The great advantage in dealing with the history of a parish which is only one hundred years old, is that we are apt to be on surer ground when we attempt to determine the details of its origin, to ascertain the facts which gave rise to its being. We have emerged from the mist and uncertainty of the distant past and are standing in the clearer light, where things are seen in sharper outline.

This parish had its beginning, as an organization, in the decade between 1840 and 1850, and does not, therefore, have the glamor, if we may use that word, of colonial, or post-revolutionary days. But its history is none the less important on that account, and none the less deserves to be told.

When we are thinking of the beginnings of our Church here in Connecticut we know quite well whence our constituency came, we know who were ultimately welded into a definite and compact organization. They were the people of the mother land, Church of England people, who were scattered all through jour country-side. And in their hearts, though they were far from home, and long absent from it, there burned an undying love for the Mother Church.

They had no regular leaders, perhaps, but when they could and as they could, the smoldering embers were stirred into life and kept alive by itinerant missionaries. They were few and gave valiant service, and to them many of our parishes owe the first planting of the seed, which in time bore abundant harvest. There was a godly young missionary here in Litchfield County, who may or may not have touched any part of Torrington, but it is evident, from what he himself says, that his mission must have included “the parishes of Litchfield, New Preston, New Milford, Roxbury, New Fairfield, and Sharon, together with occasional services in Washington, Kent, Woodbury, Cornwall, Salisbury, and Great Barrington, ‘which’, says he, ‘I must perform, if I would preserve and second the growth of the religion and worship of the Church of England, which I hope to see flourish even in the wilds of America.’” It is hard to think that he could move around that much in the County and not touch Torrington at some point. His name was Thomas Davies, and perhaps it is not surprising, in view of that record of missionary effort, that he died at the age of twenty-nine.

Now it was by such missionaries as he that the loyalty of the Church of England people was nurtured, so that when the time came, and they saw that it did come, there was the nucleus of a parish organization, which soon had its building in which to worship, and which was to be the center, so far as they were concerned, of the religious life of the community. That, very briefly, is the story of the beginning of most of our older parishes here in Connecticut.

I said that Trinity Church had its origin in the decade between 1840 and 1850. If we turn to the Journal of the Convention of the Diocese we shall find that there are eighteen parishes in the Diocese which came into existence in that period. Trinity Church, Torrington, is surpassed in its communicant strength, by only one of that number, and that is, Manchester, and by only three in its financial strength, and they are, St. Paul’s, New Haven, St. John’s, Hartford, and St. Thomas’, New Haven. But perhaps this is of little significance. It merely shows where Trinity Church stands in its relation to the other members of its group at the moment.

It is always a matter of interest to me, when I am trying to write about a parish, to learn the origin of its name. That is easy in the case of Torrington. In May 1732 it received that name from Torrington in Devonshire, England. There was a Great Torrington and a Little Torrington on either side of the river Torridge, but all difficulties on that score were avoided here by just calling it Torrington. You could be Great or Little as you chose, so long as you were Torrington.

A word further on the secular side of this history. As is the case with so many of our towns there are villages within the towns. In Torrington there was the village of Wolcottville, and the parish bore that name until 1883, when it became Torrington, and is so known among the parishes of the Diocese. This is not to be confused with the town of Wolcott to the east of Waterbury, where we once had a church, but which long since joined the list of defunct parishes. Both of these places take their name from Gov. Oliver Wolcott. It is a pleasure for us Episcopalians to come across his name in the history, not that he was an Episcopalian, however, but it was with his election in 1817, and the adoption of the new State Constitution, that easier days dawned for us. The success at the polls of the Toleration Party broke the grip of the Congregational Standing Order, and ushered in a new era in the civil and political history of Connecticut. Some able Churchmen were brought to the surface in that election, and henceforth Churchmen were to have larger and freer action in the affairs of the State. Governor Wolcott continued in office for ten years, from 1817 to 1827.

Wolcottville was so called, according to the historian, John W. Barber, because a woolen factory was established there in 1813, one of the principal owners of which was Gov. Wolcott. But enough for secular history, which may properly claim this passing reference.

