Lucius R. Paige, History of Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1630-1877, with a genealogical register

[For most of the statistics concerning this church I am indebted to its Secretary, Mr. Samuel L. Ward.]

old Cambridge Baptist.—The Old Cambridge Baptist Church was organized Aug. 20, 1844, and was publicly recognized Oct. 23, 1845. Eighty-three members of the church were formerly members of the First Baptist Church, and a large number of the society and congregation had worshipped with them in Cambridgeport. Their first meeting-house was a wooden structure, which was erected on the corner of Kirkland Street and Holmes Place, and was dedicated Oct. 23, 1845. This house was sold, Oct. 23, 1866, to what is now known as the North Avenue Congregational Society, and was removed bodily, without even disturbing the steeple, to the southerly corner of North Avenue and Roseland Street, where it now stands. The congregation worshipped for the next few years, partly in the meeting-house of the Shepard Congregational Society, generously offered for their use, and partly in Lyceum Hall. Meantime arrangements were made, and contributions on a magnificent scale were offered, for the erection of a new meeting-house. The effort was successful, and the spacious stone edifice, extending from Main Street to Harvard Street, opposite to Prescott Street, was dedicated Sept. 29, 1870.

The first pastor was Rev. Ezekiel G. Robinson, B. U. 1838, D. D. 1853, Ll. D. 1872, who was installed Oct. 23, 1845, the day on which the church was recognized and the first meeting-house was dedicated. He resigned Sept. 13, 1846, and became Professor of Theology at Rochester, N. Y., and afterwards President of Brown University. His successor was Rev. Benjamin I. Lane, who was installed Dec. 30, 1846, and resigned March 8, 1849. The next pastor was Rev. John Pryor, who had received the degree of D. D. at King's College, N. S., and was installed March 25, 1850. He resigned July 26, 1861,