BETTER THAN HEARSAY - Palpably Present Still

Restoration Committee at the North Settlement Methodist Church includes (left to right) Louise Lebrun, Dawn Thorp, Paula Scarey and Gail Donahue. Not available for the photo were George Sherer and Ron Alan.

“I was baptized here,” said Morgan Lendl, joined by her daughter Aurora on the stone stairway to the North Settlement Church. Morgan, while attending Windham-Ashland-Jewett school, wrote an essay on the historic chapel, including its 3-seater outhouse, receiving an “A.”

The spirit may have been willing to sit and listen to the dedication speech by church Restoration Committee member Louise Lebrun, but the flesh definitely was not for one wandering boy.

Sitting in the same pew they shared in their youth, Fred Lebrun and Robert Dewell have lifelong, fond memories of the church.

The oldest Methodist Church in the town of Windham is now officially historic (albeit having been unofficially so since 1996).

North Settlement Methodist Church, built in 1826 along County Route 10, has never been more stately, celebrating its 200th anniversary, next year.

By Michael Ryan

WINDHAM - They grew up an easy walk from the North Settlement Church, always sharing the same pew for Sunday School, so it was as if no time had passed for childhood pals Fred Lebrun and Robert Dewell.

Lebrun and Dewell were again seated in that pew, last Saturday, when dedication ceremonies were held for the church which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The designation actually happened 30 years ago with local folks patiently waiting for the official sign from the Pomeroy Foundation.

Nobody has ever hurried much here, since the church was built in 1826, and spiritual clocks move at their own pace anyway, so it was all good.

“This church was a sanctuary for any number of people,” said Lebrun, one of many attendees with cherished memories of the quaint Methodist meetinghouse, on rural County Route 10 in the town of Windham.

“Christmas was special as kids. We always got rock candy and an orange. They were treasured. I have the greatest respect and love for the people who have kept the church this way,” Lebrun said.

One of those people is Lebrun’s sister, Louise, who is part of the church Restoration Committee, also serving as hostess for the unveiling of the Pomeroy Foundation sign.

“This building is evidence of a long ago community of people that first settled here, ancestors to many standing here today,” Louise said.

“It was an agricultural community with several businesses nearby. On the corner there was a general store. Less than half a mile down on the Settlement, near the creek, was a creamery,” Louise said.

“A little further down was a mill pond and sawmill. Below that was the grainery,” Louise said. “All that remains to remind us of these brave, hard-working people is the North Settlement Cemetery and this dear old church.”

But that isn’t quite all. “The thing I remember most is the corn roasts, held this time of year,” said Lula Anderson, a local nonagenarian.

“There was corn and cucumbers and tomatoes,” Anderson said. “And there was fellowship, a coming together,” which was palpably present still.