The Congregational Church of North Stonington celebrated its 300th anniversary on Sunday. (Melina Khan/The Day)
Published June 27. 2021 8:09PM
Melina Khan
North Stonington – A traditional colonial-style service was held Sunday at the Congregational Church of North Stonington to celebrate its 300th anniversary.
The service reflected the practices in place when the church began in 1721. Men and women sat on opposite sides of the house of worship and musical instruments were not used throughout the proceedings. Attendees also dressed in colonial-style attire to recognize the period.
Parishioner Brian Hager served as a tithingman, a position used in 18th-century churches to keep worshippers awake during services. He carried a pole tipped on one end with a brass knocker and a feather on the other. The brass knocker was used to nudge sleeping men, whereas the feather served as a gentler form of waking sleeping women.