History

Gathered in 1623

Gathered in 1623, the First Church in Weymouth is the oldest Congregational church established in the United States. In a world, a nation, and a town which have all changed drastically over the past 400 years, First Church has continued to ground itself in the Word of God, while continuing to adapt to the needs of our time.

From Weymouth to Washington

Perhaps the most notable member of our church has been Abigail Adams (née Smith), daughter of the Rev. William Smith. Click here to learn more about Abigail's connection to First Church.

The 1600s

September 1622: The first settlers arrived at Wessagusset under the leadership of Thomas Weston. A fort was built at Hunt’s Hill off of King’s Cove. The colony was abandoned by the spring of 1623.

September 1623: The colony was re-established by Capt. Robert Gorges. He brought with him Rev. William Morrell, an Anglican rector. The church was gathered and began meeting for worship.

1624: The colony was again abandoned by the spring, although some settlers remained. Rev. Morrell fled to Plymouth, but the remnant continued to meet for worship.

1624-1635: A meetinghouse was erected on Watch House Hill in Old Spain, where the Old North Weymouth Cemetery is situated today (pictured). Tradition holds that a Rev. Barnard ministered among them during this time, but no evidence remains of his existence.

1635: Rev. Joseph Hull arrives in Wessagusset with over 100 emigrants. The colony is incorporated as the Town of Weymouth.

1636-1640: Theological tensions divided the church, and the town called on differing ministers to settle among them, including Revs. Hull (an Anglican), Thomas Jenner (a Puritan), Robert Lenthal (an Antinomian), and Samuel Newman (another Puritan). By 1640, Rev. Newman would be left as the sole pastor of the church.

1644: A number of Weymouth residents, led by Rev. Newman, left to establish the town of Rehoboth, Mass. Rev. Thomas Thacher was called as pastor. Tensions in the church were resolved, and the church was legally incorporated with a binding covenant.

1645: A second meetinghouse is erected on Burying Hill, across North Street from Watch House Hill.

1646-8: The church participates in the Cambridge Synod, which defined Congregationalism.

1664-5: Rev. Thacher resigns, and Rev. Samuel Torrey is ordained as pastor.

1679-80: The church participates in the Reforming Synod, which attempted to investigate and remedy the religious decline in society.

1682: The meetinghouse on Burying Hill is taken down due to decay, and a third meetinghouse is built nearby, where the church has been located ever since.

The 1700s

1707: Rev. Torrey dies and is succeeded by Rev. Peter Thacher, grandson of former pastor Thomas Thacher.

1718-9: Rev. Thacher is dismissed from the church due to his involvement with another church. He is succeeded by Rev. Thomas Paine (father of Robert Treat Paine, signer of the Declaration of Independence).

1723: Residents of South Weymouth successfully petition the General Court to be set apart as their own precinct in the town. The Second Church (or Old South Church) in Weymouth is organized under Rev. James Bayley, creating a financial strain on First Church.

1734: Rev. Paine resigns due to financial difficulties and illness. He is succeeded by Rev. William Smith.

1744: Rev. Smith's daughter, Abigail Smith, is born in the parsonage (the “Torrey Mansion,” named after the Rev. Samuel Torrey, who built the house), and was baptized at First Church.

1753: The meetinghouse was destroyed in a fire, and a fourth meetinghouse was erected within the year.

1753-54: A set of silver communion ware – was given to the church, which would remain in use until 1907.

1764: Abigail Smith marries John Adams of Braintree in the living room of the parsonage. John and Abigail would go onto become the 2nd President and First Lady of the United States, and their son John would go onto become the 6th President.

1770: A leather-bound Book of Common Prayer, printed in England in 1760, was given to the church and used on the pulpit for nearly a century. It is currently on display in the sanctuary in a glass case.

1776: A copy of the Declaration of Independence was read by Rev. Smith from the pulpit on August 11. This was the first public reading of the declaration in Weymouth.

1783-7: Rev. Smith dies, and the church struggles to name a new minister for four years.

1787: Rev. Jacob Norton was called and ordained as the pastor of First Church.

The 1800s

1811: Members of First Church, as well as members of the church in Braintree, organize their own church in Weymouth Landing, called Union Congregational Church of Weymouth & Braintree.

1815: A "Sabbath School" was organized at First Church.

1822: Members of First Church leave to organize a Methodist church in East Weymouth. This church would later adopt Congregationalism, and today is the East Weymouth Congregational Church.

1824: Rev. Norton was dismissed from the church due to the change in his doctrinal beliefs, and the effect it had on the church's fellowship with neighboring churches. Rev. Josiah Bent Jr. is called and ordained to succeed him.

1826: The Ladies' Benevolent Society (LBS) is first gathered. It would be officially organized in 1833.

1832-3: The meetinghouse is taken down due to decay, and a fifth meetinghouse is erected. This meetinghouse is still standing and used today.

