August
17, 1793
By
Nathaniel Clay
The First Independent
Church of Christ has erected a new building on Lombard Street. The church,
which is also commonly called Universalist, raised money to buy the property
this summer. Forty-nine members of the church raised 400 pounds. Property was
purchased on the south side of Lombard Street, 100 feet west of Fourth Street
for the amount of 500 pounds.
The deed was made in trust to Thomas Francis,
Israel Israel, Anthony Cuthbert, Thomas Fitzgerald, Elisha Gordon, James Moore,
and John Vannest.
The church previously
met at Mason’s Hall and also the Anatomical Hall. Because of the growing
congregation, members felt it necessary to relocate and build their own church.
The church is not a
grand structure. The walls have no plaster and the seats are plain benches. The
pulpit is a rough platform made by the local shoemaker and mast-maker.
Rev. Moses Winchester, a
minister of the Universalist church, said the church believes in “one God,
infinite in all his perfection and one mediator between God and Man, Jesus
Christ.”
Mrs. Mary Ellet,
daughter of Israel Israel, said she is looking forward to worshipping in the
new building.
“The Lodge Alley, where
we were meeting previously, was terrible,” she said. “I am happy we have a
place to call our own to worship.”
Rev. Hugh White, a
member of the Universalist and a schoolmaster, recently succumbed to the yellow
fever, which is taking the lives of our citizens every day.