USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of the churches of Boston, giving a full account, in denominational divisions, of all the church organizations of the city, from their formation to the present time, with dates and complete statistics ; compiled with great care from first sources. Division one; Baptist and Presbyterian > Part 10
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12
92
CHURCHES OF BOSTON.
During the months of January and February, 1821, several meetings were held in the small chapel which joined the sanctuary, with reference to the forma- tion of a Baptist church. Having also sought counsel of Christian friends, at a meeting held in the evening of the second day of March, the brethren and sisters present voted to " associate as a church in this place, by the name of 'The Baptist Church in Roxbury ;'" and at an adjourned meeting, held March 9, 1821, this vote was carried into effect by the unanimous adoption of a solemn covenant and declaration of faith. The name was changed to "The Dudley Street Baptist Church, Roxbury," February 28, 1850. Roxbury became a city in 1846, and was annexed to Boston, January, 1868.
At the time of its organization, the Dudley Street Baptist Church was the only evangelical church within the limits of the town ; and while this continued to be the case many members of other sects worshiped in this church.
On Wednesday, the 14th of March, by invitation of the church, a council of pastors and delegates from neighboring Baptist churches met at the house of Mr. Antipas Jackson, whose wife was a member of the church, to consider the expediency of recognizing this body of disciples as a Christian church, and giving to it the fellowship of neighboring bodies of like faith. Councils for such an object were not so common in those days as they have been since ; and that council appears no ordinary one, both on account of the object which it met to consider, and on account of the noble men who composed it. Having carefully " examined the proceedings of the Christian friends in Roxbury, and their views of the gospel," so the record reads, " and being satisfied with their correctness," it was " voted, that we publicly express fellowship to them as a church of Christ."
Mr. Lincoln supplied the pulpit until April. Though he afterward preached occasionally, his intimate labors with the church then ceased. It may be here said that to Mr. Ensign Lincoln, under God, the Dudley-street Baptist Church owes its existence more than to any other human agency.
In May, the Rev. William Gammell, pastor of the church in Medfield, was invited to come, and preach and baptize, and he came on the 13th, preaching during the day, and baptizing seven converts in Stony Brook. It is recorded that " this was the first administration of baptism in Roxbury. About two thousand persons were present, and all appeared solemn." Those early, out-of-door, baptisms were attended by large numbers of people, of all classes in the com. munity, who, for the most part, looked upon them with attentive and respectful bearing. It was almost literally true, that the whole village turned out to witness them. And the ordinance can never lose its attractive power as the beautiful and appropriate symbol of Christian truth.
Shortly afterwards Mr. Gammell received a unanimous call to the pastorate, which he declined.
93
THE DUDLEY STREET BAPTIST CHURCH.
The year passed away, and the church was still without a pastor. There was no Newton Theological Institution at that early day, close at hand, to which it could look. The pulpit was supplied from Sunday to Sunday by Rev. Elisha Williams, Rev. Henry Jackson, Rev. Henry J. Ripley, afterwards Prof. Ripley, and by many others.
In January, 1822, Rev. Joseph Elliot of Rockingham, Vt., was engaged as a supply, and preached four Sabbaths. On the 10th of February, the church gave him a unanimous call to remove to Roxbury, and assume the pastoral care of this people. This call, being seconded by the society, was accepted by Mr. Elliot on March 24 ; and he became the first pastor of this church. Mr. Elliot won many strong friends while here ; and quite a number were baptized, and united with the church. But his stay was of short duration. He resigned, amid considerable disaffection, June 24, 1824, having been pastor of the church but two years and three months.
In December following Mr. Elliot's resignation, the church and society, having enjoyed the labors of Mr. William Leverett for more than two months, unitedly extended to him an invitation to accept the pastoral office, and labor permanently with them. This he consented to do, by letter of Jan. 1, 1825. Mr. Leverett was then young, without pastoral experience, and not ordained ; but he was favorably known in this vicinity ; and this union was destined to continue through many years, and to result in great spiritual blessing to this people. He was publicly ordained, and set apart to the work of the Christian ministry in Roxbury, the twentieth day of January. His ministry was blessed with several seasons of revival, and during it many were converted. In the year 1828, thirty-eight persons were baptized ; and in 1831, forty-one. Other years show a less, but still a good number of, baptisms.
In 1835, to meet the wants of an increasing congregation, the house of worship was enlarged, being cut into two parts, and lengthened by the insertion of eighteen feet ; thus furnishing thirty-two additional pews. The small vestry was disposed of, and a larger one erected the same year.
