A History of Niantic Community Church

The Niantic Community Church has roots reaching back to colonial days. Formed by the merger of the local Congregational and Methodist Churches, the Community Church has a local history on its Congregational side going back to 1718 and 1810 on its Methodist side.

In May 1718, the legislature authorized the inhabitants of the "Second Society of Lyme to embody themselves them selves in church order and settle an orthodox minister". Church records reveal that "on the 15th of February, 1719 the first society meeting was called and it was voted that Mr. George Griswold should be the minister for the society to preach ye gospel".

The first pastor of the Second or East Society of Lyme would be a remarkable man in any time or place. He belonged to the wealthiest and most aristocratic family in this section of the Colony. His family owned thousands of acres of land on the east side of the Connecticut River. Rev. Griswold was graduated from Yale in 1717, before the college moved from Saybrook to New Haven. In 1719 at the age of 27 he began preaching here. In 1722 a small wooden meeting house was built as near as possible to the center of town. When the first school districts were formed, they all cornered at the old meeting house. Besides his duties in his own church, he held a commission from the "Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in New England" as missionary to the Nehantic Indians. The enlightenment of this native tribe was due largely to his faithful labors.

For the next twenty years the church was at peace. The ancient records are interesting for the quaint customs and quainter spelling of the day. About 1740 a religious revival began and soon swept over all of New England. The little church in East Lyme felt its influence and in that year 116 persons were added to its number. Of those 15 were Indians, among them was one destined to become prominent in religion and learning beyond any of his race at the that time, he was the learned and pious Samson Occum.

The 41 year long pastorate of Mr. Griswold ended with his death in 1761. He was buried across the street from his loving church in the burial ground. However, the church had begun its decline before the death of its beloved pastor. Without his influence troubles arose quickly and by 1793 there remained "only two aged females". Preaching was done by visitors, in private homes, and sometimes as few as two services were held a year. The little wooden structure was in a sad state of disrepair. It is said the doors had fallen off and sheep and cattle wandered inside.
In the spring of 1793 the "two aged females" recruited a few individuals and together repaired the meeting house and managed to obtain the services of Rev. Lynde Huntingron to preach during the summer. On the seventh of December 1793 the small group gathered and reorganized to form the church of Christ on the Congregational plan. At this time there were 22 members. For the next 28 years there was a minister only during the summer months. However, the faithful little congregation met each Sabbath for religious worship. These meetings, so constantly maintained, were the means of keeping the church alive, and prepared the way of the resettlement of a minister among them.
In 1810 a Methodist class of four or five was organized. The number of attendants did not increase however, and the enterprise was abandoned.

During the congregational pastorate of Rev. Herman L. Vaill, 1828 to 1836, "the Old Stone Church" was built. It was built of undressed stone from the nearby quarries, 50 feet by 35 feet. There were four stately pillars in front and marble floors. It was topped with a graceful belfry and spire. The whole expense was estimated at $2,500. The new meeting house was apparently used for the first time in January of 1833. In the baptismal register and membership lists appear names of many of the old families of East Lyme.

Rev. Fredric Gridley served as pastor from 1836 to 1856 and also maintained a private school, to which came youths from many places to prepare for college.

The Methodist Class started so many years earlier was revived in 1836 and meetings were maintained regularly from that date. The first Methodist Church of East Lyme was built in 1843 on land given by Captain Avery Smith. The cost of this building was about $1,000. In 1858 the first parsonage was built on land rear to the church. Captain Smith also gave this lot.

As the years went by local conditions changed. The building of a railroad in the southern part of town shifted the population away from the north. The Old Stone Church once so central was now remote and its congregation dwindled. The time came when everyone admitted that the old church must be given up and a place of worship secured in the growing village or Niantic.

In 1870 when it became necessary to raise funds for the operation of the church, the marble "stuff" including the porch floor of the Old Stone Church was sold.

In 1876 a committee was chosen to find a suitable location in the village of Niantic for the new church building. In March of that year a lot on Lincoln Street was given by Mrs. Lydia M. Lee. Shortly after this building began. The Church was built after the fashion of that day. It had a fine colonial spire that stood out above the treetops. The church was first used for meetings in March 1879. A few years later a parsonage was built next door. The hurricane of 1938 tore down the steeple and the expense of replacement was too great.

In April of 1878 the parsonage and other buildings of the "Old Stone Church" were sold at a public auction. After a time this property was sold again, and the church torn down. Part of the stone was built to build an icehouse, and some was used to build the fireplace in the old Niantic Library. All that remains on the original site is the old bell and a few of the stones.

By 1873 the Methodists congregation had outgrown its meeting house, and a new church was built nearer to the village, on Main Street. A few years later a new parsonage was also built on Main St.
During 1893 labor problems arose in the quarries here and in Waterford, and indeed the entire country fell into a depression. The congregation of both churches diminished.

Starting with the depression of the 1930's and the war in Europe the active life of both churches became impaired. In the middle 1940's they were faced with the possibility of closing. Realizing the consequences of closing, they began to explore the pros and cons of joining. Each church chose a committee to check into the matter. After three years of careful study; seemingly hundreds of meetings; a time of joint worship services; and complete investigation; a meeting was held in April 1953 and the proposition of the merger was put to a vote. The Niantic Community Church was incorporated on June 1, 1953.

Noting that its present facilities were inadequate for its growing ministry, the church made preparation for a new building to be built. These plans culminated in the present church. A groundbreaking service was held on June 12, 1960 and the first service in the new building was conducted on June 11, 1961. The Congregational Church on Lincoln St. and the parsonage next door are now both private residences. The first Methodist parsonage on Pattagansett Court and the second on Main St. are also private homes.

The Old Stone Church Burial ground committee of the Church maintains the burial ground site on Society Rd. The bell from the Old Stone Church is located across the street from the burial ground.

Here are a few facts about the burial ground:

• There are over 500 marked graves at the site and probably 500 unmarked.
• The oldest marked stone is dated 1722. The oldest marked stone with a name is that of George Smith, 1724.
• The stones are made of many types of materials. You can find examples of the following there, fieldstone, slate, sandstone, marble, granite, and cast metal.
• There are many symbols carved on the stones including winged cherubs, urns, and willows.
• There are soldiers from every war buried there. The monument for our Civil War veterans is not located on our town green, but at the burial ground. Take time to go visit it.
• Three of our early ministers are buried there, as well as many members of the church and this community.