Georgia Congregational Church Collection

The Georgia Congregational Church was formed in 1793 by Rev. Smith, and seventeen persons became members. For the next ten years, there was a controversy over the appointment of a minister, so a number of ministers officiated on trial until 1803 when the Rev. Publius Booge of Winchester, Connecticut was settled over the church. Booge, a Yale College graduate, filled the pastorage until October 20, 1813. In 1815 the church and society extended an inivitation to Rev. Eben H. Dorman, a licentiate, to settle over them and the church in Fairfax. Dorman resigned from the Fairfax church in 1823, but continued to serve Georgia until 1824. Rev. Dana Lamb, a University of Vermont student and resident of the town, served as interim pastor until 1828 when Luther P. Blodgett was appointed. After Blodgett's dismissal in 1830, a contention arose among the members, and the church split into two factions. The conservatives organized a new church, erected a new house of worship, and appointed George Ranslow as minister in 1833. Nogotiations followed, and the factions were reunited in 1837. A considerable portion of the collection deals with this controversy and union. In 1919 the Congrational Church accepted an invitation from the Methodist Church to join the latter.