CENTENNIAL HISTORY
The first meeting house was built a few feet south of the present edifice of the Milford Church. Before the going down of the sun on Saturday all work has been completed. "Early on Sabbath morning, before nine o'clock, we hear the loud beating of the drum in the turret of the meeting house, and as we pass along our way we see the pathways lined with plainly dressed men, women and children, wending their way to the house of God. At the appointed time the sentinels are all stationed and the people are all in their places, ready for worship. There in the lofty pulpit sits the beloved Pastor, Mr. Prudden. He is dressed in his gown, as a minister of the Church of England. In the elevated seat in front of the pulpit sits the venerable Elder Whitman, with his psalm book in his hand. Lower still we see the Deacons, Benjamin Fenn and George Clark, Sr. On the right side of the aisle are the men, on the left the women. And in a special place, where they can be watched, are the children.
The service begins with the congregation all rising while Mr. Prudden leads in a long, earnest prayer. The congregation seated, the pastor gives an exposition of a chapter from the Bible. There follows the lineing of a psalm by the Elder, and all join in singing. After this the sermon. This finished, the senior deacon announces the collection, and all who have something to give come forward and deposit it in a box on the communion table. A psalm again sung, a prayer and the benediction and we must hasten to eat our cold lunch and be ready for the afternoon service at one o'clock. A slightly shorter order but similar to the morning follows.
In 1656, Mr. Prudden died in the prime of life. He was earnest but liberal, above all things a peacemaker. Under his ministry the church and the colony prospered.
Four years passed by without their finding a successor. At length, Mr. Roger Newton was secured. He had formerly been the first minister at Farmington. He had labored there twelve years. Mr. Newton was born in England and received a part of his education there. He probably studied also at Harvard Col-