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A BRIEF HISTORY OF CONGREGATIONALISM
Steven B Schafer April 1977
1
Although many religious groups and organizations existing
today may be rightly called congregational the churches
that claim that middottitle also lay claim to a unique unity and
tradition in history which can be said to belong to no other bull
middot Congregationalism is more than amiddot middotform of church government - It
is marked by a high degree of unity in doctrinal developmentmiddot
of learning desire both in the ordained ministry and in the
laity and in a visible oneness of fellowship 1
Today in the United States however we have a situation
in which two groups lay claim to the historic traditions that
all Congregationalists profess to cherish On the orie hand is
the United Church of Christ1 which we can perhaps label as
Conciliar Congregationalismbull in that they hold to the middot
belief that unity is achieved by councils which enabie local
groups to be effective in an increasingly competitive world
while maintaining their individuality and autonomy On the
other hand is the National Association of Congregational
Christian Churches1 which may be labeled Independent
Congregationalists in that they refuse to be drawn into an
ecclesiastical structure system 2 They maintain that
anything but total local autonomy of churches is a violation of
the historic Congregational Way
Congregationalism itself began as a branch of the Church
of England called Independents or non-Separatist Conshy
gregationalismiddottsbull but s9me of them could not tolerate the
strictness and lack of true independence imposed by the
Church so a small group of them set off for America with
2
the Pilgrims to acquire a much longed for freedom of worship
These Pilgrim Congregationalists had no int~ntion of separating
themselves from the Church of England They meant only to
free themselves from the corruptions of the church which had
caused them to desire to leave their homes and families for
a freer practice of their faith Their goal from the very
beginning was to set middotup a holy commonwealth on earth solidly
based on the plain law of the Bible 3
In 1629 the church in the New World received its first
charter from England but by 1633 the ten established churches in
America were in effect independent by virtue of the vast middot
distance in time and space from the parent body Their
fellowship wa~ with one another united only in mutual
councils- -thus began the middot independent Congregationalmiddot church
middot ih America
Bertrand Lord Manning says that there are four distinctives
of Congregationalism existing from the very beginning Briefly
stated they are first Congregationalism is a fellowship of
gathered churches where the Word of God is preached middot
secondly these churches unite for matters of common concern
such as ministry and evangelism--none of the churches are
required to participate thirdly each church has its own
doctrinal statement in its own words and although there has
always been a - fringe of obscurantism and a bit of heresy (as
do all schools of living thought )1
the large body of
Congregationalists subscribe to the holy apostolic
evangelical catholic faith delivered once for all to the
saints spoken in each generation in varying tones as men
J
are moved by the Holy Ghost And finally the Congregational
churches are distinguished in that they main~ain the right and
duty of the _local church to _give discipline to its members
and in middotother matters to rule its own house 04
middot Congregationalists have historically felt that their primary
contribution to the church as a whole is that they more
than perhaps any other have shown forth the doctrine of
grace They have taught that the church is the vehicle of
grace arid tM only through it does the grace of the
gospel middot
come to men5 In -concrete terms this works out in the trust and
faith given to the church members themselves to make decisions
in a wholly democratic system The regenerate man it has
be~n believed is capable by the grace of God to make decisions
in matters of faith and doctrine This same confidence
in mans ability t6 govern himself and in the graciousness of God
as he does so was aestined to be transformed into political
action a century after Congregationalism came to America
in the form of the American Revolution
While hard times lay ahead for the Congregationalists t hey
were spared extreme testing in the early period of their
development by the pioneer spirit of the people coming to
America These newcomers for the most part desired their
own colonies so they migrated into Connerticut and -other
westward regions leaving Congregationalism in the New England
area to flourish wi thout interference 6 middot
In 1631 Congregatlonalism was established by law in
Massachusetts and became a virtual state church - This fact
middotwas loudly protested by the Baptists and Quakers who were being
4 ill treated by their Congregational brothers In some
towns in the bay area Quakers and Baptists were being
publicly whipped or humiliated in other middotways by the
Congregationalists who seemingly forgot that their complaint
with the Church of England was that they did not allow religious
freedom The Church of Engl_and did step in however 1 and
asserted a certain amount of royal control to put an end to
the _persecution and allow a measure of toleration for
religious minorities7
With the second generation of Congregationalists -came
many who demanded the birthright of Congregationalism but
who could not measure up to the strict requirements imposed on
members With this generation came the Half-Way Covenant
admitting them to membership and dispelling Puvitan hopes middot
for their holy commonwealth and allowing liberal trends to
take their toll As a reaction to thismiddot the conservatives
established Yale University which would hopefully counteract the
liberal influence 8
For its first two centuries Congregationalism was confined
almost exclusively to New England but inmiddot 1810 Congregationalists
formed the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign
Missions and in1812 sent Americas first five missionaries
abroad By the end of the 19th century there were 4 868
Congregationar-churches spread from coast to coast in the
United States middotsupporting six national societies for missionary middot
outreach 9
5
With the rapid and powerful growth of the Congregationlists
in the United States it was inevitable that many nonshy
Congregational ideals would be inculcated into the church and
that consequently union with other denominations would be middota
great temptation In the 19th century alone Congregationalists
joind with no less than six other churches among them being
most notably the Presbyterians the Free Baptists the
Disciples of Christ and the Christian denomination middot middot
Going into the Revolutionary war the denomination was in
the midst of some _very serious divisions within the church
over differing views of the Great Awakening and the
Congregationamiddotl minister J ohnathon Edwards Some of the
members were totally repulsed at the whole concept of
remiddotvivalism and others em9raced it dearly bull middot Reaction was so
strong that the awakening had little effect in Congregational
churches after the middle of the century even though it
continued to thrive in other middotgroups formiddot several years longer bull1 O
The Congregationalists survived the Revolutionary War and
entered into independence stronger than ever They _had been middot
closely identified with the colonial causes and had picked up
many of th_e people who were in churches which were loyalist in
feeling immediately after the war If they went into the
revolution with the largest num~er of members and churches in the
country they came out of it witha11 the wealth prestige and
able leaders to match their size It was projected that
within the century COngregationalism would grow to seven
million (from 60-70 thousand) but this never came about
6
Although outwardly the church seemed to be v ery str~ong
internal weaknesses developed as they spent their energies
middotw~ging a rearguard defense for preservation of the special 11middot privileges they possessed in New England
By the end of the colonial period most Presbyterians and
Congregationalists had come to think of themselves as a middot
single denomination They freely exchanged pulpits (with middot
the Presbyterians taking better advantage of this than did the
Congregationalists in that they tended to believe Congregationalists
unsound in doctrine) and the first threemiddot presidents of middotthe
Presbyterian Princeton University were New England
Congregationalists In Rhode Island and Conneticut the bond shy
was so strong that many Coi-igregationalists refeoed to themselves
middot _as Presbyterians12 middot
In 1801 the younger Jo)fnathan Edwards proposed and saw
passed a Plan of Union with the Presbyterians and later
a strengthening of the bond in the Accomodation _Plan which
provided a unity to the extent of a uniform system of
church governrnentn between the two bodies 13
For the next three decades the Presbyterians and
Congregationalists were one denomination for all intents and
purposes in thEyenstates of New York Ohio Indiana Illinois _
Mic~igan and __Wisconsin In Massachusetts Co~ticut and
New Hampshire however they were inhibited from any formal
union in that the Congregational church had as a result of
their extreme privileges in those states developed a
Ties between the two groups began -to be severed in 1837 but the effects of the Presbyterian influence hampered Congregational growth for half a century cf Dunning Congr egationalism in America
7
strong emphasis upon local autonomy which fostered
vigorous resistance to the ~urrender of local prerogative~14
It should be noted that the major weakness of Congregshy
ationalism in the early 189obulls was not as much ecclesiastical
ties with other denominations as it was one middotof doctrine
Within Congregationalism three distinct parties had
developed the consistent Calvinist$ who were heirs of the
tea~hings and revivalistic tendencies of J~nathan Edwards
the old Calvinists who weremoderate anti-revivalists and middot
the liberals who tended toward a unitarhn position The
in-family warfare which waged hot with passion resulted in
three centers for the trainjng of ministers--Andover in1808 i
Bangor in 1814 and Hartford in 18)4 15
The dissension_caused large numbers to leave the main body
of Congregationalism and form their own independent bull
Congregational and Baptist churches By 1815 the liberals
had split off and become independent Unitarians and the middot
ensuing doctrinal discussions resulted in the conversion of theshy
old Calvinists to a more r evivalist position middot The defection
of the Unitarians middot and the large numbers of people leaving in
middot the heat of battle made it clear that the opportunity that
Congregationalism had had for greatness after the War was
_gone forever
The remainder of the 19th century saw a great expansion
of Congrega tiomil Churches throughout the United States middot
without any great divi$middotions or trials to hamper growth~
~ssociations and State Conferences saw a great proliferation
8
especially as the church began to become firmly rooted
in tne mid-western and western states
The conferences were formed primarily for the purpose
of home mission outreach in starting new churches and for
assi~ting those already established but as the new century came
into being it was becoming more and more evident that they middot
were developing increasing power among the churches middotThey were
no longer groups for support and fellowship but began to see
their function changing into one of specialized services0
to existing churches and had a tendency to seize the
initiative in trying to set up programs for the churches to 16
follow 0
middot Before the -middle of the 20th century when ecumenical
fever began to sweep the country the Congregational
middot christian Churches were already primed for co-operation or
even merger with other groups if that would help the cause
of Christian unity In 1938 Rev Samuel Press initiated a
drive for union wi-th the Evangelical and Reformed Church
but as the attempts at the union of churches of quite middot distinct
polities and traditions was frustrated by long negotiations it
became evident that the time was middotnot quite right for such a
proposal and was thus dropped for several years 17
The idea of merger with the Evangelical and Reformed
Church was ra-ised again in 1942 when the Commission on Inter-
church Relations and Christian Unity was authorized middotfor the
exploration of merger middot~wlth that body In 1943 the first and
second drafts of the middotBasis of Union were completed and sent
9
to associations and churches for their study This action
was the first major step in the most current of Congregationalisms
passionate warfares within its own ranks
In November of 1947 Congregationalists from all over the
country met in an ad hoc meeting in Evanston Illinois to
discuss their concern with the Basis of Union and its meaning
to Congregationalism They concluded that the Basis of Union
called for joining with a Presbyterian type church into
Presbyterian system to the abandonment of the Congregational
principles of church government This middotconclusion was
immediately denounced by the General Council of the
Congregational Christian Churches as soon as it was made
18public
When the Basis of Union was sent to the various churches
for approval or rejection 1t was indicated that the voting
deadline was to be April 1 19L~8 (extended later to January middot
of 1949) and that it would stand approved upon acceptance by
75 of the individuals churches associations and conferencesmiddot
_voting When in May of 1948 it became clear that the proposal
would not pass due to the fact that the official tally showed middotmiddot
at that time only 65 of churches and 63 of the people voting
approval of the merger the General Council adopted a set of
Interpretations which basically assured churches of the
retention of Congregational polity This wasmiddot repudiated by
the Executive Committee of the Evangelical and Reformed Church
who stated that the Interpretations are not binding on them -
nor the proposed United Church of Christ either at present or in
the future
10
By February of 1949 with many disputes concerning
exactly what percent~ge of people or churches had actually
approved the merger and the highest figure middotceven though
unconfirmed) being 73 themiddot General Council of
Congregati~nal Christian Churches voted to proceed with
union with the Evangelical and Reformed Church 19 This
action contrary to themiddot clearmiddot understanding of the churches
would cause more than ten years of bitterness within the
denomination and cause once more in Congregational history
great divisions within and among churches
The most visible and middot long lived protest of the proposed
merger was taken up by the Cadman Memorial Church of Brooklyn
Ne)l York which sued on their own behalf and on behalf of
other Congregational Christian Churches Helen Kenyon
Moderator of the General Council of the Congregational
Christian Churches of the United States The Cadman church
charged that the proposed United Chllrch of Christ is and
will be so alien and different in structure middot and polity
that fundamental congregational usage and practice will be 20
wholly lost and destroyed
Justice Meier Steinbrink of Kings County Supreme Court
of New York was the first to hear the case and sided with
the plaintiffs stating that indeed no Congregational church
had ever authorized the General Council to negotiate the
Basis of Union in the first place and that the very name
proposed for the new body (United Church of Christ) indicated
a willingness if not intent to discard the Congregational
tradition Justice Steinbrink issued an injunction against
21consummation of the merger
11
Two years later (in 1952) the New York Courts Appellatt
Division reversed the Cadman decision on the grounds that the
plaintiff church had no interest in the property of the
General Council or the boards and without a property 22
interest the court could not go into merger questions The
New York Court of Appeals highest court in the state
sustained the reversal the next year stating that the
proposed union will in no way change the historical and
traditional pattern of the individual Congregational
Christian Church~each member church will continue to
possess the same freedom of faith and manner of worship as middot -
heretofore enjoyed bullbullbullUnion depends on voluntary action fully
taken by indepenaent autonomous churches bullbull23
After these years of resistance and failures in court middot
battles it became evident that the ideals held by the
protestors would not be preserved The National Association
of Congregational Christian Churches was formed in Detroit
Michigan on November 10 1955 with the intention ~f retur~ing
to the Congregational Way They referrei to themselves as middot
Neo-Congregationalists claiming that they were nothing more
than mature Congregationalists not possessing any novelty
of content but arising out of a renewed faith in the power 24of the old principles
The National Association had as their founding goal a
bringing together of l_ocal churches for counsel inspiration
and fellowship assumt ng for themselves no ecclesiastical
authority and no birging creed 25 In their Articles of
12
Association adopted the following year the founders were
careful to spell out a system of local church rule over the
national administration for the minimization of the possibility
of a recurrance of the bitterness and schism of the past
ten middotyears The Preamble clearly states that they hold to the
idea that historic Congregationalism adhered to the freedom
of the Christian man and the right of the local church to
self-goverrunent middot in all matters and that Congregationalism
is in its essence an outer and corporate expression of the
inner and individual life in Christ 26
Finally on August 24 1961 the National Association
took the middotbold bullbullmiddot bull step of declaring itself to be the successor
to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian middot
Churches 1127 That year 3600 of the 5550 Congregational churches
in the US were members of the United Church of Christ more
than 1500 chose to remain wholly independent of any body and
JOO were affiliated with the National Association 28
The newly formed National Association had a severe blow
dealt to their morale in 1962 when they applied for admission
to the International Congregational Council but were not
granted Congregational status in that they were not a part of the
United Church of Christ a gromicrop making application at the
same time As Harry Butman one of the founders of the middot
National Association said there is a wry humor in
thinking on the topsy-turly logic of the ecclesiastical mind
that sees such great ~lstoric churches as Park Street Bostonbullbullbull
as not Congregational while the infant churches which came
13
of their missionary zeal and labor say the Samoan and the
middot Bantu (two ghurches admitted at themiddot same middottime the National
Association was rejected) ~ Corigregationai churches bullmiddot1128
Today the National Association of Congregational
Chridegstian Churches boasts 357 churches in full membership with
them and 39 more which are associated or affiliated unofficially
The association continues to grow and is consistantly drawing
in more congregations fnto the Congregational middot Way
Throughout Congregational history we see the recurring
trend for this individualistic system to search for and find
an authority system with which it can unite In previous
generations tne union has occured arid obliterated the founding
principles of Congregationalism In this generation for the
flrst time the union has been staunchly opposed and has middotmiddotshy
resulted in a renewal of the old ways The question for history
to answer is whether the old ways wili in the enq be yictorious
or whether the demands of our society require drastic
restructuring for survival
FOOTNOTES
1Walker Williston A Histor middot of the Con e ational Churches in the United States The Christian Literature Co 1894) p 428
2conn Howard The Dilemma of Congregationalism (National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 1962) t p20
3walker Williston A Hdegistory of the Christian Church 3rd ed (New York Charles Scribners Sons 1970) Pmiddot 443
4Manning Bernard Lord Essays in Orthadox Dissent (London Independent Press LTD 1953) p 156ff
5rbid P 108 bull 6nunning Albert E Con~regationalists in America
(J A Hill and Company 1894 pp130-132
op Cit Walker A History of the Christian middotcmiddothurch p 433
8Ibid p 4J4
9op Cit WalkerA History of the Congregational Churches in the United States p 428
10op Cit Walker A History of the Christian Churchp466
11Hudson Winthrop S Religion in America (Charles Scribners Sons 1973) p118
12r bid bull p 11 9 bull
13Ibid p 119
14rbid p120
15rbid p 121
16National Association of Congregational Christian Churches A Comorehensive Anal s is of What We Are Now Con re ational Principles and Polity National Association of CongregationalChristian Churches 1961) p 8 middot middot
17Latourette Kenneth A History of Christianity vol 2 (Harper and Row 1975) p 1422
FOOTNOTES (continued)
18Burton Malcolm K How Church middotUnion Came (The Committee for the Continuation of Congregational _Ghristian Churches of the United States Inc 1966) p middot4
19Ibid p7 20ttoskins Fred Con e ationalism Betra ed or Fulfilled
(transcript of th~ Southworth Lecture middot 1962 p 9 shy21Ibid p 11 22op Cit Burton pp 7-8
23op Cit Hoskins p 11
24 (Butman Harry R The Lords Free People The Swannett Press 1968) p 79
25Ibid p 114
26National Ass~ciation of Congregational Christian Churches NACCC Yearbook-1975-1976 (National Associaticm of Co~egational Christian Churches 1975) p 165
27Op cmiddotmiddot1 t bull Bu t man p bull 11 Jc bull
28Ibid p 14)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Atkins Gaius An Adventure in Liberty The Pilgrim Press 1961
Atkins Gaius and Fagley Frederick middotHistory of American middot Congregationalism The Pilgrim Press 1942
Bradshaw Marion John Free Churches and Christian Unity The Beacon Press 1954 middot middot middot middot
Burton Malcolm K Destiny for Congregatialism Modern Publfshers Inc 1953
Burton Malcolm K How Church Union Came The Committee for the Continuation of Congregational Christian Churches of the United States Inc 1966 middot
Burton Malcolm K To Revamp Protestant WorshiQ The Committee for the Continuation of the Congregationsl Christian Churches of the United States 1965w
Butman Harry R The Lords Free People The Swannett Press 1968
Conn Howard The Dilemma of ConJregationalism National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 1962
Congregational Press Handbook of the National Association of middot Congregational Christian Churches- 1263 The Congregational
Press 1963
Dunning Albert E Congregationalists in Americmiddota J A Hill and Company 1894
General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches Digest of Minutes of Meetings of the CongregationalChristian Churchesmiddot of the United States-1911-1965 The General Council middotof the Congregatinal Christian Churches 1971
Hoskins Fred Congregationalism Betrayed or Fulfilled transmiddotcript of the Southworth Lecture 1962
Hudson Winthrop S~ Religion in America Charles Scribners Sons 1973
Latourette Kenneth A History of Christianity vol 2 Harper and Row 1975
Manning Bernard Lord _Essa ys in Orthadox Dissent London Independ8nt Pressmiddot LTD 1953
BIBLIOGRAPHY (Continued)
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches A Comprehensive Analysis of What We Are Now Congregational Principles and Polity ~ 1National~ssociaticm~middot-of Congregationan Christian Churches 1961 middot middot
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches middot NACCC Yearbook-1975-1976 National Association of middot
Congregational Christian Churches 1975 middot
Sinclair Francis What It Means to be a Congregationalist League to Uphold Congregational Principles undated
Steece Arvel M Polity Evolution and the Future of Congregationa1ism The Congregationalist (March 1975)16-17
Walker Williston A History of the CongregatiOnal Churches middot in the United States The Christian Literature Co 1894
Walker Williston A History of the Christian Church Jrd edmiddot New York Charles Scribners Sons 1979
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF IMPORTANT EVENTS IN CONGREGATIONAL HISTORY
1582 Brownes $tatement ofCongregational Principles publisheltl r583_John Coppin and Elias Thacker hanged at Bu~y St Edmunds England r586 John Greenwood and Henry Barrowe im111isoned in London 1588 Martin ]far-prelate Tracts 1589 A True Description out of the Word of God of the Visible Church
published in _London r 592 First known modern Congregational church completely and formally
organized in London 1593 John Greenwood Henry Barrowe and John Penry hanged the last of
the Congregational martyrs put to death Fifty-six members of the first Congregational church London imprisoned
1595 First Congregational church regathered fo Amsterdam Holland 15g6 A True Confession 0pound the Faith bullbull of the London-Amste1dam
Church published 15C)S The same True Confession middottranslated into Latin and published 16oz Congregational church organized at Gainsborough England r6o3 Death of Elizabeth and accession or JamesI Petition 0pound Amsterdam
Church to King James I stating the Points of Difference between Congregationalism and the Church of England
16o6 Scrooby Church organized John Robinson Pastor Gainsborough Church remomiddotes to Amsterdam
16o7-o8 Scrooby Church remobulles to Amsterdam 16olt John Robinson with the Pilgrims ofScrciobf Church settles in Leyden middot 1611 King James Version of the Bible published middot r616 Congregational church organized at Southwark London middot _ 1617 Pilgrims of Leyden petition King James for permission to settle in
America 1618-19 The Synod of Dort at Dordrecht Holland
middot 16zo Pilgrims left Leyden July 21 sailed from Pl~middotmouth September 16 sigped civil compact in the 1fayfiowerNovember 21 landed at Plymouth lIass December 1 r (0 S) December 21 (N S)
1621 Gomiddoternor Carver died Villiam Bradfo-d chosen governor of Pilgrim Colony
162+ First Purit3n settlement in New Erigfand at Cape Ann 1625 John Robinson died in Leyden Death or James I middotand accession of
Challes r middot 1628 The Company or ~bssachusetts Uay formed in England Captain
middot Endecott arri1middoted at Sltllen1 William Laud mule Bishop of London
535
Chronological Table through 1899 from Albert Dunning s Congregationalism in America~
I
CHROsOLCJGICAL TAUIE
1629 Six vessels with emirants from England arrfred at Salem Second Congregational church in America formed at Salem Mass middot Charter granted to Massachusetts
1630 First Church Dorchester llass organized at Plymouth EoglamJ landed at Nantasket lfay 30 John Vinthrop with a Aeet of CS middot
sels arrived in Massachusetts liar The Iassachusctts charter brought to Ncw England First Church organized at Charlcstowrt md First Church bull Vatertown July 30 middot First General Court Au- gust 23 John Winthrop elected gomiddoternor Settlement of llostou
163 Church at Charlestown remOf(f to Boston Prt~ent First Church middot Charlestown organized Nmbullember 23 First Church Lynn ind
First Church Roxbury organized 1633 John Cotton Thomas Hooker and Samuel Stone arrived at Boston middotmiddot
Laud made Archbishop of Canterbury First parish in New Hampshire at Domiddoter First Church formed in connection with the parish 1638
1635 Colonies from Dorchester and Vatertomiddotn remocd lo Connecticut~ 1636 First Church in Dorchester ~lass organiztcl in Plymouth England
1630 fully estihlishecl at indsor Conn First Church Camshyhiillgc organi1olti Thomas Hooker with his compan) in organshyized church emigratetl from Cambridge ~lass lo Hanford Conn Roger Williams banished from [assachusetts Colony Sir Henry Vane chosen gomiddoternor The Hutchinson contnJmiddotcrsy Harard College founded Winthrop again elected gomiddoternor bull
r6j7 First General Synod or Xtw England commiddotencd at Camhriclge by the General Court It conclemned Antinomianism John Davenport middot and company arrimiddotcd at Boston from England Pequot ar
1638 Mrs Hutchinson excommunicated from the Boston Chirch and bmmiddot ished from themiddotcolo11y New Haven Colony founded hy Daenport
and his company 1641 Ilody 0pound Liberties adopted by the General Court of ltassachusetts
New Hampshire towns incorporated into ifass-lchusctts Colony 1643 Vetminster Assemhly convened in En~land hr Parliament Minisshy
terial Cflllention at Cimhridge ~lass Confederation of the four colonies iIitssachusetts Plymouth Connecticut and New Hinbullen
16~ Archbishop Laud cxccuted 1645 Tiattle of Nasehy insuring the 1lownfoll of the English Monarchy
Hookers Surver of the Sum of Church Discipline approved by the ministers of the New England colonies
1646--48 John Elot hean preaching to the Indians General American Synod at Cmnhriltlge setting forth platform of Church Polfty
1647 System of common schools adopted by Gemral Court of ifassachusetts 164S estminster Confession of Faith appromiddotecl by Parliament 1649 Enll ncl proclaims itsdf a Commonwealth 1650 Second Church Bo~ton organized middot 165r Gcnera Court or iTassachusctts approed Ctmbridge Platfomiddotrm
CHRONOLOGICAL TACLE 537
1654 Olimiddotcr Cromwell Loni Protector of Engla~d 1657 Ministerial Convention at- Boston Halfway Covenant recommended
_ Quakers imprisoned in Roston middot 1658 General Synod at Swoy Palace London setting forth amended
Vestminster Confession andmiddot Congregational Platform of Church Order Olimiddotcr Cromwell died
rmiddot66o Restoration of monarchy in England Charles II made king 1662 Massichusetts Synod at Beston appro-ed HaHway Covenant Conshy
necticut and New middotHaven Colonies united 1664- Church at Darrington organized the oldest existing Congregational
church in Rhode Island 166c) Olil South Church Boston organized 1670 Second Church Hartford Conn organized 1673 Church in Agamcnticus now York lle organized (possibly much
earlier) themiddot oldest existing Congregational church in that State then a part of Massachusetts
1674-76 King Philips War 1679-80 fassachusetts Synod at Tloston known as the Reforming Synod 168 Cotton Mather ordained colleague pastQr of Second Church Boston 1684 Charter of Massachusetts Colonr bullacatcd 1685 James II king of Englaml Sir Edmund Andros seized Old South
lleeting-housc Uoston for Episcopal scnmiddotices 1689 i lliun and tary made king rnd quee n of EnglanltI Andros
imprisoned anti promiddotisional gumiddotcrnment form~d in lfassachtisctts Simdn Ilraclstrctt gomiddoternor Kings Chapel erected for Episcopal middot
middot worship middot Toleration Act passeltl by English Parliament affordmiddot middoting legal protection to Nltnconforn1ists
1690 As-ociation of ministers of Boston and bullicinity formed the first permanent District Association in ilassachusctts
169t Healtls o( Agreement adopted in London between Preshyterians and Congregationalists middotPlymouth Colony connectecl with llassashychusetts
1692 Villiam Phips firs t gomiddotcrnor of Massachusets under new charter Twenty persons put to death at Salem for witchcraft Episco- palians na1itists and Quakers exempted from taxes for the support middot of Congregational churches in lfassachusetts
1699 Brallle Street Church Boston organized 1701 Yale College founded Society for the Propagation of the Gospel
organi7cd in England 1702 Anne queen of E ngland 1705 Proposals issued b y representatibulles of tassachusetts ministerial
associations 1708 Connecticut Synod at Saybrook issued the Saybrook Platform 170-J Gcncral ssoiation of Connecticut ministers organized the first middot middotmiddot middot Statt organi7atinn 1713 Peace or Utricht
CHRO~OLOGICAL TABLE538
1714 George I king of En~bnd
1716 Yale College located in New Haven 1pz Cutler rector o( Yale College and others became Episcopalians 1723 Increase ~father died 1725 Fini1 and unsuccessful effort of General Court of Massachusetts to
call a synod of churches 1727 Jonathan E~wards ordained colleague pastor at Northampton
George II king of England ljJ~ Cotton lather died 173 Revival of religion at Northampton 1738 George Whitefields first visit to America 171-o Whitefield visited Coston and other parts of New England 17j0-42 Great revival of religion in New England 17-tr Gilbert Tennent preached in Boston middot 17J2 John Davenport by his preaching made disturbances in Connecticut
and Massachusetts Separatist churches formed 1744-4 Whitefields second vi5it to New England 1750 Jonathan Edwards forced to leamiddote the Church at Northampton went
to Stockbridge a missionary to the Indians middot 17)7 Jonithan Edwards died middot 1762 First Church organized in Vennont at Bennington 1765 Stamp Act passed 1766 Stamp Act repealed 1769 Dartmouth College founded 1770 Samuel Hopkins sittled at Newport R I 1773 The Doston Tea Party 177) Commencement of War or the ReOlution 1778 Phillips Academy Andover founded Phillips Academy Exetershy
N H chartered 1781 178o lfassachusetts Bill of Rights enacted amended guaranteeing to
every denomination o( Christians equal protection i11 law 1834 middot 1782 James Fimiddoteeman chosen rector of Kings Chapel the church under
him became Unittrian 1783 End of the War of the Revolution 1784 Saybrook Pbtorm by remiddotision of statutes ceased to be cMl law in
Connecticut 1786 lIassachusetts was granted the right to purchase from the Indians
Western New York 1790 lIethodisrn first appears in 1fassachusctts Gra_nt or Vestem Reshy
senmiddote to Connecticut 1793 Williams College chartered 179-1-middot Ilowcloin College chartered 17)) The London lissiona1y Society instituted General Convention of
Congregational ministers and churches in Vermont organized 1796 F irst Con~rcgational church in Ohio at llarietla 1798 Connccicut fissionary Society formed
CH lW~OLOGICAL TAllLE S39
1799 )fassachusetts Missionary Society formed rSoo iliddlebury College founded 1801 Plan of Union ailopted botweeu the General Congregational Associashy
tion of Connecticut and the Genoral Assembly or the Presbyterian middotmiddot Church Congregational middotc1nirch organized in Quebec the first in
Lower middotcnada middot 1803 General Association of ilassachusetts ministers fomted Gtneral
Con(erence of churches 1S6o Union of Association and Confershyence 1868
1805 Henry Ware chose professor of divinity at Harvard First Sunday school in Cauacla organized in connection with Congregational chiuch in Quebec middot middot
1808 The first theological seminary opened at Andover Mass bullSo Park Street Church Iloston or~aniicd New Hampshire Associashy
tion and Rhode Island Consociation organized Muskingum (0) Association formed middot
1810 American Doard of Commissioners or Foreign Missions established by the General Aisociation of Massachusetts Dr Kirkland elected president ur Han middotard middot First Sunday school in ltassachushysttts ~t Ucn rl-
1815 Unitarianism avomd hy some tassachusetts Congregationalists 1816 American Education Society formed middotunited with Westem Coilege
Socictr in 1 87~ with Ncw est Education Commis~ion in 1893 Dan~or Theological Seminary began Rt1s011 N~cordtr began
1818 1ew constitution adopted hy the State of Connccticut making all re ligious associations purd Oluntary bull
1819 Congre~ational church organized at Southwold the first in Upper Crnada
1821 Amherst College founded middot 18 Theological department opened at Yale College 186 American Home issionary Society institutecf First State Confershy
ence of churches organized in Mai= 1831 Congregational Union or England and Wales organiied 183 l~assachusetts Sabbath-school Societr organized 1833 Declaration of Faith of the Congregational churches or Engbnd aml
Walts with Principles of Church Order and Discipline Oberlin college founclecl
1834 General Association of New York organized 1835 Illinois College founded 1837 Prcsbyteria11 General Jsscmhlr abrogated Pian of Union 1838 New School Prehyterian Chunh orgmizcll 1 S40 General Asso1iatio11 of Iowa anti isconsin Co1wention formed 18p Gencrtl ssmiatinn of l ithi~an Conned I s~ General Associati()ll of Ill inois formed 18~6 Convention of Western Co11grcgational churches at ~fichigan City
Mich American lissionary sociation organized bull
540 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
t8t7middot Beloit College founded 1848 Iowa College founded Oregon Association formed 1852 American General Convention of Congregational Chur~hes at Albany
N Y Encl of Plan of Union Ohio Association oigauized 1853 Congregational Churchbuilding Society formed middot 1855 Kansas Association organized 1856 Minnesota Association organized 1857 California and Nebraska associations organized 1858 Chicago Theological Seminary founded Indiana Association organmiddot
ized 186o Congregational College of British North America founded affiliated
with McGill Unimiddotersity Iontreal Canada 1864 1861 Beginning of Civil War 1865 Close of Cimiddotil War Missouri Association organized General
American Council of Congregational Churches Boston Burial Hill Declaration of Faith adopted
1867 Connecticut Conference organized 1868 Colorado Association organized 1869 New Jersey Association organizedmiddot 1870 Louisiana Association organized 1871 National Council established at Oberlin O for triennial meetings
South Dakota and Tennessee associations organized Congregational House Boston occupied by benemiddoto]ent societies and
other Congregational orga1iizations 1876 Alabama Association organized 1878 Georgia Association organized 1879 North Carolina Conference mmiddotganized 1881 First Youug Peoples Society of Christian Endeabullor fonnecl at Villiishy
ton Congregltttional Church Portland ire New est Edlcation Commission organizedmiddot united with American Education Society 1893
1882 Utah Association organized 1883 Declaration of Faith by a Creed Commission appointed hy the
National Council Florida and Mississippi associations and North Dakota Conference organized
Arizona and New Mexico Association an~] Montana Conference organized
1SSG P~middotnnsyh-mia tssltgtciation organized 1887 Arkansas and Southern Calipoundorni1 associations organized 1SS9 Vashington Agtsociation organired 1890 Gcor~ia Corwention and Oklahoma Association organilcd 1891 First International Congregational Council London Englind all
parts of the world bcing represcntell yoming Association organizd
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE Of Important Events In Congregational History
Since 1900
1913 Report of the Committee of Nineteen acted upon by National Council of Congregational Churches at Kansas City setting up a national system for the dispensing of benevolences and control of seven Missionary Societies
1923 A national magazine poll reportedly ascertained the 25 best preachers in the US indicating that 7 were Congregationalists a group of only 900000
1931 Congregational National Council merged with General Convention of the Christian Church into the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches
1934 Congregational Christian Churches absorbs the German Reformed Church
1938 Rev Samuel Press in cooperation with Rev Truman Douglas initiated church union with the Eva~elical and Reformed Church
1942 Commission on Inter-Church Relations and Christian Unity authorized to explore possibl~ union with the E and R Church
1943 First and second drafts of the Basis of Unionn completed and sent to associations and churches for their study
1947 The Evanston Meeting held by Congregationalists as an ad hoc committee of the concerned over the proposed merger--released statement charging that Basis of Union was an abandonment of Congregational tradition and principle
1948 Deadline for acceptance of Basis of Union passes without the required percentage approving--deadline extended to Jan 1949 middot
1949 Approval of Basis of Union continues to be under 75 but General Council passes it anyway Cadman Memorial Church brought legal action to prevent the union
1950 New ~c~k Supreme Court enjoined General Council from carrying out consummation of the proposed union with the E and R Church
1952 New York court reversed lower court decision on grounds that since no property was involved themiddoty had no jurisdiction
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
1953 Appeal of Cadman Memorial Church denied 1955 National Association of Congregational Christian
Churches organized~ 1956 NACCC adopted its Articles of Association and By-Laws 1957 Formation of the United Church of Christ by the
Pirst General Synod middot
1959 Commission on the ministry of the NA proposed that ordination of ministers by the local church be proclaimed valid on the basis of historic Congregationalprinciple
1961 UCC Constitution formally ratified NACCC declared itself to be the successor to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches
1962 UCC and NACCC made application for membeEhip in the International Congregational Council UCC admitted NACCC denied admission
1966 Seminar on the Nature and Future of the Free Church in Chicago offered alternatives to organizational ecumenicity Consultatiqn on Church Union (COCU) completed its middot blueprin~ for the Great American Church
1
Although many religious groups and organizations existing
today may be rightly called congregational the churches
that claim that middottitle also lay claim to a unique unity and
tradition in history which can be said to belong to no other bull
middot Congregationalism is more than amiddot middotform of church government - It
is marked by a high degree of unity in doctrinal developmentmiddot
of learning desire both in the ordained ministry and in the
laity and in a visible oneness of fellowship 1
Today in the United States however we have a situation
in which two groups lay claim to the historic traditions that
all Congregationalists profess to cherish On the orie hand is
the United Church of Christ1 which we can perhaps label as
Conciliar Congregationalismbull in that they hold to the middot
belief that unity is achieved by councils which enabie local
groups to be effective in an increasingly competitive world
while maintaining their individuality and autonomy On the
other hand is the National Association of Congregational
Christian Churches1 which may be labeled Independent
Congregationalists in that they refuse to be drawn into an
ecclesiastical structure system 2 They maintain that
anything but total local autonomy of churches is a violation of
the historic Congregational Way
Congregationalism itself began as a branch of the Church
of England called Independents or non-Separatist Conshy
gregationalismiddottsbull but s9me of them could not tolerate the
strictness and lack of true independence imposed by the
Church so a small group of them set off for America with
2
the Pilgrims to acquire a much longed for freedom of worship
These Pilgrim Congregationalists had no int~ntion of separating
themselves from the Church of England They meant only to
free themselves from the corruptions of the church which had
caused them to desire to leave their homes and families for
a freer practice of their faith Their goal from the very
beginning was to set middotup a holy commonwealth on earth solidly
based on the plain law of the Bible 3
In 1629 the church in the New World received its first
charter from England but by 1633 the ten established churches in
America were in effect independent by virtue of the vast middot
distance in time and space from the parent body Their
fellowship wa~ with one another united only in mutual
councils- -thus began the middot independent Congregationalmiddot church
middot ih America
Bertrand Lord Manning says that there are four distinctives
of Congregationalism existing from the very beginning Briefly
stated they are first Congregationalism is a fellowship of
gathered churches where the Word of God is preached middot
secondly these churches unite for matters of common concern
such as ministry and evangelism--none of the churches are
required to participate thirdly each church has its own
doctrinal statement in its own words and although there has
always been a - fringe of obscurantism and a bit of heresy (as
do all schools of living thought )1
the large body of
Congregationalists subscribe to the holy apostolic
evangelical catholic faith delivered once for all to the
saints spoken in each generation in varying tones as men
J
are moved by the Holy Ghost And finally the Congregational
churches are distinguished in that they main~ain the right and
duty of the _local church to _give discipline to its members
and in middotother matters to rule its own house 04
middot Congregationalists have historically felt that their primary
contribution to the church as a whole is that they more
than perhaps any other have shown forth the doctrine of
grace They have taught that the church is the vehicle of
grace arid tM only through it does the grace of the
gospel middot
come to men5 In -concrete terms this works out in the trust and
faith given to the church members themselves to make decisions
in a wholly democratic system The regenerate man it has
be~n believed is capable by the grace of God to make decisions
in matters of faith and doctrine This same confidence
in mans ability t6 govern himself and in the graciousness of God
as he does so was aestined to be transformed into political
action a century after Congregationalism came to America
in the form of the American Revolution
While hard times lay ahead for the Congregationalists t hey
were spared extreme testing in the early period of their
development by the pioneer spirit of the people coming to
America These newcomers for the most part desired their
own colonies so they migrated into Connerticut and -other
westward regions leaving Congregationalism in the New England
area to flourish wi thout interference 6 middot
In 1631 Congregatlonalism was established by law in
Massachusetts and became a virtual state church - This fact
middotwas loudly protested by the Baptists and Quakers who were being
4 ill treated by their Congregational brothers In some
towns in the bay area Quakers and Baptists were being
publicly whipped or humiliated in other middotways by the
Congregationalists who seemingly forgot that their complaint
with the Church of England was that they did not allow religious
freedom The Church of Engl_and did step in however 1 and
asserted a certain amount of royal control to put an end to
the _persecution and allow a measure of toleration for
religious minorities7
With the second generation of Congregationalists -came
many who demanded the birthright of Congregationalism but
who could not measure up to the strict requirements imposed on
members With this generation came the Half-Way Covenant
admitting them to membership and dispelling Puvitan hopes middot
for their holy commonwealth and allowing liberal trends to
take their toll As a reaction to thismiddot the conservatives
established Yale University which would hopefully counteract the
liberal influence 8
For its first two centuries Congregationalism was confined
almost exclusively to New England but inmiddot 1810 Congregationalists
formed the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign
Missions and in1812 sent Americas first five missionaries
abroad By the end of the 19th century there were 4 868
Congregationar-churches spread from coast to coast in the
United States middotsupporting six national societies for missionary middot
outreach 9
5
With the rapid and powerful growth of the Congregationlists
in the United States it was inevitable that many nonshy
Congregational ideals would be inculcated into the church and
that consequently union with other denominations would be middota
great temptation In the 19th century alone Congregationalists
joind with no less than six other churches among them being
most notably the Presbyterians the Free Baptists the
Disciples of Christ and the Christian denomination middot middot
Going into the Revolutionary war the denomination was in
the midst of some _very serious divisions within the church
over differing views of the Great Awakening and the
Congregationamiddotl minister J ohnathon Edwards Some of the
members were totally repulsed at the whole concept of
remiddotvivalism and others em9raced it dearly bull middot Reaction was so
strong that the awakening had little effect in Congregational
churches after the middle of the century even though it
continued to thrive in other middotgroups formiddot several years longer bull1 O
The Congregationalists survived the Revolutionary War and
entered into independence stronger than ever They _had been middot
closely identified with the colonial causes and had picked up
many of th_e people who were in churches which were loyalist in
feeling immediately after the war If they went into the
revolution with the largest num~er of members and churches in the
country they came out of it witha11 the wealth prestige and
able leaders to match their size It was projected that
within the century COngregationalism would grow to seven
million (from 60-70 thousand) but this never came about
6
Although outwardly the church seemed to be v ery str~ong
internal weaknesses developed as they spent their energies
middotw~ging a rearguard defense for preservation of the special 11middot privileges they possessed in New England
By the end of the colonial period most Presbyterians and
Congregationalists had come to think of themselves as a middot
single denomination They freely exchanged pulpits (with middot
the Presbyterians taking better advantage of this than did the
Congregationalists in that they tended to believe Congregationalists
unsound in doctrine) and the first threemiddot presidents of middotthe
Presbyterian Princeton University were New England
Congregationalists In Rhode Island and Conneticut the bond shy
was so strong that many Coi-igregationalists refeoed to themselves
middot _as Presbyterians12 middot
In 1801 the younger Jo)fnathan Edwards proposed and saw
passed a Plan of Union with the Presbyterians and later
a strengthening of the bond in the Accomodation _Plan which
provided a unity to the extent of a uniform system of
church governrnentn between the two bodies 13
For the next three decades the Presbyterians and
Congregationalists were one denomination for all intents and
purposes in thEyenstates of New York Ohio Indiana Illinois _
Mic~igan and __Wisconsin In Massachusetts Co~ticut and
New Hampshire however they were inhibited from any formal
union in that the Congregational church had as a result of
their extreme privileges in those states developed a
Ties between the two groups began -to be severed in 1837 but the effects of the Presbyterian influence hampered Congregational growth for half a century cf Dunning Congr egationalism in America
7
strong emphasis upon local autonomy which fostered
vigorous resistance to the ~urrender of local prerogative~14
It should be noted that the major weakness of Congregshy
ationalism in the early 189obulls was not as much ecclesiastical
ties with other denominations as it was one middotof doctrine
Within Congregationalism three distinct parties had
developed the consistent Calvinist$ who were heirs of the
tea~hings and revivalistic tendencies of J~nathan Edwards
the old Calvinists who weremoderate anti-revivalists and middot
the liberals who tended toward a unitarhn position The
in-family warfare which waged hot with passion resulted in
three centers for the trainjng of ministers--Andover in1808 i
Bangor in 1814 and Hartford in 18)4 15
The dissension_caused large numbers to leave the main body
of Congregationalism and form their own independent bull
Congregational and Baptist churches By 1815 the liberals
had split off and become independent Unitarians and the middot
ensuing doctrinal discussions resulted in the conversion of theshy
old Calvinists to a more r evivalist position middot The defection
of the Unitarians middot and the large numbers of people leaving in
middot the heat of battle made it clear that the opportunity that
Congregationalism had had for greatness after the War was
_gone forever
The remainder of the 19th century saw a great expansion
of Congrega tiomil Churches throughout the United States middot
without any great divi$middotions or trials to hamper growth~
~ssociations and State Conferences saw a great proliferation
8
especially as the church began to become firmly rooted
in tne mid-western and western states
The conferences were formed primarily for the purpose
of home mission outreach in starting new churches and for
assi~ting those already established but as the new century came
into being it was becoming more and more evident that they middot
were developing increasing power among the churches middotThey were
no longer groups for support and fellowship but began to see
their function changing into one of specialized services0
to existing churches and had a tendency to seize the
initiative in trying to set up programs for the churches to 16
follow 0
middot Before the -middle of the 20th century when ecumenical
fever began to sweep the country the Congregational
middot christian Churches were already primed for co-operation or
even merger with other groups if that would help the cause
of Christian unity In 1938 Rev Samuel Press initiated a
drive for union wi-th the Evangelical and Reformed Church
but as the attempts at the union of churches of quite middot distinct
polities and traditions was frustrated by long negotiations it
became evident that the time was middotnot quite right for such a
proposal and was thus dropped for several years 17
The idea of merger with the Evangelical and Reformed
Church was ra-ised again in 1942 when the Commission on Inter-
church Relations and Christian Unity was authorized middotfor the
exploration of merger middot~wlth that body In 1943 the first and
second drafts of the middotBasis of Union were completed and sent
9
to associations and churches for their study This action
was the first major step in the most current of Congregationalisms
passionate warfares within its own ranks
In November of 1947 Congregationalists from all over the
country met in an ad hoc meeting in Evanston Illinois to
discuss their concern with the Basis of Union and its meaning
to Congregationalism They concluded that the Basis of Union
called for joining with a Presbyterian type church into
Presbyterian system to the abandonment of the Congregational
principles of church government This middotconclusion was
immediately denounced by the General Council of the
Congregational Christian Churches as soon as it was made
18public
When the Basis of Union was sent to the various churches
for approval or rejection 1t was indicated that the voting
deadline was to be April 1 19L~8 (extended later to January middot
of 1949) and that it would stand approved upon acceptance by
75 of the individuals churches associations and conferencesmiddot
_voting When in May of 1948 it became clear that the proposal
would not pass due to the fact that the official tally showed middotmiddot
at that time only 65 of churches and 63 of the people voting
approval of the merger the General Council adopted a set of
Interpretations which basically assured churches of the
retention of Congregational polity This wasmiddot repudiated by
the Executive Committee of the Evangelical and Reformed Church
who stated that the Interpretations are not binding on them -
nor the proposed United Church of Christ either at present or in
the future
10
By February of 1949 with many disputes concerning
exactly what percent~ge of people or churches had actually
approved the merger and the highest figure middotceven though
unconfirmed) being 73 themiddot General Council of
Congregati~nal Christian Churches voted to proceed with
union with the Evangelical and Reformed Church 19 This
action contrary to themiddot clearmiddot understanding of the churches
would cause more than ten years of bitterness within the
denomination and cause once more in Congregational history
great divisions within and among churches
The most visible and middot long lived protest of the proposed
merger was taken up by the Cadman Memorial Church of Brooklyn
Ne)l York which sued on their own behalf and on behalf of
other Congregational Christian Churches Helen Kenyon
Moderator of the General Council of the Congregational
Christian Churches of the United States The Cadman church
charged that the proposed United Chllrch of Christ is and
will be so alien and different in structure middot and polity
that fundamental congregational usage and practice will be 20
wholly lost and destroyed
Justice Meier Steinbrink of Kings County Supreme Court
of New York was the first to hear the case and sided with
the plaintiffs stating that indeed no Congregational church
had ever authorized the General Council to negotiate the
Basis of Union in the first place and that the very name
proposed for the new body (United Church of Christ) indicated
a willingness if not intent to discard the Congregational
tradition Justice Steinbrink issued an injunction against
21consummation of the merger
11
Two years later (in 1952) the New York Courts Appellatt
Division reversed the Cadman decision on the grounds that the
plaintiff church had no interest in the property of the
General Council or the boards and without a property 22
interest the court could not go into merger questions The
New York Court of Appeals highest court in the state
sustained the reversal the next year stating that the
proposed union will in no way change the historical and
traditional pattern of the individual Congregational
Christian Church~each member church will continue to
possess the same freedom of faith and manner of worship as middot -
heretofore enjoyed bullbullbullUnion depends on voluntary action fully
taken by indepenaent autonomous churches bullbull23
After these years of resistance and failures in court middot
battles it became evident that the ideals held by the
protestors would not be preserved The National Association
of Congregational Christian Churches was formed in Detroit
Michigan on November 10 1955 with the intention ~f retur~ing
to the Congregational Way They referrei to themselves as middot
Neo-Congregationalists claiming that they were nothing more
than mature Congregationalists not possessing any novelty
of content but arising out of a renewed faith in the power 24of the old principles
The National Association had as their founding goal a
bringing together of l_ocal churches for counsel inspiration
and fellowship assumt ng for themselves no ecclesiastical
authority and no birging creed 25 In their Articles of
12
Association adopted the following year the founders were
careful to spell out a system of local church rule over the
national administration for the minimization of the possibility
of a recurrance of the bitterness and schism of the past
ten middotyears The Preamble clearly states that they hold to the
idea that historic Congregationalism adhered to the freedom
of the Christian man and the right of the local church to
self-goverrunent middot in all matters and that Congregationalism
is in its essence an outer and corporate expression of the
inner and individual life in Christ 26
Finally on August 24 1961 the National Association
took the middotbold bullbullmiddot bull step of declaring itself to be the successor
to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian middot
Churches 1127 That year 3600 of the 5550 Congregational churches
in the US were members of the United Church of Christ more
than 1500 chose to remain wholly independent of any body and
JOO were affiliated with the National Association 28
The newly formed National Association had a severe blow
dealt to their morale in 1962 when they applied for admission
to the International Congregational Council but were not
granted Congregational status in that they were not a part of the
United Church of Christ a gromicrop making application at the
same time As Harry Butman one of the founders of the middot
National Association said there is a wry humor in
thinking on the topsy-turly logic of the ecclesiastical mind
that sees such great ~lstoric churches as Park Street Bostonbullbullbull
as not Congregational while the infant churches which came
13
of their missionary zeal and labor say the Samoan and the
middot Bantu (two ghurches admitted at themiddot same middottime the National
Association was rejected) ~ Corigregationai churches bullmiddot1128
Today the National Association of Congregational
Chridegstian Churches boasts 357 churches in full membership with
them and 39 more which are associated or affiliated unofficially
The association continues to grow and is consistantly drawing
in more congregations fnto the Congregational middot Way
Throughout Congregational history we see the recurring
trend for this individualistic system to search for and find
an authority system with which it can unite In previous
generations tne union has occured arid obliterated the founding
principles of Congregationalism In this generation for the
flrst time the union has been staunchly opposed and has middotmiddotshy
resulted in a renewal of the old ways The question for history
to answer is whether the old ways wili in the enq be yictorious
or whether the demands of our society require drastic
restructuring for survival
FOOTNOTES
1Walker Williston A Histor middot of the Con e ational Churches in the United States The Christian Literature Co 1894) p 428
2conn Howard The Dilemma of Congregationalism (National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 1962) t p20
3walker Williston A Hdegistory of the Christian Church 3rd ed (New York Charles Scribners Sons 1970) Pmiddot 443
4Manning Bernard Lord Essays in Orthadox Dissent (London Independent Press LTD 1953) p 156ff
5rbid P 108 bull 6nunning Albert E Con~regationalists in America
(J A Hill and Company 1894 pp130-132
op Cit Walker A History of the Christian middotcmiddothurch p 433
8Ibid p 4J4
9op Cit WalkerA History of the Congregational Churches in the United States p 428
10op Cit Walker A History of the Christian Churchp466
11Hudson Winthrop S Religion in America (Charles Scribners Sons 1973) p118
12r bid bull p 11 9 bull
13Ibid p 119
14rbid p120
15rbid p 121
16National Association of Congregational Christian Churches A Comorehensive Anal s is of What We Are Now Con re ational Principles and Polity National Association of CongregationalChristian Churches 1961) p 8 middot middot
17Latourette Kenneth A History of Christianity vol 2 (Harper and Row 1975) p 1422
FOOTNOTES (continued)
18Burton Malcolm K How Church middotUnion Came (The Committee for the Continuation of Congregational _Ghristian Churches of the United States Inc 1966) p middot4
19Ibid p7 20ttoskins Fred Con e ationalism Betra ed or Fulfilled
(transcript of th~ Southworth Lecture middot 1962 p 9 shy21Ibid p 11 22op Cit Burton pp 7-8
23op Cit Hoskins p 11
24 (Butman Harry R The Lords Free People The Swannett Press 1968) p 79
25Ibid p 114
26National Ass~ciation of Congregational Christian Churches NACCC Yearbook-1975-1976 (National Associaticm of Co~egational Christian Churches 1975) p 165
27Op cmiddotmiddot1 t bull Bu t man p bull 11 Jc bull
28Ibid p 14)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Atkins Gaius An Adventure in Liberty The Pilgrim Press 1961
Atkins Gaius and Fagley Frederick middotHistory of American middot Congregationalism The Pilgrim Press 1942
Bradshaw Marion John Free Churches and Christian Unity The Beacon Press 1954 middot middot middot middot
Burton Malcolm K Destiny for Congregatialism Modern Publfshers Inc 1953
Burton Malcolm K How Church Union Came The Committee for the Continuation of Congregational Christian Churches of the United States Inc 1966 middot
Burton Malcolm K To Revamp Protestant WorshiQ The Committee for the Continuation of the Congregationsl Christian Churches of the United States 1965w
Butman Harry R The Lords Free People The Swannett Press 1968
Conn Howard The Dilemma of ConJregationalism National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 1962
Congregational Press Handbook of the National Association of middot Congregational Christian Churches- 1263 The Congregational
Press 1963
Dunning Albert E Congregationalists in Americmiddota J A Hill and Company 1894
General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches Digest of Minutes of Meetings of the CongregationalChristian Churchesmiddot of the United States-1911-1965 The General Council middotof the Congregatinal Christian Churches 1971
Hoskins Fred Congregationalism Betrayed or Fulfilled transmiddotcript of the Southworth Lecture 1962
Hudson Winthrop S~ Religion in America Charles Scribners Sons 1973
Latourette Kenneth A History of Christianity vol 2 Harper and Row 1975
Manning Bernard Lord _Essa ys in Orthadox Dissent London Independ8nt Pressmiddot LTD 1953
BIBLIOGRAPHY (Continued)
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches A Comprehensive Analysis of What We Are Now Congregational Principles and Polity ~ 1National~ssociaticm~middot-of Congregationan Christian Churches 1961 middot middot
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches middot NACCC Yearbook-1975-1976 National Association of middot
Congregational Christian Churches 1975 middot
Sinclair Francis What It Means to be a Congregationalist League to Uphold Congregational Principles undated
Steece Arvel M Polity Evolution and the Future of Congregationa1ism The Congregationalist (March 1975)16-17
Walker Williston A History of the CongregatiOnal Churches middot in the United States The Christian Literature Co 1894
Walker Williston A History of the Christian Church Jrd edmiddot New York Charles Scribners Sons 1979
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF IMPORTANT EVENTS IN CONGREGATIONAL HISTORY
1582 Brownes $tatement ofCongregational Principles publisheltl r583_John Coppin and Elias Thacker hanged at Bu~y St Edmunds England r586 John Greenwood and Henry Barrowe im111isoned in London 1588 Martin ]far-prelate Tracts 1589 A True Description out of the Word of God of the Visible Church
published in _London r 592 First known modern Congregational church completely and formally
organized in London 1593 John Greenwood Henry Barrowe and John Penry hanged the last of
the Congregational martyrs put to death Fifty-six members of the first Congregational church London imprisoned
1595 First Congregational church regathered fo Amsterdam Holland 15g6 A True Confession 0pound the Faith bullbull of the London-Amste1dam
Church published 15C)S The same True Confession middottranslated into Latin and published 16oz Congregational church organized at Gainsborough England r6o3 Death of Elizabeth and accession or JamesI Petition 0pound Amsterdam
Church to King James I stating the Points of Difference between Congregationalism and the Church of England
16o6 Scrooby Church organized John Robinson Pastor Gainsborough Church remomiddotes to Amsterdam
16o7-o8 Scrooby Church remobulles to Amsterdam 16olt John Robinson with the Pilgrims ofScrciobf Church settles in Leyden middot 1611 King James Version of the Bible published middot r616 Congregational church organized at Southwark London middot _ 1617 Pilgrims of Leyden petition King James for permission to settle in
America 1618-19 The Synod of Dort at Dordrecht Holland
middot 16zo Pilgrims left Leyden July 21 sailed from Pl~middotmouth September 16 sigped civil compact in the 1fayfiowerNovember 21 landed at Plymouth lIass December 1 r (0 S) December 21 (N S)
1621 Gomiddoternor Carver died Villiam Bradfo-d chosen governor of Pilgrim Colony
162+ First Purit3n settlement in New Erigfand at Cape Ann 1625 John Robinson died in Leyden Death or James I middotand accession of
Challes r middot 1628 The Company or ~bssachusetts Uay formed in England Captain
middot Endecott arri1middoted at Sltllen1 William Laud mule Bishop of London
535
Chronological Table through 1899 from Albert Dunning s Congregationalism in America~
I
CHROsOLCJGICAL TAUIE
1629 Six vessels with emirants from England arrfred at Salem Second Congregational church in America formed at Salem Mass middot Charter granted to Massachusetts
1630 First Church Dorchester llass organized at Plymouth EoglamJ landed at Nantasket lfay 30 John Vinthrop with a Aeet of CS middot
sels arrived in Massachusetts liar The Iassachusctts charter brought to Ncw England First Church organized at Charlcstowrt md First Church bull Vatertown July 30 middot First General Court Au- gust 23 John Winthrop elected gomiddoternor Settlement of llostou
163 Church at Charlestown remOf(f to Boston Prt~ent First Church middot Charlestown organized Nmbullember 23 First Church Lynn ind
First Church Roxbury organized 1633 John Cotton Thomas Hooker and Samuel Stone arrived at Boston middotmiddot
Laud made Archbishop of Canterbury First parish in New Hampshire at Domiddoter First Church formed in connection with the parish 1638
1635 Colonies from Dorchester and Vatertomiddotn remocd lo Connecticut~ 1636 First Church in Dorchester ~lass organiztcl in Plymouth England
1630 fully estihlishecl at indsor Conn First Church Camshyhiillgc organi1olti Thomas Hooker with his compan) in organshyized church emigratetl from Cambridge ~lass lo Hanford Conn Roger Williams banished from [assachusetts Colony Sir Henry Vane chosen gomiddoternor The Hutchinson contnJmiddotcrsy Harard College founded Winthrop again elected gomiddoternor bull
r6j7 First General Synod or Xtw England commiddotencd at Camhriclge by the General Court It conclemned Antinomianism John Davenport middot and company arrimiddotcd at Boston from England Pequot ar
1638 Mrs Hutchinson excommunicated from the Boston Chirch and bmmiddot ished from themiddotcolo11y New Haven Colony founded hy Daenport
and his company 1641 Ilody 0pound Liberties adopted by the General Court of ltassachusetts
New Hampshire towns incorporated into ifass-lchusctts Colony 1643 Vetminster Assemhly convened in En~land hr Parliament Minisshy
terial Cflllention at Cimhridge ~lass Confederation of the four colonies iIitssachusetts Plymouth Connecticut and New Hinbullen
16~ Archbishop Laud cxccuted 1645 Tiattle of Nasehy insuring the 1lownfoll of the English Monarchy
Hookers Surver of the Sum of Church Discipline approved by the ministers of the New England colonies
1646--48 John Elot hean preaching to the Indians General American Synod at Cmnhriltlge setting forth platform of Church Polfty
1647 System of common schools adopted by Gemral Court of ifassachusetts 164S estminster Confession of Faith appromiddotecl by Parliament 1649 Enll ncl proclaims itsdf a Commonwealth 1650 Second Church Bo~ton organized middot 165r Gcnera Court or iTassachusctts approed Ctmbridge Platfomiddotrm
CHRONOLOGICAL TACLE 537
1654 Olimiddotcr Cromwell Loni Protector of Engla~d 1657 Ministerial Convention at- Boston Halfway Covenant recommended
_ Quakers imprisoned in Roston middot 1658 General Synod at Swoy Palace London setting forth amended
Vestminster Confession andmiddot Congregational Platform of Church Order Olimiddotcr Cromwell died
rmiddot66o Restoration of monarchy in England Charles II made king 1662 Massichusetts Synod at Beston appro-ed HaHway Covenant Conshy
necticut and New middotHaven Colonies united 1664- Church at Darrington organized the oldest existing Congregational
church in Rhode Island 166c) Olil South Church Boston organized 1670 Second Church Hartford Conn organized 1673 Church in Agamcnticus now York lle organized (possibly much
earlier) themiddot oldest existing Congregational church in that State then a part of Massachusetts
1674-76 King Philips War 1679-80 fassachusetts Synod at Tloston known as the Reforming Synod 168 Cotton Mather ordained colleague pastQr of Second Church Boston 1684 Charter of Massachusetts Colonr bullacatcd 1685 James II king of Englaml Sir Edmund Andros seized Old South
lleeting-housc Uoston for Episcopal scnmiddotices 1689 i lliun and tary made king rnd quee n of EnglanltI Andros
imprisoned anti promiddotisional gumiddotcrnment form~d in lfassachtisctts Simdn Ilraclstrctt gomiddoternor Kings Chapel erected for Episcopal middot
middot worship middot Toleration Act passeltl by English Parliament affordmiddot middoting legal protection to Nltnconforn1ists
1690 As-ociation of ministers of Boston and bullicinity formed the first permanent District Association in ilassachusctts
169t Healtls o( Agreement adopted in London between Preshyterians and Congregationalists middotPlymouth Colony connectecl with llassashychusetts
1692 Villiam Phips firs t gomiddotcrnor of Massachusets under new charter Twenty persons put to death at Salem for witchcraft Episco- palians na1itists and Quakers exempted from taxes for the support middot of Congregational churches in lfassachusetts
1699 Brallle Street Church Boston organized 1701 Yale College founded Society for the Propagation of the Gospel
organi7cd in England 1702 Anne queen of E ngland 1705 Proposals issued b y representatibulles of tassachusetts ministerial
associations 1708 Connecticut Synod at Saybrook issued the Saybrook Platform 170-J Gcncral ssoiation of Connecticut ministers organized the first middot middotmiddot middot Statt organi7atinn 1713 Peace or Utricht
CHRO~OLOGICAL TABLE538
1714 George I king of En~bnd
1716 Yale College located in New Haven 1pz Cutler rector o( Yale College and others became Episcopalians 1723 Increase ~father died 1725 Fini1 and unsuccessful effort of General Court of Massachusetts to
call a synod of churches 1727 Jonathan E~wards ordained colleague pastor at Northampton
George II king of England ljJ~ Cotton lather died 173 Revival of religion at Northampton 1738 George Whitefields first visit to America 171-o Whitefield visited Coston and other parts of New England 17j0-42 Great revival of religion in New England 17-tr Gilbert Tennent preached in Boston middot 17J2 John Davenport by his preaching made disturbances in Connecticut
and Massachusetts Separatist churches formed 1744-4 Whitefields second vi5it to New England 1750 Jonathan Edwards forced to leamiddote the Church at Northampton went
to Stockbridge a missionary to the Indians middot 17)7 Jonithan Edwards died middot 1762 First Church organized in Vennont at Bennington 1765 Stamp Act passed 1766 Stamp Act repealed 1769 Dartmouth College founded 1770 Samuel Hopkins sittled at Newport R I 1773 The Doston Tea Party 177) Commencement of War or the ReOlution 1778 Phillips Academy Andover founded Phillips Academy Exetershy
N H chartered 1781 178o lfassachusetts Bill of Rights enacted amended guaranteeing to
every denomination o( Christians equal protection i11 law 1834 middot 1782 James Fimiddoteeman chosen rector of Kings Chapel the church under
him became Unittrian 1783 End of the War of the Revolution 1784 Saybrook Pbtorm by remiddotision of statutes ceased to be cMl law in
Connecticut 1786 lIassachusetts was granted the right to purchase from the Indians
Western New York 1790 lIethodisrn first appears in 1fassachusctts Gra_nt or Vestem Reshy
senmiddote to Connecticut 1793 Williams College chartered 179-1-middot Ilowcloin College chartered 17)) The London lissiona1y Society instituted General Convention of
Congregational ministers and churches in Vermont organized 1796 F irst Con~rcgational church in Ohio at llarietla 1798 Connccicut fissionary Society formed