After a pastorate of much more than the ordinary length, Rev. Mr. Leverett presented his resignation to the church and society, July 7, 1839. It was accepted with many expressions of grateful and affectionate appreciation of his services. He soon after removed from Roxbury, and became pastor of the Baptist church in East Cambridge.
Rev. Thomas Ford Caldicott was the next and third pastor of this church. He was born in the village of Long Buckby, Northamptonshire, England, March 21, 1803, and his father was a lay-preacher of the Baptist church in that village. In 1827, he was led to seek a field of labor on this continent, arriving at Quebec, where he taught school, and preached as he had opportunity. Having been
94
CHURCHES OF BOSTON.
previously ordained, he was called, in 1835, to Lockport, N. Y., where he became pastor of the Baptist church. In October, 1839, he was invited by this church and society to supply the pulpit for six months. This he consented to do, and on June 7, 1840, accepted a formal call from them to become their pastor. His entrance into this relation was publicly recognized, August 30, by appropriate services.
Dr. Caldicott was pastor of the church about eight years; and during that time he won a large place in the affections of the people, and his memory is still cherished by many among us as " a large-hearted man, a generous and sympa- thizing friend, and a devoted minister." In April, 1848, he resigned his charge as pastor to labor in the interests of ministerial education, having been appointed financial agent of the Northern Baptist Education Society. The resignation was accepted by the church, which gave him a formal but cheerful testimonial of his character and faithful services as a Christian minister.
After Dr. Caldicott's resignation, the church was not long destitute of pastoral care. In June, 1848, the Rev. Thomas D. Anderson, D. D., recently pastor of the First Baptist Church in Salem, Mass. (where he had been compelled to resign by reason of failing health), was invited to supply the pulpit for a few months. With improved health, he accepted, on August 20, 1848, the unanimous call of the people to become their pastor, and, preferring to omit all public services of recognition, immediately entered upon his pastoral labors.
It became evident, very soon, that a new and more spacious sanctuary was demanded to meet the wants of the growing congregation. Early in 1852 it was determined to dispose of the old house of worship, and to erect a new one in its place. On Sunday, the 11th of April, farewell services were held in the old house, the Rev. Mr. Leverett preaching in the morning, the Rev. Mr. Caldicott in the afternoon, and the pastor in the evening.
The building was purchased by the Methodist society, and was immediately removed to the corner of Warren and Cliff streets, where it stood for many years, until destroyed by fire, early in the morning of Sunday, March 29, 1868.
The corner-stone of the present house was laid June 30, 1852, at seven o'clock in the morning, with appropriate services. While without a Sabbath home, the church accepted the generous offer of the First Religious Society (the Rev. Dr. Putnam's), of their house for public worship, and enjoyed the hospitality of the Eliot Congregational Church (Rev. A. C. Thompson, D. D., pastor) for the Sunday school and evening meetings. The lecture room of the new edifice was opened for public worship on the seventh day of November, 1852, but the house was not dedicated until Wednesday, July 27, 1853. It is of brick, in the pointed Gothic style. Its dimensions are : extreme length on the ground, a hundred and seventeen feet (exclusive of porch) ; extreme breadth, seventy-five
95
THE DUDLEY STREET BAPTIST CHURCH.
feet ; height of tower and spire, built entirely of brick, two hundred feet. The exterior is covered with mastic, and blocked off in imitation of brown sandstone. The interior is divided into nave and side-aisles, by cluster columns, from which spring arches supporting the clere-story ; the whole finished to correspond with the general style of the building. It has a hundred and thirty-two pews on the floor, and fifty-eight in the galleries, affording accommodations for about eleven hundred persons. In the changes made in 1870, the front pew of each aisle was removed ; making the number on the floor now a hundred and thirty-two. Within the church stands an elegant organ, the contribution, almost entirely, of the ladies.
After the edifice was completed according to the original design, a substan- tial porch, of the same material and style as the building, was erected, at a cost of several thousand dollars, in order to furnish an easy and protected entrance to the house. A large lecture-room and committee-rooms are under the main audi ence-room, but are entirely above ground. The house has been kept in good repair, and is one of the most convenient and attractive sanctuaries in the city.
In August and September, 1870, it was newly carpeted and upholstered throughout. A new pulpit and pulpit furniture, with a more spacious platform, were introduced, giving a more convenient baptistry. A two-story projection was erected in the rear, in the second story of which are pleasant ante-rooms, on a level with the pulpit. The first story contains a kitchen, &c. Upon these changes and repairs nine thousand dollars were expended.
