Date: Fri 05-Mar-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

brides-Meeting-House-Paisley

Full Text:

BRIDES: A Historic Building Goes Online, Sharing Its Unique Offerings With An

Even Wider Audience

(with cut)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Outside of Las Vegas, there are very few church-like settings where a

non-denominational, interfaith religious, or civil wedding ceremony can take

place.

Newtown Meeting House, on Main Street in the center of Newtown, is one such

place. Of course, this is not sin city. This is prototypical New England -- a

dream come true for anyone planning a wedding.

You can learn more about the Meeting House on its new Web site at

www.reastart.com/chapel.

With color photographs taken during some of the peak foliage season and a

number of ceremonies, the site literally takes visitors inside the meeting

house without having to leave home. Visitors to the Web site are given a

glimpse of the beauty of one of Newtown's historic buildings.

Photographs offer a look at just a few of the ceremonies that have been held

at the meeting house within the past few years, including one that had both a

priest and a cantor officiating, and another with a deacon and a Catholic

priest.

The site also notes that a list of ceremony officiants is available upon

request, which makes planning what could have been a difficult wedding to pull

off much easier for the future bride and groom. Ceremony planning assistance

and vendor referrals are also available through the meeting house, according

to the Web site.

One Of The Treasures

In The Borough Of Newtown

Located literally within the shadow of the town's famous flagpole, Newtown

Meeting House is currently undergoing extensive renovation work to both its

interior and exterior. Yet even with a fresh coat of paint, new carpeting and

new pew cushions, the building has retained the same charm it has had for more

than 200 years. (And don't worry: The renovations have not stopped any of the

building's scheduled weddings from being held; workmen clean up their

equipment at the end of each work week, so the church is ready every weekend

for its visitors.)

"The meeting house has always been a nifty place, but it's going to be even

niftier," noted Sherry Paisley, the building's wedding agent. "Although the

meeting house in non-denominational, it still retains a sacred flavor."

What was once the home of the Newtown Congregational Church assembly, the

meeting house became a non-consecrated church in 1988 when it was sold to the

town of Newtown for $1. Now anyone can have any kind of wedding there. It is

interfaith-friendly. Everyone from priests, rabbis and ministers to judges,

justices of the peace and Buddhist monks are welcome.

This is no longer the case in most places, particularly in the past 10-15

years, according to Mrs Paisley. Churches are now reluctant about who they

will marry. Many want to know the people better or even have them attend the

church for awhile.

Those non-denominational places with a sacred atmosphere are limited. In fact,

according to Mrs Paisley, there are only three of them within a 150-mile

radius of northern Fairfield County. One is in Stratford, but it seats only 50

people. The Meeting House sits 200.

"There is also a lovely place in Newburgh, NY, but it is only open April to

October because it sits on top of a mountain," Mrs Paisley explained.

The Meeting House is open year round and provides the perfect setting for a

bride and groom looking to celebrate their big day in style.

"Most people like a sacred atmosphere no matter what their faith might be.

This provides that," she said. "Most brides want a center aisle to walk down.

We have that. We also have a working pipe organ. It's almost unheard of to

find one of those."

And, noted Mrs Paisley, look at the location: right smack in the middle of

Newtown. The Borough of Newtown is listed on the National Register of Historic

Places. That puts the Meeting House on the National Register, too.

"There are people who would kill for that stuff. You'd think you'd died and

gone to Heaven," she said.

The Meeting House became the property of the town after the Congregational

Church build a new house of worship on West Street. While the town owns the

building, it is actually supported by the non-profit, charitable Heritage

Preservation Trust of Newtown, Inc.

Newtown High School graduate Pat Sullivan's wedding at the Meeting House last

October was a big hit. The men in the wedding party were all dressed in kilts.

Outside, a bagpiper filled the air with music as passersby gawked with

delight.

"There were so many people just milling around that had nothing to do with the

wedding," Mrs Paisley said. "There is very little quaint left in this country.

We're way over sophisticated. When they find something like this going on they

just love it."

At several Meeting House weddings, bride and groom have been seen leaving in a

horse-drawn carriage.

According to Mrs Paisley, the original Meeting House was built in 1720 in the

exact spot where the flagpole stands today. When the legendary John Beach came

to town and became an episcopal zealot, he called for the construction of an

episcopal church -- Trinity Church. In order to make that happen, he struck a

deal with the Meeting House people. In 1792, the building was put on logs and

rolled 130 feet to the center of West Street, where it sits today.

The French General Rochambeau and his troops were believed to have marched

through Newtown during the Revolutionary War. Legend has it, some of

Rochambeau's more enthusiastic soldiers used the building's rooster

weathervane for target practice. It still has the bullet holes to prove it.

Newtown Meeting House has bookings through the Year 2000. However, there are

some dates still open. The facility is available for weddings anytime on

Saturday and on Sunday after 3 pm (Newtown Presbyterian Church uses the

building as its meeting place for Sunday morning services). Anyone who uses

the building is entitled to vending referrals, Mrs Paisley said.

Mrs Paisley has been in the business for 25 years, during which she has served

as a private consultant and published The Brides Guide , a how-to book for

weddings that was updated and released annually from 1986 to 1997.

To meet with Mrs Paisley concerning Newtown Meeting House, call her at

270-8293. The meeting house email address is newtown/mtghse@excite.com.