CH lW~OLOGICAL TAllLE S39
1799 )fassachusetts Missionary Society formed rSoo iliddlebury College founded 1801 Plan of Union ailopted botweeu the General Congregational Associashy
tion of Connecticut and the Genoral Assembly or the Presbyterian middotmiddot Church Congregational middotc1nirch organized in Quebec the first in
Lower middotcnada middot 1803 General Association of ilassachusetts ministers fomted Gtneral
Con(erence of churches 1S6o Union of Association and Confershyence 1868
1805 Henry Ware chose professor of divinity at Harvard First Sunday school in Cauacla organized in connection with Congregational chiuch in Quebec middot middot
1808 The first theological seminary opened at Andover Mass bullSo Park Street Church Iloston or~aniicd New Hampshire Associashy
tion and Rhode Island Consociation organized Muskingum (0) Association formed middot
1810 American Doard of Commissioners or Foreign Missions established by the General Aisociation of Massachusetts Dr Kirkland elected president ur Han middotard middot First Sunday school in ltassachushysttts ~t Ucn rl-
1815 Unitarianism avomd hy some tassachusetts Congregationalists 1816 American Education Society formed middotunited with Westem Coilege
Socictr in 1 87~ with Ncw est Education Commis~ion in 1893 Dan~or Theological Seminary began Rt1s011 N~cordtr began
1818 1ew constitution adopted hy the State of Connccticut making all re ligious associations purd Oluntary bull
1819 Congre~ational church organized at Southwold the first in Upper Crnada
1821 Amherst College founded middot 18 Theological department opened at Yale College 186 American Home issionary Society institutecf First State Confershy
ence of churches organized in Mai= 1831 Congregational Union or England and Wales organiied 183 l~assachusetts Sabbath-school Societr organized 1833 Declaration of Faith of the Congregational churches or Engbnd aml
Walts with Principles of Church Order and Discipline Oberlin college founclecl
1834 General Association of New York organized 1835 Illinois College founded 1837 Prcsbyteria11 General Jsscmhlr abrogated Pian of Union 1838 New School Prehyterian Chunh orgmizcll 1 S40 General Asso1iatio11 of Iowa anti isconsin Co1wention formed 18p Gencrtl ssmiatinn of l ithi~an Conned I s~ General Associati()ll of Ill inois formed 18~6 Convention of Western Co11grcgational churches at ~fichigan City
Mich American lissionary sociation organized bull
540 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
t8t7middot Beloit College founded 1848 Iowa College founded Oregon Association formed 1852 American General Convention of Congregational Chur~hes at Albany
N Y Encl of Plan of Union Ohio Association oigauized 1853 Congregational Churchbuilding Society formed middot 1855 Kansas Association organized 1856 Minnesota Association organized 1857 California and Nebraska associations organized 1858 Chicago Theological Seminary founded Indiana Association organmiddot
ized 186o Congregational College of British North America founded affiliated
with McGill Unimiddotersity Iontreal Canada 1864 1861 Beginning of Civil War 1865 Close of Cimiddotil War Missouri Association organized General
American Council of Congregational Churches Boston Burial Hill Declaration of Faith adopted
1867 Connecticut Conference organized 1868 Colorado Association organized 1869 New Jersey Association organizedmiddot 1870 Louisiana Association organized 1871 National Council established at Oberlin O for triennial meetings
South Dakota and Tennessee associations organized Congregational House Boston occupied by benemiddoto]ent societies and
other Congregational orga1iizations 1876 Alabama Association organized 1878 Georgia Association organized 1879 North Carolina Conference mmiddotganized 1881 First Youug Peoples Society of Christian Endeabullor fonnecl at Villiishy
ton Congregltttional Church Portland ire New est Edlcation Commission organizedmiddot united with American Education Society 1893
1882 Utah Association organized 1883 Declaration of Faith by a Creed Commission appointed hy the
National Council Florida and Mississippi associations and North Dakota Conference organized
Arizona and New Mexico Association an~] Montana Conference organized
1SSG P~middotnnsyh-mia tssltgtciation organized 1887 Arkansas and Southern Calipoundorni1 associations organized 1SS9 Vashington Agtsociation organired 1890 Gcor~ia Corwention and Oklahoma Association organilcd 1891 First International Congregational Council London Englind all
parts of the world bcing represcntell yoming Association organizd
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE Of Important Events In Congregational History
Since 1900
1913 Report of the Committee of Nineteen acted upon by National Council of Congregational Churches at Kansas City setting up a national system for the dispensing of benevolences and control of seven Missionary Societies
1923 A national magazine poll reportedly ascertained the 25 best preachers in the US indicating that 7 were Congregationalists a group of only 900000
1931 Congregational National Council merged with General Convention of the Christian Church into the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches
1934 Congregational Christian Churches absorbs the German Reformed Church
1938 Rev Samuel Press in cooperation with Rev Truman Douglas initiated church union with the Eva~elical and Reformed Church
1942 Commission on Inter-Church Relations and Christian Unity authorized to explore possibl~ union with the E and R Church
1943 First and second drafts of the Basis of Unionn completed and sent to associations and churches for their study
1947 The Evanston Meeting held by Congregationalists as an ad hoc committee of the concerned over the proposed merger--released statement charging that Basis of Union was an abandonment of Congregational tradition and principle
1948 Deadline for acceptance of Basis of Union passes without the required percentage approving--deadline extended to Jan 1949 middot
1949 Approval of Basis of Union continues to be under 75 but General Council passes it anyway Cadman Memorial Church brought legal action to prevent the union
1950 New ~c~k Supreme Court enjoined General Council from carrying out consummation of the proposed union with the E and R Church
1952 New York court reversed lower court decision on grounds that since no property was involved themiddoty had no jurisdiction
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
1953 Appeal of Cadman Memorial Church denied 1955 National Association of Congregational Christian
Churches organized~ 1956 NACCC adopted its Articles of Association and By-Laws 1957 Formation of the United Church of Christ by the
Pirst General Synod middot
1959 Commission on the ministry of the NA proposed that ordination of ministers by the local church be proclaimed valid on the basis of historic Congregationalprinciple
1961 UCC Constitution formally ratified NACCC declared itself to be the successor to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches
1962 UCC and NACCC made application for membeEhip in the International Congregational Council UCC admitted NACCC denied admission
1966 Seminar on the Nature and Future of the Free Church in Chicago offered alternatives to organizational ecumenicity Consultatiqn on Church Union (COCU) completed its middot blueprin~ for the Great American Church
2
the Pilgrims to acquire a much longed for freedom of worship
These Pilgrim Congregationalists had no int~ntion of separating
themselves from the Church of England They meant only to
free themselves from the corruptions of the church which had
caused them to desire to leave their homes and families for
a freer practice of their faith Their goal from the very
beginning was to set middotup a holy commonwealth on earth solidly
based on the plain law of the Bible 3
In 1629 the church in the New World received its first
charter from England but by 1633 the ten established churches in
America were in effect independent by virtue of the vast middot
distance in time and space from the parent body Their
fellowship wa~ with one another united only in mutual
councils- -thus began the middot independent Congregationalmiddot church
middot ih America
Bertrand Lord Manning says that there are four distinctives
of Congregationalism existing from the very beginning Briefly
stated they are first Congregationalism is a fellowship of
gathered churches where the Word of God is preached middot
secondly these churches unite for matters of common concern
such as ministry and evangelism--none of the churches are
required to participate thirdly each church has its own
doctrinal statement in its own words and although there has
always been a - fringe of obscurantism and a bit of heresy (as
do all schools of living thought )1
the large body of
Congregationalists subscribe to the holy apostolic
evangelical catholic faith delivered once for all to the
saints spoken in each generation in varying tones as men
J
are moved by the Holy Ghost And finally the Congregational
churches are distinguished in that they main~ain the right and
duty of the _local church to _give discipline to its members
and in middotother matters to rule its own house 04
middot Congregationalists have historically felt that their primary
contribution to the church as a whole is that they more
than perhaps any other have shown forth the doctrine of
grace They have taught that the church is the vehicle of
grace arid tM only through it does the grace of the
gospel middot
come to men5 In -concrete terms this works out in the trust and
faith given to the church members themselves to make decisions
in a wholly democratic system The regenerate man it has
be~n believed is capable by the grace of God to make decisions
in matters of faith and doctrine This same confidence
in mans ability t6 govern himself and in the graciousness of God
as he does so was aestined to be transformed into political
action a century after Congregationalism came to America
in the form of the American Revolution
While hard times lay ahead for the Congregationalists t hey
were spared extreme testing in the early period of their
development by the pioneer spirit of the people coming to
America These newcomers for the most part desired their
own colonies so they migrated into Connerticut and -other
westward regions leaving Congregationalism in the New England
area to flourish wi thout interference 6 middot
In 1631 Congregatlonalism was established by law in
Massachusetts and became a virtual state church - This fact
middotwas loudly protested by the Baptists and Quakers who were being
4 ill treated by their Congregational brothers In some
towns in the bay area Quakers and Baptists were being
publicly whipped or humiliated in other middotways by the
Congregationalists who seemingly forgot that their complaint
with the Church of England was that they did not allow religious
freedom The Church of Engl_and did step in however 1 and
asserted a certain amount of royal control to put an end to
the _persecution and allow a measure of toleration for
religious minorities7
With the second generation of Congregationalists -came
many who demanded the birthright of Congregationalism but
who could not measure up to the strict requirements imposed on
members With this generation came the Half-Way Covenant
admitting them to membership and dispelling Puvitan hopes middot
for their holy commonwealth and allowing liberal trends to
take their toll As a reaction to thismiddot the conservatives
established Yale University which would hopefully counteract the
liberal influence 8
For its first two centuries Congregationalism was confined
almost exclusively to New England but inmiddot 1810 Congregationalists
formed the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign
Missions and in1812 sent Americas first five missionaries
abroad By the end of the 19th century there were 4 868
Congregationar-churches spread from coast to coast in the
United States middotsupporting six national societies for missionary middot
outreach 9
5
With the rapid and powerful growth of the Congregationlists
in the United States it was inevitable that many nonshy
Congregational ideals would be inculcated into the church and
that consequently union with other denominations would be middota
great temptation In the 19th century alone Congregationalists
joind with no less than six other churches among them being
most notably the Presbyterians the Free Baptists the
Disciples of Christ and the Christian denomination middot middot
Going into the Revolutionary war the denomination was in
the midst of some _very serious divisions within the church
over differing views of the Great Awakening and the
Congregationamiddotl minister J ohnathon Edwards Some of the
members were totally repulsed at the whole concept of
remiddotvivalism and others em9raced it dearly bull middot Reaction was so
strong that the awakening had little effect in Congregational
churches after the middle of the century even though it
continued to thrive in other middotgroups formiddot several years longer bull1 O
The Congregationalists survived the Revolutionary War and
entered into independence stronger than ever They _had been middot
closely identified with the colonial causes and had picked up
many of th_e people who were in churches which were loyalist in
feeling immediately after the war If they went into the
revolution with the largest num~er of members and churches in the
country they came out of it witha11 the wealth prestige and
able leaders to match their size It was projected that
within the century COngregationalism would grow to seven
million (from 60-70 thousand) but this never came about
6
Although outwardly the church seemed to be v ery str~ong
internal weaknesses developed as they spent their energies
middotw~ging a rearguard defense for preservation of the special 11middot privileges they possessed in New England
By the end of the colonial period most Presbyterians and
Congregationalists had come to think of themselves as a middot
single denomination They freely exchanged pulpits (with middot
the Presbyterians taking better advantage of this than did the
Congregationalists in that they tended to believe Congregationalists
unsound in doctrine) and the first threemiddot presidents of middotthe
Presbyterian Princeton University were New England
Congregationalists In Rhode Island and Conneticut the bond shy
was so strong that many Coi-igregationalists refeoed to themselves
middot _as Presbyterians12 middot
In 1801 the younger Jo)fnathan Edwards proposed and saw
passed a Plan of Union with the Presbyterians and later
a strengthening of the bond in the Accomodation _Plan which
provided a unity to the extent of a uniform system of
church governrnentn between the two bodies 13
For the next three decades the Presbyterians and
Congregationalists were one denomination for all intents and
purposes in thEyenstates of New York Ohio Indiana Illinois _
Mic~igan and __Wisconsin In Massachusetts Co~ticut and
New Hampshire however they were inhibited from any formal
union in that the Congregational church had as a result of
their extreme privileges in those states developed a
Ties between the two groups began -to be severed in 1837 but the effects of the Presbyterian influence hampered Congregational growth for half a century cf Dunning Congr egationalism in America
7
strong emphasis upon local autonomy which fostered
vigorous resistance to the ~urrender of local prerogative~14
It should be noted that the major weakness of Congregshy
ationalism in the early 189obulls was not as much ecclesiastical
ties with other denominations as it was one middotof doctrine
Within Congregationalism three distinct parties had
developed the consistent Calvinist$ who were heirs of the
tea~hings and revivalistic tendencies of J~nathan Edwards
the old Calvinists who weremoderate anti-revivalists and middot
the liberals who tended toward a unitarhn position The
in-family warfare which waged hot with passion resulted in
three centers for the trainjng of ministers--Andover in1808 i
Bangor in 1814 and Hartford in 18)4 15
The dissension_caused large numbers to leave the main body
of Congregationalism and form their own independent bull
Congregational and Baptist churches By 1815 the liberals
had split off and become independent Unitarians and the middot
ensuing doctrinal discussions resulted in the conversion of theshy
old Calvinists to a more r evivalist position middot The defection
of the Unitarians middot and the large numbers of people leaving in
middot the heat of battle made it clear that the opportunity that
Congregationalism had had for greatness after the War was
_gone forever
The remainder of the 19th century saw a great expansion
of Congrega tiomil Churches throughout the United States middot
without any great divi$middotions or trials to hamper growth~
~ssociations and State Conferences saw a great proliferation
8
especially as the church began to become firmly rooted
in tne mid-western and western states
The conferences were formed primarily for the purpose
of home mission outreach in starting new churches and for
assi~ting those already established but as the new century came
into being it was becoming more and more evident that they middot
were developing increasing power among the churches middotThey were
no longer groups for support and fellowship but began to see
their function changing into one of specialized services0
to existing churches and had a tendency to seize the
initiative in trying to set up programs for the churches to 16
follow 0
middot Before the -middle of the 20th century when ecumenical
fever began to sweep the country the Congregational
middot christian Churches were already primed for co-operation or
even merger with other groups if that would help the cause
of Christian unity In 1938 Rev Samuel Press initiated a
drive for union wi-th the Evangelical and Reformed Church
but as the attempts at the union of churches of quite middot distinct
polities and traditions was frustrated by long negotiations it
became evident that the time was middotnot quite right for such a
proposal and was thus dropped for several years 17
The idea of merger with the Evangelical and Reformed
Church was ra-ised again in 1942 when the Commission on Inter-
church Relations and Christian Unity was authorized middotfor the
exploration of merger middot~wlth that body In 1943 the first and
second drafts of the middotBasis of Union were completed and sent
9
to associations and churches for their study This action
was the first major step in the most current of Congregationalisms
passionate warfares within its own ranks
In November of 1947 Congregationalists from all over the
country met in an ad hoc meeting in Evanston Illinois to
discuss their concern with the Basis of Union and its meaning
to Congregationalism They concluded that the Basis of Union
called for joining with a Presbyterian type church into
Presbyterian system to the abandonment of the Congregational
principles of church government This middotconclusion was
immediately denounced by the General Council of the
Congregational Christian Churches as soon as it was made
18public
When the Basis of Union was sent to the various churches
for approval or rejection 1t was indicated that the voting
deadline was to be April 1 19L~8 (extended later to January middot
of 1949) and that it would stand approved upon acceptance by
75 of the individuals churches associations and conferencesmiddot
_voting When in May of 1948 it became clear that the proposal
would not pass due to the fact that the official tally showed middotmiddot
at that time only 65 of churches and 63 of the people voting
approval of the merger the General Council adopted a set of
Interpretations which basically assured churches of the
retention of Congregational polity This wasmiddot repudiated by
the Executive Committee of the Evangelical and Reformed Church
who stated that the Interpretations are not binding on them -
nor the proposed United Church of Christ either at present or in
the future
10
By February of 1949 with many disputes concerning
exactly what percent~ge of people or churches had actually
approved the merger and the highest figure middotceven though
unconfirmed) being 73 themiddot General Council of
Congregati~nal Christian Churches voted to proceed with
union with the Evangelical and Reformed Church 19 This
action contrary to themiddot clearmiddot understanding of the churches
would cause more than ten years of bitterness within the
denomination and cause once more in Congregational history
great divisions within and among churches
The most visible and middot long lived protest of the proposed
merger was taken up by the Cadman Memorial Church of Brooklyn
Ne)l York which sued on their own behalf and on behalf of
other Congregational Christian Churches Helen Kenyon
Moderator of the General Council of the Congregational
Christian Churches of the United States The Cadman church
charged that the proposed United Chllrch of Christ is and
will be so alien and different in structure middot and polity
that fundamental congregational usage and practice will be 20
wholly lost and destroyed
Justice Meier Steinbrink of Kings County Supreme Court
of New York was the first to hear the case and sided with
the plaintiffs stating that indeed no Congregational church
had ever authorized the General Council to negotiate the
Basis of Union in the first place and that the very name
proposed for the new body (United Church of Christ) indicated
a willingness if not intent to discard the Congregational
tradition Justice Steinbrink issued an injunction against
21consummation of the merger
11
Two years later (in 1952) the New York Courts Appellatt
Division reversed the Cadman decision on the grounds that the
plaintiff church had no interest in the property of the
General Council or the boards and without a property 22
interest the court could not go into merger questions The
New York Court of Appeals highest court in the state
sustained the reversal the next year stating that the
proposed union will in no way change the historical and
traditional pattern of the individual Congregational
Christian Church~each member church will continue to
possess the same freedom of faith and manner of worship as middot -
heretofore enjoyed bullbullbullUnion depends on voluntary action fully
taken by indepenaent autonomous churches bullbull23
After these years of resistance and failures in court middot
battles it became evident that the ideals held by the
protestors would not be preserved The National Association
of Congregational Christian Churches was formed in Detroit
Michigan on November 10 1955 with the intention ~f retur~ing
to the Congregational Way They referrei to themselves as middot
Neo-Congregationalists claiming that they were nothing more
than mature Congregationalists not possessing any novelty
of content but arising out of a renewed faith in the power 24of the old principles
The National Association had as their founding goal a
bringing together of l_ocal churches for counsel inspiration
and fellowship assumt ng for themselves no ecclesiastical
authority and no birging creed 25 In their Articles of
12
Association adopted the following year the founders were
careful to spell out a system of local church rule over the
national administration for the minimization of the possibility
of a recurrance of the bitterness and schism of the past
ten middotyears The Preamble clearly states that they hold to the
idea that historic Congregationalism adhered to the freedom
of the Christian man and the right of the local church to
self-goverrunent middot in all matters and that Congregationalism
is in its essence an outer and corporate expression of the
inner and individual life in Christ 26
Finally on August 24 1961 the National Association
took the middotbold bullbullmiddot bull step of declaring itself to be the successor
to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian middot
Churches 1127 That year 3600 of the 5550 Congregational churches
in the US were members of the United Church of Christ more
than 1500 chose to remain wholly independent of any body and
JOO were affiliated with the National Association 28
The newly formed National Association had a severe blow
dealt to their morale in 1962 when they applied for admission
to the International Congregational Council but were not
granted Congregational status in that they were not a part of the
United Church of Christ a gromicrop making application at the
same time As Harry Butman one of the founders of the middot
National Association said there is a wry humor in
thinking on the topsy-turly logic of the ecclesiastical mind
that sees such great ~lstoric churches as Park Street Bostonbullbullbull
as not Congregational while the infant churches which came
13
of their missionary zeal and labor say the Samoan and the
middot Bantu (two ghurches admitted at themiddot same middottime the National
Association was rejected) ~ Corigregationai churches bullmiddot1128
Today the National Association of Congregational
Chridegstian Churches boasts 357 churches in full membership with
them and 39 more which are associated or affiliated unofficially
The association continues to grow and is consistantly drawing
in more congregations fnto the Congregational middot Way
Throughout Congregational history we see the recurring
trend for this individualistic system to search for and find
an authority system with which it can unite In previous
generations tne union has occured arid obliterated the founding
principles of Congregationalism In this generation for the
flrst time the union has been staunchly opposed and has middotmiddotshy
resulted in a renewal of the old ways The question for history
to answer is whether the old ways wili in the enq be yictorious
or whether the demands of our society require drastic
restructuring for survival
FOOTNOTES
1Walker Williston A Histor middot of the Con e ational Churches in the United States The Christian Literature Co 1894) p 428
2conn Howard The Dilemma of Congregationalism (National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 1962) t p20
3walker Williston A Hdegistory of the Christian Church 3rd ed (New York Charles Scribners Sons 1970) Pmiddot 443
4Manning Bernard Lord Essays in Orthadox Dissent (London Independent Press LTD 1953) p 156ff
5rbid P 108 bull 6nunning Albert E Con~regationalists in America
(J A Hill and Company 1894 pp130-132
op Cit Walker A History of the Christian middotcmiddothurch p 433
8Ibid p 4J4
9op Cit WalkerA History of the Congregational Churches in the United States p 428
10op Cit Walker A History of the Christian Churchp466
11Hudson Winthrop S Religion in America (Charles Scribners Sons 1973) p118
12r bid bull p 11 9 bull
13Ibid p 119
14rbid p120
15rbid p 121
16National Association of Congregational Christian Churches A Comorehensive Anal s is of What We Are Now Con re ational Principles and Polity National Association of CongregationalChristian Churches 1961) p 8 middot middot
17Latourette Kenneth A History of Christianity vol 2 (Harper and Row 1975) p 1422
FOOTNOTES (continued)
18Burton Malcolm K How Church middotUnion Came (The Committee for the Continuation of Congregational _Ghristian Churches of the United States Inc 1966) p middot4
19Ibid p7 20ttoskins Fred Con e ationalism Betra ed or Fulfilled
(transcript of th~ Southworth Lecture middot 1962 p 9 shy21Ibid p 11 22op Cit Burton pp 7-8
23op Cit Hoskins p 11
24 (Butman Harry R The Lords Free People The Swannett Press 1968) p 79
25Ibid p 114
26National Ass~ciation of Congregational Christian Churches NACCC Yearbook-1975-1976 (National Associaticm of Co~egational Christian Churches 1975) p 165
27Op cmiddotmiddot1 t bull Bu t man p bull 11 Jc bull
28Ibid p 14)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Atkins Gaius An Adventure in Liberty The Pilgrim Press 1961
Atkins Gaius and Fagley Frederick middotHistory of American middot Congregationalism The Pilgrim Press 1942
Bradshaw Marion John Free Churches and Christian Unity The Beacon Press 1954 middot middot middot middot
Burton Malcolm K Destiny for Congregatialism Modern Publfshers Inc 1953
Burton Malcolm K How Church Union Came The Committee for the Continuation of Congregational Christian Churches of the United States Inc 1966 middot
Burton Malcolm K To Revamp Protestant WorshiQ The Committee for the Continuation of the Congregationsl Christian Churches of the United States 1965w
Butman Harry R The Lords Free People The Swannett Press 1968
Conn Howard The Dilemma of ConJregationalism National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 1962
Congregational Press Handbook of the National Association of middot Congregational Christian Churches- 1263 The Congregational
Press 1963
Dunning Albert E Congregationalists in Americmiddota J A Hill and Company 1894
General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches Digest of Minutes of Meetings of the CongregationalChristian Churchesmiddot of the United States-1911-1965 The General Council middotof the Congregatinal Christian Churches 1971
Hoskins Fred Congregationalism Betrayed or Fulfilled transmiddotcript of the Southworth Lecture 1962
Hudson Winthrop S~ Religion in America Charles Scribners Sons 1973
Latourette Kenneth A History of Christianity vol 2 Harper and Row 1975
Manning Bernard Lord _Essa ys in Orthadox Dissent London Independ8nt Pressmiddot LTD 1953
BIBLIOGRAPHY (Continued)
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches A Comprehensive Analysis of What We Are Now Congregational Principles and Polity ~ 1National~ssociaticm~middot-of Congregationan Christian Churches 1961 middot middot
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches middot NACCC Yearbook-1975-1976 National Association of middot
Congregational Christian Churches 1975 middot
Sinclair Francis What It Means to be a Congregationalist League to Uphold Congregational Principles undated
Steece Arvel M Polity Evolution and the Future of Congregationa1ism The Congregationalist (March 1975)16-17
Walker Williston A History of the CongregatiOnal Churches middot in the United States The Christian Literature Co 1894
Walker Williston A History of the Christian Church Jrd edmiddot New York Charles Scribners Sons 1979
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF IMPORTANT EVENTS IN CONGREGATIONAL HISTORY
1582 Brownes $tatement ofCongregational Principles publisheltl r583_John Coppin and Elias Thacker hanged at Bu~y St Edmunds England r586 John Greenwood and Henry Barrowe im111isoned in London 1588 Martin ]far-prelate Tracts 1589 A True Description out of the Word of God of the Visible Church
published in _London r 592 First known modern Congregational church completely and formally
organized in London 1593 John Greenwood Henry Barrowe and John Penry hanged the last of
the Congregational martyrs put to death Fifty-six members of the first Congregational church London imprisoned
1595 First Congregational church regathered fo Amsterdam Holland 15g6 A True Confession 0pound the Faith bullbull of the London-Amste1dam
Church published 15C)S The same True Confession middottranslated into Latin and published 16oz Congregational church organized at Gainsborough England r6o3 Death of Elizabeth and accession or JamesI Petition 0pound Amsterdam
Church to King James I stating the Points of Difference between Congregationalism and the Church of England
16o6 Scrooby Church organized John Robinson Pastor Gainsborough Church remomiddotes to Amsterdam
16o7-o8 Scrooby Church remobulles to Amsterdam 16olt John Robinson with the Pilgrims ofScrciobf Church settles in Leyden middot 1611 King James Version of the Bible published middot r616 Congregational church organized at Southwark London middot _ 1617 Pilgrims of Leyden petition King James for permission to settle in
America 1618-19 The Synod of Dort at Dordrecht Holland
middot 16zo Pilgrims left Leyden July 21 sailed from Pl~middotmouth September 16 sigped civil compact in the 1fayfiowerNovember 21 landed at Plymouth lIass December 1 r (0 S) December 21 (N S)
1621 Gomiddoternor Carver died Villiam Bradfo-d chosen governor of Pilgrim Colony
162+ First Purit3n settlement in New Erigfand at Cape Ann 1625 John Robinson died in Leyden Death or James I middotand accession of
Challes r middot 1628 The Company or ~bssachusetts Uay formed in England Captain
middot Endecott arri1middoted at Sltllen1 William Laud mule Bishop of London
535
Chronological Table through 1899 from Albert Dunning s Congregationalism in America~
I
CHROsOLCJGICAL TAUIE
1629 Six vessels with emirants from England arrfred at Salem Second Congregational church in America formed at Salem Mass middot Charter granted to Massachusetts
1630 First Church Dorchester llass organized at Plymouth EoglamJ landed at Nantasket lfay 30 John Vinthrop with a Aeet of CS middot
sels arrived in Massachusetts liar The Iassachusctts charter brought to Ncw England First Church organized at Charlcstowrt md First Church bull Vatertown July 30 middot First General Court Au- gust 23 John Winthrop elected gomiddoternor Settlement of llostou
163 Church at Charlestown remOf(f to Boston Prt~ent First Church middot Charlestown organized Nmbullember 23 First Church Lynn ind
First Church Roxbury organized 1633 John Cotton Thomas Hooker and Samuel Stone arrived at Boston middotmiddot
Laud made Archbishop of Canterbury First parish in New Hampshire at Domiddoter First Church formed in connection with the parish 1638
1635 Colonies from Dorchester and Vatertomiddotn remocd lo Connecticut~ 1636 First Church in Dorchester ~lass organiztcl in Plymouth England
1630 fully estihlishecl at indsor Conn First Church Camshyhiillgc organi1olti Thomas Hooker with his compan) in organshyized church emigratetl from Cambridge ~lass lo Hanford Conn Roger Williams banished from [assachusetts Colony Sir Henry Vane chosen gomiddoternor The Hutchinson contnJmiddotcrsy Harard College founded Winthrop again elected gomiddoternor bull
r6j7 First General Synod or Xtw England commiddotencd at Camhriclge by the General Court It conclemned Antinomianism John Davenport middot and company arrimiddotcd at Boston from England Pequot ar
1638 Mrs Hutchinson excommunicated from the Boston Chirch and bmmiddot ished from themiddotcolo11y New Haven Colony founded hy Daenport
and his company 1641 Ilody 0pound Liberties adopted by the General Court of ltassachusetts
New Hampshire towns incorporated into ifass-lchusctts Colony 1643 Vetminster Assemhly convened in En~land hr Parliament Minisshy
terial Cflllention at Cimhridge ~lass Confederation of the four colonies iIitssachusetts Plymouth Connecticut and New Hinbullen
16~ Archbishop Laud cxccuted 1645 Tiattle of Nasehy insuring the 1lownfoll of the English Monarchy
Hookers Surver of the Sum of Church Discipline approved by the ministers of the New England colonies
1646--48 John Elot hean preaching to the Indians General American Synod at Cmnhriltlge setting forth platform of Church Polfty
1647 System of common schools adopted by Gemral Court of ifassachusetts 164S estminster Confession of Faith appromiddotecl by Parliament 1649 Enll ncl proclaims itsdf a Commonwealth 1650 Second Church Bo~ton organized middot 165r Gcnera Court or iTassachusctts approed Ctmbridge Platfomiddotrm
CHRONOLOGICAL TACLE 537
1654 Olimiddotcr Cromwell Loni Protector of Engla~d 1657 Ministerial Convention at- Boston Halfway Covenant recommended
_ Quakers imprisoned in Roston middot 1658 General Synod at Swoy Palace London setting forth amended
Vestminster Confession andmiddot Congregational Platform of Church Order Olimiddotcr Cromwell died
rmiddot66o Restoration of monarchy in England Charles II made king 1662 Massichusetts Synod at Beston appro-ed HaHway Covenant Conshy
necticut and New middotHaven Colonies united 1664- Church at Darrington organized the oldest existing Congregational
church in Rhode Island 166c) Olil South Church Boston organized 1670 Second Church Hartford Conn organized 1673 Church in Agamcnticus now York lle organized (possibly much
earlier) themiddot oldest existing Congregational church in that State then a part of Massachusetts
1674-76 King Philips War 1679-80 fassachusetts Synod at Tloston known as the Reforming Synod 168 Cotton Mather ordained colleague pastQr of Second Church Boston 1684 Charter of Massachusetts Colonr bullacatcd 1685 James II king of Englaml Sir Edmund Andros seized Old South
lleeting-housc Uoston for Episcopal scnmiddotices 1689 i lliun and tary made king rnd quee n of EnglanltI Andros
imprisoned anti promiddotisional gumiddotcrnment form~d in lfassachtisctts Simdn Ilraclstrctt gomiddoternor Kings Chapel erected for Episcopal middot
middot worship middot Toleration Act passeltl by English Parliament affordmiddot middoting legal protection to Nltnconforn1ists
1690 As-ociation of ministers of Boston and bullicinity formed the first permanent District Association in ilassachusctts
169t Healtls o( Agreement adopted in London between Preshyterians and Congregationalists middotPlymouth Colony connectecl with llassashychusetts
1692 Villiam Phips firs t gomiddotcrnor of Massachusets under new charter Twenty persons put to death at Salem for witchcraft Episco- palians na1itists and Quakers exempted from taxes for the support middot of Congregational churches in lfassachusetts
1699 Brallle Street Church Boston organized 1701 Yale College founded Society for the Propagation of the Gospel
organi7cd in England 1702 Anne queen of E ngland 1705 Proposals issued b y representatibulles of tassachusetts ministerial
associations 1708 Connecticut Synod at Saybrook issued the Saybrook Platform 170-J Gcncral ssoiation of Connecticut ministers organized the first middot middotmiddot middot Statt organi7atinn 1713 Peace or Utricht
CHRO~OLOGICAL TABLE538
1714 George I king of En~bnd
1716 Yale College located in New Haven 1pz Cutler rector o( Yale College and others became Episcopalians 1723 Increase ~father died 1725 Fini1 and unsuccessful effort of General Court of Massachusetts to
call a synod of churches 1727 Jonathan E~wards ordained colleague pastor at Northampton
George II king of England ljJ~ Cotton lather died 173 Revival of religion at Northampton 1738 George Whitefields first visit to America 171-o Whitefield visited Coston and other parts of New England 17j0-42 Great revival of religion in New England 17-tr Gilbert Tennent preached in Boston middot 17J2 John Davenport by his preaching made disturbances in Connecticut
and Massachusetts Separatist churches formed 1744-4 Whitefields second vi5it to New England 1750 Jonathan Edwards forced to leamiddote the Church at Northampton went
to Stockbridge a missionary to the Indians middot 17)7 Jonithan Edwards died middot 1762 First Church organized in Vennont at Bennington 1765 Stamp Act passed 1766 Stamp Act repealed 1769 Dartmouth College founded 1770 Samuel Hopkins sittled at Newport R I 1773 The Doston Tea Party 177) Commencement of War or the ReOlution 1778 Phillips Academy Andover founded Phillips Academy Exetershy
N H chartered 1781 178o lfassachusetts Bill of Rights enacted amended guaranteeing to
every denomination o( Christians equal protection i11 law 1834 middot 1782 James Fimiddoteeman chosen rector of Kings Chapel the church under
him became Unittrian 1783 End of the War of the Revolution 1784 Saybrook Pbtorm by remiddotision of statutes ceased to be cMl law in
Connecticut 1786 lIassachusetts was granted the right to purchase from the Indians
Western New York 1790 lIethodisrn first appears in 1fassachusctts Gra_nt or Vestem Reshy
senmiddote to Connecticut 1793 Williams College chartered 179-1-middot Ilowcloin College chartered 17)) The London lissiona1y Society instituted General Convention of
Congregational ministers and churches in Vermont organized 1796 F irst Con~rcgational church in Ohio at llarietla 1798 Connccicut fissionary Society formed
CH lW~OLOGICAL TAllLE S39
1799 )fassachusetts Missionary Society formed rSoo iliddlebury College founded 1801 Plan of Union ailopted botweeu the General Congregational Associashy
tion of Connecticut and the Genoral Assembly or the Presbyterian middotmiddot Church Congregational middotc1nirch organized in Quebec the first in
Lower middotcnada middot 1803 General Association of ilassachusetts ministers fomted Gtneral
Con(erence of churches 1S6o Union of Association and Confershyence 1868
1805 Henry Ware chose professor of divinity at Harvard First Sunday school in Cauacla organized in connection with Congregational chiuch in Quebec middot middot
1808 The first theological seminary opened at Andover Mass bullSo Park Street Church Iloston or~aniicd New Hampshire Associashy
tion and Rhode Island Consociation organized Muskingum (0) Association formed middot
1810 American Doard of Commissioners or Foreign Missions established by the General Aisociation of Massachusetts Dr Kirkland elected president ur Han middotard middot First Sunday school in ltassachushysttts ~t Ucn rl-
1815 Unitarianism avomd hy some tassachusetts Congregationalists 1816 American Education Society formed middotunited with Westem Coilege
Socictr in 1 87~ with Ncw est Education Commis~ion in 1893 Dan~or Theological Seminary began Rt1s011 N~cordtr began
1818 1ew constitution adopted hy the State of Connccticut making all re ligious associations purd Oluntary bull
1819 Congre~ational church organized at Southwold the first in Upper Crnada
1821 Amherst College founded middot 18 Theological department opened at Yale College 186 American Home issionary Society institutecf First State Confershy
ence of churches organized in Mai= 1831 Congregational Union or England and Wales organiied 183 l~assachusetts Sabbath-school Societr organized 1833 Declaration of Faith of the Congregational churches or Engbnd aml
Walts with Principles of Church Order and Discipline Oberlin college founclecl
1834 General Association of New York organized 1835 Illinois College founded 1837 Prcsbyteria11 General Jsscmhlr abrogated Pian of Union 1838 New School Prehyterian Chunh orgmizcll 1 S40 General Asso1iatio11 of Iowa anti isconsin Co1wention formed 18p Gencrtl ssmiatinn of l ithi~an Conned I s~ General Associati()ll of Ill inois formed 18~6 Convention of Western Co11grcgational churches at ~fichigan City
Mich American lissionary sociation organized bull
540 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
t8t7middot Beloit College founded 1848 Iowa College founded Oregon Association formed 1852 American General Convention of Congregational Chur~hes at Albany
N Y Encl of Plan of Union Ohio Association oigauized 1853 Congregational Churchbuilding Society formed middot 1855 Kansas Association organized 1856 Minnesota Association organized 1857 California and Nebraska associations organized 1858 Chicago Theological Seminary founded Indiana Association organmiddot
ized 186o Congregational College of British North America founded affiliated
with McGill Unimiddotersity Iontreal Canada 1864 1861 Beginning of Civil War 1865 Close of Cimiddotil War Missouri Association organized General
American Council of Congregational Churches Boston Burial Hill Declaration of Faith adopted
1867 Connecticut Conference organized 1868 Colorado Association organized 1869 New Jersey Association organizedmiddot 1870 Louisiana Association organized 1871 National Council established at Oberlin O for triennial meetings
South Dakota and Tennessee associations organized Congregational House Boston occupied by benemiddoto]ent societies and
other Congregational orga1iizations 1876 Alabama Association organized 1878 Georgia Association organized 1879 North Carolina Conference mmiddotganized 1881 First Youug Peoples Society of Christian Endeabullor fonnecl at Villiishy
ton Congregltttional Church Portland ire New est Edlcation Commission organizedmiddot united with American Education Society 1893
1882 Utah Association organized 1883 Declaration of Faith by a Creed Commission appointed hy the
National Council Florida and Mississippi associations and North Dakota Conference organized
Arizona and New Mexico Association an~] Montana Conference organized
1SSG P~middotnnsyh-mia tssltgtciation organized 1887 Arkansas and Southern Calipoundorni1 associations organized 1SS9 Vashington Agtsociation organired 1890 Gcor~ia Corwention and Oklahoma Association organilcd 1891 First International Congregational Council London Englind all
parts of the world bcing represcntell yoming Association organizd
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE Of Important Events In Congregational History
Since 1900
1913 Report of the Committee of Nineteen acted upon by National Council of Congregational Churches at Kansas City setting up a national system for the dispensing of benevolences and control of seven Missionary Societies
1923 A national magazine poll reportedly ascertained the 25 best preachers in the US indicating that 7 were Congregationalists a group of only 900000
1931 Congregational National Council merged with General Convention of the Christian Church into the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches
1934 Congregational Christian Churches absorbs the German Reformed Church
1938 Rev Samuel Press in cooperation with Rev Truman Douglas initiated church union with the Eva~elical and Reformed Church
1942 Commission on Inter-Church Relations and Christian Unity authorized to explore possibl~ union with the E and R Church
1943 First and second drafts of the Basis of Unionn completed and sent to associations and churches for their study
1947 The Evanston Meeting held by Congregationalists as an ad hoc committee of the concerned over the proposed merger--released statement charging that Basis of Union was an abandonment of Congregational tradition and principle
1948 Deadline for acceptance of Basis of Union passes without the required percentage approving--deadline extended to Jan 1949 middot
1949 Approval of Basis of Union continues to be under 75 but General Council passes it anyway Cadman Memorial Church brought legal action to prevent the union
1950 New ~c~k Supreme Court enjoined General Council from carrying out consummation of the proposed union with the E and R Church
1952 New York court reversed lower court decision on grounds that since no property was involved themiddoty had no jurisdiction
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
1953 Appeal of Cadman Memorial Church denied 1955 National Association of Congregational Christian
Churches organized~ 1956 NACCC adopted its Articles of Association and By-Laws 1957 Formation of the United Church of Christ by the
Pirst General Synod middot
1959 Commission on the ministry of the NA proposed that ordination of ministers by the local church be proclaimed valid on the basis of historic Congregationalprinciple
1961 UCC Constitution formally ratified NACCC declared itself to be the successor to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches
1962 UCC and NACCC made application for membeEhip in the International Congregational Council UCC admitted NACCC denied admission
1966 Seminar on the Nature and Future of the Free Church in Chicago offered alternatives to organizational ecumenicity Consultatiqn on Church Union (COCU) completed its middot blueprin~ for the Great American Church
J
are moved by the Holy Ghost And finally the Congregational
churches are distinguished in that they main~ain the right and
duty of the _local church to _give discipline to its members
and in middotother matters to rule its own house 04
middot Congregationalists have historically felt that their primary
contribution to the church as a whole is that they more
than perhaps any other have shown forth the doctrine of
grace They have taught that the church is the vehicle of
grace arid tM only through it does the grace of the
gospel middot
come to men5 In -concrete terms this works out in the trust and
faith given to the church members themselves to make decisions
in a wholly democratic system The regenerate man it has
be~n believed is capable by the grace of God to make decisions
in matters of faith and doctrine This same confidence
in mans ability t6 govern himself and in the graciousness of God
as he does so was aestined to be transformed into political
action a century after Congregationalism came to America
in the form of the American Revolution
While hard times lay ahead for the Congregationalists t hey
were spared extreme testing in the early period of their
development by the pioneer spirit of the people coming to
America These newcomers for the most part desired their
own colonies so they migrated into Connerticut and -other
westward regions leaving Congregationalism in the New England
area to flourish wi thout interference 6 middot
In 1631 Congregatlonalism was established by law in
Massachusetts and became a virtual state church - This fact
middotwas loudly protested by the Baptists and Quakers who were being
4 ill treated by their Congregational brothers In some
towns in the bay area Quakers and Baptists were being
publicly whipped or humiliated in other middotways by the
Congregationalists who seemingly forgot that their complaint
with the Church of England was that they did not allow religious
freedom The Church of Engl_and did step in however 1 and
asserted a certain amount of royal control to put an end to
the _persecution and allow a measure of toleration for
religious minorities7
With the second generation of Congregationalists -came
many who demanded the birthright of Congregationalism but
who could not measure up to the strict requirements imposed on
members With this generation came the Half-Way Covenant
admitting them to membership and dispelling Puvitan hopes middot
for their holy commonwealth and allowing liberal trends to
take their toll As a reaction to thismiddot the conservatives
established Yale University which would hopefully counteract the
liberal influence 8
For its first two centuries Congregationalism was confined
almost exclusively to New England but inmiddot 1810 Congregationalists
formed the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign
Missions and in1812 sent Americas first five missionaries
abroad By the end of the 19th century there were 4 868
Congregationar-churches spread from coast to coast in the
United States middotsupporting six national societies for missionary middot
outreach 9
5
With the rapid and powerful growth of the Congregationlists
in the United States it was inevitable that many nonshy
Congregational ideals would be inculcated into the church and
that consequently union with other denominations would be middota
great temptation In the 19th century alone Congregationalists
joind with no less than six other churches among them being
most notably the Presbyterians the Free Baptists the
Disciples of Christ and the Christian denomination middot middot
Going into the Revolutionary war the denomination was in
the midst of some _very serious divisions within the church
over differing views of the Great Awakening and the
Congregationamiddotl minister J ohnathon Edwards Some of the
members were totally repulsed at the whole concept of
remiddotvivalism and others em9raced it dearly bull middot Reaction was so
strong that the awakening had little effect in Congregational
churches after the middle of the century even though it
continued to thrive in other middotgroups formiddot several years longer bull1 O
The Congregationalists survived the Revolutionary War and
entered into independence stronger than ever They _had been middot
closely identified with the colonial causes and had picked up
many of th_e people who were in churches which were loyalist in
feeling immediately after the war If they went into the
revolution with the largest num~er of members and churches in the
country they came out of it witha11 the wealth prestige and
able leaders to match their size It was projected that
within the century COngregationalism would grow to seven
million (from 60-70 thousand) but this never came about
6
Although outwardly the church seemed to be v ery str~ong
internal weaknesses developed as they spent their energies
middotw~ging a rearguard defense for preservation of the special 11middot privileges they possessed in New England
By the end of the colonial period most Presbyterians and
Congregationalists had come to think of themselves as a middot
single denomination They freely exchanged pulpits (with middot
the Presbyterians taking better advantage of this than did the
Congregationalists in that they tended to believe Congregationalists
unsound in doctrine) and the first threemiddot presidents of middotthe
Presbyterian Princeton University were New England
Congregationalists In Rhode Island and Conneticut the bond shy
was so strong that many Coi-igregationalists refeoed to themselves
middot _as Presbyterians12 middot
In 1801 the younger Jo)fnathan Edwards proposed and saw
passed a Plan of Union with the Presbyterians and later
a strengthening of the bond in the Accomodation _Plan which
provided a unity to the extent of a uniform system of
church governrnentn between the two bodies 13
For the next three decades the Presbyterians and
Congregationalists were one denomination for all intents and
purposes in thEyenstates of New York Ohio Indiana Illinois _
Mic~igan and __Wisconsin In Massachusetts Co~ticut and
New Hampshire however they were inhibited from any formal
union in that the Congregational church had as a result of
their extreme privileges in those states developed a
Ties between the two groups began -to be severed in 1837 but the effects of the Presbyterian influence hampered Congregational growth for half a century cf Dunning Congr egationalism in America
7
strong emphasis upon local autonomy which fostered
vigorous resistance to the ~urrender of local prerogative~14
It should be noted that the major weakness of Congregshy
ationalism in the early 189obulls was not as much ecclesiastical
ties with other denominations as it was one middotof doctrine
Within Congregationalism three distinct parties had
developed the consistent Calvinist$ who were heirs of the
tea~hings and revivalistic tendencies of J~nathan Edwards
the old Calvinists who weremoderate anti-revivalists and middot
the liberals who tended toward a unitarhn position The
in-family warfare which waged hot with passion resulted in
three centers for the trainjng of ministers--Andover in1808 i
Bangor in 1814 and Hartford in 18)4 15
The dissension_caused large numbers to leave the main body
of Congregationalism and form their own independent bull
Congregational and Baptist churches By 1815 the liberals
had split off and become independent Unitarians and the middot
ensuing doctrinal discussions resulted in the conversion of theshy
old Calvinists to a more r evivalist position middot The defection
of the Unitarians middot and the large numbers of people leaving in
middot the heat of battle made it clear that the opportunity that
Congregationalism had had for greatness after the War was
_gone forever
The remainder of the 19th century saw a great expansion
of Congrega tiomil Churches throughout the United States middot
without any great divi$middotions or trials to hamper growth~
~ssociations and State Conferences saw a great proliferation
8
especially as the church began to become firmly rooted
in tne mid-western and western states
The conferences were formed primarily for the purpose
of home mission outreach in starting new churches and for
assi~ting those already established but as the new century came
into being it was becoming more and more evident that they middot
were developing increasing power among the churches middotThey were
no longer groups for support and fellowship but began to see
their function changing into one of specialized services0
to existing churches and had a tendency to seize the
initiative in trying to set up programs for the churches to 16
follow 0
middot Before the -middle of the 20th century when ecumenical
fever began to sweep the country the Congregational
middot christian Churches were already primed for co-operation or
even merger with other groups if that would help the cause
of Christian unity In 1938 Rev Samuel Press initiated a
drive for union wi-th the Evangelical and Reformed Church
but as the attempts at the union of churches of quite middot distinct
polities and traditions was frustrated by long negotiations it
became evident that the time was middotnot quite right for such a
proposal and was thus dropped for several years 17
The idea of merger with the Evangelical and Reformed
Church was ra-ised again in 1942 when the Commission on Inter-
church Relations and Christian Unity was authorized middotfor the
exploration of merger middot~wlth that body In 1943 the first and
second drafts of the middotBasis of Union were completed and sent
9
to associations and churches for their study This action
was the first major step in the most current of Congregationalisms
passionate warfares within its own ranks
In November of 1947 Congregationalists from all over the
country met in an ad hoc meeting in Evanston Illinois to
discuss their concern with the Basis of Union and its meaning
to Congregationalism They concluded that the Basis of Union
called for joining with a Presbyterian type church into
Presbyterian system to the abandonment of the Congregational
principles of church government This middotconclusion was
immediately denounced by the General Council of the
Congregational Christian Churches as soon as it was made
18public
When the Basis of Union was sent to the various churches
for approval or rejection 1t was indicated that the voting
deadline was to be April 1 19L~8 (extended later to January middot
of 1949) and that it would stand approved upon acceptance by
75 of the individuals churches associations and conferencesmiddot
_voting When in May of 1948 it became clear that the proposal
would not pass due to the fact that the official tally showed middotmiddot
at that time only 65 of churches and 63 of the people voting
approval of the merger the General Council adopted a set of
Interpretations which basically assured churches of the
retention of Congregational polity This wasmiddot repudiated by
the Executive Committee of the Evangelical and Reformed Church
who stated that the Interpretations are not binding on them -
nor the proposed United Church of Christ either at present or in
the future
10
By February of 1949 with many disputes concerning
exactly what percent~ge of people or churches had actually
approved the merger and the highest figure middotceven though
unconfirmed) being 73 themiddot General Council of
Congregati~nal Christian Churches voted to proceed with
union with the Evangelical and Reformed Church 19 This
action contrary to themiddot clearmiddot understanding of the churches
would cause more than ten years of bitterness within the
denomination and cause once more in Congregational history
great divisions within and among churches
The most visible and middot long lived protest of the proposed
merger was taken up by the Cadman Memorial Church of Brooklyn
Ne)l York which sued on their own behalf and on behalf of
other Congregational Christian Churches Helen Kenyon
Moderator of the General Council of the Congregational
Christian Churches of the United States The Cadman church
charged that the proposed United Chllrch of Christ is and
will be so alien and different in structure middot and polity
that fundamental congregational usage and practice will be 20
wholly lost and destroyed
Justice Meier Steinbrink of Kings County Supreme Court
of New York was the first to hear the case and sided with
the plaintiffs stating that indeed no Congregational church
had ever authorized the General Council to negotiate the
Basis of Union in the first place and that the very name
proposed for the new body (United Church of Christ) indicated
a willingness if not intent to discard the Congregational
tradition Justice Steinbrink issued an injunction against
21consummation of the merger
11
Two years later (in 1952) the New York Courts Appellatt
Division reversed the Cadman decision on the grounds that the
plaintiff church had no interest in the property of the
General Council or the boards and without a property 22
interest the court could not go into merger questions The
New York Court of Appeals highest court in the state
sustained the reversal the next year stating that the
proposed union will in no way change the historical and
traditional pattern of the individual Congregational
Christian Church~each member church will continue to
possess the same freedom of faith and manner of worship as middot -
heretofore enjoyed bullbullbullUnion depends on voluntary action fully
taken by indepenaent autonomous churches bullbull23
After these years of resistance and failures in court middot
battles it became evident that the ideals held by the
protestors would not be preserved The National Association
of Congregational Christian Churches was formed in Detroit
Michigan on November 10 1955 with the intention ~f retur~ing
to the Congregational Way They referrei to themselves as middot
Neo-Congregationalists claiming that they were nothing more
than mature Congregationalists not possessing any novelty
of content but arising out of a renewed faith in the power 24of the old principles
The National Association had as their founding goal a
bringing together of l_ocal churches for counsel inspiration
and fellowship assumt ng for themselves no ecclesiastical
authority and no birging creed 25 In their Articles of
12
Association adopted the following year the founders were
careful to spell out a system of local church rule over the
national administration for the minimization of the possibility
of a recurrance of the bitterness and schism of the past
ten middotyears The Preamble clearly states that they hold to the
idea that historic Congregationalism adhered to the freedom
of the Christian man and the right of the local church to
self-goverrunent middot in all matters and that Congregationalism
is in its essence an outer and corporate expression of the
inner and individual life in Christ 26
Finally on August 24 1961 the National Association
took the middotbold bullbullmiddot bull step of declaring itself to be the successor
to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian middot
Churches 1127 That year 3600 of the 5550 Congregational churches
in the US were members of the United Church of Christ more
than 1500 chose to remain wholly independent of any body and
JOO were affiliated with the National Association 28
The newly formed National Association had a severe blow
dealt to their morale in 1962 when they applied for admission
to the International Congregational Council but were not
granted Congregational status in that they were not a part of the
United Church of Christ a gromicrop making application at the
same time As Harry Butman one of the founders of the middot
National Association said there is a wry humor in
thinking on the topsy-turly logic of the ecclesiastical mind
that sees such great ~lstoric churches as Park Street Bostonbullbullbull
as not Congregational while the infant churches which came
13
of their missionary zeal and labor say the Samoan and the
middot Bantu (two ghurches admitted at themiddot same middottime the National
Association was rejected) ~ Corigregationai churches bullmiddot1128
Today the National Association of Congregational
Chridegstian Churches boasts 357 churches in full membership with
them and 39 more which are associated or affiliated unofficially
The association continues to grow and is consistantly drawing
in more congregations fnto the Congregational middot Way
Throughout Congregational history we see the recurring
trend for this individualistic system to search for and find
an authority system with which it can unite In previous
generations tne union has occured arid obliterated the founding
principles of Congregationalism In this generation for the
flrst time the union has been staunchly opposed and has middotmiddotshy
resulted in a renewal of the old ways The question for history
to answer is whether the old ways wili in the enq be yictorious
or whether the demands of our society require drastic
restructuring for survival
FOOTNOTES
1Walker Williston A Histor middot of the Con e ational Churches in the United States The Christian Literature Co 1894) p 428
2conn Howard The Dilemma of Congregationalism (National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 1962) t p20
3walker Williston A Hdegistory of the Christian Church 3rd ed (New York Charles Scribners Sons 1970) Pmiddot 443
4Manning Bernard Lord Essays in Orthadox Dissent (London Independent Press LTD 1953) p 156ff
5rbid P 108 bull 6nunning Albert E Con~regationalists in America
(J A Hill and Company 1894 pp130-132
op Cit Walker A History of the Christian middotcmiddothurch p 433
8Ibid p 4J4
9op Cit WalkerA History of the Congregational Churches in the United States p 428
10op Cit Walker A History of the Christian Churchp466
11Hudson Winthrop S Religion in America (Charles Scribners Sons 1973) p118
12r bid bull p 11 9 bull
13Ibid p 119
14rbid p120
15rbid p 121
16National Association of Congregational Christian Churches A Comorehensive Anal s is of What We Are Now Con re ational Principles and Polity National Association of CongregationalChristian Churches 1961) p 8 middot middot
17Latourette Kenneth A History of Christianity vol 2 (Harper and Row 1975) p 1422
FOOTNOTES (continued)
18Burton Malcolm K How Church middotUnion Came (The Committee for the Continuation of Congregational _Ghristian Churches of the United States Inc 1966) p middot4
19Ibid p7 20ttoskins Fred Con e ationalism Betra ed or Fulfilled
(transcript of th~ Southworth Lecture middot 1962 p 9 shy21Ibid p 11 22op Cit Burton pp 7-8
23op Cit Hoskins p 11
24 (Butman Harry R The Lords Free People The Swannett Press 1968) p 79
25Ibid p 114
26National Ass~ciation of Congregational Christian Churches NACCC Yearbook-1975-1976 (National Associaticm of Co~egational Christian Churches 1975) p 165
27Op cmiddotmiddot1 t bull Bu t man p bull 11 Jc bull
28Ibid p 14)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Atkins Gaius An Adventure in Liberty The Pilgrim Press 1961
Atkins Gaius and Fagley Frederick middotHistory of American middot Congregationalism The Pilgrim Press 1942
Bradshaw Marion John Free Churches and Christian Unity The Beacon Press 1954 middot middot middot middot
Burton Malcolm K Destiny for Congregatialism Modern Publfshers Inc 1953
Burton Malcolm K How Church Union Came The Committee for the Continuation of Congregational Christian Churches of the United States Inc 1966 middot
Burton Malcolm K To Revamp Protestant WorshiQ The Committee for the Continuation of the Congregationsl Christian Churches of the United States 1965w
Butman Harry R The Lords Free People The Swannett Press 1968
Conn Howard The Dilemma of ConJregationalism National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 1962
Congregational Press Handbook of the National Association of middot Congregational Christian Churches- 1263 The Congregational
Press 1963
Dunning Albert E Congregationalists in Americmiddota J A Hill and Company 1894
General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches Digest of Minutes of Meetings of the CongregationalChristian Churchesmiddot of the United States-1911-1965 The General Council middotof the Congregatinal Christian Churches 1971
Hoskins Fred Congregationalism Betrayed or Fulfilled transmiddotcript of the Southworth Lecture 1962
Hudson Winthrop S~ Religion in America Charles Scribners Sons 1973
Latourette Kenneth A History of Christianity vol 2 Harper and Row 1975
Manning Bernard Lord _Essa ys in Orthadox Dissent London Independ8nt Pressmiddot LTD 1953
BIBLIOGRAPHY (Continued)
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches A Comprehensive Analysis of What We Are Now Congregational Principles and Polity ~ 1National~ssociaticm~middot-of Congregationan Christian Churches 1961 middot middot
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches middot NACCC Yearbook-1975-1976 National Association of middot
Congregational Christian Churches 1975 middot
Sinclair Francis What It Means to be a Congregationalist League to Uphold Congregational Principles undated
Steece Arvel M Polity Evolution and the Future of Congregationa1ism The Congregationalist (March 1975)16-17
Walker Williston A History of the CongregatiOnal Churches middot in the United States The Christian Literature Co 1894
Walker Williston A History of the Christian Church Jrd edmiddot New York Charles Scribners Sons 1979
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF IMPORTANT EVENTS IN CONGREGATIONAL HISTORY
1582 Brownes $tatement ofCongregational Principles publisheltl r583_John Coppin and Elias Thacker hanged at Bu~y St Edmunds England r586 John Greenwood and Henry Barrowe im111isoned in London 1588 Martin ]far-prelate Tracts 1589 A True Description out of the Word of God of the Visible Church
published in _London r 592 First known modern Congregational church completely and formally
organized in London 1593 John Greenwood Henry Barrowe and John Penry hanged the last of
the Congregational martyrs put to death Fifty-six members of the first Congregational church London imprisoned
1595 First Congregational church regathered fo Amsterdam Holland 15g6 A True Confession 0pound the Faith bullbull of the London-Amste1dam
Church published 15C)S The same True Confession middottranslated into Latin and published 16oz Congregational church organized at Gainsborough England r6o3 Death of Elizabeth and accession or JamesI Petition 0pound Amsterdam
Church to King James I stating the Points of Difference between Congregationalism and the Church of England
16o6 Scrooby Church organized John Robinson Pastor Gainsborough Church remomiddotes to Amsterdam
16o7-o8 Scrooby Church remobulles to Amsterdam 16olt John Robinson with the Pilgrims ofScrciobf Church settles in Leyden middot 1611 King James Version of the Bible published middot r616 Congregational church organized at Southwark London middot _ 1617 Pilgrims of Leyden petition King James for permission to settle in
America 1618-19 The Synod of Dort at Dordrecht Holland
middot 16zo Pilgrims left Leyden July 21 sailed from Pl~middotmouth September 16 sigped civil compact in the 1fayfiowerNovember 21 landed at Plymouth lIass December 1 r (0 S) December 21 (N S)
1621 Gomiddoternor Carver died Villiam Bradfo-d chosen governor of Pilgrim Colony
162+ First Purit3n settlement in New Erigfand at Cape Ann 1625 John Robinson died in Leyden Death or James I middotand accession of
Challes r middot 1628 The Company or ~bssachusetts Uay formed in England Captain
middot Endecott arri1middoted at Sltllen1 William Laud mule Bishop of London
535
Chronological Table through 1899 from Albert Dunning s Congregationalism in America~
I
CHROsOLCJGICAL TAUIE
1629 Six vessels with emirants from England arrfred at Salem Second Congregational church in America formed at Salem Mass middot Charter granted to Massachusetts
1630 First Church Dorchester llass organized at Plymouth EoglamJ landed at Nantasket lfay 30 John Vinthrop with a Aeet of CS middot
sels arrived in Massachusetts liar The Iassachusctts charter brought to Ncw England First Church organized at Charlcstowrt md First Church bull Vatertown July 30 middot First General Court Au- gust 23 John Winthrop elected gomiddoternor Settlement of llostou
163 Church at Charlestown remOf(f to Boston Prt~ent First Church middot Charlestown organized Nmbullember 23 First Church Lynn ind
First Church Roxbury organized 1633 John Cotton Thomas Hooker and Samuel Stone arrived at Boston middotmiddot
Laud made Archbishop of Canterbury First parish in New Hampshire at Domiddoter First Church formed in connection with the parish 1638
1635 Colonies from Dorchester and Vatertomiddotn remocd lo Connecticut~ 1636 First Church in Dorchester ~lass organiztcl in Plymouth England
1630 fully estihlishecl at indsor Conn First Church Camshyhiillgc organi1olti Thomas Hooker with his compan) in organshyized church emigratetl from Cambridge ~lass lo Hanford Conn Roger Williams banished from [assachusetts Colony Sir Henry Vane chosen gomiddoternor The Hutchinson contnJmiddotcrsy Harard College founded Winthrop again elected gomiddoternor bull
r6j7 First General Synod or Xtw England commiddotencd at Camhriclge by the General Court It conclemned Antinomianism John Davenport middot and company arrimiddotcd at Boston from England Pequot ar
1638 Mrs Hutchinson excommunicated from the Boston Chirch and bmmiddot ished from themiddotcolo11y New Haven Colony founded hy Daenport
and his company 1641 Ilody 0pound Liberties adopted by the General Court of ltassachusetts
New Hampshire towns incorporated into ifass-lchusctts Colony 1643 Vetminster Assemhly convened in En~land hr Parliament Minisshy
terial Cflllention at Cimhridge ~lass Confederation of the four colonies iIitssachusetts Plymouth Connecticut and New Hinbullen
16~ Archbishop Laud cxccuted 1645 Tiattle of Nasehy insuring the 1lownfoll of the English Monarchy
Hookers Surver of the Sum of Church Discipline approved by the ministers of the New England colonies
1646--48 John Elot hean preaching to the Indians General American Synod at Cmnhriltlge setting forth platform of Church Polfty
1647 System of common schools adopted by Gemral Court of ifassachusetts 164S estminster Confession of Faith appromiddotecl by Parliament 1649 Enll ncl proclaims itsdf a Commonwealth 1650 Second Church Bo~ton organized middot 165r Gcnera Court or iTassachusctts approed Ctmbridge Platfomiddotrm
CHRONOLOGICAL TACLE 537
1654 Olimiddotcr Cromwell Loni Protector of Engla~d 1657 Ministerial Convention at- Boston Halfway Covenant recommended
_ Quakers imprisoned in Roston middot 1658 General Synod at Swoy Palace London setting forth amended
Vestminster Confession andmiddot Congregational Platform of Church Order Olimiddotcr Cromwell died
rmiddot66o Restoration of monarchy in England Charles II made king 1662 Massichusetts Synod at Beston appro-ed HaHway Covenant Conshy
necticut and New middotHaven Colonies united 1664- Church at Darrington organized the oldest existing Congregational
church in Rhode Island 166c) Olil South Church Boston organized 1670 Second Church Hartford Conn organized 1673 Church in Agamcnticus now York lle organized (possibly much
earlier) themiddot oldest existing Congregational church in that State then a part of Massachusetts
1674-76 King Philips War 1679-80 fassachusetts Synod at Tloston known as the Reforming Synod 168 Cotton Mather ordained colleague pastQr of Second Church Boston 1684 Charter of Massachusetts Colonr bullacatcd 1685 James II king of Englaml Sir Edmund Andros seized Old South
lleeting-housc Uoston for Episcopal scnmiddotices 1689 i lliun and tary made king rnd quee n of EnglanltI Andros
imprisoned anti promiddotisional gumiddotcrnment form~d in lfassachtisctts Simdn Ilraclstrctt gomiddoternor Kings Chapel erected for Episcopal middot
middot worship middot Toleration Act passeltl by English Parliament affordmiddot middoting legal protection to Nltnconforn1ists
1690 As-ociation of ministers of Boston and bullicinity formed the first permanent District Association in ilassachusctts
169t Healtls o( Agreement adopted in London between Preshyterians and Congregationalists middotPlymouth Colony connectecl with llassashychusetts
1692 Villiam Phips firs t gomiddotcrnor of Massachusets under new charter Twenty persons put to death at Salem for witchcraft Episco- palians na1itists and Quakers exempted from taxes for the support middot of Congregational churches in lfassachusetts
