South Congregational Church history and catalogue, 1852–1865 · scan page 14

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b  PRELIMINARY  HISTORY.
who  resided  in  the  vicinity,  encouraged  these  efforts,
and  did  what  they  could  to  promote  them.  But  they
were  poor,  as  well  as  few  in  number,  and  could  really
do  nothing,  or  next  to  nothing,  towards  the  erection
of  a  house  of  worship).  Some  individuals  who  be-
longed to  churches  in  town,  were  too  much  attached
to  them  to  be  willing  to  engage  in  any  new  enterprise
looking  to  a  disruption  of  existing  relations.
Thus,  in  one  way  or  another,  the  projectors  of  the
South  Church  enterprise  met  with  discouragement  at
every  step.  The  first  idea  was,  to  have  a  Mission
Chapel,  erected  by  subscription,  and  free  to  all.  But
on  this  basis  there  would  be  no  revenue,  and  a  con-
stant outlay  would  be  required  to  support  the  minis-
ter and  defray  other  necessary  expenses.
Next,  a  small  church  edifice  was  contemplated,  in
which  the  slips  should  be  rented,  and  thus  the  expense
of  supporting  the  establishment  be  in  part  defrayed.
But  this  plan  was  found  to  be  no  more  acceptable
than  the  other.  A  personal  application  to  all  those
persons  in  the  vicinity  who  were  deemed  most  likely
40  be  able  and  willing  to  aid  the  enterprise,  produced
but  one  subscription,  ($50,)  and  an  offer  on  the  part
of  a  farmer  to  assist  in  digging  the  cellar.*     These
*  It  sliould,  perl\aps,  be  mentioned  that  a  lady  offered  to  give  a
site  for  tiie  cliurch,  not  far  from  the  present  location,  on  condition  tliat
the  edifice  to  be  erected  on  it,  should  be  used  forever  as  a  Congrega-
tional church.  This  offer,  generous  as  it  was  in  some  respectj",  tho
parties  interested  felt  obliged  to  decline,  as  they  could  not  nm  the  risk
of  losing  their  whole  investment,  in  case  the  church  enterprise,  which
was  altogether  an  experinitrnt.  should  not  succeed.

Cite this page

Silent Grounds Collective, Church Burial & Death Records, CH-P004-0014. South Congregational Church history and catalogue, 1852–1865, printed page not verified, PDF page 14. Hallock, Gerard, 1800-1866; digitized copy contributed by University of California Libraries https://archive.org/details/historyofsouthco00hall/page/n16/mode/1up Accessed September 8, 2026.

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