Paynes Corners Christian Church

Paynes Corners Christian Church was formed as the Disciple Church in May of 1858, after gospel meetings were held in the one-room schoolhouse still standing (2014) at the site of the church building on the southeast corner of Warner and Warren-Sharon roads.

Before the church was formed, residents at Paynes Corners traveled to church to Brookfield or Vienna Center, about three miles away, on horseback, horsedrawn buggies, or on foot. In the winter, sleds were used to travel to churche. The residents decided that they wanted a church in their own neighborhood.

The church was founded by Elder Theobald Miller, Reverend Mathias Christy, and James Bradley. There were approximately 50 charter members.

The land upon which the church building stands was purchased by Sylvester Merriam for $50 and deeded to the members by Alfred and Sabra Andrews Wheeler on October 1, 1858. It was noted that the largest donors were Henry Lane and Sylvester Merriam, each giving $60 for the construction of the church. The deed for the lot was signed on October 2, 1858. The building contract of $720 was given to John Groves of Brookfield. The final cost of construction was $1,000.

The first person baptized at the church was Polly Payne.

In 1900, church services were held in the schoolhouse while some remodeling was done.

The church building was first heated by two coal stoves. In 1923, the Ladies' Aid Society raised funds to remove the two stoves and chimney and to install a new coal furnace underneath the building. A basement and stairway was added in 1945 with the help of Clate Waldorf. Elmer Brunswick wired the building for electricity, ending the use of kerosene. In 1973, new siding was placed on the building, which is still the original structure.

The original pulpit was massive and was reached by several steps in the west end, with a window in the rear. When a new floor was laid in the church, the pulpit was placed in the east end and a vestibule was added. The carpenter that made this improvement was Asa McDaniels.

The church was eventually renamed Paynes Corners Christian Church after the Solomon Payne family, the first settlers at Paynes Corners.

Charter Members:

• Mrs. Eliza Alderman

• Mrs. Sylvia Alderman

• Mary Alderman

• Mary Eliza Merriam Amy (wife of Guy Amy)

• Mr. John Andrews

• Mrs. John Andrews

• Mrs. Nelson Baldwin

• James Bradley

• Mr. William Burton

• Mrs. William Burton

• Catherine Cauffield

• Eliza Cauffield

• Jane Cauffield

• John Cauffield

• Mary Ann Cauffield

• Jane McMullin Christy (wife of Matthias Christy)

• Matthias Christy

• Lester Clark

• Lewis Clark

• Chauncey Forward

• Mary Ackley Forward (wife of Chauncey Forward)

• Martha Grosscase

• Mary Ann Groves

• Mr. William Groves

• Mrs. William Groves

• James Haney

• Phoebe Williams Pope Hudson (wife of Robert Hudson)

• Robert Hudson

• Henry Lane

• Eliza Alderman Mervin (wife of Lester Mervin)

• Julia Patterson Mervin (wife of Norris Mervin)

• Lola Mervin

• Norris Mervin

• Alcina Vinton Miner (wife of James Miner)

• James Miner

• Matilda Musser Hill (wife of Stanley Hill)

• Stanley Hill

• Daniel Patterson

• Fannie Flower Patterson (wife of Daniel Patterson)

• Ichabod B. Payne

• Polly Gates Payne (wife of Solomon Payne)

• Mrs. Julia Robb

• Mr. Scoville

• Mrs. Scoville

• Rachel Spencer

• James Struble

• Nancy Smith Struble (wife of James Struble)

• Mary Ann Struble

• Sabra Andrews Wheeler (wife of Alfred Wheeler)

The congregation celebrated the church's 125th anniversary on Sunday, May 1, 1983 under Reverend Henry W. Cadwell. On that day there was an 11:00 AM service followed by a covered dish dinner, and then a church rededication service at 2:30 PM. At the time the church had 75 members.

The cemetery behind the church referred to as the Payne's Corner Cemetery. A link to the cemetery may be found here. The first burial in the cemetery was Robert Burns. Reverend Matthias Christy, one of the founders of the church, is buried there, along with Lester Mervin, who for years was a Sunday school superintendent there.