USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, 1622-1918, vol 1 > Part 52
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The parish of St. Francis Xavier, in Weymouth, was organized in 1854, with Father Roach as resident priest. Masses had been said by Fathers Roddan and Lynch in private homes in East Weymouth as early as 1851. In 1859 the first church building was erected near the town hall, on Middle street. It was burned in 1869 and a new church was erected on Pleasant street the next year.
At Weymouth Landing the first masses were said in Tirrell's Hall. In 1873 the parish of the Sacred Heart was organized there, the tavern property was purchased and services conducted in the hall of the building until 1876, when a church was commenced. It is a fine edifice of brick and stone, and at the time it was finished was regarded as the costliest church building in the eastern part of the county.
In 1879 the parish of the Immaculate Conception was organized in East Wey- mouth. The church building there was dedicated on November 23d of that year. St. Jerome's parish in Old Spain was organized in 1881.
In 1853 a number of Catholic families connected with the parish of St. Mary's in Quincy took the preliminary steps for the formation of a new parish. The result was the establishment of St. John's Church early in the succeeding year. The present church building, located on the corner of Gay and School streets, was dedicated on June 14, 1874. Rev. M. J. Owens is the present priest in charge.
The first Catholic Church in Foxboro was erected in 1859, though for several years prior to that date services had been conducted there by Rev. M. X. Carroll and others. The building was burned on March 1, 1862, and was not rebuilt until 1873. This building was also destroyed by fire on September 12, 1877, and the present church edifice was erected the next year. This parish also has chapels at East Foxboro and South Foxboro.
St. Clair's Church at Medway Village was instituted in 1864, with Rev. P. J. Quinlan as resident priest. A house of worship and a parsonage were soon afterward erected.
For some years prior to 1875, the Catholics of Hingham, Cohasset and Scituate were under the direction of Rev. Hugh P. Smyth. In 1875 St. Anthony's Church at Cohasset was built and the first services held in the new church on the 15th of July. The parish in June, 1917, was under the charge of Rev. Daniel J. Carney.
Another Catholic church edifice that was erected in 1875 is the one at Lower Falls in Wellesley. The first services were held in this building on April 18, 1875, though it was not formally dedicated until May 8. 1881. Archbishop Williams conducted the dedicatory ceremonies. The first resident priest was Rev. Michael Dolan, who remained in charge of the parish for several years.
HIGH SCHOOL AND CATHOLIC CHURCH, NEEDHAM
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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY
In 1877 a Catholic society was organized in Braintree as a mission of St. Mary's Church in Quincy. Meetings were at first held in a hall, but about 1882 a church was built on Central avenue and the parish was organized under the name of St. Francis. At the beginning of the year 1917, Rev. Hugh F. Blunt was the pastor.
·A Catholic Church was established in Stoughton a few years after the close of the Civil war, and a chapel was built by this parish on Pond street in Sharon. There is also a Catholic Church in Wrentham, which in 1916 owned property valued at $750, according to the town report.
As Quincy is entitled to being the seat of the oldest Catholic Church in Nor- folk County, so it is entitled to being the seat of the youngest. In addition to the parishes of St. Mary's and St. John's already mentioned, the Sacred Heart Church was organized some years ago and now has a neat church building on Hancock street, near Hunt, with Rev. Thomas J. Coghlan as pastor. On April 5, 1917, Rev. Mark E. Madden threw the first shovelful of earth in breaking ground for a new Catholic Church at Hough's Neck.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCII
A Congregational Church may be either Trinitarian or Unitarian. In this chapter only those Congregational churches that hold to the Trinitarian doc- trine are treated, the others being given under the head of Unitarian churches. The first churches established in Norfolk County were of the Congregational faith, some of them afterward adopting the Unitarian doctrine.
