“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 “Park Church” in the SEARCH box.
1904-present: Taftville Congregational Church
This article is under construction
Acknowledgements
“History of Norwich, Connecticut: From Its Possession From the Indians, to the Year 1866”, page 529, by Frances Manwaring Caulkins
The complete list of sources may be found by clicking the “Bibliography” button, and, then typing “Park Church” in the SEARCH box.