New Ipswich Methodist Church

Bank Village

Sep 05, 2024

Undated clipping

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published

BANK VILLAGE

New Ipswich Methodist Church. James Bolton, chairman of the board of trustees of the New Ipswich Methodist church, has been notified that the house and senate of representatives have passed a bill authorizing the trustees to deed to, or sell the M. E. church for the sole benefit of the New Hampshire conference of the Methodist church. The board consists of James Bolton, Miss Susan Heywood and Charles Pratt, The church was originated in New Ipswich in the month of February, 1842, by Horace Moulton, a member of the New England conference. He commenced a series of meetings in a schoolhouse in Smith village, Dec. 21, 1841, which continued 20 evenings, and then the meetings were removed to the town house and continued about four weeks longer, without cessation, some of the time day and night. About 80 were received into the church, but some removed, and others were discontinued, reducing the number to 63. Under date of June 23, 1842, Mr. Moulton wrote: "We have succeeded in building a handsome and convenient meetinghouse which will be dedicated to the Lord, next Saturday, June, 25." Nine persons besides Mr. Moulton obligated themselves to become responsible for its expense.

Two of the nine were dissuaded from their engagement. Mr. Moulton preached the first sermon in the new church and was with the people five months. The first quarterly conference meeting of the new church met at the parsonage, Aug. 20, 1842, at which there were present S. Chamberlain, presiding elder; Rev. J. Boусе, pastor in charge; C. F. Aiken, H. Η. Rodliff and John Walker, acting stewards; Charles Smiley and E. C. Brooks, leaders. H. H. Rodliff was chosen secretary. The conference resolved itself into a committee to estimate the claims of the preacher for that year, estimation as follows: Quarterage, $216; traveling expenses, $20; house rent, $45; fuel, $25; table expenses, $50; total, $356. In October, 1843, the presiding elder talked with the members of the conference of the importance of keeping up the missionary spirit and recommended the cent a week system as a way of raising money for said object. In December, 1844, Rev. Mr. Rogers, pastor in charge, made this report of the general prospeirty of the church and society: "Interest low, prospect not flattering. Number of scholars in Sunday school, 50; classes, 10; [unintelligible]

Early in 1849 the Sunday bad increased to 95 scholars, four Bible classes and five juvenile classes; expenses of school, $46.85; Sunday school library composed of 300 volumes. No small part of the increased interest at this time was attributed to the introduction of the child's Scripture question book, 50 copies of which were purchased that year. Nearly 100 volumes were added in the year to the original library and a Bible class library of 23 volumes was also purchased.

In the report of the conference meeting held October, 1849, in the pastorate of Rev. Jonathan Hall, is found the first mention of the second M. E. church building, which is now for sale. It was then voted "that the preacher be authorized if necessary to elicit aid in the erection of a house of worship for the use and benefit of the M. E. church in New Ipswich to be located in Souhegan village.

About this time the church people thinking it important to be in such a capacity as should qualify them to legally hold such property as belonged, or might belong to the M. E church, formed themselves into a society and drew up a constitution.

The officers of the society were Rev. Jonathan Hall, president; Amos Mer- rill, vice president; Joseph Turner, secretary: Nathaniel Barrett, treasurer. The building committee were Amos Merrill, Nathaniel Barrett and Rev. Mr. Hall. The first church edifice was located at Center village and was sold Just when the Bank Village church was completed and dedicated, possibly is not known at this time, The reports of the conference meetings give an idea of the general prosperity of the church. In February of 1852 its Sunday school numbered 113, 10 of whom were officers. About two years later there were from 80 to 100 connected with the Sunday school. In May, 1854, the spiritual state of the church is reported in a very encoura ing condition. In August of the same year the congregation ranged in num- ber from 125 to 200, January, 1855. The church was prosperous, congregation increasing in numbers, social meetings well attended.

