The communion service of this church dates back to its founding. We have reason to believe that our church, in the early days, used pewter and silver vessels together, as was the custom. Mr. Moore, in his book on "Old Pewter" says that: "nearly all churches, if not richly or royally endowed, began with pewter communion services, even if they did get rid of them as soon as they could, or had them silver plated."
The pewter, much of it, was beautiful, as we realize today, and that of the best quality, when highly polished, was as beautiful as silver. The best pieces also bore the maker's mark or an English hallmark, just as did the silver.
The following incident, which occurred at the celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of our church, throws some light on the earliest pieces of the Communion Service which our church used: Mr. James Madison Gooding, son of Joseph Gooding, an early Bristol silversmith, presented the church with an old pewter tankard which he said his father had received with another one in exchange for more modern pieces. It is inscribed: "Ye Church of Christ in Bristol, 1687". Mr. Gooding said that the other tankard had fallen to the bottom of his well, but that anyone who could recover it could have it. A member of the church was interested enough to procure that small, old tankard with much labor and difficulty, and it is now carefully treasured. This tankard is only six and one-half inches in height, has a perfectly flat lid and no spout. It seems to be the oldest piece used by our church, and, from a photograph sent to him, it has been identified by Markham, an eminent English authority, as made around 1680.
An entry in one of the church record books mentions old pieces, which were owned by the church in 1811. At that date, the church Treasurer "wished on account of his age and infirmities, to resign his office as 'Treasurer of their money and Communion Service'".
We note here that the Communion Service was in the custody of the treasurer instead of the Deacons, is it is today. Also the eight silver cups are not mentioned here, although they were all presented to the church many years earlier, the earliest in 1693 and the latest in 1745.
The tankard we have spoken of here, was followed by two large handsome tankards, also of pewter, with quite high lids, which were in use until 1855. Although these two pieces are almost identical in design, one of them bears no maker's mark, while the other has an English mark, consisting of four shields bearing the maker's initials and emblems. Inside the tankard, on the bottom, is the name of "R. Yates, London". Richard Yates was a member of the Pewter's Guild of London - "the Worshipful Company of Pewterers - from 1777 to 1824. In 1824, he was dismissed from the Guild. As the marks on our tankard are not his official mark or "touch", Major Markham thinks this piece would be dated 1824 or later. He says, however, that it is a fine example of the pewterer's craft and was perhaps made from an earlier mould.
In 1855, two silver tankards, the work of the Gorham Company, were presented to the church by Mrs. Rogers and her sister, Miss DeWolf. These donors were devoted members of the church, interested in all it's work, who gave liberally from their abundant means during their long lives. It will be recalled that our memorial Chapel is also their gift in memory of their parents. The Rogers Free Library was the gift of Mrs. Rogers to the town in the name of her husband and herself.
The cups belonging to our Communion Service are eight silver beakers or tumbler shaped cups, having straight sides, with curved lips and molded bases. Beakers such as these are made from a flat piece of silver, hammered into shape and closed at the side with an invisible seam. It is interesting to note that this seam opened on one of our cups many years ago and had to be repaired.
The two oldest of the eight cups are inscribed as: "The gift of Nathaniel Byfield to the Church of Bristol, 1693". The maker is John Coney of Boston, one of the most famous of the Colonial silversmiths, and the cups bear his mark: "J.C." above a fleur-de-lis in a heart. Nathaniel Byfield's name stands third on the list of the original members of this church. He was one of the original proprietors of the town of Bristol, a man of wealth and integrity, who wielded great influence in all civil and ecclesiastical affairs. He held many positions of honor in town and state including administering the office of Civil Judge with remarkable wisdom and justice. Nathaniel Byfield's name was a household word throughout New England, and. at his death he was characterized by his pastor as a man, like Nathaniel the Israelite, in whom there was no guile.
Next in point of age is one cup inscribed: "The Gift of Rev'd Mr. John Sparhawk to the Church of Bristol, 1718". The initials "K.L." in a rectangle signify that the maker was Knight Leverett of Boston, another silversmith of note. Mr. Sparhawk was the second minister of this church, continuing for a period of twenty three years, until his death.
Three cups are inscribed: "Bristol Non-Conformist Church, March 29, 1723". The donor's name is not given. The maker's name is Samuel Vernon of Newport, one of the most noted of Rhode Island silversmiths. His mark is on the cups in the form of a heart containing his initials "S.V." above a fleur-de-lis.
Two cups are inscribed: "The Gift of Hon. Nath. Blagrove to the Congregational Church of Bristol, 1745". These cups bear no maker's mark. Judge Blagrove frequently represented the town in public affairs. He was also appointed administrator of the estate of Nathan Hayman, one of the four original proprietors of Bristol and later married to Mr. Hayman's widow. His wife at her death was buried, at her request, in the tomb of her first husband. Next to them in the Old East Burying Ground, Judge Blagrove directed that his own body should be placed at his death.
Except for two pewter platters mentioned in a list of property transferred from one treasurer to another in 1811, we have no record of any plates earlier than the two Sheffield trays. As Sheffield plating was invented in England in the year 1742, these plates must have been made at some time following that date. These plates were used by our church until 1855, the date when the silver tankards were presented. Then, as those who were living at that time have told us, the Sheffield plates seemed too ornate to be in keeping with the simple beauty of the new tankards. So, four, perfectly plain, heavily plated silver plates were purchased by the church to take their place.
In 1912, two solid silver plates, beautifully plain in design, the work of Gorham Co., were presented in memory of Miriam Wyatt Spooner, wife of Deacon William B. Spooner, and their daughter, Sarah Church Skinner, wife of Deacon Parmenas Skinner.
The Deacons were the custodians of the Communion Silver and the details of their care fell to their wives. For many years, Mrs. Spooner kept the silver bright and the linen spotless, and as she grew infirm, she was assisted by her daughter, Mrs. Watson, whose name she shared. After Deacon Spooner's death, and the appointment of Deacon Skinner, his wife, Sarah C. Skinner, continued the work of her mother. She in turn, was succeeded by her daughters for a few years, thus rounding out a period of at least sixty four years in which this task was performed by three generations of one family.
These Deacon's wives felt that the care of the silver was a form of church work, which could be performed when pressure of home duties made impossible service of a more public nature. And so, with an appreciation of the historic value of these relics and a fine reverence for their sacred use, these articles were cared for and jealously guarded with an affection almost as for a personal possession and precious heritage, which indeed, they so truly are to all the members of this church.
This article was collected from various sources and arranged by
Harriet D. Skinner; it also appears in the book:
The First Congregational Church
A History of Three Hundred and Twenty Five Years
1680 - 2005
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