The oldest church organization in the county is probably the one known as the First Church of Weymouth, though no record of its establishment is known to be in existence. Rev. William Morrell, a minister of the Church of England, came over with the Gorges Company in 1623, and quite likely conducted religious services in the infant colony during his short stay of about eighteen months. In the summer of 1635 Rev. Joseph Hull came with a company from Weymouth, England, and it is believed that the church was regularly organized soon after his arrival. He was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Jenner in 1636. During the next few years there was some contention over who was pastor, but in 1640 the members united on Rev. Samuel Newman. A meeting house was built on "Burying Hill," nearly opposite the present soldiers' monument, and in December, 1652, it had fallen into such a condition that the selectmen were directed "to do what may be necessary to make it more comfortable and prevent any further decay." The house was again repaired in 1667. when the first bell was hung, and in 1682 it was torn down. A new meeting house was erected that year upon land purchased of John Holbrook. It was 40 by 45 feet in dimensions and cost £280. This house was burned on April 23, 1751. It was rebuilt, but was re- placed by the present edifice in 1832. This church, known as the "Old North Church," is the mother of all the- Protestant churches in Weymouth.
Wrentham was set off from Dedham and incorporated as a town in 1673. King Philip's war followed soon after and no permanent settlements were made until after the close of hostilities. In March, 1681, the inhabitants of the town took the first steps toward the building of a meeting house, and it was not fin- ished for several years. The first minister in Wrentham was Rev. Samuel Man,
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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY
who began his labors there before the settlement was abandoned on account of King Philip's war. When the pioneers returned to the plantation after the war and began the work of rebuilding their homes, Mr. Man rejoined them and it was under his pastorate that the meeting house above mentioned was erected.
In October, 1785, more than a century after the church was established, the town voted with the church members in the call and settlement of Rev. David Avery as minister. It was not long until some of the members grew dissatisfied with the pastor and a controversy was commenced which lasted for several years. On February 4, 1793, the town "resolved by a vote of seventy-four to one not to employ Mr. Avery as a gospel minister any longer," and Lemuel Kollock, Oliver Pond and Dr. Jenks Norton were appointed a committee to inform Mr. Avery of the vote. Mr. Avery ignored the town's action and the controversy went on until July, 1798, when the church voted unanimously to call Rev. Elisha Fisk to the pulpit. Since then the church has been fairly prosperous and in 1916 owned property valued at $12,500.
On December 2, 1713, Caleb Gardner, Jr., offered to donate a site for a meeting house in Brookline, and on the same date the town meeting voted to build a meeting house "of the same Demensions with the Meting House in the South west part of Roxbury." Thomas Gardner, Samuel Aspinwall, Thomas Stedman, John Sever and Erosamond Drew were chosen as a committee to superintend the erection of the building. The "Demensions" were 35 by 44 feet. In May, 1804, it was voted to build a new church and the corner-stone was laid in April, 1805. It was 64 by 68 feet, with a porch 19 by 38 feet in front. The new house was dedicated on June 1I, 1806. This house served the congregation until the present structure was erected in 1848. The first pastor was Rev. Nehemiah Walter.
The first Congregational Church in Medway was organized on October 7, 1714, in that part of the town afterward set off as Millis, under the name of the "First Church of Christ." The first services were held in the dwelling of Peter Adams. On November 20, 1715, the first meeting house, located on "Bare Hill," was dedicated, with Rev. David Deming as pastor. Shortly after the close of the Civil war in 1865, a Sunday school was established at Rockville by this church, and in 1876 a chapel was erected at that place.
Needham was incorporated in November, 1711, and the first Congregational Church was organized on March 20, 1720. Rev. Josiah Townsend was the first pastor. For over a century this congregation worshiped according to the cardinal doctrines of the evangelical churches of New England. Then there came a spiritual apathy which resulted in the church passing out of the hands of Con- gregationalism.
On April 28, 1856, a meeting was held by those who believed in the Congre- gational faith, and steps were taken to reorganize the church. Rev. Ebenezer Burgess preached the first sermon for the new organization in Village Hall on the first Sunday in July. The pulpit was supplied by different ministers until February 8, 1857, when Rev. Lucius R. Eastman was installed as pastor. Meet- ings were held in Village Hall until December 28, 1859, when the first house of worship was dedicated, the sermon on that occasion being preached by Rev. E. N. Kirk, of Mount Vernon Church, Boston. Rev. J. E. M. Wright came to this church as pastor in July, 1875, and continued with it for nearly five years.
FIRST PARISH CHURCH, QUINCY. ORGANIZED 1636
Beneath the portico of this church are entombed the remains of John Adams and John Quincy Adams.