1699 Brallle Street Church Boston organized 1701 Yale College founded Society for the Propagation of the Gospel
organi7cd in England 1702 Anne queen of E ngland 1705 Proposals issued b y representatibulles of tassachusetts ministerial
associations 1708 Connecticut Synod at Saybrook issued the Saybrook Platform 170-J Gcncral ssoiation of Connecticut ministers organized the first middot middotmiddot middot Statt organi7atinn 1713 Peace or Utricht
CHRO~OLOGICAL TABLE538
1714 George I king of En~bnd
1716 Yale College located in New Haven 1pz Cutler rector o( Yale College and others became Episcopalians 1723 Increase ~father died 1725 Fini1 and unsuccessful effort of General Court of Massachusetts to
call a synod of churches 1727 Jonathan E~wards ordained colleague pastor at Northampton
George II king of England ljJ~ Cotton lather died 173 Revival of religion at Northampton 1738 George Whitefields first visit to America 171-o Whitefield visited Coston and other parts of New England 17j0-42 Great revival of religion in New England 17-tr Gilbert Tennent preached in Boston middot 17J2 John Davenport by his preaching made disturbances in Connecticut
and Massachusetts Separatist churches formed 1744-4 Whitefields second vi5it to New England 1750 Jonathan Edwards forced to leamiddote the Church at Northampton went
to Stockbridge a missionary to the Indians middot 17)7 Jonithan Edwards died middot 1762 First Church organized in Vennont at Bennington 1765 Stamp Act passed 1766 Stamp Act repealed 1769 Dartmouth College founded 1770 Samuel Hopkins sittled at Newport R I 1773 The Doston Tea Party 177) Commencement of War or the ReOlution 1778 Phillips Academy Andover founded Phillips Academy Exetershy
N H chartered 1781 178o lfassachusetts Bill of Rights enacted amended guaranteeing to
every denomination o( Christians equal protection i11 law 1834 middot 1782 James Fimiddoteeman chosen rector of Kings Chapel the church under
him became Unittrian 1783 End of the War of the Revolution 1784 Saybrook Pbtorm by remiddotision of statutes ceased to be cMl law in
Connecticut 1786 lIassachusetts was granted the right to purchase from the Indians
Western New York 1790 lIethodisrn first appears in 1fassachusctts Gra_nt or Vestem Reshy
senmiddote to Connecticut 1793 Williams College chartered 179-1-middot Ilowcloin College chartered 17)) The London lissiona1y Society instituted General Convention of
Congregational ministers and churches in Vermont organized 1796 F irst Con~rcgational church in Ohio at llarietla 1798 Connccicut fissionary Society formed
CH lW~OLOGICAL TAllLE S39
1799 )fassachusetts Missionary Society formed rSoo iliddlebury College founded 1801 Plan of Union ailopted botweeu the General Congregational Associashy
tion of Connecticut and the Genoral Assembly or the Presbyterian middotmiddot Church Congregational middotc1nirch organized in Quebec the first in
Lower middotcnada middot 1803 General Association of ilassachusetts ministers fomted Gtneral
Con(erence of churches 1S6o Union of Association and Confershyence 1868
1805 Henry Ware chose professor of divinity at Harvard First Sunday school in Cauacla organized in connection with Congregational chiuch in Quebec middot middot
1808 The first theological seminary opened at Andover Mass bullSo Park Street Church Iloston or~aniicd New Hampshire Associashy
tion and Rhode Island Consociation organized Muskingum (0) Association formed middot
1810 American Doard of Commissioners or Foreign Missions established by the General Aisociation of Massachusetts Dr Kirkland elected president ur Han middotard middot First Sunday school in ltassachushysttts ~t Ucn rl-
1815 Unitarianism avomd hy some tassachusetts Congregationalists 1816 American Education Society formed middotunited with Westem Coilege
Socictr in 1 87~ with Ncw est Education Commis~ion in 1893 Dan~or Theological Seminary began Rt1s011 N~cordtr began
1818 1ew constitution adopted hy the State of Connccticut making all re ligious associations purd Oluntary bull
1819 Congre~ational church organized at Southwold the first in Upper Crnada
1821 Amherst College founded middot 18 Theological department opened at Yale College 186 American Home issionary Society institutecf First State Confershy
ence of churches organized in Mai= 1831 Congregational Union or England and Wales organiied 183 l~assachusetts Sabbath-school Societr organized 1833 Declaration of Faith of the Congregational churches or Engbnd aml
Walts with Principles of Church Order and Discipline Oberlin college founclecl
1834 General Association of New York organized 1835 Illinois College founded 1837 Prcsbyteria11 General Jsscmhlr abrogated Pian of Union 1838 New School Prehyterian Chunh orgmizcll 1 S40 General Asso1iatio11 of Iowa anti isconsin Co1wention formed 18p Gencrtl ssmiatinn of l ithi~an Conned I s~ General Associati()ll of Ill inois formed 18~6 Convention of Western Co11grcgational churches at ~fichigan City
Mich American lissionary sociation organized bull
540 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
t8t7middot Beloit College founded 1848 Iowa College founded Oregon Association formed 1852 American General Convention of Congregational Chur~hes at Albany
N Y Encl of Plan of Union Ohio Association oigauized 1853 Congregational Churchbuilding Society formed middot 1855 Kansas Association organized 1856 Minnesota Association organized 1857 California and Nebraska associations organized 1858 Chicago Theological Seminary founded Indiana Association organmiddot
ized 186o Congregational College of British North America founded affiliated
with McGill Unimiddotersity Iontreal Canada 1864 1861 Beginning of Civil War 1865 Close of Cimiddotil War Missouri Association organized General
American Council of Congregational Churches Boston Burial Hill Declaration of Faith adopted
1867 Connecticut Conference organized 1868 Colorado Association organized 1869 New Jersey Association organizedmiddot 1870 Louisiana Association organized 1871 National Council established at Oberlin O for triennial meetings
South Dakota and Tennessee associations organized Congregational House Boston occupied by benemiddoto]ent societies and
other Congregational orga1iizations 1876 Alabama Association organized 1878 Georgia Association organized 1879 North Carolina Conference mmiddotganized 1881 First Youug Peoples Society of Christian Endeabullor fonnecl at Villiishy
ton Congregltttional Church Portland ire New est Edlcation Commission organizedmiddot united with American Education Society 1893
1882 Utah Association organized 1883 Declaration of Faith by a Creed Commission appointed hy the
National Council Florida and Mississippi associations and North Dakota Conference organized
Arizona and New Mexico Association an~] Montana Conference organized
1SSG P~middotnnsyh-mia tssltgtciation organized 1887 Arkansas and Southern Calipoundorni1 associations organized 1SS9 Vashington Agtsociation organired 1890 Gcor~ia Corwention and Oklahoma Association organilcd 1891 First International Congregational Council London Englind all
parts of the world bcing represcntell yoming Association organizd
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE Of Important Events In Congregational History
Since 1900
1913 Report of the Committee of Nineteen acted upon by National Council of Congregational Churches at Kansas City setting up a national system for the dispensing of benevolences and control of seven Missionary Societies
1923 A national magazine poll reportedly ascertained the 25 best preachers in the US indicating that 7 were Congregationalists a group of only 900000
1931 Congregational National Council merged with General Convention of the Christian Church into the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches
1934 Congregational Christian Churches absorbs the German Reformed Church
1938 Rev Samuel Press in cooperation with Rev Truman Douglas initiated church union with the Eva~elical and Reformed Church
1942 Commission on Inter-Church Relations and Christian Unity authorized to explore possibl~ union with the E and R Church
1943 First and second drafts of the Basis of Unionn completed and sent to associations and churches for their study
1947 The Evanston Meeting held by Congregationalists as an ad hoc committee of the concerned over the proposed merger--released statement charging that Basis of Union was an abandonment of Congregational tradition and principle
1948 Deadline for acceptance of Basis of Union passes without the required percentage approving--deadline extended to Jan 1949 middot
1949 Approval of Basis of Union continues to be under 75 but General Council passes it anyway Cadman Memorial Church brought legal action to prevent the union
1950 New ~c~k Supreme Court enjoined General Council from carrying out consummation of the proposed union with the E and R Church
1952 New York court reversed lower court decision on grounds that since no property was involved themiddoty had no jurisdiction
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
1953 Appeal of Cadman Memorial Church denied 1955 National Association of Congregational Christian
Churches organized~ 1956 NACCC adopted its Articles of Association and By-Laws 1957 Formation of the United Church of Christ by the
Pirst General Synod middot
1959 Commission on the ministry of the NA proposed that ordination of ministers by the local church be proclaimed valid on the basis of historic Congregationalprinciple
1961 UCC Constitution formally ratified NACCC declared itself to be the successor to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches
1962 UCC and NACCC made application for membeEhip in the International Congregational Council UCC admitted NACCC denied admission
1966 Seminar on the Nature and Future of the Free Church in Chicago offered alternatives to organizational ecumenicity Consultatiqn on Church Union (COCU) completed its middot blueprin~ for the Great American Church
4 ill treated by their Congregational brothers In some
towns in the bay area Quakers and Baptists were being
publicly whipped or humiliated in other middotways by the
Congregationalists who seemingly forgot that their complaint
with the Church of England was that they did not allow religious
freedom The Church of Engl_and did step in however 1 and
asserted a certain amount of royal control to put an end to
the _persecution and allow a measure of toleration for
religious minorities7
With the second generation of Congregationalists -came
many who demanded the birthright of Congregationalism but
who could not measure up to the strict requirements imposed on
members With this generation came the Half-Way Covenant
admitting them to membership and dispelling Puvitan hopes middot
for their holy commonwealth and allowing liberal trends to
take their toll As a reaction to thismiddot the conservatives
established Yale University which would hopefully counteract the
liberal influence 8
For its first two centuries Congregationalism was confined
almost exclusively to New England but inmiddot 1810 Congregationalists
formed the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign
Missions and in1812 sent Americas first five missionaries
abroad By the end of the 19th century there were 4 868
Congregationar-churches spread from coast to coast in the
United States middotsupporting six national societies for missionary middot
outreach 9
5
With the rapid and powerful growth of the Congregationlists
in the United States it was inevitable that many nonshy
Congregational ideals would be inculcated into the church and
that consequently union with other denominations would be middota
great temptation In the 19th century alone Congregationalists
joind with no less than six other churches among them being
most notably the Presbyterians the Free Baptists the
Disciples of Christ and the Christian denomination middot middot
Going into the Revolutionary war the denomination was in
the midst of some _very serious divisions within the church
over differing views of the Great Awakening and the
Congregationamiddotl minister J ohnathon Edwards Some of the
members were totally repulsed at the whole concept of
remiddotvivalism and others em9raced it dearly bull middot Reaction was so
strong that the awakening had little effect in Congregational
churches after the middle of the century even though it
continued to thrive in other middotgroups formiddot several years longer bull1 O
The Congregationalists survived the Revolutionary War and
entered into independence stronger than ever They _had been middot
closely identified with the colonial causes and had picked up
many of th_e people who were in churches which were loyalist in
feeling immediately after the war If they went into the
revolution with the largest num~er of members and churches in the
country they came out of it witha11 the wealth prestige and
able leaders to match their size It was projected that
within the century COngregationalism would grow to seven
million (from 60-70 thousand) but this never came about
6
Although outwardly the church seemed to be v ery str~ong
internal weaknesses developed as they spent their energies
middotw~ging a rearguard defense for preservation of the special 11middot privileges they possessed in New England
By the end of the colonial period most Presbyterians and
Congregationalists had come to think of themselves as a middot
single denomination They freely exchanged pulpits (with middot
the Presbyterians taking better advantage of this than did the
Congregationalists in that they tended to believe Congregationalists
unsound in doctrine) and the first threemiddot presidents of middotthe
Presbyterian Princeton University were New England
Congregationalists In Rhode Island and Conneticut the bond shy
was so strong that many Coi-igregationalists refeoed to themselves
middot _as Presbyterians12 middot
In 1801 the younger Jo)fnathan Edwards proposed and saw
passed a Plan of Union with the Presbyterians and later
a strengthening of the bond in the Accomodation _Plan which
provided a unity to the extent of a uniform system of
church governrnentn between the two bodies 13
For the next three decades the Presbyterians and
Congregationalists were one denomination for all intents and
purposes in thEyenstates of New York Ohio Indiana Illinois _
Mic~igan and __Wisconsin In Massachusetts Co~ticut and
New Hampshire however they were inhibited from any formal
union in that the Congregational church had as a result of
their extreme privileges in those states developed a
Ties between the two groups began -to be severed in 1837 but the effects of the Presbyterian influence hampered Congregational growth for half a century cf Dunning Congr egationalism in America
7
strong emphasis upon local autonomy which fostered
vigorous resistance to the ~urrender of local prerogative~14
It should be noted that the major weakness of Congregshy
ationalism in the early 189obulls was not as much ecclesiastical
ties with other denominations as it was one middotof doctrine
Within Congregationalism three distinct parties had
developed the consistent Calvinist$ who were heirs of the
tea~hings and revivalistic tendencies of J~nathan Edwards
the old Calvinists who weremoderate anti-revivalists and middot
the liberals who tended toward a unitarhn position The
in-family warfare which waged hot with passion resulted in
three centers for the trainjng of ministers--Andover in1808 i
Bangor in 1814 and Hartford in 18)4 15
The dissension_caused large numbers to leave the main body
of Congregationalism and form their own independent bull
Congregational and Baptist churches By 1815 the liberals
had split off and become independent Unitarians and the middot
ensuing doctrinal discussions resulted in the conversion of theshy
old Calvinists to a more r evivalist position middot The defection
of the Unitarians middot and the large numbers of people leaving in
middot the heat of battle made it clear that the opportunity that
Congregationalism had had for greatness after the War was
_gone forever
The remainder of the 19th century saw a great expansion
of Congrega tiomil Churches throughout the United States middot
without any great divi$middotions or trials to hamper growth~
~ssociations and State Conferences saw a great proliferation
8
especially as the church began to become firmly rooted
in tne mid-western and western states
The conferences were formed primarily for the purpose
of home mission outreach in starting new churches and for
assi~ting those already established but as the new century came
into being it was becoming more and more evident that they middot
were developing increasing power among the churches middotThey were
no longer groups for support and fellowship but began to see
their function changing into one of specialized services0
to existing churches and had a tendency to seize the
initiative in trying to set up programs for the churches to 16
follow 0
middot Before the -middle of the 20th century when ecumenical
fever began to sweep the country the Congregational
middot christian Churches were already primed for co-operation or
even merger with other groups if that would help the cause
of Christian unity In 1938 Rev Samuel Press initiated a
drive for union wi-th the Evangelical and Reformed Church
but as the attempts at the union of churches of quite middot distinct
polities and traditions was frustrated by long negotiations it
became evident that the time was middotnot quite right for such a
proposal and was thus dropped for several years 17
The idea of merger with the Evangelical and Reformed
Church was ra-ised again in 1942 when the Commission on Inter-
church Relations and Christian Unity was authorized middotfor the
exploration of merger middot~wlth that body In 1943 the first and
second drafts of the middotBasis of Union were completed and sent
9
to associations and churches for their study This action
was the first major step in the most current of Congregationalisms
passionate warfares within its own ranks
In November of 1947 Congregationalists from all over the
country met in an ad hoc meeting in Evanston Illinois to
discuss their concern with the Basis of Union and its meaning
to Congregationalism They concluded that the Basis of Union
called for joining with a Presbyterian type church into
Presbyterian system to the abandonment of the Congregational
principles of church government This middotconclusion was
immediately denounced by the General Council of the
Congregational Christian Churches as soon as it was made
18public
When the Basis of Union was sent to the various churches
for approval or rejection 1t was indicated that the voting
deadline was to be April 1 19L~8 (extended later to January middot
of 1949) and that it would stand approved upon acceptance by
75 of the individuals churches associations and conferencesmiddot
_voting When in May of 1948 it became clear that the proposal
would not pass due to the fact that the official tally showed middotmiddot
at that time only 65 of churches and 63 of the people voting
approval of the merger the General Council adopted a set of
Interpretations which basically assured churches of the
retention of Congregational polity This wasmiddot repudiated by
the Executive Committee of the Evangelical and Reformed Church
who stated that the Interpretations are not binding on them -
nor the proposed United Church of Christ either at present or in
the future
10
By February of 1949 with many disputes concerning
exactly what percent~ge of people or churches had actually
approved the merger and the highest figure middotceven though
unconfirmed) being 73 themiddot General Council of
Congregati~nal Christian Churches voted to proceed with
union with the Evangelical and Reformed Church 19 This
action contrary to themiddot clearmiddot understanding of the churches
would cause more than ten years of bitterness within the
denomination and cause once more in Congregational history
great divisions within and among churches
The most visible and middot long lived protest of the proposed
merger was taken up by the Cadman Memorial Church of Brooklyn
Ne)l York which sued on their own behalf and on behalf of
other Congregational Christian Churches Helen Kenyon
Moderator of the General Council of the Congregational
Christian Churches of the United States The Cadman church
charged that the proposed United Chllrch of Christ is and
will be so alien and different in structure middot and polity
that fundamental congregational usage and practice will be 20
wholly lost and destroyed
Justice Meier Steinbrink of Kings County Supreme Court
of New York was the first to hear the case and sided with
the plaintiffs stating that indeed no Congregational church
had ever authorized the General Council to negotiate the
Basis of Union in the first place and that the very name
proposed for the new body (United Church of Christ) indicated
a willingness if not intent to discard the Congregational
tradition Justice Steinbrink issued an injunction against
21consummation of the merger
11
Two years later (in 1952) the New York Courts Appellatt
Division reversed the Cadman decision on the grounds that the
plaintiff church had no interest in the property of the
General Council or the boards and without a property 22
interest the court could not go into merger questions The
New York Court of Appeals highest court in the state
sustained the reversal the next year stating that the
proposed union will in no way change the historical and
traditional pattern of the individual Congregational
Christian Church~each member church will continue to
possess the same freedom of faith and manner of worship as middot -
heretofore enjoyed bullbullbullUnion depends on voluntary action fully
taken by indepenaent autonomous churches bullbull23
After these years of resistance and failures in court middot
battles it became evident that the ideals held by the
protestors would not be preserved The National Association
of Congregational Christian Churches was formed in Detroit
Michigan on November 10 1955 with the intention ~f retur~ing
to the Congregational Way They referrei to themselves as middot
Neo-Congregationalists claiming that they were nothing more
than mature Congregationalists not possessing any novelty
of content but arising out of a renewed faith in the power 24of the old principles
The National Association had as their founding goal a
bringing together of l_ocal churches for counsel inspiration
and fellowship assumt ng for themselves no ecclesiastical
authority and no birging creed 25 In their Articles of
12
Association adopted the following year the founders were
careful to spell out a system of local church rule over the
national administration for the minimization of the possibility
of a recurrance of the bitterness and schism of the past
ten middotyears The Preamble clearly states that they hold to the
idea that historic Congregationalism adhered to the freedom
of the Christian man and the right of the local church to
self-goverrunent middot in all matters and that Congregationalism
is in its essence an outer and corporate expression of the
inner and individual life in Christ 26
Finally on August 24 1961 the National Association
took the middotbold bullbullmiddot bull step of declaring itself to be the successor
to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian middot
Churches 1127 That year 3600 of the 5550 Congregational churches
in the US were members of the United Church of Christ more
than 1500 chose to remain wholly independent of any body and
JOO were affiliated with the National Association 28
The newly formed National Association had a severe blow
dealt to their morale in 1962 when they applied for admission
to the International Congregational Council but were not
granted Congregational status in that they were not a part of the
United Church of Christ a gromicrop making application at the
same time As Harry Butman one of the founders of the middot
National Association said there is a wry humor in
thinking on the topsy-turly logic of the ecclesiastical mind
that sees such great ~lstoric churches as Park Street Bostonbullbullbull
as not Congregational while the infant churches which came
13
of their missionary zeal and labor say the Samoan and the
middot Bantu (two ghurches admitted at themiddot same middottime the National
Association was rejected) ~ Corigregationai churches bullmiddot1128
Today the National Association of Congregational
Chridegstian Churches boasts 357 churches in full membership with
them and 39 more which are associated or affiliated unofficially
The association continues to grow and is consistantly drawing
in more congregations fnto the Congregational middot Way
Throughout Congregational history we see the recurring
trend for this individualistic system to search for and find
an authority system with which it can unite In previous
generations tne union has occured arid obliterated the founding
principles of Congregationalism In this generation for the
flrst time the union has been staunchly opposed and has middotmiddotshy
resulted in a renewal of the old ways The question for history
to answer is whether the old ways wili in the enq be yictorious
or whether the demands of our society require drastic
restructuring for survival
FOOTNOTES
1Walker Williston A Histor middot of the Con e ational Churches in the United States The Christian Literature Co 1894) p 428
2conn Howard The Dilemma of Congregationalism (National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 1962) t p20
3walker Williston A Hdegistory of the Christian Church 3rd ed (New York Charles Scribners Sons 1970) Pmiddot 443
4Manning Bernard Lord Essays in Orthadox Dissent (London Independent Press LTD 1953) p 156ff
5rbid P 108 bull 6nunning Albert E Con~regationalists in America
(J A Hill and Company 1894 pp130-132
op Cit Walker A History of the Christian middotcmiddothurch p 433
8Ibid p 4J4
9op Cit WalkerA History of the Congregational Churches in the United States p 428
10op Cit Walker A History of the Christian Churchp466
11Hudson Winthrop S Religion in America (Charles Scribners Sons 1973) p118
12r bid bull p 11 9 bull
13Ibid p 119
14rbid p120
15rbid p 121
16National Association of Congregational Christian Churches A Comorehensive Anal s is of What We Are Now Con re ational Principles and Polity National Association of CongregationalChristian Churches 1961) p 8 middot middot
17Latourette Kenneth A History of Christianity vol 2 (Harper and Row 1975) p 1422
FOOTNOTES (continued)
18Burton Malcolm K How Church middotUnion Came (The Committee for the Continuation of Congregational _Ghristian Churches of the United States Inc 1966) p middot4
19Ibid p7 20ttoskins Fred Con e ationalism Betra ed or Fulfilled
(transcript of th~ Southworth Lecture middot 1962 p 9 shy21Ibid p 11 22op Cit Burton pp 7-8
23op Cit Hoskins p 11
24 (Butman Harry R The Lords Free People The Swannett Press 1968) p 79
25Ibid p 114
26National Ass~ciation of Congregational Christian Churches NACCC Yearbook-1975-1976 (National Associaticm of Co~egational Christian Churches 1975) p 165
27Op cmiddotmiddot1 t bull Bu t man p bull 11 Jc bull
28Ibid p 14)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Atkins Gaius An Adventure in Liberty The Pilgrim Press 1961
Atkins Gaius and Fagley Frederick middotHistory of American middot Congregationalism The Pilgrim Press 1942
Bradshaw Marion John Free Churches and Christian Unity The Beacon Press 1954 middot middot middot middot
Burton Malcolm K Destiny for Congregatialism Modern Publfshers Inc 1953
Burton Malcolm K How Church Union Came The Committee for the Continuation of Congregational Christian Churches of the United States Inc 1966 middot
Burton Malcolm K To Revamp Protestant WorshiQ The Committee for the Continuation of the Congregationsl Christian Churches of the United States 1965w
Butman Harry R The Lords Free People The Swannett Press 1968
Conn Howard The Dilemma of ConJregationalism National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 1962
Congregational Press Handbook of the National Association of middot Congregational Christian Churches- 1263 The Congregational
Press 1963
Dunning Albert E Congregationalists in Americmiddota J A Hill and Company 1894
General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches Digest of Minutes of Meetings of the CongregationalChristian Churchesmiddot of the United States-1911-1965 The General Council middotof the Congregatinal Christian Churches 1971
Hoskins Fred Congregationalism Betrayed or Fulfilled transmiddotcript of the Southworth Lecture 1962
Hudson Winthrop S~ Religion in America Charles Scribners Sons 1973
Latourette Kenneth A History of Christianity vol 2 Harper and Row 1975
Manning Bernard Lord _Essa ys in Orthadox Dissent London Independ8nt Pressmiddot LTD 1953
BIBLIOGRAPHY (Continued)
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches A Comprehensive Analysis of What We Are Now Congregational Principles and Polity ~ 1National~ssociaticm~middot-of Congregationan Christian Churches 1961 middot middot
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches middot NACCC Yearbook-1975-1976 National Association of middot
Congregational Christian Churches 1975 middot
Sinclair Francis What It Means to be a Congregationalist League to Uphold Congregational Principles undated
Steece Arvel M Polity Evolution and the Future of Congregationa1ism The Congregationalist (March 1975)16-17
Walker Williston A History of the CongregatiOnal Churches middot in the United States The Christian Literature Co 1894
Walker Williston A History of the Christian Church Jrd edmiddot New York Charles Scribners Sons 1979
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF IMPORTANT EVENTS IN CONGREGATIONAL HISTORY
1582 Brownes $tatement ofCongregational Principles publisheltl r583_John Coppin and Elias Thacker hanged at Bu~y St Edmunds England r586 John Greenwood and Henry Barrowe im111isoned in London 1588 Martin ]far-prelate Tracts 1589 A True Description out of the Word of God of the Visible Church
published in _London r 592 First known modern Congregational church completely and formally
organized in London 1593 John Greenwood Henry Barrowe and John Penry hanged the last of
the Congregational martyrs put to death Fifty-six members of the first Congregational church London imprisoned
1595 First Congregational church regathered fo Amsterdam Holland 15g6 A True Confession 0pound the Faith bullbull of the London-Amste1dam
Church published 15C)S The same True Confession middottranslated into Latin and published 16oz Congregational church organized at Gainsborough England r6o3 Death of Elizabeth and accession or JamesI Petition 0pound Amsterdam
Church to King James I stating the Points of Difference between Congregationalism and the Church of England
16o6 Scrooby Church organized John Robinson Pastor Gainsborough Church remomiddotes to Amsterdam
16o7-o8 Scrooby Church remobulles to Amsterdam 16olt John Robinson with the Pilgrims ofScrciobf Church settles in Leyden middot 1611 King James Version of the Bible published middot r616 Congregational church organized at Southwark London middot _ 1617 Pilgrims of Leyden petition King James for permission to settle in
America 1618-19 The Synod of Dort at Dordrecht Holland
middot 16zo Pilgrims left Leyden July 21 sailed from Pl~middotmouth September 16 sigped civil compact in the 1fayfiowerNovember 21 landed at Plymouth lIass December 1 r (0 S) December 21 (N S)
1621 Gomiddoternor Carver died Villiam Bradfo-d chosen governor of Pilgrim Colony
162+ First Purit3n settlement in New Erigfand at Cape Ann 1625 John Robinson died in Leyden Death or James I middotand accession of
Challes r middot 1628 The Company or ~bssachusetts Uay formed in England Captain
middot Endecott arri1middoted at Sltllen1 William Laud mule Bishop of London
535
Chronological Table through 1899 from Albert Dunning s Congregationalism in America~
I
CHROsOLCJGICAL TAUIE
1629 Six vessels with emirants from England arrfred at Salem Second Congregational church in America formed at Salem Mass middot Charter granted to Massachusetts
1630 First Church Dorchester llass organized at Plymouth EoglamJ landed at Nantasket lfay 30 John Vinthrop with a Aeet of CS middot
sels arrived in Massachusetts liar The Iassachusctts charter brought to Ncw England First Church organized at Charlcstowrt md First Church bull Vatertown July 30 middot First General Court Au- gust 23 John Winthrop elected gomiddoternor Settlement of llostou
163 Church at Charlestown remOf(f to Boston Prt~ent First Church middot Charlestown organized Nmbullember 23 First Church Lynn ind
First Church Roxbury organized 1633 John Cotton Thomas Hooker and Samuel Stone arrived at Boston middotmiddot
Laud made Archbishop of Canterbury First parish in New Hampshire at Domiddoter First Church formed in connection with the parish 1638
1635 Colonies from Dorchester and Vatertomiddotn remocd lo Connecticut~ 1636 First Church in Dorchester ~lass organiztcl in Plymouth England
1630 fully estihlishecl at indsor Conn First Church Camshyhiillgc organi1olti Thomas Hooker with his compan) in organshyized church emigratetl from Cambridge ~lass lo Hanford Conn Roger Williams banished from [assachusetts Colony Sir Henry Vane chosen gomiddoternor The Hutchinson contnJmiddotcrsy Harard College founded Winthrop again elected gomiddoternor bull
r6j7 First General Synod or Xtw England commiddotencd at Camhriclge by the General Court It conclemned Antinomianism John Davenport middot and company arrimiddotcd at Boston from England Pequot ar
1638 Mrs Hutchinson excommunicated from the Boston Chirch and bmmiddot ished from themiddotcolo11y New Haven Colony founded hy Daenport
and his company 1641 Ilody 0pound Liberties adopted by the General Court of ltassachusetts
New Hampshire towns incorporated into ifass-lchusctts Colony 1643 Vetminster Assemhly convened in En~land hr Parliament Minisshy
terial Cflllention at Cimhridge ~lass Confederation of the four colonies iIitssachusetts Plymouth Connecticut and New Hinbullen
16~ Archbishop Laud cxccuted 1645 Tiattle of Nasehy insuring the 1lownfoll of the English Monarchy
Hookers Surver of the Sum of Church Discipline approved by the ministers of the New England colonies
1646--48 John Elot hean preaching to the Indians General American Synod at Cmnhriltlge setting forth platform of Church Polfty
1647 System of common schools adopted by Gemral Court of ifassachusetts 164S estminster Confession of Faith appromiddotecl by Parliament 1649 Enll ncl proclaims itsdf a Commonwealth 1650 Second Church Bo~ton organized middot 165r Gcnera Court or iTassachusctts approed Ctmbridge Platfomiddotrm
CHRONOLOGICAL TACLE 537
1654 Olimiddotcr Cromwell Loni Protector of Engla~d 1657 Ministerial Convention at- Boston Halfway Covenant recommended
_ Quakers imprisoned in Roston middot 1658 General Synod at Swoy Palace London setting forth amended
Vestminster Confession andmiddot Congregational Platform of Church Order Olimiddotcr Cromwell died
rmiddot66o Restoration of monarchy in England Charles II made king 1662 Massichusetts Synod at Beston appro-ed HaHway Covenant Conshy
necticut and New middotHaven Colonies united 1664- Church at Darrington organized the oldest existing Congregational
church in Rhode Island 166c) Olil South Church Boston organized 1670 Second Church Hartford Conn organized 1673 Church in Agamcnticus now York lle organized (possibly much
earlier) themiddot oldest existing Congregational church in that State then a part of Massachusetts
1674-76 King Philips War 1679-80 fassachusetts Synod at Tloston known as the Reforming Synod 168 Cotton Mather ordained colleague pastQr of Second Church Boston 1684 Charter of Massachusetts Colonr bullacatcd 1685 James II king of Englaml Sir Edmund Andros seized Old South
lleeting-housc Uoston for Episcopal scnmiddotices 1689 i lliun and tary made king rnd quee n of EnglanltI Andros
imprisoned anti promiddotisional gumiddotcrnment form~d in lfassachtisctts Simdn Ilraclstrctt gomiddoternor Kings Chapel erected for Episcopal middot
middot worship middot Toleration Act passeltl by English Parliament affordmiddot middoting legal protection to Nltnconforn1ists
1690 As-ociation of ministers of Boston and bullicinity formed the first permanent District Association in ilassachusctts
169t Healtls o( Agreement adopted in London between Preshyterians and Congregationalists middotPlymouth Colony connectecl with llassashychusetts
1692 Villiam Phips firs t gomiddotcrnor of Massachusets under new charter Twenty persons put to death at Salem for witchcraft Episco- palians na1itists and Quakers exempted from taxes for the support middot of Congregational churches in lfassachusetts
1699 Brallle Street Church Boston organized 1701 Yale College founded Society for the Propagation of the Gospel
organi7cd in England 1702 Anne queen of E ngland 1705 Proposals issued b y representatibulles of tassachusetts ministerial
associations 1708 Connecticut Synod at Saybrook issued the Saybrook Platform 170-J Gcncral ssoiation of Connecticut ministers organized the first middot middotmiddot middot Statt organi7atinn 1713 Peace or Utricht
CHRO~OLOGICAL TABLE538
1714 George I king of En~bnd
1716 Yale College located in New Haven 1pz Cutler rector o( Yale College and others became Episcopalians 1723 Increase ~father died 1725 Fini1 and unsuccessful effort of General Court of Massachusetts to
call a synod of churches 1727 Jonathan E~wards ordained colleague pastor at Northampton
George II king of England ljJ~ Cotton lather died 173 Revival of religion at Northampton 1738 George Whitefields first visit to America 171-o Whitefield visited Coston and other parts of New England 17j0-42 Great revival of religion in New England 17-tr Gilbert Tennent preached in Boston middot 17J2 John Davenport by his preaching made disturbances in Connecticut
and Massachusetts Separatist churches formed 1744-4 Whitefields second vi5it to New England 1750 Jonathan Edwards forced to leamiddote the Church at Northampton went
to Stockbridge a missionary to the Indians middot 17)7 Jonithan Edwards died middot 1762 First Church organized in Vennont at Bennington 1765 Stamp Act passed 1766 Stamp Act repealed 1769 Dartmouth College founded 1770 Samuel Hopkins sittled at Newport R I 1773 The Doston Tea Party 177) Commencement of War or the ReOlution 1778 Phillips Academy Andover founded Phillips Academy Exetershy
N H chartered 1781 178o lfassachusetts Bill of Rights enacted amended guaranteeing to
every denomination o( Christians equal protection i11 law 1834 middot 1782 James Fimiddoteeman chosen rector of Kings Chapel the church under
him became Unittrian 1783 End of the War of the Revolution 1784 Saybrook Pbtorm by remiddotision of statutes ceased to be cMl law in
Connecticut 1786 lIassachusetts was granted the right to purchase from the Indians
Western New York 1790 lIethodisrn first appears in 1fassachusctts Gra_nt or Vestem Reshy
senmiddote to Connecticut 1793 Williams College chartered 179-1-middot Ilowcloin College chartered 17)) The London lissiona1y Society instituted General Convention of
Congregational ministers and churches in Vermont organized 1796 F irst Con~rcgational church in Ohio at llarietla 1798 Connccicut fissionary Society formed
CH lW~OLOGICAL TAllLE S39
1799 )fassachusetts Missionary Society formed rSoo iliddlebury College founded 1801 Plan of Union ailopted botweeu the General Congregational Associashy
tion of Connecticut and the Genoral Assembly or the Presbyterian middotmiddot Church Congregational middotc1nirch organized in Quebec the first in
Lower middotcnada middot 1803 General Association of ilassachusetts ministers fomted Gtneral
Con(erence of churches 1S6o Union of Association and Confershyence 1868
1805 Henry Ware chose professor of divinity at Harvard First Sunday school in Cauacla organized in connection with Congregational chiuch in Quebec middot middot
1808 The first theological seminary opened at Andover Mass bullSo Park Street Church Iloston or~aniicd New Hampshire Associashy
tion and Rhode Island Consociation organized Muskingum (0) Association formed middot
1810 American Doard of Commissioners or Foreign Missions established by the General Aisociation of Massachusetts Dr Kirkland elected president ur Han middotard middot First Sunday school in ltassachushysttts ~t Ucn rl-
1815 Unitarianism avomd hy some tassachusetts Congregationalists 1816 American Education Society formed middotunited with Westem Coilege
Socictr in 1 87~ with Ncw est Education Commis~ion in 1893 Dan~or Theological Seminary began Rt1s011 N~cordtr began
1818 1ew constitution adopted hy the State of Connccticut making all re ligious associations purd Oluntary bull
1819 Congre~ational church organized at Southwold the first in Upper Crnada
1821 Amherst College founded middot 18 Theological department opened at Yale College 186 American Home issionary Society institutecf First State Confershy
ence of churches organized in Mai= 1831 Congregational Union or England and Wales organiied 183 l~assachusetts Sabbath-school Societr organized 1833 Declaration of Faith of the Congregational churches or Engbnd aml
Walts with Principles of Church Order and Discipline Oberlin college founclecl
1834 General Association of New York organized 1835 Illinois College founded 1837 Prcsbyteria11 General Jsscmhlr abrogated Pian of Union 1838 New School Prehyterian Chunh orgmizcll 1 S40 General Asso1iatio11 of Iowa anti isconsin Co1wention formed 18p Gencrtl ssmiatinn of l ithi~an Conned I s~ General Associati()ll of Ill inois formed 18~6 Convention of Western Co11grcgational churches at ~fichigan City
Mich American lissionary sociation organized bull
540 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
t8t7middot Beloit College founded 1848 Iowa College founded Oregon Association formed 1852 American General Convention of Congregational Chur~hes at Albany
N Y Encl of Plan of Union Ohio Association oigauized 1853 Congregational Churchbuilding Society formed middot 1855 Kansas Association organized 1856 Minnesota Association organized 1857 California and Nebraska associations organized 1858 Chicago Theological Seminary founded Indiana Association organmiddot
ized 186o Congregational College of British North America founded affiliated
with McGill Unimiddotersity Iontreal Canada 1864 1861 Beginning of Civil War 1865 Close of Cimiddotil War Missouri Association organized General
American Council of Congregational Churches Boston Burial Hill Declaration of Faith adopted
1867 Connecticut Conference organized 1868 Colorado Association organized 1869 New Jersey Association organizedmiddot 1870 Louisiana Association organized 1871 National Council established at Oberlin O for triennial meetings
South Dakota and Tennessee associations organized Congregational House Boston occupied by benemiddoto]ent societies and
other Congregational orga1iizations 1876 Alabama Association organized 1878 Georgia Association organized 1879 North Carolina Conference mmiddotganized 1881 First Youug Peoples Society of Christian Endeabullor fonnecl at Villiishy
ton Congregltttional Church Portland ire New est Edlcation Commission organizedmiddot united with American Education Society 1893
1882 Utah Association organized 1883 Declaration of Faith by a Creed Commission appointed hy the
National Council Florida and Mississippi associations and North Dakota Conference organized
Arizona and New Mexico Association an~] Montana Conference organized
1SSG P~middotnnsyh-mia tssltgtciation organized 1887 Arkansas and Southern Calipoundorni1 associations organized 1SS9 Vashington Agtsociation organired 1890 Gcor~ia Corwention and Oklahoma Association organilcd 1891 First International Congregational Council London Englind all
parts of the world bcing represcntell yoming Association organizd
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE Of Important Events In Congregational History
Since 1900
1913 Report of the Committee of Nineteen acted upon by National Council of Congregational Churches at Kansas City setting up a national system for the dispensing of benevolences and control of seven Missionary Societies
1923 A national magazine poll reportedly ascertained the 25 best preachers in the US indicating that 7 were Congregationalists a group of only 900000
1931 Congregational National Council merged with General Convention of the Christian Church into the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches
1934 Congregational Christian Churches absorbs the German Reformed Church
1938 Rev Samuel Press in cooperation with Rev Truman Douglas initiated church union with the Eva~elical and Reformed Church
1942 Commission on Inter-Church Relations and Christian Unity authorized to explore possibl~ union with the E and R Church
1943 First and second drafts of the Basis of Unionn completed and sent to associations and churches for their study
1947 The Evanston Meeting held by Congregationalists as an ad hoc committee of the concerned over the proposed merger--released statement charging that Basis of Union was an abandonment of Congregational tradition and principle
1948 Deadline for acceptance of Basis of Union passes without the required percentage approving--deadline extended to Jan 1949 middot
1949 Approval of Basis of Union continues to be under 75 but General Council passes it anyway Cadman Memorial Church brought legal action to prevent the union
1950 New ~c~k Supreme Court enjoined General Council from carrying out consummation of the proposed union with the E and R Church
1952 New York court reversed lower court decision on grounds that since no property was involved themiddoty had no jurisdiction
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
1953 Appeal of Cadman Memorial Church denied 1955 National Association of Congregational Christian
Churches organized~ 1956 NACCC adopted its Articles of Association and By-Laws 1957 Formation of the United Church of Christ by the
Pirst General Synod middot
1959 Commission on the ministry of the NA proposed that ordination of ministers by the local church be proclaimed valid on the basis of historic Congregationalprinciple
1961 UCC Constitution formally ratified NACCC declared itself to be the successor to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches
1962 UCC and NACCC made application for membeEhip in the International Congregational Council UCC admitted NACCC denied admission
1966 Seminar on the Nature and Future of the Free Church in Chicago offered alternatives to organizational ecumenicity Consultatiqn on Church Union (COCU) completed its middot blueprin~ for the Great American Church
5
With the rapid and powerful growth of the Congregationlists
in the United States it was inevitable that many nonshy
Congregational ideals would be inculcated into the church and
that consequently union with other denominations would be middota
great temptation In the 19th century alone Congregationalists
joind with no less than six other churches among them being
most notably the Presbyterians the Free Baptists the
Disciples of Christ and the Christian denomination middot middot
Going into the Revolutionary war the denomination was in
the midst of some _very serious divisions within the church
over differing views of the Great Awakening and the
Congregationamiddotl minister J ohnathon Edwards Some of the
members were totally repulsed at the whole concept of
remiddotvivalism and others em9raced it dearly bull middot Reaction was so
strong that the awakening had little effect in Congregational
churches after the middle of the century even though it
continued to thrive in other middotgroups formiddot several years longer bull1 O
The Congregationalists survived the Revolutionary War and
entered into independence stronger than ever They _had been middot
closely identified with the colonial causes and had picked up
many of th_e people who were in churches which were loyalist in
feeling immediately after the war If they went into the
revolution with the largest num~er of members and churches in the
country they came out of it witha11 the wealth prestige and
able leaders to match their size It was projected that
within the century COngregationalism would grow to seven
million (from 60-70 thousand) but this never came about
6
Although outwardly the church seemed to be v ery str~ong
internal weaknesses developed as they spent their energies
middotw~ging a rearguard defense for preservation of the special 11middot privileges they possessed in New England
By the end of the colonial period most Presbyterians and
Congregationalists had come to think of themselves as a middot
single denomination They freely exchanged pulpits (with middot
the Presbyterians taking better advantage of this than did the
Congregationalists in that they tended to believe Congregationalists
unsound in doctrine) and the first threemiddot presidents of middotthe
Presbyterian Princeton University were New England
Congregationalists In Rhode Island and Conneticut the bond shy
was so strong that many Coi-igregationalists refeoed to themselves
middot _as Presbyterians12 middot
In 1801 the younger Jo)fnathan Edwards proposed and saw
passed a Plan of Union with the Presbyterians and later
a strengthening of the bond in the Accomodation _Plan which
provided a unity to the extent of a uniform system of
church governrnentn between the two bodies 13
For the next three decades the Presbyterians and
Congregationalists were one denomination for all intents and
purposes in thEyenstates of New York Ohio Indiana Illinois _
Mic~igan and __Wisconsin In Massachusetts Co~ticut and
New Hampshire however they were inhibited from any formal
union in that the Congregational church had as a result of
their extreme privileges in those states developed a
Ties between the two groups began -to be severed in 1837 but the effects of the Presbyterian influence hampered Congregational growth for half a century cf Dunning Congr egationalism in America
7
strong emphasis upon local autonomy which fostered
vigorous resistance to the ~urrender of local prerogative~14
It should be noted that the major weakness of Congregshy
ationalism in the early 189obulls was not as much ecclesiastical
ties with other denominations as it was one middotof doctrine
Within Congregationalism three distinct parties had
developed the consistent Calvinist$ who were heirs of the
tea~hings and revivalistic tendencies of J~nathan Edwards
the old Calvinists who weremoderate anti-revivalists and middot
the liberals who tended toward a unitarhn position The
in-family warfare which waged hot with passion resulted in
three centers for the trainjng of ministers--Andover in1808 i
Bangor in 1814 and Hartford in 18)4 15
The dissension_caused large numbers to leave the main body
of Congregationalism and form their own independent bull
Congregational and Baptist churches By 1815 the liberals
had split off and become independent Unitarians and the middot
ensuing doctrinal discussions resulted in the conversion of theshy
old Calvinists to a more r evivalist position middot The defection
of the Unitarians middot and the large numbers of people leaving in
middot the heat of battle made it clear that the opportunity that
Congregationalism had had for greatness after the War was
_gone forever
The remainder of the 19th century saw a great expansion
of Congrega tiomil Churches throughout the United States middot
without any great divi$middotions or trials to hamper growth~
~ssociations and State Conferences saw a great proliferation
8
especially as the church began to become firmly rooted
in tne mid-western and western states
The conferences were formed primarily for the purpose
of home mission outreach in starting new churches and for
assi~ting those already established but as the new century came
into being it was becoming more and more evident that they middot
were developing increasing power among the churches middotThey were
no longer groups for support and fellowship but began to see
their function changing into one of specialized services0
to existing churches and had a tendency to seize the
initiative in trying to set up programs for the churches to 16
follow 0
middot Before the -middle of the 20th century when ecumenical
fever began to sweep the country the Congregational
middot christian Churches were already primed for co-operation or
even merger with other groups if that would help the cause
of Christian unity In 1938 Rev Samuel Press initiated a
drive for union wi-th the Evangelical and Reformed Church
but as the attempts at the union of churches of quite middot distinct
polities and traditions was frustrated by long negotiations it
became evident that the time was middotnot quite right for such a
proposal and was thus dropped for several years 17
The idea of merger with the Evangelical and Reformed
Church was ra-ised again in 1942 when the Commission on Inter-
church Relations and Christian Unity was authorized middotfor the
exploration of merger middot~wlth that body In 1943 the first and
second drafts of the middotBasis of Union were completed and sent
9
to associations and churches for their study This action
was the first major step in the most current of Congregationalisms
passionate warfares within its own ranks
In November of 1947 Congregationalists from all over the
country met in an ad hoc meeting in Evanston Illinois to
discuss their concern with the Basis of Union and its meaning
to Congregationalism They concluded that the Basis of Union
called for joining with a Presbyterian type church into
Presbyterian system to the abandonment of the Congregational
principles of church government This middotconclusion was
immediately denounced by the General Council of the
Congregational Christian Churches as soon as it was made
18public
When the Basis of Union was sent to the various churches
for approval or rejection 1t was indicated that the voting
deadline was to be April 1 19L~8 (extended later to January middot
of 1949) and that it would stand approved upon acceptance by
75 of the individuals churches associations and conferencesmiddot
_voting When in May of 1948 it became clear that the proposal
would not pass due to the fact that the official tally showed middotmiddot
at that time only 65 of churches and 63 of the people voting
approval of the merger the General Council adopted a set of
Interpretations which basically assured churches of the
retention of Congregational polity This wasmiddot repudiated by
the Executive Committee of the Evangelical and Reformed Church
who stated that the Interpretations are not binding on them -
nor the proposed United Church of Christ either at present or in
the future
10
By February of 1949 with many disputes concerning
exactly what percent~ge of people or churches had actually
approved the merger and the highest figure middotceven though
unconfirmed) being 73 themiddot General Council of
Congregati~nal Christian Churches voted to proceed with
union with the Evangelical and Reformed Church 19 This
action contrary to themiddot clearmiddot understanding of the churches
would cause more than ten years of bitterness within the
denomination and cause once more in Congregational history
great divisions within and among churches
The most visible and middot long lived protest of the proposed
merger was taken up by the Cadman Memorial Church of Brooklyn
Ne)l York which sued on their own behalf and on behalf of
other Congregational Christian Churches Helen Kenyon
Moderator of the General Council of the Congregational
Christian Churches of the United States The Cadman church
charged that the proposed United Chllrch of Christ is and
will be so alien and different in structure middot and polity
that fundamental congregational usage and practice will be 20
wholly lost and destroyed
Justice Meier Steinbrink of Kings County Supreme Court
of New York was the first to hear the case and sided with
the plaintiffs stating that indeed no Congregational church
had ever authorized the General Council to negotiate the
Basis of Union in the first place and that the very name
proposed for the new body (United Church of Christ) indicated
a willingness if not intent to discard the Congregational
tradition Justice Steinbrink issued an injunction against
21consummation of the merger
11
Two years later (in 1952) the New York Courts Appellatt
Division reversed the Cadman decision on the grounds that the
plaintiff church had no interest in the property of the
General Council or the boards and without a property 22
interest the court could not go into merger questions The
New York Court of Appeals highest court in the state
sustained the reversal the next year stating that the
proposed union will in no way change the historical and
traditional pattern of the individual Congregational
Christian Church~each member church will continue to
possess the same freedom of faith and manner of worship as middot -
heretofore enjoyed bullbullbullUnion depends on voluntary action fully
taken by indepenaent autonomous churches bullbull23
After these years of resistance and failures in court middot
battles it became evident that the ideals held by the
protestors would not be preserved The National Association
of Congregational Christian Churches was formed in Detroit
Michigan on November 10 1955 with the intention ~f retur~ing
to the Congregational Way They referrei to themselves as middot
Neo-Congregationalists claiming that they were nothing more
than mature Congregationalists not possessing any novelty
of content but arising out of a renewed faith in the power 24of the old principles
The National Association had as their founding goal a
bringing together of l_ocal churches for counsel inspiration
and fellowship assumt ng for themselves no ecclesiastical
authority and no birging creed 25 In their Articles of
12
Association adopted the following year the founders were
careful to spell out a system of local church rule over the
national administration for the minimization of the possibility
of a recurrance of the bitterness and schism of the past
ten middotyears The Preamble clearly states that they hold to the
idea that historic Congregationalism adhered to the freedom
of the Christian man and the right of the local church to
self-goverrunent middot in all matters and that Congregationalism
is in its essence an outer and corporate expression of the
inner and individual life in Christ 26
Finally on August 24 1961 the National Association
took the middotbold bullbullmiddot bull step of declaring itself to be the successor
to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian middot
Churches 1127 That year 3600 of the 5550 Congregational churches
in the US were members of the United Church of Christ more
than 1500 chose to remain wholly independent of any body and
JOO were affiliated with the National Association 28
The newly formed National Association had a severe blow
dealt to their morale in 1962 when they applied for admission
to the International Congregational Council but were not
granted Congregational status in that they were not a part of the
United Church of Christ a gromicrop making application at the
same time As Harry Butman one of the founders of the middot
National Association said there is a wry humor in
thinking on the topsy-turly logic of the ecclesiastical mind
that sees such great ~lstoric churches as Park Street Bostonbullbullbull
as not Congregational while the infant churches which came
13
of their missionary zeal and labor say the Samoan and the
middot Bantu (two ghurches admitted at themiddot same middottime the National
Association was rejected) ~ Corigregationai churches bullmiddot1128
Today the National Association of Congregational
Chridegstian Churches boasts 357 churches in full membership with
them and 39 more which are associated or affiliated unofficially
The association continues to grow and is consistantly drawing
in more congregations fnto the Congregational middot Way
Throughout Congregational history we see the recurring
trend for this individualistic system to search for and find
an authority system with which it can unite In previous
generations tne union has occured arid obliterated the founding
principles of Congregationalism In this generation for the
flrst time the union has been staunchly opposed and has middotmiddotshy
resulted in a renewal of the old ways The question for history
to answer is whether the old ways wili in the enq be yictorious
or whether the demands of our society require drastic
restructuring for survival
FOOTNOTES
1Walker Williston A Histor middot of the Con e ational Churches in the United States The Christian Literature Co 1894) p 428
2conn Howard The Dilemma of Congregationalism (National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 1962) t p20
3walker Williston A Hdegistory of the Christian Church 3rd ed (New York Charles Scribners Sons 1970) Pmiddot 443
4Manning Bernard Lord Essays in Orthadox Dissent (London Independent Press LTD 1953) p 156ff
5rbid P 108 bull 6nunning Albert E Con~regationalists in America
(J A Hill and Company 1894 pp130-132
op Cit Walker A History of the Christian middotcmiddothurch p 433
8Ibid p 4J4
9op Cit WalkerA History of the Congregational Churches in the United States p 428
10op Cit Walker A History of the Christian Churchp466
11Hudson Winthrop S Religion in America (Charles Scribners Sons 1973) p118
12r bid bull p 11 9 bull
13Ibid p 119
14rbid p120
15rbid p 121
16National Association of Congregational Christian Churches A Comorehensive Anal s is of What We Are Now Con re ational Principles and Polity National Association of CongregationalChristian Churches 1961) p 8 middot middot
17Latourette Kenneth A History of Christianity vol 2 (Harper and Row 1975) p 1422
FOOTNOTES (continued)
18Burton Malcolm K How Church middotUnion Came (The Committee for the Continuation of Congregational _Ghristian Churches of the United States Inc 1966) p middot4
19Ibid p7 20ttoskins Fred Con e ationalism Betra ed or Fulfilled
(transcript of th~ Southworth Lecture middot 1962 p 9 shy21Ibid p 11 22op Cit Burton pp 7-8
23op Cit Hoskins p 11
24 (Butman Harry R The Lords Free People The Swannett Press 1968) p 79
25Ibid p 114
26National Ass~ciation of Congregational Christian Churches NACCC Yearbook-1975-1976 (National Associaticm of Co~egational Christian Churches 1975) p 165
27Op cmiddotmiddot1 t bull Bu t man p bull 11 Jc bull
28Ibid p 14)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Atkins Gaius An Adventure in Liberty The Pilgrim Press 1961
Atkins Gaius and Fagley Frederick middotHistory of American middot Congregationalism The Pilgrim Press 1942
Bradshaw Marion John Free Churches and Christian Unity The Beacon Press 1954 middot middot middot middot
Burton Malcolm K Destiny for Congregatialism Modern Publfshers Inc 1953
Burton Malcolm K How Church Union Came The Committee for the Continuation of Congregational Christian Churches of the United States Inc 1966 middot
Burton Malcolm K To Revamp Protestant WorshiQ The Committee for the Continuation of the Congregationsl Christian Churches of the United States 1965w
Butman Harry R The Lords Free People The Swannett Press 1968
Conn Howard The Dilemma of ConJregationalism National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 1962
Congregational Press Handbook of the National Association of middot Congregational Christian Churches- 1263 The Congregational
Press 1963
Dunning Albert E Congregationalists in Americmiddota J A Hill and Company 1894
General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches Digest of Minutes of Meetings of the CongregationalChristian Churchesmiddot of the United States-1911-1965 The General Council middotof the Congregatinal Christian Churches 1971
Hoskins Fred Congregationalism Betrayed or Fulfilled transmiddotcript of the Southworth Lecture 1962
Hudson Winthrop S~ Religion in America Charles Scribners Sons 1973
Latourette Kenneth A History of Christianity vol 2 Harper and Row 1975
Manning Bernard Lord _Essa ys in Orthadox Dissent London Independ8nt Pressmiddot LTD 1953
BIBLIOGRAPHY (Continued)
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches A Comprehensive Analysis of What We Are Now Congregational Principles and Polity ~ 1National~ssociaticm~middot-of Congregationan Christian Churches 1961 middot middot
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches middot NACCC Yearbook-1975-1976 National Association of middot
Congregational Christian Churches 1975 middot
Sinclair Francis What It Means to be a Congregationalist League to Uphold Congregational Principles undated
Steece Arvel M Polity Evolution and the Future of Congregationa1ism The Congregationalist (March 1975)16-17
Walker Williston A History of the CongregatiOnal Churches middot in the United States The Christian Literature Co 1894
Walker Williston A History of the Christian Church Jrd edmiddot New York Charles Scribners Sons 1979
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF IMPORTANT EVENTS IN CONGREGATIONAL HISTORY
1582 Brownes $tatement ofCongregational Principles publisheltl r583_John Coppin and Elias Thacker hanged at Bu~y St Edmunds England r586 John Greenwood and Henry Barrowe im111isoned in London 1588 Martin ]far-prelate Tracts 1589 A True Description out of the Word of God of the Visible Church
published in _London r 592 First known modern Congregational church completely and formally
organized in London 1593 John Greenwood Henry Barrowe and John Penry hanged the last of
the Congregational martyrs put to death Fifty-six members of the first Congregational church London imprisoned
1595 First Congregational church regathered fo Amsterdam Holland 15g6 A True Confession 0pound the Faith bullbull of the London-Amste1dam
Church published 15C)S The same True Confession middottranslated into Latin and published 16oz Congregational church organized at Gainsborough England r6o3 Death of Elizabeth and accession or JamesI Petition 0pound Amsterdam
Church to King James I stating the Points of Difference between Congregationalism and the Church of England
16o6 Scrooby Church organized John Robinson Pastor Gainsborough Church remomiddotes to Amsterdam
16o7-o8 Scrooby Church remobulles to Amsterdam 16olt John Robinson with the Pilgrims ofScrciobf Church settles in Leyden middot 1611 King James Version of the Bible published middot r616 Congregational church organized at Southwark London middot _ 1617 Pilgrims of Leyden petition King James for permission to settle in
America 1618-19 The Synod of Dort at Dordrecht Holland
middot 16zo Pilgrims left Leyden July 21 sailed from Pl~middotmouth September 16 sigped civil compact in the 1fayfiowerNovember 21 landed at Plymouth lIass December 1 r (0 S) December 21 (N S)
1621 Gomiddoternor Carver died Villiam Bradfo-d chosen governor of Pilgrim Colony
162+ First Purit3n settlement in New Erigfand at Cape Ann 1625 John Robinson died in Leyden Death or James I middotand accession of
Challes r middot 1628 The Company or ~bssachusetts Uay formed in England Captain
middot Endecott arri1middoted at Sltllen1 William Laud mule Bishop of London
535
Chronological Table through 1899 from Albert Dunning s Congregationalism in America~
I
CHROsOLCJGICAL TAUIE
1629 Six vessels with emirants from England arrfred at Salem Second Congregational church in America formed at Salem Mass middot Charter granted to Massachusetts
1630 First Church Dorchester llass organized at Plymouth EoglamJ landed at Nantasket lfay 30 John Vinthrop with a Aeet of CS middot
sels arrived in Massachusetts liar The Iassachusctts charter brought to Ncw England First Church organized at Charlcstowrt md First Church bull Vatertown July 30 middot First General Court Au- gust 23 John Winthrop elected gomiddoternor Settlement of llostou
163 Church at Charlestown remOf(f to Boston Prt~ent First Church middot Charlestown organized Nmbullember 23 First Church Lynn ind
First Church Roxbury organized 1633 John Cotton Thomas Hooker and Samuel Stone arrived at Boston middotmiddot
Laud made Archbishop of Canterbury First parish in New Hampshire at Domiddoter First Church formed in connection with the parish 1638
1635 Colonies from Dorchester and Vatertomiddotn remocd lo Connecticut~ 1636 First Church in Dorchester ~lass organiztcl in Plymouth England
1630 fully estihlishecl at indsor Conn First Church Camshyhiillgc organi1olti Thomas Hooker with his compan) in organshyized church emigratetl from Cambridge ~lass lo Hanford Conn Roger Williams banished from [assachusetts Colony Sir Henry Vane chosen gomiddoternor The Hutchinson contnJmiddotcrsy Harard College founded Winthrop again elected gomiddoternor bull
r6j7 First General Synod or Xtw England commiddotencd at Camhriclge by the General Court It conclemned Antinomianism John Davenport middot and company arrimiddotcd at Boston from England Pequot ar
1638 Mrs Hutchinson excommunicated from the Boston Chirch and bmmiddot ished from themiddotcolo11y New Haven Colony founded hy Daenport
and his company 1641 Ilody 0pound Liberties adopted by the General Court of ltassachusetts
New Hampshire towns incorporated into ifass-lchusctts Colony 1643 Vetminster Assemhly convened in En~land hr Parliament Minisshy
terial Cflllention at Cimhridge ~lass Confederation of the four colonies iIitssachusetts Plymouth Connecticut and New Hinbullen
16~ Archbishop Laud cxccuted 1645 Tiattle of Nasehy insuring the 1lownfoll of the English Monarchy
Hookers Surver of the Sum of Church Discipline approved by the ministers of the New England colonies
1646--48 John Elot hean preaching to the Indians General American Synod at Cmnhriltlge setting forth platform of Church Polfty
1647 System of common schools adopted by Gemral Court of ifassachusetts 164S estminster Confession of Faith appromiddotecl by Parliament 1649 Enll ncl proclaims itsdf a Commonwealth 1650 Second Church Bo~ton organized middot 165r Gcnera Court or iTassachusctts approed Ctmbridge Platfomiddotrm
CHRONOLOGICAL TACLE 537
1654 Olimiddotcr Cromwell Loni Protector of Engla~d 1657 Ministerial Convention at- Boston Halfway Covenant recommended
_ Quakers imprisoned in Roston middot 1658 General Synod at Swoy Palace London setting forth amended
Vestminster Confession andmiddot Congregational Platform of Church Order Olimiddotcr Cromwell died
rmiddot66o Restoration of monarchy in England Charles II made king 1662 Massichusetts Synod at Beston appro-ed HaHway Covenant Conshy
necticut and New middotHaven Colonies united 1664- Church at Darrington organized the oldest existing Congregational
church in Rhode Island 166c) Olil South Church Boston organized 1670 Second Church Hartford Conn organized 1673 Church in Agamcnticus now York lle organized (possibly much
earlier) themiddot oldest existing Congregational church in that State then a part of Massachusetts
1674-76 King Philips War 1679-80 fassachusetts Synod at Tloston known as the Reforming Synod 168 Cotton Mather ordained colleague pastQr of Second Church Boston 1684 Charter of Massachusetts Colonr bullacatcd 1685 James II king of Englaml Sir Edmund Andros seized Old South
lleeting-housc Uoston for Episcopal scnmiddotices 1689 i lliun and tary made king rnd quee n of EnglanltI Andros
imprisoned anti promiddotisional gumiddotcrnment form~d in lfassachtisctts Simdn Ilraclstrctt gomiddoternor Kings Chapel erected for Episcopal middot
middot worship middot Toleration Act passeltl by English Parliament affordmiddot middoting legal protection to Nltnconforn1ists
1690 As-ociation of ministers of Boston and bullicinity formed the first permanent District Association in ilassachusctts
169t Healtls o( Agreement adopted in London between Preshyterians and Congregationalists middotPlymouth Colony connectecl with llassashychusetts
1692 Villiam Phips firs t gomiddotcrnor of Massachusets under new charter Twenty persons put to death at Salem for witchcraft Episco- palians na1itists and Quakers exempted from taxes for the support middot of Congregational churches in lfassachusetts
1699 Brallle Street Church Boston organized 1701 Yale College founded Society for the Propagation of the Gospel
organi7cd in England 1702 Anne queen of E ngland 1705 Proposals issued b y representatibulles of tassachusetts ministerial
associations 1708 Connecticut Synod at Saybrook issued the Saybrook Platform 170-J Gcncral ssoiation of Connecticut ministers organized the first middot middotmiddot middot Statt organi7atinn 1713 Peace or Utricht
CHRO~OLOGICAL TABLE538
1714 George I king of En~bnd
1716 Yale College located in New Haven 1pz Cutler rector o( Yale College and others became Episcopalians 1723 Increase ~father died 1725 Fini1 and unsuccessful effort of General Court of Massachusetts to
call a synod of churches 1727 Jonathan E~wards ordained colleague pastor at Northampton
George II king of England ljJ~ Cotton lather died 173 Revival of religion at Northampton 1738 George Whitefields first visit to America 171-o Whitefield visited Coston and other parts of New England 17j0-42 Great revival of religion in New England 17-tr Gilbert Tennent preached in Boston middot 17J2 John Davenport by his preaching made disturbances in Connecticut
and Massachusetts Separatist churches formed 1744-4 Whitefields second vi5it to New England 1750 Jonathan Edwards forced to leamiddote the Church at Northampton went
to Stockbridge a missionary to the Indians middot 17)7 Jonithan Edwards died middot 1762 First Church organized in Vennont at Bennington 1765 Stamp Act passed 1766 Stamp Act repealed 1769 Dartmouth College founded 1770 Samuel Hopkins sittled at Newport R I 1773 The Doston Tea Party 177) Commencement of War or the ReOlution 1778 Phillips Academy Andover founded Phillips Academy Exetershy
N H chartered 1781 178o lfassachusetts Bill of Rights enacted amended guaranteeing to
every denomination o( Christians equal protection i11 law 1834 middot 1782 James Fimiddoteeman chosen rector of Kings Chapel the church under
him became Unittrian 1783 End of the War of the Revolution 1784 Saybrook Pbtorm by remiddotision of statutes ceased to be cMl law in
Connecticut 1786 lIassachusetts was granted the right to purchase from the Indians
Western New York 1790 lIethodisrn first appears in 1fassachusctts Gra_nt or Vestem Reshy
senmiddote to Connecticut 1793 Williams College chartered 179-1-middot Ilowcloin College chartered 17)) The London lissiona1y Society instituted General Convention of
Congregational ministers and churches in Vermont organized 1796 F irst Con~rcgational church in Ohio at llarietla 1798 Connccicut fissionary Society formed
CH lW~OLOGICAL TAllLE S39
1799 )fassachusetts Missionary Society formed rSoo iliddlebury College founded 1801 Plan of Union ailopted botweeu the General Congregational Associashy
tion of Connecticut and the Genoral Assembly or the Presbyterian middotmiddot Church Congregational middotc1nirch organized in Quebec the first in
Lower middotcnada middot 1803 General Association of ilassachusetts ministers fomted Gtneral
Con(erence of churches 1S6o Union of Association and Confershyence 1868
1805 Henry Ware chose professor of divinity at Harvard First Sunday school in Cauacla organized in connection with Congregational chiuch in Quebec middot middot
1808 The first theological seminary opened at Andover Mass bullSo Park Street Church Iloston or~aniicd New Hampshire Associashy
tion and Rhode Island Consociation organized Muskingum (0) Association formed middot
1810 American Doard of Commissioners or Foreign Missions established by the General Aisociation of Massachusetts Dr Kirkland elected president ur Han middotard middot First Sunday school in ltassachushysttts ~t Ucn rl-
