The History of Immanuel's Ministers
The History of Immanuel includes the pastors who have served throughout the years. Jack French, Janet Morrill and Al Watson have contributed greatly to this section. Much of the material has been excerpted from The Prow of the Ship: Preachers and Preaching Over 150 Years, edited by Robert L. Edwards © 1979 by Immanuel Congregational Church.
Horace Bushnell
William DeLoss Love, Ph.D
William Alfred Bartlett, D.D.
Charles Francis Carter
Fletcher Douglas Parker
Robert Lansing Edwards
Richard B. Griffis
Horace Bushnell (1802 - 1876)
(Minister of the North Church, 1833 - 1859)
Horace Bushnell was born and bred in Connecticut and always proud of it. Until he was twenty-one he was a Litchfield County farmer. In 1823, he entered Yale where eventually he obtained four degrees. In 1833, having experimented with several other occupations, he became the minister of Hartford's prestigious North Congregational Church, a forerunner of today's Immanuel Congregational Church. He served the North Church people, his only charge, for twenty-six years.
As a minister, his influence was immense. At great professional risk, he challenged the New England orthodoxy of his day that laid heavy stress on dramatic "lightning bolt" conversions at a mature age. To Bushnell Christian experience was a matter of lifelong spiritual growth, beginning at birth and nurtured by family, church and school. One of the great preachers and pastors of his time, his books were widely read in this country and in England. His best-known volume, Christian Nurture, has been republished repeatedly since it first appeared in 1847, most recently in 1994. At many levels his thought was a major factor in the development of the next generation of American Protestant leaders, including the famed Episcopal preacher and bishop, Phillips Brooks, and Washington Gladden, pioneer social Gospel advocate.
As a citizen, Bushnell displayed a fascinating versatility. He held two U.S. patents, could advise business leaders in times of trouble, plot the route for a new railroad, and project fresh ideas for urban planning. In many ways, his chief civic legacy is what is now Hartford's Bushnell Park, one of the first outdoor public facilities of its kind in the country, which he created by dint of great labor and against heavy political odds. On the West Coast, where he traveled in 1856 for his health he played a considerable on-site role in the founding of the University of California at Berkeley. The trustees urged him again and again to serve as its first president. But feeling he was essentially a Christian pastor, he declined and returned to Hartford.
Never a popular phrase-maker, Bushnell could still be pithy and quotable. Random examples: "Have faith in truth, never in numbers." "No one makes a breeze for his vessel by blowing in the sail himself [or herself]." "Forgiveness is our deepest need and highest achievement." "The tallest saints of God will often be those who walk in the deepest obscurity."
William DeLoss Love, Ph.D. (1851 - 1918)
(Minister, Pearl Street Church , 1885 - 1899)
(Minister, Farmington Avenue Church, 1899 - 1910)
Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Dr. Love was educated at Hamilton College ('73), and Andover Seminary ('78). After a few years of service to local churches, and some foreign travel, he accepted the call of the Pearl Street Church in 1885. Shortly thereafter a major change was undertaken to move that church to a new building at Farmington Ave. and Woodland St., and Dr. Love had the responsibility of helping the congregation make the transfer. In view of the world turmoil at the time, it was a great challenge to carry this through in an unbroken ministry.
Love's style had striking versatility, which showed up in his preaching. Historical material was often included, but also with a marked family approach. Once he commented that his meeting with the small children of the church was "one of my greatest joys, and perhaps the greatest".
An excerpt follows from Dr. Love's first sermon, "A Church Home", in the new Farmington Avenue Church, on September 10, 1899:
"Our theme this morning is one which is suggested necessarily by the character of this occasion. We have come to face the task of making for ourselves here a church home.
"You are all at the same disadvantage, for the place is strange to the oldest member as to the newcomer. I am glad it is so. A mutual sympathy in the task ought to be kindled at once. The habitual church-goer has a chance to learn how the stranger feels, and let him take a good pull at the experience, for it may be profitable. On the other hand the stranger has less of excuse than is generally the case. He is an equal shareholder in the responsibilities of the hour. He can date his sonship in this Zion if he pleases from the first opening of its gates. There is a religious democracy here today in opportunity, and he shall be knighted in the years to come who shall do his best here for the Kingdom and his God...."
