Thompson Congregational Church Thompson, CT
Posted by: 
dremoto
N 41° 57.496 W 071° 51.764
19T E 262749 N 4649107
A church that was built in 1730 and was the first house of worship in Thompson, CT. To this day it plays music on the hour from atop its steeple.
Waymark Code: WM51CJ
Location: Connecticut, United States
Date Posted: 10/25/2008
Views: 17
A church that was built in 1730 and was the first house of worship in Thompson, CT. To this day it plays music on the hour from atop its steeple.
Following info from church website -
On January 28, 1730, the Congregational Church of Thompson was organized with 28 residents signing the covenant of the Ecclesiastical Society. Previous to this a house of worship had been built near the center of the Common. During the 26 year pastorate of the first minister, Rev. Marston Cabot, more than 300 members were added to the church.
In 1769 the church was enlarged and in 1798 it was repaired and provided with a steeple and bell.
The great gale of 1815 damaged this old meeting house so badly that it was decided to build a new church.
The second Meeting House was built in 1817 also on the common, but somewhat north west of the first building. It provided no accomodations for Sabbath School or Conference meeting.
Pipe Organ Gift to the Church
The present church ediface was built in 1856 with much of the cost being shared by Mr. William Mason.
This third building was erected across the road from the Common right on the corner of the crossroads. In 1901 it was extensively remodeled and a very fine pipe organ was presented to the church by the Doane family.
Again in 1938, a hurricane once more caused considerable damage to the church. The steeple was ripped completely off and the roof badly damaged. The bell which was the same one that hung in the first old meeting house was not damaged. It was decided not to rebuild the steeple at that time so the bell was hoisted into the loft of the church. There it remained until 1963 when another steeple, an exact replica of the first, was added to the building.
In 1964 a Christian Education Building was added containing 12 Sunday School rooms, a chapel, minister's study and conference rooms.
In 1947 the members of the church voted to dissolve the old Ecclesiastical Society which had been established in 1728; two years before the organization of the church. It now became necessary to reorganize so the church was incorporated and new By-laws adopted.
About this same time the members of the Central Baptist church, whose church home was destroyed by fire in 1917 were invited to become associate members of the Congregational Church. The invitation was also extended to members of the Brandy Hill Baptist Church (the first Baptist Church in Thompson), as there were no regular services held at that church. The members all work together in harmony and love for the Lord.
Date the Church was built, dedicated or cornerstone laid: 01/28/1730
Age of Church building determined by?: Church website
Street address of Church:
347m Thompson Rd
Thompson, CT USA
06277
Primary website for Church or Historic Church Building: [Web Link]
If denomination of Church is not part of the name, please provide it here: Not listed
If Church is open to the public, please indicate hours: Not listed
If Church holds a weekly worship service and "all are welcome", please give the day of the week: Not listed
Indicate the time that the primary worship service is held. List only one: Not Listed
Secondary Website for Church or Historic Church Building: Not listed
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