1833: Rev. Bent resigns from the pastorate due to the public revelation of him being a Freemason. He is succeeded by Rev. John C. Phillips (son of the first Mayor of Boston, John Phillips).

1837-8: Rev. Phillips resigns for uncertain reasons, and is succeeded by Rev. Joshua Emery Jr.

1838: A new parsonage is built on the site of the old one, next to Burying Hill.

1843: The church formally published a resolution denouncing slavery as a sin and as a societal disease.

1848-9: Two silver tankards of Sheffield plate were presented to the church by Mrs. Mary Bates and Mrs. Christiana Jones. A baptismal basin was presented a year later by Ms. Priscilla Blanchard.

1852: Members of First Church were lovingly dismissed to organize a new church in North Weymouth, called Pilgrim Congregational Church.

1856: A chapel was erected on the rear of the meetinghouse.

1873: Rev. Emery retires and is succeeded by Rev. Franklin P. Chapin.

1875: A fund of $10,000 was established by the will of Joseph Loud. The income was to be used “for supporting and maintaining the present religious doctrines of said Parish.”

1885-6: Rev. Chapin retires and is succeeded by Rev. Frank H. Palmer.

1887: The old creed of the church was readopted, along with the 1883 Statement of Doctrine of the National Council of Congregational Churches.

1891: Rev. Palmer resigns due to family tragedy, and is succeeded by Rev. Robert R. Kendall.

The 1900s

1900: Rev. Kendall resigns and is succeeded by Rev. Ralph J. Haughton.

1901: The 1883 Statement of Doctrine is rescinded from the creed, restoring the creed to its original 1795 form.

1905: Rev. Haughton resigns. Rev. Edward Norton is called as the interim pastor, declining to settle permanently at the church.

1907: Rev. Edward J. Yaeger is called and ordained as the pastor of First Church. The 18th-century communion ware is retired from active use.

1921-2: Rev. Yaeger resigns. Revs. William B. Sharratt and Leland Smith are called to serve as interim pastors.

1923: First Church celebrates its 300th anniversary. Rev. Stanley Marple is called and ordained as pastor of First Church.

1933: A service and dinner are held to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the meetinghouse, with deacons from each of the four daughter churches participating.

1943: Rev. Marple resigns and is succeeded by Rev. Kroum S. Jordan.

1952: Rev. Jordan resigns and is succeeded by Rev. Earl K. Sweatland.

1953: Church Street is lowered, and the church begins a new building program. The church is temporarily lifted up and moved back so that a new foundation could be built, containing a gymnasium and classrooms.

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

1963: Rev. Eaton resigns and is succeeded by Rev. Theodore C. Schoonmaker. The church is also redecorated.

1970-1: Rev. Schoonmaker resigns and is succeeded by Rev. Allen Keedy.

1973: Rev. Keedy abruptly resigns and is succeeded by Rev. Paul Medling.

1978: Rev. Medling resigns and is succeeded by Rev. Gary O. Blume.

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

1987: A new organ was purchased for the sanctuary.

1980s-2010s: Several associate ministers and seminarians are called to First Church.

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.

The 2000s

2015: Rev. Blume retires and is succeeded by associate minister Rev. Thomas F. Coronite.

2015-2019: First Church joins the Massachusetts Association of Congregational Christian Churches (MACCC).

2019: Rev. Coronite retires from full-time ministry, and is succeeded by interim pastor Rev. John A. Robie, who would be installed as the settled minister in 2022.

2020-1: The COVID-19 pandemic engulfed the world, forcing First Church to get creative in continuing its ministries and outreach to the town.

2023-4: Rev. Robie resigns and is succeeded by Rev. Alexander S. Killian.

The historical information provided on this website come from the following sources:

The records of the First Church and Parish in Weymouth. Records from the past 200 years remain in the church's possession, while older records have been entrusted with the Massachusetts Historical Society, and others have been given to Tufts Library in Weymouth.
Historical Sketch of the Town of Weymouth, Massachusetts, from 1622 to 1884. Compiled by Gilbert Nash. Published by the Town of Weymouth, under the auspices of the Weymouth Historical Society, 1885. Accessed online.
Charles Francis Adams, Jr. Wessagusset and Weymouth. Historical address, delivered at Weymouth, Mass., July 4, 1874. Accessed online.
Charles Francis Adams, Jr. "The Site of the Wessagusset Settlement of 1622 at Weymouth, Massachusetts." Cambridge: John Wilson & Son, University Press, 1891. Accessed online.
Williston Walker. The Creeds and Platforms of Congregationalism. New York: Charles Schriner's Sons, 1893. Accessed online.
The diary of John Quincy Adams, 1779-1848. Accessed online.
The memories and recollections of church members still present. Many thanks especially to Marcia Stoddard and her family, who adorned our halls with rich stories from our past in preparation for our church's 400th anniversary celebrations in 2023.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse