History:

 The First Meeting House: 1764-1785

The residents of South Farms found it most difficult to attend church in Litchfield during the winter months, due to severe weather and bad road conditions. The Legislature granted them "winter privileges" in 1748, from January through March; this was extended another month in 1761. They met in their homes, or in the school house.  Still not satisfied with the arrangement, they voted in 1764 to build a "Meeting House" on the south side of East Street.  Justice Zebulon Gibbs was hired to build the structure and was paid 70 pounds, 10 shillings; half to be paid in money, and half in produce.  The building was 25 x 35 feet, had 9-foot posts in the corner, 10 windows with 24 panes.  In 1767 permission was granted for South Farms to be an "Ecclesiastical Society" with 13 male members: Zebulon Gibbs was sent to New Haven General Assembly as the Petitioner.

The First Congregational Church: 1785-1844

The Reverend George Beckwith encouraged the parishioners to build a larger Meeting House. A suitable site was selected in 1775, but, the Revolutionary War postponed further activity.  Property was purchased, and in March 1785, the new Meeting House was built on 1/10 of an acre; it was 58 x42 feet and 25 feet high--it faced south with West Street at the rear.  There was neither steeple nor bell tower in those early days.  The imposing 35 foot bell tower was added in 1797 to the west end of the building--it had a bell and a lightning rod, thanks to Ben Franklin's research.  In 1822, a wind storm blew the tower down, and the bell cracked.  In 1824, it was voted to allow two stoves for heat.  The interior was plastered, and the six foot pulpit was adorned with carved bunches of grapes and leaves, panted purple and green; the woodwork behind the pulpit sported two green stripes with scarlet tulips.  There was a large carved pineapple over the main doors.  From the "Minutes of the Church Meeting, April 12, 1785": "The Meeting House Com shall have food right to furnish rum, grindstones and rope sufficient for framing and raising the meeting house...That Ephm Jun be overseer or director in the issue of liquor and the making of other necessary provision for those who shall raise the meeting house...The overseer shall give two drams a day to the spectators, one at a little before noon--the other a little before night."  The Reverend Amos Chas was appointed pastor in 1787, and "when he left the house for church on Sundays, the bell ringer on the watch commenced righting the bell, continued it while the reverend gentleman with stately tread, proceeded to the church, and only ceased when the Minster had taken his place in the pulpit."  A bronze plaque just north of Richard Skilton's house marks the site of this "Second Meeting House, South Farms,1785-1844."

The Present Congregational Church:1844-2008

The original contract for erecting the framework of our present church has been preserved. Nathaniel G. Loveland and Russell Smith contracted with Adin Phelps to erect the framework, including the belfry, for $3,000.00; the 1785 structure was given to Phelps so that he could use whatever material he could salvage to use in the construction of the new church, and Loveland and Russell were to supply the rest of the building material.  The building was to be "60 feet by 30 feet and posts of 23 feet, six inches, in height."  If help is hired to assist raise said house, one-half will be defrayed by each party.  The expenses for inviting assistance to raise said frame and furnishing refreshments to be defrayed by Loveland and Smith."  Up in the belfry you can see many of the old timbers from the 1785 church.