USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > A History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, vol 1 > Part 49
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In the year 1905, letters of dismissal were given fifty-eight members of the Second Baptist church, for the purpose of forming Trinity Baptist Church. They then worshipped in the Foster street chapel, which had been enlarged and beautified by the Second Baptist society, at large expense. Rev. William H. Nobbs, who for some years had conducted the services in the chapel, became pastor of the new church. Previous to this foundation, Trinity Church had an interesting preliminary history. The Fifth 'street mission was formed in the year 1868, in a store near Branch street, and a building was erected there with the use of the land, given by a mill corporation, and the donation of the sum of three hundred dollars by three other mills. The promoters of the church enterprise here were such men as Deacon Charles Coburn, Alexander O. Cook and Spaulding South- worth. The Second Baptist took charge of the destinies of the mission in 1888, at which time the building was removed to Foster street, where, as shown, Trinity Church was formed in 1905. At the head of the mission on various occasions had been Revs. J. F. Watts, J. McLean, James Law- son, Irving J. Enslin and Rolla E. Hunt. Rev. Mr. Nobbs was pastor part of the year 1905, and he was succeeded by Rev. Frank W. Wheeler. In 1919, this church was united with the Third Baptist church. Mr. Wheeler was succeeded by Rev. Alonzo E. Murphy October 1, 1906. Rev. T. G.
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Brownson became pastor February 14, 1910; Rev. H. G. Alger, September 20, 1913.
Congregational Churches .- The First Congregational Church began its history under conditions similar to those of the early days of Congre- gationalism, the first meetings being held at the homes of the membership, at schoolhouses or storehouses. It will be remembered that the Congrega- tions at Scrooby, England, were wont to hold their meetings in a barn. Organization of this church was brought about January 9, 1816, at the home of Richard Durfee, by relatives and friends, namely Elizabeth Wealthy, Joseph and Richard Durfee, and Benjamin Brayton. The first building of their own was erected by this society on Anawan street, near South Main street, in the latter part of 1821, and it was enlarged in 1827. It was this building that was made over later into a schoolhouse, and that was destroyed in the fire of 1843. The present edifice was dedicated No- vember 21, 1832, and the first pastor was Rev. Augustus B. Reed, 1823-25. He was succeeded by Rev. Thomas M. Smith, 1826-31. 2The next pastor was the author of the first published history of Fall River, Senator and Congressman, Rev. Orin Fowler, 1831-50. Then in their turn came Rev. Benjamin J. Belyea, 1850-56; Rev. J. Lewis Diman, later of the faculty of Brown University, 1856-60; Rev. Solomon D. Fay, 1861-63; Rev. William W. Adams, D. D. 1863-1909; Rev. Willard L. Sperry, 1909-14, who was assistant pastor during his first two years; Rev. Stanley R. Fisher, 1916-19; Rev. John E. Lebosquet, Ph.D., 1920 -.
The Central Congregational Church was organized November 16, 1842, as the Central Church in Fall River, the ecclesiastical society being formed January 20, 1843. First meetings were held at the homes of members and at Pocasset Hall. When the Pocasset block was destroyed by the fire of 1843, the Baptist church invited the Central church to wor- ship in their building, and the invitation was accepted and the congrega- tion so continued until November of that year, when they removed to the vestry of their new meeting house on Bedford street. The pastors to this time had been Revs. Robert S. Hitchcock, Edward A. Washburn, Roswell D. Hitchcock, Benjamin Hosford. The new building of the society donated for the purpose by the Durfee family, at the corner of Bedford and Rock streets, was dedicated April 24, 1844, this church then having one hundred and six members. Rev. Samuel Washburn was or- dained and installed as the first regular pastor. In April, 1872, the par- sonage and lot on Walnut street were presented to the society. The cor- nerstone of the new church was laid July 22, 1874, and the church was dedicated December 13, 1875. More than $125,000 had been subscribed for the building fund, which included two single gifts of $40,000 each from Dr. Nathan Durfee and Colonel Richard Borden. To defray a debt of $100,000 the sum of $76,000 was contributed, and this, with the pro- ceeds of the sale of the old church property and other lands cleared the society of its debt. In 1891 the chapel was built at a cost of $18,000. Henry H. Earl has published an exhaustive history of this church. The pastors since Rev. Samuel Washburn have been as follows: Rev. Eli Thurs- ton, 1849-69; Rev. Michael Burnham, D.D., 1870-82; Rev. Eldridge Mix, D. D., 1882-90; Rev. William Walker Jubb, D. D., 1891-96; Rev. William Allen Knight, 1897-1902; Rev. Clarence F. Swift, D. D., 1902 -.
