Christ Episcopal Church

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Parish History

Since its beginnings in 1747, Christ Episcopal Church has occupied a unique place in Norwich. A short history of the parish covering our first 250 years is available here with an excerpt displayed below.

On January 7, 1747, a meeting, moderated by Mr. Punderson, was called. Here it was voted to "Build a Church for the Worship of Almighty God, according to the Litergie of the Church of England." Captain Benijah Bushnell promptly offered a piece of land at the foot of Weewaucus Hill [the site of the present church]. The following year, for "the consideration of five shillings", Captain Bushnell conveyed the land to the Parish. Money was raised by subscription in the town and by collections in the Narragansett Plantation (Rhode Island) by the Rev. Mr. Punderson and in Boston Captain Bushnell.

On April 1, 1748, Abner Armstrong, carpenter, was commissioned" to frame said church, to hew sleepers, to board and shingle the roof, to make scaffolds, to clapboard, to board the walls, and to lay the under floor." Upon completion, he received one hundred and twenty pounds about six hundred dollars. In 1749, the small, clapboarded building, measuring thirty-six by forty-two feet, and containing thirty-one box pews, was completed. It was almost Spartan in its simplicity, boasting neither porch nor spire. The interior walls were unplastered and the windows were narrow, of clear glass, and Gothic in design.

Church Building & Grounds

Christ Episcopal Church Nave and Chancel Windows

Christ Church, now Christ Episcopal Church, replaced chancel and aisle nave windows in 1962 following an explosion that occurred in the area. The rear aisle nave windows, the Annunciation and the Resurrection, which provided two significant events in the life of Christ, remained in tact. The new windows continued the theme of events in the life of Christ while deriving their style from the Byzantine Romanesque, the earliest Christian art.

Nave widows, that were preserved, reflect the Renaissance period when artists were concerned with realism, originality, perspective, new poses and lighting effects. Models for ideal human beings were classical pagan Greek sculptures or human beings. Composition required judgment and criticism. Subject matter, when Christian had the power or emotion not spirit.

By contrast, the Byzantine style tells the life of Christ without concern for perspective or persuasiveness. Color, fluent lines, intuitive design and filled spaces are important. Figures are monumental with no suggestion of a body beneath the garments. Gestures have no animation. These stylized figures are intended to be universal and symbolic, not portraits of individuals. The power of Byzantine art is spiritual, not emotional.

The chancel windows were designed with the new liturgy in mind, a liturgy which made the altar the center of worship.

"The use of faceted glass in the chancel, rather than leaded as in the nave, cuts down on the intensity of the light, which would be distraction, while maintaining that purity of color which gives these windows their richness." Reverend David O. Cowles

Learn more about all our church windows in the Christ Episcopal Church Windows (Nave and Chancel) booklet. This booklet provides illustrations of all windows, their history and placement around our church.

The Graveyard

The land that the Christ Episcopal Church stands on was originally used as a graveyard. The present church building occupies the site of the first church building. The churchyard is preserved, but the head and foot stones which formerly indicated the graves of departed members were long since removed and placed in the cellar of the church, where they are cemented into the walls and flooring. This underground room is dark and gloomy, and searchers have difficulty in deciphering the inscriptions, all of which are reproduced in the document [pdf] available here.

The Episcopal Church

Early history of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut

Excerpt below is from "Chapter XXX, Episcopal Church and Society". The rest of the document [pdf] is available here.

The year 1722 is the date given to the existence of Episcopacy as an order, in Connecticut, though it was first introduced by the Rev. Mr. Muirson, a missionary from the" Society for propagating the Gospel in foreign parts," at Stratford, in 1706. An Episcopal church was established at New London, in 1725, principally through the exertions of the Rev. Matthew Graves, who may also be considered as the founder of the churches in Norwich and Hebron. This gentleman was a missionary from the "Society for promoting Christian Knowledge," formed at London in 1698. It is not known how his acquaintance with Mr. Grist of Norwich, commenced, but he frequently visited him. Gradually, and at first, privately, a little band of ten or a dozen persons were collected on such occasions, among whom the ordinances of the church were administered.

What is an Episcopalian? What is an Anglican?

Anglicans — also known in some places as Episcopalians — are Christians who practice their faith in the context of the 38 autonomous member churches, or provinces, of the Anglican Communion. The Communion has 77 million members worldwide in 164 countries.

The Episcopal Church in the United States of America is one of these provinces, with 2.4 million members in 112 dioceses, or geographic regions.

Anglicans and Episcopalians come from many different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Anglicans are known for welcoming diversity of opinion and inquiry.

Episcopalian and Anglican clergy are men and women who are ordained as bishops (after being elected in local dioceses), priests and deacons. Many clergy have spouses while others are single.

The Episcopal Church is democratic in nature and structure. Church members, or laity, often hold leadership positions. They can be elected to local parish vestries (or boards of directors), or as deputies to General Convention, the Episcopal Church's bicameral legislative structure.

Anglicans and Episcopalians practice a faith that is liturgically and theologically a bridge between Catholicism and Protestant traditions. Anglicans and Episcopalians value a balance of scripture, reason and tradition as defined by 16th-century English theologian Richard Hooker.

Please stop by our church and meet our parish members. Let us see if we can help meet your or your family's needs. Our Sunday morning coffee hour is a relaxing time to chat and socialize — and enjoy some tasty pastries, too. See you at coffee hour!