Old St. Andrews

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Short History of First Church

 

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The town's first church was constructed c. 1788-1790 on Church Lane just off King Street near what is now Europa Restaurant. We have one image of this building, which was a small wooden structure. The town's first minister was Reverend Samuel Andrews of Wallingford, Connecticut. For several decades, until in the first part of the 19th century separate churches were built, all denominations were able to use this building for worship. According to an old story, there was a small cemetery on the site. Presumably the bodies were moved to the new cemetery at the head of King Street when that cemetery opened in 1794. The bell from this church was relocated to the town's courthouse/jail complex on the site of what is now Town Hall. The date of this move is uncertain. This bell was melted down after the building burned in 1874 and made into signet rings. The original Anglican church was torn down in 1868 when the new Anglican church on King Street was built. The original coat of arms along with some other furnishings were relocated to the new building and are still in place.