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The First, Central and Fowler Congregational churches were joined in the missionary endeavor that saw the beginning of the Pilgrim Con- gregational church, Rev. Donald Browne of the Tiverton Congregational church commencing work here as its superintendent in 1892. A chapel was built on Broadway, January 3, 1893, through the generosity of Simeon B. Chase and Leonard N. Slade, and in February, 1894, the membership expressed a desire to be organized into a church, and they then adopted the creed, covenant and by-laws. The mission was therefore organized into the church on March 13, Rev. Samuel V. Cole, now President of Wheaton College, being the moderator, and Rev. Payson W. Lyman the scribe of the session. There were then forty-two members of the church. A new building fund was started in November, 1907; in 1908 the land was pur- chased; in January, 1909, the church was incorporated, and the present commodious structure was built in 1910, at an outlay of $20,000, and an additional $1800 for the organ, the gift of Andrew Carnegie and Mrs. James Marshall, the latter also giving the beautiful east window. The new church, with its name Pilgrim, instead of Broadway, was dedicated June 3, 1910, Rev. Willard L. Sperry, of the First Church, preaching the sermon, and Dr. Frederick E. Emrich, of the Home Missionary Society, offering the invocation.
The first pastor of this church, Rev. Donald Browne, resigned in October, 1894, and the church was without a pastor for six months, the organization then being under the general supervision of Rev. W. Walker Jubb, pastor of the Central church. Rev. William E. Todd of Bristol, Rhode Island, accepted the pastorate in April, 1895, and he remained until June, 1896. Rev. Henry G. McGathlin of Harwich, this State, entered upon the pastorate, and he was ordained and installed in December, 1896, but he resigned in July, 1899. Rev. James E. Enman was installed by council in October, 1899, and he remained eight years, resigning in June, 1907. Rev. Owen James began his pastorate in September, and he resigned in March, 1914. Rev. Donald MacDonald came in April as acting . pastor, supplying the pulpit until September, 1915. His successor, Rev. John D. Waldron, was called to the pulpit in April, 1917, and he remained until May, 1918. Rev. Charles E. Dunn became pastor in January, 1919, and in 1923, Rev. A. R. Macdougall.
Friends .- Benjamin S. C. Gifford, a member of the board of directors of the Fall River Historical Society, stated in a paper read before that society in 1923, that there were Friends living in Fall River in 1700, but they belonged to the Portsmouth, Rhode Island, meeting, ten miles away, and they could only get there occasionally, as circumstances permitted. In 1818 a meeting was established here, and they gathered in the second story of the Troy Mill dyehouse. There were several Friends who were stock- holders in this mill. Five years afterwards, the lot on North Main street. now occupied by the Friends' meetinghouse, was purchased for the sum of $225, and a meetinghouse was built. The old house was moved away to Cherry street in 1836, and later was moved to lower Cherry street. That year a new meetinghouse was built, which with various changes and modifications, still serves the purpose of the society as a house of worship. In 1836 there were fifty-six male heads of families who belonged to this meeting, and of that number fifteen bore the name of Buffinton,
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and eighteen that of Chace. Henry C. Aydellot was the minister in -1877, and his wife Phebe S. Aydellot succeeded him. Ministers that have follow- ed in succession have been : T. Oscar Moon, 1907-10; Samuel T. Haworth, 1911-13; W. Carlton Wood, 1918-19; Charles W. Mesner, 1919 -. À Friends Mission chapel was dedicated at Stafford road in April, 1900.
