Your Turn: Park Congregational Church to celebrate 150th anniversary
Park Congregational Church will be celebrating its 150th anniversary on Sunday, Nov. 3, starting with a special worship service at 10 a.m. commemorating its impressive history followed by a reception in the parlor in the Osgood Parish House.
“We plan to welcome back former members, people who have been married or baptized there, as well as our members who no longer attend on a regular basis,” said Deacon Mark Mikkelson. “We have rich history in Norwich, and despite declining membership, are able to continue our mission in the community, because of the generosity of former members.”
Lois Strouse, Park Church’s longest-serving member, said the church’s special music sticks out in her memory.
“Youth and adult choirs, youth and adult bell choirs, Christmas cantatas, classical piano performances in the parlor, jazz brunches, recitals and Twelfth Night celebrations,” she said in an email. “Members of the Coast Guard band and other instrumentalists, as well as vocal soloists were invited to enhance the choral music on special occasions such as Memorial Day and Christmas Eve. The community was always welcome and many of the programs had their own following.”
More than 150 years ago, people in the Williams Park and Chelsea Parade area of Norwich came to the conclusion that a new Congregational church was needed in the neighborhood.
In September 1872, a meeting was held to discuss how to go about doing this. The response was overwhelming, and under the leadership of Ebenezer Learned and General William G. Ely, the desired goal to raise $70,000 was soon reached. Land at the junction of Broadway and Crescent streets was donated by Harriet Williams, and Earl and Fuller Architects of Boston drew up the plans, that included both a sanctuary and a chapel.
The church’s design was similar to the new North Congregational Church in Springfield, Mass. The Norcross Brothers of Worcester, Mass., were awarded the building contract and ground was broken on May 8, 1873, with a building committee consisting of John F. Slater, Charles P. Cogswell, Ebenezer Learned and Hugh Osgood.
The chapel was completed by April 1874 and dedicated on April 12 of that year. On June 4, 1874. the Rev. Malcolm Dana was officially called as the first pastor of Park Church, and on Nov. 17 the official dedication of the sanctuary was held with the church being filled to overflowing.
Both the chapel and sanctuary are walled with beautiful stained-glass windows, all given in memory of loved ones. Some were designed by Louis Tiffany of New York. The sanctuary’s center aisle leads up to a heavily carved altar housing the state-of- the-art Allen organ and is back lit by the magnificent circular “Rose Window.” One of the stained-glass windows in the chapel was given by Charles and Elsie Bard in memory of their two sons who died 23 days apart of scarlet fever in 1873.
The clock/bell tower has provided the neighborhood with the hourly marking of time as well as filling the air with music. Originally the tower housed a 10-Bell Chime System cast by Meneely Bell Foundry of West Troy, N.Y., which was played manually.
In 2007 the church installed a Chime/Carillon Control System with hymns that can be programmed at ground level to play automatically or that can be played manually. Park Church’s musical voice continues to be heard in the neighborhood.
There have been two major building additions constructed through the years that have enhanced the church’s internal programming and outreach. In 1909 Mrs. Hugh Henry Osgood commissioned the construction of the Osgood Parish House to be built in memory of her husband who had started work on the plans before his death. This addition houses Sunday School rooms, a kitchen, dining room and a beautiful parlor.
Many dinners, recitals, lectures, meetings, holiday events and wedding receptions have taken place in this building. The community may remember attending the church’s annual Christmas “Holly Fair,” which parishioners worked on diligently throughout the year.
In 1960, construction began to add a conference room, offices, a library and space for a nursery school.
At that time nursery schools were a new concept and families with children in the church saw the need to provide that service to the community. In 1964 Park Church opened the doors of a co-operative, nondenominational nursery school. The nursery school has served not only church families, but families of Norwich and the surrounding communities for 60 years.
“As we celebrate the rich history of all the ways that Park Church has been a beacon in the Norwich community for 150 years, we look forward to exploring the avenues for the church to live out our values and support those most in need around us,” said Melissa Spindler-Smith, associate minister.
“We have always worked tirelessly to support our neighbors in need through community meals, collecting food and clothing for local food pantries, and providing worship that is truly open to all people. We hope our beautiful buildings will continue to support the spirits of all those in need, drawing them into relationship with others that enable us all to flourish.”
Your Turn is a chance for readers to share stories and opinions. This article was compiled by Lee Howard with input from church members and officials.
Captions for pics:
1. Clock/bell tower
2. Rose stained-glass window
3. Sanctuary(left)/Chapel (right)
4. Original altar/organ
5. Modern day Parlor in Osgood Parish House
6. Original Parlor in Osgood Parish House
7. Chapel Stained Glass Window in Memory of Bard children
8. Same as 7.
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