Starting on July 1st, members brought up from the church basement the pieces of the huge model of the FCC sanctuary and the bell tower which Alan Berry designed last year, Ron Gamon built with his construction team, and a whole crew of members painted and decorated. This year was easier. We only had to bring the pieces of the model up and reassemble and decorate them on the flatbed that ELJ Construction again generously donated to us, along with their truck and driver, for the July 4th parade.
Also different from last year was the splendid reenactment by our costumed church members of the moment in 1785 when their new minister, the Rev. Henry Wight, was the first in the nation to celebrate the Fourth of July by reading the entire Declaration of Independence out loud to the assembled Bristol population. This practice, in which Rev. Wight was personally involved for more than 40 years, has continued unbroken from 1785 to the present day.
Sam Halt Harcourt portrayed the Rev. Wight, reading from a huge version of the Declaration of Independence. The Bailey and Fontaine families, both parents and children, along with Sandy, Rei, Brady, and Bella served as the Revolutionary era congregation. Katie Evans and Katherine Harcourt did yeoman’s work carrying the “walking banner” in front of the float for the entire length of the parade. And three cheers for our own wonderful minister, the Rev. Dr. Nancy H Soukup, for joining the crew in her special July 4th stole. Perhaps it was just as hot in 1785, but this July 4th was exceptionally hot–well into the 90s. The reenactors were greeted all along the way with great enthusiasm, offers of beverages, and even some offers to douse them with cool water from a hose! All were gratefully accepted.
Thanks to Rei Battcher for providing all of the meticulously recreated adult costumes and also to the Bristol Historical & Preservation Society for loaning us the costumes worn by the young girls on the float. Thanks also to the Harcourt family and the Patterson family for providing costumes for Rev. Wight and other children on the float. And thanks especially to ELJ Construction and the entire Francis family for their great kindness in again generously providing the flatbed, the truck and the wonderful driver who made this church float possible.
