Congregational Church

Congregational Church - Rochester

Congregational Church.—The site where Rochester now stands was first visited by white people, with a view to settlement, in the spring of 1854. The first public religious service was held in December of the same year.

About the middle of January, 1855, Rev. Robert Welch, a Free Will Baptist minister, came to Rochester and preached most of the time till about the middle of the June following, when Rev. Reuben Reynolds, a Congregational minister, from Michigan, came into the place, and the meetings were given up to him. Mr. Thomas Tait, a licensed Congregational preacher from Scotland, and Mr. E. C. Burnham, also a Congregational licentiate, occasionally shared the labor of preaching with Mr. Reynolds.

The first movement toward the organization of a Congregational church in Rochester was begun soon after the arrival of Mr. Reynolds; but he, having adopted principles that were not considered evangelical, and endeavoring to establish the proposed church on what was claimed as the " Broad Basis,"failed to unite the Congregational interest in the movement.
A society was, however, formed under his lead, which was called "The First Congregational Church and Society of Rochester." This was in the summer of 1857. About the first of September of that year, Rev. Elias Clark came to Rochester, under the auspices of the American Home Missionary Society, and took charge of the Congregational interest in the place.

Soon after Mr. Clark came it was decided to proceed without regard to any previous organization, and form a church that should be in doctrinal fellowship and sympathy with the orthodox Congregational churches of the country. Accordingly, on January 3, 1858, a meeting was held in a log schoolhouse, which stood some twenty rods southeast from College-street bridge, and the present Congregational church of Rochester, consisting of twelve members, was duly organized.
Rev. Mr. Clark continued preaching regularly to the church and congregation, until September, 1860, when he removed to another field.

From that time till February 1, 1861, the church had only occasional preaching. From the 1st of February Rev. H. H. Morgan supplied the church for three months. In June of the same year Mr. J. S. Whitman, then recently licensed to preach, was engaged to supply the pulpit. He was ordained to the work of the ministry September 8, 1861, and continued in charge of the church until May, 1862, when he was called to labor elsewhere.

The church was without regular preaching from this time till the 15th of November in the same year, when Rev. William R. Stevens commenced labor as acting pastor of the church, which place he continued to fill till the middle of November, 1866, when his health failed, and he was obliged to relinquish his work. From this time he steadily and rapidly declined, till he entered peacefully into his rest, January 15, 1867.

Immediately after the close of Mr. Stevens' labor — November 1866— the church employed Rev. A. Fuller as stated supply, which place he regularly filled till October 8, 1867, when he was installed the first pastor of the church.

This office he occupied till July 1, 1874, when he resigned to enter the foreign missionary work.

Rev. N. C. Chapin followed. He was called August 1, 1874, and acted as pastor of the church till January 26, 1876, when he resigned.

After Mr. Chapin's removal, the church was without a pastor, until the coming of Rev. Geo. P. Blanchard, in January, 1877. Mr. Blanchard was installed pastor of the church, July 11, 1877, and continued to discharge the duties of that office until his resignation, July 1, 1879.

In October following the church extended a call to Rev J. W. Bradshaw, who entered upon his duties December 14, 1879.

On June 29, 1880, Mr. Bradshaw was regularly installed as pastor, which office he continues to fill.

The first religious meetings, of which mention has been made, were held in the log dwelling-house—also used as a tavern—of Mr. George Head. The house stood on the south side of College street, where Broadway now is. Meetings were also held about this time, in the house of Mr. Robert Welch, above named.

Some time in the summer of 1855 meetings began to be held in the new log schoolhouse, which stood some twenty rods southeast from College-street bridge. This was the regular place of meeting until December, 1857, when the basement of the (then) new court-house (now the Broadway House, standing on the west side of Broadway, near the railroad ) was so far completed as to be occupied for that purpose. From about that time, the church continued to occupy the court-house for regular meetings, until its own house of worship was so far completed as to be used for that purpose.

The work of church building was begun in the summer of 1863.

A contribution, amounting to about $1,500, was made by the friends of the enterprise in Rochester, and the acting pastor of the church, Rev. W. R. Stevens, went east to solicit aid in the work, and succeeded in obtaining about $1,700, besides a pledge of $500 from the Congregational Union, to pay last bills. This, it was believed, was sufficient to secure the completion of the house, with the aid of a further contribution, which it was proposed to solicit in Rochester.

Accordingly two lots were purchased, on the corner of Franklin and Zumbro streets, the foundation of the church laid, and the walls partially erected.

In the spring of 1864 the work was renewed, and the walls completed; but before the building was secured by a roof, a tornado swept over the town, and left the work in ruins.

By this calamity the society incurred a direct loss of about $1,500; but as the price of labor and building material were more than doubled at this time, on account of the war, the rebuilding of the walls necessitated an increased expenditure of about $4,000. The discouragement of the society in these circumstances cannot easily be realized.

It was, however, at once resolved that the work must go on, and Mr. Stevens once more went east to solicit aid, and again succeeded in raising about $1,700. With this and the additional money raised in the town, the building was inclosed, and was first used for religious service though in a very unfinished state, some time in December of 1864. In the following year money was contributed and borrowed, so that the building was nearly completed. It was not, however, fully furnished until the fall of 1866.

The entire cost of the building, including $400 expended by the ladies in upholstering and furnishing, was not far from $9,500. Of this sum something over $3,300 had been received from abroad, and $500 more were pledged to pay last bills; leaving about $5,700 raised, and to be raised by the society in Rochester.

In December, 1866, the whole indebtedness of the society, including accumulated interest, was found to be nearly $2,500, besides the amount covered by the pledge of the Congregational Union.

It had also become necessary for the church to relinquish the aid, which it had hitherto received from the American Home Missionary Society, and to assume the entire support of its pastor. After a hard struggle this was finally accomplished, and the church building was dedicated free from incumbrance, in January, 1867. Subsequently it was found necessary to make some improvements, and to provide for other liabilities of the society; so that during the year 1868, a mortgage of $1,200 was put up on the house, which was removed in January, 1872, and the church is at present without incumbrance.

The growth of the church, for the greater part of the time since its organization, has been constant and healthful.

No very extensive revivals have been enjoyed by the church, though there were seasons of marked interest, and a good number of conversions during each of the years 1866, 1867, 1869, 1872 and 1873. The church, during its history, has received 326 members, 122 by profession and 204 by letter. Its present membership is 151.

The Sunday-school, early established in connection with the church, has had an interesting history. Its growth has been encouraging, and it has contributed greatly to the progress of the church. From among its members have come many of those who have united with the church on confession of their faith.

The school at present has about 100 scholars and 16 teachers, and is in a prosperous condition.

Source:

The History of Winona and Olmsted Counties, 1883

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