Woodward Chapel

As the territory that would become known as New England began to populate with settlers from Europe, they brought with them their religious beliefs. For the large portion of the new immigrants that meant the Anglican or Church of England - what is now known as Episcopalian. Settlements began to spring up all around, but much of the population lived in rural settings far from the closest town.

By the early 1700s, the area known as Westbury - now Watertown - was one such emerging small town. For practitioners of the Episocpal faith, the trip to nearby Waterbury had to be made. This was especially difficult in winter with the lack of paved roads and travel by carriage, horseback, or on foot.

In 1738, a meetinghouse was established in Northbury - now Plymouth - but most congregants continued to favor St. James’ Church in Waterbury - now St. John’s. Missionaries were sent from England to help serve small communities and in 1759, the Rev. James Scovill returned after his ordination in England. A graduate of Yale University and classmate of John Trumbull, Rev. Scovill would come to Westbury every six weeks to preach. By 1765, the 21 families here established the first church and named it Christ Church. It was located on the corner of French and Main Streets across from the Old Burying Grounds on land donated by Capt. George Nichols. In 2021, the site is occupied by Travers Tire Outlet. The wooden structure measured 45 feet by 36 feet. The congregation grew, and by 1771, Rev. Scovill was allowed to visit every third Sunday.

During this time, the mood of the country was changing and there was talk of revolution. Rev. Scovill was a strong Tory and this was increasingly a more unpopular stand in patriotic Connecticut. The Church of England had no Bishops in the Colonies. To be ordained, one had to sail to England - a perilous sea journey - and once there, the ceremony included an oath of allegiance to the King of England. The oath was to the King as head of the Church of England, not as the sovereign. But upon his return to Westbury, Rev. Scovill was treated with suspicion. Ministers were watched very closely and often placed “on limits” - what we would now call house arrest. While they were allowed to preach, visits to sick parishioners were only done with permission. Church windows were broken and clerics were ridiculed. Many ministers found this to be too much and they headed for Canada, England or left the ministry altogether and took up farming or business. Rev. Scovill ultimately left for New Brunswick. The church found itself without a minister for five year.

With the conclusion of the Revolution War, things began to settle down. Westbury was now Watertown. The church was known as the Episocopal Church, abandoning mention of England in its name. In 1787, Christ Church made an agreement with Northbury to share a minister between the two churches. Rev. Chancey Prindle was selected for the post with a compensation of 30 pounds to be paid in marketable produce. In 1792, the decision was made to move up the hill from Main Street. A new wooden church, measuring 54 feet by 43 feet, was built at the north end of the green. Bishop Samuel Seabury consecrated the church in 1794. The church continued to grow.

By 1802, a vote was taken at a Society meeting to increase Rev. Prindle’s salary to forty-five pounds and give him 20 cords of wood. Rev. Prindle was loved by all in the parish, but by 1804, he left. For a year there was no minister. On December 2, 1805, Rev. Russell Wheeler accepted the ministry at a salary of $400 a year, ¾ of which could be paid in marketable produce. In 1807, Rev. Wheeler requested a parsonage house be erected one year from theat date for his use. A house formerly owned by Rev. Prindle was purchased. The Rev. Wheeler lived there until his resignation in 1814. The following year, the Rev. Frederick Holcomb was elected to serve both Northfield and Watertown with Watertown getting three fifths of his time. In 1832, Rev. Holcomb severed his connection with Northfield and devoted all his time to Watertown. This continued until 1839 when he resigned due to ill health. Rev. Holbcomb recuperated and was called back in 1845, serving until 1849 when his health failed yet again. During his second ministry, the Academy was built and originally served as a parish house and school.