Rev. Dr. Anderson, after a long and successful ministry, was led to feel that it was his duty to accept the urgent call of the First Baptist Church in New York City. He resigned the charge of this church, which was devotedly attached to him, and to which he was no less devotedly attached, on the 28th of December, 1861. The church, with deep and unfeigned sorrow at the sundering of ties that were so tender and sacred, was constrained to accept his resignation, and submit to what it could not avert. He was followed to New York by the earnest prayers of this people, and the kind wishes of a large circle of friends.
The Rev. Henry Melville King then preached here for about two months, and received a call in February, 1863. He undertook the duties of pastor on the first Sunday in April, and this relation was publicly recognized on the evening of the second Sunday, April 12.
This pastorate was a very long one, continuing for a period of more than 18 years. Mr. King resigned about the close of the year 1881.
The pastorate of Mr. King was, also, no less successful than long. The church's growth, under his faithful ministrations, during all this time, was steady and uniform, both in actual numbers and spiritual progress. His noble qualities, and tireless, faithful labors, have left an enduring impress upon it.
96
CHURCHES OF BOSTON.
In April, 1882, the Rev. John M. English sustained the pastoral relation for a short time only. He resigned in July of the same year, in order to accept a Professor's chair in the Newton Theological-Institution.
On the last Sunday in February, 1883, the Rev. Albert K. Potter, D. D., of Springfield, entered upon the seventh pastorate of this prominent church, under auspicious circumstances, and with promise of successful labor in this new field of service.
The present church membership is 592, and that of the Sunday School 476.
This church has assisted in the formation of other Baptist churches by con- tributing of its members. The Jamaica Plain Church, the Tremont Baptist Church, the Dearborn Street Church, and the Stoughton Street Church, and others, have received accessions from this church.
CHURCH OFFICERS :- Pastor : The Rev. A. K. Potter, D. D .; Deacons : W. A. Bowdlear, E. A. Hovey, George K. Somerby, James T. Pond, E. Daniel Downes, John Carr; Clerk : E. Daniel Downes ; Treasurer, J. T. Pond ; Sunday School Superintendent, Alfred A. Blair.
97
THE INDEPENDENT BAPTIST CHURCH.
THE INDEPENDENT BAPTIST CHURCH,
( COLORED.)
SMITH'S COURT, JOY STREET.
This church was organized August 8, 1805. The Rev. T. Paul was the first pastor. He was installed December 4, 1806, and resigned in 1829. The Rev. W. Christian followed in 1830, and left after one year. In 1832, the Rev. T. Ritchie was engaged, but his service was short. In 1834-5, Mr. Gouch filled the pulpit, but died soon afterwards. The next preacher was the Rev. J. Given, who labored for one year. Mr. Archer followed, but soon resigned. In November, 1838, the Rev. G. H. Black was ordained to the pastorate. Under him a seces- sion occurred, from which arose the Twelfth Baptist Church, of which he was the first preacher. During part of this time, the Rev. J. T. Raymond also acted as pas- tor. In 1844 he resigned and went to Philadelphia. After a season of supplies, the church, in 1845, re-called Mr. Raymond, who resigned again very shortly.
The pastors who followed were: The Rev. W. B. Serrington, who was appointed in 1847, and served two years; the Rev. W. Thompson, who was called in 1851, and closed in 1853 ; the Rev. T. Henson, called in 1855, and resigned in 1858 ; the Rev. J. Sella Martin, called in 1860, and resigned in 1862 ; the Rev. H. White, called in 1864, and resigned in 1867; the Rev. A. Ellis, who was installed in 1868, and left, to found the Day Star Church, in 1876. After him came the two short pastorates of the Rev. Messrs. Mathews and Davis. The present pastor, the Rev. Peter Smith, was then called to the pastorate, which he still holds.
CHURCH OFFICERS : - Pastor : The Rev. Peter Smith ; Deacons : James Scott, R. Johnson, John Logan, Wm. Mercer, J. S. Kemp, H. Taylor, C. J. Moor.
THE DAY-STAR BAPTIST CHURCH,
( COLORED.)
84 WEST SPRINGFIELD STREET.
This church was organized in 1876, under the pastoral charge of the Rev. A. Ellis, with a membership of twenty-three. The first meetings took place in Nassau Hall, corner Common and Washington streets.
Mr. Ellis resigned early in 1882, and since then the church has been served by temporary supplies. The membership is forty-eight. The church removed to its present location in November, 1881.