(The above was excerpted from, The Prow of the Ship, edited by the Rev. Robert L. Edwards, Immanuel Congregational Church, 1979.)
William Alfred Bartlett, D.D. (1858 - 1932)
(Minister, Farmington Avenue Church, 1910 - 1914)
After graduating from Dartmouth College ('82), and from the HartfordSeminary ('85), the Reverend Dr. Bartlett succeeded Dr. Love at the Farmington Avenue Church in 1910. He had served nine years at the First Congregational Church in Chicago where people spoke of his "untiring zeal, wise plans and hearty Christian spirit". Although this held out real promise for his work in Hartford, he met family misfortune and then a breakdown in his own health that caused him to relinquish the pulpit in 1914.
Dr. Bartlett had a vigorous, gregarious personality with a range of interests. Notably, he had a musical ability, had studied the organ, composed hymns and other sacred music. However, his sermons were effective, and a small part of one given October 8, 1911, entitled, "What Missions Mean", is presented here:
"What do Missions Mean? No one can answer that question adequately. If the church membership of this nation had but a feeble glimpse of what missions mean, every man, woman and child in the whole world would have an opportunity to hear the story of Jesus and his love as soon as the languages could be learned by the thousands who would volunteer tomorrow. Men, women and money would be offered beyond the ability of our Boards to take care of it all, if the Christian church realized what missions mean.
"I make bold to offer a proposition as our theme in general, that only a missionary knows what missions mean. When Jesus Christ gave his commission to the disciples he did not say, Send ye into all the world, but "Go ye into all the world." At the time of his ascension he did not say, Ye shall send witnesses for me into Jerusalem, etc., but "Ye shall be witnesses unto
me...."
(The above was excerpted from, The Prow of the Ship, edited by the Rev. Robert L. Edwards, Immanuel Congregational Church, 1979.)
Charles Francis Carter
(Minister, Park Church, 1910 - 1914)
(Minister, Immanuel Congregational Church, 1914 - 1927)
Charles Francis Carter was a native of Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts, and a graduate of Yale University and Andover Seminary. He excelled in undergraduate sports, but was also an ardent student, particularly in graduate work. Before coming to Hartford, he acquired an extensive background from service in pulpits of several New England churches, and then as leader and executive of a number of religious organizations.
As a scholar, statesman and preacher, Dr. Carter was the minister at Park Church when an invitation was received to join the Farmington Avenue Church. The Park Church accepted the invitation, and Dr. Carter was prevailed upon to continue as minister of the two uniting churches. He had written many sermons, articles and addresses on a remarkable variety of themes, and was well prepared to merge and manage the combining of two churches. This was the beginning of Immanuel Congregational Church, and Dr. Carter gave his first sermon there on April 26, 1914.
Unfortunately, ill health did not permit a long tenure with Immanuel, but the following short sermon excerpt from "The Bible for Modern Man..." will demonstrate a small part of Dr. Carter’s contribution:
"Come to the Bible with an unprejudiced mind. Give it a fair chance to make its own impression on you. Find out what it says and then let the tremendous importance of what it says take hold of you. Expose yourself to its teachings, comparing it with other literature, and you will soon discover its unparalleled significance. We do not need to set the Bible on a pedestal off by itself in order to discover its greatness. Rather, let its base rest on the same level with other books, and then its real distinction will appear as it towers above them.
"....The main question is whether you know the Bible or not, and whether you are giving it a real opportunity to make an impact on your life.
"....It shows men finding God; and it shows God coming to men and dealing with them. This is what the book is all about. Its subject is bigger and more important than anything else."
The above was excerpted and edited from, The Prow of the Ship, edited by the Rev. Robert L. Edwards, Immanuel Congregational Church, 1979, and from "The History of Immanuel Church, 1824 - 1967", by Stanley B. Weld.
