Memories Made at Fairfield Friends Meetinghouses

I thought this was a news story, until I started going back into The Republican’s archives and looking at what I had written and photographed. That’s when I knew this was more than a series of stories, it was a memory.

May 10, 2007: “In the spring of 1836, members of the newly formed meeting of the Society of Friends at Fairfield put up a building in which to meet for worship. This spring, the descendants, both literal and spiritual, of those early Fairfield Friends have made a momentous decision to build a new meetinghouse.”

The walls were white and pale blue, like a summer sky. I sat by a window and looked through the century-old glass at the graveyard across the road. People slowly filled the room with greetings and the sounds of settling into the pews. Then came the silence. There’s a difference between silence in an empty room and silence in a room full of people. I could hear thoughts rising and filling the air. Then the sound of someone standing and speaking. Then silence again.

“During the silent meeting, one member stood to declare that after so many years it would not be the same to meet in a new building. Others were moved to speak about the change. One woman told of moving from her family’s home of 35 years. ‘It took a hundred pickup loads’ she recalled. ‘We even moved the fi sh that were in the pond. It was hard work, but when I got to my new home, it took about five minutes to adjust.’”

The next story was of the dedication of the new meetinghouse.

“Members of Fairfield Friend Meeting carried many things they needed from their old meetinghouse to their new building – hymnals, office supplies, and kitchen equipment, but the most important things they needed were carried as part of the dedication service on Sunday, May 20, 2012.”

Long-time member Elise Carter held a covered glass bowl that represented Faith; young Friend Deara Smith held a decorated jar representing Hope; husband and wife Chris and Anne Gauiter had a container representing Love; Don Katterhenry holding the clock he made that hung in the sanctuary, represented Time; and pastor Jennifer Silvers carried a candle representing Spirit.

It’s not easy to let go of memories, to see a physical part of our past removed from our sight. But I think of the words of George Fox, founder of the Society of Friends:

“A God, who made the world, does not dwell in temples made with hands... but in people’s hearts.”