1815 Unitarianism avomd hy some tassachusetts Congregationalists 1816 American Education Society formed middotunited with Westem Coilege
Socictr in 1 87~ with Ncw est Education Commis~ion in 1893 Dan~or Theological Seminary began Rt1s011 N~cordtr began
1818 1ew constitution adopted hy the State of Connccticut making all re ligious associations purd Oluntary bull
1819 Congre~ational church organized at Southwold the first in Upper Crnada
1821 Amherst College founded middot 18 Theological department opened at Yale College 186 American Home issionary Society institutecf First State Confershy
ence of churches organized in Mai= 1831 Congregational Union or England and Wales organiied 183 l~assachusetts Sabbath-school Societr organized 1833 Declaration of Faith of the Congregational churches or Engbnd aml
Walts with Principles of Church Order and Discipline Oberlin college founclecl
1834 General Association of New York organized 1835 Illinois College founded 1837 Prcsbyteria11 General Jsscmhlr abrogated Pian of Union 1838 New School Prehyterian Chunh orgmizcll 1 S40 General Asso1iatio11 of Iowa anti isconsin Co1wention formed 18p Gencrtl ssmiatinn of l ithi~an Conned I s~ General Associati()ll of Ill inois formed 18~6 Convention of Western Co11grcgational churches at ~fichigan City
Mich American lissionary sociation organized bull
540 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
t8t7middot Beloit College founded 1848 Iowa College founded Oregon Association formed 1852 American General Convention of Congregational Chur~hes at Albany
N Y Encl of Plan of Union Ohio Association oigauized 1853 Congregational Churchbuilding Society formed middot 1855 Kansas Association organized 1856 Minnesota Association organized 1857 California and Nebraska associations organized 1858 Chicago Theological Seminary founded Indiana Association organmiddot
ized 186o Congregational College of British North America founded affiliated
with McGill Unimiddotersity Iontreal Canada 1864 1861 Beginning of Civil War 1865 Close of Cimiddotil War Missouri Association organized General
American Council of Congregational Churches Boston Burial Hill Declaration of Faith adopted
1867 Connecticut Conference organized 1868 Colorado Association organized 1869 New Jersey Association organizedmiddot 1870 Louisiana Association organized 1871 National Council established at Oberlin O for triennial meetings
South Dakota and Tennessee associations organized Congregational House Boston occupied by benemiddoto]ent societies and
other Congregational orga1iizations 1876 Alabama Association organized 1878 Georgia Association organized 1879 North Carolina Conference mmiddotganized 1881 First Youug Peoples Society of Christian Endeabullor fonnecl at Villiishy
ton Congregltttional Church Portland ire New est Edlcation Commission organizedmiddot united with American Education Society 1893
1882 Utah Association organized 1883 Declaration of Faith by a Creed Commission appointed hy the
National Council Florida and Mississippi associations and North Dakota Conference organized
Arizona and New Mexico Association an~] Montana Conference organized
1SSG P~middotnnsyh-mia tssltgtciation organized 1887 Arkansas and Southern Calipoundorni1 associations organized 1SS9 Vashington Agtsociation organired 1890 Gcor~ia Corwention and Oklahoma Association organilcd 1891 First International Congregational Council London Englind all
parts of the world bcing represcntell yoming Association organizd
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE Of Important Events In Congregational History
Since 1900
1913 Report of the Committee of Nineteen acted upon by National Council of Congregational Churches at Kansas City setting up a national system for the dispensing of benevolences and control of seven Missionary Societies
1923 A national magazine poll reportedly ascertained the 25 best preachers in the US indicating that 7 were Congregationalists a group of only 900000
1931 Congregational National Council merged with General Convention of the Christian Church into the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches
1934 Congregational Christian Churches absorbs the German Reformed Church
1938 Rev Samuel Press in cooperation with Rev Truman Douglas initiated church union with the Eva~elical and Reformed Church
1942 Commission on Inter-Church Relations and Christian Unity authorized to explore possibl~ union with the E and R Church
1943 First and second drafts of the Basis of Unionn completed and sent to associations and churches for their study
1947 The Evanston Meeting held by Congregationalists as an ad hoc committee of the concerned over the proposed merger--released statement charging that Basis of Union was an abandonment of Congregational tradition and principle
1948 Deadline for acceptance of Basis of Union passes without the required percentage approving--deadline extended to Jan 1949 middot
1949 Approval of Basis of Union continues to be under 75 but General Council passes it anyway Cadman Memorial Church brought legal action to prevent the union
1950 New ~c~k Supreme Court enjoined General Council from carrying out consummation of the proposed union with the E and R Church
1952 New York court reversed lower court decision on grounds that since no property was involved themiddoty had no jurisdiction
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
1953 Appeal of Cadman Memorial Church denied 1955 National Association of Congregational Christian
Churches organized~ 1956 NACCC adopted its Articles of Association and By-Laws 1957 Formation of the United Church of Christ by the
Pirst General Synod middot
1959 Commission on the ministry of the NA proposed that ordination of ministers by the local church be proclaimed valid on the basis of historic Congregationalprinciple
1961 UCC Constitution formally ratified NACCC declared itself to be the successor to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches
1962 UCC and NACCC made application for membeEhip in the International Congregational Council UCC admitted NACCC denied admission
1966 Seminar on the Nature and Future of the Free Church in Chicago offered alternatives to organizational ecumenicity Consultatiqn on Church Union (COCU) completed its middot blueprin~ for the Great American Church
6
Although outwardly the church seemed to be v ery str~ong
internal weaknesses developed as they spent their energies
middotw~ging a rearguard defense for preservation of the special 11middot privileges they possessed in New England
By the end of the colonial period most Presbyterians and
Congregationalists had come to think of themselves as a middot
single denomination They freely exchanged pulpits (with middot
the Presbyterians taking better advantage of this than did the
Congregationalists in that they tended to believe Congregationalists
unsound in doctrine) and the first threemiddot presidents of middotthe
Presbyterian Princeton University were New England
Congregationalists In Rhode Island and Conneticut the bond shy
was so strong that many Coi-igregationalists refeoed to themselves
middot _as Presbyterians12 middot
In 1801 the younger Jo)fnathan Edwards proposed and saw
passed a Plan of Union with the Presbyterians and later
a strengthening of the bond in the Accomodation _Plan which
provided a unity to the extent of a uniform system of
church governrnentn between the two bodies 13
For the next three decades the Presbyterians and
Congregationalists were one denomination for all intents and
purposes in thEyenstates of New York Ohio Indiana Illinois _
Mic~igan and __Wisconsin In Massachusetts Co~ticut and
New Hampshire however they were inhibited from any formal
union in that the Congregational church had as a result of
their extreme privileges in those states developed a
Ties between the two groups began -to be severed in 1837 but the effects of the Presbyterian influence hampered Congregational growth for half a century cf Dunning Congr egationalism in America
7
strong emphasis upon local autonomy which fostered
vigorous resistance to the ~urrender of local prerogative~14
It should be noted that the major weakness of Congregshy
ationalism in the early 189obulls was not as much ecclesiastical
ties with other denominations as it was one middotof doctrine
Within Congregationalism three distinct parties had
developed the consistent Calvinist$ who were heirs of the
tea~hings and revivalistic tendencies of J~nathan Edwards
the old Calvinists who weremoderate anti-revivalists and middot
the liberals who tended toward a unitarhn position The
in-family warfare which waged hot with passion resulted in
three centers for the trainjng of ministers--Andover in1808 i
Bangor in 1814 and Hartford in 18)4 15
The dissension_caused large numbers to leave the main body
of Congregationalism and form their own independent bull
Congregational and Baptist churches By 1815 the liberals
had split off and become independent Unitarians and the middot
ensuing doctrinal discussions resulted in the conversion of theshy
old Calvinists to a more r evivalist position middot The defection
of the Unitarians middot and the large numbers of people leaving in
middot the heat of battle made it clear that the opportunity that
Congregationalism had had for greatness after the War was
_gone forever
The remainder of the 19th century saw a great expansion
of Congrega tiomil Churches throughout the United States middot
without any great divi$middotions or trials to hamper growth~
~ssociations and State Conferences saw a great proliferation
8
especially as the church began to become firmly rooted
in tne mid-western and western states
The conferences were formed primarily for the purpose
of home mission outreach in starting new churches and for
assi~ting those already established but as the new century came
into being it was becoming more and more evident that they middot
were developing increasing power among the churches middotThey were
no longer groups for support and fellowship but began to see
their function changing into one of specialized services0
to existing churches and had a tendency to seize the
initiative in trying to set up programs for the churches to 16
follow 0
middot Before the -middle of the 20th century when ecumenical
fever began to sweep the country the Congregational
middot christian Churches were already primed for co-operation or
even merger with other groups if that would help the cause
of Christian unity In 1938 Rev Samuel Press initiated a
drive for union wi-th the Evangelical and Reformed Church
but as the attempts at the union of churches of quite middot distinct
polities and traditions was frustrated by long negotiations it
became evident that the time was middotnot quite right for such a
proposal and was thus dropped for several years 17
The idea of merger with the Evangelical and Reformed
Church was ra-ised again in 1942 when the Commission on Inter-
church Relations and Christian Unity was authorized middotfor the
exploration of merger middot~wlth that body In 1943 the first and
second drafts of the middotBasis of Union were completed and sent
9
to associations and churches for their study This action
was the first major step in the most current of Congregationalisms
passionate warfares within its own ranks
In November of 1947 Congregationalists from all over the
country met in an ad hoc meeting in Evanston Illinois to
discuss their concern with the Basis of Union and its meaning
to Congregationalism They concluded that the Basis of Union
called for joining with a Presbyterian type church into
Presbyterian system to the abandonment of the Congregational
principles of church government This middotconclusion was
immediately denounced by the General Council of the
Congregational Christian Churches as soon as it was made
18public
When the Basis of Union was sent to the various churches
for approval or rejection 1t was indicated that the voting
deadline was to be April 1 19L~8 (extended later to January middot
of 1949) and that it would stand approved upon acceptance by
75 of the individuals churches associations and conferencesmiddot
_voting When in May of 1948 it became clear that the proposal
would not pass due to the fact that the official tally showed middotmiddot
at that time only 65 of churches and 63 of the people voting
approval of the merger the General Council adopted a set of
Interpretations which basically assured churches of the
retention of Congregational polity This wasmiddot repudiated by
the Executive Committee of the Evangelical and Reformed Church
who stated that the Interpretations are not binding on them -
nor the proposed United Church of Christ either at present or in
the future
10
By February of 1949 with many disputes concerning
exactly what percent~ge of people or churches had actually
approved the merger and the highest figure middotceven though
unconfirmed) being 73 themiddot General Council of
Congregati~nal Christian Churches voted to proceed with
union with the Evangelical and Reformed Church 19 This
action contrary to themiddot clearmiddot understanding of the churches
would cause more than ten years of bitterness within the
denomination and cause once more in Congregational history
great divisions within and among churches
The most visible and middot long lived protest of the proposed
merger was taken up by the Cadman Memorial Church of Brooklyn
Ne)l York which sued on their own behalf and on behalf of
other Congregational Christian Churches Helen Kenyon
Moderator of the General Council of the Congregational
Christian Churches of the United States The Cadman church
charged that the proposed United Chllrch of Christ is and
will be so alien and different in structure middot and polity
that fundamental congregational usage and practice will be 20
wholly lost and destroyed
Justice Meier Steinbrink of Kings County Supreme Court
of New York was the first to hear the case and sided with
the plaintiffs stating that indeed no Congregational church
had ever authorized the General Council to negotiate the
Basis of Union in the first place and that the very name
proposed for the new body (United Church of Christ) indicated
a willingness if not intent to discard the Congregational
tradition Justice Steinbrink issued an injunction against
21consummation of the merger
11
Two years later (in 1952) the New York Courts Appellatt
Division reversed the Cadman decision on the grounds that the
plaintiff church had no interest in the property of the
General Council or the boards and without a property 22
interest the court could not go into merger questions The
New York Court of Appeals highest court in the state
sustained the reversal the next year stating that the
proposed union will in no way change the historical and
traditional pattern of the individual Congregational
Christian Church~each member church will continue to
possess the same freedom of faith and manner of worship as middot -
heretofore enjoyed bullbullbullUnion depends on voluntary action fully
taken by indepenaent autonomous churches bullbull23
After these years of resistance and failures in court middot
battles it became evident that the ideals held by the
protestors would not be preserved The National Association
of Congregational Christian Churches was formed in Detroit
Michigan on November 10 1955 with the intention ~f retur~ing
to the Congregational Way They referrei to themselves as middot
Neo-Congregationalists claiming that they were nothing more
than mature Congregationalists not possessing any novelty
of content but arising out of a renewed faith in the power 24of the old principles
The National Association had as their founding goal a
bringing together of l_ocal churches for counsel inspiration
and fellowship assumt ng for themselves no ecclesiastical
authority and no birging creed 25 In their Articles of
12
Association adopted the following year the founders were
careful to spell out a system of local church rule over the
national administration for the minimization of the possibility
of a recurrance of the bitterness and schism of the past
ten middotyears The Preamble clearly states that they hold to the
idea that historic Congregationalism adhered to the freedom
of the Christian man and the right of the local church to
self-goverrunent middot in all matters and that Congregationalism
is in its essence an outer and corporate expression of the
inner and individual life in Christ 26
Finally on August 24 1961 the National Association
took the middotbold bullbullmiddot bull step of declaring itself to be the successor
to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian middot
Churches 1127 That year 3600 of the 5550 Congregational churches
in the US were members of the United Church of Christ more
than 1500 chose to remain wholly independent of any body and
JOO were affiliated with the National Association 28
The newly formed National Association had a severe blow
dealt to their morale in 1962 when they applied for admission
to the International Congregational Council but were not
granted Congregational status in that they were not a part of the
United Church of Christ a gromicrop making application at the
same time As Harry Butman one of the founders of the middot
National Association said there is a wry humor in
thinking on the topsy-turly logic of the ecclesiastical mind
that sees such great ~lstoric churches as Park Street Bostonbullbullbull
as not Congregational while the infant churches which came
13
of their missionary zeal and labor say the Samoan and the
middot Bantu (two ghurches admitted at themiddot same middottime the National
Association was rejected) ~ Corigregationai churches bullmiddot1128
Today the National Association of Congregational
Chridegstian Churches boasts 357 churches in full membership with
them and 39 more which are associated or affiliated unofficially
The association continues to grow and is consistantly drawing
in more congregations fnto the Congregational middot Way
Throughout Congregational history we see the recurring
trend for this individualistic system to search for and find
an authority system with which it can unite In previous
generations tne union has occured arid obliterated the founding
principles of Congregationalism In this generation for the
flrst time the union has been staunchly opposed and has middotmiddotshy
resulted in a renewal of the old ways The question for history
to answer is whether the old ways wili in the enq be yictorious
or whether the demands of our society require drastic
restructuring for survival
FOOTNOTES
1Walker Williston A Histor middot of the Con e ational Churches in the United States The Christian Literature Co 1894) p 428
2conn Howard The Dilemma of Congregationalism (National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 1962) t p20
3walker Williston A Hdegistory of the Christian Church 3rd ed (New York Charles Scribners Sons 1970) Pmiddot 443
4Manning Bernard Lord Essays in Orthadox Dissent (London Independent Press LTD 1953) p 156ff
5rbid P 108 bull 6nunning Albert E Con~regationalists in America
(J A Hill and Company 1894 pp130-132
op Cit Walker A History of the Christian middotcmiddothurch p 433
8Ibid p 4J4
9op Cit WalkerA History of the Congregational Churches in the United States p 428
10op Cit Walker A History of the Christian Churchp466
11Hudson Winthrop S Religion in America (Charles Scribners Sons 1973) p118
12r bid bull p 11 9 bull
13Ibid p 119
14rbid p120
15rbid p 121
16National Association of Congregational Christian Churches A Comorehensive Anal s is of What We Are Now Con re ational Principles and Polity National Association of CongregationalChristian Churches 1961) p 8 middot middot
17Latourette Kenneth A History of Christianity vol 2 (Harper and Row 1975) p 1422
FOOTNOTES (continued)
18Burton Malcolm K How Church middotUnion Came (The Committee for the Continuation of Congregational _Ghristian Churches of the United States Inc 1966) p middot4
19Ibid p7 20ttoskins Fred Con e ationalism Betra ed or Fulfilled
(transcript of th~ Southworth Lecture middot 1962 p 9 shy21Ibid p 11 22op Cit Burton pp 7-8
23op Cit Hoskins p 11
24 (Butman Harry R The Lords Free People The Swannett Press 1968) p 79
25Ibid p 114
26National Ass~ciation of Congregational Christian Churches NACCC Yearbook-1975-1976 (National Associaticm of Co~egational Christian Churches 1975) p 165
27Op cmiddotmiddot1 t bull Bu t man p bull 11 Jc bull
28Ibid p 14)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Atkins Gaius An Adventure in Liberty The Pilgrim Press 1961
Atkins Gaius and Fagley Frederick middotHistory of American middot Congregationalism The Pilgrim Press 1942
Bradshaw Marion John Free Churches and Christian Unity The Beacon Press 1954 middot middot middot middot
Burton Malcolm K Destiny for Congregatialism Modern Publfshers Inc 1953
Burton Malcolm K How Church Union Came The Committee for the Continuation of Congregational Christian Churches of the United States Inc 1966 middot
Burton Malcolm K To Revamp Protestant WorshiQ The Committee for the Continuation of the Congregationsl Christian Churches of the United States 1965w
Butman Harry R The Lords Free People The Swannett Press 1968
Conn Howard The Dilemma of ConJregationalism National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 1962
Congregational Press Handbook of the National Association of middot Congregational Christian Churches- 1263 The Congregational
Press 1963
Dunning Albert E Congregationalists in Americmiddota J A Hill and Company 1894
General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches Digest of Minutes of Meetings of the CongregationalChristian Churchesmiddot of the United States-1911-1965 The General Council middotof the Congregatinal Christian Churches 1971
Hoskins Fred Congregationalism Betrayed or Fulfilled transmiddotcript of the Southworth Lecture 1962
Hudson Winthrop S~ Religion in America Charles Scribners Sons 1973
Latourette Kenneth A History of Christianity vol 2 Harper and Row 1975
Manning Bernard Lord _Essa ys in Orthadox Dissent London Independ8nt Pressmiddot LTD 1953
BIBLIOGRAPHY (Continued)
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches A Comprehensive Analysis of What We Are Now Congregational Principles and Polity ~ 1National~ssociaticm~middot-of Congregationan Christian Churches 1961 middot middot
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches middot NACCC Yearbook-1975-1976 National Association of middot
Congregational Christian Churches 1975 middot
Sinclair Francis What It Means to be a Congregationalist League to Uphold Congregational Principles undated
Steece Arvel M Polity Evolution and the Future of Congregationa1ism The Congregationalist (March 1975)16-17
Walker Williston A History of the CongregatiOnal Churches middot in the United States The Christian Literature Co 1894
Walker Williston A History of the Christian Church Jrd edmiddot New York Charles Scribners Sons 1979
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF IMPORTANT EVENTS IN CONGREGATIONAL HISTORY
1582 Brownes $tatement ofCongregational Principles publisheltl r583_John Coppin and Elias Thacker hanged at Bu~y St Edmunds England r586 John Greenwood and Henry Barrowe im111isoned in London 1588 Martin ]far-prelate Tracts 1589 A True Description out of the Word of God of the Visible Church
published in _London r 592 First known modern Congregational church completely and formally
organized in London 1593 John Greenwood Henry Barrowe and John Penry hanged the last of
the Congregational martyrs put to death Fifty-six members of the first Congregational church London imprisoned
1595 First Congregational church regathered fo Amsterdam Holland 15g6 A True Confession 0pound the Faith bullbull of the London-Amste1dam
Church published 15C)S The same True Confession middottranslated into Latin and published 16oz Congregational church organized at Gainsborough England r6o3 Death of Elizabeth and accession or JamesI Petition 0pound Amsterdam
Church to King James I stating the Points of Difference between Congregationalism and the Church of England
16o6 Scrooby Church organized John Robinson Pastor Gainsborough Church remomiddotes to Amsterdam
16o7-o8 Scrooby Church remobulles to Amsterdam 16olt John Robinson with the Pilgrims ofScrciobf Church settles in Leyden middot 1611 King James Version of the Bible published middot r616 Congregational church organized at Southwark London middot _ 1617 Pilgrims of Leyden petition King James for permission to settle in
America 1618-19 The Synod of Dort at Dordrecht Holland
middot 16zo Pilgrims left Leyden July 21 sailed from Pl~middotmouth September 16 sigped civil compact in the 1fayfiowerNovember 21 landed at Plymouth lIass December 1 r (0 S) December 21 (N S)
1621 Gomiddoternor Carver died Villiam Bradfo-d chosen governor of Pilgrim Colony
162+ First Purit3n settlement in New Erigfand at Cape Ann 1625 John Robinson died in Leyden Death or James I middotand accession of
Challes r middot 1628 The Company or ~bssachusetts Uay formed in England Captain
middot Endecott arri1middoted at Sltllen1 William Laud mule Bishop of London
535
Chronological Table through 1899 from Albert Dunning s Congregationalism in America~
I
CHROsOLCJGICAL TAUIE
1629 Six vessels with emirants from England arrfred at Salem Second Congregational church in America formed at Salem Mass middot Charter granted to Massachusetts
1630 First Church Dorchester llass organized at Plymouth EoglamJ landed at Nantasket lfay 30 John Vinthrop with a Aeet of CS middot
sels arrived in Massachusetts liar The Iassachusctts charter brought to Ncw England First Church organized at Charlcstowrt md First Church bull Vatertown July 30 middot First General Court Au- gust 23 John Winthrop elected gomiddoternor Settlement of llostou
163 Church at Charlestown remOf(f to Boston Prt~ent First Church middot Charlestown organized Nmbullember 23 First Church Lynn ind
First Church Roxbury organized 1633 John Cotton Thomas Hooker and Samuel Stone arrived at Boston middotmiddot
Laud made Archbishop of Canterbury First parish in New Hampshire at Domiddoter First Church formed in connection with the parish 1638
1635 Colonies from Dorchester and Vatertomiddotn remocd lo Connecticut~ 1636 First Church in Dorchester ~lass organiztcl in Plymouth England
1630 fully estihlishecl at indsor Conn First Church Camshyhiillgc organi1olti Thomas Hooker with his compan) in organshyized church emigratetl from Cambridge ~lass lo Hanford Conn Roger Williams banished from [assachusetts Colony Sir Henry Vane chosen gomiddoternor The Hutchinson contnJmiddotcrsy Harard College founded Winthrop again elected gomiddoternor bull
r6j7 First General Synod or Xtw England commiddotencd at Camhriclge by the General Court It conclemned Antinomianism John Davenport middot and company arrimiddotcd at Boston from England Pequot ar
1638 Mrs Hutchinson excommunicated from the Boston Chirch and bmmiddot ished from themiddotcolo11y New Haven Colony founded hy Daenport
and his company 1641 Ilody 0pound Liberties adopted by the General Court of ltassachusetts
New Hampshire towns incorporated into ifass-lchusctts Colony 1643 Vetminster Assemhly convened in En~land hr Parliament Minisshy
terial Cflllention at Cimhridge ~lass Confederation of the four colonies iIitssachusetts Plymouth Connecticut and New Hinbullen
16~ Archbishop Laud cxccuted 1645 Tiattle of Nasehy insuring the 1lownfoll of the English Monarchy
Hookers Surver of the Sum of Church Discipline approved by the ministers of the New England colonies
1646--48 John Elot hean preaching to the Indians General American Synod at Cmnhriltlge setting forth platform of Church Polfty
1647 System of common schools adopted by Gemral Court of ifassachusetts 164S estminster Confession of Faith appromiddotecl by Parliament 1649 Enll ncl proclaims itsdf a Commonwealth 1650 Second Church Bo~ton organized middot 165r Gcnera Court or iTassachusctts approed Ctmbridge Platfomiddotrm
CHRONOLOGICAL TACLE 537
1654 Olimiddotcr Cromwell Loni Protector of Engla~d 1657 Ministerial Convention at- Boston Halfway Covenant recommended
_ Quakers imprisoned in Roston middot 1658 General Synod at Swoy Palace London setting forth amended
Vestminster Confession andmiddot Congregational Platform of Church Order Olimiddotcr Cromwell died
rmiddot66o Restoration of monarchy in England Charles II made king 1662 Massichusetts Synod at Beston appro-ed HaHway Covenant Conshy
necticut and New middotHaven Colonies united 1664- Church at Darrington organized the oldest existing Congregational
church in Rhode Island 166c) Olil South Church Boston organized 1670 Second Church Hartford Conn organized 1673 Church in Agamcnticus now York lle organized (possibly much
earlier) themiddot oldest existing Congregational church in that State then a part of Massachusetts
1674-76 King Philips War 1679-80 fassachusetts Synod at Tloston known as the Reforming Synod 168 Cotton Mather ordained colleague pastQr of Second Church Boston 1684 Charter of Massachusetts Colonr bullacatcd 1685 James II king of Englaml Sir Edmund Andros seized Old South
lleeting-housc Uoston for Episcopal scnmiddotices 1689 i lliun and tary made king rnd quee n of EnglanltI Andros
imprisoned anti promiddotisional gumiddotcrnment form~d in lfassachtisctts Simdn Ilraclstrctt gomiddoternor Kings Chapel erected for Episcopal middot
middot worship middot Toleration Act passeltl by English Parliament affordmiddot middoting legal protection to Nltnconforn1ists
1690 As-ociation of ministers of Boston and bullicinity formed the first permanent District Association in ilassachusctts
169t Healtls o( Agreement adopted in London between Preshyterians and Congregationalists middotPlymouth Colony connectecl with llassashychusetts
1692 Villiam Phips firs t gomiddotcrnor of Massachusets under new charter Twenty persons put to death at Salem for witchcraft Episco- palians na1itists and Quakers exempted from taxes for the support middot of Congregational churches in lfassachusetts
1699 Brallle Street Church Boston organized 1701 Yale College founded Society for the Propagation of the Gospel
organi7cd in England 1702 Anne queen of E ngland 1705 Proposals issued b y representatibulles of tassachusetts ministerial
associations 1708 Connecticut Synod at Saybrook issued the Saybrook Platform 170-J Gcncral ssoiation of Connecticut ministers organized the first middot middotmiddot middot Statt organi7atinn 1713 Peace or Utricht
CHRO~OLOGICAL TABLE538
1714 George I king of En~bnd
1716 Yale College located in New Haven 1pz Cutler rector o( Yale College and others became Episcopalians 1723 Increase ~father died 1725 Fini1 and unsuccessful effort of General Court of Massachusetts to
call a synod of churches 1727 Jonathan E~wards ordained colleague pastor at Northampton
George II king of England ljJ~ Cotton lather died 173 Revival of religion at Northampton 1738 George Whitefields first visit to America 171-o Whitefield visited Coston and other parts of New England 17j0-42 Great revival of religion in New England 17-tr Gilbert Tennent preached in Boston middot 17J2 John Davenport by his preaching made disturbances in Connecticut
and Massachusetts Separatist churches formed 1744-4 Whitefields second vi5it to New England 1750 Jonathan Edwards forced to leamiddote the Church at Northampton went
to Stockbridge a missionary to the Indians middot 17)7 Jonithan Edwards died middot 1762 First Church organized in Vennont at Bennington 1765 Stamp Act passed 1766 Stamp Act repealed 1769 Dartmouth College founded 1770 Samuel Hopkins sittled at Newport R I 1773 The Doston Tea Party 177) Commencement of War or the ReOlution 1778 Phillips Academy Andover founded Phillips Academy Exetershy
N H chartered 1781 178o lfassachusetts Bill of Rights enacted amended guaranteeing to
every denomination o( Christians equal protection i11 law 1834 middot 1782 James Fimiddoteeman chosen rector of Kings Chapel the church under
him became Unittrian 1783 End of the War of the Revolution 1784 Saybrook Pbtorm by remiddotision of statutes ceased to be cMl law in
Connecticut 1786 lIassachusetts was granted the right to purchase from the Indians
Western New York 1790 lIethodisrn first appears in 1fassachusctts Gra_nt or Vestem Reshy
senmiddote to Connecticut 1793 Williams College chartered 179-1-middot Ilowcloin College chartered 17)) The London lissiona1y Society instituted General Convention of
Congregational ministers and churches in Vermont organized 1796 F irst Con~rcgational church in Ohio at llarietla 1798 Connccicut fissionary Society formed
CH lW~OLOGICAL TAllLE S39
1799 )fassachusetts Missionary Society formed rSoo iliddlebury College founded 1801 Plan of Union ailopted botweeu the General Congregational Associashy
tion of Connecticut and the Genoral Assembly or the Presbyterian middotmiddot Church Congregational middotc1nirch organized in Quebec the first in
Lower middotcnada middot 1803 General Association of ilassachusetts ministers fomted Gtneral
Con(erence of churches 1S6o Union of Association and Confershyence 1868
1805 Henry Ware chose professor of divinity at Harvard First Sunday school in Cauacla organized in connection with Congregational chiuch in Quebec middot middot
1808 The first theological seminary opened at Andover Mass bullSo Park Street Church Iloston or~aniicd New Hampshire Associashy
tion and Rhode Island Consociation organized Muskingum (0) Association formed middot
1810 American Doard of Commissioners or Foreign Missions established by the General Aisociation of Massachusetts Dr Kirkland elected president ur Han middotard middot First Sunday school in ltassachushysttts ~t Ucn rl-
1815 Unitarianism avomd hy some tassachusetts Congregationalists 1816 American Education Society formed middotunited with Westem Coilege
Socictr in 1 87~ with Ncw est Education Commis~ion in 1893 Dan~or Theological Seminary began Rt1s011 N~cordtr began
1818 1ew constitution adopted hy the State of Connccticut making all re ligious associations purd Oluntary bull
1819 Congre~ational church organized at Southwold the first in Upper Crnada
1821 Amherst College founded middot 18 Theological department opened at Yale College 186 American Home issionary Society institutecf First State Confershy
ence of churches organized in Mai= 1831 Congregational Union or England and Wales organiied 183 l~assachusetts Sabbath-school Societr organized 1833 Declaration of Faith of the Congregational churches or Engbnd aml
Walts with Principles of Church Order and Discipline Oberlin college founclecl
1834 General Association of New York organized 1835 Illinois College founded 1837 Prcsbyteria11 General Jsscmhlr abrogated Pian of Union 1838 New School Prehyterian Chunh orgmizcll 1 S40 General Asso1iatio11 of Iowa anti isconsin Co1wention formed 18p Gencrtl ssmiatinn of l ithi~an Conned I s~ General Associati()ll of Ill inois formed 18~6 Convention of Western Co11grcgational churches at ~fichigan City
Mich American lissionary sociation organized bull
540 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
t8t7middot Beloit College founded 1848 Iowa College founded Oregon Association formed 1852 American General Convention of Congregational Chur~hes at Albany
N Y Encl of Plan of Union Ohio Association oigauized 1853 Congregational Churchbuilding Society formed middot 1855 Kansas Association organized 1856 Minnesota Association organized 1857 California and Nebraska associations organized 1858 Chicago Theological Seminary founded Indiana Association organmiddot
ized 186o Congregational College of British North America founded affiliated
with McGill Unimiddotersity Iontreal Canada 1864 1861 Beginning of Civil War 1865 Close of Cimiddotil War Missouri Association organized General
American Council of Congregational Churches Boston Burial Hill Declaration of Faith adopted
1867 Connecticut Conference organized 1868 Colorado Association organized 1869 New Jersey Association organizedmiddot 1870 Louisiana Association organized 1871 National Council established at Oberlin O for triennial meetings
South Dakota and Tennessee associations organized Congregational House Boston occupied by benemiddoto]ent societies and
other Congregational orga1iizations 1876 Alabama Association organized 1878 Georgia Association organized 1879 North Carolina Conference mmiddotganized 1881 First Youug Peoples Society of Christian Endeabullor fonnecl at Villiishy
ton Congregltttional Church Portland ire New est Edlcation Commission organizedmiddot united with American Education Society 1893
1882 Utah Association organized 1883 Declaration of Faith by a Creed Commission appointed hy the
National Council Florida and Mississippi associations and North Dakota Conference organized
Arizona and New Mexico Association an~] Montana Conference organized
1SSG P~middotnnsyh-mia tssltgtciation organized 1887 Arkansas and Southern Calipoundorni1 associations organized 1SS9 Vashington Agtsociation organired 1890 Gcor~ia Corwention and Oklahoma Association organilcd 1891 First International Congregational Council London Englind all
parts of the world bcing represcntell yoming Association organizd
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE Of Important Events In Congregational History
Since 1900
1913 Report of the Committee of Nineteen acted upon by National Council of Congregational Churches at Kansas City setting up a national system for the dispensing of benevolences and control of seven Missionary Societies
1923 A national magazine poll reportedly ascertained the 25 best preachers in the US indicating that 7 were Congregationalists a group of only 900000
1931 Congregational National Council merged with General Convention of the Christian Church into the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches
1934 Congregational Christian Churches absorbs the German Reformed Church
1938 Rev Samuel Press in cooperation with Rev Truman Douglas initiated church union with the Eva~elical and Reformed Church
1942 Commission on Inter-Church Relations and Christian Unity authorized to explore possibl~ union with the E and R Church
1943 First and second drafts of the Basis of Unionn completed and sent to associations and churches for their study
1947 The Evanston Meeting held by Congregationalists as an ad hoc committee of the concerned over the proposed merger--released statement charging that Basis of Union was an abandonment of Congregational tradition and principle
1948 Deadline for acceptance of Basis of Union passes without the required percentage approving--deadline extended to Jan 1949 middot
1949 Approval of Basis of Union continues to be under 75 but General Council passes it anyway Cadman Memorial Church brought legal action to prevent the union
1950 New ~c~k Supreme Court enjoined General Council from carrying out consummation of the proposed union with the E and R Church
1952 New York court reversed lower court decision on grounds that since no property was involved themiddoty had no jurisdiction
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
1953 Appeal of Cadman Memorial Church denied 1955 National Association of Congregational Christian
Churches organized~ 1956 NACCC adopted its Articles of Association and By-Laws 1957 Formation of the United Church of Christ by the
Pirst General Synod middot
1959 Commission on the ministry of the NA proposed that ordination of ministers by the local church be proclaimed valid on the basis of historic Congregationalprinciple
1961 UCC Constitution formally ratified NACCC declared itself to be the successor to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches
1962 UCC and NACCC made application for membeEhip in the International Congregational Council UCC admitted NACCC denied admission
1966 Seminar on the Nature and Future of the Free Church in Chicago offered alternatives to organizational ecumenicity Consultatiqn on Church Union (COCU) completed its middot blueprin~ for the Great American Church
7
strong emphasis upon local autonomy which fostered
vigorous resistance to the ~urrender of local prerogative~14
It should be noted that the major weakness of Congregshy
ationalism in the early 189obulls was not as much ecclesiastical
ties with other denominations as it was one middotof doctrine
Within Congregationalism three distinct parties had
developed the consistent Calvinist$ who were heirs of the
tea~hings and revivalistic tendencies of J~nathan Edwards
the old Calvinists who weremoderate anti-revivalists and middot
the liberals who tended toward a unitarhn position The
in-family warfare which waged hot with passion resulted in
three centers for the trainjng of ministers--Andover in1808 i
Bangor in 1814 and Hartford in 18)4 15
The dissension_caused large numbers to leave the main body
of Congregationalism and form their own independent bull
Congregational and Baptist churches By 1815 the liberals
had split off and become independent Unitarians and the middot
ensuing doctrinal discussions resulted in the conversion of theshy
old Calvinists to a more r evivalist position middot The defection
of the Unitarians middot and the large numbers of people leaving in
middot the heat of battle made it clear that the opportunity that
Congregationalism had had for greatness after the War was
_gone forever
The remainder of the 19th century saw a great expansion
of Congrega tiomil Churches throughout the United States middot
without any great divi$middotions or trials to hamper growth~
~ssociations and State Conferences saw a great proliferation
8
especially as the church began to become firmly rooted
in tne mid-western and western states
The conferences were formed primarily for the purpose
of home mission outreach in starting new churches and for
assi~ting those already established but as the new century came
into being it was becoming more and more evident that they middot
were developing increasing power among the churches middotThey were
no longer groups for support and fellowship but began to see
their function changing into one of specialized services0
to existing churches and had a tendency to seize the
initiative in trying to set up programs for the churches to 16
follow 0
middot Before the -middle of the 20th century when ecumenical
fever began to sweep the country the Congregational
middot christian Churches were already primed for co-operation or
even merger with other groups if that would help the cause
of Christian unity In 1938 Rev Samuel Press initiated a
drive for union wi-th the Evangelical and Reformed Church
but as the attempts at the union of churches of quite middot distinct
polities and traditions was frustrated by long negotiations it
became evident that the time was middotnot quite right for such a
proposal and was thus dropped for several years 17
The idea of merger with the Evangelical and Reformed
Church was ra-ised again in 1942 when the Commission on Inter-
church Relations and Christian Unity was authorized middotfor the
exploration of merger middot~wlth that body In 1943 the first and
second drafts of the middotBasis of Union were completed and sent
9
to associations and churches for their study This action
was the first major step in the most current of Congregationalisms
passionate warfares within its own ranks
In November of 1947 Congregationalists from all over the
country met in an ad hoc meeting in Evanston Illinois to
discuss their concern with the Basis of Union and its meaning
to Congregationalism They concluded that the Basis of Union
called for joining with a Presbyterian type church into
Presbyterian system to the abandonment of the Congregational
principles of church government This middotconclusion was
immediately denounced by the General Council of the
Congregational Christian Churches as soon as it was made
18public
When the Basis of Union was sent to the various churches
for approval or rejection 1t was indicated that the voting
deadline was to be April 1 19L~8 (extended later to January middot
of 1949) and that it would stand approved upon acceptance by
75 of the individuals churches associations and conferencesmiddot
_voting When in May of 1948 it became clear that the proposal
would not pass due to the fact that the official tally showed middotmiddot
at that time only 65 of churches and 63 of the people voting
approval of the merger the General Council adopted a set of
Interpretations which basically assured churches of the
retention of Congregational polity This wasmiddot repudiated by
the Executive Committee of the Evangelical and Reformed Church
who stated that the Interpretations are not binding on them -
nor the proposed United Church of Christ either at present or in
the future
10
By February of 1949 with many disputes concerning
exactly what percent~ge of people or churches had actually
approved the merger and the highest figure middotceven though
unconfirmed) being 73 themiddot General Council of
Congregati~nal Christian Churches voted to proceed with
union with the Evangelical and Reformed Church 19 This
action contrary to themiddot clearmiddot understanding of the churches
would cause more than ten years of bitterness within the
denomination and cause once more in Congregational history
great divisions within and among churches
The most visible and middot long lived protest of the proposed
merger was taken up by the Cadman Memorial Church of Brooklyn
Ne)l York which sued on their own behalf and on behalf of
other Congregational Christian Churches Helen Kenyon
Moderator of the General Council of the Congregational
Christian Churches of the United States The Cadman church
charged that the proposed United Chllrch of Christ is and
will be so alien and different in structure middot and polity
that fundamental congregational usage and practice will be 20
wholly lost and destroyed
Justice Meier Steinbrink of Kings County Supreme Court
of New York was the first to hear the case and sided with
the plaintiffs stating that indeed no Congregational church
had ever authorized the General Council to negotiate the
Basis of Union in the first place and that the very name
proposed for the new body (United Church of Christ) indicated
a willingness if not intent to discard the Congregational
tradition Justice Steinbrink issued an injunction against
21consummation of the merger
11
Two years later (in 1952) the New York Courts Appellatt
Division reversed the Cadman decision on the grounds that the
plaintiff church had no interest in the property of the
General Council or the boards and without a property 22
interest the court could not go into merger questions The
New York Court of Appeals highest court in the state
sustained the reversal the next year stating that the
proposed union will in no way change the historical and
traditional pattern of the individual Congregational
Christian Church~each member church will continue to
possess the same freedom of faith and manner of worship as middot -
heretofore enjoyed bullbullbullUnion depends on voluntary action fully
taken by indepenaent autonomous churches bullbull23
After these years of resistance and failures in court middot
battles it became evident that the ideals held by the
protestors would not be preserved The National Association
of Congregational Christian Churches was formed in Detroit
Michigan on November 10 1955 with the intention ~f retur~ing
to the Congregational Way They referrei to themselves as middot
Neo-Congregationalists claiming that they were nothing more
than mature Congregationalists not possessing any novelty
of content but arising out of a renewed faith in the power 24of the old principles
The National Association had as their founding goal a
bringing together of l_ocal churches for counsel inspiration
and fellowship assumt ng for themselves no ecclesiastical
authority and no birging creed 25 In their Articles of
12
Association adopted the following year the founders were
careful to spell out a system of local church rule over the
national administration for the minimization of the possibility
of a recurrance of the bitterness and schism of the past
ten middotyears The Preamble clearly states that they hold to the
idea that historic Congregationalism adhered to the freedom
of the Christian man and the right of the local church to
self-goverrunent middot in all matters and that Congregationalism
is in its essence an outer and corporate expression of the
inner and individual life in Christ 26
Finally on August 24 1961 the National Association
took the middotbold bullbullmiddot bull step of declaring itself to be the successor
to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian middot
Churches 1127 That year 3600 of the 5550 Congregational churches
in the US were members of the United Church of Christ more
than 1500 chose to remain wholly independent of any body and
JOO were affiliated with the National Association 28
The newly formed National Association had a severe blow
dealt to their morale in 1962 when they applied for admission
to the International Congregational Council but were not
granted Congregational status in that they were not a part of the
United Church of Christ a gromicrop making application at the
same time As Harry Butman one of the founders of the middot
National Association said there is a wry humor in
thinking on the topsy-turly logic of the ecclesiastical mind
that sees such great ~lstoric churches as Park Street Bostonbullbullbull
as not Congregational while the infant churches which came
13
of their missionary zeal and labor say the Samoan and the
middot Bantu (two ghurches admitted at themiddot same middottime the National
Association was rejected) ~ Corigregationai churches bullmiddot1128
Today the National Association of Congregational
Chridegstian Churches boasts 357 churches in full membership with
them and 39 more which are associated or affiliated unofficially
The association continues to grow and is consistantly drawing
in more congregations fnto the Congregational middot Way
Throughout Congregational history we see the recurring
trend for this individualistic system to search for and find
an authority system with which it can unite In previous
generations tne union has occured arid obliterated the founding
principles of Congregationalism In this generation for the
flrst time the union has been staunchly opposed and has middotmiddotshy
resulted in a renewal of the old ways The question for history
to answer is whether the old ways wili in the enq be yictorious
or whether the demands of our society require drastic
restructuring for survival
FOOTNOTES
1Walker Williston A Histor middot of the Con e ational Churches in the United States The Christian Literature Co 1894) p 428
2conn Howard The Dilemma of Congregationalism (National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 1962) t p20
3walker Williston A Hdegistory of the Christian Church 3rd ed (New York Charles Scribners Sons 1970) Pmiddot 443
4Manning Bernard Lord Essays in Orthadox Dissent (London Independent Press LTD 1953) p 156ff
5rbid P 108 bull 6nunning Albert E Con~regationalists in America
(J A Hill and Company 1894 pp130-132
op Cit Walker A History of the Christian middotcmiddothurch p 433
8Ibid p 4J4
9op Cit WalkerA History of the Congregational Churches in the United States p 428
10op Cit Walker A History of the Christian Churchp466
11Hudson Winthrop S Religion in America (Charles Scribners Sons 1973) p118
12r bid bull p 11 9 bull
13Ibid p 119
14rbid p120
15rbid p 121
16National Association of Congregational Christian Churches A Comorehensive Anal s is of What We Are Now Con re ational Principles and Polity National Association of CongregationalChristian Churches 1961) p 8 middot middot
17Latourette Kenneth A History of Christianity vol 2 (Harper and Row 1975) p 1422
FOOTNOTES (continued)
18Burton Malcolm K How Church middotUnion Came (The Committee for the Continuation of Congregational _Ghristian Churches of the United States Inc 1966) p middot4
19Ibid p7 20ttoskins Fred Con e ationalism Betra ed or Fulfilled
(transcript of th~ Southworth Lecture middot 1962 p 9 shy21Ibid p 11 22op Cit Burton pp 7-8
23op Cit Hoskins p 11
24 (Butman Harry R The Lords Free People The Swannett Press 1968) p 79
25Ibid p 114
26National Ass~ciation of Congregational Christian Churches NACCC Yearbook-1975-1976 (National Associaticm of Co~egational Christian Churches 1975) p 165
27Op cmiddotmiddot1 t bull Bu t man p bull 11 Jc bull
28Ibid p 14)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Atkins Gaius An Adventure in Liberty The Pilgrim Press 1961
Atkins Gaius and Fagley Frederick middotHistory of American middot Congregationalism The Pilgrim Press 1942
Bradshaw Marion John Free Churches and Christian Unity The Beacon Press 1954 middot middot middot middot
Burton Malcolm K Destiny for Congregatialism Modern Publfshers Inc 1953
Burton Malcolm K How Church Union Came The Committee for the Continuation of Congregational Christian Churches of the United States Inc 1966 middot
Burton Malcolm K To Revamp Protestant WorshiQ The Committee for the Continuation of the Congregationsl Christian Churches of the United States 1965w
Butman Harry R The Lords Free People The Swannett Press 1968
Conn Howard The Dilemma of ConJregationalism National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 1962
Congregational Press Handbook of the National Association of middot Congregational Christian Churches- 1263 The Congregational
Press 1963
Dunning Albert E Congregationalists in Americmiddota J A Hill and Company 1894
General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches Digest of Minutes of Meetings of the CongregationalChristian Churchesmiddot of the United States-1911-1965 The General Council middotof the Congregatinal Christian Churches 1971
Hoskins Fred Congregationalism Betrayed or Fulfilled transmiddotcript of the Southworth Lecture 1962
Hudson Winthrop S~ Religion in America Charles Scribners Sons 1973
Latourette Kenneth A History of Christianity vol 2 Harper and Row 1975
Manning Bernard Lord _Essa ys in Orthadox Dissent London Independ8nt Pressmiddot LTD 1953
BIBLIOGRAPHY (Continued)
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches A Comprehensive Analysis of What We Are Now Congregational Principles and Polity ~ 1National~ssociaticm~middot-of Congregationan Christian Churches 1961 middot middot
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches middot NACCC Yearbook-1975-1976 National Association of middot
Congregational Christian Churches 1975 middot
Sinclair Francis What It Means to be a Congregationalist League to Uphold Congregational Principles undated
Steece Arvel M Polity Evolution and the Future of Congregationa1ism The Congregationalist (March 1975)16-17
Walker Williston A History of the CongregatiOnal Churches middot in the United States The Christian Literature Co 1894
Walker Williston A History of the Christian Church Jrd edmiddot New York Charles Scribners Sons 1979
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF IMPORTANT EVENTS IN CONGREGATIONAL HISTORY
1582 Brownes $tatement ofCongregational Principles publisheltl r583_John Coppin and Elias Thacker hanged at Bu~y St Edmunds England r586 John Greenwood and Henry Barrowe im111isoned in London 1588 Martin ]far-prelate Tracts 1589 A True Description out of the Word of God of the Visible Church
published in _London r 592 First known modern Congregational church completely and formally
organized in London 1593 John Greenwood Henry Barrowe and John Penry hanged the last of
the Congregational martyrs put to death Fifty-six members of the first Congregational church London imprisoned
1595 First Congregational church regathered fo Amsterdam Holland 15g6 A True Confession 0pound the Faith bullbull of the London-Amste1dam
Church published 15C)S The same True Confession middottranslated into Latin and published 16oz Congregational church organized at Gainsborough England r6o3 Death of Elizabeth and accession or JamesI Petition 0pound Amsterdam
Church to King James I stating the Points of Difference between Congregationalism and the Church of England
16o6 Scrooby Church organized John Robinson Pastor Gainsborough Church remomiddotes to Amsterdam
16o7-o8 Scrooby Church remobulles to Amsterdam 16olt John Robinson with the Pilgrims ofScrciobf Church settles in Leyden middot 1611 King James Version of the Bible published middot r616 Congregational church organized at Southwark London middot _ 1617 Pilgrims of Leyden petition King James for permission to settle in
America 1618-19 The Synod of Dort at Dordrecht Holland
middot 16zo Pilgrims left Leyden July 21 sailed from Pl~middotmouth September 16 sigped civil compact in the 1fayfiowerNovember 21 landed at Plymouth lIass December 1 r (0 S) December 21 (N S)
1621 Gomiddoternor Carver died Villiam Bradfo-d chosen governor of Pilgrim Colony
162+ First Purit3n settlement in New Erigfand at Cape Ann 1625 John Robinson died in Leyden Death or James I middotand accession of
Challes r middot 1628 The Company or ~bssachusetts Uay formed in England Captain
middot Endecott arri1middoted at Sltllen1 William Laud mule Bishop of London
535
Chronological Table through 1899 from Albert Dunning s Congregationalism in America~
I
CHROsOLCJGICAL TAUIE
1629 Six vessels with emirants from England arrfred at Salem Second Congregational church in America formed at Salem Mass middot Charter granted to Massachusetts
1630 First Church Dorchester llass organized at Plymouth EoglamJ landed at Nantasket lfay 30 John Vinthrop with a Aeet of CS middot
sels arrived in Massachusetts liar The Iassachusctts charter brought to Ncw England First Church organized at Charlcstowrt md First Church bull Vatertown July 30 middot First General Court Au- gust 23 John Winthrop elected gomiddoternor Settlement of llostou
163 Church at Charlestown remOf(f to Boston Prt~ent First Church middot Charlestown organized Nmbullember 23 First Church Lynn ind
First Church Roxbury organized 1633 John Cotton Thomas Hooker and Samuel Stone arrived at Boston middotmiddot
Laud made Archbishop of Canterbury First parish in New Hampshire at Domiddoter First Church formed in connection with the parish 1638
1635 Colonies from Dorchester and Vatertomiddotn remocd lo Connecticut~ 1636 First Church in Dorchester ~lass organiztcl in Plymouth England
1630 fully estihlishecl at indsor Conn First Church Camshyhiillgc organi1olti Thomas Hooker with his compan) in organshyized church emigratetl from Cambridge ~lass lo Hanford Conn Roger Williams banished from [assachusetts Colony Sir Henry Vane chosen gomiddoternor The Hutchinson contnJmiddotcrsy Harard College founded Winthrop again elected gomiddoternor bull
r6j7 First General Synod or Xtw England commiddotencd at Camhriclge by the General Court It conclemned Antinomianism John Davenport middot and company arrimiddotcd at Boston from England Pequot ar
1638 Mrs Hutchinson excommunicated from the Boston Chirch and bmmiddot ished from themiddotcolo11y New Haven Colony founded hy Daenport
and his company 1641 Ilody 0pound Liberties adopted by the General Court of ltassachusetts
New Hampshire towns incorporated into ifass-lchusctts Colony 1643 Vetminster Assemhly convened in En~land hr Parliament Minisshy
terial Cflllention at Cimhridge ~lass Confederation of the four colonies iIitssachusetts Plymouth Connecticut and New Hinbullen
16~ Archbishop Laud cxccuted 1645 Tiattle of Nasehy insuring the 1lownfoll of the English Monarchy
Hookers Surver of the Sum of Church Discipline approved by the ministers of the New England colonies
1646--48 John Elot hean preaching to the Indians General American Synod at Cmnhriltlge setting forth platform of Church Polfty
1647 System of common schools adopted by Gemral Court of ifassachusetts 164S estminster Confession of Faith appromiddotecl by Parliament 1649 Enll ncl proclaims itsdf a Commonwealth 1650 Second Church Bo~ton organized middot 165r Gcnera Court or iTassachusctts approed Ctmbridge Platfomiddotrm
CHRONOLOGICAL TACLE 537
1654 Olimiddotcr Cromwell Loni Protector of Engla~d 1657 Ministerial Convention at- Boston Halfway Covenant recommended
_ Quakers imprisoned in Roston middot 1658 General Synod at Swoy Palace London setting forth amended
Vestminster Confession andmiddot Congregational Platform of Church Order Olimiddotcr Cromwell died
rmiddot66o Restoration of monarchy in England Charles II made king 1662 Massichusetts Synod at Beston appro-ed HaHway Covenant Conshy
necticut and New middotHaven Colonies united 1664- Church at Darrington organized the oldest existing Congregational
church in Rhode Island 166c) Olil South Church Boston organized 1670 Second Church Hartford Conn organized 1673 Church in Agamcnticus now York lle organized (possibly much
earlier) themiddot oldest existing Congregational church in that State then a part of Massachusetts
1674-76 King Philips War 1679-80 fassachusetts Synod at Tloston known as the Reforming Synod 168 Cotton Mather ordained colleague pastQr of Second Church Boston 1684 Charter of Massachusetts Colonr bullacatcd 1685 James II king of Englaml Sir Edmund Andros seized Old South
lleeting-housc Uoston for Episcopal scnmiddotices 1689 i lliun and tary made king rnd quee n of EnglanltI Andros
imprisoned anti promiddotisional gumiddotcrnment form~d in lfassachtisctts Simdn Ilraclstrctt gomiddoternor Kings Chapel erected for Episcopal middot
middot worship middot Toleration Act passeltl by English Parliament affordmiddot middoting legal protection to Nltnconforn1ists
1690 As-ociation of ministers of Boston and bullicinity formed the first permanent District Association in ilassachusctts
169t Healtls o( Agreement adopted in London between Preshyterians and Congregationalists middotPlymouth Colony connectecl with llassashychusetts
1692 Villiam Phips firs t gomiddotcrnor of Massachusets under new charter Twenty persons put to death at Salem for witchcraft Episco- palians na1itists and Quakers exempted from taxes for the support middot of Congregational churches in lfassachusetts
1699 Brallle Street Church Boston organized 1701 Yale College founded Society for the Propagation of the Gospel
organi7cd in England 1702 Anne queen of E ngland 1705 Proposals issued b y representatibulles of tassachusetts ministerial
associations 1708 Connecticut Synod at Saybrook issued the Saybrook Platform 170-J Gcncral ssoiation of Connecticut ministers organized the first middot middotmiddot middot Statt organi7atinn 1713 Peace or Utricht
CHRO~OLOGICAL TABLE538
1714 George I king of En~bnd
1716 Yale College located in New Haven 1pz Cutler rector o( Yale College and others became Episcopalians 1723 Increase ~father died 1725 Fini1 and unsuccessful effort of General Court of Massachusetts to
call a synod of churches 1727 Jonathan E~wards ordained colleague pastor at Northampton
George II king of England ljJ~ Cotton lather died 173 Revival of religion at Northampton 1738 George Whitefields first visit to America 171-o Whitefield visited Coston and other parts of New England 17j0-42 Great revival of religion in New England 17-tr Gilbert Tennent preached in Boston middot 17J2 John Davenport by his preaching made disturbances in Connecticut
and Massachusetts Separatist churches formed 1744-4 Whitefields second vi5it to New England 1750 Jonathan Edwards forced to leamiddote the Church at Northampton went
to Stockbridge a missionary to the Indians middot 17)7 Jonithan Edwards died middot 1762 First Church organized in Vennont at Bennington 1765 Stamp Act passed 1766 Stamp Act repealed 1769 Dartmouth College founded 1770 Samuel Hopkins sittled at Newport R I 1773 The Doston Tea Party 177) Commencement of War or the ReOlution 1778 Phillips Academy Andover founded Phillips Academy Exetershy
N H chartered 1781 178o lfassachusetts Bill of Rights enacted amended guaranteeing to
every denomination o( Christians equal protection i11 law 1834 middot 1782 James Fimiddoteeman chosen rector of Kings Chapel the church under
him became Unittrian 1783 End of the War of the Revolution 1784 Saybrook Pbtorm by remiddotision of statutes ceased to be cMl law in
Connecticut 1786 lIassachusetts was granted the right to purchase from the Indians
Western New York 1790 lIethodisrn first appears in 1fassachusctts Gra_nt or Vestem Reshy
senmiddote to Connecticut 1793 Williams College chartered 179-1-middot Ilowcloin College chartered 17)) The London lissiona1y Society instituted General Convention of
Congregational ministers and churches in Vermont organized 1796 F irst Con~rcgational church in Ohio at llarietla 1798 Connccicut fissionary Society formed
CH lW~OLOGICAL TAllLE S39
1799 )fassachusetts Missionary Society formed rSoo iliddlebury College founded 1801 Plan of Union ailopted botweeu the General Congregational Associashy
tion of Connecticut and the Genoral Assembly or the Presbyterian middotmiddot Church Congregational middotc1nirch organized in Quebec the first in
Lower middotcnada middot 1803 General Association of ilassachusetts ministers fomted Gtneral
Con(erence of churches 1S6o Union of Association and Confershyence 1868
1805 Henry Ware chose professor of divinity at Harvard First Sunday school in Cauacla organized in connection with Congregational chiuch in Quebec middot middot
1808 The first theological seminary opened at Andover Mass bullSo Park Street Church Iloston or~aniicd New Hampshire Associashy
tion and Rhode Island Consociation organized Muskingum (0) Association formed middot
1810 American Doard of Commissioners or Foreign Missions established by the General Aisociation of Massachusetts Dr Kirkland elected president ur Han middotard middot First Sunday school in ltassachushysttts ~t Ucn rl-
1815 Unitarianism avomd hy some tassachusetts Congregationalists 1816 American Education Society formed middotunited with Westem Coilege
Socictr in 1 87~ with Ncw est Education Commis~ion in 1893 Dan~or Theological Seminary began Rt1s011 N~cordtr began
1818 1ew constitution adopted hy the State of Connccticut making all re ligious associations purd Oluntary bull
1819 Congre~ational church organized at Southwold the first in Upper Crnada
1821 Amherst College founded middot 18 Theological department opened at Yale College 186 American Home issionary Society institutecf First State Confershy
ence of churches organized in Mai= 1831 Congregational Union or England and Wales organiied 183 l~assachusetts Sabbath-school Societr organized 1833 Declaration of Faith of the Congregational churches or Engbnd aml
Walts with Principles of Church Order and Discipline Oberlin college founclecl
1834 General Association of New York organized 1835 Illinois College founded 1837 Prcsbyteria11 General Jsscmhlr abrogated Pian of Union 1838 New School Prehyterian Chunh orgmizcll 1 S40 General Asso1iatio11 of Iowa anti isconsin Co1wention formed 18p Gencrtl ssmiatinn of l ithi~an Conned I s~ General Associati()ll of Ill inois formed 18~6 Convention of Western Co11grcgational churches at ~fichigan City
Mich American lissionary sociation organized bull
540 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
t8t7middot Beloit College founded 1848 Iowa College founded Oregon Association formed 1852 American General Convention of Congregational Chur~hes at Albany
N Y Encl of Plan of Union Ohio Association oigauized 1853 Congregational Churchbuilding Society formed middot 1855 Kansas Association organized 1856 Minnesota Association organized 1857 California and Nebraska associations organized 1858 Chicago Theological Seminary founded Indiana Association organmiddot
ized 186o Congregational College of British North America founded affiliated
with McGill Unimiddotersity Iontreal Canada 1864 1861 Beginning of Civil War 1865 Close of Cimiddotil War Missouri Association organized General
American Council of Congregational Churches Boston Burial Hill Declaration of Faith adopted
1867 Connecticut Conference organized 1868 Colorado Association organized 1869 New Jersey Association organizedmiddot 1870 Louisiana Association organized 1871 National Council established at Oberlin O for triennial meetings
South Dakota and Tennessee associations organized Congregational House Boston occupied by benemiddoto]ent societies and
other Congregational orga1iizations 1876 Alabama Association organized 1878 Georgia Association organized 1879 North Carolina Conference mmiddotganized 1881 First Youug Peoples Society of Christian Endeabullor fonnecl at Villiishy
ton Congregltttional Church Portland ire New est Edlcation Commission organizedmiddot united with American Education Society 1893
1882 Utah Association organized 1883 Declaration of Faith by a Creed Commission appointed hy the
National Council Florida and Mississippi associations and North Dakota Conference organized
Arizona and New Mexico Association an~] Montana Conference organized
1SSG P~middotnnsyh-mia tssltgtciation organized 1887 Arkansas and Southern Calipoundorni1 associations organized 1SS9 Vashington Agtsociation organired 1890 Gcor~ia Corwention and Oklahoma Association organilcd 1891 First International Congregational Council London Englind all
parts of the world bcing represcntell yoming Association organizd
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE Of Important Events In Congregational History
Since 1900
1913 Report of the Committee of Nineteen acted upon by National Council of Congregational Churches at Kansas City setting up a national system for the dispensing of benevolences and control of seven Missionary Societies
1923 A national magazine poll reportedly ascertained the 25 best preachers in the US indicating that 7 were Congregationalists a group of only 900000
1931 Congregational National Council merged with General Convention of the Christian Church into the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches
1934 Congregational Christian Churches absorbs the German Reformed Church
1938 Rev Samuel Press in cooperation with Rev Truman Douglas initiated church union with the Eva~elical and Reformed Church
1942 Commission on Inter-Church Relations and Christian Unity authorized to explore possibl~ union with the E and R Church
1943 First and second drafts of the Basis of Unionn completed and sent to associations and churches for their study
1947 The Evanston Meeting held by Congregationalists as an ad hoc committee of the concerned over the proposed merger--released statement charging that Basis of Union was an abandonment of Congregational tradition and principle
1948 Deadline for acceptance of Basis of Union passes without the required percentage approving--deadline extended to Jan 1949 middot
1949 Approval of Basis of Union continues to be under 75 but General Council passes it anyway Cadman Memorial Church brought legal action to prevent the union
1950 New ~c~k Supreme Court enjoined General Council from carrying out consummation of the proposed union with the E and R Church
1952 New York court reversed lower court decision on grounds that since no property was involved themiddoty had no jurisdiction
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
1953 Appeal of Cadman Memorial Church denied 1955 National Association of Congregational Christian
Churches organized~ 1956 NACCC adopted its Articles of Association and By-Laws 1957 Formation of the United Church of Christ by the
Pirst General Synod middot
1959 Commission on the ministry of the NA proposed that ordination of ministers by the local church be proclaimed valid on the basis of historic Congregationalprinciple
1961 UCC Constitution formally ratified NACCC declared itself to be the successor to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches
1962 UCC and NACCC made application for membeEhip in the International Congregational Council UCC admitted NACCC denied admission
1966 Seminar on the Nature and Future of the Free Church in Chicago offered alternatives to organizational ecumenicity Consultatiqn on Church Union (COCU) completed its middot blueprin~ for the Great American Church
8
especially as the church began to become firmly rooted
in tne mid-western and western states
The conferences were formed primarily for the purpose
of home mission outreach in starting new churches and for
assi~ting those already established but as the new century came
into being it was becoming more and more evident that they middot
were developing increasing power among the churches middotThey were
no longer groups for support and fellowship but began to see
their function changing into one of specialized services0
to existing churches and had a tendency to seize the
initiative in trying to set up programs for the churches to 16
follow 0
middot Before the -middle of the 20th century when ecumenical
fever began to sweep the country the Congregational
middot christian Churches were already primed for co-operation or
even merger with other groups if that would help the cause
of Christian unity In 1938 Rev Samuel Press initiated a
drive for union wi-th the Evangelical and Reformed Church
but as the attempts at the union of churches of quite middot distinct
polities and traditions was frustrated by long negotiations it
became evident that the time was middotnot quite right for such a
proposal and was thus dropped for several years 17
The idea of merger with the Evangelical and Reformed
Church was ra-ised again in 1942 when the Commission on Inter-
church Relations and Christian Unity was authorized middotfor the
exploration of merger middot~wlth that body In 1943 the first and
second drafts of the middotBasis of Union were completed and sent
9
to associations and churches for their study This action
was the first major step in the most current of Congregationalisms
passionate warfares within its own ranks
In November of 1947 Congregationalists from all over the
country met in an ad hoc meeting in Evanston Illinois to
discuss their concern with the Basis of Union and its meaning
to Congregationalism They concluded that the Basis of Union
called for joining with a Presbyterian type church into
Presbyterian system to the abandonment of the Congregational
principles of church government This middotconclusion was
immediately denounced by the General Council of the
Congregational Christian Churches as soon as it was made
18public
When the Basis of Union was sent to the various churches
for approval or rejection 1t was indicated that the voting
deadline was to be April 1 19L~8 (extended later to January middot
of 1949) and that it would stand approved upon acceptance by
75 of the individuals churches associations and conferencesmiddot
_voting When in May of 1948 it became clear that the proposal
would not pass due to the fact that the official tally showed middotmiddot
at that time only 65 of churches and 63 of the people voting
approval of the merger the General Council adopted a set of
Interpretations which basically assured churches of the
retention of Congregational polity This wasmiddot repudiated by
the Executive Committee of the Evangelical and Reformed Church
who stated that the Interpretations are not binding on them -
nor the proposed United Church of Christ either at present or in
the future
10
By February of 1949 with many disputes concerning
exactly what percent~ge of people or churches had actually
approved the merger and the highest figure middotceven though
unconfirmed) being 73 themiddot General Council of
Congregati~nal Christian Churches voted to proceed with
union with the Evangelical and Reformed Church 19 This
action contrary to themiddot clearmiddot understanding of the churches
would cause more than ten years of bitterness within the
denomination and cause once more in Congregational history
great divisions within and among churches
The most visible and middot long lived protest of the proposed
merger was taken up by the Cadman Memorial Church of Brooklyn
Ne)l York which sued on their own behalf and on behalf of
other Congregational Christian Churches Helen Kenyon
