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Epsom Churches

 

          Part III - The Christian Society - the Church at New Rye

The beginnings of the Christian Society has its roots in the adjacent town of Allenstown, NH,  which was best chronicled in an article in the Granite Monthly magazine of January 1912. John Dowst, who spent much of his life accumulating the history of Allenstown, wrote the article as the earliest records of the town prior to 1843 were destroyed in a fire. He writes:

"The first religious services of which we have found any record were held at the house of Ede Hall Burgin in April, 1791 by Elder Elias Smith, then on his way from Haverhill to Newmarket, NH. Unlike many of the older towns of the State, and perhaps, some no older than our own, it never had a church of the Congregational order with a minister supported by taxation and a long disagreement over the location of the church edifice, as was frequently the case. Perhaps the principal reason for this was the fewness of the inhabitants and their location, then, as now, like a fringe around the borders of the town, instead of clustering around a central village. We find that some of those in the eastern part of the town went  to Epsom and Deerfield to attend services; those in the Western part to the church on Pembroke street, and probably the Halls and others in the South parish to Candia."

"The earliest preaching in town, of which we find any mention, was by traveling or evangelistic parsons, and the meetings were evidently held in private houses in cold weather, and in barns in the summer, for in those days they had no school houses, but hired a room in a private house in which to conduct the school. This Elias Smith, then a young man just beginning his ministry, visited Allenstown and preached at intervals until 1840, and, perhaps later. He, with Elder Abner Jones and one other, founded the New England section of the Christian Church. I found that a church was organized here July 10, 1807, which would make it one of the earliest in the history of the denomination, for Elder Abner Jones did not commence to preach until 1801 in Lyndon, Vermont.   Elder Randall, founder of the Free Will Baptist denomination, preached at Samuel Kenison's July 8th 1802, and Elder Mark Fernald was a frequent visitor here during his long ministry, beginning in 1808 and ending in 1852."

"The records give the details of the organization and rolls with additions for some years, articles of faith and belief, and seem to have been kept well by Hall Burgin, Clerk, the last entry being dated July 3, 1828. A creed, or statement of belief, was adopted and on September 26, 1818, Elder Abner Jones was called. He was evidently in no hurry to accept, for the records of January 15, 1821, almost two and one-half years later, read, 'By order of Elder Abner Jones, I hereby record that he accepts of and aggress to comply with the above desire. Hall Burgin, Clerk.'"

Many of the Epsom Residents in the New Rye section of town, on the Allenstown border, attended church in that town, and from the rolls, we see the following families:Benjamin, David and Moses Robinson, Josiah and Bathsheba Allen, and the families of Dickey, Tripp, Bickford, Worth, and Davis. The Allenstown church apparently continued to flourish, and on August 1, 1859, Edwin T. Philbrick, son of Simeon, grandson of Jonathan, and a member of the church, was ordained to the Christian ministry in the old meetinghouse in Allenstown. There he is said to have preached two or three years. This story is continued in the Hurd History of Belknap and Merrimack Counties, the Epsom History by John Dolbeer:

"About the year 1860, Edwin T. Phlbrick, then living in that part of Epsom familiarly known as 'New Rye' left his forge and anvil, reorganized the old church and was ordained its pastor in the month of August, 1859. As the larger portion of the attendants at the Sabbath services came from Epsom, and the conveniences at the old Allenstown Church were very poor, it was decided to build a new church edifice, and the summer of 1861 witnessed the building of the Christian meeting-house and the organization of the 'First Christian Society of Epsom.' The church was dedicated September 8, 1861, the Rev. A.G. Comings of Lee, NH preaching the dedicatory sermon."

"From that time the Christian Church of Allenstown became the First Christian Church of Epsom, with the Rev. E.T. Philbrick as its pastor, who continued in that relation for several years, during which time many additions were made to the church and society. Following Mr. Philbrick, the Rev. J.P. Stinchfield, a Methodist minister supplied the pulpit for one year, from April 1869. Rev. Benjamin Dickson of Wolfborough was the next supply, preaching to them two or three years, and was followed by Rev. M.M. Cleverly of Lynn, Mass., and he by Rev. George D. Garland, and after him Rev. James Philips. Between the services of the above-named clergymen, the pulpit was frequently occupied by different persons for a few Sabbaths at a time."
"Since 1881 there has been but little preaching in this church by ministers of the Christian denomination, but the summers of 1881, 1883 and 1884, Rev. E.C. Cogswell, occupied the pulpit, and the services were attended by many who formerly attended the Congregational Church in the other part of town." [Note: Rev. Cogswell preached at the church "in the other part of town" from Decemeber 1876 to June 1881]

CONSTITUTION

of The First Christian Society of Epsom

October 1861

We the subscribers being desirous of uniting ourselves together for the purpose of religious worship, by virtue of the provisions of Chapter 144 of the Revised Statutes of the State of New Hampshire, do hereby form ourselves into a religious society and adopt the following articles and agree to be governed by the same so long as we may continue members of said society.