The first rector of the parish was the Rev. Henry Zell. Let me say a word about him. Always the man who is in at the beginning, who helps to set things in motion, deserves, if only for that reason, some recognition. He was a native of Philadelphia, and received his secular education there. Graduating from the General Theological Seminary in 1835 he was ordered Deacon by Bishop George Washington Doane of New Jersey, July 10th, 1835. After doing missionary work in that Diocese he came to Connecticut and took charge of the ancient parish of Harwinton, and in connection with that he held services at Wolcottville, where a church was built, and the parish organized under his ministry. He was one of those quiet godly men, faithful to the last degree, doing splendid work for the Master, a true servant of the Lord. He later went to Redding in Connecticut, and died there November 25th, 1863.

His first report to the Bishop has a few facts of interest, and we can not do better than let him give them. He says:—”On my removal into this diocese in June 1842, I commenced preaching in this flourishing village (Wolcottville) on every fourth Sunday, which arrangement continued till Easter, 1843, since which my time has been equally divided between Harwinton and Wolcottville. About twelve years ago, Episcopal services were held for a short period in this place, not long enough however to lead to a knowledge of the excellencies of the Liturgy, or the catholicity, and antiquity of the rites, ceremonies and doctrines of the Church, so that I found it necessary to make an effort to build up a congregation from those who were almost entire strangers to our mode of worship; and I have reason to believe that the blessing of God has rested on my exertions. A Parish has been organized under the name of ‘Trinity Church, Wolcottville;’ the attendance on public worship is good; a laudable zeal is manifested by the vestry and members of the Society, and it is to be hoped that before long, a neat house of prayer may be erected.”

That he might not seem to be loitering and wasting his time, he reports that he had temporary charge of Union Church, Hitchcocksville, from June 1842, till Easter, 1843. And then in addition to the above regular Sunday services, “I have lectured,” he says, “on week days, and Sunday evenings, in Harwinton, sixty times—Wolcottville, ten times— old Episcopal Church, Barkhamsted Centre, twice— Avon, once—New Hartford, once—Winsted, in the Methodist meeting house, once.” If that part of Litchfield County did not learn about the Episcopal Church, it was not Mr. Zell’s fault.

In his report just quoted he expressed the hope that before long “a neat house of prayer may be erected.” His hope was very soon to be realized, for in his next report he was able to say that the corner stone of a new house of worship was laid on the 8th of May, 1844, by the Rev. Dr. Frederick Holcomb. Dr. Holcomb was a venerable presbyter of the Diocese, and at that time the rector of Northfield, and later the rector of Watertown.

The response of the people, and of friends elsewhere, was so fine that the rector jubilantly announces that “they will be able to erect a neat and commodious house of prayer, which will in all respects, meet the wants of the flourishing village where it is located, without being burdened with debt.” He lists a number of substantial gifts of money, and in addition to these, he states that John C. Thatcher, Esq., of New York City, has presented two chandeliers ta the church, which originally cost $200.

And now we see the new parish organized, and the church built, under the intelligent and vigorous leadership of Mr. Zell. The parish was ready to go forward, and that has always been its attitude. It reported about fifty families at this time. Mr. Zell was a bit optimistic when he said that there would be no burden of debt. Probably he had in mind a debt that would be a burden. A debt is not unknown to churches. It is an evidence of faith, as well as an incentive to work. In this case there was a debt of about $1100, which, however, was very soon liquidated. Mr. Zell was not a man to lie down under it, nor was he the least bit selfish in retaining for his own parish, and the region round about, the privilege of aiding in removing that debt. He was willing to share that privilege with others, and he seemed to know how to get the money.

On December 4th, 1844, the church was consecrated by the Bishop of the Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Thomas Church Brownell, and the rector in his parochial report says:— “For the aid which we obtained to complete the work, we feel under great obligations to our brethren in different parts of the Diocese, and we trust that “the day is not far distant, when, besides supporting the institutions of religion among ourselves, we may have the ability and disposition to give something to the needy.” Sincerely and well spoken.

