200 YEAR CELEBRATION
The First Congregational Church
JULY 15th 2007
BICENTENNIAL
CELEBRATION
HISTORICAL NOTES
The word “church” is sometimes used to designate a building, and again it refers to the people who are drawn together by similar religions, beliefs and aspirations.
If it is the structure of the First Congregational Church of Morristown that is meant, it is easy to follow the different buildings. Jacob Walker’s barn, Nathaniel Goodale’s Kitchen, chosen because it was the largest room available, the Town House at “the Center”, the fine brick structure of 1823 at the Corners, and the building on the present site.
If by the Church is meant a group of people, one deals with something intangible. It is like a river, moving on year after year, changing, yet the same, sometime shallow and sluggish, sometime deep and strong.
These different phases of its course depend on part on the times, in part on leadership, and in part on the rank and file of the membership.
When our Church was established in 1807 it was no doubt the social as well as the religious center of the community. It furnished the contacts with neighbors which busy week-days did not afford. There were few activities to detract from its influence.
Today, as it was 50 years ago, the Church has to compete with numerous other organizations and activities to maintain its rightful position. We take pride in our past, and have faith in our future, as we continue to grow.