First Parish Church of Dorchester

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

First Parish Church, Dorchester 1896
First Parish Church, Dorchester 1896
First Parish Church (2002) with Soldier's Monument in front, (Civil War commemoration, erected in 1867).
First Parish Church (2002) with Soldier's Monument in front, (Civil War commemoration, erected in 1867).

The First Parish Church of Dorchester, was built in 1631[1] by the emigrants from Dorchester, Dorset and the south west of England who founded the town of Dorchester, Massachusetts on March 30, 1630.[2]

The first church building was a crude log cabin thatched with grass.[1] As well as the church, the Puritans founded the first elementary school supported by public money in the New World. They held the first town meeting at the church, which determined policy through open and frequent discussion. In all of this they were inspired by the ideal of the Kingdom of God on earth and the attempt to realize this in England in the time of the Rev. John White. The church is referred to as a 'Foundation Stone of the Nation".[3]

The First Parish Church of Dorchester is now a Unitarian Universalist church. Its printed guide says, "Our traditions are Christian; our rootage is Puritan, our government is congregational; our theology is Unitarian; our achievements and loyalties are American; our concerns are humanitarian; and our commitments are independent."

Its website notes that "In its 374 years, twenty-five ministers have occupied its pulpit. For 176 years it was the only church in Dorchester where the church was religion and religion was law."[1]

[edit] See also

Dorchester, Massachusetts

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c See Historical Sketch
  2. ^ Notable Events in Massachusetts
  3. ^ Revd. John White - First Parish Church of Dorchester, Mass.

[edit] External links