Mr. Zell resigned the rectorship of the parish Easter-Monday, 1848, after a ministry there of six years, going first to the parish in Bethany. On Easter, 1849, the Rev. David P. Sanford took charge of the parish, after it had been without a rector for the better part of a year. Mr. Sanford was a Connecticut man, a graduate of Trinity College in the class of 1844. He was ordered Deacon by Bishop Brownell, August 8th, 1845. The thing happened here which always happens when a church remains vacant any length of time. Mr. Sanford in his report gives us an inkling of the situation, as it was when he took hold. He says:—”A combination of trying circumstances has checked the growth of this young Church, but a brighter day seems begun.”

He remained only about a year, and on the third Sunday after Easter, 1850, the Rev. J. Downing Berry took temporary charge. In his report to the Bishop he pays the parish this compliment, which may have reference to some particular act of generosity, but more likely to their generosity in general. “This Parish,” he says, “for great pecuniary sacrifice is worthy of imitation, and deserves, as its energy under God, will secure, prosperity and numerical strength.”

There are now evidences of an increase in population in the village, it was 1916, an increase which, in his judgment, promises more permanency and success than in former years, and warrants a resident clergyman, who, he believes, “can be sustained with the help of some Missionary aid.”

He was followed by the Rev. J. S. Covell, who took charge of the parish in August 1851, and became the rector. It was still the day of small things with the parish, fifty-six families, thirty-one communicants. It is interesting to trace the advance of a great strong parish like this, to note the discouragements mastered, the seeming defeats, which, in reality, are steps forward to victory. The parish, to which things come not too easily, is the parish that strikes its roots deep down into the soil and brings forth its fruit in abundance.

In his report for 1854 Mr. Covell says that the parish was still in debt about $700. But he also reports commendable efforts to reduce it, which, it would seem, were quite worth while, certainly in view of the condition of the people, who, as he says, are for the most part poor, and that the burden rests upon a very few. Four hundred dollars were paid off, as well as the interest on the notes. And in his next report he was able to say that the debt had been cancelled.

Mr. Covell was succeeded by the Rev. Ezra Jones, whose first report stated that the parish was entirely free from debt, but that it still had trials and hindrances of its own to contend against. Rare would be the parish which did not have.

Mr. Jones was followed by the Rev. James Morton, who also had charge of Harwinton. In his report for 1858, he says:—”This Church, situated in a village which has suffered much under the difficulties and depression of the past fall and winter, remains without a rector for the present.” There is the devastating thing which happens to every parish great or small. Only one thing is worse, and that is the frequent changing of rectors. But this is a drawback which, for obvious reasons, is difficult to overcome.

On the 10th of October 1858, we find Mr, Covell returning to the parish as rector. This always seems to me to speak well both for the clergyman and the parish. The fact that the parish is willing to have him back and that he is willing to go back, suggests that the relation in the first place was so satisfactory that they are glad to make the experiment a second time. In his first report he says that there has been a gradual increase of interest in all the affairs of the parish, and that “a spirit of inquiry is at work among the people, and they seem more willing to learn the principles and ways of the Church.” It is in this spirit of optimism that he begins his second rectorship. That terminated October 1st, 1863.

The parish seemed to like its old rectors, for Mr. Covell was followed by the Rev. David P. Sanford, who, bade in 1849, had served as the second rector. He was a man of ability, a good preacher, a conscientious worker, and the parish prospered under his ministrations. The number of families had now risen to seventy-five. In his report for 1866 he says that the “prosperity of the Church at Wolcottville is at present more decided and encouraging than at any former period. It is now for the first time self-supporting—is entirely free from debt. A subscription for putting the church edifice in thorough repaid, already amounting to $2,300, has been raised within the Cure.”

“The Parish continues,” he goes on to say in his report for 1867, “to improve in all the elements of efficiency,” and the figures seem to warrant him in that confident assertion. The people had given freely, and as he somewhat naively says, without resort to any of the fashionable modes for ‘giving without feeling it’. “The church edifice, from being inconvenient, leaky and shabby, is now neat, convenient, and in perfect order.” And the number of families had risen to eighty-five. In addition to his parish work, the rector has a boarding and day school numbering twenty-three pupils. That was done in those days, perhaps more than it is now, to eke out the salary.

