Sunday, June 12, 2011, was an exciting day of history with an enacted visit from a Circuit Rider (thank you Rev. Skip Danforth), complete with a horse (thank you Chief William Quinn). Even a rainy day could not dampen our spirits as we celebrated the beginnings of our 175 years in Orleans. 

OUR CIRCUIT RIDER HISTORY

Although the history of the Orleans church is spotty in the early days, it is very clear that a circuit rider, a Rev Brett (or Britt) was responsible for the earliest history of our church. These early preachers of the gospel were not officially designated as circuit riders, but were colloquially called “circuit riders” or “saddlebag preachers.”

Pliny Brett was born about December 15, 1786, the son of Rufus Brett and Susanna (Cory) Brett. He was baptized on April 1, 1787 in the Fourth Church of Christ in Bridgewater (now the First Congregational Church of Brockton). From his death record, we learn that he entered the ministry in 1807, when he would have been 20 years old. He and his wife Frances (Fanny) lived in Sandwich (now Bourne) from about 1820 to 1830. Four of their children were born there between 1822 and 1830. There is a record of him performing a wedding in 1823, and he is listed as a Methodist minister. The dates, name, and the place all corroborate that he was the actual circuit rider who began a good work in Orleans. Although the church dwindled after his departure in 1830, those who remained took the next step to establish the Methodist Episcopal Church in Orleans; and they certainly did, as did Paul, thank God in all their remembrance of Reverend Brett. And we can attest that “He who began a good work in you will carry it to completion...” Philippians 1:4-6, paraphrased.

- Carole Swartz