Article 1st: This society shall be known by the corporate name of The First Christian Society of Epsom.

Article 2nd: The officers of this society shall be chosen annually and shall consist of a Moderator, a Clerk, a Treasurer, and an Executive Committee of three members.

Article 3rd: It shall be the duty of the Moderator to preside in the meetings of the society, keep order, and call for and declare the votes of the society.

Article 4th: It shall be the duty of the Clerk to notify the society of its meetings, keep a fair record of all the votes and essential proceedings of the society, together with the names of the subscribers to this constitution, in a society book prepared for that purpose.

Article 5th: It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to collect the money raised by the society and to pay over the same to the order of the Executive Committee and to keep a record of the money collected and paid out in a book prepared for that purpose, and his acts (accounts) shall at all times be open for the inspection of the society, or any of its members.

Article 6th: It shall be the duty of the Executive Committee, under the direction of the society to let the sittees in the house belong to the society and make leases of the same, to make all such repairs upon the house furniture, and fixtures, as the society shall order, and to assess a tax for the same, and perform such other duties as the society may direct.

Article 7th: The annual meeting of the society shall be holden on the First Monday in April at their  meeting house, written notice of which shall be given by the Clerk by posting up the same in the meeting house, two weeks at least before said meeting, and occasional meetings may be called by the Executive Committee, when thought necessary, written notice of which shall be given in the same manner as of the annual meetings.

Article 8th: At the annual meetings, the officers for the ensuing year shall be chosen by ballot, and the Clerk shall be sworn for the faithful discharge of his duties.

Article 9th: This Constitution may be amended whenever three fourths of the members of the society shall agree thereto.

Article 10th: Any person may separate himself from this society, by leaving with the Clerk, a written notice by him signed, of the intention so to separate, and paying all legal assessments and arrearages from whim when due to said society.

Article 11th: Any person may become a member of this society by signing this, having been admitted to the privilege by a vote of three fourths of the members present at any regular meeting.

Samuel Wells, Abraham Bickford, Levi Cass, William H. Straw, Charles C. Doe, Jonathan Brown, Jacob Smith, (Levi Andrews), Gardner W. Piper, Simeon L. Sanders, William L. Brown, Henry Knox, Edwin T. Philbrick, Stephen D. Haynes, Samuel L. Cass, Hanover O. Wells, Joseph Chapman, Levi Andrews.

The members of the First Christian Society of Epsom met October 11, 1861 and organized by choosing the following officers:

Moderator, Edwin T. Philbrick    Clerk, Henry Knox    Treasurer, Simeon L. Sanders   

Executive Committee;  Henry Knox, Charles C. Doe and William H. Straw.

This church also soon suffered from a small number of members and financial difficulties and in 1881 was closed except for some summer services. In 1887, the old Congregational Church on the other side of town combined with the Christian Society to form the Union Congregational Church of New Rye. A hand written copy of the agreement was found in the attic of the home of Carleton Rand.

"The Congregational Church of Epsom, NH at a regular meeting held at the house of worship June 30, 1886 voted to adopt the following revised edition of their covenant and articles of faith."

"The Christian Church of Epsom at a regular meeting held at their house of worship also voted to adopt the same and at a united meeting held at Odd Fellows Hall Aug. 21, 1886 both bodies unanimously voted to unite together in one church to be known as the Union Congregational Church of Epsom and adopt the following ARTICLES OF FAITH:

1        We believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the proper and the only ___ ___ of faith and practice and that they were given by divine inspiration. Taking those as our guide

2        We believe in the existence of Jehovah as one God revealed in the Bible also in nature; a being of perfect and adorable attributes.

3        In the real divinity of Jesus Christ; and in the Holy Spirit the Divine Renewer Comforter Guide and Sanctifier who together with the Father are supremely to be worshiped and Glorified

4        We believe in mans entire ____ of holiness to the new ___ and that there is no salvation from the guilt and power of sin except by repentance and faith in the dominant and meditation of Christ.

5        In the __ equality of all believers and in Christ as the Head of the Church

6        In the Resurrection pf the dead both of the just and the unjust.

7        In the Judgment of the world in Righteousness by Jesus Christ at the appointed day

8        In the Everlasting punishment of the wicked and the Everlasting happiness of the Righteous in the future ___

9        We believe in an Invisible and Spiritual Church, one on earth and in Heaven, in the Lord's day as a day of holy rest and worship, in the ministry of the word and in the two appointed sacraments of the Church Baptism and the Lord's Supper." 

 

Photos - 1) the Church at New Rye  2) Wedding of Minot Yeaton and Helen Green at the New Rye Church - shown is Rev. Blue, Nov. 2, 1902