Moderator of the General Council of the Congregational
Christian Churches of the United States The Cadman church
charged that the proposed United Chllrch of Christ is and
will be so alien and different in structure middot and polity
that fundamental congregational usage and practice will be 20
wholly lost and destroyed
Justice Meier Steinbrink of Kings County Supreme Court
of New York was the first to hear the case and sided with
the plaintiffs stating that indeed no Congregational church
had ever authorized the General Council to negotiate the
Basis of Union in the first place and that the very name
proposed for the new body (United Church of Christ) indicated
a willingness if not intent to discard the Congregational
tradition Justice Steinbrink issued an injunction against
21consummation of the merger
11
Two years later (in 1952) the New York Courts Appellatt
Division reversed the Cadman decision on the grounds that the
plaintiff church had no interest in the property of the
General Council or the boards and without a property 22
interest the court could not go into merger questions The
New York Court of Appeals highest court in the state
sustained the reversal the next year stating that the
proposed union will in no way change the historical and
traditional pattern of the individual Congregational
Christian Church~each member church will continue to
possess the same freedom of faith and manner of worship as middot -
heretofore enjoyed bullbullbullUnion depends on voluntary action fully
taken by indepenaent autonomous churches bullbull23
After these years of resistance and failures in court middot
battles it became evident that the ideals held by the
protestors would not be preserved The National Association
of Congregational Christian Churches was formed in Detroit
Michigan on November 10 1955 with the intention ~f retur~ing
to the Congregational Way They referrei to themselves as middot
Neo-Congregationalists claiming that they were nothing more
than mature Congregationalists not possessing any novelty
of content but arising out of a renewed faith in the power 24of the old principles
The National Association had as their founding goal a
bringing together of l_ocal churches for counsel inspiration
and fellowship assumt ng for themselves no ecclesiastical
authority and no birging creed 25 In their Articles of
12
Association adopted the following year the founders were
careful to spell out a system of local church rule over the
national administration for the minimization of the possibility
of a recurrance of the bitterness and schism of the past
ten middotyears The Preamble clearly states that they hold to the
idea that historic Congregationalism adhered to the freedom
of the Christian man and the right of the local church to
self-goverrunent middot in all matters and that Congregationalism
is in its essence an outer and corporate expression of the
inner and individual life in Christ 26
Finally on August 24 1961 the National Association
took the middotbold bullbullmiddot bull step of declaring itself to be the successor
to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian middot
Churches 1127 That year 3600 of the 5550 Congregational churches
in the US were members of the United Church of Christ more
than 1500 chose to remain wholly independent of any body and
JOO were affiliated with the National Association 28
The newly formed National Association had a severe blow
dealt to their morale in 1962 when they applied for admission
to the International Congregational Council but were not
granted Congregational status in that they were not a part of the
United Church of Christ a gromicrop making application at the
same time As Harry Butman one of the founders of the middot
National Association said there is a wry humor in
thinking on the topsy-turly logic of the ecclesiastical mind
that sees such great ~lstoric churches as Park Street Bostonbullbullbull
as not Congregational while the infant churches which came
13
of their missionary zeal and labor say the Samoan and the
middot Bantu (two ghurches admitted at themiddot same middottime the National
Association was rejected) ~ Corigregationai churches bullmiddot1128
Today the National Association of Congregational
Chridegstian Churches boasts 357 churches in full membership with
them and 39 more which are associated or affiliated unofficially
The association continues to grow and is consistantly drawing
in more congregations fnto the Congregational middot Way
Throughout Congregational history we see the recurring
trend for this individualistic system to search for and find
an authority system with which it can unite In previous
generations tne union has occured arid obliterated the founding
principles of Congregationalism In this generation for the
flrst time the union has been staunchly opposed and has middotmiddotshy
resulted in a renewal of the old ways The question for history
to answer is whether the old ways wili in the enq be yictorious
or whether the demands of our society require drastic
restructuring for survival
FOOTNOTES
1Walker Williston A Histor middot of the Con e ational Churches in the United States The Christian Literature Co 1894) p 428
2conn Howard The Dilemma of Congregationalism (National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 1962) t p20
3walker Williston A Hdegistory of the Christian Church 3rd ed (New York Charles Scribners Sons 1970) Pmiddot 443
4Manning Bernard Lord Essays in Orthadox Dissent (London Independent Press LTD 1953) p 156ff
5rbid P 108 bull 6nunning Albert E Con~regationalists in America
(J A Hill and Company 1894 pp130-132
op Cit Walker A History of the Christian middotcmiddothurch p 433
8Ibid p 4J4
9op Cit WalkerA History of the Congregational Churches in the United States p 428
10op Cit Walker A History of the Christian Churchp466
11Hudson Winthrop S Religion in America (Charles Scribners Sons 1973) p118
12r bid bull p 11 9 bull
13Ibid p 119
14rbid p120
15rbid p 121
16National Association of Congregational Christian Churches A Comorehensive Anal s is of What We Are Now Con re ational Principles and Polity National Association of CongregationalChristian Churches 1961) p 8 middot middot
17Latourette Kenneth A History of Christianity vol 2 (Harper and Row 1975) p 1422
FOOTNOTES (continued)
18Burton Malcolm K How Church middotUnion Came (The Committee for the Continuation of Congregational _Ghristian Churches of the United States Inc 1966) p middot4
19Ibid p7 20ttoskins Fred Con e ationalism Betra ed or Fulfilled
(transcript of th~ Southworth Lecture middot 1962 p 9 shy21Ibid p 11 22op Cit Burton pp 7-8
23op Cit Hoskins p 11
24 (Butman Harry R The Lords Free People The Swannett Press 1968) p 79
25Ibid p 114
26National Ass~ciation of Congregational Christian Churches NACCC Yearbook-1975-1976 (National Associaticm of Co~egational Christian Churches 1975) p 165
27Op cmiddotmiddot1 t bull Bu t man p bull 11 Jc bull
28Ibid p 14)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Atkins Gaius An Adventure in Liberty The Pilgrim Press 1961
Atkins Gaius and Fagley Frederick middotHistory of American middot Congregationalism The Pilgrim Press 1942
Bradshaw Marion John Free Churches and Christian Unity The Beacon Press 1954 middot middot middot middot
Burton Malcolm K Destiny for Congregatialism Modern Publfshers Inc 1953
Burton Malcolm K How Church Union Came The Committee for the Continuation of Congregational Christian Churches of the United States Inc 1966 middot
Burton Malcolm K To Revamp Protestant WorshiQ The Committee for the Continuation of the Congregationsl Christian Churches of the United States 1965w
Butman Harry R The Lords Free People The Swannett Press 1968
Conn Howard The Dilemma of ConJregationalism National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 1962
Congregational Press Handbook of the National Association of middot Congregational Christian Churches- 1263 The Congregational
Press 1963
Dunning Albert E Congregationalists in Americmiddota J A Hill and Company 1894
General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches Digest of Minutes of Meetings of the CongregationalChristian Churchesmiddot of the United States-1911-1965 The General Council middotof the Congregatinal Christian Churches 1971
Hoskins Fred Congregationalism Betrayed or Fulfilled transmiddotcript of the Southworth Lecture 1962
Hudson Winthrop S~ Religion in America Charles Scribners Sons 1973
Latourette Kenneth A History of Christianity vol 2 Harper and Row 1975
Manning Bernard Lord _Essa ys in Orthadox Dissent London Independ8nt Pressmiddot LTD 1953
BIBLIOGRAPHY (Continued)
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches A Comprehensive Analysis of What We Are Now Congregational Principles and Polity ~ 1National~ssociaticm~middot-of Congregationan Christian Churches 1961 middot middot
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches middot NACCC Yearbook-1975-1976 National Association of middot
Congregational Christian Churches 1975 middot
Sinclair Francis What It Means to be a Congregationalist League to Uphold Congregational Principles undated
Steece Arvel M Polity Evolution and the Future of Congregationa1ism The Congregationalist (March 1975)16-17
Walker Williston A History of the CongregatiOnal Churches middot in the United States The Christian Literature Co 1894
Walker Williston A History of the Christian Church Jrd edmiddot New York Charles Scribners Sons 1979
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF IMPORTANT EVENTS IN CONGREGATIONAL HISTORY
1582 Brownes $tatement ofCongregational Principles publisheltl r583_John Coppin and Elias Thacker hanged at Bu~y St Edmunds England r586 John Greenwood and Henry Barrowe im111isoned in London 1588 Martin ]far-prelate Tracts 1589 A True Description out of the Word of God of the Visible Church
published in _London r 592 First known modern Congregational church completely and formally
organized in London 1593 John Greenwood Henry Barrowe and John Penry hanged the last of
the Congregational martyrs put to death Fifty-six members of the first Congregational church London imprisoned
1595 First Congregational church regathered fo Amsterdam Holland 15g6 A True Confession 0pound the Faith bullbull of the London-Amste1dam
Church published 15C)S The same True Confession middottranslated into Latin and published 16oz Congregational church organized at Gainsborough England r6o3 Death of Elizabeth and accession or JamesI Petition 0pound Amsterdam
Church to King James I stating the Points of Difference between Congregationalism and the Church of England
16o6 Scrooby Church organized John Robinson Pastor Gainsborough Church remomiddotes to Amsterdam
16o7-o8 Scrooby Church remobulles to Amsterdam 16olt John Robinson with the Pilgrims ofScrciobf Church settles in Leyden middot 1611 King James Version of the Bible published middot r616 Congregational church organized at Southwark London middot _ 1617 Pilgrims of Leyden petition King James for permission to settle in
America 1618-19 The Synod of Dort at Dordrecht Holland
middot 16zo Pilgrims left Leyden July 21 sailed from Pl~middotmouth September 16 sigped civil compact in the 1fayfiowerNovember 21 landed at Plymouth lIass December 1 r (0 S) December 21 (N S)
1621 Gomiddoternor Carver died Villiam Bradfo-d chosen governor of Pilgrim Colony
162+ First Purit3n settlement in New Erigfand at Cape Ann 1625 John Robinson died in Leyden Death or James I middotand accession of
Challes r middot 1628 The Company or ~bssachusetts Uay formed in England Captain
middot Endecott arri1middoted at Sltllen1 William Laud mule Bishop of London
535
Chronological Table through 1899 from Albert Dunning s Congregationalism in America~
I
CHROsOLCJGICAL TAUIE
1629 Six vessels with emirants from England arrfred at Salem Second Congregational church in America formed at Salem Mass middot Charter granted to Massachusetts
1630 First Church Dorchester llass organized at Plymouth EoglamJ landed at Nantasket lfay 30 John Vinthrop with a Aeet of CS middot
sels arrived in Massachusetts liar The Iassachusctts charter brought to Ncw England First Church organized at Charlcstowrt md First Church bull Vatertown July 30 middot First General Court Au- gust 23 John Winthrop elected gomiddoternor Settlement of llostou
163 Church at Charlestown remOf(f to Boston Prt~ent First Church middot Charlestown organized Nmbullember 23 First Church Lynn ind
First Church Roxbury organized 1633 John Cotton Thomas Hooker and Samuel Stone arrived at Boston middotmiddot
Laud made Archbishop of Canterbury First parish in New Hampshire at Domiddoter First Church formed in connection with the parish 1638
1635 Colonies from Dorchester and Vatertomiddotn remocd lo Connecticut~ 1636 First Church in Dorchester ~lass organiztcl in Plymouth England
1630 fully estihlishecl at indsor Conn First Church Camshyhiillgc organi1olti Thomas Hooker with his compan) in organshyized church emigratetl from Cambridge ~lass lo Hanford Conn Roger Williams banished from [assachusetts Colony Sir Henry Vane chosen gomiddoternor The Hutchinson contnJmiddotcrsy Harard College founded Winthrop again elected gomiddoternor bull
r6j7 First General Synod or Xtw England commiddotencd at Camhriclge by the General Court It conclemned Antinomianism John Davenport middot and company arrimiddotcd at Boston from England Pequot ar
1638 Mrs Hutchinson excommunicated from the Boston Chirch and bmmiddot ished from themiddotcolo11y New Haven Colony founded hy Daenport
and his company 1641 Ilody 0pound Liberties adopted by the General Court of ltassachusetts
New Hampshire towns incorporated into ifass-lchusctts Colony 1643 Vetminster Assemhly convened in En~land hr Parliament Minisshy
terial Cflllention at Cimhridge ~lass Confederation of the four colonies iIitssachusetts Plymouth Connecticut and New Hinbullen
16~ Archbishop Laud cxccuted 1645 Tiattle of Nasehy insuring the 1lownfoll of the English Monarchy
Hookers Surver of the Sum of Church Discipline approved by the ministers of the New England colonies
1646--48 John Elot hean preaching to the Indians General American Synod at Cmnhriltlge setting forth platform of Church Polfty
1647 System of common schools adopted by Gemral Court of ifassachusetts 164S estminster Confession of Faith appromiddotecl by Parliament 1649 Enll ncl proclaims itsdf a Commonwealth 1650 Second Church Bo~ton organized middot 165r Gcnera Court or iTassachusctts approed Ctmbridge Platfomiddotrm
CHRONOLOGICAL TACLE 537
1654 Olimiddotcr Cromwell Loni Protector of Engla~d 1657 Ministerial Convention at- Boston Halfway Covenant recommended
_ Quakers imprisoned in Roston middot 1658 General Synod at Swoy Palace London setting forth amended
Vestminster Confession andmiddot Congregational Platform of Church Order Olimiddotcr Cromwell died
rmiddot66o Restoration of monarchy in England Charles II made king 1662 Massichusetts Synod at Beston appro-ed HaHway Covenant Conshy
necticut and New middotHaven Colonies united 1664- Church at Darrington organized the oldest existing Congregational
church in Rhode Island 166c) Olil South Church Boston organized 1670 Second Church Hartford Conn organized 1673 Church in Agamcnticus now York lle organized (possibly much
earlier) themiddot oldest existing Congregational church in that State then a part of Massachusetts
1674-76 King Philips War 1679-80 fassachusetts Synod at Tloston known as the Reforming Synod 168 Cotton Mather ordained colleague pastQr of Second Church Boston 1684 Charter of Massachusetts Colonr bullacatcd 1685 James II king of Englaml Sir Edmund Andros seized Old South
lleeting-housc Uoston for Episcopal scnmiddotices 1689 i lliun and tary made king rnd quee n of EnglanltI Andros
imprisoned anti promiddotisional gumiddotcrnment form~d in lfassachtisctts Simdn Ilraclstrctt gomiddoternor Kings Chapel erected for Episcopal middot
middot worship middot Toleration Act passeltl by English Parliament affordmiddot middoting legal protection to Nltnconforn1ists
1690 As-ociation of ministers of Boston and bullicinity formed the first permanent District Association in ilassachusctts
169t Healtls o( Agreement adopted in London between Preshyterians and Congregationalists middotPlymouth Colony connectecl with llassashychusetts
1692 Villiam Phips firs t gomiddotcrnor of Massachusets under new charter Twenty persons put to death at Salem for witchcraft Episco- palians na1itists and Quakers exempted from taxes for the support middot of Congregational churches in lfassachusetts
1699 Brallle Street Church Boston organized 1701 Yale College founded Society for the Propagation of the Gospel
organi7cd in England 1702 Anne queen of E ngland 1705 Proposals issued b y representatibulles of tassachusetts ministerial
associations 1708 Connecticut Synod at Saybrook issued the Saybrook Platform 170-J Gcncral ssoiation of Connecticut ministers organized the first middot middotmiddot middot Statt organi7atinn 1713 Peace or Utricht
CHRO~OLOGICAL TABLE538
1714 George I king of En~bnd
1716 Yale College located in New Haven 1pz Cutler rector o( Yale College and others became Episcopalians 1723 Increase ~father died 1725 Fini1 and unsuccessful effort of General Court of Massachusetts to
call a synod of churches 1727 Jonathan E~wards ordained colleague pastor at Northampton
George II king of England ljJ~ Cotton lather died 173 Revival of religion at Northampton 1738 George Whitefields first visit to America 171-o Whitefield visited Coston and other parts of New England 17j0-42 Great revival of religion in New England 17-tr Gilbert Tennent preached in Boston middot 17J2 John Davenport by his preaching made disturbances in Connecticut
and Massachusetts Separatist churches formed 1744-4 Whitefields second vi5it to New England 1750 Jonathan Edwards forced to leamiddote the Church at Northampton went
to Stockbridge a missionary to the Indians middot 17)7 Jonithan Edwards died middot 1762 First Church organized in Vennont at Bennington 1765 Stamp Act passed 1766 Stamp Act repealed 1769 Dartmouth College founded 1770 Samuel Hopkins sittled at Newport R I 1773 The Doston Tea Party 177) Commencement of War or the ReOlution 1778 Phillips Academy Andover founded Phillips Academy Exetershy
N H chartered 1781 178o lfassachusetts Bill of Rights enacted amended guaranteeing to
every denomination o( Christians equal protection i11 law 1834 middot 1782 James Fimiddoteeman chosen rector of Kings Chapel the church under
him became Unittrian 1783 End of the War of the Revolution 1784 Saybrook Pbtorm by remiddotision of statutes ceased to be cMl law in
Connecticut 1786 lIassachusetts was granted the right to purchase from the Indians
Western New York 1790 lIethodisrn first appears in 1fassachusctts Gra_nt or Vestem Reshy
senmiddote to Connecticut 1793 Williams College chartered 179-1-middot Ilowcloin College chartered 17)) The London lissiona1y Society instituted General Convention of
Congregational ministers and churches in Vermont organized 1796 F irst Con~rcgational church in Ohio at llarietla 1798 Connccicut fissionary Society formed
CH lW~OLOGICAL TAllLE S39
1799 )fassachusetts Missionary Society formed rSoo iliddlebury College founded 1801 Plan of Union ailopted botweeu the General Congregational Associashy
tion of Connecticut and the Genoral Assembly or the Presbyterian middotmiddot Church Congregational middotc1nirch organized in Quebec the first in
Lower middotcnada middot 1803 General Association of ilassachusetts ministers fomted Gtneral
Con(erence of churches 1S6o Union of Association and Confershyence 1868
1805 Henry Ware chose professor of divinity at Harvard First Sunday school in Cauacla organized in connection with Congregational chiuch in Quebec middot middot
1808 The first theological seminary opened at Andover Mass bullSo Park Street Church Iloston or~aniicd New Hampshire Associashy
tion and Rhode Island Consociation organized Muskingum (0) Association formed middot
1810 American Doard of Commissioners or Foreign Missions established by the General Aisociation of Massachusetts Dr Kirkland elected president ur Han middotard middot First Sunday school in ltassachushysttts ~t Ucn rl-
1815 Unitarianism avomd hy some tassachusetts Congregationalists 1816 American Education Society formed middotunited with Westem Coilege
Socictr in 1 87~ with Ncw est Education Commis~ion in 1893 Dan~or Theological Seminary began Rt1s011 N~cordtr began
1818 1ew constitution adopted hy the State of Connccticut making all re ligious associations purd Oluntary bull
1819 Congre~ational church organized at Southwold the first in Upper Crnada
1821 Amherst College founded middot 18 Theological department opened at Yale College 186 American Home issionary Society institutecf First State Confershy
ence of churches organized in Mai= 1831 Congregational Union or England and Wales organiied 183 l~assachusetts Sabbath-school Societr organized 1833 Declaration of Faith of the Congregational churches or Engbnd aml
Walts with Principles of Church Order and Discipline Oberlin college founclecl
1834 General Association of New York organized 1835 Illinois College founded 1837 Prcsbyteria11 General Jsscmhlr abrogated Pian of Union 1838 New School Prehyterian Chunh orgmizcll 1 S40 General Asso1iatio11 of Iowa anti isconsin Co1wention formed 18p Gencrtl ssmiatinn of l ithi~an Conned I s~ General Associati()ll of Ill inois formed 18~6 Convention of Western Co11grcgational churches at ~fichigan City
Mich American lissionary sociation organized bull
540 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
t8t7middot Beloit College founded 1848 Iowa College founded Oregon Association formed 1852 American General Convention of Congregational Chur~hes at Albany
N Y Encl of Plan of Union Ohio Association oigauized 1853 Congregational Churchbuilding Society formed middot 1855 Kansas Association organized 1856 Minnesota Association organized 1857 California and Nebraska associations organized 1858 Chicago Theological Seminary founded Indiana Association organmiddot
ized 186o Congregational College of British North America founded affiliated
with McGill Unimiddotersity Iontreal Canada 1864 1861 Beginning of Civil War 1865 Close of Cimiddotil War Missouri Association organized General
American Council of Congregational Churches Boston Burial Hill Declaration of Faith adopted
1867 Connecticut Conference organized 1868 Colorado Association organized 1869 New Jersey Association organizedmiddot 1870 Louisiana Association organized 1871 National Council established at Oberlin O for triennial meetings
South Dakota and Tennessee associations organized Congregational House Boston occupied by benemiddoto]ent societies and
other Congregational orga1iizations 1876 Alabama Association organized 1878 Georgia Association organized 1879 North Carolina Conference mmiddotganized 1881 First Youug Peoples Society of Christian Endeabullor fonnecl at Villiishy
ton Congregltttional Church Portland ire New est Edlcation Commission organizedmiddot united with American Education Society 1893
1882 Utah Association organized 1883 Declaration of Faith by a Creed Commission appointed hy the
National Council Florida and Mississippi associations and North Dakota Conference organized
Arizona and New Mexico Association an~] Montana Conference organized
1SSG P~middotnnsyh-mia tssltgtciation organized 1887 Arkansas and Southern Calipoundorni1 associations organized 1SS9 Vashington Agtsociation organired 1890 Gcor~ia Corwention and Oklahoma Association organilcd 1891 First International Congregational Council London Englind all
parts of the world bcing represcntell yoming Association organizd
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE Of Important Events In Congregational History
Since 1900
1913 Report of the Committee of Nineteen acted upon by National Council of Congregational Churches at Kansas City setting up a national system for the dispensing of benevolences and control of seven Missionary Societies
1923 A national magazine poll reportedly ascertained the 25 best preachers in the US indicating that 7 were Congregationalists a group of only 900000
1931 Congregational National Council merged with General Convention of the Christian Church into the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches
1934 Congregational Christian Churches absorbs the German Reformed Church
1938 Rev Samuel Press in cooperation with Rev Truman Douglas initiated church union with the Eva~elical and Reformed Church
1942 Commission on Inter-Church Relations and Christian Unity authorized to explore possibl~ union with the E and R Church
1943 First and second drafts of the Basis of Unionn completed and sent to associations and churches for their study
1947 The Evanston Meeting held by Congregationalists as an ad hoc committee of the concerned over the proposed merger--released statement charging that Basis of Union was an abandonment of Congregational tradition and principle
1948 Deadline for acceptance of Basis of Union passes without the required percentage approving--deadline extended to Jan 1949 middot
1949 Approval of Basis of Union continues to be under 75 but General Council passes it anyway Cadman Memorial Church brought legal action to prevent the union
1950 New ~c~k Supreme Court enjoined General Council from carrying out consummation of the proposed union with the E and R Church
1952 New York court reversed lower court decision on grounds that since no property was involved themiddoty had no jurisdiction
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
1953 Appeal of Cadman Memorial Church denied 1955 National Association of Congregational Christian
Churches organized~ 1956 NACCC adopted its Articles of Association and By-Laws 1957 Formation of the United Church of Christ by the
Pirst General Synod middot
1959 Commission on the ministry of the NA proposed that ordination of ministers by the local church be proclaimed valid on the basis of historic Congregationalprinciple
1961 UCC Constitution formally ratified NACCC declared itself to be the successor to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches
1962 UCC and NACCC made application for membeEhip in the International Congregational Council UCC admitted NACCC denied admission
1966 Seminar on the Nature and Future of the Free Church in Chicago offered alternatives to organizational ecumenicity Consultatiqn on Church Union (COCU) completed its middot blueprin~ for the Great American Church
9
to associations and churches for their study This action
was the first major step in the most current of Congregationalisms
passionate warfares within its own ranks
In November of 1947 Congregationalists from all over the
country met in an ad hoc meeting in Evanston Illinois to
discuss their concern with the Basis of Union and its meaning
to Congregationalism They concluded that the Basis of Union
called for joining with a Presbyterian type church into
Presbyterian system to the abandonment of the Congregational
principles of church government This middotconclusion was
immediately denounced by the General Council of the
Congregational Christian Churches as soon as it was made
18public
When the Basis of Union was sent to the various churches
for approval or rejection 1t was indicated that the voting
deadline was to be April 1 19L~8 (extended later to January middot
of 1949) and that it would stand approved upon acceptance by
75 of the individuals churches associations and conferencesmiddot
_voting When in May of 1948 it became clear that the proposal
would not pass due to the fact that the official tally showed middotmiddot
at that time only 65 of churches and 63 of the people voting
approval of the merger the General Council adopted a set of
Interpretations which basically assured churches of the
retention of Congregational polity This wasmiddot repudiated by
the Executive Committee of the Evangelical and Reformed Church
who stated that the Interpretations are not binding on them -
nor the proposed United Church of Christ either at present or in
the future
10
By February of 1949 with many disputes concerning
exactly what percent~ge of people or churches had actually
approved the merger and the highest figure middotceven though
unconfirmed) being 73 themiddot General Council of
Congregati~nal Christian Churches voted to proceed with
union with the Evangelical and Reformed Church 19 This
action contrary to themiddot clearmiddot understanding of the churches
would cause more than ten years of bitterness within the
denomination and cause once more in Congregational history
great divisions within and among churches
The most visible and middot long lived protest of the proposed
merger was taken up by the Cadman Memorial Church of Brooklyn
Ne)l York which sued on their own behalf and on behalf of
other Congregational Christian Churches Helen Kenyon
Moderator of the General Council of the Congregational
Christian Churches of the United States The Cadman church
charged that the proposed United Chllrch of Christ is and
will be so alien and different in structure middot and polity
that fundamental congregational usage and practice will be 20
wholly lost and destroyed
Justice Meier Steinbrink of Kings County Supreme Court
of New York was the first to hear the case and sided with
the plaintiffs stating that indeed no Congregational church
had ever authorized the General Council to negotiate the
Basis of Union in the first place and that the very name
proposed for the new body (United Church of Christ) indicated
a willingness if not intent to discard the Congregational
tradition Justice Steinbrink issued an injunction against
21consummation of the merger
11
Two years later (in 1952) the New York Courts Appellatt
Division reversed the Cadman decision on the grounds that the
plaintiff church had no interest in the property of the
General Council or the boards and without a property 22
interest the court could not go into merger questions The
New York Court of Appeals highest court in the state
sustained the reversal the next year stating that the
proposed union will in no way change the historical and
traditional pattern of the individual Congregational
Christian Church~each member church will continue to
possess the same freedom of faith and manner of worship as middot -
heretofore enjoyed bullbullbullUnion depends on voluntary action fully
taken by indepenaent autonomous churches bullbull23
After these years of resistance and failures in court middot
battles it became evident that the ideals held by the
protestors would not be preserved The National Association
of Congregational Christian Churches was formed in Detroit
Michigan on November 10 1955 with the intention ~f retur~ing
to the Congregational Way They referrei to themselves as middot
Neo-Congregationalists claiming that they were nothing more
than mature Congregationalists not possessing any novelty
of content but arising out of a renewed faith in the power 24of the old principles
The National Association had as their founding goal a
bringing together of l_ocal churches for counsel inspiration
and fellowship assumt ng for themselves no ecclesiastical
authority and no birging creed 25 In their Articles of
12
Association adopted the following year the founders were
careful to spell out a system of local church rule over the
national administration for the minimization of the possibility
of a recurrance of the bitterness and schism of the past
ten middotyears The Preamble clearly states that they hold to the
idea that historic Congregationalism adhered to the freedom
of the Christian man and the right of the local church to
self-goverrunent middot in all matters and that Congregationalism
is in its essence an outer and corporate expression of the
inner and individual life in Christ 26
Finally on August 24 1961 the National Association
took the middotbold bullbullmiddot bull step of declaring itself to be the successor
to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian middot
Churches 1127 That year 3600 of the 5550 Congregational churches
in the US were members of the United Church of Christ more
than 1500 chose to remain wholly independent of any body and
JOO were affiliated with the National Association 28
The newly formed National Association had a severe blow
dealt to their morale in 1962 when they applied for admission
to the International Congregational Council but were not
granted Congregational status in that they were not a part of the
United Church of Christ a gromicrop making application at the
same time As Harry Butman one of the founders of the middot
National Association said there is a wry humor in
thinking on the topsy-turly logic of the ecclesiastical mind
that sees such great ~lstoric churches as Park Street Bostonbullbullbull
as not Congregational while the infant churches which came
13
of their missionary zeal and labor say the Samoan and the
middot Bantu (two ghurches admitted at themiddot same middottime the National
Association was rejected) ~ Corigregationai churches bullmiddot1128
Today the National Association of Congregational
Chridegstian Churches boasts 357 churches in full membership with
them and 39 more which are associated or affiliated unofficially
The association continues to grow and is consistantly drawing
in more congregations fnto the Congregational middot Way
Throughout Congregational history we see the recurring
trend for this individualistic system to search for and find
an authority system with which it can unite In previous
generations tne union has occured arid obliterated the founding
principles of Congregationalism In this generation for the
flrst time the union has been staunchly opposed and has middotmiddotshy
resulted in a renewal of the old ways The question for history
to answer is whether the old ways wili in the enq be yictorious
or whether the demands of our society require drastic
restructuring for survival
FOOTNOTES
1Walker Williston A Histor middot of the Con e ational Churches in the United States The Christian Literature Co 1894) p 428
2conn Howard The Dilemma of Congregationalism (National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 1962) t p20
3walker Williston A Hdegistory of the Christian Church 3rd ed (New York Charles Scribners Sons 1970) Pmiddot 443
4Manning Bernard Lord Essays in Orthadox Dissent (London Independent Press LTD 1953) p 156ff
5rbid P 108 bull 6nunning Albert E Con~regationalists in America
(J A Hill and Company 1894 pp130-132
op Cit Walker A History of the Christian middotcmiddothurch p 433
8Ibid p 4J4
9op Cit WalkerA History of the Congregational Churches in the United States p 428
10op Cit Walker A History of the Christian Churchp466
11Hudson Winthrop S Religion in America (Charles Scribners Sons 1973) p118
12r bid bull p 11 9 bull
13Ibid p 119
14rbid p120
15rbid p 121
16National Association of Congregational Christian Churches A Comorehensive Anal s is of What We Are Now Con re ational Principles and Polity National Association of CongregationalChristian Churches 1961) p 8 middot middot
17Latourette Kenneth A History of Christianity vol 2 (Harper and Row 1975) p 1422
FOOTNOTES (continued)
18Burton Malcolm K How Church middotUnion Came (The Committee for the Continuation of Congregational _Ghristian Churches of the United States Inc 1966) p middot4
19Ibid p7 20ttoskins Fred Con e ationalism Betra ed or Fulfilled
(transcript of th~ Southworth Lecture middot 1962 p 9 shy21Ibid p 11 22op Cit Burton pp 7-8
23op Cit Hoskins p 11
24 (Butman Harry R The Lords Free People The Swannett Press 1968) p 79
25Ibid p 114
26National Ass~ciation of Congregational Christian Churches NACCC Yearbook-1975-1976 (National Associaticm of Co~egational Christian Churches 1975) p 165
27Op cmiddotmiddot1 t bull Bu t man p bull 11 Jc bull
28Ibid p 14)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Atkins Gaius An Adventure in Liberty The Pilgrim Press 1961
Atkins Gaius and Fagley Frederick middotHistory of American middot Congregationalism The Pilgrim Press 1942
Bradshaw Marion John Free Churches and Christian Unity The Beacon Press 1954 middot middot middot middot
Burton Malcolm K Destiny for Congregatialism Modern Publfshers Inc 1953
Burton Malcolm K How Church Union Came The Committee for the Continuation of Congregational Christian Churches of the United States Inc 1966 middot
Burton Malcolm K To Revamp Protestant WorshiQ The Committee for the Continuation of the Congregationsl Christian Churches of the United States 1965w
Butman Harry R The Lords Free People The Swannett Press 1968
Conn Howard The Dilemma of ConJregationalism National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 1962
Congregational Press Handbook of the National Association of middot Congregational Christian Churches- 1263 The Congregational
Press 1963
Dunning Albert E Congregationalists in Americmiddota J A Hill and Company 1894
General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches Digest of Minutes of Meetings of the CongregationalChristian Churchesmiddot of the United States-1911-1965 The General Council middotof the Congregatinal Christian Churches 1971
Hoskins Fred Congregationalism Betrayed or Fulfilled transmiddotcript of the Southworth Lecture 1962
Hudson Winthrop S~ Religion in America Charles Scribners Sons 1973
Latourette Kenneth A History of Christianity vol 2 Harper and Row 1975
Manning Bernard Lord _Essa ys in Orthadox Dissent London Independ8nt Pressmiddot LTD 1953
BIBLIOGRAPHY (Continued)
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches A Comprehensive Analysis of What We Are Now Congregational Principles and Polity ~ 1National~ssociaticm~middot-of Congregationan Christian Churches 1961 middot middot
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches middot NACCC Yearbook-1975-1976 National Association of middot
Congregational Christian Churches 1975 middot
Sinclair Francis What It Means to be a Congregationalist League to Uphold Congregational Principles undated
Steece Arvel M Polity Evolution and the Future of Congregationa1ism The Congregationalist (March 1975)16-17
Walker Williston A History of the CongregatiOnal Churches middot in the United States The Christian Literature Co 1894
Walker Williston A History of the Christian Church Jrd edmiddot New York Charles Scribners Sons 1979
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF IMPORTANT EVENTS IN CONGREGATIONAL HISTORY
1582 Brownes $tatement ofCongregational Principles publisheltl r583_John Coppin and Elias Thacker hanged at Bu~y St Edmunds England r586 John Greenwood and Henry Barrowe im111isoned in London 1588 Martin ]far-prelate Tracts 1589 A True Description out of the Word of God of the Visible Church
published in _London r 592 First known modern Congregational church completely and formally
organized in London 1593 John Greenwood Henry Barrowe and John Penry hanged the last of
the Congregational martyrs put to death Fifty-six members of the first Congregational church London imprisoned
1595 First Congregational church regathered fo Amsterdam Holland 15g6 A True Confession 0pound the Faith bullbull of the London-Amste1dam
Church published 15C)S The same True Confession middottranslated into Latin and published 16oz Congregational church organized at Gainsborough England r6o3 Death of Elizabeth and accession or JamesI Petition 0pound Amsterdam
Church to King James I stating the Points of Difference between Congregationalism and the Church of England
16o6 Scrooby Church organized John Robinson Pastor Gainsborough Church remomiddotes to Amsterdam
16o7-o8 Scrooby Church remobulles to Amsterdam 16olt John Robinson with the Pilgrims ofScrciobf Church settles in Leyden middot 1611 King James Version of the Bible published middot r616 Congregational church organized at Southwark London middot _ 1617 Pilgrims of Leyden petition King James for permission to settle in
America 1618-19 The Synod of Dort at Dordrecht Holland
middot 16zo Pilgrims left Leyden July 21 sailed from Pl~middotmouth September 16 sigped civil compact in the 1fayfiowerNovember 21 landed at Plymouth lIass December 1 r (0 S) December 21 (N S)
1621 Gomiddoternor Carver died Villiam Bradfo-d chosen governor of Pilgrim Colony
162+ First Purit3n settlement in New Erigfand at Cape Ann 1625 John Robinson died in Leyden Death or James I middotand accession of
Challes r middot 1628 The Company or ~bssachusetts Uay formed in England Captain
middot Endecott arri1middoted at Sltllen1 William Laud mule Bishop of London
535
Chronological Table through 1899 from Albert Dunning s Congregationalism in America~
I
CHROsOLCJGICAL TAUIE
1629 Six vessels with emirants from England arrfred at Salem Second Congregational church in America formed at Salem Mass middot Charter granted to Massachusetts
1630 First Church Dorchester llass organized at Plymouth EoglamJ landed at Nantasket lfay 30 John Vinthrop with a Aeet of CS middot
sels arrived in Massachusetts liar The Iassachusctts charter brought to Ncw England First Church organized at Charlcstowrt md First Church bull Vatertown July 30 middot First General Court Au- gust 23 John Winthrop elected gomiddoternor Settlement of llostou
163 Church at Charlestown remOf(f to Boston Prt~ent First Church middot Charlestown organized Nmbullember 23 First Church Lynn ind
First Church Roxbury organized 1633 John Cotton Thomas Hooker and Samuel Stone arrived at Boston middotmiddot
Laud made Archbishop of Canterbury First parish in New Hampshire at Domiddoter First Church formed in connection with the parish 1638
1635 Colonies from Dorchester and Vatertomiddotn remocd lo Connecticut~ 1636 First Church in Dorchester ~lass organiztcl in Plymouth England
1630 fully estihlishecl at indsor Conn First Church Camshyhiillgc organi1olti Thomas Hooker with his compan) in organshyized church emigratetl from Cambridge ~lass lo Hanford Conn Roger Williams banished from [assachusetts Colony Sir Henry Vane chosen gomiddoternor The Hutchinson contnJmiddotcrsy Harard College founded Winthrop again elected gomiddoternor bull
r6j7 First General Synod or Xtw England commiddotencd at Camhriclge by the General Court It conclemned Antinomianism John Davenport middot and company arrimiddotcd at Boston from England Pequot ar
1638 Mrs Hutchinson excommunicated from the Boston Chirch and bmmiddot ished from themiddotcolo11y New Haven Colony founded hy Daenport
and his company 1641 Ilody 0pound Liberties adopted by the General Court of ltassachusetts
New Hampshire towns incorporated into ifass-lchusctts Colony 1643 Vetminster Assemhly convened in En~land hr Parliament Minisshy
terial Cflllention at Cimhridge ~lass Confederation of the four colonies iIitssachusetts Plymouth Connecticut and New Hinbullen
16~ Archbishop Laud cxccuted 1645 Tiattle of Nasehy insuring the 1lownfoll of the English Monarchy
Hookers Surver of the Sum of Church Discipline approved by the ministers of the New England colonies
1646--48 John Elot hean preaching to the Indians General American Synod at Cmnhriltlge setting forth platform of Church Polfty
1647 System of common schools adopted by Gemral Court of ifassachusetts 164S estminster Confession of Faith appromiddotecl by Parliament 1649 Enll ncl proclaims itsdf a Commonwealth 1650 Second Church Bo~ton organized middot 165r Gcnera Court or iTassachusctts approed Ctmbridge Platfomiddotrm
CHRONOLOGICAL TACLE 537
1654 Olimiddotcr Cromwell Loni Protector of Engla~d 1657 Ministerial Convention at- Boston Halfway Covenant recommended
_ Quakers imprisoned in Roston middot 1658 General Synod at Swoy Palace London setting forth amended
Vestminster Confession andmiddot Congregational Platform of Church Order Olimiddotcr Cromwell died
rmiddot66o Restoration of monarchy in England Charles II made king 1662 Massichusetts Synod at Beston appro-ed HaHway Covenant Conshy
necticut and New middotHaven Colonies united 1664- Church at Darrington organized the oldest existing Congregational
church in Rhode Island 166c) Olil South Church Boston organized 1670 Second Church Hartford Conn organized 1673 Church in Agamcnticus now York lle organized (possibly much
earlier) themiddot oldest existing Congregational church in that State then a part of Massachusetts
1674-76 King Philips War 1679-80 fassachusetts Synod at Tloston known as the Reforming Synod 168 Cotton Mather ordained colleague pastQr of Second Church Boston 1684 Charter of Massachusetts Colonr bullacatcd 1685 James II king of Englaml Sir Edmund Andros seized Old South
lleeting-housc Uoston for Episcopal scnmiddotices 1689 i lliun and tary made king rnd quee n of EnglanltI Andros
imprisoned anti promiddotisional gumiddotcrnment form~d in lfassachtisctts Simdn Ilraclstrctt gomiddoternor Kings Chapel erected for Episcopal middot
middot worship middot Toleration Act passeltl by English Parliament affordmiddot middoting legal protection to Nltnconforn1ists
1690 As-ociation of ministers of Boston and bullicinity formed the first permanent District Association in ilassachusctts
169t Healtls o( Agreement adopted in London between Preshyterians and Congregationalists middotPlymouth Colony connectecl with llassashychusetts
1692 Villiam Phips firs t gomiddotcrnor of Massachusets under new charter Twenty persons put to death at Salem for witchcraft Episco- palians na1itists and Quakers exempted from taxes for the support middot of Congregational churches in lfassachusetts
1699 Brallle Street Church Boston organized 1701 Yale College founded Society for the Propagation of the Gospel
organi7cd in England 1702 Anne queen of E ngland 1705 Proposals issued b y representatibulles of tassachusetts ministerial
associations 1708 Connecticut Synod at Saybrook issued the Saybrook Platform 170-J Gcncral ssoiation of Connecticut ministers organized the first middot middotmiddot middot Statt organi7atinn 1713 Peace or Utricht
CHRO~OLOGICAL TABLE538
1714 George I king of En~bnd
1716 Yale College located in New Haven 1pz Cutler rector o( Yale College and others became Episcopalians 1723 Increase ~father died 1725 Fini1 and unsuccessful effort of General Court of Massachusetts to
call a synod of churches 1727 Jonathan E~wards ordained colleague pastor at Northampton
George II king of England ljJ~ Cotton lather died 173 Revival of religion at Northampton 1738 George Whitefields first visit to America 171-o Whitefield visited Coston and other parts of New England 17j0-42 Great revival of religion in New England 17-tr Gilbert Tennent preached in Boston middot 17J2 John Davenport by his preaching made disturbances in Connecticut
and Massachusetts Separatist churches formed 1744-4 Whitefields second vi5it to New England 1750 Jonathan Edwards forced to leamiddote the Church at Northampton went
to Stockbridge a missionary to the Indians middot 17)7 Jonithan Edwards died middot 1762 First Church organized in Vennont at Bennington 1765 Stamp Act passed 1766 Stamp Act repealed 1769 Dartmouth College founded 1770 Samuel Hopkins sittled at Newport R I 1773 The Doston Tea Party 177) Commencement of War or the ReOlution 1778 Phillips Academy Andover founded Phillips Academy Exetershy
N H chartered 1781 178o lfassachusetts Bill of Rights enacted amended guaranteeing to
every denomination o( Christians equal protection i11 law 1834 middot 1782 James Fimiddoteeman chosen rector of Kings Chapel the church under
him became Unittrian 1783 End of the War of the Revolution 1784 Saybrook Pbtorm by remiddotision of statutes ceased to be cMl law in
Connecticut 1786 lIassachusetts was granted the right to purchase from the Indians
Western New York 1790 lIethodisrn first appears in 1fassachusctts Gra_nt or Vestem Reshy
senmiddote to Connecticut 1793 Williams College chartered 179-1-middot Ilowcloin College chartered 17)) The London lissiona1y Society instituted General Convention of
Congregational ministers and churches in Vermont organized 1796 F irst Con~rcgational church in Ohio at llarietla 1798 Connccicut fissionary Society formed
CH lW~OLOGICAL TAllLE S39
1799 )fassachusetts Missionary Society formed rSoo iliddlebury College founded 1801 Plan of Union ailopted botweeu the General Congregational Associashy
tion of Connecticut and the Genoral Assembly or the Presbyterian middotmiddot Church Congregational middotc1nirch organized in Quebec the first in
Lower middotcnada middot 1803 General Association of ilassachusetts ministers fomted Gtneral
Con(erence of churches 1S6o Union of Association and Confershyence 1868
1805 Henry Ware chose professor of divinity at Harvard First Sunday school in Cauacla organized in connection with Congregational chiuch in Quebec middot middot
1808 The first theological seminary opened at Andover Mass bullSo Park Street Church Iloston or~aniicd New Hampshire Associashy
tion and Rhode Island Consociation organized Muskingum (0) Association formed middot
1810 American Doard of Commissioners or Foreign Missions established by the General Aisociation of Massachusetts Dr Kirkland elected president ur Han middotard middot First Sunday school in ltassachushysttts ~t Ucn rl-
1815 Unitarianism avomd hy some tassachusetts Congregationalists 1816 American Education Society formed middotunited with Westem Coilege
Socictr in 1 87~ with Ncw est Education Commis~ion in 1893 Dan~or Theological Seminary began Rt1s011 N~cordtr began
1818 1ew constitution adopted hy the State of Connccticut making all re ligious associations purd Oluntary bull
1819 Congre~ational church organized at Southwold the first in Upper Crnada
1821 Amherst College founded middot 18 Theological department opened at Yale College 186 American Home issionary Society institutecf First State Confershy
ence of churches organized in Mai= 1831 Congregational Union or England and Wales organiied 183 l~assachusetts Sabbath-school Societr organized 1833 Declaration of Faith of the Congregational churches or Engbnd aml
Walts with Principles of Church Order and Discipline Oberlin college founclecl
1834 General Association of New York organized 1835 Illinois College founded 1837 Prcsbyteria11 General Jsscmhlr abrogated Pian of Union 1838 New School Prehyterian Chunh orgmizcll 1 S40 General Asso1iatio11 of Iowa anti isconsin Co1wention formed 18p Gencrtl ssmiatinn of l ithi~an Conned I s~ General Associati()ll of Ill inois formed 18~6 Convention of Western Co11grcgational churches at ~fichigan City
Mich American lissionary sociation organized bull
540 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
t8t7middot Beloit College founded 1848 Iowa College founded Oregon Association formed 1852 American General Convention of Congregational Chur~hes at Albany
N Y Encl of Plan of Union Ohio Association oigauized 1853 Congregational Churchbuilding Society formed middot 1855 Kansas Association organized 1856 Minnesota Association organized 1857 California and Nebraska associations organized 1858 Chicago Theological Seminary founded Indiana Association organmiddot
ized 186o Congregational College of British North America founded affiliated
with McGill Unimiddotersity Iontreal Canada 1864 1861 Beginning of Civil War 1865 Close of Cimiddotil War Missouri Association organized General
American Council of Congregational Churches Boston Burial Hill Declaration of Faith adopted
1867 Connecticut Conference organized 1868 Colorado Association organized 1869 New Jersey Association organizedmiddot 1870 Louisiana Association organized 1871 National Council established at Oberlin O for triennial meetings
South Dakota and Tennessee associations organized Congregational House Boston occupied by benemiddoto]ent societies and
other Congregational orga1iizations 1876 Alabama Association organized 1878 Georgia Association organized 1879 North Carolina Conference mmiddotganized 1881 First Youug Peoples Society of Christian Endeabullor fonnecl at Villiishy
ton Congregltttional Church Portland ire New est Edlcation Commission organizedmiddot united with American Education Society 1893
1882 Utah Association organized 1883 Declaration of Faith by a Creed Commission appointed hy the
National Council Florida and Mississippi associations and North Dakota Conference organized
Arizona and New Mexico Association an~] Montana Conference organized
1SSG P~middotnnsyh-mia tssltgtciation organized 1887 Arkansas and Southern Calipoundorni1 associations organized 1SS9 Vashington Agtsociation organired 1890 Gcor~ia Corwention and Oklahoma Association organilcd 1891 First International Congregational Council London Englind all
parts of the world bcing represcntell yoming Association organizd
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE Of Important Events In Congregational History
Since 1900
1913 Report of the Committee of Nineteen acted upon by National Council of Congregational Churches at Kansas City setting up a national system for the dispensing of benevolences and control of seven Missionary Societies
1923 A national magazine poll reportedly ascertained the 25 best preachers in the US indicating that 7 were Congregationalists a group of only 900000
1931 Congregational National Council merged with General Convention of the Christian Church into the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches
1934 Congregational Christian Churches absorbs the German Reformed Church
1938 Rev Samuel Press in cooperation with Rev Truman Douglas initiated church union with the Eva~elical and Reformed Church
1942 Commission on Inter-Church Relations and Christian Unity authorized to explore possibl~ union with the E and R Church
1943 First and second drafts of the Basis of Unionn completed and sent to associations and churches for their study
1947 The Evanston Meeting held by Congregationalists as an ad hoc committee of the concerned over the proposed merger--released statement charging that Basis of Union was an abandonment of Congregational tradition and principle
1948 Deadline for acceptance of Basis of Union passes without the required percentage approving--deadline extended to Jan 1949 middot
1949 Approval of Basis of Union continues to be under 75 but General Council passes it anyway Cadman Memorial Church brought legal action to prevent the union
1950 New ~c~k Supreme Court enjoined General Council from carrying out consummation of the proposed union with the E and R Church
1952 New York court reversed lower court decision on grounds that since no property was involved themiddoty had no jurisdiction
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
1953 Appeal of Cadman Memorial Church denied 1955 National Association of Congregational Christian
Churches organized~ 1956 NACCC adopted its Articles of Association and By-Laws 1957 Formation of the United Church of Christ by the
Pirst General Synod middot
1959 Commission on the ministry of the NA proposed that ordination of ministers by the local church be proclaimed valid on the basis of historic Congregationalprinciple
1961 UCC Constitution formally ratified NACCC declared itself to be the successor to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches
1962 UCC and NACCC made application for membeEhip in the International Congregational Council UCC admitted NACCC denied admission
1966 Seminar on the Nature and Future of the Free Church in Chicago offered alternatives to organizational ecumenicity Consultatiqn on Church Union (COCU) completed its middot blueprin~ for the Great American Church
10
By February of 1949 with many disputes concerning
exactly what percent~ge of people or churches had actually
approved the merger and the highest figure middotceven though
unconfirmed) being 73 themiddot General Council of
Congregati~nal Christian Churches voted to proceed with
union with the Evangelical and Reformed Church 19 This
action contrary to themiddot clearmiddot understanding of the churches
would cause more than ten years of bitterness within the
denomination and cause once more in Congregational history
great divisions within and among churches
The most visible and middot long lived protest of the proposed
merger was taken up by the Cadman Memorial Church of Brooklyn
Ne)l York which sued on their own behalf and on behalf of
other Congregational Christian Churches Helen Kenyon
Moderator of the General Council of the Congregational
Christian Churches of the United States The Cadman church
charged that the proposed United Chllrch of Christ is and
will be so alien and different in structure middot and polity
that fundamental congregational usage and practice will be 20
wholly lost and destroyed
Justice Meier Steinbrink of Kings County Supreme Court
of New York was the first to hear the case and sided with
the plaintiffs stating that indeed no Congregational church
had ever authorized the General Council to negotiate the
Basis of Union in the first place and that the very name
proposed for the new body (United Church of Christ) indicated
a willingness if not intent to discard the Congregational
tradition Justice Steinbrink issued an injunction against
21consummation of the merger
11
Two years later (in 1952) the New York Courts Appellatt
Division reversed the Cadman decision on the grounds that the
plaintiff church had no interest in the property of the
General Council or the boards and without a property 22
interest the court could not go into merger questions The
New York Court of Appeals highest court in the state
sustained the reversal the next year stating that the
proposed union will in no way change the historical and
traditional pattern of the individual Congregational
Christian Church~each member church will continue to
possess the same freedom of faith and manner of worship as middot -
heretofore enjoyed bullbullbullUnion depends on voluntary action fully
taken by indepenaent autonomous churches bullbull23
After these years of resistance and failures in court middot
battles it became evident that the ideals held by the
protestors would not be preserved The National Association
of Congregational Christian Churches was formed in Detroit
Michigan on November 10 1955 with the intention ~f retur~ing
to the Congregational Way They referrei to themselves as middot
Neo-Congregationalists claiming that they were nothing more
than mature Congregationalists not possessing any novelty
of content but arising out of a renewed faith in the power 24of the old principles
The National Association had as their founding goal a
bringing together of l_ocal churches for counsel inspiration
and fellowship assumt ng for themselves no ecclesiastical
authority and no birging creed 25 In their Articles of
12
Association adopted the following year the founders were
careful to spell out a system of local church rule over the
national administration for the minimization of the possibility
of a recurrance of the bitterness and schism of the past
ten middotyears The Preamble clearly states that they hold to the
idea that historic Congregationalism adhered to the freedom
of the Christian man and the right of the local church to
self-goverrunent middot in all matters and that Congregationalism
is in its essence an outer and corporate expression of the
inner and individual life in Christ 26
Finally on August 24 1961 the National Association
took the middotbold bullbullmiddot bull step of declaring itself to be the successor
to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian middot
Churches 1127 That year 3600 of the 5550 Congregational churches
in the US were members of the United Church of Christ more
than 1500 chose to remain wholly independent of any body and
JOO were affiliated with the National Association 28
The newly formed National Association had a severe blow
dealt to their morale in 1962 when they applied for admission
to the International Congregational Council but were not
granted Congregational status in that they were not a part of the
United Church of Christ a gromicrop making application at the
same time As Harry Butman one of the founders of the middot
National Association said there is a wry humor in
thinking on the topsy-turly logic of the ecclesiastical mind
that sees such great ~lstoric churches as Park Street Bostonbullbullbull
as not Congregational while the infant churches which came
13
of their missionary zeal and labor say the Samoan and the
middot Bantu (two ghurches admitted at themiddot same middottime the National
Association was rejected) ~ Corigregationai churches bullmiddot1128
Today the National Association of Congregational
Chridegstian Churches boasts 357 churches in full membership with
them and 39 more which are associated or affiliated unofficially
The association continues to grow and is consistantly drawing
in more congregations fnto the Congregational middot Way
Throughout Congregational history we see the recurring
trend for this individualistic system to search for and find
an authority system with which it can unite In previous
generations tne union has occured arid obliterated the founding
principles of Congregationalism In this generation for the
flrst time the union has been staunchly opposed and has middotmiddotshy
resulted in a renewal of the old ways The question for history
to answer is whether the old ways wili in the enq be yictorious
or whether the demands of our society require drastic
restructuring for survival
FOOTNOTES
1Walker Williston A Histor middot of the Con e ational Churches in the United States The Christian Literature Co 1894) p 428
2conn Howard The Dilemma of Congregationalism (National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 1962) t p20
3walker Williston A Hdegistory of the Christian Church 3rd ed (New York Charles Scribners Sons 1970) Pmiddot 443
4Manning Bernard Lord Essays in Orthadox Dissent (London Independent Press LTD 1953) p 156ff
5rbid P 108 bull 6nunning Albert E Con~regationalists in America
(J A Hill and Company 1894 pp130-132
op Cit Walker A History of the Christian middotcmiddothurch p 433
8Ibid p 4J4
9op Cit WalkerA History of the Congregational Churches in the United States p 428
10op Cit Walker A History of the Christian Churchp466
11Hudson Winthrop S Religion in America (Charles Scribners Sons 1973) p118
12r bid bull p 11 9 bull
13Ibid p 119
14rbid p120
15rbid p 121
16National Association of Congregational Christian Churches A Comorehensive Anal s is of What We Are Now Con re ational Principles and Polity National Association of CongregationalChristian Churches 1961) p 8 middot middot
17Latourette Kenneth A History of Christianity vol 2 (Harper and Row 1975) p 1422
FOOTNOTES (continued)
18Burton Malcolm K How Church middotUnion Came (The Committee for the Continuation of Congregational _Ghristian Churches of the United States Inc 1966) p middot4
19Ibid p7 20ttoskins Fred Con e ationalism Betra ed or Fulfilled
(transcript of th~ Southworth Lecture middot 1962 p 9 shy21Ibid p 11 22op Cit Burton pp 7-8
23op Cit Hoskins p 11
24 (Butman Harry R The Lords Free People The Swannett Press 1968) p 79
25Ibid p 114
26National Ass~ciation of Congregational Christian Churches NACCC Yearbook-1975-1976 (National Associaticm of Co~egational Christian Churches 1975) p 165
27Op cmiddotmiddot1 t bull Bu t man p bull 11 Jc bull
28Ibid p 14)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Atkins Gaius An Adventure in Liberty The Pilgrim Press 1961
Atkins Gaius and Fagley Frederick middotHistory of American middot Congregationalism The Pilgrim Press 1942
Bradshaw Marion John Free Churches and Christian Unity The Beacon Press 1954 middot middot middot middot
Burton Malcolm K Destiny for Congregatialism Modern Publfshers Inc 1953
Burton Malcolm K How Church Union Came The Committee for the Continuation of Congregational Christian Churches of the United States Inc 1966 middot
Burton Malcolm K To Revamp Protestant WorshiQ The Committee for the Continuation of the Congregationsl Christian Churches of the United States 1965w
Butman Harry R The Lords Free People The Swannett Press 1968
Conn Howard The Dilemma of ConJregationalism National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 1962
Congregational Press Handbook of the National Association of middot Congregational Christian Churches- 1263 The Congregational
Press 1963
Dunning Albert E Congregationalists in Americmiddota J A Hill and Company 1894
General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches Digest of Minutes of Meetings of the CongregationalChristian Churchesmiddot of the United States-1911-1965 The General Council middotof the Congregatinal Christian Churches 1971
Hoskins Fred Congregationalism Betrayed or Fulfilled transmiddotcript of the Southworth Lecture 1962
Hudson Winthrop S~ Religion in America Charles Scribners Sons 1973
Latourette Kenneth A History of Christianity vol 2 Harper and Row 1975
Manning Bernard Lord _Essa ys in Orthadox Dissent London Independ8nt Pressmiddot LTD 1953
BIBLIOGRAPHY (Continued)
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches A Comprehensive Analysis of What We Are Now Congregational Principles and Polity ~ 1National~ssociaticm~middot-of Congregationan Christian Churches 1961 middot middot
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches middot NACCC Yearbook-1975-1976 National Association of middot
Congregational Christian Churches 1975 middot
Sinclair Francis What It Means to be a Congregationalist League to Uphold Congregational Principles undated
Steece Arvel M Polity Evolution and the Future of Congregationa1ism The Congregationalist (March 1975)16-17
Walker Williston A History of the CongregatiOnal Churches middot in the United States The Christian Literature Co 1894
Walker Williston A History of the Christian Church Jrd edmiddot New York Charles Scribners Sons 1979
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF IMPORTANT EVENTS IN CONGREGATIONAL HISTORY
1582 Brownes $tatement ofCongregational Principles publisheltl r583_John Coppin and Elias Thacker hanged at Bu~y St Edmunds England r586 John Greenwood and Henry Barrowe im111isoned in London 1588 Martin ]far-prelate Tracts 1589 A True Description out of the Word of God of the Visible Church
published in _London r 592 First known modern Congregational church completely and formally
organized in London 1593 John Greenwood Henry Barrowe and John Penry hanged the last of
the Congregational martyrs put to death Fifty-six members of the first Congregational church London imprisoned
1595 First Congregational church regathered fo Amsterdam Holland 15g6 A True Confession 0pound the Faith bullbull of the London-Amste1dam
Church published 15C)S The same True Confession middottranslated into Latin and published 16oz Congregational church organized at Gainsborough England r6o3 Death of Elizabeth and accession or JamesI Petition 0pound Amsterdam
Church to King James I stating the Points of Difference between Congregationalism and the Church of England
16o6 Scrooby Church organized John Robinson Pastor Gainsborough Church remomiddotes to Amsterdam
16o7-o8 Scrooby Church remobulles to Amsterdam 16olt John Robinson with the Pilgrims ofScrciobf Church settles in Leyden middot 1611 King James Version of the Bible published middot r616 Congregational church organized at Southwark London middot _ 1617 Pilgrims of Leyden petition King James for permission to settle in
America 1618-19 The Synod of Dort at Dordrecht Holland
middot 16zo Pilgrims left Leyden July 21 sailed from Pl~middotmouth September 16 sigped civil compact in the 1fayfiowerNovember 21 landed at Plymouth lIass December 1 r (0 S) December 21 (N S)
1621 Gomiddoternor Carver died Villiam Bradfo-d chosen governor of Pilgrim Colony
162+ First Purit3n settlement in New Erigfand at Cape Ann 1625 John Robinson died in Leyden Death or James I middotand accession of
Challes r middot 1628 The Company or ~bssachusetts Uay formed in England Captain
middot Endecott arri1middoted at Sltllen1 William Laud mule Bishop of London
535
Chronological Table through 1899 from Albert Dunning s Congregationalism in America~
I
CHROsOLCJGICAL TAUIE
1629 Six vessels with emirants from England arrfred at Salem Second Congregational church in America formed at Salem Mass middot Charter granted to Massachusetts
1630 First Church Dorchester llass organized at Plymouth EoglamJ landed at Nantasket lfay 30 John Vinthrop with a Aeet of CS middot
sels arrived in Massachusetts liar The Iassachusctts charter brought to Ncw England First Church organized at Charlcstowrt md First Church bull Vatertown July 30 middot First General Court Au- gust 23 John Winthrop elected gomiddoternor Settlement of llostou
163 Church at Charlestown remOf(f to Boston Prt~ent First Church middot Charlestown organized Nmbullember 23 First Church Lynn ind
First Church Roxbury organized 1633 John Cotton Thomas Hooker and Samuel Stone arrived at Boston middotmiddot
Laud made Archbishop of Canterbury First parish in New Hampshire at Domiddoter First Church formed in connection with the parish 1638
1635 Colonies from Dorchester and Vatertomiddotn remocd lo Connecticut~ 1636 First Church in Dorchester ~lass organiztcl in Plymouth England
1630 fully estihlishecl at indsor Conn First Church Camshyhiillgc organi1olti Thomas Hooker with his compan) in organshyized church emigratetl from Cambridge ~lass lo Hanford Conn Roger Williams banished from [assachusetts Colony Sir Henry Vane chosen gomiddoternor The Hutchinson contnJmiddotcrsy Harard College founded Winthrop again elected gomiddoternor bull
r6j7 First General Synod or Xtw England commiddotencd at Camhriclge by the General Court It conclemned Antinomianism John Davenport middot and company arrimiddotcd at Boston from England Pequot ar
1638 Mrs Hutchinson excommunicated from the Boston Chirch and bmmiddot ished from themiddotcolo11y New Haven Colony founded hy Daenport
and his company 1641 Ilody 0pound Liberties adopted by the General Court of ltassachusetts
New Hampshire towns incorporated into ifass-lchusctts Colony 1643 Vetminster Assemhly convened in En~land hr Parliament Minisshy
terial Cflllention at Cimhridge ~lass Confederation of the four colonies iIitssachusetts Plymouth Connecticut and New Hinbullen
16~ Archbishop Laud cxccuted 1645 Tiattle of Nasehy insuring the 1lownfoll of the English Monarchy
Hookers Surver of the Sum of Church Discipline approved by the ministers of the New England colonies
1646--48 John Elot hean preaching to the Indians General American Synod at Cmnhriltlge setting forth platform of Church Polfty
1647 System of common schools adopted by Gemral Court of ifassachusetts 164S estminster Confession of Faith appromiddotecl by Parliament 1649 Enll ncl proclaims itsdf a Commonwealth 1650 Second Church Bo~ton organized middot 165r Gcnera Court or iTassachusctts approed Ctmbridge Platfomiddotrm
CHRONOLOGICAL TACLE 537
1654 Olimiddotcr Cromwell Loni Protector of Engla~d 1657 Ministerial Convention at- Boston Halfway Covenant recommended
_ Quakers imprisoned in Roston middot 1658 General Synod at Swoy Palace London setting forth amended
Vestminster Confession andmiddot Congregational Platform of Church Order Olimiddotcr Cromwell died
rmiddot66o Restoration of monarchy in England Charles II made king 1662 Massichusetts Synod at Beston appro-ed HaHway Covenant Conshy
necticut and New middotHaven Colonies united 1664- Church at Darrington organized the oldest existing Congregational
church in Rhode Island 166c) Olil South Church Boston organized 1670 Second Church Hartford Conn organized 1673 Church in Agamcnticus now York lle organized (possibly much
earlier) themiddot oldest existing Congregational church in that State then a part of Massachusetts
1674-76 King Philips War 1679-80 fassachusetts Synod at Tloston known as the Reforming Synod 168 Cotton Mather ordained colleague pastQr of Second Church Boston 1684 Charter of Massachusetts Colonr bullacatcd 1685 James II king of Englaml Sir Edmund Andros seized Old South
lleeting-housc Uoston for Episcopal scnmiddotices 1689 i lliun and tary made king rnd quee n of EnglanltI Andros
imprisoned anti promiddotisional gumiddotcrnment form~d in lfassachtisctts Simdn Ilraclstrctt gomiddoternor Kings Chapel erected for Episcopal middot
middot worship middot Toleration Act passeltl by English Parliament affordmiddot middoting legal protection to Nltnconforn1ists
1690 As-ociation of ministers of Boston and bullicinity formed the first permanent District Association in ilassachusctts
169t Healtls o( Agreement adopted in London between Preshyterians and Congregationalists middotPlymouth Colony connectecl with llassashychusetts
1692 Villiam Phips firs t gomiddotcrnor of Massachusets under new charter Twenty persons put to death at Salem for witchcraft Episco- palians na1itists and Quakers exempted from taxes for the support middot of Congregational churches in lfassachusetts
1699 Brallle Street Church Boston organized 1701 Yale College founded Society for the Propagation of the Gospel
organi7cd in England 1702 Anne queen of E ngland 1705 Proposals issued b y representatibulles of tassachusetts ministerial
associations 1708 Connecticut Synod at Saybrook issued the Saybrook Platform 170-J Gcncral ssoiation of Connecticut ministers organized the first middot middotmiddot middot Statt organi7atinn 1713 Peace or Utricht
CHRO~OLOGICAL TABLE538
1714 George I king of En~bnd
1716 Yale College located in New Haven 1pz Cutler rector o( Yale College and others became Episcopalians 1723 Increase ~father died 1725 Fini1 and unsuccessful effort of General Court of Massachusetts to
call a synod of churches 1727 Jonathan E~wards ordained colleague pastor at Northampton
George II king of England ljJ~ Cotton lather died 173 Revival of religion at Northampton 1738 George Whitefields first visit to America 171-o Whitefield visited Coston and other parts of New England 17j0-42 Great revival of religion in New England 17-tr Gilbert Tennent preached in Boston middot 17J2 John Davenport by his preaching made disturbances in Connecticut
and Massachusetts Separatist churches formed 1744-4 Whitefields second vi5it to New England 1750 Jonathan Edwards forced to leamiddote the Church at Northampton went
to Stockbridge a missionary to the Indians middot 17)7 Jonithan Edwards died middot 1762 First Church organized in Vennont at Bennington 1765 Stamp Act passed 1766 Stamp Act repealed 1769 Dartmouth College founded 1770 Samuel Hopkins sittled at Newport R I 1773 The Doston Tea Party 177) Commencement of War or the ReOlution 1778 Phillips Academy Andover founded Phillips Academy Exetershy
N H chartered 1781 178o lfassachusetts Bill of Rights enacted amended guaranteeing to
every denomination o( Christians equal protection i11 law 1834 middot 1782 James Fimiddoteeman chosen rector of Kings Chapel the church under
him became Unittrian 1783 End of the War of the Revolution 1784 Saybrook Pbtorm by remiddotision of statutes ceased to be cMl law in
Connecticut 1786 lIassachusetts was granted the right to purchase from the Indians
Western New York 1790 lIethodisrn first appears in 1fassachusctts Gra_nt or Vestem Reshy
senmiddote to Connecticut 1793 Williams College chartered 179-1-middot Ilowcloin College chartered 17)) The London lissiona1y Society instituted General Convention of
Congregational ministers and churches in Vermont organized 1796 F irst Con~rcgational church in Ohio at llarietla 1798 Connccicut fissionary Society formed
CH lW~OLOGICAL TAllLE S39
1799 )fassachusetts Missionary Society formed rSoo iliddlebury College founded 1801 Plan of Union ailopted botweeu the General Congregational Associashy
tion of Connecticut and the Genoral Assembly or the Presbyterian middotmiddot Church Congregational middotc1nirch organized in Quebec the first in
Lower middotcnada middot 1803 General Association of ilassachusetts ministers fomted Gtneral
Con(erence of churches 1S6o Union of Association and Confershyence 1868
1805 Henry Ware chose professor of divinity at Harvard First Sunday school in Cauacla organized in connection with Congregational chiuch in Quebec middot middot