But just when all these evidences of prosperity were at their height, Mr. Sanford resigned. It was a blow to the parish, for, as Dr. Bailey says, he was “greatly beloved by his people, and universal sorrow followed his departure.”

His successor was the Rev. Benjamin Eastwood, who was ordained by Bishop Williams in 1863. His rectorship marks one step forward in the life of the garish, for in his report for 1870 he says:—”The reason we have not contributed for objects outside the parish, is that we have purchased a rectory at the expense of $4,000, which has taxed our energies and means to the utmost limit.” For a parish to acquire a home for its rector is always a step forward:

The Rev. Henry B. Ensworth served the parish for the year 1874, and upon his departure the parish was without a rector until 1876, when the Rev. Henry M. Sherman began his rectorship of fourteen years, the first really substantial rectorship, I mean substantial in its duration. The parish had struggled along under the handicap of frequent changes in the rectorship,-”but now it is to experience the advantage of a ministry which is to continue unbroken for nearly a decade and a half.

Mr. Sherman was Connecticut born and bred, a graduate of Berkeley Divinity school, ordained both Deacon and Priest by Bishop Williams. He was a man of parts, and held high office in the Diocese. He was a member of the Standing Committee for six years, a Deputy to the General Convention in 1886, Archdeacon of Litchfield from 1883 to 1890, and of Fairfield from 1895 to 1898. Under his guidance the parish grew, in no startling manner, but all along the line there was progress. When he took charge there were one hundred and five families and one hundred and twelve communicants. When he left there were one hundred and forty-five families and one hundred and ninety-five communicants. As I said, there is nothing startling about this, and because there isn’t, we can accept the accuracy of the figures. One who has been in the ministry as long as I have is apt to regard big figures with suspicion. The parish is just beginning to feel the impetus of the town’s growth. In 1870 the population was 2,893, in 1890 it was 6,048. It had gotten a good start towards becoming the thriving city it is today, a city of 27,000 lacking two.

Mr. Sherman did much to reorganize and revitalize the parish. There were numerous physical improvements. One in particular struck my, eye, the removal of the stoves and the substitution of a steam heating system. That interested me, because it carried me back to the church of my own boyhood days, which was heated by stoves, with pipes on either side running the full length of the church. They had the coal trust beaten to a frazzle, and as for strikes, who cared about them? There may not have been coal out there in the hills, but on them there was wood. However, convenience and the aesthetic sense required the change, and it was made at this time.

Until the year 1883, the parish appears in the alphabetical list of the parishes of the Diocese as Wolcottville. Then it very properly and conveniently assumes the name of the town, and Wolcottville disappears from the picture.

On September 1st, 1890, Mr. Sherman resigned the rectorship of the parish, and accepted a call to St. Paul’s Church, Bridgeport, the city of his birth. He was succeded by the Rev. Melville K. Bailey, who remained with the parish for four years. It was in his rectorship that the parish commemorated its fiftieth anniversary, an occasion which he seized upon to tell most interestingly the story of its first half-century of existence. In his report to the Bishop in 1893, he lists a number of handsome gifts received for the enrichment of the parish, the removal of a mortgage on the rectory, and an addition to the church lot. All this is preliminary to the long stride forward which the parish is soon to make. Dr. Bailey is living in retirement at Old Saybrook, and among other interests is exercising his literary tastes as Editorial Secretary of the Church Missions Publishing Company, an organization responsible for numerous biographical and historical monographs.

Mr. Bailey was succeeded by the Rev. J. Chauncey Linsley, who began his rectorship July 1, 1895. He had come over from the historic parish in Woodbury, historic, because in the rectory of that parish, better known to us, perhaps, as the Glebe House, Samuel Seabury was elected the first Bishop of Connecticut, and the first Bishop in the United States. I never miss the opportunity of bringing out that fact, because it is one of which loyal Connecticut Churchmen, and it ought not to be confined to Connecticut Churchmen, have reason to be proud.

