Potapoug Quarter, originally part of Saybrook, established its own church, Saybrook’s Second Ecclesiastical Society, in 1722 in the area of Center Saybrook, now called Centerbrook. A church, built in 1724, was renovated in 1757. The current Centerbrook Congregational Church was built in 1790-1792 and the old building was sold to Capt. Benjamin Williams and moved to the Williams family’s wharf. In 1839, the current church underwent major renovations, including the construction of a new steeple and the rotation of the originally west-facing building to face south. The adjacent Essex Borough established a separate Congregational church in 1851; the following year became part of the new town of Old Saybrook; and in 1854 became a separate town of Essex. In 1859, Centerbrook, with its much earlier church, and West Centerbrook (Ivoryton) became part of the town of Essex.
Do you have any information on the First Congregational church in
Essex on 6 Methodist Hill? Also what year did a hurricane destroy the
steeple?
Please email me a pic of the First Congregational church located at
6 Method Hill that shows the steeple before its destruction ( by a
hurricaine )as we are tol. That is, if you can locate a picture.
I don’t have access to a picture of that, but you could try contacting the church directly or the Essex Historical Society.