The 20th Century

1923: The First Church in Weymouth celebrated the 300th anniversary of Christian worship in Weymouth with a weeklong rededication of First Church. Five services led by prominent clergy were held, ending with a Sunday School concert. During this week, the Rev. Stanley Marple was ordained as pastor of the church. He and his family moved into the parsonage which, having been unoccupied for 20 years, was repaired and modernized. The church interior was also redecorated, with lighting and heating fixtures being modernized, replacing the gas lamps and wood stoves. The slogan for the tercentenary was: “Hats Off to the Past, Coats Off to the Future!”

1933: A service was held at the church to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the “building of the present church edifice.” Senior deacons from the four daughter Congregational churches in Weymouth assisted at Holy Communion, and a centennial banquet was held.

1943: After Rev. Marple’s resignation, the Rev. Kroum S. Jordan was installed as pastor. He shared his experience and sentiments as an immigrant in the July newsletter, having received his American citizenship that June. During this time, World War II was being fought across the globe, and the same newsletter had as its front page “Our Roll of Honor,” listing 81 names of church members or associates serving in the American efforts.

1952: Rev. Jordan resigned from the pastorate and was replaced by the Rev. Earl K. Sweatland.

1953: The church accepted a building program while Church Street was being lowered. The church was lifted up and moved back, with a new foundation being built with basement rooms. The church was returned to its old location on this new foundation. Through many crises, “the church leaders and rev. Sweatland persevered.”

1956: At this time in First Church’s history, there were 500 active members in the church. The weekly attendance for worship was 233, and there were 400 Sunday School pupils, 3 youth groups, some Cub/Boy Scout troops, a Men’s Forum, a Couples’ Club, and the continuing LBS.

1957: Rev. Sweatland was dismissed from the church, and the Rev. David H. Eaton was installed. Many of the Congregational churches in the United States united this year with the Evangelical & Reformed (E&R) Churches, merging into the United Church of Christ (UCC).

1963: Rev. Eaton resigned and was replaced by the Rev. Theodore C. Schoonmaker. During this year, the church was also redecorated.

1970-1: Following Rev. Schoonmaker’s departure, the Rev. Allen Keedy was installed as pastor of the church. He served until 1973-4.

1974: The Rev. Paul Medling was installed as pastor. The parsonage was now at 11 Sutton Street, though it was later sold. Rev. Medling’s tenure was short, much like his predecessor’s.

1976: On April 25, around 300 guests were in attendance for a special bicentennial commemoration of the 1776 reading of the Declaration of Independence, read by Rev. Medling. A townwide celebration followed. That Easter, a special bicentennial quilt was presented and hung on the wall of the sanctuary, where it remains today.

1978: The church voted to ordain and install the Rev. Gary O. Blume, a Weymouth native. He was described as “a minister of rare ability and great promise.”

1983-5: The church expanded, with a parking lot and driveways added to the surrounding land, and the next-door building at 11 Church Street purchased. The church offices were moved into the new building, and were modernized with a copier and computers.

1987: A new organ was purchased, to be played by long-time choir director Elizabeth Hodges.

1996: The ancient silver communion ware, first used by the church in the mid-1700s, was, “after much anguish and discussion,” sold to establish the Silver Fund.

1994-9: Assistant pastors Rosemary McKay and Elizabeth Ashby were installed, enriching the ministry at the church and the experience of the congregation. First Church became a “teaching parish,” watching “our seminarian students grow, then move on to establish their careers.” Each seminarian was influential in the expanding of the congregation’s faith and growth.