The M. E. Church .- Pioneers in Methodism began to come to this section in the early part of the last century, with their message fresh from the life and teachings of Wesley. It was Rev. Ebenezer Blake who in 1824, while stationed at Somerset, began holding Methodist meetings in Troy, "preaching lectures" here once in two weeks. He continued here as the apostle of Methodism, while Rev. Herman Perry took his place at Somerset. A Methodist class was then started with a dozen members, and with John Anthony, afterwards a local preacher, as their leader. Members of that class included the following-named: Mr. and Mrs. Luther Chase, Constant B. Wyman, Elouisa Chace, Rebecca Lindsey, afterwards the wife of Mr. Tillinghast, Nancy Cory, later the wife of Rev. Daniel Webb, and Betsy L. Douglas. Two newly appointed Somerset preachers, Rev. Charles Virgin and Rev. Nathan B. Spaulding continued preaching here every two weeks during 1826, and in 1827, as the result of a revival, Rev. Mr. Spaulding came here as the regular preacher, the place of worship being a schoolhouse at the corner of Anawan and South Main streets, in the rear of the present church edifice. At this time, nearly one hundred persons were associated with the local society.
One of the most interesting items in the history of this church is the fact that Rev. Edward T. Taylor, known the world over, afterwards, as "Father" Taylor, received his appointment here, June 17, 1827, Troy thus appearing on the conference list for the first time-the New England Conference then holding sessions at Lisbon, New Hampshire. He was a great preacher, so acknowledged by all denominations.
"Father" Taylor energetically started work towards the building of the church, and the structure was completed in December, 1827-a modest building without spire or bell, and situated on the lower part of the present Central street. "Father" Taylor removed in 1828 to the great scene of his life's action, as pastor of the Mariner's Church in Boston. Rev. E. Blake and others supplied until the next conference. In 1830, Rev. Daniel Webb became the pastor, and he was succeeded in 1831 by Rev. Ira M. Bidwell. In 1833, Rev. Squire B. Haskell was the pastor, and he was succeeded in 1835 by Rev. Mark Staple. Afterwards, Rev. Jesse Fillmore and Rev. Hector Brownson supplied the pulpit. Rev. Phineas Crandall was appointed to the pastorate in June, 1838, and while he was here the debt on the old meetinghouse was paid and another house of worship was built where the present church stands. The church was dedicated in February, 1840, by Rev. Orange Scott. In 1840 came Rev. Isaac Bonney, and in 1842 he was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Ely. In 1843, the great fire burned the Methodist meetinghouse to the ground, and the First Congregational Church invited the Methodists to hold their meet- ings there, and afterwards the Methodist people met for a time in the furniture warehouse of A. L. Westgate and William Borden. The new church building was dedicated April 3, 1844, Rev. Charles K. True, D. D., preaching the dedicatory sermon. Rev. George F. Pool was then the
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pastor, and he was followed in 1845 by Rev. James D. Butler, and he in 1847 by Rev. David Patten. In 1849, Rev. Daniel Wise became pastor of the church, and. in his first year here, during a revival, more than two hundred persons united with the church.
Rev. Mr. Wise was returned here for a second year, with Rev. Elijah T. Fletcher as his associate. During the year 1850 the second church was organized as a distinct body, land was purchased on Bank street, and later a church building was erected. Rev. Frederick Upham was pastor of the First Church in 1851, and in succession the pastors at that time were: Rev. Elisha B. Bradford in 1853; Rev. John Howson, 1855, when a parsonage was purchased on the corner of South and South Main streets, and a new pipe organ installed in the church; Rev. Thomas Ely, a former pastor, 1857; Rev. Andrew Mckeown; Rev. Charles H. Payne; Rev. Henry Baylies, 1863; Rev. Joseph James, 1864; Rev. John D. King, 1867; Rev. A. A. Wright, 1870; Rev. Samuel L. Gracey, 1873; Rev. Ensign McChes- ney, 1874; Rev. Watson L. Phillips, 1877; Rev. William T. Worth, 1879; Rev. Warren A. Luce, 1882; Rev. D. A. Jordan, 1883; Rev. A. E. Drew, 1886; Rev. Archibald McCord, 1887; Rev. Walter J. Yates, 1889; Rev. Warren A. Luce, 1892; Rev. Stephen O. Benton, D. D., 1896; Rev. W. I. Ward, 1901; Rev. Thomas Tyrie, 1903; Rev. John E. Blake, 1905; Rev. John H. Newland, D.D., 1913; Rev. John E. Charlton, Ph.D., 1917; Rev. Robert A. Colpitts, 1921. During 1870 the present parsonage was built on Ridge street. The church edifice was raised and stores built beneath in 1867. St. Paul's and the First M. E. church were united as one church in 1916, the last religious service being held in the old First Church edifice July 2, 1916.