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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY
Toward the close of his pastorate a revival resulted in the addition of several new members and the church building was enlarged and remodeled.
By an act of the Legislature in the spring of 1723, the South Precinct of Weymouth was established. The South Parish was organized on June 21, 1723, and on the 15th of July Rev. James Bayley was settled as minister. A meeting house had already been built and Mr. Bayley had been holding service for several months. The church, known as the Second Congregational Church of South Weymouth-sometimes called the "Old South Church"-was fully or- ganized on September 18, 1723. Mr. Bayley remained with this church as pastor until his death on August 22, 1766.
A call was then extended to Rev. Ephraim Briggs, but opposition developed and he declined to accept. On October 26, 1768, Rev. Simeon Williams was ordained as the second regular pastor. Rev. William Tyler, who had been junior pastor under Mr. Williams, was ordained on February 24, 1819, Mr. Williams having died in December previous, and remained with the church for nearly thirteen years. He was succeeded by Rev. Charles I. Warren, who remained only a little over a year. Then for four years the church was without any regular pastor. During that time a division arose, some of the members withdrawing and forming the Edwards Society. The breach was healed in 1837. but in 1842 another strong party withdrew and formed the Union Church, notice of which will be given hereafter. Despite this secession, the Old South Church survived and is still in existence.
When Bellingham was incorporated on November 27, 1719, one provision of the act was that the people should "settle a learned orthodox Minister within the Space of three years now coming." In January, 1723, the town voted to grant fifty acres of land to the first minister settling therein, and not long after- ward Rev. Thomas Smith entered upon his duties. He remained but a short time and in the winter of 1726-27 Rev. Jonathan Mills was ordained. A meeting house was built, but this church was superseded in 1761 by the Baptist Church at Bellingham Center.
Randolph's Congregational Church was organized in the fall of 1728, the present towns of Randolph and Holbrook having been set off as the South Precinct of Braintree by an act of the General Court, approved on December 28, 1727. Services were held by various ministers until the spring of 1731. when Rev. Elisha Eaton was ordained as pastor. The first meeting house had been erected prior to the establishment of the precinct, but it was rudely built, without paint, means of heating in cold weather, steeple or bell. After the precinct was organized an acre of land was purchased of Joseph Crosby for forty shillings. On this acre, on the border of the public square, the present church was dedicated in 1825.
On October 8. 1730, the South Parish of Dedham (now Norwood) was incorporated by act of the General Court. It was known as the Second Precinct. On the 9th of November fifty pounds were raised and appropriated "to secure a preacher for six months-three months to be at the house of John Ellis and three months at the house of Nathaniel Guild, if it can be obtained." At the same time it was voted to build a meeting house, but a dispute arose over its location and several years passed before that dispute was finally settled. A committee of the General Court was sent in 1734 to investigate the situation.
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Upon the recommendation of this committee, some of the citizens in the new precinct were attached to the old parish, and on January 4, 1735, the South Parish voted "to build a meeting house on the land formerly Ebenezer Dean's, which is the place a committee of the Great and General Court has ordered a meeting house to be erected."
Such was the beginning of the Norwood Congregational Church. The pres- ent house of worship, on the corner of Walpole and Winter streets, was erected in 1828, part of the timbers in the old meeting house being used in the construc- tion of the new one.
Franklin was set off as the Second Precinct of Wrentham by an act of the General Court approved by Governor Belcher on December 23, 1737. At the first precinct meeting, held on January 16, 1738, it was voted to build a meeting house 31 by 40 feet in dimensions. About twenty members of the Wrentham Congregational Church withdrew by letter, and on February 16, 1738, Rev. Joseph Baxter of the Medfield Church organized the Franklin Congregational Church. On November 8, 1738, Rev. Elias Haven was installed as pastor. A new meeting house was built in 1789. The last services in this building were held on September 28, 1840, when the funeral of Dr. Nathaniel Emmons, who had been pastor for almost sixty-seven years were conducted there. The next day the men began tearing down the structure to make way for the present edifice.
Mention has been made of the First Church of Christ in the Town of Med- way. The Second Church of Christ was organized in that town on October 4, 1750, with Rev. David Thurston as pastor. All efforts to obtain a history of this Congregational society resulted in failure.
