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The Methodist Protestant Church in Georgetown (now Georgetown Bible Church) From the "History of Redding" by Charles Burr Todd  
   

Quick links:
Turn of the century membership-from Burr's History
Early pastors-from Burr's History
History of the Georgetown Bible Church-Author unknown
List of Pastors-from Burr's History and Redding Pilot
Edwin Gilbert and the church-Author unknown

*To avoid confusion this history is the same as the Georgetown Bible Church history that follows this article. It took me about 6 yrs to sort all this out so I'll save you all the trouble.

1. Rev. William M. Stillwell, in 1820, organized a small class of persons in Georgetown, sharers in his peculiar ideas of church polity, but who still retained the name of Methodist, though called by their opponents Stillwellites.

2. In 1829 a convention was held and adopted the name of Methodist Protestant, and in 1839 the church at Georgetown was formally organized as the Methodist Protestant Church and Society of Wilton Circuit. Church building erected at this time (1839) across from South Church St. on the Old Mill Rd. side of the tracks. *At one time a road existed that linked Old Mill Road with South Church St. Now (2005) South Church St. is a dead end, but at this time South Church St. came all the way down the hill, headed toward the Norwalk River, crossed a bridge over the Norwalk River and connected with Old Mill Road.

3. The Methodist Protestants voted and approved on dissolving the connection which existed between the Methodist Protestant Society in Georgetown and the Methodist Protestant Conference in 1868,

4. It united with the local Congregational Association in 1875,

5. Changed in name from the Methodist Protestant Society to The Congregational Society of Georgetown in 1887,

6. Changed in name from the Congregational Society of Georgetown to Gilbert Memorial Congregational Church to honor Edwin Gilbert in 1902.

7. and then became "independent of any denomination" in 1944. Even though it retained the name Gilbert Memorial Congregational Church. It was not a Congregational church. It was independant.

8. and finally it became the Georgetown Bible Church in 1964 and remains so today.

Now that is all cleared up...

The Methodist Protestant Church in Georgetown had its origin in a small schism in the Methodist Episcopal Church, commencing about 1818, in the New York Conference.

Among the ministers who seceded from the church at this time was the Rev. William M. Stillwell, who, in 1820, organized a small class of persons in Georgetown, sharers in his peculiar ideas of church polity, but who still retained the name of Methodist, though called by their opponents Stillwellites. In 1829 a convention was held and adopted the name of Methodist Protestant, and in 1839 the church at Georgetown was formally organized as the Methodist Protestant Church and Society of Wilton Circuit. The first members of the class, so far as can be ascertained, were Ebenezer Hill, Banks Sherwood, David Nichols, Isaac Osborne, and Benjamin Gilbert and wife. The first minister was Rev. William M. Stillwell. The first entry in the church records is as follows :

"The first Methodist Protestant church in Redding was organized in the year of our Lord 1839, on the 15th of the 9th month, at a regular warned meeting held at the house of Sturges Bennett. The following officers were chosen. David Nichols, chairman, John O. St. John, secretary. John O. St. John was duly elected clerk of said society, and the oath was administered by Walker Bates, Esq. John O. St. John was also elected Treasurer of said society."

Aaron Osborne was the first sexton. (He was to open the church thirty minutes before service, sweep the house, make the fires, and attend to the lights, for a yearly salary of $6.00).

The house of worship had been built in 1839, prior to the organization of the church, by John O. St. John and Charles Scribner. For a number of years the church records show only the ordinary routine of business In 1851, March 10th, a society's meeting passed the following resolutions: "Resolved, 1st: That we take into consideration the amount of damage sustained by the society, by the Danbury and Norwalk R. R. crossing the society's grounds near this house of worship and 2nd: That the assessment of damages by crossing the society's grounds be left to three men- one chosen by the trustees, one by the Rail Road contractors, and these two to choose a third. 3rd: That the trustees be instructed to hold the contractors or Rail Road Company responsible for all damage to the society's house of worship."

To these resolutions a meeting held December 27th, 1851, added the following :

"Resolved, by vote of this meeting that the society's committee be authorized to give by deed to the Danbury and Norwalk Railroad Company a right of way across said Society's ground, for the consideration of one hundred and fifty dollars." At a meeting held February 19th, 1853: "On motion S. M. Main and Hiram St. John, were appointed a committee to circulate a subscription to raise money to build a parsonage house." A meeting held November 17th, 1853, voted: "that the society's committee be authorized to circulate a subscription paper, to raise money to the amount of six hundred dollars for the purpose of purchasing Mr. Weed's house for a parsonage; and at a subsequent meeting held November 26th, the committee were authorized to purchase Mr. Weed's house so soon as six hundred dollars is pledged for that purpose."It was also voted that the "horse sheds be located 40 feet south of the butternut tree in the yard, provided the ground can be obtained for one dollar"

At a meeting held December 7th, 1867, Messrs John R. Sturges, J.O. St. John and Sturges Bennett were appointed a committee to ascertain the denominational preferences of all the members of the church,"with a view to a change of name to that of Congregational, or that of letting it be the Methodist Protestant Meeting."

This committee reported to an adjourned meeting, held December 14th, in favor of a change of name, and by a unanimous vote the name of the church was changed from Methodist Protestant to Congregational. It was also voted to petition the next legislature to change the name of the society in accordance with the above vote, and to secure to the Congregational Society the property now held by the Methodist Protestant Society. The committee appointed for this purpose were Messrs. David E. Smith, Hiram St. John, and E. G. Bennett.

Between 1900 and 1902, a new church building (Gilbert Memorial Church) was erected, this building is now known as the Georgetown Bible Church at the corner of Portland Ave. and North Main Street. It was dedicated on June 26, 1902. The building formerly used by the church (down by the RR tracks on South Church St.) would be used for plays, dances, movies, social gatherings. Known to locals as Miller's Hall, it was named after Lou Miller, factory superintendent and owner of many properties in the area.

In July of 1944, the congregation of the church decided to withdraw from the Congregational Ministerial Society due to its trend away from a faithful following of the Bible. This relieved the church of all organizational ties and since then, the church has been totally independent. While being independent of any denomination, it retained the name of the Gilbert Memorial Congregational Church until 1964 when it was changed to the name it holds today, the Georgetown Bible Church.

From October, 1865, to May, 1875, the church was supplied by Rev. Samuel St. John, of Georgetown. He was succeeded by Rev. Albert H. Thompson, of Yale Theological Seminary, who supplied the pulpit until November, 1876. Mr. Thompson's successor was Rev. C. B. Strong, of Hartford Seminary, who remained until the close of 1877. The present pastor, the Rev. C. A. Northrop, began his labors with the church January 6th, 1878, and was ordained and installed as pastor October 2d, 1878.

The present membership of the church is 79. Males, 30; females, 49.

The records of the Methodist Protestant Church give no data of the settlement or dismissal of pastors.

From old members of the church, however, I gain the following names of those who served the church in this capacity. The list is probably. complete,* though the names are not given in the order of succession. They were: William M. Stillwell, Stephen Treadwell, Abram Glasgow, Stephen Remington, --- Shemeall, ----- Vredenburgh, James Summerbell, Aaron G. Brewer, Richard K. Diossy, James Rolliston, William McCutchen, William H. Bosely, William Cliff, Samuel M. Henderson, Jacob Timberman, -- Wade, Elizur W. Griswold, Merwin Lent, William H. Johnson, John L. Ambler, Joseph J. Smith, Joshua Hudson, Thomas K. Witsel, John H.Painter, M. E. Rude, William C. Clarke.

The History of Georgetown Bible Church
Author Unknown, Forwarded to My Grandfather by Pastor John Cardamone

*To avoid confusion this history is the same as the Methodist Protestant Church history above. It took me about 6 yrs to sort all this out so I'll save you all the trouble.

1. The Methodist Protestants voted and approved on dissolving the connection which existed between the Methodist Protestant Society in Georgetown and the Methodist Protestant Conference in 1868,

2. It united with the local Congregational Association in 1875,

3. Changed in name from the Methodist Protestant Society to The Congregational Society of Georgetown in 1887,

4. Changed in name from the Congregational Society of Georgetown to Gilbert Memorial Congregational Church to honor Edwin Gilbert in 1902.