CHURCH OFFICERS : - Pastor : -; Deacons : W. H. Smith, F. N. Gray ; Clerk and Sunday School Superintendent : Twine.
98
CHURCHES OF BOSTON.
THE EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH,
( COLORED.)
85 WEST CONCORD STREET.
This church was established in the fall of 1869, by the Rev. Peter Randolph, in order to meet the spiritual needs of the colored people at the South End. The number of original members was eight. The church first met in an old building at 1012 Washington street. The little church soon grew, and in 1870 removed to the present location, at 85 West Concord street. Mr. Randolph left after eight months' service, and the pastors who followed were : The Rev. Messrs. Henson, J. H. Gaines, Webster, Hall, Scott, and the present incumbunt, William Birch, who was settled in April, 1882. This church has throughout its career been an object of the special care and guardianship of the Clarendon Street Church. The membership is 200.
CHURCH OFFICERS :- Pastor : The Rev. W. Birch; Deacons : George Wilkins, D. Olmstead, Joseph Gordon, Henry Gibson, T. J. Ruffin, Frank White, Waverly Hill.
THE TWELFTH BAPTIST CHURCH, ( COLORED.)
45 PHILLIPS STREET.
This church was formed by secession from the Independent Baptist Church, in 1840, under the leadership of Mr. Black. After Mr. Black's death, the Rev. L. A. Grimes was chosen pastor and continued for twenty-seven years. In the course of this long pastorate, Mr. Grimes achieved a prominent position in the Christian world among all denominations, and won the high confidence and regard, not only of his own sect, but of the entire community. He died in March, 1874.
The next pastor was the Rev. George Williams, who was installed in the sum- mer of the same year. After him followed the Rev. Wm. Dennis. The present pastor, the Rev. L. G. Walden, was settled November 19, 1880. The member- ship is about 650.
CHURCH OFFICERS : - Pastor : The Rev. Lemuel G. Walden ; Deacons : Wm. Allen, Rob't Smith, George Smith, Lundy Tabb, Jeffrey Bush ; Clerk : W. H. B. Robinson ; Treasurer : Wm. Clark ; Financial Secretary : John Thornton.
99
THE FIRST FREE BAPTIST CHURCH.
THE FIRST FREE BAPTIST CHURCH,
SHAWMUT AVENUE, CORNER RUTLAND STREET.
This church is connected with the Free Baptist denomination, and at this time (1883) is the only church of the kind in the city. The church and denom- ination are strictly Baptists (or Immersionists), but differ from other Baptists in their practice of open communion. Having recently occupied its present house of worship, in a favorable location, the church is making rapid gains in member- ship and strength.
The church was organized September 20, 1844, in what was known as the Marlboro' Chapel, and subsequently occupied Boylston Hall. The Rev. Eli Noyes, D. D., was the first pastor. The ordinance of baptism was administered for the first time October 13, 1844.
The church was received into the Boston Quarterly Meeting, (now the Massachusetts Free Baptist Association,) at the October session, 1844. Dr. Noyes resigned his pastorate February 21, 1849, and was succeeded in June of the same year by the Rev. Ransom Dunn, D. D. During Dr. Dunn's pastorate the church purchased a house of worship on North Bennett street, near Hanover street, and was afterwards known as the North Bennett Street Free Baptist Church. Dr. Dunn having resigned his pastorate in March, 1851, on account of impaired health, the Rev. D. P. Cilley became pastor, in August of the same year.
Dr. Dunn again became pastor of the church in 1859, and was followed by Rev. A. W. Avery in June, 1861. Mr. Avery closed his pastorate at the end of the year 1864.
Rev. I. D. Steward was the next pastor, commencing his labors in November, 1855, and closing in April, 1867. He was followed by Rev. N. L. Rowell, who resigned in February, 1869. Rev. A. P. Tracy followed him, remaining with the church until November, 1871. At the beginning of 1873, Rev. C. B. Griffin became pastor. In June, 1873, twenty-two members were dismissed from the church' to be organized into a Free Baptist Church in Charlestown. The Char- lestown church has ceased to exist, but a vigorous church in Somerville has grown out of it.
100
CHURCHES OF BOSTON.
The house of worship on North Bennett street was sold in 1874. The Free- man Place Chapel was occupied by the church for two or three years, and afterwards meetings were held in the Somerset Street Baptist meeting-house, until the church moved to its present location.
