This volume contains a discourse given by Charles Newton Fitch, the then pastor of the Second Congregational Church in Cornwall, Connecticut on the history of that congregation. The Second Congregational Church was established in 1780, when nine members of the First Congregational Church seceded over their dissatisfaction with its pastor, Hezekiah Gold.
In 1755, The Rev.Gold was installed as the congregation’s second minister. The last years of his 25-year tenure were marked by controversy over the apparent wealth of the minister during a time of war and sacrifice, over matters on Congregational theology, and over personality. It is reported that one Sunday, he was locked out of the sanctuary and that a deacon sat on the Bible so he could not preach. The opposition were taken to court and fined. The Rev. Gold remained in his position until he “was disconnected from his people by his resignation of office as pastor, and also by death.” (Gold, Theodore S., History of Cornwall. Hartford: Press of the Case, Lockwood & Brainard Company, 1877. Page 67.)
In 1782, a minority of the congregation, who called themselves "Strict Congregationalists," seceded and formed what eventually became known as the Second Congregational Church. They erected their own meeting house, first in Cornwall, in 1785. In 1826 they erected what is now called the North Cornwall Meeting House, located at the corner of Town Street and Coggswell Road. Tradition claims that each pillar in the sanctuary was contributed from the land of members (Clark, Gold, Hart, Pratt, Scoville, Rogers, and others). Some descendants of those contributing families are still active in the life of the church.
http://www.uccincornwall.org/history.html
For additional information on the history of Cornwall, Connecticut, see:
http://www.cornwallhistoricalsociety.org/History.html
