Rev. William A Chace, Jr. became our twenty-fourth pastor serving this church from July 1980 to June 1989.  Previous to his coming to Southington he served as pastor and teacher of the First Church of Monson (Congregational) in Monson, Massachusetts for ten years.

His family members are his wife Miriam and children, Mark, Paul, Joel, Sara and Carol.

Rev. Chace was the first pastor of our church in recent times, to purchase his own home.  The congregation had voted before his arrival to serve his ministry, to sell the parsonage on Berlin Avenue which had served for many years as the resident pastor’s home.  Southington Savings Bank bought the property and the proceeds established a fund to aid Rev. Chace and future ministers, to purchase a home of their own.

During the pastorate of Rev. Chace our church was used as the first home of the Central Baptist Church of Southington and also became home to the Southington Jewish Congregation which continues to this day.

The Rev. Mr. Chace was born in New Bedford, Mass. He is a graduate of Northland College and Andover Newton Theological School.  He was ordained by the Old Colony Association of The Massachusetts Conference in June of 1954.  His first pastorate was in East Corinth, Vermont (1954-57); he responded to a call from the United Church of Dorset and East Rupert, Vermont and served to 1962.  He next served from 1962 to 1970 as minister of the First Congregational Church in Easthampton, Massachusetts.  He moved to Monson in 1970 and served until coming to Southington in 1980.

The author of this history wishes to inject a short note concerning the pastoral Search Committee’s visit with Rev. Chace: On that visit we worshipped in an assembly room of the church to hear the candidate.  The sanctuary at the time was undergoing extensive repairs.  In a subsequent conversation Rev. Chace wanted assurance from us that our physical plant was in good order and that he would not have a repeat of the disorder and chaos of a building program.  With all candor the Committee assured Rev. Chace that all was in fine order and that there would be no surprises.

Within a year of Rev. Chace’s arrival we began to notice serious separations in the border of the sanctuary dome and cracks in the ceiling and walls as well.  Professional structural engineers confirmed there was serious deterioration in the roof trusses and also in the structural support of the steeple.  The work involved dismantling the entire ceiling in order that several tie rods could be installed.  The ceiling was lowered approximately eighteen inches to accommodate the repairs.

Rev. Chace was of good cheer throughout the process, which took several months.  However, he was a very happy man when the task was completed.

The ministry of Rev. Chace was marked by his caring and dedication to people of all ages.  He was available both night and day to those who were in need of ministry, He was approachable and very straight forward, characteristics which were enriched by his own family circumstances.  He was able to exercise his ministry with great understanding.

Rev. and Mrs. Chace are still residents of Southington.  Both retired, they enjoy their grandchildren and are able to spend happy times at their summer home on Lake George, New York.

The liberal thinking and spirit of ecumenicism which Rev. Chace practiced and preached went far in opening up the understanding of our church membership toward other people of the community.