History of Town and Church Federated Church of Norfolk to publish book on history of town and church Did you know that. Norfolk was founded because of a split within a congregation in Wrentham? The name of the town may have been a reference to the "north folk" who left that church and moved to North Wrentham? The Wrentham church leaders filed a bill in the state's General Court to allow the Congregational Church to conduct its affairs without approval of town meeting? The measure passed, marking one of the first decisions that established separation of church and town. In 1805 the church petitioned the Massachusetts General Court to use the parish lines as the boundary for a new town to be named "Vernon?" The church and its pastor, Moses Thacher, were once the center of the national movement against the Free Masons? These historical milestones and more are contained in The Federated Church of Norfolk, A Bicentennial History, a 70-page hardcover book that includes historical documents, color photos and in-depth research from primary sources dating as far back as 1793. Aaron and Emily Nicodemus, and Phyllis Payne wrote the book on behalf of the Federated Church of Norfolk, with the support of their husbands Bob Nicodemus and Richard Payne. In addition to detailing how the town of Norfolk was founded around the church split that created what is now the Federated Church, the book also details the time that Rev. Thacher was recognized across New England as the most active clerical politician in the Anti-Masonic crusade. The book also details the little things that happened in the church community, be it recovering from two devastating fires, buying a new church organ, or celebrating harvest festivals. Federated Church parishioners first split from the Congregational Church in Wrentham in 1795.  They followed their controversial pastor, Rev. David Avery, to what is now the town of Norfolk.  The first half of the book narrates this story up to 1870, when the town fathers drew up parish lines and applied to the state to form a town.  The second half continues the story of the church and its place in the community. The book project began as an outgrowth of the church's bicentennial celebration in 1995.  During each of the six months leading up the bicentennial, a history committee researched and re-enacted moments in the history of Norfolk and the church, complete with original sermons, living history performances, historical displays, and period costumes, music and food served at coffee hour. Much of the research of the book is based on the church's Book of Records, hand-written records of the North Society in Wrentham written by church clerks dating back to 1795. The Book of Records was the major primary source for the history of the church.  It details the controversy over the split, the description of the parish lines, the names of original subscribers who promised money to build the first meeting-house, names of church members through the years, a detailed description of the original church building, and the names of ministers called to serve. Karen Giusti and Alan Mackey painstakingly completed this transcription.  Research also included visits to the Peabody and Essex Museum in Ipswich, as interviews with local historians Richard Ross, Bruce Crowther in Wrentham, and Thelma Ravinski and Betsy Pyne in Norfolk. The book costs $35.00.   Anyone who pre-orders the book will have their name published as a subscriber. Contact either Emily Nicodemus (508-528- 4586) enicodemus@comcast.net or Phyllis Payne (508-541-8110) Richard.w.payne@comcast.net for more information. The book will be on display at Town Day, Town Hill on Saturday Sept 9, and again on Sept 23 at Federated Church's Harvest Festival. 9/9/2006 ###