Rev. J. E. Dame became pastor of the church in 1875, and resigned in 1876. He was followed in 1877 by Rev. C. H. Smith, who left the pastorate in March, 1878. Rev. C. H. Malcolm, D. D., was pastor from January, 1879, to July of the same year. Rev. C. S. Perkins, the present pastor, entered upon his work in November, 1879.
The church occupied its present house of worship on Shawmut avenue, cor- ner of Rutland street, in June, 1882.
CHURCH OFFICERS : - Pastor : Rev. Charles S. Perkins ; Clerk : C. A. Eaton ; Treasurer : W. P. Pease ; Executive Board : Chas. S. Perkins, W. P. Pease, Sam- uel G. Kenney, A. M. Coombs, Jacob Jackson, C. A. Eaton, Henry W. Jackson.
1
101
THE SPRINGFIELD STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
THE SPRINGFIELD ST. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,
WEST SPRINGFIELD STREET, NEAR TREMONT STREET.
The year 1875 found a large number of Presbyterians in various parts of the city, who, for some reasons, had not come under the direct spiritual oversight of any of the then existing churches, and it was felt by many of these that the time had come for forming another Presbyterian congregation.
In the earlier part of this year, the Rev. P. M. Macdonald, then attending Hartford Theological Seminary, visited the city and preached in several of the Presbyterian churches, and a strong desire was expressed on every hand to form a new congregation under his pastorate. On his return to the Seminary, Mr. Mac- donald placed the matter before Dr. Hodge, of Hartford, who strongly urged him to accede to the request of the people. The Home Missionary Board, also rec- ognizing the great need of the field, commissioned Mr. Macdonald to labor there for three months, guaranteeing him the sum of one hundred dollars for his ser- vices. Shortly after graduating, he addressed himself to the work assigned him.
About this time, a vacancy occurred in the First Presbyterian Church, of Reading, through the resignation of the Rev. Mr. Gardiner. An invitation was extending to Mr. Macdonald to preach in that church, the result being that an arrangement was entered into, by which he should supply Reading in the morning and afternoon, and Boston in the evening.
Mr. Macdonald, on completing his theological course, was, on the second Tuesday in October, 1875, received by letter as a licentiate from the Westchester Presbytery of New York, to the Presbytery of Boston, convened in London- derry, N. H.
It was resolved that he should be allowed to continue his work in the city, as well as in Reading, and that a committee should be appointed to visit the field, and report at the next meeting of the Presbytery. After this decision Mr. Mac- donald addressed himself with renewed vigor to the work, and soon found himself surrounded by an earnest band of Christian people. In spite of the great com- mercial depression of that time (1875), which caused many families to leave the city, the congregation steadily increased in numbers, until, at the end of the first year, there were upwards of two hundred members.
102
CHURCHES OF BOSTON.
The services up to this time had been held in the United Presbyterian Church, which had been rented for the purpose. It was thought desirable, how- ever, to seek another place of worship, and at this point the Rev. L. B. Schwartz, pastor of the German Reformed Church, Shawmut Street, kindly placed his church at their disposal until such time as they should be able to make some more permanent arrangement. The congregation gladly availed themselves of this generous Christian offer, and assembled there until the spring of 1881, when they removed to the more spacious edifice on West Springfield Street, where they now worship.
This building has a seating capacity, on the first floor, for about eight hundred people, in the gallery for about two hundred more, and is connected by an ele- gant parlor with a large and comfortable chapel.
The work in Boston had, from the first, been exposed to peculiar hindrances, one of the greatest of which was the attitude of the other Presbyterian churches toward it. The proposal to form another Presbyterian congregation in the city had all along been actively opposed by several leading members of the Presbytery and their congregations. Nor was that opposition withdrawn even after the Pres- bytery had formally sanctioned the step taken. The impression prevailed among them that there was no necessity for another congregation. Another hindrance to the progress of the congregation has been the want of a suitable church build- ing. The wide extent of the field, and the lack of sufficient funds, made it inexpedient to build a church. The work was as yet but an experiment, and it was thought best neither to select a permanent location, nor incur any large pecu- niary outlay, until such time as the growth and material progress of the congre- gation should place the matter beyond all risk of failure.
But though the congregation is not yet sufficiently strong to erect a suitable place of worship, it has always been able to meet its large current expenses. And, while making steady progress in numbers, wealth, and position, it is peculiarly gratifying that in the few years of its existence it has been greatly honored in doing God's work.
Steady accessions have been made to the membership, forty-three names having been added to the roll during the past year. The attendance at the regular Sabbath services is large, at times taxing the capacity of the building to its utmost.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.