In 1856 the estimating committee for the support of preaching thought best to pay the preacher $425, which was increased to $450 in June, 1857. In February, 1872, Rev. Irad Taggart, now living at Manchester, N. Η., made the following report of the church: "The M. E. church of New Ipswich is composed of 38 members. Five or six live out of town and never get here to church. Several attend church up town and at Mason Village, so our numbers are quite small. There are some members that I have never seen in church since I have been here. We have sustained prayer meetings on Sabbath and Thursday evenings. There has not been any special interest yet we have good prayer meetings, The Sunday school is quite prosperous, but not as large as it ought to be. Average attendance about 35." In October, 1872, Rev. Jacob Spaulding reported 46 in the Sunday school. Mr. Spaulding not only preached every Sabbath, but held meetings at schoolhouses and private houses. About this time Miss Lucy Barrett was chosen supt. of the Sunday school and was succeeded by Miss Sarah E. Parsons. Miss Barrett left town in 1888, after a long service as recording steward. Feb, 12, 1880, the valuation of the church edifice was estimated at $1200, held by the board of trustees and their successors for the M. E. church. The pastors with their periods of service were as follows:

Rev. Horace Moulton, December, 1841-June, 1842; Rev. Jacob Bоусе, July, 1842-July, 1844; Rev. George W. T. Rogers, July, 1844-June, 1845; Rev. Henry Nutter, June, 1845-May, 1846; Rev. J. W. Gurnsey, May, 1846-June, 1848; Rev. Joseph Hays, June, 1848- May, 1849; Rev. Jonathan Hall, June, 1849-May, 1851; Rev. O. H. Jasper, May, 1851-December, 1851; Rev. О. Р. Pitcher, December, 1851-June, 1852; Rev. Jonathan Hall, June, 1852-May, 1855; Rev. J. P. Stinchfield, May, 1855- July, 1856; Rev. S. G. Kellogg, July, 1856-July, 1858; Rev. David Culver, January, 1859-April, 1859; Rev. A. P. Hatch, May, 1859-April, 1861; Rev. George F. Eaton, April, 1861-April, 1862 Rev. Irad Taggart, April 1870- Apr 1872: Rev. Jacob Spaulding. April 1872-April, 1875; Rev. Israel Ainsworth, April, 1875-April, 1877; Rev. E. W. Johnson, April, 1877-September, 1877; Rev. G. M. Carl, September, 1877-April, 1879; Rev. George S. Wentworth, April, 1879-April, 1880; Rev. F. H. Corson, June, 1880-April, 1883; Rev. J. M. Coburn, June, 1883- April. 1884; Rev. J. Pearson Pillsbury, April, 1886; Rev. A. J. Flynn, pastor in 1888 and 1889.

Following the resignation of A, Fynn, the church voted to secure the services of Rev. W. R. Thompson of this village, who continued as its pastor until Sept. 28, 1895. The greatly diminished attendance rendered it impossible to longer keep the church open through the year. In 1896 Rev. George F. Merriam preached for the people from May 10 to Dec. 12. The following year Rey. G. F. Bradford of the Cong, church preached from June 27 until Dec. 6. Rev. H. H. Loomis, Mr. Bradford's successor at the Cong. church, preached in 1900 from July 29 to Nov. 4, and again in 1901 from May 5 until Nov. 3, and the church was again closed. May 7, 1905, the church was re-opened by Rev. Tyler E. Gale of the Greenville Cong, church, whose name has gone on record as "a fine preacher and good man." He contin- ued to preach until Nov. 26, when the church was closed with little prospect of ever being opened again for relig- ious services. The church is held in affectionate remembrance by many people who are readers of the Sentinel. One of these at Washington, D. C., hopes that our local photographers will take pictures of the building before any changes are made, and he promises to be a patron of the undertaking.

Methodist Church Photo

Old Methodist Church, showing large doors at left where the Waterwitch Fire Engine No. 2 was kept. Torn down in 1926. Photo taken by Albro L. Balch

NI Historical Society Website

James Roger diary entry

September 5^th 1908 (Saturday)

Fair and warm during day. Cool nights and mornings wind S.W. Cloudy at night threatening rain. David at Club House all day. Royce and Whittemore had horses till dinner time. Afterward on roads raking &c. Mother and I fixed Hall for Grange fair, and I swept church and went for grain to Greenville and bought drawers for Hamish and sent on his sweater also got letter from Alice. Peterboro fire muster today. Mr. Wilson and Mrs. Farwell there with team of two horses from Silver’s.

September 14, 2024 - 13:30

New Ipswich Historical Society cordially invites the public to its Annual Meeting and Program.

FINNS: An Oral History of Finnish-Americans
in New Hampshire’s Monadnock Region

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New Ipswich Museum of History (72 Academy Road) - formerly Appleton Academy