It was as one of the results of a great revival among the Methodists in the year 1851, that St. Paul's M. E. Church was formed, the membership of the First M. E. Church being so increased on that account that it was deemed expedient to form another society apart from the First Church. Therefore one hundred and twenty-three of the members of the former church organized in 1851, and in the following year built their church on Bank street. The benevolences of this church have been many and its influence has been widely felt in Methodism. The following-named have been the pastors: Revs. Ralph W. Allen, 1851-53; John Hobart, 1853-54; M. J. Talbot, 1855-56; Samuel C. Brown, 1857-58; John B. Gould, 1859-60; J. A. Chapman, 1861-62; Samuel C. Brown, 1863-64; Alfred A. Wright, 1865-66; George A. Bowler, 1866-67; Francis J. Wagner, 1867-69; Emory J. Haynes, 1870-71; George E. Reed, 1872-74; George W. Woodruff, 1875-76; R. H. Rust, 1877-79; C. W. Gallagher, 1880-81; E. M. Taylor, 1882-84; H. D. Kimball, 1885-86; J. C. Hull, 1887-88; J. M. Williams, 1889-91; A. J. Coultas, 1892-96; J. H. McDonald, 1897-1900; Matthias S. Kauffman, 1901-04; F. W. Coleman, 1905-12; R. S. Cushman, 1912-16; G. E. Pick- ard, 1916 -.
The North M. E. Church had its beginning in the Sunday school, June 12, 1852, with John Haskell as the superintendent and Job B. Ashley as secretary pro tem. The first church of the society was dedicated in May, 1854, and Rev. O. M. Brooks was the pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. S. T. Patterson, and he by Rev. Alexander Anderson, when a new parsonage was built. For some time this church was connected with
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South Somerset church. The pastors that followed were: Revs. A. G. Gurney, George H. Winchester, Benjamin Ashley, John Gifford, John Q. Adams, J. G. Gammons, Philip Crandon, R. W. C. Farnsworth, E. G. Babcock, G. H. Lamson, A. J. Coultas, A. J. Church, J. A. Rood, O. E. Johnson, J. Livesey, 1892; S. T. Patterson, 1893; W. Ridington, 1894; A. Anderson, 1895-98; Henry W. Brown, 1899-1900; W. F. Geisler, 1901-02; Charles A. Purdee, 1903-05; Jacob Betts, 1905-08; T. A. Hodg- don, 1908-11; Alwyn J. Atkins, 1912-15; C. W. Clarke, 1916-18; J. W. Pat- terson, 1919-20; W. C. Early, 1921-
The Brayton M. E. Church, in an active Methodist centre of the city, was given the name Brayton in 1879, in token of the beneficence of the Brayton family, who had much to do with the maintenance of this Fall River work of Methodism. John Brayton, ancestor of this family, was founder of the Methodist church at South Somerset. The Brayton church was at first known as the Globe Street M. E. Church, while it occupied the former house of worship of Christ Church, its beginnings being in the form of a Sunday school that had been established in 1843 by the First M. E. Church. The church building was erected in 1896. Among those who first had charge of the church as its pastors were the following- named : Revs. A. H. Worthen, Elihu Grant, Charles A. Merrill, A. U. Swinerton, Edward Hatfield, W. P. Hyde, George H. Lamson, Charles S. Morse. The following-named ministers have since been the pastors : Revs. Edward A. Lyon, 1875; Samuel Mckeown, 1877; Elihu Grant, 1879; William B. Heath, 1881; B. F. Simon, 1884; Robert Clark, 1886; John G. Gammons, 1889; R. M. Wilkins, 1894; Edwin E. Phillips, 1899; E. J. Ayres, 1901; William E. Kugler, 1902; H. H. Critchlow, 1903; E. W. Goodier, 1906; G. W. Manning, 1910; W. H. Allen, 1912; W. J. Yates, 1913; F. C. Baker, 1917; P. A. Ahearn, 1919 -.
