LOOKING BACKWARD
By official order, every one was obliged to attend church.*
Feeling the necessity of having divine service a little nearer their homes, in 1792 they erected a simple and modest meeting house, 36 by 30 feet, about two and a half rods south of the present church.
Then they petitioned the Societies of the two churches in Milford for preaching at Bryan's Farms in winter. That year they were granted six Sundays, with the minister riding up from Milford on horseback to conduct the services. The clergymen of the two Milford churches alternated in conducting these services. The next year they had ten services, and in 1796 the number was increased to twelve.
But twelve services during the winter did not satisfy the early fathers. They wanted divine worship made available every Sabbath. So they presented the following petition to the General Assembly in 1804:
''To the Honorable the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut to be holden at Hartford in and for or said state on the second Tuesday in May, A.D. 1804.
''The petition of Samuel Treat of the first Ecclesiastical society and Joseph Treat of the second Ecclesiastical society in the Town of Milford, in the county of New Haven, and others belonging to each of said societies, their neighbors and Associates, all living in the part of said two societies commonly called Bryan's Farms humbly sheweth:-- That they are deeply impressed with the importance of a constant attendance for themselves and families on public worship, and while their attendance is always accompanied with inconvenience, it is sometimes
* ''Be it enacted by the Governor, Council and Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the Authority of the same that: All and every person and persons whatsoever, shall and they are hereby required on the Lord's Day, carefully to apply themselves to the duties of religion and piety, publically and privately; and that whatsoever person shall not duly attend the public worship of God on the Lord's Day, in some congregation by law allowed, unless hindered by sickness, or otherwise detained or hindered, shall incur the penalty of three shillings for every offense, and being presented by authority for such neglect, shall be deemed guilty thereof , if such person shall not be able to prove to the satisfaction of said authority that he or she has attended the said worship."
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