In 1763 the first Congregational meeting house was erected in the Town of Foxboro. At that time the territory now comprising the town formed a part of Stoughton. When the Town of Foxboro was incorprated by the act of June 10, 1778, the church was reorganized and Rev. Thomas Kendall was ordained as pastor. In 1822 a new house of worship was built near the site of the old one, and this served the congregation until the erection of the present edifice in 1854.
Wellesley was set off as the West Precinct of Needham in 1778, and in 1797 eighteen families were added to the precinct by the annexation of a portion of Natick. The inhabitants then felt strong enough to maintain a church organiza- tion, and on September 6, 1798, a Congregational society of ten members was formed. Rev. Thomas Noyes was ordained as pastor on July 10, 1799, and a neat chapel was soon afterward erected. This building was remodeled and dedi- cated on January 1, 1835. In 1868 the present house of worship was built and the old one was sold to Charles B. Dana, who removed it and afterward presented it to Wellesley College, where it is known as "Dana Hall."
The Union Congregational Church of Weymouth and Braintree was organ- ized on March 13, 1810, by members of the first churches of the two towns. The Hollis Street Church in Boston, which stood where the Hollis Street Theater now stands, was then about to be taken down. It was purchased by the Union Church and removed to East Braintree, where it was rebuilt and dedicated on December 31, 1811. Rev. Daniel A. Clark was the same day ordained as pastor. The present church building was dedicated on December 13, 1898.
On the last day of August, 1818, the First Parish of Dedham elected Rev. Alvan Lamson as "a public Protestant teacher of piety, religion and morality,"
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, DEDHAM
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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY
by a vote of eighty-one to forty-four. In this action the church, by a vote of seventeen to fifteen, refused to concur, claiming that in the election of a pastor the first steps should be taken by the church organization. Notwithstanding this refusal, Mr. Lamson was ordained on October 29, 1818, by a council that had been called to hear the differences of opinion.
The dissenters caused another council to be called for November 18, 1818, but that council gave no advice. The question was then carried to the courts, where the action of the parish in electing Mr. Lamson, and that of the council in ordaining him, were upheld. The members who opposed his ordination then withdrew from the church and organized an orthodox Congregational Church. A meeting house was erected on the opposite side of High Street from the old parish meeting house. It was dedicated on December 30, 1819, and on March 14, 1821, Rev. Ebenezer Burgess was installed as pastor. Five years later a new vestry was built by Mr. Burgess at his own expense.
On December 15, 1818, forty members of the Congregational Church in Randolph, including the two deacons, were dismissed to form the "Second Church" in East Randolph (now Holbrook). A meeting house was immediately built and the first regular pastor, Rev. David Brigham, was installed on Decem- ber 29, 1819. In 1856 dissensions arose in the church, the membership became divided, and on December 30, 1856, the Winthrop Church, named in honor of Gov. John Winthrop, was formed. This society first held its meetings in E. N. Holbrook's hall until the new church building was completed. It was dedicated on January 24, 1858. The new church prospered, while the old Second Church languished, being without a regular pastor for several years, and in 1864 ceased holding meetings altogether. On January 29, 1874, the two were united under the name of the Winthrop Congregational Church of Holbrook. On the morn- ing of December 25, 1877, the church building and town hall were destroyed by fire. The present church edifice was then erected and dedicated on February 22, 1880.
The present Congregational Church in Stoughton is the outgrowth of a divi- sion in the old Third Precinct church in 1822. The original Congregational Church of Stoughton is now the First Unitarian Church of Canton. In Septem- ber, 1817, Rev. Ebenezer Gay, a strict Calvinist, was called to the pulpit of the Third Precinct church. Some of the members were dissatisfied from the start with his pastorate and quite a number united with the Universalist Church. The majority remained, however, and in 1822, forced Mr. Gay's resignation. This same majority, with the exception of a few, then decided to adopt the Unitarian form of worship, and the remnant met on July 1, 1822, and "appointed a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer." It was also voted to call a council to advise with regard to the formation of a new church.
The new Congregational Church first met at the house of Daniel Hayward, next in William Holbrook's hall until June 1, 1825, when the meeting house was dedicated. Rev. Calvin Park became pastor in October, 1825. The present house of worship was dedicated on June 28, 1852. It is 58 by 75 feet in dimen- sions and cost about twelve thousand dollars.
