South Coventry in Tolland County, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)
The First Congregational Church
Photographed By Michael Herrick, November 6, 2019
1. The First Congregational Church Marker
Inscription.
The First Congregational Church. .
The First Congregational Church. This classic pillared New England Congregational Church was built in 1849 as the Village Church at a cost of $10,491. For a period of 20 years there were two Congregational Churches in South Coventry. One was the original church at the green on Lake and High Street, organized in 1712. The other was this location in the village. Neither thrived and on January 6, 1869. the two were reunited as the First Church of Coventry. In 1901, by vote of the membership, the First Church of Coventry became the First Congregational Church of Coventry. Over the almost three centuries of faithful witness in Coventry, the church has been served by thirty-one pastors. Its first was the longest tenured. The Reverend Mr. Joseph Meacham served this church for forty years, from 1712 to 1752. The Reverend Dr. Joseph Huntington enjoyed a lengthy pastorate from 1763-1794. The Reverend Dr. Huntington prepared Nathan Hale for his classes at Yale College. The Reverend Mr. Chauncy Booth also had a long pastorate, serving from 1815-1844. The Hale Family has a long association with this church. In 1804 the "Hale Donation" was created by the last will and testament of Sarah Hale, widow of John Hale, Esq. Her bequest of $3,330.33 has grown and still enables grants to be given for the education of students in the Christian Ministry or missionary endeavors, at Yale Divinity School, Andover Newton Theological Seminary, Hartford Seminary and many other schools. The first grants were for $50.00. Today the grants are for several thousand dollars. The church grounds have increased since 1969 with the purchase of adjoining properties. The crowning achievement of the expansion was the construction of the Center for Christian Education and Social Hall (1985-87). This addition stands in testimony to the churches mission of worship services for all, christian education programs, missions for hope and a sense of community for all those that walk through its doors. Reverend Chauncey Booth The Reverend Chauncy Booth was born in Coventry in 1783. He graduated from Vale in 1810 and went directly to Anderson Theological Seminary. He was ordained on September 20, 1815 and accepted a call to the ministry in Coventry. He served as Minister for this church from 1815 until 1844 and he died in Coventry in 1851. His grandson, Henry Farnum Dimock, bequeathed funds in 1911 to the South Coventry Library Association for a new library. In 1912-13 the Booth and Dimock Memorial Library was built and dedicated. ( photo captions ) - On March 19, 1903 the steeple of this church was destroyed by lightening. It was repaired for the sum of $5,605.63, which was covered by insurance. This picture postcard was taken as restoration was in progress. - The church, in this 1909 postcard, with the repaired steeple and straighteden pillars. Church Lane, which lead to the homes at the back of the church, can be seen to the left. This road was closed when additional parking and driveway was made available to the right hand side of the church. - Early 1900’s view of Main Street, J.S. Champlin became Burnam’s Store. It was bought by the church in 1972 and torn down. The home to the left of the store was bought by the church in 1984. It was moved to the back of thre church and became apartments. A large parking lot was created for the church in the 1980’s.
The First Congregational Church
This classic pillared New England Congregational Church was built in 1849 as the Village Church at a cost of $10,491. For a period of 20 years there were two Congregational Churches in South Coventry. One was the original church at the green on Lake and High Street, organized in 1712. The other was this location in the village. Neither thrived and on January 6, 1869. the two were reunited as the First Church of Coventry. In 1901, by vote of the membership, the First Church of Coventry became the First Congregational Church of Coventry.
Over the almost three centuries of faithful witness in Coventry, the church has been served by thirty-one pastors. Its first was the longest tenured. The Reverend Mr. Joseph Meacham served this church for forty years, from 1712 to 1752. The Reverend Dr. Joseph Huntington enjoyed a lengthy pastorate from 1763-1794. The Reverend Dr. Huntington prepared Nathan Hale for his classes at Yale College. The Reverend Mr. Chauncy Booth also had a long pastorate, serving from 1815-1844. The Hale Family has a long association with this church. In 1804 the "Hale Donation" was created by the last will and testament of Sarah Hale, widow of John Hale, Esq. Her bequest of $3,330.33 has grown and still enables grants to be given for the education of students in the
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Christian Ministry or missionary endeavors, at Yale Divinity School, Andover Newton Theological Seminary, Hartford Seminary and many other schools. The first grants were for $50.00. Today the grants are for several thousand dollars. The church grounds have increased since 1969 with the purchase of adjoining properties. The crowning achievement of the expansion was the construction of the Center for Christian Education and Social Hall (1985-87). This addition stands in testimony to the churches mission of worship services for all, christian education programs, missions for hope and a sense of community for all those that walk through its doors.
Reverend Chauncey Booth
The Reverend Chauncy Booth was born in Coventry in 1783. He graduated from Vale in 1810 and went directly to Anderson Theological Seminary. He was ordained on September 20, 1815 and accepted a call to the ministry in Coventry. He served as Minister for this church from 1815 until 1844 and he died in Coventry in 1851. His grandson, Henry Farnum Dimock, bequeathed funds in 1911 to the South Coventry Library Association for a new library. In 1912-13 the Booth & Dimock Memorial Library was built and dedicated.
( photo captions )
- On March 19, 1903 the steeple of this church was destroyed by lightening. It was repaired for the sum of $5,605.63, which was covered by insurance.
Photographed By Michael Herrick, November 6, 2019
2. The First Congregational Church Marker
This picture postcard was taken as restoration was in progress.
- The church, in this 1909 postcard, with the repaired steeple and straighteden pillars. Church Lane, which lead to the homes at the back of the church, can be seen to the left. This road was closed when additional parking and driveway was made available to the right hand side of the church.
- Early 1900’s view of Main Street, J.S. Champlin became Burnam’s Store. It was bought by the church in 1972 and torn down. The home to the left of the store was bought by the church in 1984. It was moved to the back of thre church and became apartments. A large parking lot was created for the church in the 1980’s.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Churches & Religion. A significant historical date for this entry is January 6, 1869.
Location. 41° 46.077′ N, 72° 18.011′ W. Marker is in Coventry, Connecticut, in Tolland County. It is in South Coventry. Marker is on Main Street (Connecticut Route 31) 0.2 miles east of Monument Hill Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Coventry CT 06238, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 10, 2019, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 144 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 10, 2019, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.
