The history of Waterbury, Connecticut - citizen hylbom blog

292 HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
as an inducement for its removal. Scarcely, however, had it
reached its resting place, when a project was started, and after
considerable delay carried through, of putting np another
and more fashionable house. The old building at length
passed into the hands of Mr, Scovill above named, by
whom it was fitted up for offices and public rooms. It re-
ceived the name of Gothic Hall. Subsequently, it ^vas removed
again to its present site in the rear of the Second Con-
greo-ational church.
CHAPTER XIX.
EPISCOPACY IN WATERBURY.
The movement which terminated in the formation of an Epis-
copal church and society in Waterbury commenced at an early
period, when there were but few Churchmen and three or four
congregations in tlie Colony. It is stated that James Brown,
who came from West Haven, in 1722, who had probably heard
the preaching of Dr. Johnson of that place, a distinguished convert
to Episcopacy, was the first of that persuasion in Waterbury.
At what time Brown, profanely called Bishop Brown,
was converted to the English church is not known. Probably
it was not till after his removal from West Haven. In 1737,
according to the Churchman's Magazine for 1807, there were
in Waterbury not exceeding six or seven heads of families
(Trumbull says but two or three*) in all who were of the same
belief. In the course of tlie year mentioned, divine service,
* Dr. Trumbull appears to have obtained his information from a manuscript letter of John
Walton, Esq., of Buckshill, who was an early and influential member of the church, and who died
in 1S16, aged 89. This letter will be found among Dr. Trumbull's papers in Yale College
Library.