FROM:

The Orwell Historical Society, A History of the Town of Orwell, Vermont Past & Present, 1988

"In 1842 the Congregational Church and Society incorporated and sold 150 shares of stock at forty dollars each to meet the estimated cost of six thousand dollars for the constructionof a new meeting house. Forty-eight people bought shares ranging in number from one to thirteen. Each person was entitled to one vote for each share of stock he owned. The corporate body assumed the name Orwell Meeting House Association. The commitee to superintend construction consisted of Linus Wilcox, Albert Caitlin and Roswell Bottum, Jr. When the present brick church was finished in 1843, slips (pews) were sold or rented, their value appraised from $40. to $225. Slip owners paid an annual tax of nine cents, 8.6 mills upon the dollar of the appraised value. Rev. Rufus Cushman was called as pastor in 1843. On the day of the dedication of the new brick church, he was ordained and installed. . . ." p. 37

"In 1874, it was voted to dissolve the Orwell Meeting House Association, all the powers,rights duties and privileges being transferred to the Congregational Church and Society and to those owning slips in the aforesaid brick church.

The Hook tracker action organ, still in use, was installed in 1865 at a cost of fifteen hundred dollars. Members of the congregation made contributions, some as little as two dollars to acquire this beautiful instrument. . . .In 1945, the 'blow boys' were replaced by an elecric blower, a gift of Dr. Samuel Hamilton, a summer visitor." p. 38

"The Church was redecorated in 1882, and the following year Mrs. Sally Young gave the clock in the church tower to the town and the bell to the church. The bell is inscribed . . .Jan. 1, 1883. . . .The bell weighs 1525 pounds and is made of 3 1/2 parts of ingot copper to 1 part of block tin. A new pulpit was placed in the sanctuary (at Redecoration), and two wood furnaces were installed. Up to this time four wood stoves in the basement had been used to heat the upper floor, . . . .This accounts for the need of four chimneys." p. 38

"In 1891 the centennial anniversary of the town (1787) and the churcg was obseved. Six beautifulstained glass memorial windows were added to the edifice at this time." p. 38

"In 1928 the old horsesheds which extended along the west and north sides of the grounds were torn down as there was no longer any use for them. In 1929 the wooden steps at the entrance were replaced by cement ones in memory of Edward S. Young" p. 40

"In 1981, the Chandelier was electrified. A plaque bears this inscription: ÒChandelier and sconces rehung in 1981 in loving memory of Mabel Grow, given by her sister, Mrs. Frances Chase." p. 40

"in 1982 a rest room and a kitchen were installed in the basement." p. 40

"Early in 1985, the church steeple was found to be in a very serious state of disrepair. The roof leaked so badly that the organ was endangered and the beams were so weakened that the bell could no longer be rung. All the extensive, and in some cases complex repairs were completed by the fall of 1985 at a cost of approximately $30,000."p. 40

"In 1986, carpeting and tile were installed in the Social Hall. The pastors office was consructed in a corner of the west room." p. 40

"The Congregational Church had been organized in 1789 and had occupied two church buildings. The first, aprimitive affair with slab seats, stood in front of the Present Town Hall. The second, built ib 1804/5 was located somewhat southeast of the present bricl church, probably somewhere near the bandstand. The entire township, excepting the Baptists contributed to this edifice and all claimed an interest in the church property. Not all the the supporters were church members; in fact some of them held quite different beliefs. About 1840 this church building was thought to be no longer adequate and another was contemplated." p. 42