Fletcher Douglas Parker
(Minister of Immanuel Church 1927 - 1956)
" I don't know anything that is quite so rewarding as somehow to get to the deep things of life, the sincere things, the Christian things, the things that Jesus stood for --- FOR APRIL 18, 1948"
Fletcher Parker served the longest pastorate in Immanuel's history. He was born in Minnesota in 1888 and graduated from Williams College in 1911. He undertook his theological preparation at Hartford Seminary after which he became minister of the Trinitarian Congregational Church of New Bedford, Massachusetts. From New Bedford he became Executive Secretary of the City Missionary Society of Boston for eight years until his call to Immanuel in the fall of 1927.
Parker was a man of strong convictions, upright in character and blessed with intense energy. Under his energetic and concerned leadership, an impressive array of new church groups and social ministries emerged. He left a deep imprint on the whole character of Immanuel.
Robert Lansing Edwards
(Minister of Immanuel Church 1956 - 1980)
"Memory, Hold the Door"
Robert L. Edwards was the senior minister of Immanuel Congregational Church from 1956 to 1980. According to the Hartford Courant on June 22, 1980, he was "...known through Connecticut for his eloquent sermons which frequently included poetry and hymns." The poetry was often of its own making, especially during Advent when he wrote of the events which led up to the celebration of Christmas. One of his non-Advent poems, "Declare, O Heavens, the Lord of Space", was set to music, and can be found in the ecumenical Hymnal of Christianity. He also has written several books, most notably a definitive biography of Horace Bushnell.
"Retiring City Pastor Blazed New Trails" according to the Hartford Courant in the article quoted above. He was aware of the changes going on in Hartford in the 1960's and so reached out to other churches on Asylum Hill by supporting union services as well as the former Hill Center and Group Residence. Immanuel House, across the street from the church, a home to some 250 senior citizens, was built by the church with his powerful and steady backing. In 1995 it won a Federal Government Award for unusual excellence.
On the international scene he activated participation in an Overseas Partnership with churches in England and Germany. Since 1971 these meetings, augmented by a church in the Czech Republic, have been held every three years in one of the five churches involved.
The physical plant of the church was also greatly improved during his ministry. A new educational and office wing was built, as well as a renovated kitchen. The parlor was refurbished, and other improvements were made which gave Immanuel a fresh new look.
"... His ministry embraces scholarly, thoughtful and uplifting sermons; understanding and dedicated pastoral care; warm outgoing friendliness; and in his modest demeanor, he truly represents a man of God..."
from The Prow of the Ship, Melancthon W. Jacobus
Richard B. Griffis
(Minister of Immanuel Church 1980 - 1993)
"Bless you for the gift that you are."
Richard B. Griffis was the senior minister of Immanuel Congregational Church from 1980 to 1993. From the beginning of his pastorate he was much interested in the outreach of the church to the community, and so became enthusiastically involved in the Asylum Hill Organizing Project (AHOP). This project reached out to many social agencies on Asylum Hill, as well as to the individual residents of the Hill. He was also interested in the Asylum Hill Christian Community, another organization which sought to promote cooperation among the seven churches on the Hill. One of the most notable accomplishments was the weekend festivity, Arts Alive, a neighborhood celebration in June 1988, of the arts. It was hosted by Immanuel and open to all. A further outreach began with the inauguration of the radio ministry, Voices of Immanuel, heard each Sunday on WJMJ-FM. And in 1985 the Easter Service was shared with thousands of people in Connecticut in a live broadcast on television (WFSB).
He was also very much interested in international outreach and was a fervent supporter of the Partnership Conference. When the Partnership met at Immanuel in 1986, it was the first time that the church from East Germany was able to come. He hoped to expand the membership to more countries, particularly India, a country which he had visited.
He oversaw a number of improvements in the church. A computer system was installed for the first time. And after a successful capital campaign, the sanctuary was completely and beautifully renovated. He inaugurated the Matthias Awards, named after the "thirteenth disciple." They were given each year to "those who have served in often unseen, but espeically helpful ways. With little public recognition for good deeds done, they have brought great meaning to our lives and effectiveness to our church." A fitting tribute to the faithful.