1808 The first theological seminary opened at Andover Mass bullSo Park Street Church Iloston or~aniicd New Hampshire Associashy
tion and Rhode Island Consociation organized Muskingum (0) Association formed middot
1810 American Doard of Commissioners or Foreign Missions established by the General Aisociation of Massachusetts Dr Kirkland elected president ur Han middotard middot First Sunday school in ltassachushysttts ~t Ucn rl-
1815 Unitarianism avomd hy some tassachusetts Congregationalists 1816 American Education Society formed middotunited with Westem Coilege
Socictr in 1 87~ with Ncw est Education Commis~ion in 1893 Dan~or Theological Seminary began Rt1s011 N~cordtr began
1818 1ew constitution adopted hy the State of Connccticut making all re ligious associations purd Oluntary bull
1819 Congre~ational church organized at Southwold the first in Upper Crnada
1821 Amherst College founded middot 18 Theological department opened at Yale College 186 American Home issionary Society institutecf First State Confershy
ence of churches organized in Mai= 1831 Congregational Union or England and Wales organiied 183 l~assachusetts Sabbath-school Societr organized 1833 Declaration of Faith of the Congregational churches or Engbnd aml
Walts with Principles of Church Order and Discipline Oberlin college founclecl
1834 General Association of New York organized 1835 Illinois College founded 1837 Prcsbyteria11 General Jsscmhlr abrogated Pian of Union 1838 New School Prehyterian Chunh orgmizcll 1 S40 General Asso1iatio11 of Iowa anti isconsin Co1wention formed 18p Gencrtl ssmiatinn of l ithi~an Conned I s~ General Associati()ll of Ill inois formed 18~6 Convention of Western Co11grcgational churches at ~fichigan City
Mich American lissionary sociation organized bull
540 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
t8t7middot Beloit College founded 1848 Iowa College founded Oregon Association formed 1852 American General Convention of Congregational Chur~hes at Albany
N Y Encl of Plan of Union Ohio Association oigauized 1853 Congregational Churchbuilding Society formed middot 1855 Kansas Association organized 1856 Minnesota Association organized 1857 California and Nebraska associations organized 1858 Chicago Theological Seminary founded Indiana Association organmiddot
ized 186o Congregational College of British North America founded affiliated
with McGill Unimiddotersity Iontreal Canada 1864 1861 Beginning of Civil War 1865 Close of Cimiddotil War Missouri Association organized General
American Council of Congregational Churches Boston Burial Hill Declaration of Faith adopted
1867 Connecticut Conference organized 1868 Colorado Association organized 1869 New Jersey Association organizedmiddot 1870 Louisiana Association organized 1871 National Council established at Oberlin O for triennial meetings
South Dakota and Tennessee associations organized Congregational House Boston occupied by benemiddoto]ent societies and
other Congregational orga1iizations 1876 Alabama Association organized 1878 Georgia Association organized 1879 North Carolina Conference mmiddotganized 1881 First Youug Peoples Society of Christian Endeabullor fonnecl at Villiishy
ton Congregltttional Church Portland ire New est Edlcation Commission organizedmiddot united with American Education Society 1893
1882 Utah Association organized 1883 Declaration of Faith by a Creed Commission appointed hy the
National Council Florida and Mississippi associations and North Dakota Conference organized
Arizona and New Mexico Association an~] Montana Conference organized
1SSG P~middotnnsyh-mia tssltgtciation organized 1887 Arkansas and Southern Calipoundorni1 associations organized 1SS9 Vashington Agtsociation organired 1890 Gcor~ia Corwention and Oklahoma Association organilcd 1891 First International Congregational Council London Englind all
parts of the world bcing represcntell yoming Association organizd
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE Of Important Events In Congregational History
Since 1900
1913 Report of the Committee of Nineteen acted upon by National Council of Congregational Churches at Kansas City setting up a national system for the dispensing of benevolences and control of seven Missionary Societies
1923 A national magazine poll reportedly ascertained the 25 best preachers in the US indicating that 7 were Congregationalists a group of only 900000
1931 Congregational National Council merged with General Convention of the Christian Church into the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches
1934 Congregational Christian Churches absorbs the German Reformed Church
1938 Rev Samuel Press in cooperation with Rev Truman Douglas initiated church union with the Eva~elical and Reformed Church
1942 Commission on Inter-Church Relations and Christian Unity authorized to explore possibl~ union with the E and R Church
1943 First and second drafts of the Basis of Unionn completed and sent to associations and churches for their study
1947 The Evanston Meeting held by Congregationalists as an ad hoc committee of the concerned over the proposed merger--released statement charging that Basis of Union was an abandonment of Congregational tradition and principle
1948 Deadline for acceptance of Basis of Union passes without the required percentage approving--deadline extended to Jan 1949 middot
1949 Approval of Basis of Union continues to be under 75 but General Council passes it anyway Cadman Memorial Church brought legal action to prevent the union
1950 New ~c~k Supreme Court enjoined General Council from carrying out consummation of the proposed union with the E and R Church
1952 New York court reversed lower court decision on grounds that since no property was involved themiddoty had no jurisdiction
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
1953 Appeal of Cadman Memorial Church denied 1955 National Association of Congregational Christian
Churches organized~ 1956 NACCC adopted its Articles of Association and By-Laws 1957 Formation of the United Church of Christ by the
Pirst General Synod middot
1959 Commission on the ministry of the NA proposed that ordination of ministers by the local church be proclaimed valid on the basis of historic Congregationalprinciple
1961 UCC Constitution formally ratified NACCC declared itself to be the successor to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches
1962 UCC and NACCC made application for membeEhip in the International Congregational Council UCC admitted NACCC denied admission
1966 Seminar on the Nature and Future of the Free Church in Chicago offered alternatives to organizational ecumenicity Consultatiqn on Church Union (COCU) completed its middot blueprin~ for the Great American Church
11
Two years later (in 1952) the New York Courts Appellatt
Division reversed the Cadman decision on the grounds that the
plaintiff church had no interest in the property of the
General Council or the boards and without a property 22
interest the court could not go into merger questions The
New York Court of Appeals highest court in the state
sustained the reversal the next year stating that the
proposed union will in no way change the historical and
traditional pattern of the individual Congregational
Christian Church~each member church will continue to
possess the same freedom of faith and manner of worship as middot -
heretofore enjoyed bullbullbullUnion depends on voluntary action fully
taken by indepenaent autonomous churches bullbull23
After these years of resistance and failures in court middot
battles it became evident that the ideals held by the
protestors would not be preserved The National Association
of Congregational Christian Churches was formed in Detroit
Michigan on November 10 1955 with the intention ~f retur~ing
to the Congregational Way They referrei to themselves as middot
Neo-Congregationalists claiming that they were nothing more
than mature Congregationalists not possessing any novelty
of content but arising out of a renewed faith in the power 24of the old principles
The National Association had as their founding goal a
bringing together of l_ocal churches for counsel inspiration
and fellowship assumt ng for themselves no ecclesiastical
authority and no birging creed 25 In their Articles of
12
Association adopted the following year the founders were
careful to spell out a system of local church rule over the
national administration for the minimization of the possibility
of a recurrance of the bitterness and schism of the past
ten middotyears The Preamble clearly states that they hold to the
idea that historic Congregationalism adhered to the freedom
of the Christian man and the right of the local church to
self-goverrunent middot in all matters and that Congregationalism
is in its essence an outer and corporate expression of the
inner and individual life in Christ 26
Finally on August 24 1961 the National Association
took the middotbold bullbullmiddot bull step of declaring itself to be the successor
to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian middot
Churches 1127 That year 3600 of the 5550 Congregational churches
in the US were members of the United Church of Christ more
than 1500 chose to remain wholly independent of any body and
JOO were affiliated with the National Association 28
The newly formed National Association had a severe blow
dealt to their morale in 1962 when they applied for admission
to the International Congregational Council but were not
granted Congregational status in that they were not a part of the
United Church of Christ a gromicrop making application at the
same time As Harry Butman one of the founders of the middot
National Association said there is a wry humor in
thinking on the topsy-turly logic of the ecclesiastical mind
that sees such great ~lstoric churches as Park Street Bostonbullbullbull
as not Congregational while the infant churches which came
13
of their missionary zeal and labor say the Samoan and the
middot Bantu (two ghurches admitted at themiddot same middottime the National
Association was rejected) ~ Corigregationai churches bullmiddot1128
Today the National Association of Congregational
Chridegstian Churches boasts 357 churches in full membership with
them and 39 more which are associated or affiliated unofficially
The association continues to grow and is consistantly drawing
in more congregations fnto the Congregational middot Way
Throughout Congregational history we see the recurring
trend for this individualistic system to search for and find
an authority system with which it can unite In previous
generations tne union has occured arid obliterated the founding
principles of Congregationalism In this generation for the
flrst time the union has been staunchly opposed and has middotmiddotshy
resulted in a renewal of the old ways The question for history
to answer is whether the old ways wili in the enq be yictorious
or whether the demands of our society require drastic
restructuring for survival
FOOTNOTES
1Walker Williston A Histor middot of the Con e ational Churches in the United States The Christian Literature Co 1894) p 428
2conn Howard The Dilemma of Congregationalism (National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 1962) t p20
3walker Williston A Hdegistory of the Christian Church 3rd ed (New York Charles Scribners Sons 1970) Pmiddot 443
4Manning Bernard Lord Essays in Orthadox Dissent (London Independent Press LTD 1953) p 156ff
5rbid P 108 bull 6nunning Albert E Con~regationalists in America
(J A Hill and Company 1894 pp130-132
op Cit Walker A History of the Christian middotcmiddothurch p 433
8Ibid p 4J4
9op Cit WalkerA History of the Congregational Churches in the United States p 428
10op Cit Walker A History of the Christian Churchp466
11Hudson Winthrop S Religion in America (Charles Scribners Sons 1973) p118
12r bid bull p 11 9 bull
13Ibid p 119
14rbid p120
15rbid p 121
16National Association of Congregational Christian Churches A Comorehensive Anal s is of What We Are Now Con re ational Principles and Polity National Association of CongregationalChristian Churches 1961) p 8 middot middot
17Latourette Kenneth A History of Christianity vol 2 (Harper and Row 1975) p 1422
FOOTNOTES (continued)
18Burton Malcolm K How Church middotUnion Came (The Committee for the Continuation of Congregational _Ghristian Churches of the United States Inc 1966) p middot4
19Ibid p7 20ttoskins Fred Con e ationalism Betra ed or Fulfilled
(transcript of th~ Southworth Lecture middot 1962 p 9 shy21Ibid p 11 22op Cit Burton pp 7-8
23op Cit Hoskins p 11
24 (Butman Harry R The Lords Free People The Swannett Press 1968) p 79
25Ibid p 114
26National Ass~ciation of Congregational Christian Churches NACCC Yearbook-1975-1976 (National Associaticm of Co~egational Christian Churches 1975) p 165
27Op cmiddotmiddot1 t bull Bu t man p bull 11 Jc bull
28Ibid p 14)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Atkins Gaius An Adventure in Liberty The Pilgrim Press 1961
Atkins Gaius and Fagley Frederick middotHistory of American middot Congregationalism The Pilgrim Press 1942
Bradshaw Marion John Free Churches and Christian Unity The Beacon Press 1954 middot middot middot middot
Burton Malcolm K Destiny for Congregatialism Modern Publfshers Inc 1953
Burton Malcolm K How Church Union Came The Committee for the Continuation of Congregational Christian Churches of the United States Inc 1966 middot
Burton Malcolm K To Revamp Protestant WorshiQ The Committee for the Continuation of the Congregationsl Christian Churches of the United States 1965w
Butman Harry R The Lords Free People The Swannett Press 1968
Conn Howard The Dilemma of ConJregationalism National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 1962
Congregational Press Handbook of the National Association of middot Congregational Christian Churches- 1263 The Congregational
Press 1963
Dunning Albert E Congregationalists in Americmiddota J A Hill and Company 1894
General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches Digest of Minutes of Meetings of the CongregationalChristian Churchesmiddot of the United States-1911-1965 The General Council middotof the Congregatinal Christian Churches 1971
Hoskins Fred Congregationalism Betrayed or Fulfilled transmiddotcript of the Southworth Lecture 1962
Hudson Winthrop S~ Religion in America Charles Scribners Sons 1973
Latourette Kenneth A History of Christianity vol 2 Harper and Row 1975
Manning Bernard Lord _Essa ys in Orthadox Dissent London Independ8nt Pressmiddot LTD 1953
BIBLIOGRAPHY (Continued)
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches A Comprehensive Analysis of What We Are Now Congregational Principles and Polity ~ 1National~ssociaticm~middot-of Congregationan Christian Churches 1961 middot middot
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches middot NACCC Yearbook-1975-1976 National Association of middot
Congregational Christian Churches 1975 middot
Sinclair Francis What It Means to be a Congregationalist League to Uphold Congregational Principles undated
Steece Arvel M Polity Evolution and the Future of Congregationa1ism The Congregationalist (March 1975)16-17
Walker Williston A History of the CongregatiOnal Churches middot in the United States The Christian Literature Co 1894
Walker Williston A History of the Christian Church Jrd edmiddot New York Charles Scribners Sons 1979
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF IMPORTANT EVENTS IN CONGREGATIONAL HISTORY
1582 Brownes $tatement ofCongregational Principles publisheltl r583_John Coppin and Elias Thacker hanged at Bu~y St Edmunds England r586 John Greenwood and Henry Barrowe im111isoned in London 1588 Martin ]far-prelate Tracts 1589 A True Description out of the Word of God of the Visible Church
published in _London r 592 First known modern Congregational church completely and formally
organized in London 1593 John Greenwood Henry Barrowe and John Penry hanged the last of
the Congregational martyrs put to death Fifty-six members of the first Congregational church London imprisoned
1595 First Congregational church regathered fo Amsterdam Holland 15g6 A True Confession 0pound the Faith bullbull of the London-Amste1dam
Church published 15C)S The same True Confession middottranslated into Latin and published 16oz Congregational church organized at Gainsborough England r6o3 Death of Elizabeth and accession or JamesI Petition 0pound Amsterdam
Church to King James I stating the Points of Difference between Congregationalism and the Church of England
16o6 Scrooby Church organized John Robinson Pastor Gainsborough Church remomiddotes to Amsterdam
16o7-o8 Scrooby Church remobulles to Amsterdam 16olt John Robinson with the Pilgrims ofScrciobf Church settles in Leyden middot 1611 King James Version of the Bible published middot r616 Congregational church organized at Southwark London middot _ 1617 Pilgrims of Leyden petition King James for permission to settle in
America 1618-19 The Synod of Dort at Dordrecht Holland
middot 16zo Pilgrims left Leyden July 21 sailed from Pl~middotmouth September 16 sigped civil compact in the 1fayfiowerNovember 21 landed at Plymouth lIass December 1 r (0 S) December 21 (N S)
1621 Gomiddoternor Carver died Villiam Bradfo-d chosen governor of Pilgrim Colony
162+ First Purit3n settlement in New Erigfand at Cape Ann 1625 John Robinson died in Leyden Death or James I middotand accession of
Challes r middot 1628 The Company or ~bssachusetts Uay formed in England Captain
middot Endecott arri1middoted at Sltllen1 William Laud mule Bishop of London
535
Chronological Table through 1899 from Albert Dunning s Congregationalism in America~
I
CHROsOLCJGICAL TAUIE
1629 Six vessels with emirants from England arrfred at Salem Second Congregational church in America formed at Salem Mass middot Charter granted to Massachusetts
1630 First Church Dorchester llass organized at Plymouth EoglamJ landed at Nantasket lfay 30 John Vinthrop with a Aeet of CS middot
sels arrived in Massachusetts liar The Iassachusctts charter brought to Ncw England First Church organized at Charlcstowrt md First Church bull Vatertown July 30 middot First General Court Au- gust 23 John Winthrop elected gomiddoternor Settlement of llostou
163 Church at Charlestown remOf(f to Boston Prt~ent First Church middot Charlestown organized Nmbullember 23 First Church Lynn ind
First Church Roxbury organized 1633 John Cotton Thomas Hooker and Samuel Stone arrived at Boston middotmiddot
Laud made Archbishop of Canterbury First parish in New Hampshire at Domiddoter First Church formed in connection with the parish 1638
1635 Colonies from Dorchester and Vatertomiddotn remocd lo Connecticut~ 1636 First Church in Dorchester ~lass organiztcl in Plymouth England
1630 fully estihlishecl at indsor Conn First Church Camshyhiillgc organi1olti Thomas Hooker with his compan) in organshyized church emigratetl from Cambridge ~lass lo Hanford Conn Roger Williams banished from [assachusetts Colony Sir Henry Vane chosen gomiddoternor The Hutchinson contnJmiddotcrsy Harard College founded Winthrop again elected gomiddoternor bull
r6j7 First General Synod or Xtw England commiddotencd at Camhriclge by the General Court It conclemned Antinomianism John Davenport middot and company arrimiddotcd at Boston from England Pequot ar
1638 Mrs Hutchinson excommunicated from the Boston Chirch and bmmiddot ished from themiddotcolo11y New Haven Colony founded hy Daenport
and his company 1641 Ilody 0pound Liberties adopted by the General Court of ltassachusetts
New Hampshire towns incorporated into ifass-lchusctts Colony 1643 Vetminster Assemhly convened in En~land hr Parliament Minisshy
terial Cflllention at Cimhridge ~lass Confederation of the four colonies iIitssachusetts Plymouth Connecticut and New Hinbullen
16~ Archbishop Laud cxccuted 1645 Tiattle of Nasehy insuring the 1lownfoll of the English Monarchy
Hookers Surver of the Sum of Church Discipline approved by the ministers of the New England colonies
1646--48 John Elot hean preaching to the Indians General American Synod at Cmnhriltlge setting forth platform of Church Polfty
1647 System of common schools adopted by Gemral Court of ifassachusetts 164S estminster Confession of Faith appromiddotecl by Parliament 1649 Enll ncl proclaims itsdf a Commonwealth 1650 Second Church Bo~ton organized middot 165r Gcnera Court or iTassachusctts approed Ctmbridge Platfomiddotrm
CHRONOLOGICAL TACLE 537
1654 Olimiddotcr Cromwell Loni Protector of Engla~d 1657 Ministerial Convention at- Boston Halfway Covenant recommended
_ Quakers imprisoned in Roston middot 1658 General Synod at Swoy Palace London setting forth amended
Vestminster Confession andmiddot Congregational Platform of Church Order Olimiddotcr Cromwell died
rmiddot66o Restoration of monarchy in England Charles II made king 1662 Massichusetts Synod at Beston appro-ed HaHway Covenant Conshy
necticut and New middotHaven Colonies united 1664- Church at Darrington organized the oldest existing Congregational
church in Rhode Island 166c) Olil South Church Boston organized 1670 Second Church Hartford Conn organized 1673 Church in Agamcnticus now York lle organized (possibly much
earlier) themiddot oldest existing Congregational church in that State then a part of Massachusetts
1674-76 King Philips War 1679-80 fassachusetts Synod at Tloston known as the Reforming Synod 168 Cotton Mather ordained colleague pastQr of Second Church Boston 1684 Charter of Massachusetts Colonr bullacatcd 1685 James II king of Englaml Sir Edmund Andros seized Old South
lleeting-housc Uoston for Episcopal scnmiddotices 1689 i lliun and tary made king rnd quee n of EnglanltI Andros
imprisoned anti promiddotisional gumiddotcrnment form~d in lfassachtisctts Simdn Ilraclstrctt gomiddoternor Kings Chapel erected for Episcopal middot
middot worship middot Toleration Act passeltl by English Parliament affordmiddot middoting legal protection to Nltnconforn1ists
1690 As-ociation of ministers of Boston and bullicinity formed the first permanent District Association in ilassachusctts
169t Healtls o( Agreement adopted in London between Preshyterians and Congregationalists middotPlymouth Colony connectecl with llassashychusetts
1692 Villiam Phips firs t gomiddotcrnor of Massachusets under new charter Twenty persons put to death at Salem for witchcraft Episco- palians na1itists and Quakers exempted from taxes for the support middot of Congregational churches in lfassachusetts
1699 Brallle Street Church Boston organized 1701 Yale College founded Society for the Propagation of the Gospel
organi7cd in England 1702 Anne queen of E ngland 1705 Proposals issued b y representatibulles of tassachusetts ministerial
associations 1708 Connecticut Synod at Saybrook issued the Saybrook Platform 170-J Gcncral ssoiation of Connecticut ministers organized the first middot middotmiddot middot Statt organi7atinn 1713 Peace or Utricht
CHRO~OLOGICAL TABLE538
1714 George I king of En~bnd
1716 Yale College located in New Haven 1pz Cutler rector o( Yale College and others became Episcopalians 1723 Increase ~father died 1725 Fini1 and unsuccessful effort of General Court of Massachusetts to
call a synod of churches 1727 Jonathan E~wards ordained colleague pastor at Northampton
George II king of England ljJ~ Cotton lather died 173 Revival of religion at Northampton 1738 George Whitefields first visit to America 171-o Whitefield visited Coston and other parts of New England 17j0-42 Great revival of religion in New England 17-tr Gilbert Tennent preached in Boston middot 17J2 John Davenport by his preaching made disturbances in Connecticut
and Massachusetts Separatist churches formed 1744-4 Whitefields second vi5it to New England 1750 Jonathan Edwards forced to leamiddote the Church at Northampton went
to Stockbridge a missionary to the Indians middot 17)7 Jonithan Edwards died middot 1762 First Church organized in Vennont at Bennington 1765 Stamp Act passed 1766 Stamp Act repealed 1769 Dartmouth College founded 1770 Samuel Hopkins sittled at Newport R I 1773 The Doston Tea Party 177) Commencement of War or the ReOlution 1778 Phillips Academy Andover founded Phillips Academy Exetershy
N H chartered 1781 178o lfassachusetts Bill of Rights enacted amended guaranteeing to
every denomination o( Christians equal protection i11 law 1834 middot 1782 James Fimiddoteeman chosen rector of Kings Chapel the church under
him became Unittrian 1783 End of the War of the Revolution 1784 Saybrook Pbtorm by remiddotision of statutes ceased to be cMl law in
Connecticut 1786 lIassachusetts was granted the right to purchase from the Indians
Western New York 1790 lIethodisrn first appears in 1fassachusctts Gra_nt or Vestem Reshy
senmiddote to Connecticut 1793 Williams College chartered 179-1-middot Ilowcloin College chartered 17)) The London lissiona1y Society instituted General Convention of
Congregational ministers and churches in Vermont organized 1796 F irst Con~rcgational church in Ohio at llarietla 1798 Connccicut fissionary Society formed
CH lW~OLOGICAL TAllLE S39
1799 )fassachusetts Missionary Society formed rSoo iliddlebury College founded 1801 Plan of Union ailopted botweeu the General Congregational Associashy
tion of Connecticut and the Genoral Assembly or the Presbyterian middotmiddot Church Congregational middotc1nirch organized in Quebec the first in
Lower middotcnada middot 1803 General Association of ilassachusetts ministers fomted Gtneral
Con(erence of churches 1S6o Union of Association and Confershyence 1868
1805 Henry Ware chose professor of divinity at Harvard First Sunday school in Cauacla organized in connection with Congregational chiuch in Quebec middot middot
1808 The first theological seminary opened at Andover Mass bullSo Park Street Church Iloston or~aniicd New Hampshire Associashy
tion and Rhode Island Consociation organized Muskingum (0) Association formed middot
1810 American Doard of Commissioners or Foreign Missions established by the General Aisociation of Massachusetts Dr Kirkland elected president ur Han middotard middot First Sunday school in ltassachushysttts ~t Ucn rl-
1815 Unitarianism avomd hy some tassachusetts Congregationalists 1816 American Education Society formed middotunited with Westem Coilege
Socictr in 1 87~ with Ncw est Education Commis~ion in 1893 Dan~or Theological Seminary began Rt1s011 N~cordtr began
1818 1ew constitution adopted hy the State of Connccticut making all re ligious associations purd Oluntary bull
1819 Congre~ational church organized at Southwold the first in Upper Crnada
1821 Amherst College founded middot 18 Theological department opened at Yale College 186 American Home issionary Society institutecf First State Confershy
ence of churches organized in Mai= 1831 Congregational Union or England and Wales organiied 183 l~assachusetts Sabbath-school Societr organized 1833 Declaration of Faith of the Congregational churches or Engbnd aml
Walts with Principles of Church Order and Discipline Oberlin college founclecl
1834 General Association of New York organized 1835 Illinois College founded 1837 Prcsbyteria11 General Jsscmhlr abrogated Pian of Union 1838 New School Prehyterian Chunh orgmizcll 1 S40 General Asso1iatio11 of Iowa anti isconsin Co1wention formed 18p Gencrtl ssmiatinn of l ithi~an Conned I s~ General Associati()ll of Ill inois formed 18~6 Convention of Western Co11grcgational churches at ~fichigan City
Mich American lissionary sociation organized bull
540 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
t8t7middot Beloit College founded 1848 Iowa College founded Oregon Association formed 1852 American General Convention of Congregational Chur~hes at Albany
N Y Encl of Plan of Union Ohio Association oigauized 1853 Congregational Churchbuilding Society formed middot 1855 Kansas Association organized 1856 Minnesota Association organized 1857 California and Nebraska associations organized 1858 Chicago Theological Seminary founded Indiana Association organmiddot
ized 186o Congregational College of British North America founded affiliated
with McGill Unimiddotersity Iontreal Canada 1864 1861 Beginning of Civil War 1865 Close of Cimiddotil War Missouri Association organized General
American Council of Congregational Churches Boston Burial Hill Declaration of Faith adopted
1867 Connecticut Conference organized 1868 Colorado Association organized 1869 New Jersey Association organizedmiddot 1870 Louisiana Association organized 1871 National Council established at Oberlin O for triennial meetings
South Dakota and Tennessee associations organized Congregational House Boston occupied by benemiddoto]ent societies and
other Congregational orga1iizations 1876 Alabama Association organized 1878 Georgia Association organized 1879 North Carolina Conference mmiddotganized 1881 First Youug Peoples Society of Christian Endeabullor fonnecl at Villiishy
ton Congregltttional Church Portland ire New est Edlcation Commission organizedmiddot united with American Education Society 1893
1882 Utah Association organized 1883 Declaration of Faith by a Creed Commission appointed hy the
National Council Florida and Mississippi associations and North Dakota Conference organized
Arizona and New Mexico Association an~] Montana Conference organized
1SSG P~middotnnsyh-mia tssltgtciation organized 1887 Arkansas and Southern Calipoundorni1 associations organized 1SS9 Vashington Agtsociation organired 1890 Gcor~ia Corwention and Oklahoma Association organilcd 1891 First International Congregational Council London Englind all
parts of the world bcing represcntell yoming Association organizd
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE Of Important Events In Congregational History
Since 1900
1913 Report of the Committee of Nineteen acted upon by National Council of Congregational Churches at Kansas City setting up a national system for the dispensing of benevolences and control of seven Missionary Societies
1923 A national magazine poll reportedly ascertained the 25 best preachers in the US indicating that 7 were Congregationalists a group of only 900000
1931 Congregational National Council merged with General Convention of the Christian Church into the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches
1934 Congregational Christian Churches absorbs the German Reformed Church
1938 Rev Samuel Press in cooperation with Rev Truman Douglas initiated church union with the Eva~elical and Reformed Church
1942 Commission on Inter-Church Relations and Christian Unity authorized to explore possibl~ union with the E and R Church
1943 First and second drafts of the Basis of Unionn completed and sent to associations and churches for their study
1947 The Evanston Meeting held by Congregationalists as an ad hoc committee of the concerned over the proposed merger--released statement charging that Basis of Union was an abandonment of Congregational tradition and principle
1948 Deadline for acceptance of Basis of Union passes without the required percentage approving--deadline extended to Jan 1949 middot
1949 Approval of Basis of Union continues to be under 75 but General Council passes it anyway Cadman Memorial Church brought legal action to prevent the union
1950 New ~c~k Supreme Court enjoined General Council from carrying out consummation of the proposed union with the E and R Church
1952 New York court reversed lower court decision on grounds that since no property was involved themiddoty had no jurisdiction
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
1953 Appeal of Cadman Memorial Church denied 1955 National Association of Congregational Christian
Churches organized~ 1956 NACCC adopted its Articles of Association and By-Laws 1957 Formation of the United Church of Christ by the
Pirst General Synod middot
1959 Commission on the ministry of the NA proposed that ordination of ministers by the local church be proclaimed valid on the basis of historic Congregationalprinciple
1961 UCC Constitution formally ratified NACCC declared itself to be the successor to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches
1962 UCC and NACCC made application for membeEhip in the International Congregational Council UCC admitted NACCC denied admission
1966 Seminar on the Nature and Future of the Free Church in Chicago offered alternatives to organizational ecumenicity Consultatiqn on Church Union (COCU) completed its middot blueprin~ for the Great American Church
12
Association adopted the following year the founders were
careful to spell out a system of local church rule over the
national administration for the minimization of the possibility
of a recurrance of the bitterness and schism of the past
ten middotyears The Preamble clearly states that they hold to the
idea that historic Congregationalism adhered to the freedom
of the Christian man and the right of the local church to
self-goverrunent middot in all matters and that Congregationalism
is in its essence an outer and corporate expression of the
inner and individual life in Christ 26
Finally on August 24 1961 the National Association
took the middotbold bullbullmiddot bull step of declaring itself to be the successor
to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian middot
Churches 1127 That year 3600 of the 5550 Congregational churches
in the US were members of the United Church of Christ more
than 1500 chose to remain wholly independent of any body and
JOO were affiliated with the National Association 28
The newly formed National Association had a severe blow
dealt to their morale in 1962 when they applied for admission
to the International Congregational Council but were not
granted Congregational status in that they were not a part of the
United Church of Christ a gromicrop making application at the
same time As Harry Butman one of the founders of the middot
National Association said there is a wry humor in
thinking on the topsy-turly logic of the ecclesiastical mind
that sees such great ~lstoric churches as Park Street Bostonbullbullbull
as not Congregational while the infant churches which came
13
of their missionary zeal and labor say the Samoan and the
middot Bantu (two ghurches admitted at themiddot same middottime the National
Association was rejected) ~ Corigregationai churches bullmiddot1128
Today the National Association of Congregational
Chridegstian Churches boasts 357 churches in full membership with
them and 39 more which are associated or affiliated unofficially
The association continues to grow and is consistantly drawing
in more congregations fnto the Congregational middot Way
Throughout Congregational history we see the recurring
trend for this individualistic system to search for and find
an authority system with which it can unite In previous
generations tne union has occured arid obliterated the founding
principles of Congregationalism In this generation for the
flrst time the union has been staunchly opposed and has middotmiddotshy
resulted in a renewal of the old ways The question for history
to answer is whether the old ways wili in the enq be yictorious
or whether the demands of our society require drastic
restructuring for survival
FOOTNOTES
1Walker Williston A Histor middot of the Con e ational Churches in the United States The Christian Literature Co 1894) p 428
2conn Howard The Dilemma of Congregationalism (National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 1962) t p20
3walker Williston A Hdegistory of the Christian Church 3rd ed (New York Charles Scribners Sons 1970) Pmiddot 443
4Manning Bernard Lord Essays in Orthadox Dissent (London Independent Press LTD 1953) p 156ff
5rbid P 108 bull 6nunning Albert E Con~regationalists in America
(J A Hill and Company 1894 pp130-132
op Cit Walker A History of the Christian middotcmiddothurch p 433
8Ibid p 4J4
9op Cit WalkerA History of the Congregational Churches in the United States p 428
10op Cit Walker A History of the Christian Churchp466
11Hudson Winthrop S Religion in America (Charles Scribners Sons 1973) p118
12r bid bull p 11 9 bull
13Ibid p 119
14rbid p120
15rbid p 121
16National Association of Congregational Christian Churches A Comorehensive Anal s is of What We Are Now Con re ational Principles and Polity National Association of CongregationalChristian Churches 1961) p 8 middot middot
17Latourette Kenneth A History of Christianity vol 2 (Harper and Row 1975) p 1422
FOOTNOTES (continued)
18Burton Malcolm K How Church middotUnion Came (The Committee for the Continuation of Congregational _Ghristian Churches of the United States Inc 1966) p middot4
19Ibid p7 20ttoskins Fred Con e ationalism Betra ed or Fulfilled
(transcript of th~ Southworth Lecture middot 1962 p 9 shy21Ibid p 11 22op Cit Burton pp 7-8
23op Cit Hoskins p 11
24 (Butman Harry R The Lords Free People The Swannett Press 1968) p 79
25Ibid p 114
26National Ass~ciation of Congregational Christian Churches NACCC Yearbook-1975-1976 (National Associaticm of Co~egational Christian Churches 1975) p 165
27Op cmiddotmiddot1 t bull Bu t man p bull 11 Jc bull
28Ibid p 14)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Atkins Gaius An Adventure in Liberty The Pilgrim Press 1961
Atkins Gaius and Fagley Frederick middotHistory of American middot Congregationalism The Pilgrim Press 1942
Bradshaw Marion John Free Churches and Christian Unity The Beacon Press 1954 middot middot middot middot
Burton Malcolm K Destiny for Congregatialism Modern Publfshers Inc 1953
Burton Malcolm K How Church Union Came The Committee for the Continuation of Congregational Christian Churches of the United States Inc 1966 middot
Burton Malcolm K To Revamp Protestant WorshiQ The Committee for the Continuation of the Congregationsl Christian Churches of the United States 1965w
Butman Harry R The Lords Free People The Swannett Press 1968
Conn Howard The Dilemma of ConJregationalism National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 1962
Congregational Press Handbook of the National Association of middot Congregational Christian Churches- 1263 The Congregational
Press 1963
Dunning Albert E Congregationalists in Americmiddota J A Hill and Company 1894
General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches Digest of Minutes of Meetings of the CongregationalChristian Churchesmiddot of the United States-1911-1965 The General Council middotof the Congregatinal Christian Churches 1971
Hoskins Fred Congregationalism Betrayed or Fulfilled transmiddotcript of the Southworth Lecture 1962
Hudson Winthrop S~ Religion in America Charles Scribners Sons 1973
Latourette Kenneth A History of Christianity vol 2 Harper and Row 1975
Manning Bernard Lord _Essa ys in Orthadox Dissent London Independ8nt Pressmiddot LTD 1953
BIBLIOGRAPHY (Continued)
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches A Comprehensive Analysis of What We Are Now Congregational Principles and Polity ~ 1National~ssociaticm~middot-of Congregationan Christian Churches 1961 middot middot
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches middot NACCC Yearbook-1975-1976 National Association of middot
Congregational Christian Churches 1975 middot
Sinclair Francis What It Means to be a Congregationalist League to Uphold Congregational Principles undated
Steece Arvel M Polity Evolution and the Future of Congregationa1ism The Congregationalist (March 1975)16-17
Walker Williston A History of the CongregatiOnal Churches middot in the United States The Christian Literature Co 1894
Walker Williston A History of the Christian Church Jrd edmiddot New York Charles Scribners Sons 1979
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF IMPORTANT EVENTS IN CONGREGATIONAL HISTORY
1582 Brownes $tatement ofCongregational Principles publisheltl r583_John Coppin and Elias Thacker hanged at Bu~y St Edmunds England r586 John Greenwood and Henry Barrowe im111isoned in London 1588 Martin ]far-prelate Tracts 1589 A True Description out of the Word of God of the Visible Church
published in _London r 592 First known modern Congregational church completely and formally
organized in London 1593 John Greenwood Henry Barrowe and John Penry hanged the last of
the Congregational martyrs put to death Fifty-six members of the first Congregational church London imprisoned
1595 First Congregational church regathered fo Amsterdam Holland 15g6 A True Confession 0pound the Faith bullbull of the London-Amste1dam
Church published 15C)S The same True Confession middottranslated into Latin and published 16oz Congregational church organized at Gainsborough England r6o3 Death of Elizabeth and accession or JamesI Petition 0pound Amsterdam
Church to King James I stating the Points of Difference between Congregationalism and the Church of England
16o6 Scrooby Church organized John Robinson Pastor Gainsborough Church remomiddotes to Amsterdam
16o7-o8 Scrooby Church remobulles to Amsterdam 16olt John Robinson with the Pilgrims ofScrciobf Church settles in Leyden middot 1611 King James Version of the Bible published middot r616 Congregational church organized at Southwark London middot _ 1617 Pilgrims of Leyden petition King James for permission to settle in
America 1618-19 The Synod of Dort at Dordrecht Holland
middot 16zo Pilgrims left Leyden July 21 sailed from Pl~middotmouth September 16 sigped civil compact in the 1fayfiowerNovember 21 landed at Plymouth lIass December 1 r (0 S) December 21 (N S)
1621 Gomiddoternor Carver died Villiam Bradfo-d chosen governor of Pilgrim Colony
162+ First Purit3n settlement in New Erigfand at Cape Ann 1625 John Robinson died in Leyden Death or James I middotand accession of
Challes r middot 1628 The Company or ~bssachusetts Uay formed in England Captain
middot Endecott arri1middoted at Sltllen1 William Laud mule Bishop of London
535
Chronological Table through 1899 from Albert Dunning s Congregationalism in America~
I
CHROsOLCJGICAL TAUIE
1629 Six vessels with emirants from England arrfred at Salem Second Congregational church in America formed at Salem Mass middot Charter granted to Massachusetts
1630 First Church Dorchester llass organized at Plymouth EoglamJ landed at Nantasket lfay 30 John Vinthrop with a Aeet of CS middot
sels arrived in Massachusetts liar The Iassachusctts charter brought to Ncw England First Church organized at Charlcstowrt md First Church bull Vatertown July 30 middot First General Court Au- gust 23 John Winthrop elected gomiddoternor Settlement of llostou
163 Church at Charlestown remOf(f to Boston Prt~ent First Church middot Charlestown organized Nmbullember 23 First Church Lynn ind
First Church Roxbury organized 1633 John Cotton Thomas Hooker and Samuel Stone arrived at Boston middotmiddot
Laud made Archbishop of Canterbury First parish in New Hampshire at Domiddoter First Church formed in connection with the parish 1638
1635 Colonies from Dorchester and Vatertomiddotn remocd lo Connecticut~ 1636 First Church in Dorchester ~lass organiztcl in Plymouth England
1630 fully estihlishecl at indsor Conn First Church Camshyhiillgc organi1olti Thomas Hooker with his compan) in organshyized church emigratetl from Cambridge ~lass lo Hanford Conn Roger Williams banished from [assachusetts Colony Sir Henry Vane chosen gomiddoternor The Hutchinson contnJmiddotcrsy Harard College founded Winthrop again elected gomiddoternor bull
r6j7 First General Synod or Xtw England commiddotencd at Camhriclge by the General Court It conclemned Antinomianism John Davenport middot and company arrimiddotcd at Boston from England Pequot ar
1638 Mrs Hutchinson excommunicated from the Boston Chirch and bmmiddot ished from themiddotcolo11y New Haven Colony founded hy Daenport
and his company 1641 Ilody 0pound Liberties adopted by the General Court of ltassachusetts
New Hampshire towns incorporated into ifass-lchusctts Colony 1643 Vetminster Assemhly convened in En~land hr Parliament Minisshy
terial Cflllention at Cimhridge ~lass Confederation of the four colonies iIitssachusetts Plymouth Connecticut and New Hinbullen
16~ Archbishop Laud cxccuted 1645 Tiattle of Nasehy insuring the 1lownfoll of the English Monarchy
Hookers Surver of the Sum of Church Discipline approved by the ministers of the New England colonies
1646--48 John Elot hean preaching to the Indians General American Synod at Cmnhriltlge setting forth platform of Church Polfty
1647 System of common schools adopted by Gemral Court of ifassachusetts 164S estminster Confession of Faith appromiddotecl by Parliament 1649 Enll ncl proclaims itsdf a Commonwealth 1650 Second Church Bo~ton organized middot 165r Gcnera Court or iTassachusctts approed Ctmbridge Platfomiddotrm
CHRONOLOGICAL TACLE 537
1654 Olimiddotcr Cromwell Loni Protector of Engla~d 1657 Ministerial Convention at- Boston Halfway Covenant recommended
_ Quakers imprisoned in Roston middot 1658 General Synod at Swoy Palace London setting forth amended
Vestminster Confession andmiddot Congregational Platform of Church Order Olimiddotcr Cromwell died
rmiddot66o Restoration of monarchy in England Charles II made king 1662 Massichusetts Synod at Beston appro-ed HaHway Covenant Conshy
necticut and New middotHaven Colonies united 1664- Church at Darrington organized the oldest existing Congregational
church in Rhode Island 166c) Olil South Church Boston organized 1670 Second Church Hartford Conn organized 1673 Church in Agamcnticus now York lle organized (possibly much
earlier) themiddot oldest existing Congregational church in that State then a part of Massachusetts
1674-76 King Philips War 1679-80 fassachusetts Synod at Tloston known as the Reforming Synod 168 Cotton Mather ordained colleague pastQr of Second Church Boston 1684 Charter of Massachusetts Colonr bullacatcd 1685 James II king of Englaml Sir Edmund Andros seized Old South
lleeting-housc Uoston for Episcopal scnmiddotices 1689 i lliun and tary made king rnd quee n of EnglanltI Andros
imprisoned anti promiddotisional gumiddotcrnment form~d in lfassachtisctts Simdn Ilraclstrctt gomiddoternor Kings Chapel erected for Episcopal middot
middot worship middot Toleration Act passeltl by English Parliament affordmiddot middoting legal protection to Nltnconforn1ists
1690 As-ociation of ministers of Boston and bullicinity formed the first permanent District Association in ilassachusctts
169t Healtls o( Agreement adopted in London between Preshyterians and Congregationalists middotPlymouth Colony connectecl with llassashychusetts
1692 Villiam Phips firs t gomiddotcrnor of Massachusets under new charter Twenty persons put to death at Salem for witchcraft Episco- palians na1itists and Quakers exempted from taxes for the support middot of Congregational churches in lfassachusetts
1699 Brallle Street Church Boston organized 1701 Yale College founded Society for the Propagation of the Gospel
organi7cd in England 1702 Anne queen of E ngland 1705 Proposals issued b y representatibulles of tassachusetts ministerial
associations 1708 Connecticut Synod at Saybrook issued the Saybrook Platform 170-J Gcncral ssoiation of Connecticut ministers organized the first middot middotmiddot middot Statt organi7atinn 1713 Peace or Utricht
CHRO~OLOGICAL TABLE538
1714 George I king of En~bnd
1716 Yale College located in New Haven 1pz Cutler rector o( Yale College and others became Episcopalians 1723 Increase ~father died 1725 Fini1 and unsuccessful effort of General Court of Massachusetts to
call a synod of churches 1727 Jonathan E~wards ordained colleague pastor at Northampton
George II king of England ljJ~ Cotton lather died 173 Revival of religion at Northampton 1738 George Whitefields first visit to America 171-o Whitefield visited Coston and other parts of New England 17j0-42 Great revival of religion in New England 17-tr Gilbert Tennent preached in Boston middot 17J2 John Davenport by his preaching made disturbances in Connecticut
and Massachusetts Separatist churches formed 1744-4 Whitefields second vi5it to New England 1750 Jonathan Edwards forced to leamiddote the Church at Northampton went
to Stockbridge a missionary to the Indians middot 17)7 Jonithan Edwards died middot 1762 First Church organized in Vennont at Bennington 1765 Stamp Act passed 1766 Stamp Act repealed 1769 Dartmouth College founded 1770 Samuel Hopkins sittled at Newport R I 1773 The Doston Tea Party 177) Commencement of War or the ReOlution 1778 Phillips Academy Andover founded Phillips Academy Exetershy
N H chartered 1781 178o lfassachusetts Bill of Rights enacted amended guaranteeing to
every denomination o( Christians equal protection i11 law 1834 middot 1782 James Fimiddoteeman chosen rector of Kings Chapel the church under
him became Unittrian 1783 End of the War of the Revolution 1784 Saybrook Pbtorm by remiddotision of statutes ceased to be cMl law in
Connecticut 1786 lIassachusetts was granted the right to purchase from the Indians
Western New York 1790 lIethodisrn first appears in 1fassachusctts Gra_nt or Vestem Reshy
senmiddote to Connecticut 1793 Williams College chartered 179-1-middot Ilowcloin College chartered 17)) The London lissiona1y Society instituted General Convention of
Congregational ministers and churches in Vermont organized 1796 F irst Con~rcgational church in Ohio at llarietla 1798 Connccicut fissionary Society formed
CH lW~OLOGICAL TAllLE S39
1799 )fassachusetts Missionary Society formed rSoo iliddlebury College founded 1801 Plan of Union ailopted botweeu the General Congregational Associashy
tion of Connecticut and the Genoral Assembly or the Presbyterian middotmiddot Church Congregational middotc1nirch organized in Quebec the first in
Lower middotcnada middot 1803 General Association of ilassachusetts ministers fomted Gtneral
Con(erence of churches 1S6o Union of Association and Confershyence 1868
1805 Henry Ware chose professor of divinity at Harvard First Sunday school in Cauacla organized in connection with Congregational chiuch in Quebec middot middot
1808 The first theological seminary opened at Andover Mass bullSo Park Street Church Iloston or~aniicd New Hampshire Associashy
tion and Rhode Island Consociation organized Muskingum (0) Association formed middot
1810 American Doard of Commissioners or Foreign Missions established by the General Aisociation of Massachusetts Dr Kirkland elected president ur Han middotard middot First Sunday school in ltassachushysttts ~t Ucn rl-
1815 Unitarianism avomd hy some tassachusetts Congregationalists 1816 American Education Society formed middotunited with Westem Coilege
Socictr in 1 87~ with Ncw est Education Commis~ion in 1893 Dan~or Theological Seminary began Rt1s011 N~cordtr began
1818 1ew constitution adopted hy the State of Connccticut making all re ligious associations purd Oluntary bull
1819 Congre~ational church organized at Southwold the first in Upper Crnada
1821 Amherst College founded middot 18 Theological department opened at Yale College 186 American Home issionary Society institutecf First State Confershy
ence of churches organized in Mai= 1831 Congregational Union or England and Wales organiied 183 l~assachusetts Sabbath-school Societr organized 1833 Declaration of Faith of the Congregational churches or Engbnd aml
Walts with Principles of Church Order and Discipline Oberlin college founclecl
1834 General Association of New York organized 1835 Illinois College founded 1837 Prcsbyteria11 General Jsscmhlr abrogated Pian of Union 1838 New School Prehyterian Chunh orgmizcll 1 S40 General Asso1iatio11 of Iowa anti isconsin Co1wention formed 18p Gencrtl ssmiatinn of l ithi~an Conned I s~ General Associati()ll of Ill inois formed 18~6 Convention of Western Co11grcgational churches at ~fichigan City
Mich American lissionary sociation organized bull
540 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
t8t7middot Beloit College founded 1848 Iowa College founded Oregon Association formed 1852 American General Convention of Congregational Chur~hes at Albany
N Y Encl of Plan of Union Ohio Association oigauized 1853 Congregational Churchbuilding Society formed middot 1855 Kansas Association organized 1856 Minnesota Association organized 1857 California and Nebraska associations organized 1858 Chicago Theological Seminary founded Indiana Association organmiddot
ized 186o Congregational College of British North America founded affiliated
with McGill Unimiddotersity Iontreal Canada 1864 1861 Beginning of Civil War 1865 Close of Cimiddotil War Missouri Association organized General
American Council of Congregational Churches Boston Burial Hill Declaration of Faith adopted
1867 Connecticut Conference organized 1868 Colorado Association organized 1869 New Jersey Association organizedmiddot 1870 Louisiana Association organized 1871 National Council established at Oberlin O for triennial meetings
South Dakota and Tennessee associations organized Congregational House Boston occupied by benemiddoto]ent societies and
other Congregational orga1iizations 1876 Alabama Association organized 1878 Georgia Association organized 1879 North Carolina Conference mmiddotganized 1881 First Youug Peoples Society of Christian Endeabullor fonnecl at Villiishy
ton Congregltttional Church Portland ire New est Edlcation Commission organizedmiddot united with American Education Society 1893
1882 Utah Association organized 1883 Declaration of Faith by a Creed Commission appointed hy the
National Council Florida and Mississippi associations and North Dakota Conference organized
Arizona and New Mexico Association an~] Montana Conference organized
1SSG P~middotnnsyh-mia tssltgtciation organized 1887 Arkansas and Southern Calipoundorni1 associations organized 1SS9 Vashington Agtsociation organired 1890 Gcor~ia Corwention and Oklahoma Association organilcd 1891 First International Congregational Council London Englind all
parts of the world bcing represcntell yoming Association organizd
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE Of Important Events In Congregational History
Since 1900
1913 Report of the Committee of Nineteen acted upon by National Council of Congregational Churches at Kansas City setting up a national system for the dispensing of benevolences and control of seven Missionary Societies
1923 A national magazine poll reportedly ascertained the 25 best preachers in the US indicating that 7 were Congregationalists a group of only 900000
1931 Congregational National Council merged with General Convention of the Christian Church into the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches
1934 Congregational Christian Churches absorbs the German Reformed Church
1938 Rev Samuel Press in cooperation with Rev Truman Douglas initiated church union with the Eva~elical and Reformed Church
1942 Commission on Inter-Church Relations and Christian Unity authorized to explore possibl~ union with the E and R Church
1943 First and second drafts of the Basis of Unionn completed and sent to associations and churches for their study
1947 The Evanston Meeting held by Congregationalists as an ad hoc committee of the concerned over the proposed merger--released statement charging that Basis of Union was an abandonment of Congregational tradition and principle
1948 Deadline for acceptance of Basis of Union passes without the required percentage approving--deadline extended to Jan 1949 middot
1949 Approval of Basis of Union continues to be under 75 but General Council passes it anyway Cadman Memorial Church brought legal action to prevent the union
1950 New ~c~k Supreme Court enjoined General Council from carrying out consummation of the proposed union with the E and R Church
1952 New York court reversed lower court decision on grounds that since no property was involved themiddoty had no jurisdiction
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
1953 Appeal of Cadman Memorial Church denied 1955 National Association of Congregational Christian
Churches organized~ 1956 NACCC adopted its Articles of Association and By-Laws 1957 Formation of the United Church of Christ by the
Pirst General Synod middot
1959 Commission on the ministry of the NA proposed that ordination of ministers by the local church be proclaimed valid on the basis of historic Congregationalprinciple
1961 UCC Constitution formally ratified NACCC declared itself to be the successor to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches
1962 UCC and NACCC made application for membeEhip in the International Congregational Council UCC admitted NACCC denied admission
1966 Seminar on the Nature and Future of the Free Church in Chicago offered alternatives to organizational ecumenicity Consultatiqn on Church Union (COCU) completed its middot blueprin~ for the Great American Church
13
of their missionary zeal and labor say the Samoan and the
middot Bantu (two ghurches admitted at themiddot same middottime the National
Association was rejected) ~ Corigregationai churches bullmiddot1128
Today the National Association of Congregational
Chridegstian Churches boasts 357 churches in full membership with
them and 39 more which are associated or affiliated unofficially
The association continues to grow and is consistantly drawing
in more congregations fnto the Congregational middot Way
Throughout Congregational history we see the recurring
trend for this individualistic system to search for and find
an authority system with which it can unite In previous
generations tne union has occured arid obliterated the founding
principles of Congregationalism In this generation for the
flrst time the union has been staunchly opposed and has middotmiddotshy
resulted in a renewal of the old ways The question for history
to answer is whether the old ways wili in the enq be yictorious
or whether the demands of our society require drastic
restructuring for survival
FOOTNOTES
1Walker Williston A Histor middot of the Con e ational Churches in the United States The Christian Literature Co 1894) p 428
2conn Howard The Dilemma of Congregationalism (National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 1962) t p20
3walker Williston A Hdegistory of the Christian Church 3rd ed (New York Charles Scribners Sons 1970) Pmiddot 443
4Manning Bernard Lord Essays in Orthadox Dissent (London Independent Press LTD 1953) p 156ff
5rbid P 108 bull 6nunning Albert E Con~regationalists in America
(J A Hill and Company 1894 pp130-132
op Cit Walker A History of the Christian middotcmiddothurch p 433
8Ibid p 4J4
9op Cit WalkerA History of the Congregational Churches in the United States p 428
10op Cit Walker A History of the Christian Churchp466
11Hudson Winthrop S Religion in America (Charles Scribners Sons 1973) p118
12r bid bull p 11 9 bull
13Ibid p 119
14rbid p120
15rbid p 121
16National Association of Congregational Christian Churches A Comorehensive Anal s is of What We Are Now Con re ational Principles and Polity National Association of CongregationalChristian Churches 1961) p 8 middot middot
17Latourette Kenneth A History of Christianity vol 2 (Harper and Row 1975) p 1422
FOOTNOTES (continued)
18Burton Malcolm K How Church middotUnion Came (The Committee for the Continuation of Congregational _Ghristian Churches of the United States Inc 1966) p middot4
19Ibid p7 20ttoskins Fred Con e ationalism Betra ed or Fulfilled
(transcript of th~ Southworth Lecture middot 1962 p 9 shy21Ibid p 11 22op Cit Burton pp 7-8
23op Cit Hoskins p 11
24 (Butman Harry R The Lords Free People The Swannett Press 1968) p 79
25Ibid p 114
26National Ass~ciation of Congregational Christian Churches NACCC Yearbook-1975-1976 (National Associaticm of Co~egational Christian Churches 1975) p 165
27Op cmiddotmiddot1 t bull Bu t man p bull 11 Jc bull
28Ibid p 14)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Atkins Gaius An Adventure in Liberty The Pilgrim Press 1961
Atkins Gaius and Fagley Frederick middotHistory of American middot Congregationalism The Pilgrim Press 1942
Bradshaw Marion John Free Churches and Christian Unity The Beacon Press 1954 middot middot middot middot
Burton Malcolm K Destiny for Congregatialism Modern Publfshers Inc 1953
Burton Malcolm K How Church Union Came The Committee for the Continuation of Congregational Christian Churches of the United States Inc 1966 middot
Burton Malcolm K To Revamp Protestant WorshiQ The Committee for the Continuation of the Congregationsl Christian Churches of the United States 1965w
Butman Harry R The Lords Free People The Swannett Press 1968
Conn Howard The Dilemma of ConJregationalism National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 1962
Congregational Press Handbook of the National Association of middot Congregational Christian Churches- 1263 The Congregational
Press 1963
Dunning Albert E Congregationalists in Americmiddota J A Hill and Company 1894
General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches Digest of Minutes of Meetings of the CongregationalChristian Churchesmiddot of the United States-1911-1965 The General Council middotof the Congregatinal Christian Churches 1971
Hoskins Fred Congregationalism Betrayed or Fulfilled transmiddotcript of the Southworth Lecture 1962
Hudson Winthrop S~ Religion in America Charles Scribners Sons 1973
Latourette Kenneth A History of Christianity vol 2 Harper and Row 1975
Manning Bernard Lord _Essa ys in Orthadox Dissent London Independ8nt Pressmiddot LTD 1953
BIBLIOGRAPHY (Continued)
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches A Comprehensive Analysis of What We Are Now Congregational Principles and Polity ~ 1National~ssociaticm~middot-of Congregationan Christian Churches 1961 middot middot
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches middot NACCC Yearbook-1975-1976 National Association of middot
Congregational Christian Churches 1975 middot
Sinclair Francis What It Means to be a Congregationalist League to Uphold Congregational Principles undated
Steece Arvel M Polity Evolution and the Future of Congregationa1ism The Congregationalist (March 1975)16-17
Walker Williston A History of the CongregatiOnal Churches middot in the United States The Christian Literature Co 1894
Walker Williston A History of the Christian Church Jrd edmiddot New York Charles Scribners Sons 1979
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF IMPORTANT EVENTS IN CONGREGATIONAL HISTORY
1582 Brownes $tatement ofCongregational Principles publisheltl r583_John Coppin and Elias Thacker hanged at Bu~y St Edmunds England r586 John Greenwood and Henry Barrowe im111isoned in London 1588 Martin ]far-prelate Tracts 1589 A True Description out of the Word of God of the Visible Church
published in _London r 592 First known modern Congregational church completely and formally
organized in London 1593 John Greenwood Henry Barrowe and John Penry hanged the last of
the Congregational martyrs put to death Fifty-six members of the first Congregational church London imprisoned
1595 First Congregational church regathered fo Amsterdam Holland 15g6 A True Confession 0pound the Faith bullbull of the London-Amste1dam
Church published 15C)S The same True Confession middottranslated into Latin and published 16oz Congregational church organized at Gainsborough England r6o3 Death of Elizabeth and accession or JamesI Petition 0pound Amsterdam
Church to King James I stating the Points of Difference between Congregationalism and the Church of England
16o6 Scrooby Church organized John Robinson Pastor Gainsborough Church remomiddotes to Amsterdam
16o7-o8 Scrooby Church remobulles to Amsterdam 16olt John Robinson with the Pilgrims ofScrciobf Church settles in Leyden middot 1611 King James Version of the Bible published middot r616 Congregational church organized at Southwark London middot _ 1617 Pilgrims of Leyden petition King James for permission to settle in
America 1618-19 The Synod of Dort at Dordrecht Holland
middot 16zo Pilgrims left Leyden July 21 sailed from Pl~middotmouth September 16 sigped civil compact in the 1fayfiowerNovember 21 landed at Plymouth lIass December 1 r (0 S) December 21 (N S)
1621 Gomiddoternor Carver died Villiam Bradfo-d chosen governor of Pilgrim Colony
162+ First Purit3n settlement in New Erigfand at Cape Ann 1625 John Robinson died in Leyden Death or James I middotand accession of
Challes r middot 1628 The Company or ~bssachusetts Uay formed in England Captain
middot Endecott arri1middoted at Sltllen1 William Laud mule Bishop of London
535
Chronological Table through 1899 from Albert Dunning s Congregationalism in America~
I
CHROsOLCJGICAL TAUIE
1629 Six vessels with emirants from England arrfred at Salem Second Congregational church in America formed at Salem Mass middot Charter granted to Massachusetts
1630 First Church Dorchester llass organized at Plymouth EoglamJ landed at Nantasket lfay 30 John Vinthrop with a Aeet of CS middot
sels arrived in Massachusetts liar The Iassachusctts charter brought to Ncw England First Church organized at Charlcstowrt md First Church bull Vatertown July 30 middot First General Court Au- gust 23 John Winthrop elected gomiddoternor Settlement of llostou
163 Church at Charlestown remOf(f to Boston Prt~ent First Church middot Charlestown organized Nmbullember 23 First Church Lynn ind
First Church Roxbury organized 1633 John Cotton Thomas Hooker and Samuel Stone arrived at Boston middotmiddot
Laud made Archbishop of Canterbury First parish in New Hampshire at Domiddoter First Church formed in connection with the parish 1638
1635 Colonies from Dorchester and Vatertomiddotn remocd lo Connecticut~ 1636 First Church in Dorchester ~lass organiztcl in Plymouth England
1630 fully estihlishecl at indsor Conn First Church Camshyhiillgc organi1olti Thomas Hooker with his compan) in organshyized church emigratetl from Cambridge ~lass lo Hanford Conn Roger Williams banished from [assachusetts Colony Sir Henry Vane chosen gomiddoternor The Hutchinson contnJmiddotcrsy Harard College founded Winthrop again elected gomiddoternor bull
r6j7 First General Synod or Xtw England commiddotencd at Camhriclge by the General Court It conclemned Antinomianism John Davenport middot and company arrimiddotcd at Boston from England Pequot ar
1638 Mrs Hutchinson excommunicated from the Boston Chirch and bmmiddot ished from themiddotcolo11y New Haven Colony founded hy Daenport
and his company 1641 Ilody 0pound Liberties adopted by the General Court of ltassachusetts
New Hampshire towns incorporated into ifass-lchusctts Colony 1643 Vetminster Assemhly convened in En~land hr Parliament Minisshy
terial Cflllention at Cimhridge ~lass Confederation of the four colonies iIitssachusetts Plymouth Connecticut and New Hinbullen
16~ Archbishop Laud cxccuted 1645 Tiattle of Nasehy insuring the 1lownfoll of the English Monarchy
Hookers Surver of the Sum of Church Discipline approved by the ministers of the New England colonies
1646--48 John Elot hean preaching to the Indians General American Synod at Cmnhriltlge setting forth platform of Church Polfty
1647 System of common schools adopted by Gemral Court of ifassachusetts 164S estminster Confession of Faith appromiddotecl by Parliament 1649 Enll ncl proclaims itsdf a Commonwealth 1650 Second Church Bo~ton organized middot 165r Gcnera Court or iTassachusctts approed Ctmbridge Platfomiddotrm
CHRONOLOGICAL TACLE 537
1654 Olimiddotcr Cromwell Loni Protector of Engla~d 1657 Ministerial Convention at- Boston Halfway Covenant recommended
_ Quakers imprisoned in Roston middot 1658 General Synod at Swoy Palace London setting forth amended
Vestminster Confession andmiddot Congregational Platform of Church Order Olimiddotcr Cromwell died
rmiddot66o Restoration of monarchy in England Charles II made king 1662 Massichusetts Synod at Beston appro-ed HaHway Covenant Conshy
necticut and New middotHaven Colonies united 1664- Church at Darrington organized the oldest existing Congregational
church in Rhode Island 166c) Olil South Church Boston organized 1670 Second Church Hartford Conn organized 1673 Church in Agamcnticus now York lle organized (possibly much
earlier) themiddot oldest existing Congregational church in that State then a part of Massachusetts
1674-76 King Philips War 1679-80 fassachusetts Synod at Tloston known as the Reforming Synod 168 Cotton Mather ordained colleague pastQr of Second Church Boston 1684 Charter of Massachusetts Colonr bullacatcd 1685 James II king of Englaml Sir Edmund Andros seized Old South
lleeting-housc Uoston for Episcopal scnmiddotices 1689 i lliun and tary made king rnd quee n of EnglanltI Andros
imprisoned anti promiddotisional gumiddotcrnment form~d in lfassachtisctts Simdn Ilraclstrctt gomiddoternor Kings Chapel erected for Episcopal middot
middot worship middot Toleration Act passeltl by English Parliament affordmiddot middoting legal protection to Nltnconforn1ists
1690 As-ociation of ministers of Boston and bullicinity formed the first permanent District Association in ilassachusctts
169t Healtls o( Agreement adopted in London between Preshyterians and Congregationalists middotPlymouth Colony connectecl with llassashychusetts
1692 Villiam Phips firs t gomiddotcrnor of Massachusets under new charter Twenty persons put to death at Salem for witchcraft Episco- palians na1itists and Quakers exempted from taxes for the support middot of Congregational churches in lfassachusetts
1699 Brallle Street Church Boston organized 1701 Yale College founded Society for the Propagation of the Gospel
organi7cd in England 1702 Anne queen of E ngland 1705 Proposals issued b y representatibulles of tassachusetts ministerial
associations 1708 Connecticut Synod at Saybrook issued the Saybrook Platform 170-J Gcncral ssoiation of Connecticut ministers organized the first middot middotmiddot middot Statt organi7atinn 1713 Peace or Utricht
CHRO~OLOGICAL TABLE538
1714 George I king of En~bnd
1716 Yale College located in New Haven 1pz Cutler rector o( Yale College and others became Episcopalians 1723 Increase ~father died 1725 Fini1 and unsuccessful effort of General Court of Massachusetts to
call a synod of churches 1727 Jonathan E~wards ordained colleague pastor at Northampton
George II king of England ljJ~ Cotton lather died 173 Revival of religion at Northampton 1738 George Whitefields first visit to America 171-o Whitefield visited Coston and other parts of New England 17j0-42 Great revival of religion in New England 17-tr Gilbert Tennent preached in Boston middot 17J2 John Davenport by his preaching made disturbances in Connecticut
and Massachusetts Separatist churches formed 1744-4 Whitefields second vi5it to New England 1750 Jonathan Edwards forced to leamiddote the Church at Northampton went
to Stockbridge a missionary to the Indians middot 17)7 Jonithan Edwards died middot 1762 First Church organized in Vennont at Bennington 1765 Stamp Act passed 1766 Stamp Act repealed 1769 Dartmouth College founded 1770 Samuel Hopkins sittled at Newport R I 1773 The Doston Tea Party 177) Commencement of War or the ReOlution 1778 Phillips Academy Andover founded Phillips Academy Exetershy
N H chartered 1781 178o lfassachusetts Bill of Rights enacted amended guaranteeing to
every denomination o( Christians equal protection i11 law 1834 middot 1782 James Fimiddoteeman chosen rector of Kings Chapel the church under
him became Unittrian 1783 End of the War of the Revolution 1784 Saybrook Pbtorm by remiddotision of statutes ceased to be cMl law in
Connecticut 1786 lIassachusetts was granted the right to purchase from the Indians
Western New York 1790 lIethodisrn first appears in 1fassachusctts Gra_nt or Vestem Reshy
senmiddote to Connecticut 1793 Williams College chartered 179-1-middot Ilowcloin College chartered 17)) The London lissiona1y Society instituted General Convention of
Congregational ministers and churches in Vermont organized 1796 F irst Con~rcgational church in Ohio at llarietla 1798 Connccicut fissionary Society formed
CH lW~OLOGICAL TAllLE S39
1799 )fassachusetts Missionary Society formed rSoo iliddlebury College founded 1801 Plan of Union ailopted botweeu the General Congregational Associashy
tion of Connecticut and the Genoral Assembly or the Presbyterian middotmiddot Church Congregational middotc1nirch organized in Quebec the first in
Lower middotcnada middot 1803 General Association of ilassachusetts ministers fomted Gtneral
Con(erence of churches 1S6o Union of Association and Confershyence 1868
1805 Henry Ware chose professor of divinity at Harvard First Sunday school in Cauacla organized in connection with Congregational chiuch in Quebec middot middot
1808 The first theological seminary opened at Andover Mass bullSo Park Street Church Iloston or~aniicd New Hampshire Associashy
tion and Rhode Island Consociation organized Muskingum (0) Association formed middot
1810 American Doard of Commissioners or Foreign Missions established by the General Aisociation of Massachusetts Dr Kirkland elected president ur Han middotard middot First Sunday school in ltassachushysttts ~t Ucn rl-
1815 Unitarianism avomd hy some tassachusetts Congregationalists 1816 American Education Society formed middotunited with Westem Coilege
Socictr in 1 87~ with Ncw est Education Commis~ion in 1893 Dan~or Theological Seminary began Rt1s011 N~cordtr began
1818 1ew constitution adopted hy the State of Connccticut making all re ligious associations purd Oluntary bull
1819 Congre~ational church organized at Southwold the first in Upper Crnada
1821 Amherst College founded middot 18 Theological department opened at Yale College 186 American Home issionary Society institutecf First State Confershy
ence of churches organized in Mai= 1831 Congregational Union or England and Wales organiied 183 l~assachusetts Sabbath-school Societr organized 1833 Declaration of Faith of the Congregational churches or Engbnd aml
Walts with Principles of Church Order and Discipline Oberlin college founclecl
1834 General Association of New York organized 1835 Illinois College founded 1837 Prcsbyteria11 General Jsscmhlr abrogated Pian of Union 1838 New School Prehyterian Chunh orgmizcll 1 S40 General Asso1iatio11 of Iowa anti isconsin Co1wention formed 18p Gencrtl ssmiatinn of l ithi~an Conned I s~ General Associati()ll of Ill inois formed 18~6 Convention of Western Co11grcgational churches at ~fichigan City
Mich American lissionary sociation organized bull
540 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
t8t7middot Beloit College founded 1848 Iowa College founded Oregon Association formed 1852 American General Convention of Congregational Chur~hes at Albany
N Y Encl of Plan of Union Ohio Association oigauized 1853 Congregational Churchbuilding Society formed middot 1855 Kansas Association organized 1856 Minnesota Association organized 1857 California and Nebraska associations organized 1858 Chicago Theological Seminary founded Indiana Association organmiddot
ized 186o Congregational College of British North America founded affiliated
with McGill Unimiddotersity Iontreal Canada 1864 1861 Beginning of Civil War 1865 Close of Cimiddotil War Missouri Association organized General
American Council of Congregational Churches Boston Burial Hill Declaration of Faith adopted
1867 Connecticut Conference organized 1868 Colorado Association organized 1869 New Jersey Association organizedmiddot 1870 Louisiana Association organized 1871 National Council established at Oberlin O for triennial meetings
South Dakota and Tennessee associations organized Congregational House Boston occupied by benemiddoto]ent societies and
other Congregational orga1iizations 1876 Alabama Association organized 1878 Georgia Association organized 1879 North Carolina Conference mmiddotganized 1881 First Youug Peoples Society of Christian Endeabullor fonnecl at Villiishy
ton Congregltttional Church Portland ire New est Edlcation Commission organizedmiddot united with American Education Society 1893
1882 Utah Association organized 1883 Declaration of Faith by a Creed Commission appointed hy the
National Council Florida and Mississippi associations and North Dakota Conference organized
Arizona and New Mexico Association an~] Montana Conference organized