The Quarry Street M. E. Church has had for its pastors some of the best known ministers of the denomination in this conference. The need for a Methodist Episcopal church in this part of the city was realized when in 1870 the people came together for worship and built their church edifice. The pastors in succession have been as follows: Revs. William Livesey, C. W. Warren, S. M. Beal, Richard Povey, Edwin D. Hall, Henry H. Martin, James H. Nutting. Rev. John McGowan was pastor in 1883; Revs. John D. King, 1884; George M. Hamblen, 1887; B. K. Bosworth, 1889; F. L. Brooks, 1892; H. A. Ridgway, 1895; Elliott F. Studley, 1900; E. J. Ayres, 1902; John Pearce, 1905; John Oldham, 1906; A. W. C. An- derson, 1911; C. E. Delamater. 1913; J. A. Wood, 1916; J. N. Geisler, 1918; W. F. Davis, 1920 -.
The present Summerfield M. E. Church had its beginning in the Terry Street M. E. Church when Methodists of this society in Fall River built a church edifice on Terry street in May, 1875. Later, in 1878, it was known as the North Main Street M. E. Church, the old edifice having been removed to North Main and Hood streets. Yet another name was given the society when in 1883 the building was remodelled and renovated, it then being known as the Park M. E. Church. The church was first called the Summerfield M. E. Church, in 1890, for Rev. John Summerfield, the parsonage being built the following year, 1891. The pastors of the parish have been as follows: Revs. William B. Heath, 1875-78; J. F.
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Sheffield, 1878-79; Eben Tirrell, Jr., 1879-82; E. F. Smith, 1882-83; George E. Fuller, 1883-85; M. S. Kauffman, 1885-88; James Tregaskis, 1888-90; Robert D. Dyson, 1890-94; Edwin F. Jones, 1894-96; Louis F. Flocken, 1896-98; Oscar F. Johnson, 1899-1904; R. C. Miller, 1904-07; John Pearce, 1907-12; Henry A. Ridgway, 1912-14; E. P. Phreaner, 1913-14; F. L. Brooks, 1914-15; H. E. Dorr, 1915-17; D. C. Thatcher, 1917-18; J. S. Bridgford, 1919 -.
The Bethel African M. E. Church, 146 Hanover street, was organized in April, 1881. The pastor in 1923, Rev. J. S. Myrick. The First Italian M. E. Church, 114 Plain street, was organized in 1905. The pastor in 1923, Rev. David Acquaroni.
Christian Church .- The first of the denomination called Christian in Fall River was the First Christian congregation, whose organization was brought about as early as 1829, and whose first church edifice was built in 1830. The building was in the line of the fire of 1843, and was a prey of the flames. The following year the second house of worship was built on Franklin street. The following-named have been the pastors of this church: Revs. Joseph V. Hines, Benjamin Taylor, William H. Taylor, James Taylor, Simon Clough, William Lane, A. G. Cummings, Jonathan Thompson, P. R. Russell, A. M. Averill, Elijah Shaw, Joseph Bodger, Charles Morgridge, Stephen Fellows, David S. E. Millard, B. S. Fanton, Warren Hathaway, all before 1860; Thomas Holmes, 1863; Hiram J. Gor- don, 1865; S. Wright Butler, 1866; P. W. Sinks, 1878; M. Summerbell, 1880; G. B. Merritt, 1886; Charles E. Luck, 1895; F. H. Peters, 1904; Carlyle Summerbell, 1907; C. E. Fockler, 1914; Ernest G. Gilbert, 1919 -.
One of the older church organizations in Fall River is the North Christian Church, having a field of its own in the north part of the city, at Steep Brook. With its organization in 1842, it has obtained a firm foothold among the people of the denomination, and its growth has been sure and steady. Under the present pastorate, that of Rev. Edward J. Bodman, the keynote is continued progress. The pastors from 1861, the first year of a regular pastorate: Revs. William Shurtleff, 1861; Moses P. Favor, 1866; Charles T. Camp, 1872; O. P. Bessey, 1874; O. O. Wright, 1876; C. A. Tillinghast, June 11, 1876, to April 1, 1879; J. W. Osborne, April 1, 1879, to January 4, 1889; George H. Allen, January 13, 1889, to. July 1, 1900; T. S. Weeks, November 11, 1900, to January 22, 1905; Walter B. Flanders, 1905 to April 30, 1908; Lester Howard, June, 1908, to October, 1913; George A. Conibear, March, 1914, to October, 1917; Edward J. Bodman, January, 1919 ---.