My long acquaintance with, and admiration for, Mr. Linsley, he will be Doctor in due time, will tend to betray me into superlatives which may offend good taste. However, the truth must be told, even if his own sweet modesty would dictate that we pass it by. He is a product of Connecticut, born in Huntington down in Fairfield County, and in Connecticut all his ministry has been spent.

The Diocese has honored him in about every way it could; five times a Deputy to the General Convention, member of the Standing Committee for twenty-one years, and its President for seven years. And then to make sure of giving full measure it elected him Suffragan Bishop in 1912, which election he declined, because of a certain technical point for which he was in no way responsible, and which in no way vitiated the election. The point never should have been raised. But you and I know Dr. Linsley.

Now all these personal facts are an essential part of your parochial history, for always the honors which come to a rector come to the parish. When Mr. Linsley assumed charge of the church there were two hundred tend ninety-five communicants and one hundred and eighty-four families. When he resigned there were 1,012 communicants. There were great things waiting him to be done, the greatest, of course, the erection of a church adequate in size and dignity to a rapidly growing parish in a rapidly growing town.

In 1900 the population was over1 12,000, more than twice the number of the preceding census. Under the enthusiastic leadership of the new rector on June 28, 1903, this stately and beautiful church was consecrated by Bishop Brewster, and by our Canon law that meant that it was wholly free from debt.

But neither the rector nor the parish had any thought of stopping here. A parish house was needed, and on January 17, 1909, the rector had the satisfaction of dedicating the new parish house, the second unit in this grand plant. There was yet another unit needed, and it came in 1918, the rectory. And so Dr. Linsley, I told you he would be Doctor in due time—he was in 1916 by the grace of St. Stephen’s College—saw the fulfillment of his plans, and here in Torrington we have today one of the largest and finest church plants in the Diocese.

After a rectorship of thirty-two years, in 1927 Dr. Linsley resigned. It was one of the many long rectorships which have marked our Church in Connecticut. They are the evidence of the truth of that familiar characterization of the old State, as “The land of steady habits.”

Following him came the Rev. Henry Francis Hine, who though not born in Connecticut, nor even in the United States, yet had the good fortune to be born in England. Of him I could speak at length, but I could say nothing in his relation to the parish which you do not “know better than I do. Suffice it to say, that he is carrying on the fine work of his predecessor, bent upon keeping Trinity Church, Torrington, with your help of course, one of the leading parishes of the Diocese.

“With your help, of course.” On that note I would end my sermon. No parish history is complete without some record of, or reference to, the splendid men and women, who, through the years, have constituted its working force. I am not qualified to speak specifically along this line, but I know, as we all do, that this parish has had its full quota of godly laymen and laywomen, who have labored to put the parish where it is, for fine as their rectors have been, yet, after all, a rector can do little if back of him there are not those who with their enthusiasm and energy and wise counsel are spurring him on with their encouragement and help.

And what you have been in the past you must be in the future. The hundred years that have gone have been years of hard climbing, but you have reached the upper levels. What of the years to come? Aye, what of the years to come? With no little foreboding one asks that question, as he contemplates the hideous forces which have been unleashed and now are wantonly working destruction everywhere, would even destroy the finer forces of culture and religion, and replace them with a mechanized efficiency, soulless and sinister, soulless and sinister because without God.

Well, the Christian has an answer for that, every group of Christians like this has an answer for it, and it is that in the long run the forces of good are stronger than the forces of evil, the forces of God are stronger than the forces of the devil. We must believe that, and act as if we believed it, or else there is little hope for the world, little hope for mankind. It may seem at times, as indeed it does now, as if the forces of evil were gaining. But that is only seeming. As regards the forces of good may we not apply those lines of Arthur Hugh Clough, as descriptive of the real progress of those forces—

“For while the tired waves, vainly breaking,
Seem here no painful inch to gain,
Far back, through creeks and inlets making,
Comes silent, flooding in, the main.”?

Is it not true that in that way God and good are working, and that in the end they will surely win? Brethren, may the story of your next one hundred years be as fine as the story of the one hundred years; just passed, and it will be, I am certain, if you are true to your parish and to your God, true to your parish because true to your God.