Barnet, Vermont Churches                   

There were several early ministers who preached in the church but cannot be considered ministers of the church. In June of 1789, William Stevenson went on foot to Cambridge, N. Y., and had an interview with Rev. Thomas Beveridge, by whose advice they applied for a hearing of Rev. David Goodwillie, who had lately come from Scotland. He came here in the fall of 1789 and remained three months, his services being so acceptable that the town gave him a formal call and Mr. Beveridge was sent here to take the necessary steps for his nomination. Such was the deliberate progress of events in those days that the petition was presented to the Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania,sitting in New York City, when formal action was taken in sanction of the call. It was not until the 8th of February, 1791, that Mr. Goodwillie, in services at the meeting house, was duly admitted as minister of the Barnet congregation.

Pews in the early meeting house were sold to the highest bidder. Wheat was received in payment at the value of "five Shillings the bushel with two Shillings on the Pound in Cash". This meant that 10 percent of the value of each pew was to be paid in cash.

 

Names of Pew Holders	No. Pew	Price
William Shaw	1	35
John Gilchrist, Sen.	2	37
William Stevenson	3	38½
Bartholomew Somers	4	40
Walter Brock, Esq.	5	30
Esq. Enos Stevens	6	40
Hugh Ross	7	39
William Gilfillan	8	36
William Warden	9	28½
William Shearer	10	29
Rev. Mr. David Goodwillie	11	31
Archibald Harvey	12	41½
Rob't Twaddle	13	60
Col. Alexander Harvie	14	72½
John McLaren	15	66
James McLaren	16	61
John Goddard and Thomas Youngman and Edward Pollard	17	58
Reverend Mr. David Goodwillie	18	35
James Orr	19	31
Alexander Gilchrist	20	33
John Waddell	22	35
Alexander Roy	23	37½
James McLaren	24	35
Walter Stuart	25	40
James Gilchrist	26	43
John Hyndman	27	38½
John Hyndman	28	40

On July 7th, 1790, Mr. Goodwillie married Miss Beatrice Henderson and they came at once to this town, arriving about the 12th of September and began a remarkable ministry of forty years. As the first settled minister of the gospel, he received a grant of 340 acres as specified in the charter of the town. He also purchased a small piece of land on which he built a framed house, still called "the old Parsonage", into which he moved, Dec. 20, 1791.

Rev. David Goodwillie is more largely identified with Barnet than is any other man of his time, and his fame is likely to be permanent in the town. During his ministry, he received about 600 members to the churches in Barnet and Ryegate. He had been assisted during his latter years by his son Thomas, who was installed as associate pastor Oct. 26, 1825, and succeeded him in the ministry. Rev. David Goodwillie died on August 2, 1830.

In 1858, by the union of the Associate Presbyterian Church with other smaller bodies, the United Presbyterian Church was formed. It is still known by that name.

Ministers of the Barnet Center Church

The East Barnet Congregational Church

There was a meeting Jan. 28, 1876, of the ladies of this place (then called "Norrisville") for the purpose of organizing a society for mission work. At a meeting held May 3, 1877, it was voted to start building a chapel the coming summer. A. B. Norris gave the land on which to build the chapel. One of the provisions in the deed being that they should hold no card or dancing parties, he believing that these things were one of the worst evils of the times.

The building was dedicated as a chapel, Oct 24, 1877, by appropriate exercises. Rev. Edward Fairbanks delivered the principal address. The chapel has always been supplied by the pastor of Barnet, services being held in the afternoon.

The McIndoes Falls Congregational Church

With the opening of the railroad in 1850, both Barnet and McIndoes Falls villages increased in population. The present church building, the first in its place, was erected. Rev. Enoch H. Caldwell alternated the Sabbath services between the two villages. There was some rivalry and jealousy between the villages and each wished to be independent of the other, in church matters. The advisibility of dividing the church was considered, and a council was called to consider the situation. This body met at McIndoes Falls, Nov. 2, 1852, and advised that the Sabbath services should be held at McIndoes. This left Barnet without regular ministrations.

Rev. Edward Cleveland, who was also the first principal of McIndoes Academy, was pastor of the church for two years, rendering valuable services to both the cause of religion and that of education. Near the end of the year 1855, an "Association for Supporting the Gospel at McIndoes Falls" was formed, and this society concurred with the Stevens Village people in extending a call to Rev. Benjamin F. Ray. Mr. Ray was ordained and installed by a council which met at McIndoes, March 5, 1856, and released in September, 1858. It was during Mr. Ray's ministry that the division of the church into a separate one for each village was brought about.

Ministers who have served the McIndoes Fall Churches:

 

Name	Settled	Dismissed
Rev. Benjamin F. Ray	1856	1859
Rev. Moses B. Bradford	1859	1869
Rev. Submarinus G. Norcross	1869	1873
Rev. Josiah L. Litch	1873	1877
Rev. Nelson F. Cobleigh	1877	1881
Rev. Charles F. Morse	1882	1884
Rev. Cornelius C. Cook	1884	1886
Rev. Stephen F. Drew	1886	1891
Rev. William M. Gay	1891	1895
Rev. A. S. McGowan	1895	1897
Rev. Herbert R. Titus	1897	1899
Rev. Henry M. Kellogg	1900	1902
Rev. Arthur F. Eldridge	1902	1907
Rev. Henry T. Barnard	1907	1913
Rev. Charles B. Bliss	1914	..

The Passumpsic Baptist Church

Among the first settlers in St. Johnsbury, Waterford, and Barnet, there developed a strong desire for a church of their own faith, centrally located, to minister to the needs of a people imbued with the "spirit of Roger Williams," of Baptist fame. Accordingly a call was sent to the Baptists of Barnet and St. Johnsbury, to meet at Passumpsic on Sept. 24, 1811, that village having been chosen as the most central point.

Rev. A, H. House died in service.

The Reformed Presbyterian Church ("Walter Harvey")

The Reformed Presbyterian, or Covenanter, Church was organized at Ryegate in October 1798. Rev. William Gibson, the first pastor, was installed July 10, 1799, and ministered to the various "societies" until April 13, 1815. Rev. James Milligan became pastor on Sept. 26, 1817 and remained in that capacity until May 17, 1839. During the pastorate of Mr. Milligan, a new meeting house was built just north of the Ryegate town line on land secured from Walter Harvey. The meeting house has always gone by the name "Walter Harvey". On June 20, 1844, Rev. James M. Beattie became pastor of the Ryegate and Barnet congregations, and alternated Sabbaths between the two towns. Mr. Beattie remained the pastor until, "on account of declining health", he was released on May 17, 1882. For almost a year, the Walter Harvey pulpit was filled by persons sent by the Presbytery. Among these was Daniel C. Faris, who preached for them during the month of March, 1873. On April 29, a call was made out for him, which he accepted on May 21, and on June 25, of the same year, was ordained and installed there as pastor. Mr. Faris was still in service in 1923. He was a son of James and Nancy (Smith) Faris and was born near Bloomington, Indiana.

A unique feature of the church is that psalms are used exclusively in worship without instruments.

The First Presbyterian Church of West Barnet

West Barnet Presbyterian Church

The First Presbyterian of West Barnet was formally organized as an independent congregation in association with the denomination known as the Reformed Presbyterian (General Synod) on Sept. 10, 1851. For the first seven years after organization, there is no record of meeting. On Jan. 6, 1859, an organization was formed which was known as the West Barnet Union Meeting House Association. The purpose of this organization was the erection of a meeting house to be used for public worship. Land was procured and the present building erected that same year.