History
Below is an excerpt from the book "Clarendon Vermont
1761 - 1976" Academy Books Rutland, Vermont.
OLD BRICK CHURCH AND PATTERSON-RITCHIE FARM
Note the Original Steeple on the Church
The Old Brick Church:
“Be it remembered to the glory of the divine grace that it pleased God
in the beginning of this year to visit his people in this place to awaken
and reclaim some that were slumbering or wandering and to convert some to
the knowledge of the truth so that on the eighteenth of February AD. 1822
a church was organized by the Rev. Henry Hunter resident as an evangelist
and the Rev. Stephen Martind ale of Tinmouth.“ Thus the first pastor of
the Congregational Church prefaced the original record book. The Revs.
Hunter and Martindale along with ten members of the community got together
on February 1822 to start the Congregational Church of Clarendon.
For 2 years after the organization and signing of the Constitution,
meetings were held in the brick school house north of the land deeded to
Second Religious Society or else in the old Baptist building.
The fellowship grew rapidly. The church screened each family wishing to
join the church before admitting them. Each person, while being considered
was required to state his ‘religious experience and views of the
doctrines of the gospel” and to assent to the confession of the church.
Rev. Hunter wrote of one man’s admission, “Perhaps it should be
recorded to the praise of divine grace that he hopefully converted when
seventy years of age and his wife when sixty all things are possible with
God.”
Each member of the congregation was expected to be a model citizen and
attend church regularly. Charges were brought against members for
“intemperance and irregularity of conduct.” For punishment, the
accused was required to make a public confession and promise to reform
although expulsion from the church and its activities was also possible.
Remodeling the church began in 1858. The singer’s gallery was closed
off, the pulpit redone, and the sounding board was removed.
On becoming pastor, Rev. William T. Herrick remarked that the church was,
“throughly rebuilt inside and very neatly finished."
The bell in the church today was placed in the belfry in 1869. The bell
weighs over 800 pounds and cost the people more than $300.
1873 brought about the sale of the first parsonage and the building of a
new one.
While all of the external improvements were being made, in 1876 George
Morse became the inspiration for spiritual renewal. During his time as
pastor Morse brought new light to the people of the Old Brick Church.
Everyone got involved with the upkeep of the church. A Ladies Aid Society
was organized to raise money for costly repairs. A youth group brought in
famous clergymen to lecture with the profits used also for repair work.
The Steeple was built from this money. The memorial windows in honor of
Mr. and Mrs. Hannibal Hodges, Joseph and Sabia Gaskill, Mr. and Mrs. Silas
Willis Hodges, Henry Hodges, Deacon Frederick Button, Deacon Nathaniel
Crary, Chester and Rhoda Kingsley, Silas and Polly Bowen, John N. Pierce,
and George Crossman were also installed at this time.
In 1882, the meeting house held a rededication ceremony. A newspaper
recounted. “The Church is now in possession of a house of worship that
compares favorably with the best in the country. It is hoped a becoming
gratitude will cause it to be filled each Sabbath day, and that in
connection with the worship there offered the blessing of God will come to
all.”
In 1924, there was no resident pastor so after 100 years the Church had to
be closed save only for special occasions.
Mrs. Gratz Powers thought it a shame that no one used the church anymore,
so in 1935 she suggested that it be reopened during the summer.
Each year since a Yale student spent ten weeks or more at Clarendon.
The student leads Sunday services, organizes programs for young people,
and joins community leaders in carrying traditions established long ago.
The Rev. Robert Seneca Smith, of the Yale Divinity School and a Clarendon
native, established and sponsored this program during his lifetime.
OLD BRICK CHURCH - 1907
|
