N.C. Brainard Acquisition Fund and Seymour Museum Fund Income, 1973.25.67, Connecticut Museum o…

Images(2)

Parson White Presbyterism Church

PainterPainted by Louis Grosvernor Frink American, 1869 - 1956

DateOctober 1948

MediumDrawing; pencil, watercolor, and gouache on brown paper on cardboard

DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (image height x width): 15 3/4 x 20in. (40 x 50.8cm)
Sheet (height x width): 15 3/4 x 20in. (40 x 50.8cm)
Mount (height x width): 15 3/4 x 20in. (40 x 50.8cm)

ClassificationsGraphics

Credit LineN.C. Brainard Acquisition Fund and Seymour Museum Fund Income

DescriptionDrawing depicting a grey church with a black roof, pointed entrance and side doors, and a cylindrical side tower. To the right is a colonial-style white house with green shuttered windows, a black roof, and a central red chimney. Green winding paths lead to and from the church and houses' entrances. To the far left is a lush tree and on the far right is a tall, lush tree. Landscape in verdant.

Object number1973.25.67

MarkingsOn verso, stamped in black ink, "American Primitives / by Lou Frink / Windham, Conn. No. 67"InscribedOn recto, upper left corner, in pencil [Lou's handwriting], "Rev Samuel Whiting 1725 / Rev Thomas Clap 1739 / Rev Stephen White 1871 / Died 1879 / Lou Frink / Windham Connecticut / 1892"

On verso, upper center, in pen [Lou's handwriting], "Parson White / Presbyterism Church / Taken down. 1899 / Lou Frink / Painted / Oct 1948"

Lower right, in pencil, accession numberNotesWindham's Presbyterian Church was established in 1742, the same year the town of Windham was founded.

Parson white appears in Charles Montgomery Skinner's "Lamb of Sacrifice" story, which appears in his book "Myths and Legends of Our Own Land, 1896". According to the story, which happens during the Revolutionary War, Parson White and his young daughter showed hospitality and charity to a messenger riding the Connecticut Valley and the children of Boston who were hungry.

On the drawing (recto, upper left), Lou wrote the names of the churche's Reverends and their serving dates. These are as follow:
- Reverend Samuel Whiting (1670-1725) was the first minister of Windham, CT.
- Reverend Thomas Clap (1703-1767) took over as Reverand of the church in 1725 after Rev. Whiting's passing.
- Reverend Stephen White took over in 1871 and died in died in 1879.

Sources:
Skinner, Charles Montgomery. Myths and Legends of Our Own Land. United Kingdom: J.P. Lippincott Company, 1896.

https://www.windhamchurch.org/history

Subject Terms