This year, 1975, is the 150th anniversary of the construction of the Congregational Meetinghouse in South Britain.
This is a time for celebration. It is a time for parishioners to look back to the roots and to see the evolution of this
structure. This is a time to rededicate not only a building, but ourselves, the members of this congregation.
Back in 1825, the hardy souls who agreed to support the building of a new Meetinghouse surely hoped that the
structure would long outlast them and be useful for many years. We wonder if they really thought that it would
survive into the latter quarter of the 20th century. This new building replaced the original structure which had stood
on the Green since 1770.
The records of the congregation show that as early as 1823 there were plans being made to complete this original
Meetinghouse. A committee was established to solicit subscriptions in the amount of $900.00 to provide a steeple,
new roof and to paint the exterior. The committee appointed to solicit these funds gave a report that the money
had been subscribed and a committee was authorized to go forward with this work.
Between 1823 and 1824 something happened that ended all efforts to rebuild the original structure. There is
nothing in the records that tells us why, but on Monday, June 25, 1824 at a meeting of the Presbyterian
Congregational Society it was voted to appoint a committee to solicit subscriptions to build a new Meetinghouse.
This was to be done if $2,000.00 was subscribed by the next annual meeting. It was also voted at this meeting that
Burton Canfield, Warren Mitchell, David Bradley and Israel Bradley be a committee to solicit these subscriptions.
At the Annual Society Meeting held on December 27, 1824 the above committee reported "that Two Thousand and
Six Dollars was subscribed for the purpose of building a new Meetinghouse..." We can imagine the applause,
congratulations and prayers that greeted the announcement. It would be interesting if there were a letter
concerning this event. Can't you imagine the enthusiasm in such a letter to a distant relative concerning this new
project and perhaps some sober words of caution regarding the large debt the congregation was undertaking.
At the decision making meeting on the new building, the congregation voted, "That Deacon Warren Mitchell,
Burton Canfield, Perry Averill and David Platt be a committee to build a new Meetinghouse". They were
responsible so far as can be learned for decisions about the details on construction and securing builders after
the congregation approved the general size of the building including galleries. Since the building has lasted this
long, theirs was a good job of stewardship, and they deserve our thanks for a job well done.
It is realistic to believe that many things were going on at the same time. Since a committee was appointed to build
a new Meetinghouse and a contract drawn by early February 1825, some exploratory work had probably been
done. A committee of three to locate the stake, or determine the place where the new building was to be located,
had done its work. This committee gave its report on May 26, 1824. The stake was located "sixteen feet from the
north end of the old Meetinghouse and about thirty-two feet west of the southeast corner of the Rev. Noah Smith's
lot." This was done before the congregation agreed to build the new Meetinghouse. Now, it seems evident that
there were disagreements over whether there should be a new building or to repair the old.
The expression, "location of the stake", seems strange to us but in the early 19th century the location of the
Meetinghouse was a very serious decision. People had to walk long distances, ride horseback or come in their
wagons or carriages. So three people from outside the congregation were appointed and paid for making the
decision.
The contract signed on the 9th day of February, 1825, called for the "Carpenters and Joiners, Winton and Hall" to
build a Meetinghouse fifty feet in length and forty feet wide. The steeple is described in some detail but is basically
to be similar to the one in Derby but enclosed like the one in Warren. Both of these were new churches and were
probably well known in this area. "The House was to have two inner doors on the lower floor and two in the
gallery". The pulpit was located at the steeple end of the building, the reverse of the present location. (The New
Preston Hill Congregational Church still has this arrangement for the pulpit). The galleries (balconies) and pulpit
were to be the same as in Derby. The floors were to be of oak. The slips (seats similar to those in use today) were
to be like those in Derby and the "globe arch" overhead like that in Derby.
The old Meetinghouse was to be taken down and as much of its old timber as possible was to be worked into the
new building. The church committee agreed to deliver all timber for the job. The committee agreed to provide pine
siding or clapboards, boards, planks and shingles. They were also to provide board for Winton and Hall and their
workmen while they were on the job. Also, to be provided for the contractors were men to assist in the raising of
the House. The building was framed on the ground and then raised into place so manpower was needed for this
work. In addition, spirits were to be provided at the time of the raising of the House.
Winton and Hall were to paint the exterior of the building at least three times but they were not responsible for the
foundation or the lathing and plastering. The contractors "agreed to do every part of the work well and upon
honor". They agreed to have their work done by January 1826 at a cost of "Six Hundred and Ninety-five Dollars".
The Committee for the congregation agreed to pay Winton and Hall the above mentioned sum in equal
installments payable January 1, 1826 and January 1, 1827 with interest on the last payment from January 1826.
The church records do not say anything about the foundation and plastering. A study of the foundation seems to
indicate that it was similar to others built about this time in that it did not have an excavated cellar. The building
stands upon native field stone about three feet deep and on top of this was the cut quarried stone which is visible
from the outside of the building. This stone was brought in by oxen from one of the quarries in Roxbury. Since we
will learn that the inside of the building was entirely changed, we can say little or nothing about the plaster or the
interior color of the original building. It is too bad that there do not seem to be any available records describing the
decorative appearance of the church building upon completion.
What do we know about the interior appearance? The original pulpit was in the steeple end. There were slips as
opposed to pews. By this we mean that the slips were similar to the present seating arrangement but faced in the
other direction. They were raised four inches above the floor and like other churches of this time probably had
doors at the entrance to each slip. The gallery was similar to the existing one except that it extended around the
present pulpit end. About the only part of the interior that looks as it did originally is the domed ceiling or the
"globe arch" mentioned in the agreement with the builders.
The exterior of the building, except for the entrance area, is covered with the original clapboards and the window
frames seem to be original but the double hung sash is not. The fluted pilasters at the entrance are considered to
be original. Over each doorway there had been a semi-circular fanlight that contained leaded glass. The church is
noted for its Hoadley Steeple which we know was copied from the Derby church. Hoadley was a Waterbury builder
who constructed many churches. The steeple looks out over South Britain and its weathervane is the local
weatherman's guide. In the records of the congregation there is the following: "David S. Sanford is said to have
given this rhyme when he saw the present house raised, 'A small church with a tall steeple A stammering priest
and a wicked people' "
The building when finished had to be paid for and apparently the costs were greater than anticipated, for in 1827
there was an effort made to raise S1,OOO.OO for paying "the arrears for the Meetinghouse." Also, starting in
December 1826, it became an annual custom to auction or to "sell the use of the slips". This was an effort to raise
money for paying part of the minister's salary. In 1826, it was understood that if more money was raised than
needed, the excess would be placed in the fund established to purchase a bell.
In December 1834 it was voted that "Perry Averill, Cyrus Mitchell and such person as they may associate with them
...have liberty to occupy a strip of the Societies ground 18 feet wide East and West and 42 feet long North and
South...for the purpose of erecting horse sheds and for no other purpose provided they pay to the Treasurer of
the Society at the rate of 2 Dollars a rod for the said ground and provided they occupy said ground for the
purpose above described within one year from this date". More sheds were added in 1845 and four more in 1881.
These were used until the automobile eliminated the need for them.
There was no mention in the building contract of stoves for heating. The records of the Society indicate that during
the winter months, annual and special meetings were often adjourned to the schoolhouse. Without a doubt, the
school had a pot-bellied stove that supplied heat. On October 7, 1839, a Society committee was authorized to
furnish "a stove or stoves with necessary stove pipe, etc. for warming the Meetinghouse". We can assume that
from time to time new stoves replaced the original ones. At the annual meeting on December 20, 1897 "Mr. F.F.
Hitchcock was present and offered to put in a furnace, all complete for $130.00". No action seems to have been
taken on this proposition because in 1903 a special committee was responsible for putting in a furnace - so central
heating came to the Meetinghouse. A forced air oil burning unit was installed in 1955.
It has previously been mentioned that if any money was left from the sale of slips, the excess was to go into a fund
for purchasing a bell. In 1862 for the first time, the Clerk's minutes say, "Voted to leave the ringing of the bell and
the care of the Meetinghouse for the ensuing year to the discretion of the Society's Committee". All that we can
say about this is that there was a bell of a type unknown by us by 1862. This bell may have been installed at an
earlier time. The bell currently in use and in the belfry has cast into it the date of 1890 and Meneely & Co., West
Troy, N.Y. Also inscribed on it is the following:
"Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow"
There is nothing in the Clerk's records, nor in the Treasurer's reports that tells us when this bell was purchased or
what it cost.
Robert K. Mitchell reports that his grandfather told him how the bell was raised into place. A pulley was attached to
the upper part of the steeple. An ox-cart loaded with stone was on the ground, with one wheel raised off the
ground. The rope was threaded through the pulley and one end attached to the bell. In order to raise the bell, the
other end of the rope was wrapped around the hub of the raised wheel of the ox-cart. The men on the ground
turned the wheel of the ox-cart and raised the bell into place.
Major changes to the building were made in 1869. At the annual meeting of the Society on December 28, 1868 it
was voted, "That Marshall S. Clarke, C.L. Mitchell an Edward A. Platt be a committee to view other churches,
consult with a joiner and find out the expense and bring in a plan for repairs and report in three weeks..." We can
be sure that styles in churches had changed, and some members of the congregation wanted to modernize the
Meetinghouse.
The committee appointed on December 28, 1868 apparently gave their report for we learn that on January 25,
1869 "plans were presented and it was voted to repair the church". At the meeting it was agreed that subscriptions
in the amount of 53,000.00 were to be raised to defray the cost". It was also decided that "Burton C. Bradley,
Marshall S. Clarke and C. Leroy Mitchell be appointed a committee to make contracts, superintend the repairs..
.and in case of disagreement between theparties to said contract choose referees". In September of 1869 the
contracting committee called the congregation together and recommended that the outside of the church be
painted. This was approved and subscriptions were raised to pay for the painting.
The clerk's records for 1869 do not provide a contract or a statement of changes to be made in the interior of the
church building. We know that the pews are new and no longer have doors. The pulpit is not in its original location
and because of its construction is not the original one. The recess behind the pulpit was added. The gallery was
changed so that it appears as it does today and new gallery stairs were built. The whole interior was painted. At
one time the walls were stenciled above the wainscoating, and the ceiling was painted with softly colored clouds,
cherubs and flowers.
The exterior was changed mainly at the entrance end. The three doors were made as they appear today. The
original window sash was replaced with the present double hung windows.
On Thursday, November 23, 1869 the records indicate that "our newly remodeled house of worship was dedicated.
We have been deprived of the use of our house of worship since May last having worshipped with the Methodist
Society. The church has been remodeled at an expense of $4,600." This was about $1,600 above the cost
originally projected.
The year 1903 was a year of many changes. It was the year that central heating came to the building as we
already know. The Church Trustees were authorized to redecorate the building, shingle the roof, install carpeting
and lay out and grade the church grounds. The congregation at a special meeting held on August 31, 1903
unanimously voted to accept the stained glass memorial window that is directly behind the pulpit. This window was
a gift from N. Warren Mitchell in memory of his son, Charles.
The building has been redecorated several times since 1903, most recently in 1973, and the exterior was painted
the following year. In 1972, prior to the interior painting, a structural fault was located above the dome ceiling due
to the deterioration of the old timbers in a truss. This was causing the exterior East and West walls to bulge and
causing a two-inch crack in the ceiling. Repairs were made in the attic area correcting these faults.
In 1975, the congregation purchased an 11 rank, 2 manual Schantz pipe organ which has been located in the rear
gallery. This new instrument replaced an electronic organ purchased in 1953.
Such is the history of the Meetinghouse. Its past is known. What of its future? All that has gone before is for
naught if we who are here today do not preserve this structure and all that it represents. We pray that we will have
as dedicated people in our congregation in the future as we have had in the past. If they are willing to give of their
time, talent and treasure as have those who have gone before, there is certainly a bright future for this building.
PREFACE
In 1670, seventeen families left the church in Stratford to settle along the Pomperaug River. As this settlement
grew, this original area known as Woodbury was divided and Southbury was created. The people of the South
Britain area petitioned the Connecticut State Assembly in 1761 to have winter services in their community. They
indicated that they had to travel from four to seven miles to the Southbury Church over roads that were in bad
condition. This request was granted and in 1766 the division from Southbury became permanent. In that year, a
new Ecclesiastical Society was formed in South Britain, and the members agreed to meet for two months at the
home of Moses Downs.
In 1770 a new Meetinghouse was built. This was replaced by our present 1825 building. Over the years a
Parsonage and Parish House were purchased.
grew, this original area known as Woodbury was divided and Southbury was created. The people of the South
Britain area petitioned the Connecticut State Assembly in 1761 to have winter services in their community. They
indicated that they had to travel from four to seven miles to the Southbury Church over roads that were in bad
condition. This request was granted and in 1766 the division from Southbury became permanent. In that year, a
new Ecclesiastical Society was formed in South Britain, and the members agreed to meet for two months at the
home of Moses Downs.
In 1770 a new Meetinghouse was built. This was replaced by our present 1825 building. Over the years a
Parsonage and Parish House were purchased.
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