NCC Planning Colonial

Worship Service

In continuing the townwide celebration of Newtown’s Tercentennial, Newtown Congregational Church is planning “Ye Order of Publick Worship,” a Colonial worship service to be celebrated on Sunday, November 20. The church is at 14 West Street.

The public is invited to join NCC’s congregation as it re-creates a service much as one would have been presented during the Colonial period. Colonial attire is suggested.

Newtown Congregational Church’s original location, Newtown Meeting House (at 31 Main Street), originally had neither bell nor belfry. Instead, it was a drummer who stood at the building’s door to summon congregants much as the tolling of a church bell and the playing of organ music welcomes attendees today.

Matt Roberts will serve as the drummer for the special service, and he will summon people to the church for its 10 am worship service. If the weather is cooperative, attendees will wait outside the front of the church until the young Mr Roberts opens the doors at 10 to allow entry. If it is raining or too cold to stand outside, attendees will gather in the church’s large program room until it is time to enter the sanctuary.

Upon entering the sanctuary it was the custom in many churches even in late Colonial times to divide by gender. The November 20 service will follow that custom, with men and older boys sitting to the right of the center aisle (on the side of the church that is closer to Castle Hill Road) and women and children sitting on the left (the West Street side of the sanctuary).

A tythingman will open and close the service, and maintain discipline if any is needed during the service. Dick Hubert and Peter MacCarthy will serve as tythingmen.

Newtown Congregational Church’s deacons will enter, in costume, and will sit facing the congregation for the full service. The ministers, Janice Touloukian and Lee Moore, will then enter. The Reverend Mr Moore will deliver that morning’s sermon.

The service will include hymns, prayers, and a freewill offering. Nonmembers of the church should not feel that they must contribute to the offering.

Although Colonial era worship services could go on for hours at a time, the November 20 service will run for approximately one hour.

“It will not be several hours long,” NCC Co-Senior Deacon Bill Brett promised. “That is one concession we have made.”

Other concessions include the performance of music on the church’s organ, the existence of female deacons, and children leaving for Sunday school.

For additional information contact NCC’s office at 426-9024.