JAMES MARS

Welcome Faith Church Family and Friends!

190th Historic Faith Facts for March, 2009:

James Mars, a deacon at Talcott Street Church,
an abolitionist, author and Revolutionary war veteran.

Hartford Blacks who joined the abolitionist cause no longer favored emigration to Liberia, but winning civil rights for the City's Black population, legally free since the end of servitude in the State in 1838.
One notable figure in this regard was James Mars. He was one of those whose service in the Revolutionary War led to the pursuit of a professional career, and entering church office must have offered the fewest hurdles. Mars became a deacon at the Talcott Street Church and actively sought the reform of Connecticut and national legislation affecting Blacks. During the 1840s and 50s he organized several petitions to the Connecticut legislature regarding voting and social rights for Blacks.
In 1864 he wrote, "Connecticut - I love thy name, but not thy restrictions. I think the time is not far distance when the colored man will have rights in Connecticut." Indeed, these rights would come, but it took a century, and social justice remained allusive.

Research excerpts from:The Hartford Black History Project

For more interesting facts and information on Black Hartford's History
please visit the website provided below under James Mars
on the website click on "Movements for Change".




Historian Yvonne McGregor-McCaulley

Welcome!

Hello, fellow Tufts Museum Studies students! The purpose of this blog is to introduce you, visitors, and members to Faith Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, in Hartford, Connecticut. This church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a stop on Connecticut's Freedom Trail Tour. It is also the third oldest African -American Congregational Church in the United States. One of the first pastors of this church and central to its history ,was Rev. J.W.C. Pennington, a former slave who is remembered as an eloquent orator, preacher ,and freedom fighter. Faith Church is celebrating it's 190th year in 2009. The church was built around 1872, and was originally the Windsor Avenue Congregational Church. As the newly nominated Historian of this historic church, I am charged with documenting, collecting ,and preserving the church's history. Many material objects, portraits, letters, photographs, ledgers, newspaper clippings, etc. are currently in boxes, storage files, and bags. These items are not centrally located and many are inaccessible for public viewing. There are several approaches that I have considered in the maintainance and presentation of these items. The first is to create a small museum in a central location within the church. My idea is to rotate ,from storage , a display monthly or every two months or so. Secondly, my thought is to create a photo journal publication or dvd of items, with text and resources for additional information. The journal will be given out to members and anyone else who requests one. My third idea is to create a museum- type website that would include the major items that I think would be of interest to visitors to the site. This third idea would allow me to keep items in storage, archived and in a central location. My question is: which of the three above ideas would you choose? Any and all comments or suggestions are greatly appreciated. I hope you have enjoyed this brief history of Faith Church. For additional historical information regarding this church, please click on the links, provided on this blog.

Welcome Faith Family, Visitors and Friends