In 1921, after the pulpit of our church had not had a settled pastor for over a year, Dr. Roy G. Pavy accepted the call by our people.  Dr. Rev. Pavy had just previously served in a church at Mansfield Center for one year.

Dr. Pavy was a native of Greensburg, Indiana.  In 1907 he received his B.A. degree from Franklin College there, and in 1918 the University of Chicago awarded him a Master of Arts degree.  Dr. Pavy continued his studies in Chicago in 1919 and in the following year, entered Yale where he received his degree as Doctor of Divinity.

As was stated earlier, Dr. Pavy came to our church, which had not had the services of a full time minister for over a year, and our Sunday School enrollment had dropped alarmingly.  This problem was successfully remedied by Dr. Pavy, and it is said he had the talent for inspiring others to work for him.  It was during Dr. Pavy’s pastorate that our church celebrated its 200th Anniversary with several changes to the interior, which we still enjoy today.  The beautiful center chandelier was installed and also the two matching side lights in the choir loft.  The carpeting we still use was installed at this time. The door to the north of the church was also made to match the one to the south at that time.  The balcony access doors into the church rooms were made in 1989.  Newer carpeting has since replaced that which is mentioned.  The north door mentioned is on the main sanctuary level.

After a successful pastorate of four years and his marriage to Miss Gladys Bishop of Southington, Dr. Pavy left to accept the call of the Second Congregational Church of Westfield, Massachusetts.  Here he developed a strong young people’s program.  He introduced a Religious Education Committee and helped in planning the Sunday School program.  These and many other activites became the enthusiastic responsibility of Dr. Pavy.  He was responsible for the inception of many new programs, and activites which resulted in increased church attendance and membership.

While in Westfield, Dr. Pavy organized and was twice president of the Westfield Council of Churches.  He was active in the Hampden Association of Congregational Churches; served as a member of the Business Committee of the Massachusetts Congregational Conference and Missionary Society; and was, for years, active as a director of the Boston Seaman’s Society.

For 17 years the Pavy’s were active in the life of Westfield.  During World War II, when the army was accepting 50 year old men, Dr. Pavy resigned his pastorate and entered the Chaplain Corps in January of 1943.  After chaplain’s school, he served at Camp Wheeler in Macon, Georgia, and later was assigned to Fort McClellan in Alabama.

Following his discharge from the army in November, 1945, he became the pastor for the Coral Gables Congregational Church, Coral Gables, Florida.  The church was at a low ebb, having no Sunday School, no young people’s groups, and only a handful of loyal members.  In four months the congregation had more than doubled and was becoming a growing concern.

While in Florida, Mrs. Pavy became interested in floral arrangements and eventually became an accredited flower show judge.  She has maintained an interest in gardening and is now the president of the East Haddam Garden Club.

In 1961, during the controbersy over the merger of Congregational churches joining the United Church of Christ, Dr. Pavy was asked to act as Executive Secretary of the Connecticut Fellowship of Congregational Christian Churches.  He became the first minister of Founders Church in Harwinton and later of Heritage Church in Middletown.

In April of 1966, Dr. and Mrs. Pavy went abroad and visited Greece, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Turkey, and Italy.  The high point of the trip for Dr. Pavy was the tour of the Holy Land where he walked many of the same streets Jesus had walked.

Before retiring to their home in Chester, Connecticut, Dr. Pavy received a Doctor of Divinity degree from Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin.  This award was given for his outstanding work in revitalizing the Coral Gables Church.

The Connecticut Fellowship made him minister at large in the spring of 1966, which office he held until his death on July 6, 1967.

Shortly after retiring to his Chester, Connecticut farm where Dr. Pavy raised Barred Plymouth poultry and registered Suffolk sheep, he was asked to serve "ad interim" during summers, and during times when several churches were without ministers.  Between 1961-67, Dr. Pavy served churches at Chester, Ivoryton, East Haddam, and Salem.

Mrs. Pavy lived in Southington for a time after her husband’s death and now lives in an apartment in Moodus, Connecticut.  She is active in the Colonial Guild of the East Haddam church and the Connecticut Fellowship of Congregational Christian Women.  She still enjoys traveling and driving and enjoys sewing as a hobby.

We are indebted to Mrs. Pavy for the information she has been able to supply us concerning her husband’s long and faithful service to this and many other churches throughout his life.