Under Mr. Elliott’s ministry, prayer meetings became common in the town. They were held on Sundays between services, in the Town House and in the school houses of the outlying districts. In times of religious interest many week day meetings were held in various places. A Saturday evening prayer meeting was held for years in the parlors of Mr. and Mrs. Eli Mygatt, when they lived on the spot now occupied by the residence of Mrs. Sanford and afterwards in the Town house. But no regular mid-week Church afternoon service was established until during Mr. Rood’s pastorate, when the Friday afternoon meeting was begun. The Tuesday evening meeting was commenced in 1865 or 66. The Mother’s Monthly Prayer Meeting began in 1869. The gifts to the Church, so far, are these: July 14th, 1815, Deacon Dobson, and W. M’Mahon gave the Church $100, the interest to be used for relief of poor members, or for books. February 20th, 1820, Deacon M’Mahon gave $400 to be used for the same purposes. In 1844 Miss Lois Wells gave the Church $200 for the relief of the poor, sick and destitute female members. Mrs. Anna Hine, widow of Stephen, who died in 1851 or 2 bequeathed $200 to the Church. And in January 6th, 1860, Miss Sully Northrop, who completed her 100th year a few days ago, gave $200 to be added to the Church Fund. The Benevolent Library originated in the gifts of Deacon M’Mahon, Col. Samuel Canfield and Philo N. Heacock, who took great interest in it. No additions have been made to it for some years. It consists of about 600 volumes of standard works, and merits more attention than it has lately received. It is impossible to form any estimate of the amount of money contributed by this Church and Society, to religious and benevolent objects. Until after the installation of Mr. Porter there was no system or regularity in its charities. Collections were taken up as the town was visited by agents, or as necessity seemed to require. It is thought that contributions have been made regularly to the A. B. C. F. M., and the Am. H. M. S., ever since these societies were formed. The oldest record of any contribution by this Congregation is the receipt of the County Treasurer for £94 16s. 0d. which this Society gave “for the suffering and distressed inhabitants of the towns of New Haven, Fairfield and Norwalk.” This receipt is dated September 1779, three months after the towns named had been sacked by Major General Tryon. From 1836 to 1871 the Congregation contributed regularly to the Am. Ed., the Bible, the A. H. M., the Seamen’s F. & S. S. Union, the A. B. C. F. M., and the A. Tract Societies. Since 1871 we have contributed annually to the Bible S., Congregational Union, A. H. M. S., Fund for Disabled Ministers and their widows, the A. B. C. F. M., and the A. M. Association.