In his report for 177 1, he informs the Society, " that the fourth church in his mission is now building." This edifice was probably completed and opened for divine service in the fall of 1 7 7 1 , and stood directly opposite the cross roads leading from South Salem to Ridgefield, upon the land of the late Thaddeus Keeler, whose grandfather, Timothy, is said to have sold the lot to the church j although, as we have previously shown, tradition asserts that the lot was given by James Brown, Esq., the donor of the Parsonage Lands. The late Jeremiah Keeler, who died in February, 1853, (at the advanced age of ninety-thiee,) remembered its erection in 1 77 1. It was built on contract by Benj. Chapman, of the very best oak timber, and contained three hundred and sixty-five braces."

In 1772 Mr. Townsend reported to the Venerable Propagation Society "that his congregations were increasing." The Society's abstract for 1775, says : " That Mr. Townsend is constant in the performance of his duty in his own parish, and preaches frequently in the parts adjacent." The Rector continued the services of the Church in Lower Salem until the third Sunday after the Declaration of Independence, July 2 1st, 1776, when in the afternoon as he was officiating and had proceeded some length in the service, a company of armed soldiers -- said to have belonged to Col. Sheldon's Regiment, stationed on Keelers hill directly opposite -- marched into the church with drums beating and fifes playing, their guns loaded and bayonets fixed, as if going to battle; and as soon as he commenced reading the collects for the king and royal family, they rose to their feet and the officer commanded him upon the peril of his life to desist.