Magyar News, 1996. szeptember-1997. augusztus (7. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1996-09-01 / 1. szám
Chinese fashion show and tea party at the Fairfield Church. Rev. Babos is on the right Reverend Alexander Babos was pastor of Calvin United Church of Christ 1949-1960 in Fairfield, Connecticut. He passed away recently. Betty Turrell wrote this article in his memory. UT* 1 1 here’s a joyous celebration in our Father’s House today as one so dearly loved is welcomed home!!” This sentiment which was written on a card our family sent to Rev. Maria Babos and family says it all. Rev. Alexander Babos came to our Fairfield church and assumed the Pastorate on February 3, 1949. What a beautiful spiritual couple were Rev. and Mrs. Babos. They were both ordained ministers who carried on a most special, heart-warming ministry. Rev. Babos had been sent out by the Hungarian church of Transylvania to work as a missionary in Manchuria in 1933. The Babos family was brought to this country in 1947 by the Board of National Missions. Upon their arrival to the United States, they visited Hungarian churches and shared their life and stones of their hardships but also felt the goodness of God blessing their family and so many others in the missionary field. Then the good news was heard. Rev. Alexander Babos was called as Pastor of our Fairfield Church at 901 Kings Highway. On November 20, 1949, services were Reverend Alexander Babos held for the last time in the little white chapel on Kings Highway. The church was taken down and sent to Warrenville, Connecticut. Soon the ground was broken for the new church building. One year later on November 19,1950, the dedication took place. We are very proud of our Fairfield church. It is of modem classic design, also incorporating early American design and traditional Hungarian elements taken from historically famous Hungarian churches. The interior is also modem classic with early American colonial form. The windows are very special. They are leaded and fired brilliant hand blown glass. The color will never fade since it is in the glass, and the designs are fired on the glass surface. One of the stained glass windows was donated by the Veterans of World War II and dedicated on October 28, 1951 in memory of all veterans and the four young men who lost their lives for America in combat from our church. All the other stained glass windows were donated by the parishioners of Fairfield church. The spire on the steeple expresses early American architecture. It was donated by the first bride and groom married in our church. The pulpit was donated by our mother church, die First United Church of Christ on Clinton Ave. which was formerly the Pine Street Hungarian Reformed Church. There were many new happenings under the leadership of Rev. Babos. The English service was introduced by the Babos’, and many of the “younger folks” were won back to our church. Rev. and Mrs. Babos were also early founders of the Released Time Program in Fairfield. The children from our public schools were released to the churches one hour a week for religious instruction. Several of our Sunday School teachers were able to teach the classes on our area. The Babos’ highest priority was the children! Because the Babos’ lives and hearts were close to the mission work of the church and of the world, Mrs. Babos brought into being The Mission Guild made up of our young women of the congregation. Our Mission Guild is still functioning, and we are fortunate that at least half of the members are able to work in many capacities of the church’s events. The Palm Sunday Conferences of the Eastern Classis were also credited to Rev. and Mrs. Babos, and the first Conference was hosted by the Fairfield church in 1954. The ladies of our church had beautiful experiences when invited to attend the Page 6