1SSG P~middotnnsyh-mia tssltgtciation organized 1887 Arkansas and Southern Calipoundorni1 associations organized 1SS9 Vashington Agtsociation organired 1890 Gcor~ia Corwention and Oklahoma Association organilcd 1891 First International Congregational Council London Englind all
parts of the world bcing represcntell yoming Association organizd
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE Of Important Events In Congregational History
Since 1900
1913 Report of the Committee of Nineteen acted upon by National Council of Congregational Churches at Kansas City setting up a national system for the dispensing of benevolences and control of seven Missionary Societies
1923 A national magazine poll reportedly ascertained the 25 best preachers in the US indicating that 7 were Congregationalists a group of only 900000
1931 Congregational National Council merged with General Convention of the Christian Church into the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches
1934 Congregational Christian Churches absorbs the German Reformed Church
1938 Rev Samuel Press in cooperation with Rev Truman Douglas initiated church union with the Eva~elical and Reformed Church
1942 Commission on Inter-Church Relations and Christian Unity authorized to explore possibl~ union with the E and R Church
1943 First and second drafts of the Basis of Unionn completed and sent to associations and churches for their study
1947 The Evanston Meeting held by Congregationalists as an ad hoc committee of the concerned over the proposed merger--released statement charging that Basis of Union was an abandonment of Congregational tradition and principle
1948 Deadline for acceptance of Basis of Union passes without the required percentage approving--deadline extended to Jan 1949 middot
1949 Approval of Basis of Union continues to be under 75 but General Council passes it anyway Cadman Memorial Church brought legal action to prevent the union
1950 New ~c~k Supreme Court enjoined General Council from carrying out consummation of the proposed union with the E and R Church
1952 New York court reversed lower court decision on grounds that since no property was involved themiddoty had no jurisdiction
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
1953 Appeal of Cadman Memorial Church denied 1955 National Association of Congregational Christian
Churches organized~ 1956 NACCC adopted its Articles of Association and By-Laws 1957 Formation of the United Church of Christ by the
Pirst General Synod middot
1959 Commission on the ministry of the NA proposed that ordination of ministers by the local church be proclaimed valid on the basis of historic Congregationalprinciple
1961 UCC Constitution formally ratified NACCC declared itself to be the successor to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches
1962 UCC and NACCC made application for membeEhip in the International Congregational Council UCC admitted NACCC denied admission
1966 Seminar on the Nature and Future of the Free Church in Chicago offered alternatives to organizational ecumenicity Consultatiqn on Church Union (COCU) completed its middot blueprin~ for the Great American Church
FOOTNOTES
1Walker Williston A Histor middot of the Con e ational Churches in the United States The Christian Literature Co 1894) p 428
2conn Howard The Dilemma of Congregationalism (National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 1962) t p20
3walker Williston A Hdegistory of the Christian Church 3rd ed (New York Charles Scribners Sons 1970) Pmiddot 443
4Manning Bernard Lord Essays in Orthadox Dissent (London Independent Press LTD 1953) p 156ff
5rbid P 108 bull 6nunning Albert E Con~regationalists in America
(J A Hill and Company 1894 pp130-132
op Cit Walker A History of the Christian middotcmiddothurch p 433
8Ibid p 4J4
9op Cit WalkerA History of the Congregational Churches in the United States p 428
10op Cit Walker A History of the Christian Churchp466
11Hudson Winthrop S Religion in America (Charles Scribners Sons 1973) p118
12r bid bull p 11 9 bull
13Ibid p 119
14rbid p120
15rbid p 121
16National Association of Congregational Christian Churches A Comorehensive Anal s is of What We Are Now Con re ational Principles and Polity National Association of CongregationalChristian Churches 1961) p 8 middot middot
17Latourette Kenneth A History of Christianity vol 2 (Harper and Row 1975) p 1422
FOOTNOTES (continued)
18Burton Malcolm K How Church middotUnion Came (The Committee for the Continuation of Congregational _Ghristian Churches of the United States Inc 1966) p middot4
19Ibid p7 20ttoskins Fred Con e ationalism Betra ed or Fulfilled
(transcript of th~ Southworth Lecture middot 1962 p 9 shy21Ibid p 11 22op Cit Burton pp 7-8
23op Cit Hoskins p 11
24 (Butman Harry R The Lords Free People The Swannett Press 1968) p 79
25Ibid p 114
26National Ass~ciation of Congregational Christian Churches NACCC Yearbook-1975-1976 (National Associaticm of Co~egational Christian Churches 1975) p 165
27Op cmiddotmiddot1 t bull Bu t man p bull 11 Jc bull
28Ibid p 14)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Atkins Gaius An Adventure in Liberty The Pilgrim Press 1961
Atkins Gaius and Fagley Frederick middotHistory of American middot Congregationalism The Pilgrim Press 1942
Bradshaw Marion John Free Churches and Christian Unity The Beacon Press 1954 middot middot middot middot
Burton Malcolm K Destiny for Congregatialism Modern Publfshers Inc 1953
Burton Malcolm K How Church Union Came The Committee for the Continuation of Congregational Christian Churches of the United States Inc 1966 middot
Burton Malcolm K To Revamp Protestant WorshiQ The Committee for the Continuation of the Congregationsl Christian Churches of the United States 1965w
Butman Harry R The Lords Free People The Swannett Press 1968
Conn Howard The Dilemma of ConJregationalism National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 1962
Congregational Press Handbook of the National Association of middot Congregational Christian Churches- 1263 The Congregational
Press 1963
Dunning Albert E Congregationalists in Americmiddota J A Hill and Company 1894
General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches Digest of Minutes of Meetings of the CongregationalChristian Churchesmiddot of the United States-1911-1965 The General Council middotof the Congregatinal Christian Churches 1971
Hoskins Fred Congregationalism Betrayed or Fulfilled transmiddotcript of the Southworth Lecture 1962
Hudson Winthrop S~ Religion in America Charles Scribners Sons 1973
Latourette Kenneth A History of Christianity vol 2 Harper and Row 1975
Manning Bernard Lord _Essa ys in Orthadox Dissent London Independ8nt Pressmiddot LTD 1953
BIBLIOGRAPHY (Continued)
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches A Comprehensive Analysis of What We Are Now Congregational Principles and Polity ~ 1National~ssociaticm~middot-of Congregationan Christian Churches 1961 middot middot
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches middot NACCC Yearbook-1975-1976 National Association of middot
Congregational Christian Churches 1975 middot
Sinclair Francis What It Means to be a Congregationalist League to Uphold Congregational Principles undated
Steece Arvel M Polity Evolution and the Future of Congregationa1ism The Congregationalist (March 1975)16-17
Walker Williston A History of the CongregatiOnal Churches middot in the United States The Christian Literature Co 1894
Walker Williston A History of the Christian Church Jrd edmiddot New York Charles Scribners Sons 1979
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF IMPORTANT EVENTS IN CONGREGATIONAL HISTORY
1582 Brownes $tatement ofCongregational Principles publisheltl r583_John Coppin and Elias Thacker hanged at Bu~y St Edmunds England r586 John Greenwood and Henry Barrowe im111isoned in London 1588 Martin ]far-prelate Tracts 1589 A True Description out of the Word of God of the Visible Church
published in _London r 592 First known modern Congregational church completely and formally
organized in London 1593 John Greenwood Henry Barrowe and John Penry hanged the last of
the Congregational martyrs put to death Fifty-six members of the first Congregational church London imprisoned
1595 First Congregational church regathered fo Amsterdam Holland 15g6 A True Confession 0pound the Faith bullbull of the London-Amste1dam
Church published 15C)S The same True Confession middottranslated into Latin and published 16oz Congregational church organized at Gainsborough England r6o3 Death of Elizabeth and accession or JamesI Petition 0pound Amsterdam
Church to King James I stating the Points of Difference between Congregationalism and the Church of England
16o6 Scrooby Church organized John Robinson Pastor Gainsborough Church remomiddotes to Amsterdam
16o7-o8 Scrooby Church remobulles to Amsterdam 16olt John Robinson with the Pilgrims ofScrciobf Church settles in Leyden middot 1611 King James Version of the Bible published middot r616 Congregational church organized at Southwark London middot _ 1617 Pilgrims of Leyden petition King James for permission to settle in
America 1618-19 The Synod of Dort at Dordrecht Holland
middot 16zo Pilgrims left Leyden July 21 sailed from Pl~middotmouth September 16 sigped civil compact in the 1fayfiowerNovember 21 landed at Plymouth lIass December 1 r (0 S) December 21 (N S)
1621 Gomiddoternor Carver died Villiam Bradfo-d chosen governor of Pilgrim Colony
162+ First Purit3n settlement in New Erigfand at Cape Ann 1625 John Robinson died in Leyden Death or James I middotand accession of
Challes r middot 1628 The Company or ~bssachusetts Uay formed in England Captain
middot Endecott arri1middoted at Sltllen1 William Laud mule Bishop of London
535
Chronological Table through 1899 from Albert Dunning s Congregationalism in America~
I
CHROsOLCJGICAL TAUIE
1629 Six vessels with emirants from England arrfred at Salem Second Congregational church in America formed at Salem Mass middot Charter granted to Massachusetts
1630 First Church Dorchester llass organized at Plymouth EoglamJ landed at Nantasket lfay 30 John Vinthrop with a Aeet of CS middot
sels arrived in Massachusetts liar The Iassachusctts charter brought to Ncw England First Church organized at Charlcstowrt md First Church bull Vatertown July 30 middot First General Court Au- gust 23 John Winthrop elected gomiddoternor Settlement of llostou
163 Church at Charlestown remOf(f to Boston Prt~ent First Church middot Charlestown organized Nmbullember 23 First Church Lynn ind
First Church Roxbury organized 1633 John Cotton Thomas Hooker and Samuel Stone arrived at Boston middotmiddot
Laud made Archbishop of Canterbury First parish in New Hampshire at Domiddoter First Church formed in connection with the parish 1638
1635 Colonies from Dorchester and Vatertomiddotn remocd lo Connecticut~ 1636 First Church in Dorchester ~lass organiztcl in Plymouth England
1630 fully estihlishecl at indsor Conn First Church Camshyhiillgc organi1olti Thomas Hooker with his compan) in organshyized church emigratetl from Cambridge ~lass lo Hanford Conn Roger Williams banished from [assachusetts Colony Sir Henry Vane chosen gomiddoternor The Hutchinson contnJmiddotcrsy Harard College founded Winthrop again elected gomiddoternor bull
r6j7 First General Synod or Xtw England commiddotencd at Camhriclge by the General Court It conclemned Antinomianism John Davenport middot and company arrimiddotcd at Boston from England Pequot ar
1638 Mrs Hutchinson excommunicated from the Boston Chirch and bmmiddot ished from themiddotcolo11y New Haven Colony founded hy Daenport
and his company 1641 Ilody 0pound Liberties adopted by the General Court of ltassachusetts
New Hampshire towns incorporated into ifass-lchusctts Colony 1643 Vetminster Assemhly convened in En~land hr Parliament Minisshy
terial Cflllention at Cimhridge ~lass Confederation of the four colonies iIitssachusetts Plymouth Connecticut and New Hinbullen
16~ Archbishop Laud cxccuted 1645 Tiattle of Nasehy insuring the 1lownfoll of the English Monarchy
Hookers Surver of the Sum of Church Discipline approved by the ministers of the New England colonies
1646--48 John Elot hean preaching to the Indians General American Synod at Cmnhriltlge setting forth platform of Church Polfty
1647 System of common schools adopted by Gemral Court of ifassachusetts 164S estminster Confession of Faith appromiddotecl by Parliament 1649 Enll ncl proclaims itsdf a Commonwealth 1650 Second Church Bo~ton organized middot 165r Gcnera Court or iTassachusctts approed Ctmbridge Platfomiddotrm
CHRONOLOGICAL TACLE 537
1654 Olimiddotcr Cromwell Loni Protector of Engla~d 1657 Ministerial Convention at- Boston Halfway Covenant recommended
_ Quakers imprisoned in Roston middot 1658 General Synod at Swoy Palace London setting forth amended
Vestminster Confession andmiddot Congregational Platform of Church Order Olimiddotcr Cromwell died
rmiddot66o Restoration of monarchy in England Charles II made king 1662 Massichusetts Synod at Beston appro-ed HaHway Covenant Conshy
necticut and New middotHaven Colonies united 1664- Church at Darrington organized the oldest existing Congregational
church in Rhode Island 166c) Olil South Church Boston organized 1670 Second Church Hartford Conn organized 1673 Church in Agamcnticus now York lle organized (possibly much
earlier) themiddot oldest existing Congregational church in that State then a part of Massachusetts
1674-76 King Philips War 1679-80 fassachusetts Synod at Tloston known as the Reforming Synod 168 Cotton Mather ordained colleague pastQr of Second Church Boston 1684 Charter of Massachusetts Colonr bullacatcd 1685 James II king of Englaml Sir Edmund Andros seized Old South
lleeting-housc Uoston for Episcopal scnmiddotices 1689 i lliun and tary made king rnd quee n of EnglanltI Andros
imprisoned anti promiddotisional gumiddotcrnment form~d in lfassachtisctts Simdn Ilraclstrctt gomiddoternor Kings Chapel erected for Episcopal middot
middot worship middot Toleration Act passeltl by English Parliament affordmiddot middoting legal protection to Nltnconforn1ists
1690 As-ociation of ministers of Boston and bullicinity formed the first permanent District Association in ilassachusctts
169t Healtls o( Agreement adopted in London between Preshyterians and Congregationalists middotPlymouth Colony connectecl with llassashychusetts
1692 Villiam Phips firs t gomiddotcrnor of Massachusets under new charter Twenty persons put to death at Salem for witchcraft Episco- palians na1itists and Quakers exempted from taxes for the support middot of Congregational churches in lfassachusetts
1699 Brallle Street Church Boston organized 1701 Yale College founded Society for the Propagation of the Gospel
organi7cd in England 1702 Anne queen of E ngland 1705 Proposals issued b y representatibulles of tassachusetts ministerial
associations 1708 Connecticut Synod at Saybrook issued the Saybrook Platform 170-J Gcncral ssoiation of Connecticut ministers organized the first middot middotmiddot middot Statt organi7atinn 1713 Peace or Utricht
CHRO~OLOGICAL TABLE538
1714 George I king of En~bnd
1716 Yale College located in New Haven 1pz Cutler rector o( Yale College and others became Episcopalians 1723 Increase ~father died 1725 Fini1 and unsuccessful effort of General Court of Massachusetts to
call a synod of churches 1727 Jonathan E~wards ordained colleague pastor at Northampton
George II king of England ljJ~ Cotton lather died 173 Revival of religion at Northampton 1738 George Whitefields first visit to America 171-o Whitefield visited Coston and other parts of New England 17j0-42 Great revival of religion in New England 17-tr Gilbert Tennent preached in Boston middot 17J2 John Davenport by his preaching made disturbances in Connecticut
and Massachusetts Separatist churches formed 1744-4 Whitefields second vi5it to New England 1750 Jonathan Edwards forced to leamiddote the Church at Northampton went
to Stockbridge a missionary to the Indians middot 17)7 Jonithan Edwards died middot 1762 First Church organized in Vennont at Bennington 1765 Stamp Act passed 1766 Stamp Act repealed 1769 Dartmouth College founded 1770 Samuel Hopkins sittled at Newport R I 1773 The Doston Tea Party 177) Commencement of War or the ReOlution 1778 Phillips Academy Andover founded Phillips Academy Exetershy
N H chartered 1781 178o lfassachusetts Bill of Rights enacted amended guaranteeing to
every denomination o( Christians equal protection i11 law 1834 middot 1782 James Fimiddoteeman chosen rector of Kings Chapel the church under
him became Unittrian 1783 End of the War of the Revolution 1784 Saybrook Pbtorm by remiddotision of statutes ceased to be cMl law in
Connecticut 1786 lIassachusetts was granted the right to purchase from the Indians
Western New York 1790 lIethodisrn first appears in 1fassachusctts Gra_nt or Vestem Reshy
senmiddote to Connecticut 1793 Williams College chartered 179-1-middot Ilowcloin College chartered 17)) The London lissiona1y Society instituted General Convention of
Congregational ministers and churches in Vermont organized 1796 F irst Con~rcgational church in Ohio at llarietla 1798 Connccicut fissionary Society formed
CH lW~OLOGICAL TAllLE S39
1799 )fassachusetts Missionary Society formed rSoo iliddlebury College founded 1801 Plan of Union ailopted botweeu the General Congregational Associashy
tion of Connecticut and the Genoral Assembly or the Presbyterian middotmiddot Church Congregational middotc1nirch organized in Quebec the first in
Lower middotcnada middot 1803 General Association of ilassachusetts ministers fomted Gtneral
Con(erence of churches 1S6o Union of Association and Confershyence 1868
1805 Henry Ware chose professor of divinity at Harvard First Sunday school in Cauacla organized in connection with Congregational chiuch in Quebec middot middot
1808 The first theological seminary opened at Andover Mass bullSo Park Street Church Iloston or~aniicd New Hampshire Associashy
tion and Rhode Island Consociation organized Muskingum (0) Association formed middot
1810 American Doard of Commissioners or Foreign Missions established by the General Aisociation of Massachusetts Dr Kirkland elected president ur Han middotard middot First Sunday school in ltassachushysttts ~t Ucn rl-
1815 Unitarianism avomd hy some tassachusetts Congregationalists 1816 American Education Society formed middotunited with Westem Coilege
Socictr in 1 87~ with Ncw est Education Commis~ion in 1893 Dan~or Theological Seminary began Rt1s011 N~cordtr began
1818 1ew constitution adopted hy the State of Connccticut making all re ligious associations purd Oluntary bull
1819 Congre~ational church organized at Southwold the first in Upper Crnada
1821 Amherst College founded middot 18 Theological department opened at Yale College 186 American Home issionary Society institutecf First State Confershy
ence of churches organized in Mai= 1831 Congregational Union or England and Wales organiied 183 l~assachusetts Sabbath-school Societr organized 1833 Declaration of Faith of the Congregational churches or Engbnd aml
Walts with Principles of Church Order and Discipline Oberlin college founclecl
1834 General Association of New York organized 1835 Illinois College founded 1837 Prcsbyteria11 General Jsscmhlr abrogated Pian of Union 1838 New School Prehyterian Chunh orgmizcll 1 S40 General Asso1iatio11 of Iowa anti isconsin Co1wention formed 18p Gencrtl ssmiatinn of l ithi~an Conned I s~ General Associati()ll of Ill inois formed 18~6 Convention of Western Co11grcgational churches at ~fichigan City
Mich American lissionary sociation organized bull
540 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
t8t7middot Beloit College founded 1848 Iowa College founded Oregon Association formed 1852 American General Convention of Congregational Chur~hes at Albany
N Y Encl of Plan of Union Ohio Association oigauized 1853 Congregational Churchbuilding Society formed middot 1855 Kansas Association organized 1856 Minnesota Association organized 1857 California and Nebraska associations organized 1858 Chicago Theological Seminary founded Indiana Association organmiddot
ized 186o Congregational College of British North America founded affiliated
with McGill Unimiddotersity Iontreal Canada 1864 1861 Beginning of Civil War 1865 Close of Cimiddotil War Missouri Association organized General
American Council of Congregational Churches Boston Burial Hill Declaration of Faith adopted
1867 Connecticut Conference organized 1868 Colorado Association organized 1869 New Jersey Association organizedmiddot 1870 Louisiana Association organized 1871 National Council established at Oberlin O for triennial meetings
South Dakota and Tennessee associations organized Congregational House Boston occupied by benemiddoto]ent societies and
other Congregational orga1iizations 1876 Alabama Association organized 1878 Georgia Association organized 1879 North Carolina Conference mmiddotganized 1881 First Youug Peoples Society of Christian Endeabullor fonnecl at Villiishy
ton Congregltttional Church Portland ire New est Edlcation Commission organizedmiddot united with American Education Society 1893
1882 Utah Association organized 1883 Declaration of Faith by a Creed Commission appointed hy the
National Council Florida and Mississippi associations and North Dakota Conference organized
Arizona and New Mexico Association an~] Montana Conference organized
1SSG P~middotnnsyh-mia tssltgtciation organized 1887 Arkansas and Southern Calipoundorni1 associations organized 1SS9 Vashington Agtsociation organired 1890 Gcor~ia Corwention and Oklahoma Association organilcd 1891 First International Congregational Council London Englind all
parts of the world bcing represcntell yoming Association organizd
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE Of Important Events In Congregational History
Since 1900
1913 Report of the Committee of Nineteen acted upon by National Council of Congregational Churches at Kansas City setting up a national system for the dispensing of benevolences and control of seven Missionary Societies
1923 A national magazine poll reportedly ascertained the 25 best preachers in the US indicating that 7 were Congregationalists a group of only 900000
1931 Congregational National Council merged with General Convention of the Christian Church into the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches
1934 Congregational Christian Churches absorbs the German Reformed Church
1938 Rev Samuel Press in cooperation with Rev Truman Douglas initiated church union with the Eva~elical and Reformed Church
1942 Commission on Inter-Church Relations and Christian Unity authorized to explore possibl~ union with the E and R Church
1943 First and second drafts of the Basis of Unionn completed and sent to associations and churches for their study
1947 The Evanston Meeting held by Congregationalists as an ad hoc committee of the concerned over the proposed merger--released statement charging that Basis of Union was an abandonment of Congregational tradition and principle
1948 Deadline for acceptance of Basis of Union passes without the required percentage approving--deadline extended to Jan 1949 middot
1949 Approval of Basis of Union continues to be under 75 but General Council passes it anyway Cadman Memorial Church brought legal action to prevent the union
1950 New ~c~k Supreme Court enjoined General Council from carrying out consummation of the proposed union with the E and R Church
1952 New York court reversed lower court decision on grounds that since no property was involved themiddoty had no jurisdiction
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
1953 Appeal of Cadman Memorial Church denied 1955 National Association of Congregational Christian
Churches organized~ 1956 NACCC adopted its Articles of Association and By-Laws 1957 Formation of the United Church of Christ by the
Pirst General Synod middot
1959 Commission on the ministry of the NA proposed that ordination of ministers by the local church be proclaimed valid on the basis of historic Congregationalprinciple
1961 UCC Constitution formally ratified NACCC declared itself to be the successor to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches
1962 UCC and NACCC made application for membeEhip in the International Congregational Council UCC admitted NACCC denied admission
1966 Seminar on the Nature and Future of the Free Church in Chicago offered alternatives to organizational ecumenicity Consultatiqn on Church Union (COCU) completed its middot blueprin~ for the Great American Church
FOOTNOTES (continued)
18Burton Malcolm K How Church middotUnion Came (The Committee for the Continuation of Congregational _Ghristian Churches of the United States Inc 1966) p middot4
19Ibid p7 20ttoskins Fred Con e ationalism Betra ed or Fulfilled
(transcript of th~ Southworth Lecture middot 1962 p 9 shy21Ibid p 11 22op Cit Burton pp 7-8
23op Cit Hoskins p 11
24 (Butman Harry R The Lords Free People The Swannett Press 1968) p 79
25Ibid p 114
26National Ass~ciation of Congregational Christian Churches NACCC Yearbook-1975-1976 (National Associaticm of Co~egational Christian Churches 1975) p 165
27Op cmiddotmiddot1 t bull Bu t man p bull 11 Jc bull
28Ibid p 14)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Atkins Gaius An Adventure in Liberty The Pilgrim Press 1961
Atkins Gaius and Fagley Frederick middotHistory of American middot Congregationalism The Pilgrim Press 1942
Bradshaw Marion John Free Churches and Christian Unity The Beacon Press 1954 middot middot middot middot
Burton Malcolm K Destiny for Congregatialism Modern Publfshers Inc 1953
Burton Malcolm K How Church Union Came The Committee for the Continuation of Congregational Christian Churches of the United States Inc 1966 middot
Burton Malcolm K To Revamp Protestant WorshiQ The Committee for the Continuation of the Congregationsl Christian Churches of the United States 1965w
Butman Harry R The Lords Free People The Swannett Press 1968
Conn Howard The Dilemma of ConJregationalism National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 1962
Congregational Press Handbook of the National Association of middot Congregational Christian Churches- 1263 The Congregational
Press 1963
Dunning Albert E Congregationalists in Americmiddota J A Hill and Company 1894
General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches Digest of Minutes of Meetings of the CongregationalChristian Churchesmiddot of the United States-1911-1965 The General Council middotof the Congregatinal Christian Churches 1971
Hoskins Fred Congregationalism Betrayed or Fulfilled transmiddotcript of the Southworth Lecture 1962
Hudson Winthrop S~ Religion in America Charles Scribners Sons 1973
Latourette Kenneth A History of Christianity vol 2 Harper and Row 1975
Manning Bernard Lord _Essa ys in Orthadox Dissent London Independ8nt Pressmiddot LTD 1953
BIBLIOGRAPHY (Continued)
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches A Comprehensive Analysis of What We Are Now Congregational Principles and Polity ~ 1National~ssociaticm~middot-of Congregationan Christian Churches 1961 middot middot
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches middot NACCC Yearbook-1975-1976 National Association of middot
Congregational Christian Churches 1975 middot
Sinclair Francis What It Means to be a Congregationalist League to Uphold Congregational Principles undated
Steece Arvel M Polity Evolution and the Future of Congregationa1ism The Congregationalist (March 1975)16-17
Walker Williston A History of the CongregatiOnal Churches middot in the United States The Christian Literature Co 1894
Walker Williston A History of the Christian Church Jrd edmiddot New York Charles Scribners Sons 1979
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF IMPORTANT EVENTS IN CONGREGATIONAL HISTORY
1582 Brownes $tatement ofCongregational Principles publisheltl r583_John Coppin and Elias Thacker hanged at Bu~y St Edmunds England r586 John Greenwood and Henry Barrowe im111isoned in London 1588 Martin ]far-prelate Tracts 1589 A True Description out of the Word of God of the Visible Church
published in _London r 592 First known modern Congregational church completely and formally
organized in London 1593 John Greenwood Henry Barrowe and John Penry hanged the last of
the Congregational martyrs put to death Fifty-six members of the first Congregational church London imprisoned
1595 First Congregational church regathered fo Amsterdam Holland 15g6 A True Confession 0pound the Faith bullbull of the London-Amste1dam
Church published 15C)S The same True Confession middottranslated into Latin and published 16oz Congregational church organized at Gainsborough England r6o3 Death of Elizabeth and accession or JamesI Petition 0pound Amsterdam
Church to King James I stating the Points of Difference between Congregationalism and the Church of England
16o6 Scrooby Church organized John Robinson Pastor Gainsborough Church remomiddotes to Amsterdam
16o7-o8 Scrooby Church remobulles to Amsterdam 16olt John Robinson with the Pilgrims ofScrciobf Church settles in Leyden middot 1611 King James Version of the Bible published middot r616 Congregational church organized at Southwark London middot _ 1617 Pilgrims of Leyden petition King James for permission to settle in
America 1618-19 The Synod of Dort at Dordrecht Holland
middot 16zo Pilgrims left Leyden July 21 sailed from Pl~middotmouth September 16 sigped civil compact in the 1fayfiowerNovember 21 landed at Plymouth lIass December 1 r (0 S) December 21 (N S)
1621 Gomiddoternor Carver died Villiam Bradfo-d chosen governor of Pilgrim Colony
162+ First Purit3n settlement in New Erigfand at Cape Ann 1625 John Robinson died in Leyden Death or James I middotand accession of
Challes r middot 1628 The Company or ~bssachusetts Uay formed in England Captain
middot Endecott arri1middoted at Sltllen1 William Laud mule Bishop of London
535
Chronological Table through 1899 from Albert Dunning s Congregationalism in America~
I
CHROsOLCJGICAL TAUIE
1629 Six vessels with emirants from England arrfred at Salem Second Congregational church in America formed at Salem Mass middot Charter granted to Massachusetts
1630 First Church Dorchester llass organized at Plymouth EoglamJ landed at Nantasket lfay 30 John Vinthrop with a Aeet of CS middot
sels arrived in Massachusetts liar The Iassachusctts charter brought to Ncw England First Church organized at Charlcstowrt md First Church bull Vatertown July 30 middot First General Court Au- gust 23 John Winthrop elected gomiddoternor Settlement of llostou
163 Church at Charlestown remOf(f to Boston Prt~ent First Church middot Charlestown organized Nmbullember 23 First Church Lynn ind
First Church Roxbury organized 1633 John Cotton Thomas Hooker and Samuel Stone arrived at Boston middotmiddot
Laud made Archbishop of Canterbury First parish in New Hampshire at Domiddoter First Church formed in connection with the parish 1638
1635 Colonies from Dorchester and Vatertomiddotn remocd lo Connecticut~ 1636 First Church in Dorchester ~lass organiztcl in Plymouth England
1630 fully estihlishecl at indsor Conn First Church Camshyhiillgc organi1olti Thomas Hooker with his compan) in organshyized church emigratetl from Cambridge ~lass lo Hanford Conn Roger Williams banished from [assachusetts Colony Sir Henry Vane chosen gomiddoternor The Hutchinson contnJmiddotcrsy Harard College founded Winthrop again elected gomiddoternor bull
r6j7 First General Synod or Xtw England commiddotencd at Camhriclge by the General Court It conclemned Antinomianism John Davenport middot and company arrimiddotcd at Boston from England Pequot ar
1638 Mrs Hutchinson excommunicated from the Boston Chirch and bmmiddot ished from themiddotcolo11y New Haven Colony founded hy Daenport
and his company 1641 Ilody 0pound Liberties adopted by the General Court of ltassachusetts
New Hampshire towns incorporated into ifass-lchusctts Colony 1643 Vetminster Assemhly convened in En~land hr Parliament Minisshy
terial Cflllention at Cimhridge ~lass Confederation of the four colonies iIitssachusetts Plymouth Connecticut and New Hinbullen
16~ Archbishop Laud cxccuted 1645 Tiattle of Nasehy insuring the 1lownfoll of the English Monarchy
Hookers Surver of the Sum of Church Discipline approved by the ministers of the New England colonies
1646--48 John Elot hean preaching to the Indians General American Synod at Cmnhriltlge setting forth platform of Church Polfty
1647 System of common schools adopted by Gemral Court of ifassachusetts 164S estminster Confession of Faith appromiddotecl by Parliament 1649 Enll ncl proclaims itsdf a Commonwealth 1650 Second Church Bo~ton organized middot 165r Gcnera Court or iTassachusctts approed Ctmbridge Platfomiddotrm
CHRONOLOGICAL TACLE 537
1654 Olimiddotcr Cromwell Loni Protector of Engla~d 1657 Ministerial Convention at- Boston Halfway Covenant recommended
_ Quakers imprisoned in Roston middot 1658 General Synod at Swoy Palace London setting forth amended
Vestminster Confession andmiddot Congregational Platform of Church Order Olimiddotcr Cromwell died
rmiddot66o Restoration of monarchy in England Charles II made king 1662 Massichusetts Synod at Beston appro-ed HaHway Covenant Conshy
necticut and New middotHaven Colonies united 1664- Church at Darrington organized the oldest existing Congregational
church in Rhode Island 166c) Olil South Church Boston organized 1670 Second Church Hartford Conn organized 1673 Church in Agamcnticus now York lle organized (possibly much
earlier) themiddot oldest existing Congregational church in that State then a part of Massachusetts
1674-76 King Philips War 1679-80 fassachusetts Synod at Tloston known as the Reforming Synod 168 Cotton Mather ordained colleague pastQr of Second Church Boston 1684 Charter of Massachusetts Colonr bullacatcd 1685 James II king of Englaml Sir Edmund Andros seized Old South
lleeting-housc Uoston for Episcopal scnmiddotices 1689 i lliun and tary made king rnd quee n of EnglanltI Andros
imprisoned anti promiddotisional gumiddotcrnment form~d in lfassachtisctts Simdn Ilraclstrctt gomiddoternor Kings Chapel erected for Episcopal middot
middot worship middot Toleration Act passeltl by English Parliament affordmiddot middoting legal protection to Nltnconforn1ists
1690 As-ociation of ministers of Boston and bullicinity formed the first permanent District Association in ilassachusctts
169t Healtls o( Agreement adopted in London between Preshyterians and Congregationalists middotPlymouth Colony connectecl with llassashychusetts
1692 Villiam Phips firs t gomiddotcrnor of Massachusets under new charter Twenty persons put to death at Salem for witchcraft Episco- palians na1itists and Quakers exempted from taxes for the support middot of Congregational churches in lfassachusetts
1699 Brallle Street Church Boston organized 1701 Yale College founded Society for the Propagation of the Gospel
organi7cd in England 1702 Anne queen of E ngland 1705 Proposals issued b y representatibulles of tassachusetts ministerial
associations 1708 Connecticut Synod at Saybrook issued the Saybrook Platform 170-J Gcncral ssoiation of Connecticut ministers organized the first middot middotmiddot middot Statt organi7atinn 1713 Peace or Utricht
CHRO~OLOGICAL TABLE538
1714 George I king of En~bnd
1716 Yale College located in New Haven 1pz Cutler rector o( Yale College and others became Episcopalians 1723 Increase ~father died 1725 Fini1 and unsuccessful effort of General Court of Massachusetts to
call a synod of churches 1727 Jonathan E~wards ordained colleague pastor at Northampton
George II king of England ljJ~ Cotton lather died 173 Revival of religion at Northampton 1738 George Whitefields first visit to America 171-o Whitefield visited Coston and other parts of New England 17j0-42 Great revival of religion in New England 17-tr Gilbert Tennent preached in Boston middot 17J2 John Davenport by his preaching made disturbances in Connecticut
and Massachusetts Separatist churches formed 1744-4 Whitefields second vi5it to New England 1750 Jonathan Edwards forced to leamiddote the Church at Northampton went
to Stockbridge a missionary to the Indians middot 17)7 Jonithan Edwards died middot 1762 First Church organized in Vennont at Bennington 1765 Stamp Act passed 1766 Stamp Act repealed 1769 Dartmouth College founded 1770 Samuel Hopkins sittled at Newport R I 1773 The Doston Tea Party 177) Commencement of War or the ReOlution 1778 Phillips Academy Andover founded Phillips Academy Exetershy
N H chartered 1781 178o lfassachusetts Bill of Rights enacted amended guaranteeing to
every denomination o( Christians equal protection i11 law 1834 middot 1782 James Fimiddoteeman chosen rector of Kings Chapel the church under
him became Unittrian 1783 End of the War of the Revolution 1784 Saybrook Pbtorm by remiddotision of statutes ceased to be cMl law in
Connecticut 1786 lIassachusetts was granted the right to purchase from the Indians
Western New York 1790 lIethodisrn first appears in 1fassachusctts Gra_nt or Vestem Reshy
senmiddote to Connecticut 1793 Williams College chartered 179-1-middot Ilowcloin College chartered 17)) The London lissiona1y Society instituted General Convention of
Congregational ministers and churches in Vermont organized 1796 F irst Con~rcgational church in Ohio at llarietla 1798 Connccicut fissionary Society formed
CH lW~OLOGICAL TAllLE S39
1799 )fassachusetts Missionary Society formed rSoo iliddlebury College founded 1801 Plan of Union ailopted botweeu the General Congregational Associashy
tion of Connecticut and the Genoral Assembly or the Presbyterian middotmiddot Church Congregational middotc1nirch organized in Quebec the first in
Lower middotcnada middot 1803 General Association of ilassachusetts ministers fomted Gtneral
Con(erence of churches 1S6o Union of Association and Confershyence 1868
1805 Henry Ware chose professor of divinity at Harvard First Sunday school in Cauacla organized in connection with Congregational chiuch in Quebec middot middot
1808 The first theological seminary opened at Andover Mass bullSo Park Street Church Iloston or~aniicd New Hampshire Associashy
tion and Rhode Island Consociation organized Muskingum (0) Association formed middot
1810 American Doard of Commissioners or Foreign Missions established by the General Aisociation of Massachusetts Dr Kirkland elected president ur Han middotard middot First Sunday school in ltassachushysttts ~t Ucn rl-
1815 Unitarianism avomd hy some tassachusetts Congregationalists 1816 American Education Society formed middotunited with Westem Coilege
Socictr in 1 87~ with Ncw est Education Commis~ion in 1893 Dan~or Theological Seminary began Rt1s011 N~cordtr began
1818 1ew constitution adopted hy the State of Connccticut making all re ligious associations purd Oluntary bull
1819 Congre~ational church organized at Southwold the first in Upper Crnada
1821 Amherst College founded middot 18 Theological department opened at Yale College 186 American Home issionary Society institutecf First State Confershy
ence of churches organized in Mai= 1831 Congregational Union or England and Wales organiied 183 l~assachusetts Sabbath-school Societr organized 1833 Declaration of Faith of the Congregational churches or Engbnd aml
Walts with Principles of Church Order and Discipline Oberlin college founclecl
1834 General Association of New York organized 1835 Illinois College founded 1837 Prcsbyteria11 General Jsscmhlr abrogated Pian of Union 1838 New School Prehyterian Chunh orgmizcll 1 S40 General Asso1iatio11 of Iowa anti isconsin Co1wention formed 18p Gencrtl ssmiatinn of l ithi~an Conned I s~ General Associati()ll of Ill inois formed 18~6 Convention of Western Co11grcgational churches at ~fichigan City
Mich American lissionary sociation organized bull
540 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
t8t7middot Beloit College founded 1848 Iowa College founded Oregon Association formed 1852 American General Convention of Congregational Chur~hes at Albany
N Y Encl of Plan of Union Ohio Association oigauized 1853 Congregational Churchbuilding Society formed middot 1855 Kansas Association organized 1856 Minnesota Association organized 1857 California and Nebraska associations organized 1858 Chicago Theological Seminary founded Indiana Association organmiddot
ized 186o Congregational College of British North America founded affiliated
with McGill Unimiddotersity Iontreal Canada 1864 1861 Beginning of Civil War 1865 Close of Cimiddotil War Missouri Association organized General
American Council of Congregational Churches Boston Burial Hill Declaration of Faith adopted
1867 Connecticut Conference organized 1868 Colorado Association organized 1869 New Jersey Association organizedmiddot 1870 Louisiana Association organized 1871 National Council established at Oberlin O for triennial meetings
South Dakota and Tennessee associations organized Congregational House Boston occupied by benemiddoto]ent societies and
other Congregational orga1iizations 1876 Alabama Association organized 1878 Georgia Association organized 1879 North Carolina Conference mmiddotganized 1881 First Youug Peoples Society of Christian Endeabullor fonnecl at Villiishy
ton Congregltttional Church Portland ire New est Edlcation Commission organizedmiddot united with American Education Society 1893
1882 Utah Association organized 1883 Declaration of Faith by a Creed Commission appointed hy the
National Council Florida and Mississippi associations and North Dakota Conference organized
Arizona and New Mexico Association an~] Montana Conference organized
1SSG P~middotnnsyh-mia tssltgtciation organized 1887 Arkansas and Southern Calipoundorni1 associations organized 1SS9 Vashington Agtsociation organired 1890 Gcor~ia Corwention and Oklahoma Association organilcd 1891 First International Congregational Council London Englind all
parts of the world bcing represcntell yoming Association organizd
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE Of Important Events In Congregational History
Since 1900
1913 Report of the Committee of Nineteen acted upon by National Council of Congregational Churches at Kansas City setting up a national system for the dispensing of benevolences and control of seven Missionary Societies
1923 A national magazine poll reportedly ascertained the 25 best preachers in the US indicating that 7 were Congregationalists a group of only 900000
1931 Congregational National Council merged with General Convention of the Christian Church into the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches
1934 Congregational Christian Churches absorbs the German Reformed Church
1938 Rev Samuel Press in cooperation with Rev Truman Douglas initiated church union with the Eva~elical and Reformed Church
1942 Commission on Inter-Church Relations and Christian Unity authorized to explore possibl~ union with the E and R Church
1943 First and second drafts of the Basis of Unionn completed and sent to associations and churches for their study
1947 The Evanston Meeting held by Congregationalists as an ad hoc committee of the concerned over the proposed merger--released statement charging that Basis of Union was an abandonment of Congregational tradition and principle
1948 Deadline for acceptance of Basis of Union passes without the required percentage approving--deadline extended to Jan 1949 middot
1949 Approval of Basis of Union continues to be under 75 but General Council passes it anyway Cadman Memorial Church brought legal action to prevent the union
1950 New ~c~k Supreme Court enjoined General Council from carrying out consummation of the proposed union with the E and R Church
1952 New York court reversed lower court decision on grounds that since no property was involved themiddoty had no jurisdiction
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
1953 Appeal of Cadman Memorial Church denied 1955 National Association of Congregational Christian
Churches organized~ 1956 NACCC adopted its Articles of Association and By-Laws 1957 Formation of the United Church of Christ by the
Pirst General Synod middot
1959 Commission on the ministry of the NA proposed that ordination of ministers by the local church be proclaimed valid on the basis of historic Congregationalprinciple
1961 UCC Constitution formally ratified NACCC declared itself to be the successor to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches
1962 UCC and NACCC made application for membeEhip in the International Congregational Council UCC admitted NACCC denied admission
1966 Seminar on the Nature and Future of the Free Church in Chicago offered alternatives to organizational ecumenicity Consultatiqn on Church Union (COCU) completed its middot blueprin~ for the Great American Church
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Atkins Gaius An Adventure in Liberty The Pilgrim Press 1961
Atkins Gaius and Fagley Frederick middotHistory of American middot Congregationalism The Pilgrim Press 1942
Bradshaw Marion John Free Churches and Christian Unity The Beacon Press 1954 middot middot middot middot
Burton Malcolm K Destiny for Congregatialism Modern Publfshers Inc 1953
Burton Malcolm K How Church Union Came The Committee for the Continuation of Congregational Christian Churches of the United States Inc 1966 middot
Burton Malcolm K To Revamp Protestant WorshiQ The Committee for the Continuation of the Congregationsl Christian Churches of the United States 1965w
Butman Harry R The Lords Free People The Swannett Press 1968
Conn Howard The Dilemma of ConJregationalism National Association of Congregational Christian Churches 1962
Congregational Press Handbook of the National Association of middot Congregational Christian Churches- 1263 The Congregational
Press 1963
Dunning Albert E Congregationalists in Americmiddota J A Hill and Company 1894
General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches Digest of Minutes of Meetings of the CongregationalChristian Churchesmiddot of the United States-1911-1965 The General Council middotof the Congregatinal Christian Churches 1971
Hoskins Fred Congregationalism Betrayed or Fulfilled transmiddotcript of the Southworth Lecture 1962
Hudson Winthrop S~ Religion in America Charles Scribners Sons 1973
Latourette Kenneth A History of Christianity vol 2 Harper and Row 1975
Manning Bernard Lord _Essa ys in Orthadox Dissent London Independ8nt Pressmiddot LTD 1953
BIBLIOGRAPHY (Continued)
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches A Comprehensive Analysis of What We Are Now Congregational Principles and Polity ~ 1National~ssociaticm~middot-of Congregationan Christian Churches 1961 middot middot
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches middot NACCC Yearbook-1975-1976 National Association of middot
Congregational Christian Churches 1975 middot
Sinclair Francis What It Means to be a Congregationalist League to Uphold Congregational Principles undated
Steece Arvel M Polity Evolution and the Future of Congregationa1ism The Congregationalist (March 1975)16-17
Walker Williston A History of the CongregatiOnal Churches middot in the United States The Christian Literature Co 1894
Walker Williston A History of the Christian Church Jrd edmiddot New York Charles Scribners Sons 1979
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF IMPORTANT EVENTS IN CONGREGATIONAL HISTORY
1582 Brownes $tatement ofCongregational Principles publisheltl r583_John Coppin and Elias Thacker hanged at Bu~y St Edmunds England r586 John Greenwood and Henry Barrowe im111isoned in London 1588 Martin ]far-prelate Tracts 1589 A True Description out of the Word of God of the Visible Church
published in _London r 592 First known modern Congregational church completely and formally
organized in London 1593 John Greenwood Henry Barrowe and John Penry hanged the last of
the Congregational martyrs put to death Fifty-six members of the first Congregational church London imprisoned
1595 First Congregational church regathered fo Amsterdam Holland 15g6 A True Confession 0pound the Faith bullbull of the London-Amste1dam
Church published 15C)S The same True Confession middottranslated into Latin and published 16oz Congregational church organized at Gainsborough England r6o3 Death of Elizabeth and accession or JamesI Petition 0pound Amsterdam
Church to King James I stating the Points of Difference between Congregationalism and the Church of England
16o6 Scrooby Church organized John Robinson Pastor Gainsborough Church remomiddotes to Amsterdam
16o7-o8 Scrooby Church remobulles to Amsterdam 16olt John Robinson with the Pilgrims ofScrciobf Church settles in Leyden middot 1611 King James Version of the Bible published middot r616 Congregational church organized at Southwark London middot _ 1617 Pilgrims of Leyden petition King James for permission to settle in
America 1618-19 The Synod of Dort at Dordrecht Holland
middot 16zo Pilgrims left Leyden July 21 sailed from Pl~middotmouth September 16 sigped civil compact in the 1fayfiowerNovember 21 landed at Plymouth lIass December 1 r (0 S) December 21 (N S)
1621 Gomiddoternor Carver died Villiam Bradfo-d chosen governor of Pilgrim Colony
162+ First Purit3n settlement in New Erigfand at Cape Ann 1625 John Robinson died in Leyden Death or James I middotand accession of
Challes r middot 1628 The Company or ~bssachusetts Uay formed in England Captain
middot Endecott arri1middoted at Sltllen1 William Laud mule Bishop of London
535
Chronological Table through 1899 from Albert Dunning s Congregationalism in America~
I
CHROsOLCJGICAL TAUIE
1629 Six vessels with emirants from England arrfred at Salem Second Congregational church in America formed at Salem Mass middot Charter granted to Massachusetts
1630 First Church Dorchester llass organized at Plymouth EoglamJ landed at Nantasket lfay 30 John Vinthrop with a Aeet of CS middot
sels arrived in Massachusetts liar The Iassachusctts charter brought to Ncw England First Church organized at Charlcstowrt md First Church bull Vatertown July 30 middot First General Court Au- gust 23 John Winthrop elected gomiddoternor Settlement of llostou
163 Church at Charlestown remOf(f to Boston Prt~ent First Church middot Charlestown organized Nmbullember 23 First Church Lynn ind
First Church Roxbury organized 1633 John Cotton Thomas Hooker and Samuel Stone arrived at Boston middotmiddot
Laud made Archbishop of Canterbury First parish in New Hampshire at Domiddoter First Church formed in connection with the parish 1638
1635 Colonies from Dorchester and Vatertomiddotn remocd lo Connecticut~ 1636 First Church in Dorchester ~lass organiztcl in Plymouth England
1630 fully estihlishecl at indsor Conn First Church Camshyhiillgc organi1olti Thomas Hooker with his compan) in organshyized church emigratetl from Cambridge ~lass lo Hanford Conn Roger Williams banished from [assachusetts Colony Sir Henry Vane chosen gomiddoternor The Hutchinson contnJmiddotcrsy Harard College founded Winthrop again elected gomiddoternor bull
r6j7 First General Synod or Xtw England commiddotencd at Camhriclge by the General Court It conclemned Antinomianism John Davenport middot and company arrimiddotcd at Boston from England Pequot ar
1638 Mrs Hutchinson excommunicated from the Boston Chirch and bmmiddot ished from themiddotcolo11y New Haven Colony founded hy Daenport
and his company 1641 Ilody 0pound Liberties adopted by the General Court of ltassachusetts
New Hampshire towns incorporated into ifass-lchusctts Colony 1643 Vetminster Assemhly convened in En~land hr Parliament Minisshy
terial Cflllention at Cimhridge ~lass Confederation of the four colonies iIitssachusetts Plymouth Connecticut and New Hinbullen
16~ Archbishop Laud cxccuted 1645 Tiattle of Nasehy insuring the 1lownfoll of the English Monarchy
Hookers Surver of the Sum of Church Discipline approved by the ministers of the New England colonies
1646--48 John Elot hean preaching to the Indians General American Synod at Cmnhriltlge setting forth platform of Church Polfty
1647 System of common schools adopted by Gemral Court of ifassachusetts 164S estminster Confession of Faith appromiddotecl by Parliament 1649 Enll ncl proclaims itsdf a Commonwealth 1650 Second Church Bo~ton organized middot 165r Gcnera Court or iTassachusctts approed Ctmbridge Platfomiddotrm
CHRONOLOGICAL TACLE 537
1654 Olimiddotcr Cromwell Loni Protector of Engla~d 1657 Ministerial Convention at- Boston Halfway Covenant recommended
_ Quakers imprisoned in Roston middot 1658 General Synod at Swoy Palace London setting forth amended
Vestminster Confession andmiddot Congregational Platform of Church Order Olimiddotcr Cromwell died
rmiddot66o Restoration of monarchy in England Charles II made king 1662 Massichusetts Synod at Beston appro-ed HaHway Covenant Conshy
necticut and New middotHaven Colonies united 1664- Church at Darrington organized the oldest existing Congregational
church in Rhode Island 166c) Olil South Church Boston organized 1670 Second Church Hartford Conn organized 1673 Church in Agamcnticus now York lle organized (possibly much
earlier) themiddot oldest existing Congregational church in that State then a part of Massachusetts
1674-76 King Philips War 1679-80 fassachusetts Synod at Tloston known as the Reforming Synod 168 Cotton Mather ordained colleague pastQr of Second Church Boston 1684 Charter of Massachusetts Colonr bullacatcd 1685 James II king of Englaml Sir Edmund Andros seized Old South
lleeting-housc Uoston for Episcopal scnmiddotices 1689 i lliun and tary made king rnd quee n of EnglanltI Andros
imprisoned anti promiddotisional gumiddotcrnment form~d in lfassachtisctts Simdn Ilraclstrctt gomiddoternor Kings Chapel erected for Episcopal middot
middot worship middot Toleration Act passeltl by English Parliament affordmiddot middoting legal protection to Nltnconforn1ists
1690 As-ociation of ministers of Boston and bullicinity formed the first permanent District Association in ilassachusctts
169t Healtls o( Agreement adopted in London between Preshyterians and Congregationalists middotPlymouth Colony connectecl with llassashychusetts
1692 Villiam Phips firs t gomiddotcrnor of Massachusets under new charter Twenty persons put to death at Salem for witchcraft Episco- palians na1itists and Quakers exempted from taxes for the support middot of Congregational churches in lfassachusetts
1699 Brallle Street Church Boston organized 1701 Yale College founded Society for the Propagation of the Gospel
organi7cd in England 1702 Anne queen of E ngland 1705 Proposals issued b y representatibulles of tassachusetts ministerial
associations 1708 Connecticut Synod at Saybrook issued the Saybrook Platform 170-J Gcncral ssoiation of Connecticut ministers organized the first middot middotmiddot middot Statt organi7atinn 1713 Peace or Utricht
CHRO~OLOGICAL TABLE538
1714 George I king of En~bnd
1716 Yale College located in New Haven 1pz Cutler rector o( Yale College and others became Episcopalians 1723 Increase ~father died 1725 Fini1 and unsuccessful effort of General Court of Massachusetts to
call a synod of churches 1727 Jonathan E~wards ordained colleague pastor at Northampton
George II king of England ljJ~ Cotton lather died 173 Revival of religion at Northampton 1738 George Whitefields first visit to America 171-o Whitefield visited Coston and other parts of New England 17j0-42 Great revival of religion in New England 17-tr Gilbert Tennent preached in Boston middot 17J2 John Davenport by his preaching made disturbances in Connecticut
and Massachusetts Separatist churches formed 1744-4 Whitefields second vi5it to New England 1750 Jonathan Edwards forced to leamiddote the Church at Northampton went
to Stockbridge a missionary to the Indians middot 17)7 Jonithan Edwards died middot 1762 First Church organized in Vennont at Bennington 1765 Stamp Act passed 1766 Stamp Act repealed 1769 Dartmouth College founded 1770 Samuel Hopkins sittled at Newport R I 1773 The Doston Tea Party 177) Commencement of War or the ReOlution 1778 Phillips Academy Andover founded Phillips Academy Exetershy
N H chartered 1781 178o lfassachusetts Bill of Rights enacted amended guaranteeing to
every denomination o( Christians equal protection i11 law 1834 middot 1782 James Fimiddoteeman chosen rector of Kings Chapel the church under
him became Unittrian 1783 End of the War of the Revolution 1784 Saybrook Pbtorm by remiddotision of statutes ceased to be cMl law in
Connecticut 1786 lIassachusetts was granted the right to purchase from the Indians
Western New York 1790 lIethodisrn first appears in 1fassachusctts Gra_nt or Vestem Reshy
senmiddote to Connecticut 1793 Williams College chartered 179-1-middot Ilowcloin College chartered 17)) The London lissiona1y Society instituted General Convention of
Congregational ministers and churches in Vermont organized 1796 F irst Con~rcgational church in Ohio at llarietla 1798 Connccicut fissionary Society formed
CH lW~OLOGICAL TAllLE S39
1799 )fassachusetts Missionary Society formed rSoo iliddlebury College founded 1801 Plan of Union ailopted botweeu the General Congregational Associashy
tion of Connecticut and the Genoral Assembly or the Presbyterian middotmiddot Church Congregational middotc1nirch organized in Quebec the first in
Lower middotcnada middot 1803 General Association of ilassachusetts ministers fomted Gtneral
Con(erence of churches 1S6o Union of Association and Confershyence 1868
1805 Henry Ware chose professor of divinity at Harvard First Sunday school in Cauacla organized in connection with Congregational chiuch in Quebec middot middot
1808 The first theological seminary opened at Andover Mass bullSo Park Street Church Iloston or~aniicd New Hampshire Associashy
tion and Rhode Island Consociation organized Muskingum (0) Association formed middot
1810 American Doard of Commissioners or Foreign Missions established by the General Aisociation of Massachusetts Dr Kirkland elected president ur Han middotard middot First Sunday school in ltassachushysttts ~t Ucn rl-
1815 Unitarianism avomd hy some tassachusetts Congregationalists 1816 American Education Society formed middotunited with Westem Coilege
Socictr in 1 87~ with Ncw est Education Commis~ion in 1893 Dan~or Theological Seminary began Rt1s011 N~cordtr began
1818 1ew constitution adopted hy the State of Connccticut making all re ligious associations purd Oluntary bull
1819 Congre~ational church organized at Southwold the first in Upper Crnada
1821 Amherst College founded middot 18 Theological department opened at Yale College 186 American Home issionary Society institutecf First State Confershy
ence of churches organized in Mai= 1831 Congregational Union or England and Wales organiied 183 l~assachusetts Sabbath-school Societr organized 1833 Declaration of Faith of the Congregational churches or Engbnd aml
Walts with Principles of Church Order and Discipline Oberlin college founclecl
1834 General Association of New York organized 1835 Illinois College founded 1837 Prcsbyteria11 General Jsscmhlr abrogated Pian of Union 1838 New School Prehyterian Chunh orgmizcll 1 S40 General Asso1iatio11 of Iowa anti isconsin Co1wention formed 18p Gencrtl ssmiatinn of l ithi~an Conned I s~ General Associati()ll of Ill inois formed 18~6 Convention of Western Co11grcgational churches at ~fichigan City
Mich American lissionary sociation organized bull
540 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
t8t7middot Beloit College founded 1848 Iowa College founded Oregon Association formed 1852 American General Convention of Congregational Chur~hes at Albany
N Y Encl of Plan of Union Ohio Association oigauized 1853 Congregational Churchbuilding Society formed middot 1855 Kansas Association organized 1856 Minnesota Association organized 1857 California and Nebraska associations organized 1858 Chicago Theological Seminary founded Indiana Association organmiddot
ized 186o Congregational College of British North America founded affiliated
with McGill Unimiddotersity Iontreal Canada 1864 1861 Beginning of Civil War 1865 Close of Cimiddotil War Missouri Association organized General
American Council of Congregational Churches Boston Burial Hill Declaration of Faith adopted
1867 Connecticut Conference organized 1868 Colorado Association organized 1869 New Jersey Association organizedmiddot 1870 Louisiana Association organized 1871 National Council established at Oberlin O for triennial meetings
South Dakota and Tennessee associations organized Congregational House Boston occupied by benemiddoto]ent societies and
other Congregational orga1iizations 1876 Alabama Association organized 1878 Georgia Association organized 1879 North Carolina Conference mmiddotganized 1881 First Youug Peoples Society of Christian Endeabullor fonnecl at Villiishy
ton Congregltttional Church Portland ire New est Edlcation Commission organizedmiddot united with American Education Society 1893
1882 Utah Association organized 1883 Declaration of Faith by a Creed Commission appointed hy the
National Council Florida and Mississippi associations and North Dakota Conference organized
Arizona and New Mexico Association an~] Montana Conference organized
1SSG P~middotnnsyh-mia tssltgtciation organized 1887 Arkansas and Southern Calipoundorni1 associations organized 1SS9 Vashington Agtsociation organired 1890 Gcor~ia Corwention and Oklahoma Association organilcd 1891 First International Congregational Council London Englind all
parts of the world bcing represcntell yoming Association organizd
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE Of Important Events In Congregational History
Since 1900
1913 Report of the Committee of Nineteen acted upon by National Council of Congregational Churches at Kansas City setting up a national system for the dispensing of benevolences and control of seven Missionary Societies
1923 A national magazine poll reportedly ascertained the 25 best preachers in the US indicating that 7 were Congregationalists a group of only 900000
1931 Congregational National Council merged with General Convention of the Christian Church into the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches
1934 Congregational Christian Churches absorbs the German Reformed Church
1938 Rev Samuel Press in cooperation with Rev Truman Douglas initiated church union with the Eva~elical and Reformed Church
1942 Commission on Inter-Church Relations and Christian Unity authorized to explore possibl~ union with the E and R Church
1943 First and second drafts of the Basis of Unionn completed and sent to associations and churches for their study
1947 The Evanston Meeting held by Congregationalists as an ad hoc committee of the concerned over the proposed merger--released statement charging that Basis of Union was an abandonment of Congregational tradition and principle
1948 Deadline for acceptance of Basis of Union passes without the required percentage approving--deadline extended to Jan 1949 middot
1949 Approval of Basis of Union continues to be under 75 but General Council passes it anyway Cadman Memorial Church brought legal action to prevent the union
1950 New ~c~k Supreme Court enjoined General Council from carrying out consummation of the proposed union with the E and R Church
1952 New York court reversed lower court decision on grounds that since no property was involved themiddoty had no jurisdiction
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
1953 Appeal of Cadman Memorial Church denied 1955 National Association of Congregational Christian
Churches organized~ 1956 NACCC adopted its Articles of Association and By-Laws 1957 Formation of the United Church of Christ by the
Pirst General Synod middot
1959 Commission on the ministry of the NA proposed that ordination of ministers by the local church be proclaimed valid on the basis of historic Congregationalprinciple
1961 UCC Constitution formally ratified NACCC declared itself to be the successor to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches
1962 UCC and NACCC made application for membeEhip in the International Congregational Council UCC admitted NACCC denied admission
1966 Seminar on the Nature and Future of the Free Church in Chicago offered alternatives to organizational ecumenicity Consultatiqn on Church Union (COCU) completed its middot blueprin~ for the Great American Church
BIBLIOGRAPHY (Continued)
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches A Comprehensive Analysis of What We Are Now Congregational Principles and Polity ~ 1National~ssociaticm~middot-of Congregationan Christian Churches 1961 middot middot
National Association of Congregational Christian Churches middot NACCC Yearbook-1975-1976 National Association of middot
Congregational Christian Churches 1975 middot
Sinclair Francis What It Means to be a Congregationalist League to Uphold Congregational Principles undated
Steece Arvel M Polity Evolution and the Future of Congregationa1ism The Congregationalist (March 1975)16-17
Walker Williston A History of the CongregatiOnal Churches middot in the United States The Christian Literature Co 1894
Walker Williston A History of the Christian Church Jrd edmiddot New York Charles Scribners Sons 1979
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF IMPORTANT EVENTS IN CONGREGATIONAL HISTORY
1582 Brownes $tatement ofCongregational Principles publisheltl r583_John Coppin and Elias Thacker hanged at Bu~y St Edmunds England r586 John Greenwood and Henry Barrowe im111isoned in London 1588 Martin ]far-prelate Tracts 1589 A True Description out of the Word of God of the Visible Church
published in _London r 592 First known modern Congregational church completely and formally
organized in London 1593 John Greenwood Henry Barrowe and John Penry hanged the last of
the Congregational martyrs put to death Fifty-six members of the first Congregational church London imprisoned
1595 First Congregational church regathered fo Amsterdam Holland 15g6 A True Confession 0pound the Faith bullbull of the London-Amste1dam
Church published 15C)S The same True Confession middottranslated into Latin and published 16oz Congregational church organized at Gainsborough England r6o3 Death of Elizabeth and accession or JamesI Petition 0pound Amsterdam
Church to King James I stating the Points of Difference between Congregationalism and the Church of England
16o6 Scrooby Church organized John Robinson Pastor Gainsborough Church remomiddotes to Amsterdam
16o7-o8 Scrooby Church remobulles to Amsterdam 16olt John Robinson with the Pilgrims ofScrciobf Church settles in Leyden middot 1611 King James Version of the Bible published middot r616 Congregational church organized at Southwark London middot _ 1617 Pilgrims of Leyden petition King James for permission to settle in
America 1618-19 The Synod of Dort at Dordrecht Holland
middot 16zo Pilgrims left Leyden July 21 sailed from Pl~middotmouth September 16 sigped civil compact in the 1fayfiowerNovember 21 landed at Plymouth lIass December 1 r (0 S) December 21 (N S)
1621 Gomiddoternor Carver died Villiam Bradfo-d chosen governor of Pilgrim Colony
162+ First Purit3n settlement in New Erigfand at Cape Ann 1625 John Robinson died in Leyden Death or James I middotand accession of
Challes r middot 1628 The Company or ~bssachusetts Uay formed in England Captain
middot Endecott arri1middoted at Sltllen1 William Laud mule Bishop of London
535
Chronological Table through 1899 from Albert Dunning s Congregationalism in America~
I
CHROsOLCJGICAL TAUIE
1629 Six vessels with emirants from England arrfred at Salem Second Congregational church in America formed at Salem Mass middot Charter granted to Massachusetts
1630 First Church Dorchester llass organized at Plymouth EoglamJ landed at Nantasket lfay 30 John Vinthrop with a Aeet of CS middot
sels arrived in Massachusetts liar The Iassachusctts charter brought to Ncw England First Church organized at Charlcstowrt md First Church bull Vatertown July 30 middot First General Court Au- gust 23 John Winthrop elected gomiddoternor Settlement of llostou
163 Church at Charlestown remOf(f to Boston Prt~ent First Church middot Charlestown organized Nmbullember 23 First Church Lynn ind
First Church Roxbury organized 1633 John Cotton Thomas Hooker and Samuel Stone arrived at Boston middotmiddot
Laud made Archbishop of Canterbury First parish in New Hampshire at Domiddoter First Church formed in connection with the parish 1638
1635 Colonies from Dorchester and Vatertomiddotn remocd lo Connecticut~ 1636 First Church in Dorchester ~lass organiztcl in Plymouth England
1630 fully estihlishecl at indsor Conn First Church Camshyhiillgc organi1olti Thomas Hooker with his compan) in organshyized church emigratetl from Cambridge ~lass lo Hanford Conn Roger Williams banished from [assachusetts Colony Sir Henry Vane chosen gomiddoternor The Hutchinson contnJmiddotcrsy Harard College founded Winthrop again elected gomiddoternor bull
r6j7 First General Synod or Xtw England commiddotencd at Camhriclge by the General Court It conclemned Antinomianism John Davenport middot and company arrimiddotcd at Boston from England Pequot ar
1638 Mrs Hutchinson excommunicated from the Boston Chirch and bmmiddot ished from themiddotcolo11y New Haven Colony founded hy Daenport
and his company 1641 Ilody 0pound Liberties adopted by the General Court of ltassachusetts
New Hampshire towns incorporated into ifass-lchusctts Colony 1643 Vetminster Assemhly convened in En~land hr Parliament Minisshy
terial Cflllention at Cimhridge ~lass Confederation of the four colonies iIitssachusetts Plymouth Connecticut and New Hinbullen
16~ Archbishop Laud cxccuted 1645 Tiattle of Nasehy insuring the 1lownfoll of the English Monarchy
Hookers Surver of the Sum of Church Discipline approved by the ministers of the New England colonies
1646--48 John Elot hean preaching to the Indians General American Synod at Cmnhriltlge setting forth platform of Church Polfty
1647 System of common schools adopted by Gemral Court of ifassachusetts 164S estminster Confession of Faith appromiddotecl by Parliament 1649 Enll ncl proclaims itsdf a Commonwealth 1650 Second Church Bo~ton organized middot 165r Gcnera Court or iTassachusctts approed Ctmbridge Platfomiddotrm
CHRONOLOGICAL TACLE 537
1654 Olimiddotcr Cromwell Loni Protector of Engla~d 1657 Ministerial Convention at- Boston Halfway Covenant recommended
_ Quakers imprisoned in Roston middot 1658 General Synod at Swoy Palace London setting forth amended
Vestminster Confession andmiddot Congregational Platform of Church Order Olimiddotcr Cromwell died
rmiddot66o Restoration of monarchy in England Charles II made king 1662 Massichusetts Synod at Beston appro-ed HaHway Covenant Conshy
necticut and New middotHaven Colonies united 1664- Church at Darrington organized the oldest existing Congregational
church in Rhode Island 166c) Olil South Church Boston organized 1670 Second Church Hartford Conn organized 1673 Church in Agamcnticus now York lle organized (possibly much
earlier) themiddot oldest existing Congregational church in that State then a part of Massachusetts
1674-76 King Philips War 1679-80 fassachusetts Synod at Tloston known as the Reforming Synod 168 Cotton Mather ordained colleague pastQr of Second Church Boston 1684 Charter of Massachusetts Colonr bullacatcd 1685 James II king of Englaml Sir Edmund Andros seized Old South
lleeting-housc Uoston for Episcopal scnmiddotices 1689 i lliun and tary made king rnd quee n of EnglanltI Andros
imprisoned anti promiddotisional gumiddotcrnment form~d in lfassachtisctts Simdn Ilraclstrctt gomiddoternor Kings Chapel erected for Episcopal middot
middot worship middot Toleration Act passeltl by English Parliament affordmiddot middoting legal protection to Nltnconforn1ists
1690 As-ociation of ministers of Boston and bullicinity formed the first permanent District Association in ilassachusctts
169t Healtls o( Agreement adopted in London between Preshyterians and Congregationalists middotPlymouth Colony connectecl with llassashychusetts
1692 Villiam Phips firs t gomiddotcrnor of Massachusets under new charter Twenty persons put to death at Salem for witchcraft Episco- palians na1itists and Quakers exempted from taxes for the support middot of Congregational churches in lfassachusetts
1699 Brallle Street Church Boston organized 1701 Yale College founded Society for the Propagation of the Gospel
organi7cd in England 1702 Anne queen of E ngland 1705 Proposals issued b y representatibulles of tassachusetts ministerial
associations 1708 Connecticut Synod at Saybrook issued the Saybrook Platform 170-J Gcncral ssoiation of Connecticut ministers organized the first middot middotmiddot middot Statt organi7atinn 1713 Peace or Utricht
CHRO~OLOGICAL TABLE538
1714 George I king of En~bnd
1716 Yale College located in New Haven 1pz Cutler rector o( Yale College and others became Episcopalians 1723 Increase ~father died 1725 Fini1 and unsuccessful effort of General Court of Massachusetts to
call a synod of churches 1727 Jonathan E~wards ordained colleague pastor at Northampton
George II king of England ljJ~ Cotton lather died 173 Revival of religion at Northampton 1738 George Whitefields first visit to America 171-o Whitefield visited Coston and other parts of New England 17j0-42 Great revival of religion in New England 17-tr Gilbert Tennent preached in Boston middot 17J2 John Davenport by his preaching made disturbances in Connecticut
and Massachusetts Separatist churches formed 1744-4 Whitefields second vi5it to New England 1750 Jonathan Edwards forced to leamiddote the Church at Northampton went
to Stockbridge a missionary to the Indians middot 17)7 Jonithan Edwards died middot 1762 First Church organized in Vennont at Bennington 1765 Stamp Act passed 1766 Stamp Act repealed 1769 Dartmouth College founded 1770 Samuel Hopkins sittled at Newport R I 1773 The Doston Tea Party 177) Commencement of War or the ReOlution 1778 Phillips Academy Andover founded Phillips Academy Exetershy
N H chartered 1781 178o lfassachusetts Bill of Rights enacted amended guaranteeing to
every denomination o( Christians equal protection i11 law 1834 middot 1782 James Fimiddoteeman chosen rector of Kings Chapel the church under
him became Unittrian 1783 End of the War of the Revolution 1784 Saybrook Pbtorm by remiddotision of statutes ceased to be cMl law in
Connecticut 1786 lIassachusetts was granted the right to purchase from the Indians
Western New York 1790 lIethodisrn first appears in 1fassachusctts Gra_nt or Vestem Reshy
senmiddote to Connecticut 1793 Williams College chartered 179-1-middot Ilowcloin College chartered 17)) The London lissiona1y Society instituted General Convention of
Congregational ministers and churches in Vermont organized 1796 F irst Con~rcgational church in Ohio at llarietla 1798 Connccicut fissionary Society formed
CH lW~OLOGICAL TAllLE S39
1799 )fassachusetts Missionary Society formed rSoo iliddlebury College founded 1801 Plan of Union ailopted botweeu the General Congregational Associashy
tion of Connecticut and the Genoral Assembly or the Presbyterian middotmiddot Church Congregational middotc1nirch organized in Quebec the first in
Lower middotcnada middot 1803 General Association of ilassachusetts ministers fomted Gtneral
Con(erence of churches 1S6o Union of Association and Confershyence 1868
1805 Henry Ware chose professor of divinity at Harvard First Sunday school in Cauacla organized in connection with Congregational chiuch in Quebec middot middot
1808 The first theological seminary opened at Andover Mass bullSo Park Street Church Iloston or~aniicd New Hampshire Associashy
tion and Rhode Island Consociation organized Muskingum (0) Association formed middot
1810 American Doard of Commissioners or Foreign Missions established by the General Aisociation of Massachusetts Dr Kirkland elected president ur Han middotard middot First Sunday school in ltassachushysttts ~t Ucn rl-
