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The Presbyterian Church

The first Presbyterian church in Farmington was organized at the house of Amos Mead, on the 13th of August, 1826. The original members were Seth A. L. Warner and wife, Mrs. Stevens and her daughter, Mrs. Charity Walker, Miss Polly Thayer, - afterwards Mrs. Francis Courter, - Deacon Erastus Ingersoll, Mrs. Cynthia M. Collins, wife of George W. Collins, Mrs. Gould, and Amos Mead, Esq.

Before this time the Rev. Isaac W. Ruggles, of Pontiac, had occasionally preached to them, sometimes at one and sometimes at another of their dwellings, and it was chiefly through his efforts and influence that the little band had crystallized into a church organization.

In the spring of 1827, Rev. E. Prince became their pastor, and labored with them for several years. About the time of his coming a Sabbath-school was commenced under the superintendency of Harman Steel, and proved to be a powerful auxillary to the church. Worship continued to be held at private houses, or in the old log school- house on the northeast corner of section 18, until the year 1833, when they built and completed a neat frame church upon the extreme southeast corner of section 18. Deacon Ingersoll was very instrumental not only in procuring its erection, but in determining its location. It was dedicated in the autumn of that year with appropriate ceremonies, conducted by the pastor, Mr. Prince, assisted by Rev. Mr. Cleveland. Mr. Prince's successor in the pastorate was Rev. George Eastman, after whom came Rev. Mr. Bridgman, under whose ministry the church saw prosperity and increase.

After some years the location of the church came to be regarded as inconvenient for a majority of the members, and so its removal to Farmington Centre was decided on and executed; it new location being at the upper end of the village, and not a great way from the residence of one of its most influential members, - Amos Mead, Esq.

At this period the congregation was at its greatest numerical strength, and for a time all went well; but the highest point of their prosperity as a church had been reached and passed; their numbers began to decrease, then dwindled away to such an extent that preaching could no longer be supported. It was finally discontinued, and this was followed by a complete disintegration of the church, some of the members going outside the township to attend Presbyterian services, and others destributing themselves according to inclination, and worshiping with some of the other denominations in Farmington. The church building was for a time leased to the Good Templars, and then sold to Mr. Fairchild for secular purposes. It is now used as a shop or out-building by Mr. L. Cowley. It would have caused great grief to Rev. Mr. Ruggles if, when he established the church, he could have foreseen the manner of its decadence and end!