y to Orange Streets, for the use of "The
First Presbyterian Church." Two buildings were erected: a church edifice
fronting on Cranberry Street was built at once, and seven years later a
lecture room fronting on Orange Street was added. Under the pastorates
of Rev. Joseph Sanford, Rev. Daniel L. Carroll, D. D., and Rev. Samuel
H. Cox, D. D., the church prospered, and in 1846 the question came up of
a more commodious edifice. Learning of this, John T. Howard, at that
time a member of the Congregational Church of the Pilgrims, Rev. R. S.
Storrs, Jr., pastor, conceived the idea of a new Congregational church
in that locality. Conference with David Hale of the Broadway Tabernacle
Church, New York, strengthened him, and he obtained the refusal of the
Presbyterian property for $20,000. In September, by the payment of
$9500, furnished by Henry C. Bowen, Seth B. Hunt, John T. Howard, and
David Hale, the property was secured. The new building of the First
Presbyterian Church was not completed until May, 1847, and on the same
day that it was opened, May 16, Henry Ward Beecher preached the first
sermon in Plymouth Church to audiences that crowded the edifice on
Cranberry Street to the doors.

The method of organisation was somewhat unique. The first meeting in the
interest of the church was held at Mr. Bowen's house on the evening of
May 8, the day before the Presbyterians were to vacate their old
edifice. There were present, besides Mr. Bowen, David Hale, Jira Payne,
John T. Howard, Charles Rowland, and David Griffin. On behalf of the
owners David Hale offered the property for religious purposes, and it
was decided to have services on May 16. Henry Ward Beecher, at that time
pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis, who had come
to New York for the May anniversaries, had made an address at the
meeting of the American Home Missionary Society, and had also spoken
elsewhere, winning great popular favour. He was secured for the morning
and evening services, and Rev. Mr. Eggleston, of Ellington, Conn.,
preached in the afternoon. Notice was given of a permanent series of
weekly prayer meetings to be held on Friday evenings, and at the first
of these, May 21, a committee, consisting of Henry C. Bowen, Richard
Hale, John T. Howard, Charles Rowland, and Jira Payne, was appointed to
make arrangements for the formation of a church. They reported on June
11, at which time twenty-one persons signified their intention to join
th