On October 8, 1824, the corner-stone of the Congregational Church in Cohas- set was laid, and the society was organized on the 24th of November following.
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Rev. Aaron Pickett was the first pastor. The pastor of this church in the spring of 1917 was Rev. Fred V. Stanley.
The Orthodox Congregational Church of Walpole was organized at the house of Mrs. Catharine Allen on November 13, 1826, with twenty-nine members. Meetings were held for about a year in the second story of a building on the corner of Main and East streets. During that time the pulpit was supplied by such ministers as could be obtained from Boston and the churches of adjacent towns. The church building was dedicated in September, 1827, Rev. John Cod- man, of Dorchester, preaching the sermon. It cost about three thousand dollars, and was thoroughly remodeled in 1867, at an expense of seventeen thousand dollars. The first pastor of this church was Rev. Asahel Bigelow.
The Second or Orthodox Congregational Church of Medfield dates its begin- ning from February 6, 1827, when several members withdrew from the First or Unitarian Church for the purpose of formning a new society. For about four years meetings were held in a small hall over the store on the corner of Main and North streets. Rev. Arthur Granger was installed as the first regular pastor in 1831. The following year a church building was erected. It was enlarged and repaired in 1873 and in 1876 it was totally destroyed by fire. The present house of worship was built in 1877, at a cost of about ten thousand dollars.
The Evangelical Congregational Church of Canton was organized on July 3, 1828, at the home of Mrs. Katherine Hartwell with ten members. During the first eighteen months of its existence the society had neither settled pastor nor house of worship. In 1830 a church edifice was dedicated and Rev. William Harlow was installed as pastor. The present house of worship was dedicated on August 22, 1860, though it has since undergone extensive repairs and alter- ations.
What is known as the South Congregational Church in Braintree was the third established in that town. The society erected a church building in South Braintree and on August 4, 1830, Rev. Lyman Matthews was ordained as the first pastor. He remained with the church until the fall of '1844. In the latter '70s the meeting house was burned to the ground, but another was immediately rebuilt upon the same site and it is still used by the congregation. In June, 1917, Rev. Tyler E. Gale was pastor of this church.
The Third Congregational Church in Medway was organized on December 7, 1836, with Rev. Luther Bailey as the first pastor. He served the society for several years, and when he withdrew the church was disbanded. Some of the members of this organization united with others in the formation of the Evan- gelical Congregational Church on September 7. 1838. A house of worship was erected in Medway Village and Rev. David Sanford was ordained as pastor. This church met with better success than its predecessor and is still in existence.
In Dover a number of the members of the old First Church grew dissatisfied with the doctrine preached by Rev. Ralph Sanger in 1838, and on the 28th of December of that year they organized the Second Congregational Church. Steps had previously been taken toward the building of a meeting house, which was formally dedicated on June 27, 1839. Rev. George Champion was the first pastor of this church. In 1878 the Dover and South Natick churches were consolidated by the Home Missionary Society, and the union lasted until May, 1880, when it was dissolved. The following month the Dover and Charles River societies
REV. SAMUEL DEXTER
One of the early pastors of the First Church, Dedham.
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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY
were united by the action of the Home Missionary Society, but in the fall of 1882 the latter withdrew, leaving the Dover Church to itself.
In the sketch of the Second Congregational Church of Weymouth reference is made to a division in that society in 1842. Those who withdrew formed the Union Church of South Weymouth on June 20, 1842, and the church was fully established on the first of the following November. At first meetings were held in Rogers' Hall, but before the close of the year a church building was completed. The first regular pastor of this church was Rev. George Denham, who was called to the pulpit on July 3, 1843. In 1870 a new church edifice was com- menced and was completed the succeeding year, at a cost of $40,000. A parsonage costing $4,000 was also built about the same time.
The Congregational Church of East Weymouth was formed on March 4, 1843. by ten members who had withdrawn from the Methodist Episcopal Church and organized a new society of that denomination. It became a Congregational Church on February 25, 1860. As a Congregational Church the society prospered and some twenty years after the change was made was the strongest church of that faith in the Town of Weymouth. When first established in 1843, a house of worship was erected, which was enlarged in the early 'Sos to accommodate the increase in attendance.
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