1815 Unitarianism avomd hy some tassachusetts Congregationalists 1816 American Education Society formed middotunited with Westem Coilege
Socictr in 1 87~ with Ncw est Education Commis~ion in 1893 Dan~or Theological Seminary began Rt1s011 N~cordtr began
1818 1ew constitution adopted hy the State of Connccticut making all re ligious associations purd Oluntary bull
1819 Congre~ational church organized at Southwold the first in Upper Crnada
1821 Amherst College founded middot 18 Theological department opened at Yale College 186 American Home issionary Society institutecf First State Confershy
ence of churches organized in Mai= 1831 Congregational Union or England and Wales organiied 183 l~assachusetts Sabbath-school Societr organized 1833 Declaration of Faith of the Congregational churches or Engbnd aml
Walts with Principles of Church Order and Discipline Oberlin college founclecl
1834 General Association of New York organized 1835 Illinois College founded 1837 Prcsbyteria11 General Jsscmhlr abrogated Pian of Union 1838 New School Prehyterian Chunh orgmizcll 1 S40 General Asso1iatio11 of Iowa anti isconsin Co1wention formed 18p Gencrtl ssmiatinn of l ithi~an Conned I s~ General Associati()ll of Ill inois formed 18~6 Convention of Western Co11grcgational churches at ~fichigan City
Mich American lissionary sociation organized bull
540 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
t8t7middot Beloit College founded 1848 Iowa College founded Oregon Association formed 1852 American General Convention of Congregational Chur~hes at Albany
N Y Encl of Plan of Union Ohio Association oigauized 1853 Congregational Churchbuilding Society formed middot 1855 Kansas Association organized 1856 Minnesota Association organized 1857 California and Nebraska associations organized 1858 Chicago Theological Seminary founded Indiana Association organmiddot
ized 186o Congregational College of British North America founded affiliated
with McGill Unimiddotersity Iontreal Canada 1864 1861 Beginning of Civil War 1865 Close of Cimiddotil War Missouri Association organized General
American Council of Congregational Churches Boston Burial Hill Declaration of Faith adopted
1867 Connecticut Conference organized 1868 Colorado Association organized 1869 New Jersey Association organizedmiddot 1870 Louisiana Association organized 1871 National Council established at Oberlin O for triennial meetings
South Dakota and Tennessee associations organized Congregational House Boston occupied by benemiddoto]ent societies and
other Congregational orga1iizations 1876 Alabama Association organized 1878 Georgia Association organized 1879 North Carolina Conference mmiddotganized 1881 First Youug Peoples Society of Christian Endeabullor fonnecl at Villiishy
ton Congregltttional Church Portland ire New est Edlcation Commission organizedmiddot united with American Education Society 1893
1882 Utah Association organized 1883 Declaration of Faith by a Creed Commission appointed hy the
National Council Florida and Mississippi associations and North Dakota Conference organized
Arizona and New Mexico Association an~] Montana Conference organized
1SSG P~middotnnsyh-mia tssltgtciation organized 1887 Arkansas and Southern Calipoundorni1 associations organized 1SS9 Vashington Agtsociation organired 1890 Gcor~ia Corwention and Oklahoma Association organilcd 1891 First International Congregational Council London Englind all
parts of the world bcing represcntell yoming Association organizd
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE Of Important Events In Congregational History
Since 1900
1913 Report of the Committee of Nineteen acted upon by National Council of Congregational Churches at Kansas City setting up a national system for the dispensing of benevolences and control of seven Missionary Societies
1923 A national magazine poll reportedly ascertained the 25 best preachers in the US indicating that 7 were Congregationalists a group of only 900000
1931 Congregational National Council merged with General Convention of the Christian Church into the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches
1934 Congregational Christian Churches absorbs the German Reformed Church
1938 Rev Samuel Press in cooperation with Rev Truman Douglas initiated church union with the Eva~elical and Reformed Church
1942 Commission on Inter-Church Relations and Christian Unity authorized to explore possibl~ union with the E and R Church
1943 First and second drafts of the Basis of Unionn completed and sent to associations and churches for their study
1947 The Evanston Meeting held by Congregationalists as an ad hoc committee of the concerned over the proposed merger--released statement charging that Basis of Union was an abandonment of Congregational tradition and principle
1948 Deadline for acceptance of Basis of Union passes without the required percentage approving--deadline extended to Jan 1949 middot
1949 Approval of Basis of Union continues to be under 75 but General Council passes it anyway Cadman Memorial Church brought legal action to prevent the union
1950 New ~c~k Supreme Court enjoined General Council from carrying out consummation of the proposed union with the E and R Church
1952 New York court reversed lower court decision on grounds that since no property was involved themiddoty had no jurisdiction
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
1953 Appeal of Cadman Memorial Church denied 1955 National Association of Congregational Christian
Churches organized~ 1956 NACCC adopted its Articles of Association and By-Laws 1957 Formation of the United Church of Christ by the
Pirst General Synod middot
1959 Commission on the ministry of the NA proposed that ordination of ministers by the local church be proclaimed valid on the basis of historic Congregationalprinciple
1961 UCC Constitution formally ratified NACCC declared itself to be the successor to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches
1962 UCC and NACCC made application for membeEhip in the International Congregational Council UCC admitted NACCC denied admission
1966 Seminar on the Nature and Future of the Free Church in Chicago offered alternatives to organizational ecumenicity Consultatiqn on Church Union (COCU) completed its middot blueprin~ for the Great American Church
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF IMPORTANT EVENTS IN CONGREGATIONAL HISTORY
1582 Brownes $tatement ofCongregational Principles publisheltl r583_John Coppin and Elias Thacker hanged at Bu~y St Edmunds England r586 John Greenwood and Henry Barrowe im111isoned in London 1588 Martin ]far-prelate Tracts 1589 A True Description out of the Word of God of the Visible Church
published in _London r 592 First known modern Congregational church completely and formally
organized in London 1593 John Greenwood Henry Barrowe and John Penry hanged the last of
the Congregational martyrs put to death Fifty-six members of the first Congregational church London imprisoned
1595 First Congregational church regathered fo Amsterdam Holland 15g6 A True Confession 0pound the Faith bullbull of the London-Amste1dam
Church published 15C)S The same True Confession middottranslated into Latin and published 16oz Congregational church organized at Gainsborough England r6o3 Death of Elizabeth and accession or JamesI Petition 0pound Amsterdam
Church to King James I stating the Points of Difference between Congregationalism and the Church of England
16o6 Scrooby Church organized John Robinson Pastor Gainsborough Church remomiddotes to Amsterdam
16o7-o8 Scrooby Church remobulles to Amsterdam 16olt John Robinson with the Pilgrims ofScrciobf Church settles in Leyden middot 1611 King James Version of the Bible published middot r616 Congregational church organized at Southwark London middot _ 1617 Pilgrims of Leyden petition King James for permission to settle in
America 1618-19 The Synod of Dort at Dordrecht Holland
middot 16zo Pilgrims left Leyden July 21 sailed from Pl~middotmouth September 16 sigped civil compact in the 1fayfiowerNovember 21 landed at Plymouth lIass December 1 r (0 S) December 21 (N S)
1621 Gomiddoternor Carver died Villiam Bradfo-d chosen governor of Pilgrim Colony
162+ First Purit3n settlement in New Erigfand at Cape Ann 1625 John Robinson died in Leyden Death or James I middotand accession of
Challes r middot 1628 The Company or ~bssachusetts Uay formed in England Captain
middot Endecott arri1middoted at Sltllen1 William Laud mule Bishop of London
535
Chronological Table through 1899 from Albert Dunning s Congregationalism in America~
I
CHROsOLCJGICAL TAUIE
1629 Six vessels with emirants from England arrfred at Salem Second Congregational church in America formed at Salem Mass middot Charter granted to Massachusetts
1630 First Church Dorchester llass organized at Plymouth EoglamJ landed at Nantasket lfay 30 John Vinthrop with a Aeet of CS middot
sels arrived in Massachusetts liar The Iassachusctts charter brought to Ncw England First Church organized at Charlcstowrt md First Church bull Vatertown July 30 middot First General Court Au- gust 23 John Winthrop elected gomiddoternor Settlement of llostou
163 Church at Charlestown remOf(f to Boston Prt~ent First Church middot Charlestown organized Nmbullember 23 First Church Lynn ind
First Church Roxbury organized 1633 John Cotton Thomas Hooker and Samuel Stone arrived at Boston middotmiddot
Laud made Archbishop of Canterbury First parish in New Hampshire at Domiddoter First Church formed in connection with the parish 1638
1635 Colonies from Dorchester and Vatertomiddotn remocd lo Connecticut~ 1636 First Church in Dorchester ~lass organiztcl in Plymouth England
1630 fully estihlishecl at indsor Conn First Church Camshyhiillgc organi1olti Thomas Hooker with his compan) in organshyized church emigratetl from Cambridge ~lass lo Hanford Conn Roger Williams banished from [assachusetts Colony Sir Henry Vane chosen gomiddoternor The Hutchinson contnJmiddotcrsy Harard College founded Winthrop again elected gomiddoternor bull
r6j7 First General Synod or Xtw England commiddotencd at Camhriclge by the General Court It conclemned Antinomianism John Davenport middot and company arrimiddotcd at Boston from England Pequot ar
1638 Mrs Hutchinson excommunicated from the Boston Chirch and bmmiddot ished from themiddotcolo11y New Haven Colony founded hy Daenport
and his company 1641 Ilody 0pound Liberties adopted by the General Court of ltassachusetts
New Hampshire towns incorporated into ifass-lchusctts Colony 1643 Vetminster Assemhly convened in En~land hr Parliament Minisshy
terial Cflllention at Cimhridge ~lass Confederation of the four colonies iIitssachusetts Plymouth Connecticut and New Hinbullen
16~ Archbishop Laud cxccuted 1645 Tiattle of Nasehy insuring the 1lownfoll of the English Monarchy
Hookers Surver of the Sum of Church Discipline approved by the ministers of the New England colonies
1646--48 John Elot hean preaching to the Indians General American Synod at Cmnhriltlge setting forth platform of Church Polfty
1647 System of common schools adopted by Gemral Court of ifassachusetts 164S estminster Confession of Faith appromiddotecl by Parliament 1649 Enll ncl proclaims itsdf a Commonwealth 1650 Second Church Bo~ton organized middot 165r Gcnera Court or iTassachusctts approed Ctmbridge Platfomiddotrm
CHRONOLOGICAL TACLE 537
1654 Olimiddotcr Cromwell Loni Protector of Engla~d 1657 Ministerial Convention at- Boston Halfway Covenant recommended
_ Quakers imprisoned in Roston middot 1658 General Synod at Swoy Palace London setting forth amended
Vestminster Confession andmiddot Congregational Platform of Church Order Olimiddotcr Cromwell died
rmiddot66o Restoration of monarchy in England Charles II made king 1662 Massichusetts Synod at Beston appro-ed HaHway Covenant Conshy
necticut and New middotHaven Colonies united 1664- Church at Darrington organized the oldest existing Congregational
church in Rhode Island 166c) Olil South Church Boston organized 1670 Second Church Hartford Conn organized 1673 Church in Agamcnticus now York lle organized (possibly much
earlier) themiddot oldest existing Congregational church in that State then a part of Massachusetts
1674-76 King Philips War 1679-80 fassachusetts Synod at Tloston known as the Reforming Synod 168 Cotton Mather ordained colleague pastQr of Second Church Boston 1684 Charter of Massachusetts Colonr bullacatcd 1685 James II king of Englaml Sir Edmund Andros seized Old South
lleeting-housc Uoston for Episcopal scnmiddotices 1689 i lliun and tary made king rnd quee n of EnglanltI Andros
imprisoned anti promiddotisional gumiddotcrnment form~d in lfassachtisctts Simdn Ilraclstrctt gomiddoternor Kings Chapel erected for Episcopal middot
middot worship middot Toleration Act passeltl by English Parliament affordmiddot middoting legal protection to Nltnconforn1ists
1690 As-ociation of ministers of Boston and bullicinity formed the first permanent District Association in ilassachusctts
169t Healtls o( Agreement adopted in London between Preshyterians and Congregationalists middotPlymouth Colony connectecl with llassashychusetts
1692 Villiam Phips firs t gomiddotcrnor of Massachusets under new charter Twenty persons put to death at Salem for witchcraft Episco- palians na1itists and Quakers exempted from taxes for the support middot of Congregational churches in lfassachusetts
1699 Brallle Street Church Boston organized 1701 Yale College founded Society for the Propagation of the Gospel
organi7cd in England 1702 Anne queen of E ngland 1705 Proposals issued b y representatibulles of tassachusetts ministerial
associations 1708 Connecticut Synod at Saybrook issued the Saybrook Platform 170-J Gcncral ssoiation of Connecticut ministers organized the first middot middotmiddot middot Statt organi7atinn 1713 Peace or Utricht
CHRO~OLOGICAL TABLE538
1714 George I king of En~bnd
1716 Yale College located in New Haven 1pz Cutler rector o( Yale College and others became Episcopalians 1723 Increase ~father died 1725 Fini1 and unsuccessful effort of General Court of Massachusetts to
call a synod of churches 1727 Jonathan E~wards ordained colleague pastor at Northampton
George II king of England ljJ~ Cotton lather died 173 Revival of religion at Northampton 1738 George Whitefields first visit to America 171-o Whitefield visited Coston and other parts of New England 17j0-42 Great revival of religion in New England 17-tr Gilbert Tennent preached in Boston middot 17J2 John Davenport by his preaching made disturbances in Connecticut
and Massachusetts Separatist churches formed 1744-4 Whitefields second vi5it to New England 1750 Jonathan Edwards forced to leamiddote the Church at Northampton went
to Stockbridge a missionary to the Indians middot 17)7 Jonithan Edwards died middot 1762 First Church organized in Vennont at Bennington 1765 Stamp Act passed 1766 Stamp Act repealed 1769 Dartmouth College founded 1770 Samuel Hopkins sittled at Newport R I 1773 The Doston Tea Party 177) Commencement of War or the ReOlution 1778 Phillips Academy Andover founded Phillips Academy Exetershy
N H chartered 1781 178o lfassachusetts Bill of Rights enacted amended guaranteeing to
every denomination o( Christians equal protection i11 law 1834 middot 1782 James Fimiddoteeman chosen rector of Kings Chapel the church under
him became Unittrian 1783 End of the War of the Revolution 1784 Saybrook Pbtorm by remiddotision of statutes ceased to be cMl law in
Connecticut 1786 lIassachusetts was granted the right to purchase from the Indians
Western New York 1790 lIethodisrn first appears in 1fassachusctts Gra_nt or Vestem Reshy
senmiddote to Connecticut 1793 Williams College chartered 179-1-middot Ilowcloin College chartered 17)) The London lissiona1y Society instituted General Convention of
Congregational ministers and churches in Vermont organized 1796 F irst Con~rcgational church in Ohio at llarietla 1798 Connccicut fissionary Society formed
CH lW~OLOGICAL TAllLE S39
1799 )fassachusetts Missionary Society formed rSoo iliddlebury College founded 1801 Plan of Union ailopted botweeu the General Congregational Associashy
tion of Connecticut and the Genoral Assembly or the Presbyterian middotmiddot Church Congregational middotc1nirch organized in Quebec the first in
Lower middotcnada middot 1803 General Association of ilassachusetts ministers fomted Gtneral
Con(erence of churches 1S6o Union of Association and Confershyence 1868
1805 Henry Ware chose professor of divinity at Harvard First Sunday school in Cauacla organized in connection with Congregational chiuch in Quebec middot middot
1808 The first theological seminary opened at Andover Mass bullSo Park Street Church Iloston or~aniicd New Hampshire Associashy
tion and Rhode Island Consociation organized Muskingum (0) Association formed middot
1810 American Doard of Commissioners or Foreign Missions established by the General Aisociation of Massachusetts Dr Kirkland elected president ur Han middotard middot First Sunday school in ltassachushysttts ~t Ucn rl-
1815 Unitarianism avomd hy some tassachusetts Congregationalists 1816 American Education Society formed middotunited with Westem Coilege
Socictr in 1 87~ with Ncw est Education Commis~ion in 1893 Dan~or Theological Seminary began Rt1s011 N~cordtr began
1818 1ew constitution adopted hy the State of Connccticut making all re ligious associations purd Oluntary bull
1819 Congre~ational church organized at Southwold the first in Upper Crnada
1821 Amherst College founded middot 18 Theological department opened at Yale College 186 American Home issionary Society institutecf First State Confershy
ence of churches organized in Mai= 1831 Congregational Union or England and Wales organiied 183 l~assachusetts Sabbath-school Societr organized 1833 Declaration of Faith of the Congregational churches or Engbnd aml
Walts with Principles of Church Order and Discipline Oberlin college founclecl
1834 General Association of New York organized 1835 Illinois College founded 1837 Prcsbyteria11 General Jsscmhlr abrogated Pian of Union 1838 New School Prehyterian Chunh orgmizcll 1 S40 General Asso1iatio11 of Iowa anti isconsin Co1wention formed 18p Gencrtl ssmiatinn of l ithi~an Conned I s~ General Associati()ll of Ill inois formed 18~6 Convention of Western Co11grcgational churches at ~fichigan City
Mich American lissionary sociation organized bull
540 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
t8t7middot Beloit College founded 1848 Iowa College founded Oregon Association formed 1852 American General Convention of Congregational Chur~hes at Albany
N Y Encl of Plan of Union Ohio Association oigauized 1853 Congregational Churchbuilding Society formed middot 1855 Kansas Association organized 1856 Minnesota Association organized 1857 California and Nebraska associations organized 1858 Chicago Theological Seminary founded Indiana Association organmiddot
ized 186o Congregational College of British North America founded affiliated
with McGill Unimiddotersity Iontreal Canada 1864 1861 Beginning of Civil War 1865 Close of Cimiddotil War Missouri Association organized General
American Council of Congregational Churches Boston Burial Hill Declaration of Faith adopted
1867 Connecticut Conference organized 1868 Colorado Association organized 1869 New Jersey Association organizedmiddot 1870 Louisiana Association organized 1871 National Council established at Oberlin O for triennial meetings
South Dakota and Tennessee associations organized Congregational House Boston occupied by benemiddoto]ent societies and
other Congregational orga1iizations 1876 Alabama Association organized 1878 Georgia Association organized 1879 North Carolina Conference mmiddotganized 1881 First Youug Peoples Society of Christian Endeabullor fonnecl at Villiishy
ton Congregltttional Church Portland ire New est Edlcation Commission organizedmiddot united with American Education Society 1893
1882 Utah Association organized 1883 Declaration of Faith by a Creed Commission appointed hy the
National Council Florida and Mississippi associations and North Dakota Conference organized
Arizona and New Mexico Association an~] Montana Conference organized
1SSG P~middotnnsyh-mia tssltgtciation organized 1887 Arkansas and Southern Calipoundorni1 associations organized 1SS9 Vashington Agtsociation organired 1890 Gcor~ia Corwention and Oklahoma Association organilcd 1891 First International Congregational Council London Englind all
parts of the world bcing represcntell yoming Association organizd
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE Of Important Events In Congregational History
Since 1900
1913 Report of the Committee of Nineteen acted upon by National Council of Congregational Churches at Kansas City setting up a national system for the dispensing of benevolences and control of seven Missionary Societies
1923 A national magazine poll reportedly ascertained the 25 best preachers in the US indicating that 7 were Congregationalists a group of only 900000
1931 Congregational National Council merged with General Convention of the Christian Church into the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches
1934 Congregational Christian Churches absorbs the German Reformed Church
1938 Rev Samuel Press in cooperation with Rev Truman Douglas initiated church union with the Eva~elical and Reformed Church
1942 Commission on Inter-Church Relations and Christian Unity authorized to explore possibl~ union with the E and R Church
1943 First and second drafts of the Basis of Unionn completed and sent to associations and churches for their study
1947 The Evanston Meeting held by Congregationalists as an ad hoc committee of the concerned over the proposed merger--released statement charging that Basis of Union was an abandonment of Congregational tradition and principle
1948 Deadline for acceptance of Basis of Union passes without the required percentage approving--deadline extended to Jan 1949 middot
1949 Approval of Basis of Union continues to be under 75 but General Council passes it anyway Cadman Memorial Church brought legal action to prevent the union
1950 New ~c~k Supreme Court enjoined General Council from carrying out consummation of the proposed union with the E and R Church
1952 New York court reversed lower court decision on grounds that since no property was involved themiddoty had no jurisdiction
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
1953 Appeal of Cadman Memorial Church denied 1955 National Association of Congregational Christian
Churches organized~ 1956 NACCC adopted its Articles of Association and By-Laws 1957 Formation of the United Church of Christ by the
Pirst General Synod middot
1959 Commission on the ministry of the NA proposed that ordination of ministers by the local church be proclaimed valid on the basis of historic Congregationalprinciple
1961 UCC Constitution formally ratified NACCC declared itself to be the successor to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches
1962 UCC and NACCC made application for membeEhip in the International Congregational Council UCC admitted NACCC denied admission
1966 Seminar on the Nature and Future of the Free Church in Chicago offered alternatives to organizational ecumenicity Consultatiqn on Church Union (COCU) completed its middot blueprin~ for the Great American Church
CHROsOLCJGICAL TAUIE
1629 Six vessels with emirants from England arrfred at Salem Second Congregational church in America formed at Salem Mass middot Charter granted to Massachusetts
1630 First Church Dorchester llass organized at Plymouth EoglamJ landed at Nantasket lfay 30 John Vinthrop with a Aeet of CS middot
sels arrived in Massachusetts liar The Iassachusctts charter brought to Ncw England First Church organized at Charlcstowrt md First Church bull Vatertown July 30 middot First General Court Au- gust 23 John Winthrop elected gomiddoternor Settlement of llostou
163 Church at Charlestown remOf(f to Boston Prt~ent First Church middot Charlestown organized Nmbullember 23 First Church Lynn ind
First Church Roxbury organized 1633 John Cotton Thomas Hooker and Samuel Stone arrived at Boston middotmiddot
Laud made Archbishop of Canterbury First parish in New Hampshire at Domiddoter First Church formed in connection with the parish 1638
1635 Colonies from Dorchester and Vatertomiddotn remocd lo Connecticut~ 1636 First Church in Dorchester ~lass organiztcl in Plymouth England
1630 fully estihlishecl at indsor Conn First Church Camshyhiillgc organi1olti Thomas Hooker with his compan) in organshyized church emigratetl from Cambridge ~lass lo Hanford Conn Roger Williams banished from [assachusetts Colony Sir Henry Vane chosen gomiddoternor The Hutchinson contnJmiddotcrsy Harard College founded Winthrop again elected gomiddoternor bull
r6j7 First General Synod or Xtw England commiddotencd at Camhriclge by the General Court It conclemned Antinomianism John Davenport middot and company arrimiddotcd at Boston from England Pequot ar
1638 Mrs Hutchinson excommunicated from the Boston Chirch and bmmiddot ished from themiddotcolo11y New Haven Colony founded hy Daenport
and his company 1641 Ilody 0pound Liberties adopted by the General Court of ltassachusetts
New Hampshire towns incorporated into ifass-lchusctts Colony 1643 Vetminster Assemhly convened in En~land hr Parliament Minisshy
terial Cflllention at Cimhridge ~lass Confederation of the four colonies iIitssachusetts Plymouth Connecticut and New Hinbullen
16~ Archbishop Laud cxccuted 1645 Tiattle of Nasehy insuring the 1lownfoll of the English Monarchy
Hookers Surver of the Sum of Church Discipline approved by the ministers of the New England colonies
1646--48 John Elot hean preaching to the Indians General American Synod at Cmnhriltlge setting forth platform of Church Polfty
1647 System of common schools adopted by Gemral Court of ifassachusetts 164S estminster Confession of Faith appromiddotecl by Parliament 1649 Enll ncl proclaims itsdf a Commonwealth 1650 Second Church Bo~ton organized middot 165r Gcnera Court or iTassachusctts approed Ctmbridge Platfomiddotrm
CHRONOLOGICAL TACLE 537
1654 Olimiddotcr Cromwell Loni Protector of Engla~d 1657 Ministerial Convention at- Boston Halfway Covenant recommended
_ Quakers imprisoned in Roston middot 1658 General Synod at Swoy Palace London setting forth amended
Vestminster Confession andmiddot Congregational Platform of Church Order Olimiddotcr Cromwell died
rmiddot66o Restoration of monarchy in England Charles II made king 1662 Massichusetts Synod at Beston appro-ed HaHway Covenant Conshy
necticut and New middotHaven Colonies united 1664- Church at Darrington organized the oldest existing Congregational
church in Rhode Island 166c) Olil South Church Boston organized 1670 Second Church Hartford Conn organized 1673 Church in Agamcnticus now York lle organized (possibly much
earlier) themiddot oldest existing Congregational church in that State then a part of Massachusetts
1674-76 King Philips War 1679-80 fassachusetts Synod at Tloston known as the Reforming Synod 168 Cotton Mather ordained colleague pastQr of Second Church Boston 1684 Charter of Massachusetts Colonr bullacatcd 1685 James II king of Englaml Sir Edmund Andros seized Old South
lleeting-housc Uoston for Episcopal scnmiddotices 1689 i lliun and tary made king rnd quee n of EnglanltI Andros
imprisoned anti promiddotisional gumiddotcrnment form~d in lfassachtisctts Simdn Ilraclstrctt gomiddoternor Kings Chapel erected for Episcopal middot
middot worship middot Toleration Act passeltl by English Parliament affordmiddot middoting legal protection to Nltnconforn1ists
1690 As-ociation of ministers of Boston and bullicinity formed the first permanent District Association in ilassachusctts
169t Healtls o( Agreement adopted in London between Preshyterians and Congregationalists middotPlymouth Colony connectecl with llassashychusetts
1692 Villiam Phips firs t gomiddotcrnor of Massachusets under new charter Twenty persons put to death at Salem for witchcraft Episco- palians na1itists and Quakers exempted from taxes for the support middot of Congregational churches in lfassachusetts
1699 Brallle Street Church Boston organized 1701 Yale College founded Society for the Propagation of the Gospel
organi7cd in England 1702 Anne queen of E ngland 1705 Proposals issued b y representatibulles of tassachusetts ministerial
associations 1708 Connecticut Synod at Saybrook issued the Saybrook Platform 170-J Gcncral ssoiation of Connecticut ministers organized the first middot middotmiddot middot Statt organi7atinn 1713 Peace or Utricht
CHRO~OLOGICAL TABLE538
1714 George I king of En~bnd
1716 Yale College located in New Haven 1pz Cutler rector o( Yale College and others became Episcopalians 1723 Increase ~father died 1725 Fini1 and unsuccessful effort of General Court of Massachusetts to
call a synod of churches 1727 Jonathan E~wards ordained colleague pastor at Northampton
George II king of England ljJ~ Cotton lather died 173 Revival of religion at Northampton 1738 George Whitefields first visit to America 171-o Whitefield visited Coston and other parts of New England 17j0-42 Great revival of religion in New England 17-tr Gilbert Tennent preached in Boston middot 17J2 John Davenport by his preaching made disturbances in Connecticut
and Massachusetts Separatist churches formed 1744-4 Whitefields second vi5it to New England 1750 Jonathan Edwards forced to leamiddote the Church at Northampton went
to Stockbridge a missionary to the Indians middot 17)7 Jonithan Edwards died middot 1762 First Church organized in Vennont at Bennington 1765 Stamp Act passed 1766 Stamp Act repealed 1769 Dartmouth College founded 1770 Samuel Hopkins sittled at Newport R I 1773 The Doston Tea Party 177) Commencement of War or the ReOlution 1778 Phillips Academy Andover founded Phillips Academy Exetershy
N H chartered 1781 178o lfassachusetts Bill of Rights enacted amended guaranteeing to
every denomination o( Christians equal protection i11 law 1834 middot 1782 James Fimiddoteeman chosen rector of Kings Chapel the church under
him became Unittrian 1783 End of the War of the Revolution 1784 Saybrook Pbtorm by remiddotision of statutes ceased to be cMl law in
Connecticut 1786 lIassachusetts was granted the right to purchase from the Indians
Western New York 1790 lIethodisrn first appears in 1fassachusctts Gra_nt or Vestem Reshy
senmiddote to Connecticut 1793 Williams College chartered 179-1-middot Ilowcloin College chartered 17)) The London lissiona1y Society instituted General Convention of
Congregational ministers and churches in Vermont organized 1796 F irst Con~rcgational church in Ohio at llarietla 1798 Connccicut fissionary Society formed
CH lW~OLOGICAL TAllLE S39
1799 )fassachusetts Missionary Society formed rSoo iliddlebury College founded 1801 Plan of Union ailopted botweeu the General Congregational Associashy
tion of Connecticut and the Genoral Assembly or the Presbyterian middotmiddot Church Congregational middotc1nirch organized in Quebec the first in
Lower middotcnada middot 1803 General Association of ilassachusetts ministers fomted Gtneral
Con(erence of churches 1S6o Union of Association and Confershyence 1868
1805 Henry Ware chose professor of divinity at Harvard First Sunday school in Cauacla organized in connection with Congregational chiuch in Quebec middot middot
1808 The first theological seminary opened at Andover Mass bullSo Park Street Church Iloston or~aniicd New Hampshire Associashy
tion and Rhode Island Consociation organized Muskingum (0) Association formed middot
1810 American Doard of Commissioners or Foreign Missions established by the General Aisociation of Massachusetts Dr Kirkland elected president ur Han middotard middot First Sunday school in ltassachushysttts ~t Ucn rl-
1815 Unitarianism avomd hy some tassachusetts Congregationalists 1816 American Education Society formed middotunited with Westem Coilege
Socictr in 1 87~ with Ncw est Education Commis~ion in 1893 Dan~or Theological Seminary began Rt1s011 N~cordtr began
1818 1ew constitution adopted hy the State of Connccticut making all re ligious associations purd Oluntary bull
1819 Congre~ational church organized at Southwold the first in Upper Crnada
1821 Amherst College founded middot 18 Theological department opened at Yale College 186 American Home issionary Society institutecf First State Confershy
ence of churches organized in Mai= 1831 Congregational Union or England and Wales organiied 183 l~assachusetts Sabbath-school Societr organized 1833 Declaration of Faith of the Congregational churches or Engbnd aml
Walts with Principles of Church Order and Discipline Oberlin college founclecl
1834 General Association of New York organized 1835 Illinois College founded 1837 Prcsbyteria11 General Jsscmhlr abrogated Pian of Union 1838 New School Prehyterian Chunh orgmizcll 1 S40 General Asso1iatio11 of Iowa anti isconsin Co1wention formed 18p Gencrtl ssmiatinn of l ithi~an Conned I s~ General Associati()ll of Ill inois formed 18~6 Convention of Western Co11grcgational churches at ~fichigan City
Mich American lissionary sociation organized bull
540 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
t8t7middot Beloit College founded 1848 Iowa College founded Oregon Association formed 1852 American General Convention of Congregational Chur~hes at Albany
N Y Encl of Plan of Union Ohio Association oigauized 1853 Congregational Churchbuilding Society formed middot 1855 Kansas Association organized 1856 Minnesota Association organized 1857 California and Nebraska associations organized 1858 Chicago Theological Seminary founded Indiana Association organmiddot
ized 186o Congregational College of British North America founded affiliated
with McGill Unimiddotersity Iontreal Canada 1864 1861 Beginning of Civil War 1865 Close of Cimiddotil War Missouri Association organized General
American Council of Congregational Churches Boston Burial Hill Declaration of Faith adopted
1867 Connecticut Conference organized 1868 Colorado Association organized 1869 New Jersey Association organizedmiddot 1870 Louisiana Association organized 1871 National Council established at Oberlin O for triennial meetings
South Dakota and Tennessee associations organized Congregational House Boston occupied by benemiddoto]ent societies and
other Congregational orga1iizations 1876 Alabama Association organized 1878 Georgia Association organized 1879 North Carolina Conference mmiddotganized 1881 First Youug Peoples Society of Christian Endeabullor fonnecl at Villiishy
ton Congregltttional Church Portland ire New est Edlcation Commission organizedmiddot united with American Education Society 1893
1882 Utah Association organized 1883 Declaration of Faith by a Creed Commission appointed hy the
National Council Florida and Mississippi associations and North Dakota Conference organized
Arizona and New Mexico Association an~] Montana Conference organized
1SSG P~middotnnsyh-mia tssltgtciation organized 1887 Arkansas and Southern Calipoundorni1 associations organized 1SS9 Vashington Agtsociation organired 1890 Gcor~ia Corwention and Oklahoma Association organilcd 1891 First International Congregational Council London Englind all
parts of the world bcing represcntell yoming Association organizd
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE Of Important Events In Congregational History
Since 1900
1913 Report of the Committee of Nineteen acted upon by National Council of Congregational Churches at Kansas City setting up a national system for the dispensing of benevolences and control of seven Missionary Societies
1923 A national magazine poll reportedly ascertained the 25 best preachers in the US indicating that 7 were Congregationalists a group of only 900000
1931 Congregational National Council merged with General Convention of the Christian Church into the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches
1934 Congregational Christian Churches absorbs the German Reformed Church
1938 Rev Samuel Press in cooperation with Rev Truman Douglas initiated church union with the Eva~elical and Reformed Church
1942 Commission on Inter-Church Relations and Christian Unity authorized to explore possibl~ union with the E and R Church
1943 First and second drafts of the Basis of Unionn completed and sent to associations and churches for their study
1947 The Evanston Meeting held by Congregationalists as an ad hoc committee of the concerned over the proposed merger--released statement charging that Basis of Union was an abandonment of Congregational tradition and principle
1948 Deadline for acceptance of Basis of Union passes without the required percentage approving--deadline extended to Jan 1949 middot
1949 Approval of Basis of Union continues to be under 75 but General Council passes it anyway Cadman Memorial Church brought legal action to prevent the union
1950 New ~c~k Supreme Court enjoined General Council from carrying out consummation of the proposed union with the E and R Church
1952 New York court reversed lower court decision on grounds that since no property was involved themiddoty had no jurisdiction
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
1953 Appeal of Cadman Memorial Church denied 1955 National Association of Congregational Christian
Churches organized~ 1956 NACCC adopted its Articles of Association and By-Laws 1957 Formation of the United Church of Christ by the
Pirst General Synod middot
1959 Commission on the ministry of the NA proposed that ordination of ministers by the local church be proclaimed valid on the basis of historic Congregationalprinciple
1961 UCC Constitution formally ratified NACCC declared itself to be the successor to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches
1962 UCC and NACCC made application for membeEhip in the International Congregational Council UCC admitted NACCC denied admission
1966 Seminar on the Nature and Future of the Free Church in Chicago offered alternatives to organizational ecumenicity Consultatiqn on Church Union (COCU) completed its middot blueprin~ for the Great American Church
CHRONOLOGICAL TACLE 537
1654 Olimiddotcr Cromwell Loni Protector of Engla~d 1657 Ministerial Convention at- Boston Halfway Covenant recommended
_ Quakers imprisoned in Roston middot 1658 General Synod at Swoy Palace London setting forth amended
Vestminster Confession andmiddot Congregational Platform of Church Order Olimiddotcr Cromwell died
rmiddot66o Restoration of monarchy in England Charles II made king 1662 Massichusetts Synod at Beston appro-ed HaHway Covenant Conshy
necticut and New middotHaven Colonies united 1664- Church at Darrington organized the oldest existing Congregational
church in Rhode Island 166c) Olil South Church Boston organized 1670 Second Church Hartford Conn organized 1673 Church in Agamcnticus now York lle organized (possibly much
earlier) themiddot oldest existing Congregational church in that State then a part of Massachusetts
1674-76 King Philips War 1679-80 fassachusetts Synod at Tloston known as the Reforming Synod 168 Cotton Mather ordained colleague pastQr of Second Church Boston 1684 Charter of Massachusetts Colonr bullacatcd 1685 James II king of Englaml Sir Edmund Andros seized Old South
lleeting-housc Uoston for Episcopal scnmiddotices 1689 i lliun and tary made king rnd quee n of EnglanltI Andros
imprisoned anti promiddotisional gumiddotcrnment form~d in lfassachtisctts Simdn Ilraclstrctt gomiddoternor Kings Chapel erected for Episcopal middot
middot worship middot Toleration Act passeltl by English Parliament affordmiddot middoting legal protection to Nltnconforn1ists
1690 As-ociation of ministers of Boston and bullicinity formed the first permanent District Association in ilassachusctts
169t Healtls o( Agreement adopted in London between Preshyterians and Congregationalists middotPlymouth Colony connectecl with llassashychusetts
1692 Villiam Phips firs t gomiddotcrnor of Massachusets under new charter Twenty persons put to death at Salem for witchcraft Episco- palians na1itists and Quakers exempted from taxes for the support middot of Congregational churches in lfassachusetts
1699 Brallle Street Church Boston organized 1701 Yale College founded Society for the Propagation of the Gospel
organi7cd in England 1702 Anne queen of E ngland 1705 Proposals issued b y representatibulles of tassachusetts ministerial
associations 1708 Connecticut Synod at Saybrook issued the Saybrook Platform 170-J Gcncral ssoiation of Connecticut ministers organized the first middot middotmiddot middot Statt organi7atinn 1713 Peace or Utricht
CHRO~OLOGICAL TABLE538
1714 George I king of En~bnd
1716 Yale College located in New Haven 1pz Cutler rector o( Yale College and others became Episcopalians 1723 Increase ~father died 1725 Fini1 and unsuccessful effort of General Court of Massachusetts to
call a synod of churches 1727 Jonathan E~wards ordained colleague pastor at Northampton
George II king of England ljJ~ Cotton lather died 173 Revival of religion at Northampton 1738 George Whitefields first visit to America 171-o Whitefield visited Coston and other parts of New England 17j0-42 Great revival of religion in New England 17-tr Gilbert Tennent preached in Boston middot 17J2 John Davenport by his preaching made disturbances in Connecticut
and Massachusetts Separatist churches formed 1744-4 Whitefields second vi5it to New England 1750 Jonathan Edwards forced to leamiddote the Church at Northampton went
to Stockbridge a missionary to the Indians middot 17)7 Jonithan Edwards died middot 1762 First Church organized in Vennont at Bennington 1765 Stamp Act passed 1766 Stamp Act repealed 1769 Dartmouth College founded 1770 Samuel Hopkins sittled at Newport R I 1773 The Doston Tea Party 177) Commencement of War or the ReOlution 1778 Phillips Academy Andover founded Phillips Academy Exetershy
N H chartered 1781 178o lfassachusetts Bill of Rights enacted amended guaranteeing to
every denomination o( Christians equal protection i11 law 1834 middot 1782 James Fimiddoteeman chosen rector of Kings Chapel the church under
him became Unittrian 1783 End of the War of the Revolution 1784 Saybrook Pbtorm by remiddotision of statutes ceased to be cMl law in
Connecticut 1786 lIassachusetts was granted the right to purchase from the Indians
Western New York 1790 lIethodisrn first appears in 1fassachusctts Gra_nt or Vestem Reshy
senmiddote to Connecticut 1793 Williams College chartered 179-1-middot Ilowcloin College chartered 17)) The London lissiona1y Society instituted General Convention of
Congregational ministers and churches in Vermont organized 1796 F irst Con~rcgational church in Ohio at llarietla 1798 Connccicut fissionary Society formed
CH lW~OLOGICAL TAllLE S39
1799 )fassachusetts Missionary Society formed rSoo iliddlebury College founded 1801 Plan of Union ailopted botweeu the General Congregational Associashy
tion of Connecticut and the Genoral Assembly or the Presbyterian middotmiddot Church Congregational middotc1nirch organized in Quebec the first in
Lower middotcnada middot 1803 General Association of ilassachusetts ministers fomted Gtneral
Con(erence of churches 1S6o Union of Association and Confershyence 1868
1805 Henry Ware chose professor of divinity at Harvard First Sunday school in Cauacla organized in connection with Congregational chiuch in Quebec middot middot
1808 The first theological seminary opened at Andover Mass bullSo Park Street Church Iloston or~aniicd New Hampshire Associashy
tion and Rhode Island Consociation organized Muskingum (0) Association formed middot
1810 American Doard of Commissioners or Foreign Missions established by the General Aisociation of Massachusetts Dr Kirkland elected president ur Han middotard middot First Sunday school in ltassachushysttts ~t Ucn rl-
1815 Unitarianism avomd hy some tassachusetts Congregationalists 1816 American Education Society formed middotunited with Westem Coilege
Socictr in 1 87~ with Ncw est Education Commis~ion in 1893 Dan~or Theological Seminary began Rt1s011 N~cordtr began
1818 1ew constitution adopted hy the State of Connccticut making all re ligious associations purd Oluntary bull
1819 Congre~ational church organized at Southwold the first in Upper Crnada
1821 Amherst College founded middot 18 Theological department opened at Yale College 186 American Home issionary Society institutecf First State Confershy
ence of churches organized in Mai= 1831 Congregational Union or England and Wales organiied 183 l~assachusetts Sabbath-school Societr organized 1833 Declaration of Faith of the Congregational churches or Engbnd aml
Walts with Principles of Church Order and Discipline Oberlin college founclecl
1834 General Association of New York organized 1835 Illinois College founded 1837 Prcsbyteria11 General Jsscmhlr abrogated Pian of Union 1838 New School Prehyterian Chunh orgmizcll 1 S40 General Asso1iatio11 of Iowa anti isconsin Co1wention formed 18p Gencrtl ssmiatinn of l ithi~an Conned I s~ General Associati()ll of Ill inois formed 18~6 Convention of Western Co11grcgational churches at ~fichigan City
Mich American lissionary sociation organized bull
540 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
t8t7middot Beloit College founded 1848 Iowa College founded Oregon Association formed 1852 American General Convention of Congregational Chur~hes at Albany
N Y Encl of Plan of Union Ohio Association oigauized 1853 Congregational Churchbuilding Society formed middot 1855 Kansas Association organized 1856 Minnesota Association organized 1857 California and Nebraska associations organized 1858 Chicago Theological Seminary founded Indiana Association organmiddot
ized 186o Congregational College of British North America founded affiliated
with McGill Unimiddotersity Iontreal Canada 1864 1861 Beginning of Civil War 1865 Close of Cimiddotil War Missouri Association organized General
American Council of Congregational Churches Boston Burial Hill Declaration of Faith adopted
1867 Connecticut Conference organized 1868 Colorado Association organized 1869 New Jersey Association organizedmiddot 1870 Louisiana Association organized 1871 National Council established at Oberlin O for triennial meetings
South Dakota and Tennessee associations organized Congregational House Boston occupied by benemiddoto]ent societies and
other Congregational orga1iizations 1876 Alabama Association organized 1878 Georgia Association organized 1879 North Carolina Conference mmiddotganized 1881 First Youug Peoples Society of Christian Endeabullor fonnecl at Villiishy
ton Congregltttional Church Portland ire New est Edlcation Commission organizedmiddot united with American Education Society 1893
1882 Utah Association organized 1883 Declaration of Faith by a Creed Commission appointed hy the
National Council Florida and Mississippi associations and North Dakota Conference organized
Arizona and New Mexico Association an~] Montana Conference organized
1SSG P~middotnnsyh-mia tssltgtciation organized 1887 Arkansas and Southern Calipoundorni1 associations organized 1SS9 Vashington Agtsociation organired 1890 Gcor~ia Corwention and Oklahoma Association organilcd 1891 First International Congregational Council London Englind all
parts of the world bcing represcntell yoming Association organizd
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE Of Important Events In Congregational History
Since 1900
1913 Report of the Committee of Nineteen acted upon by National Council of Congregational Churches at Kansas City setting up a national system for the dispensing of benevolences and control of seven Missionary Societies
1923 A national magazine poll reportedly ascertained the 25 best preachers in the US indicating that 7 were Congregationalists a group of only 900000
1931 Congregational National Council merged with General Convention of the Christian Church into the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches
1934 Congregational Christian Churches absorbs the German Reformed Church
1938 Rev Samuel Press in cooperation with Rev Truman Douglas initiated church union with the Eva~elical and Reformed Church
1942 Commission on Inter-Church Relations and Christian Unity authorized to explore possibl~ union with the E and R Church
1943 First and second drafts of the Basis of Unionn completed and sent to associations and churches for their study
1947 The Evanston Meeting held by Congregationalists as an ad hoc committee of the concerned over the proposed merger--released statement charging that Basis of Union was an abandonment of Congregational tradition and principle
1948 Deadline for acceptance of Basis of Union passes without the required percentage approving--deadline extended to Jan 1949 middot
1949 Approval of Basis of Union continues to be under 75 but General Council passes it anyway Cadman Memorial Church brought legal action to prevent the union
1950 New ~c~k Supreme Court enjoined General Council from carrying out consummation of the proposed union with the E and R Church
1952 New York court reversed lower court decision on grounds that since no property was involved themiddoty had no jurisdiction
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
1953 Appeal of Cadman Memorial Church denied 1955 National Association of Congregational Christian
Churches organized~ 1956 NACCC adopted its Articles of Association and By-Laws 1957 Formation of the United Church of Christ by the
Pirst General Synod middot
1959 Commission on the ministry of the NA proposed that ordination of ministers by the local church be proclaimed valid on the basis of historic Congregationalprinciple
1961 UCC Constitution formally ratified NACCC declared itself to be the successor to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches
1962 UCC and NACCC made application for membeEhip in the International Congregational Council UCC admitted NACCC denied admission
1966 Seminar on the Nature and Future of the Free Church in Chicago offered alternatives to organizational ecumenicity Consultatiqn on Church Union (COCU) completed its middot blueprin~ for the Great American Church
CHRO~OLOGICAL TABLE538
1714 George I king of En~bnd
1716 Yale College located in New Haven 1pz Cutler rector o( Yale College and others became Episcopalians 1723 Increase ~father died 1725 Fini1 and unsuccessful effort of General Court of Massachusetts to
call a synod of churches 1727 Jonathan E~wards ordained colleague pastor at Northampton
George II king of England ljJ~ Cotton lather died 173 Revival of religion at Northampton 1738 George Whitefields first visit to America 171-o Whitefield visited Coston and other parts of New England 17j0-42 Great revival of religion in New England 17-tr Gilbert Tennent preached in Boston middot 17J2 John Davenport by his preaching made disturbances in Connecticut
and Massachusetts Separatist churches formed 1744-4 Whitefields second vi5it to New England 1750 Jonathan Edwards forced to leamiddote the Church at Northampton went
to Stockbridge a missionary to the Indians middot 17)7 Jonithan Edwards died middot 1762 First Church organized in Vennont at Bennington 1765 Stamp Act passed 1766 Stamp Act repealed 1769 Dartmouth College founded 1770 Samuel Hopkins sittled at Newport R I 1773 The Doston Tea Party 177) Commencement of War or the ReOlution 1778 Phillips Academy Andover founded Phillips Academy Exetershy
N H chartered 1781 178o lfassachusetts Bill of Rights enacted amended guaranteeing to
every denomination o( Christians equal protection i11 law 1834 middot 1782 James Fimiddoteeman chosen rector of Kings Chapel the church under
him became Unittrian 1783 End of the War of the Revolution 1784 Saybrook Pbtorm by remiddotision of statutes ceased to be cMl law in
Connecticut 1786 lIassachusetts was granted the right to purchase from the Indians
Western New York 1790 lIethodisrn first appears in 1fassachusctts Gra_nt or Vestem Reshy
senmiddote to Connecticut 1793 Williams College chartered 179-1-middot Ilowcloin College chartered 17)) The London lissiona1y Society instituted General Convention of
Congregational ministers and churches in Vermont organized 1796 F irst Con~rcgational church in Ohio at llarietla 1798 Connccicut fissionary Society formed
CH lW~OLOGICAL TAllLE S39
1799 )fassachusetts Missionary Society formed rSoo iliddlebury College founded 1801 Plan of Union ailopted botweeu the General Congregational Associashy
tion of Connecticut and the Genoral Assembly or the Presbyterian middotmiddot Church Congregational middotc1nirch organized in Quebec the first in
Lower middotcnada middot 1803 General Association of ilassachusetts ministers fomted Gtneral
Con(erence of churches 1S6o Union of Association and Confershyence 1868
1805 Henry Ware chose professor of divinity at Harvard First Sunday school in Cauacla organized in connection with Congregational chiuch in Quebec middot middot
1808 The first theological seminary opened at Andover Mass bullSo Park Street Church Iloston or~aniicd New Hampshire Associashy
tion and Rhode Island Consociation organized Muskingum (0) Association formed middot
1810 American Doard of Commissioners or Foreign Missions established by the General Aisociation of Massachusetts Dr Kirkland elected president ur Han middotard middot First Sunday school in ltassachushysttts ~t Ucn rl-
1815 Unitarianism avomd hy some tassachusetts Congregationalists 1816 American Education Society formed middotunited with Westem Coilege
Socictr in 1 87~ with Ncw est Education Commis~ion in 1893 Dan~or Theological Seminary began Rt1s011 N~cordtr began
1818 1ew constitution adopted hy the State of Connccticut making all re ligious associations purd Oluntary bull
1819 Congre~ational church organized at Southwold the first in Upper Crnada
1821 Amherst College founded middot 18 Theological department opened at Yale College 186 American Home issionary Society institutecf First State Confershy
ence of churches organized in Mai= 1831 Congregational Union or England and Wales organiied 183 l~assachusetts Sabbath-school Societr organized 1833 Declaration of Faith of the Congregational churches or Engbnd aml
Walts with Principles of Church Order and Discipline Oberlin college founclecl
1834 General Association of New York organized 1835 Illinois College founded 1837 Prcsbyteria11 General Jsscmhlr abrogated Pian of Union 1838 New School Prehyterian Chunh orgmizcll 1 S40 General Asso1iatio11 of Iowa anti isconsin Co1wention formed 18p Gencrtl ssmiatinn of l ithi~an Conned I s~ General Associati()ll of Ill inois formed 18~6 Convention of Western Co11grcgational churches at ~fichigan City
Mich American lissionary sociation organized bull
540 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
t8t7middot Beloit College founded 1848 Iowa College founded Oregon Association formed 1852 American General Convention of Congregational Chur~hes at Albany
N Y Encl of Plan of Union Ohio Association oigauized 1853 Congregational Churchbuilding Society formed middot 1855 Kansas Association organized 1856 Minnesota Association organized 1857 California and Nebraska associations organized 1858 Chicago Theological Seminary founded Indiana Association organmiddot
ized 186o Congregational College of British North America founded affiliated
with McGill Unimiddotersity Iontreal Canada 1864 1861 Beginning of Civil War 1865 Close of Cimiddotil War Missouri Association organized General
American Council of Congregational Churches Boston Burial Hill Declaration of Faith adopted
1867 Connecticut Conference organized 1868 Colorado Association organized 1869 New Jersey Association organizedmiddot 1870 Louisiana Association organized 1871 National Council established at Oberlin O for triennial meetings
South Dakota and Tennessee associations organized Congregational House Boston occupied by benemiddoto]ent societies and
other Congregational orga1iizations 1876 Alabama Association organized 1878 Georgia Association organized 1879 North Carolina Conference mmiddotganized 1881 First Youug Peoples Society of Christian Endeabullor fonnecl at Villiishy
ton Congregltttional Church Portland ire New est Edlcation Commission organizedmiddot united with American Education Society 1893
1882 Utah Association organized 1883 Declaration of Faith by a Creed Commission appointed hy the
National Council Florida and Mississippi associations and North Dakota Conference organized
Arizona and New Mexico Association an~] Montana Conference organized
1SSG P~middotnnsyh-mia tssltgtciation organized 1887 Arkansas and Southern Calipoundorni1 associations organized 1SS9 Vashington Agtsociation organired 1890 Gcor~ia Corwention and Oklahoma Association organilcd 1891 First International Congregational Council London Englind all
parts of the world bcing represcntell yoming Association organizd
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE Of Important Events In Congregational History
Since 1900
1913 Report of the Committee of Nineteen acted upon by National Council of Congregational Churches at Kansas City setting up a national system for the dispensing of benevolences and control of seven Missionary Societies
1923 A national magazine poll reportedly ascertained the 25 best preachers in the US indicating that 7 were Congregationalists a group of only 900000
1931 Congregational National Council merged with General Convention of the Christian Church into the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches
1934 Congregational Christian Churches absorbs the German Reformed Church
1938 Rev Samuel Press in cooperation with Rev Truman Douglas initiated church union with the Eva~elical and Reformed Church
1942 Commission on Inter-Church Relations and Christian Unity authorized to explore possibl~ union with the E and R Church
1943 First and second drafts of the Basis of Unionn completed and sent to associations and churches for their study
1947 The Evanston Meeting held by Congregationalists as an ad hoc committee of the concerned over the proposed merger--released statement charging that Basis of Union was an abandonment of Congregational tradition and principle
1948 Deadline for acceptance of Basis of Union passes without the required percentage approving--deadline extended to Jan 1949 middot
1949 Approval of Basis of Union continues to be under 75 but General Council passes it anyway Cadman Memorial Church brought legal action to prevent the union
1950 New ~c~k Supreme Court enjoined General Council from carrying out consummation of the proposed union with the E and R Church
1952 New York court reversed lower court decision on grounds that since no property was involved themiddoty had no jurisdiction
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
1953 Appeal of Cadman Memorial Church denied 1955 National Association of Congregational Christian
Churches organized~ 1956 NACCC adopted its Articles of Association and By-Laws 1957 Formation of the United Church of Christ by the
Pirst General Synod middot
1959 Commission on the ministry of the NA proposed that ordination of ministers by the local church be proclaimed valid on the basis of historic Congregationalprinciple
1961 UCC Constitution formally ratified NACCC declared itself to be the successor to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches
1962 UCC and NACCC made application for membeEhip in the International Congregational Council UCC admitted NACCC denied admission
1966 Seminar on the Nature and Future of the Free Church in Chicago offered alternatives to organizational ecumenicity Consultatiqn on Church Union (COCU) completed its middot blueprin~ for the Great American Church
CH lW~OLOGICAL TAllLE S39
1799 )fassachusetts Missionary Society formed rSoo iliddlebury College founded 1801 Plan of Union ailopted botweeu the General Congregational Associashy
tion of Connecticut and the Genoral Assembly or the Presbyterian middotmiddot Church Congregational middotc1nirch organized in Quebec the first in
Lower middotcnada middot 1803 General Association of ilassachusetts ministers fomted Gtneral
Con(erence of churches 1S6o Union of Association and Confershyence 1868
1805 Henry Ware chose professor of divinity at Harvard First Sunday school in Cauacla organized in connection with Congregational chiuch in Quebec middot middot
1808 The first theological seminary opened at Andover Mass bullSo Park Street Church Iloston or~aniicd New Hampshire Associashy
tion and Rhode Island Consociation organized Muskingum (0) Association formed middot
1810 American Doard of Commissioners or Foreign Missions established by the General Aisociation of Massachusetts Dr Kirkland elected president ur Han middotard middot First Sunday school in ltassachushysttts ~t Ucn rl-
1815 Unitarianism avomd hy some tassachusetts Congregationalists 1816 American Education Society formed middotunited with Westem Coilege
Socictr in 1 87~ with Ncw est Education Commis~ion in 1893 Dan~or Theological Seminary began Rt1s011 N~cordtr began
1818 1ew constitution adopted hy the State of Connccticut making all re ligious associations purd Oluntary bull
1819 Congre~ational church organized at Southwold the first in Upper Crnada
1821 Amherst College founded middot 18 Theological department opened at Yale College 186 American Home issionary Society institutecf First State Confershy
ence of churches organized in Mai= 1831 Congregational Union or England and Wales organiied 183 l~assachusetts Sabbath-school Societr organized 1833 Declaration of Faith of the Congregational churches or Engbnd aml
Walts with Principles of Church Order and Discipline Oberlin college founclecl
1834 General Association of New York organized 1835 Illinois College founded 1837 Prcsbyteria11 General Jsscmhlr abrogated Pian of Union 1838 New School Prehyterian Chunh orgmizcll 1 S40 General Asso1iatio11 of Iowa anti isconsin Co1wention formed 18p Gencrtl ssmiatinn of l ithi~an Conned I s~ General Associati()ll of Ill inois formed 18~6 Convention of Western Co11grcgational churches at ~fichigan City
Mich American lissionary sociation organized bull
540 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
t8t7middot Beloit College founded 1848 Iowa College founded Oregon Association formed 1852 American General Convention of Congregational Chur~hes at Albany
N Y Encl of Plan of Union Ohio Association oigauized 1853 Congregational Churchbuilding Society formed middot 1855 Kansas Association organized 1856 Minnesota Association organized 1857 California and Nebraska associations organized 1858 Chicago Theological Seminary founded Indiana Association organmiddot
ized 186o Congregational College of British North America founded affiliated
with McGill Unimiddotersity Iontreal Canada 1864 1861 Beginning of Civil War 1865 Close of Cimiddotil War Missouri Association organized General
American Council of Congregational Churches Boston Burial Hill Declaration of Faith adopted
1867 Connecticut Conference organized 1868 Colorado Association organized 1869 New Jersey Association organizedmiddot 1870 Louisiana Association organized 1871 National Council established at Oberlin O for triennial meetings
South Dakota and Tennessee associations organized Congregational House Boston occupied by benemiddoto]ent societies and
other Congregational orga1iizations 1876 Alabama Association organized 1878 Georgia Association organized 1879 North Carolina Conference mmiddotganized 1881 First Youug Peoples Society of Christian Endeabullor fonnecl at Villiishy
ton Congregltttional Church Portland ire New est Edlcation Commission organizedmiddot united with American Education Society 1893
1882 Utah Association organized 1883 Declaration of Faith by a Creed Commission appointed hy the
National Council Florida and Mississippi associations and North Dakota Conference organized
Arizona and New Mexico Association an~] Montana Conference organized
1SSG P~middotnnsyh-mia tssltgtciation organized 1887 Arkansas and Southern Calipoundorni1 associations organized 1SS9 Vashington Agtsociation organired 1890 Gcor~ia Corwention and Oklahoma Association organilcd 1891 First International Congregational Council London Englind all
parts of the world bcing represcntell yoming Association organizd
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE Of Important Events In Congregational History
Since 1900
1913 Report of the Committee of Nineteen acted upon by National Council of Congregational Churches at Kansas City setting up a national system for the dispensing of benevolences and control of seven Missionary Societies
1923 A national magazine poll reportedly ascertained the 25 best preachers in the US indicating that 7 were Congregationalists a group of only 900000
1931 Congregational National Council merged with General Convention of the Christian Church into the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches
1934 Congregational Christian Churches absorbs the German Reformed Church
1938 Rev Samuel Press in cooperation with Rev Truman Douglas initiated church union with the Eva~elical and Reformed Church
1942 Commission on Inter-Church Relations and Christian Unity authorized to explore possibl~ union with the E and R Church
1943 First and second drafts of the Basis of Unionn completed and sent to associations and churches for their study
1947 The Evanston Meeting held by Congregationalists as an ad hoc committee of the concerned over the proposed merger--released statement charging that Basis of Union was an abandonment of Congregational tradition and principle
1948 Deadline for acceptance of Basis of Union passes without the required percentage approving--deadline extended to Jan 1949 middot
1949 Approval of Basis of Union continues to be under 75 but General Council passes it anyway Cadman Memorial Church brought legal action to prevent the union
1950 New ~c~k Supreme Court enjoined General Council from carrying out consummation of the proposed union with the E and R Church
1952 New York court reversed lower court decision on grounds that since no property was involved themiddoty had no jurisdiction
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
1953 Appeal of Cadman Memorial Church denied 1955 National Association of Congregational Christian
Churches organized~ 1956 NACCC adopted its Articles of Association and By-Laws 1957 Formation of the United Church of Christ by the
Pirst General Synod middot
1959 Commission on the ministry of the NA proposed that ordination of ministers by the local church be proclaimed valid on the basis of historic Congregationalprinciple
1961 UCC Constitution formally ratified NACCC declared itself to be the successor to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches
1962 UCC and NACCC made application for membeEhip in the International Congregational Council UCC admitted NACCC denied admission
1966 Seminar on the Nature and Future of the Free Church in Chicago offered alternatives to organizational ecumenicity Consultatiqn on Church Union (COCU) completed its middot blueprin~ for the Great American Church
540 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
t8t7middot Beloit College founded 1848 Iowa College founded Oregon Association formed 1852 American General Convention of Congregational Chur~hes at Albany
N Y Encl of Plan of Union Ohio Association oigauized 1853 Congregational Churchbuilding Society formed middot 1855 Kansas Association organized 1856 Minnesota Association organized 1857 California and Nebraska associations organized 1858 Chicago Theological Seminary founded Indiana Association organmiddot
ized 186o Congregational College of British North America founded affiliated
with McGill Unimiddotersity Iontreal Canada 1864 1861 Beginning of Civil War 1865 Close of Cimiddotil War Missouri Association organized General
American Council of Congregational Churches Boston Burial Hill Declaration of Faith adopted
1867 Connecticut Conference organized 1868 Colorado Association organized 1869 New Jersey Association organizedmiddot 1870 Louisiana Association organized 1871 National Council established at Oberlin O for triennial meetings
South Dakota and Tennessee associations organized Congregational House Boston occupied by benemiddoto]ent societies and
other Congregational orga1iizations 1876 Alabama Association organized 1878 Georgia Association organized 1879 North Carolina Conference mmiddotganized 1881 First Youug Peoples Society of Christian Endeabullor fonnecl at Villiishy
ton Congregltttional Church Portland ire New est Edlcation Commission organizedmiddot united with American Education Society 1893
1882 Utah Association organized 1883 Declaration of Faith by a Creed Commission appointed hy the
National Council Florida and Mississippi associations and North Dakota Conference organized
Arizona and New Mexico Association an~] Montana Conference organized
1SSG P~middotnnsyh-mia tssltgtciation organized 1887 Arkansas and Southern Calipoundorni1 associations organized 1SS9 Vashington Agtsociation organired 1890 Gcor~ia Corwention and Oklahoma Association organilcd 1891 First International Congregational Council London Englind all
parts of the world bcing represcntell yoming Association organizd
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE Of Important Events In Congregational History
Since 1900
1913 Report of the Committee of Nineteen acted upon by National Council of Congregational Churches at Kansas City setting up a national system for the dispensing of benevolences and control of seven Missionary Societies
1923 A national magazine poll reportedly ascertained the 25 best preachers in the US indicating that 7 were Congregationalists a group of only 900000
1931 Congregational National Council merged with General Convention of the Christian Church into the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches
1934 Congregational Christian Churches absorbs the German Reformed Church
1938 Rev Samuel Press in cooperation with Rev Truman Douglas initiated church union with the Eva~elical and Reformed Church
1942 Commission on Inter-Church Relations and Christian Unity authorized to explore possibl~ union with the E and R Church
1943 First and second drafts of the Basis of Unionn completed and sent to associations and churches for their study
1947 The Evanston Meeting held by Congregationalists as an ad hoc committee of the concerned over the proposed merger--released statement charging that Basis of Union was an abandonment of Congregational tradition and principle
1948 Deadline for acceptance of Basis of Union passes without the required percentage approving--deadline extended to Jan 1949 middot
1949 Approval of Basis of Union continues to be under 75 but General Council passes it anyway Cadman Memorial Church brought legal action to prevent the union
1950 New ~c~k Supreme Court enjoined General Council from carrying out consummation of the proposed union with the E and R Church
1952 New York court reversed lower court decision on grounds that since no property was involved themiddoty had no jurisdiction
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
1953 Appeal of Cadman Memorial Church denied 1955 National Association of Congregational Christian
Churches organized~ 1956 NACCC adopted its Articles of Association and By-Laws 1957 Formation of the United Church of Christ by the
Pirst General Synod middot
1959 Commission on the ministry of the NA proposed that ordination of ministers by the local church be proclaimed valid on the basis of historic Congregationalprinciple
1961 UCC Constitution formally ratified NACCC declared itself to be the successor to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches
1962 UCC and NACCC made application for membeEhip in the International Congregational Council UCC admitted NACCC denied admission
1966 Seminar on the Nature and Future of the Free Church in Chicago offered alternatives to organizational ecumenicity Consultatiqn on Church Union (COCU) completed its middot blueprin~ for the Great American Church
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE Of Important Events In Congregational History
Since 1900
1913 Report of the Committee of Nineteen acted upon by National Council of Congregational Churches at Kansas City setting up a national system for the dispensing of benevolences and control of seven Missionary Societies
1923 A national magazine poll reportedly ascertained the 25 best preachers in the US indicating that 7 were Congregationalists a group of only 900000
1931 Congregational National Council merged with General Convention of the Christian Church into the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches
1934 Congregational Christian Churches absorbs the German Reformed Church
1938 Rev Samuel Press in cooperation with Rev Truman Douglas initiated church union with the Eva~elical and Reformed Church
1942 Commission on Inter-Church Relations and Christian Unity authorized to explore possibl~ union with the E and R Church
1943 First and second drafts of the Basis of Unionn completed and sent to associations and churches for their study
1947 The Evanston Meeting held by Congregationalists as an ad hoc committee of the concerned over the proposed merger--released statement charging that Basis of Union was an abandonment of Congregational tradition and principle
1948 Deadline for acceptance of Basis of Union passes without the required percentage approving--deadline extended to Jan 1949 middot
1949 Approval of Basis of Union continues to be under 75 but General Council passes it anyway Cadman Memorial Church brought legal action to prevent the union
1950 New ~c~k Supreme Court enjoined General Council from carrying out consummation of the proposed union with the E and R Church
1952 New York court reversed lower court decision on grounds that since no property was involved themiddoty had no jurisdiction
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
1953 Appeal of Cadman Memorial Church denied 1955 National Association of Congregational Christian
Churches organized~ 1956 NACCC adopted its Articles of Association and By-Laws 1957 Formation of the United Church of Christ by the
Pirst General Synod middot
1959 Commission on the ministry of the NA proposed that ordination of ministers by the local church be proclaimed valid on the basis of historic Congregationalprinciple
1961 UCC Constitution formally ratified NACCC declared itself to be the successor to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches
1962 UCC and NACCC made application for membeEhip in the International Congregational Council UCC admitted NACCC denied admission
1966 Seminar on the Nature and Future of the Free Church in Chicago offered alternatives to organizational ecumenicity Consultatiqn on Church Union (COCU) completed its middot blueprin~ for the Great American Church
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
1953 Appeal of Cadman Memorial Church denied 1955 National Association of Congregational Christian
Churches organized~ 1956 NACCC adopted its Articles of Association and By-Laws 1957 Formation of the United Church of Christ by the
Pirst General Synod middot
1959 Commission on the ministry of the NA proposed that ordination of ministers by the local church be proclaimed valid on the basis of historic Congregationalprinciple
1961 UCC Constitution formally ratified NACCC declared itself to be the successor to the former General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches
1962 UCC and NACCC made application for membeEhip in the International Congregational Council UCC admitted NACCC denied admission
1966 Seminar on the Nature and Future of the Free Church in Chicago offered alternatives to organizational ecumenicity Consultatiqn on Church Union (COCU) completed its middot blueprin~ for the Great American Church
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