5. and then became "independent of any denomination" in 1944. Even though it retained the name Gilbert Memorial Congregational Church. It was not a Congregational church. It was independant.

6. and finally it became the Georgetown Bible Church in 1964 and remains so today.

Now that is all cleared up...

Georgetown Bible Church, the oldest of the church societies in Georgetown, dates back to the early part of the nineteenth century when it began as the Methodist Protestant Society. In 1826, the Methodist Protestant Society under the Wilton Circuit of churches, began to hold its services in Georgetown. Due to the increase of population associated with the Gilbert and Bennett Manufacturing Company, there was a need for churches in this area. For many years, the Methodist Protestant Society of Georgetown met in local homes and halls. The Methodist Protestant Society built its own building in 1839 (later known as Miller's Hall) and they became a separate church.

About 1846, the Methodist Protestant Conference, to which this church belonged, transferred its relation to the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Methodist Protestant Church in Georgetown did not agree with this change, and the majority of its members won out and remained a Methodist Protestant Church, retaining the property and building. The congregation voted on March 7, 1868 to dissolve the connection which existed between the Methodist Protestant Society in Georgetown and the Methodist Protestant Conference. Then, on June 15, 1875, the church united with the local Congregational Association and on February 24, 1887, the state House of Representatives authorized the change in name from the Methodist Protestant Society to The Congregational Society of Georgetown.

On October 26, 1901, the corner-stone of the present church building was laid and on June 26, 1902, the building was dedicated at a special service. The building and the land was a gift from Deacon and Mrs. Edwin Gilbert. Mr. Gilbert was a very committed leader of the church, as well as being president of the manufacturing company in Georgetown. On October 2, 1902, the name of the church was changed in honor of Mr. Gilbert's devoted service and generous gift of the church building.

In July of 1944, the congregation of the church decided to withdraw from the Congregational Ministerial Society due to its trend away from a faithful following of the Bible. This relieved the church of all organizational ties and since then, the church has been totally independent. While being independent of any denomination, it retained the name of the Gilbert Memorial Congregational Church until 1964 when it was changed to the name it holds today, the Georgetown Bible Church.

The rich history of the church is preserved in many of the church records, many of which were written by Mr. Gilbert. These records, which may go back to the late 1800's, are on display at the church. You are welcome any time to drop by and look at the building, which is now part of the National Register of historic Places, as well as these records. You can also meet our pastor, who will be glad to show you around.

List of Pastors
From Both Histories and Notes by Pastor John Cardamone

Joseph Smith (1844-?)
Samuel St. John (1865-1875)
Samuel J.M. Merwin (1883-1888)
Ursinus O. Mohr (1894-1899)
Elwell O. Mead (1920-1923)
Dr. B.S. Winchester (1932-1938)
Charles E. Pont (1939-1943)
William C. Floge (1943-1952)
William Kinnaman (1954-1963)
Ralph Seeley (1963-1966)
Kenneth Anderson (1966-?) *He was still there as of 1978 according to the Redding Pilot's Dorthea Stillman.
John Cardamone (present pastor)

Edwin Gilbert and the Church

On October 26, 1901, the cornerstone of the present house of worship was laid and on June 6, 1902, the building was dedicated. This excellent and attractive stone structure was the gift of Deacon and Mrs. Edwin Gilbert. Mr. Gilbert was for many years president of the manufacturing company bearing his name in this town, and was intensely devoted to the welfare of this church. The breadth of his spirit may be seen in the range of his benevolence. He left a substantial endowment to the Church, an equal amount to the state Home Missionary Society, and the same amount, the income of which is used for the relief of those who may need it in the place, regardless of church affiliations. He also left one-third as much to the Congregational Church of Wilton, to the Congregational Church of Redding, to the Swedish Congregational Church of Georgetown, to the Methodist Episcopal Church of Georgetown, to the Catholic Church of Georgetown.  He also funded and left a good endowment to the Fresh Air Farm, later known as Life's Farm (founded by John Ames Mitchell of Ridgefield). The superintendent of that farm, Rev. Ursinus O. Mohr, a former pastor of this church and his wife, for most of the time since 1899 were in charge of this work which gave a two week outing to about 1200 poor city children every summer.
*For more on the farm follow the hyperlink-"Farms"

 

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