The Bogle Street Christian Church in 1923 was clear of debt, the pastor at that date, Rev. Henry Arnold, having officiated since the payment of a mortgage of $2,000. Within recent years there has been built an addition to the church, and a pipe organ installed, both costing $10,000. The membership of this church consists of mechanics and mill workers mostly, and the total membership of the church is 320. Mr. and Mrs. John Kennelly organized a Sunday school in this part of the city in the early seventies, and as a result the Bogle Street Christian Church was instituted December 3, 1876, Rev. S. W. Butler, of the First Christian Church, taking charge of the services at first. The church building was constructed in 1885, and on the first Sunday in January, 1886, it was dedi-
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cated. The pastors from the first have been: Revs. William Dugdale, August, 1883-September, 1884; Elihu Grant, November, 1884-April, 1885; O. J. Waitte, April, 1885-February, 1888; W. S. Lathrop, April, 1889-April 1890; David Herron, May, 1890-June, 1891; George A. Beebe, July, 1891- November, 1895; M. W. Baker, July, 1896-June, 1898; R. R. Shoemaker, December, 1898-September, 1900; Edwin J. Bodman, January, 1901-March, 1907; A. R. Webb, June, 1907-March, 1912; A. H. Bliss, September, 1912- February, 1913; O. T. Hedley, March, 1913-November, 1914; John Dillon, January, 1915-May, 1916; Henry Arnold, September, 1916 -.
Unitarian Church .- Fall River was a small but growing town when the Unitarians began to organize and to cast about for a church home here. It was in the year 1832 that the first services of the people of that faith were held in what was known as the Old Line meeting house, on South Main street near Columbia, the first membership including seventy-four men, many of whom were prominent in the industries of the time. Within a year or two the society was enabled to purchase the building of the First Congregational Church that stood on the site of the Anawan school- house. But it was only two years after the first organization, or in 1834, that the society began to build the present church building at the corner of Borden and Second streets, the pastor at that time being Rev. George W. Briggs. The dedication of the new church took place January 25, 1835. With Foster Hooper, M.D., as the first moderator, the society received its papers of incorporation in 1839. Upon the resignation of Rev. George W. Briggs in 1837, he was succeeded in 1840 by Rev. A. C. L. Arnold. Rev. John F. Ware was the next pastor, serving the parish from 1842 to 1845; and his successor was Rev. Samuel Longfellow, brother of the poet Henry W. Longfellow, Samuel himself being a writer of excellent verse. Mr. Longfellow was the pastor until 1851; Rev. Josiah K. Waite was pastor from 1852 to 1858; Rev. William B. Smith, from 1859 to 1863; and it was during his pastorate in 1859 that the lot on Main street was purchased, and in 1860 the church building was removed to that location. In turn, the pastors have been as follows: Revs. Charles W. Buck, 1863; Joshua Young, 1868-75; Charles H. Tindell, 1875-77; Edward F. Hayward, 1878- 83; A. J. Rich, 1883-90; Arthur M. Knapp, 1891-97; John M. Wilson, 1897-1905; John B. W. Day, 1906-1915; Rev. Thomas S. Robjent, Septem- ber, 1915-November, 1921; John N. Mark, May, 1922 -. A chapter of the Unitarian Laymen's League was organized in 1921.
Episcopal Church .- Fall River was but a small town when it first gave welcome to the Episcopal church, and that the doors of other denomi- nations were open to its coming is observable in the fact that its first services were held here in Unitarian, Congregational and Methodist churches. Rev. James C. Richmond first brought the message of this church to Fall River, when he held service in 1835 at the Unitarian Church. His successor, Rev. James Pratt, who came here from Rhode Island, held service July 13, 1836, in the First Congregational Church, his assistant being Rev. John West. But the formation of the parish as the Church of the Ascension was brought about in the Methodist Episcopal Church on Central street, July 15, 1836, the church receiving its name at the suggestion of Bishop Alexander Viets Griswold. The clergy present at
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