Rev. Palmer came to the church in1824 after what proved to be a very difficult year between the congregation and its first pastor, the Rev. John Sterry. Add to the fact that Rev. Sterry became critically ill during the last months of his service to the church and died and you have a situation ripe for disaster. Yet, Rev. Palmer had just the right mix of faith and practicality that he actually pulled everyone together and the congregation thrived. Old wounds were put aside for a time and new life was injected into the whole body of the church. Forty five people were baptized in that first year and the church began to grow again. Sixteen more came into the church by letter. It was like a rebirth.
Church discipline was still at the heart of congregational life. As you read through the records you will see that many people were called out on worldly behavior and asked to come back to church with repentant hearts. Rev. Palmer preached with heart and fervor and called for people to make a decision. His enthusiasm never waned and even in 1830 he was still leading people into the waters of baptism. Thirty two answered the call and went down in the Yantic River to profess their faith. The Baptists seemed to have taken root in Norwich. Although the town was run by good congregationalists, the Baptist had gained a good reputation through efforts of their first two ministers.
These early ministers were made of hearty stock, but influenza and other ailments were common. In 1823, Rev. Palmer got sick and almost left the church. He took a long respite but then regained his strength and continued on for another year. It was the practice in those days to call a minister or renew his call every year. After a tiresome spring in 1824, the church and Pastor parted ways. some had already begun leaving the west side church for other places and change was in the air.
As you look back on history though, you get the sense that Rev. William Palmer had a heart for the ministry and the people he served with. In 1840 he accepted the call to come back and pastor a much depleted flock. Over sixty members of the church, more than two thirds, had left to form a congregation in the center of the city or to unite with other Baptist churches in the region. They were forced to sell off the church building and go back to meeting in homes. Fortunately, the Baptists had friends and they soon secured a meeting place and within a few years were back in the old church worshipping again. That first year back Rev. Palmer baptized several new members and the congregation began to grow again.
The church records don't tell us how the people felt about Rev. William Palmer but I do believe that we owe him a debt of gratitude today. For without his faith and courage that defeated group may surely have decided to quit and simply given up. We would not be here without him.
Number 3 - Percy Aquila Kilmister was a charismatic leader who dreamed big dreams and would not be stopped by the mere suggestion that anything was too big to attempt. He had a dramatic flair and he loved to do theater in the church .This excited the young people and dramatic productions became the norm. In some ways the fact that the Great Depression hit shortly after he arrived was a blessing to us. He was a man who could have gone far.He ministered to us and to those who lived nearby with a care that endeared him to all. He was known in the community for his smile and his wit. He was called a "friend to the Jews" and often spoke with our West side neighbors who went to synagogue across the street. He was responsible for our name changing to the West Side Community Church, a controversial move at the time. Some of the old timers like Mrs. Winnifred Blackledge fought it and thought he was up to no good. But Rev. Kilmister simply had a heart to reach out to the whole community and didn't want to be limited by denominational tags.
In a second bold move Rev. Kilmister convinced the church to make a change to the by-laws. Henceforth members from other "evangelical unions" could now be admitted as full members of the church. He had his fans including many young men and women who later become pillars of our church. They included the Royce boys, The Copeland girls, the Frink family, Charles P. Hamblen, the Sandberg girls, Ellsworth Robinson and Edith Billings.
Three things occurred during the pastorate of Percy Kilmister that changed the look and feel of our building. In 1936 the tall steeple was struck by lighting and came tumbling down. The tower was repaired and the church painted but it was never the same. Second a fire broke out in the basement in February of 1942. Due to the heroic efforts of the city's firemen, the structure was saved but the sanctuary was ruined. A group of men worked tirelessly to raise funds and oversee the reconstruction of the church. Over the summer the congregation met in the Elizabeth Street School and Rev. Kilmister keep their hopes up and helped them to look ahead with faith. In September the congregation returned and were very pleased with the new design. Finally, in July of 1943 the first of our stained glass windows was installed and dedicated on the south side of the church. It was the realization of a dream for Rev. Kilmister who always thought we needed something of such beauty to truly glorify God.
In the history of our church it says of Rev. Kilmister, "Among the many ministers who have led this old church through its two centuries, Rev. Percy Kilmister occupies a place distinctly his own. He brought to the worship service a sense of beauty and of reverence. He loved church music and introduced some great new hymns. He was the first minister to wear a robe in our pulpit, joining both the Junior and Senior Choirs to robe, adding dignity and a desirable bit of formality to our simple services. His sermons were characterized by their lofty eloquence, a rare choice of the choicest language and a familiarity of great poetry, freely quoted and rendered with dramatic effect. His friends numbered people of all faiths and in all walks of life - Jew and Gentile, Protestant and Catholic, in hospitals and homes - he was welcomed by all."
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