It was to this first church that the Rev. Jeremiah Curtiss came and was ordained and installed November 13th, 1728, and it is supposed that on this date the church was also organized.  Rev. Curtiss was born in Stratford in the year 1706 and later went to Yale College, where he graduated in 1725, just 18 years of age.  He was called to this parish July 18, 1728.

In replying to this call, the Rev. Curtiss made very certain all parties knew of the conditions necessary to his becoming pastor. The follwing is a copy of his business-like reply:

"August 8, 1728"

Respected Friends and Brethren ~ These signify that I , Jeremiah Cutiss, with a humble reliance of the Glorious Head of the Church for his gracious assistance, accept the work to which I am invited, upon the conditions that you perform the propositions you made me at your meeting July 18, 1728, vis., that you give to me the society lot and a hundred pounds for my settlement to be paid in two years; and fifty pounds a year, and my wood for four years; and then to raise ten pounds a year and my wood until it comes to ninety pounds and my wood, or a hundred pounds; and as to the manner of paying my ‘sallery," I expect grain according to the market price in the last of March for the year preceding ye payment of the ‘sallery’ with allowance for the transporting of it to market, or money; and concerning ye hundred pounds which is to be fair for my settlement: I desire it may be paid in labour; and if there should be any great alterations with respect to ye change of ye money I desire that ye may be a committee chosen to right ye same between us, and now I request your prayers that I may obtain mercy to be found faithful unto ye and his people.

Signed
"Jeremiah Curtiss"

This was considered a rather bold and worldly reply, which left none of the conditions of his accepting the calling to the memory of people.  It was often sad but true in those days that a pastor would be called and an amount settled on in recompense for his services with just a loose verbal agreement, the congregation would then find they were unable to pay the stipulated amount of goods and services agreed to, with the unfortunate pastor and his family left at the mercy of the members.  Rev. Curtiss intended to have no such thing happen and wanted it clearly understood.

Rev. Curtiss conscientiously attended the needs of the rapidly frowing parish in Southington.  Over 130 people united with the church during this time on profession of faith and doubtless several others joined by letter.  Unfortunately there is no written record of this, nor of the early stages of development of the church under Rev. Curtiss.

The mother church in Farmington was now realizing they must recognize and give more serious thought and far more difference to the young but rapidly growing parish in Southington.  They had in the past considered the poor southern farmers to be of no account.  Many well-to-do people from other towns were coming to Southington to settle; population was increasing, and with it, the material resources.

On January 7, 1730, Rev. Curtiss was married to Hannah Burnham, daughter of Rev. William Burnham, the first pastor of the Kensington Society, and his wife, Hannah Wolcott, of Wethersfield.  Rev. Curtiss had built a fine home on the house lot, which was given to him by the church, and it was to this house he brought his bride.  Here Rev. Curtiss resided until his death in 1795 at the age of 89.

In the year 1740, or about 12 years after Rev. Curtiss’ ordination, a strong current of controversy rent the parish, which for many years caused an unbreachable schism in the congregation.  A new evangelical form of preaching was sweeping the churches of old, dry, sermons emotion was brought to a fever pitch when one listened to the likes of Dr. Bellamy of Wallingford or Mr. Whitfield, an evangelist.  These men greatly influenced many of the residents of Southington when they went to Wethersfield or Wallingford to hear them preach; however, when Rev. Curtiss was asked if he would allow Dr. Bellamy to preach in the Southington church, he emphatically denied the request.  The movement of evangelists gained considerable strength as the years passed; but Rev. Curtiss, as so many other pastors like him, refused to change his ways of doing things.  Several memorials were sent to the Hartford North Association, as were memorials to the General Assembly in Hartford, voicing both approval by Rev. Curtiss’ allies and aagainst the pastor by those who would have him dismissed.  The bitter dispute never having been resolved, another source of trouble arose about 1745-48.  The new controversy came about when it was decided either major repairs must be made to the old meeting house or build a new church.  Residents in the northern part of town wanted the new building about where the old church was located; but by that time many people had become residents in the lower part of town and wanted the church to be more centrally located.

In 1752 Jared Lee deeded to the church over an acre of land in what is now the center of town.  With much controversy concerning the new church and the old controversies, Deacon Jared Lee and Rev. Curtiss appeared before the North Consociation of Hartford County, but after giving both sides of the story to the Society, left any decision in the matter to the Consociation.  The Consociation decided to dissolve the pastoral relationship.

Rev. Curtiss remained in Southington and continued to attend church with his successors in the pulpit until his death in 1795.  Rev. Curtiss, our first ordained pastor, met many problems in this young church and was conscientious in his work.

Descendants of Rev. Curtiss have down through the years done much for the town.  Sally, granddaughter of Rev. Curtiss, left money for the Sally Lewis Academy, later known as Lewis High School; and because of Sally, her cousin Addin also left funds for the school.  The old home of Sally Lewis still stands on the northwest corner of Curtis Street and is the Just Buttons Museum, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Victor Luscomb.  In 1998 the home is used for offices and a photography studio.

It was realized by everyone that a new church was necessary, and those in favor of going ahead with the building far out numbered the dissenters; however, many who were loyal to Rev. Curtiss would not vote in the affirmative merely because they would not allow the opposition to have their way.  The membership had grown from two to three times the number of people who originally established the church.  Space was at a premium, and the old building was literally falling apart and bursting at its seams.  A great deal of travel was done through Southington by people coming to Farmington from Wallingford and New Haven.  There was also considerable travel by way of West Street to Bristol.  Many set up residence here in town.  Inns were built for the comfort of the wayfarer, and the present center of town was rapidly growing.

Several groups of residents wanted a new church to be located in their particular part of town.  The residents of the north wanted their church to remain about where it was.  Those to the west wanted the church located in that part of town.  Many wanted it in the rapidly growing center, and some wanted the church located in the southern end of town, which had also become quite populated.  It would seem to a present day reader that nothing would ever be resolved.  Memorials were sent to The General Assembly in Hartford to gain permission to build a new church, but permission was not granted because a two thirds majority had not voted for the building of the church.