Vermont AHGP
Part of the American History and
Genealogy Project
Congregational Church of Waitsfield, Vermont
The Congregational church, which controlled this house, was organized with 11 members in 1796. Rev. Ebenezer Kingsbury, of Jericho, officiating. Others were gradually added to it, and it became strong enough in 1801 to settle a pastor; and from that time has been the strongest religious body in the town.
Rev. William Saulsbury, the first pastor, was a young man, well educated, and able in the pulpit, but singularly wanting in those qualities which secure the respect and affection of the people when outside the pulpit. He received the "minister's lot" as a settlement portion, and $166.67 the first year, it being agreed that the salary should be increased as fast as the grand list on the society's roll increased, until it should amount to $266.66. The ordination services took place in a booth built for the occasion, on the site chosen for the meeting-house. Rev. Mr. Lyman, of Brookfield, preaching the sermon from I. Tim. 4: 16.
During the 68 years since the ordination of Mr. Saulsbury, 19 ministers have at different times had charge of this church. Of these, the longest pastorate was that of Rev. Mr. Chandler, 20 years; the next longest, that of Rev. Charles Duren, lo years, and next, that of Mr. Saulsbury, 9 years.
List of Ministers
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Rev. William Saulsbury,
1801-09 Amariah Chandler, 1810-'30 Guy Sampson, 1831-'31 Joseph Marsh, 1832-'34 B. F. Read, 1835-'35 S. G. Tenney, 1835-'37 A. Flemming, 1837-38 Preston Taylor, 1839-'42 Calvin Selden, 1843-44 James Hobart, 1845-'49 |
Charles Duren, 1849-'54 L. H. Stone, 1855-'56 Andrew Royce, 1856-'57 C. W. Piper, 1857-'57 C. S. Smith, 1858-'58 Robert Stuart, 1858-59 Mr. George Pierson, 1859-'60 Rev. A. B. Dascomb, 1860-'67 J. H. Babbitt, 1868 |
Five men have commenced their ministry with this people. None have finished their ministry here. But the impression of the character and doctrine of Mr. Chandler is not yet obliterated. A fact which shows how good it is for a people to keep a good and faithful pastor, and that the length and the success of a pastorate bear some relation to each other.
The Deacons Of The Church
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John Barnard, 1796-13 Moses Fisk, 1801-47 David Phelps, 1813-23 Jedediah Bushnell, 1825-66 Ithamer Smith, 1830-48 |
Isaac Hawley, 1836-48 Lyman Fisk, 1844-__ David M. Phelps, 1866-69 Henry N. Bushnell, 1866-__ Edward A. Fisk, 1866-__ |
Source: History of Washington County Vermont, Collated and Published by Abby Maria Hemenway, 1882.
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