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advanced in the First Church [Mr. Ripley's], as well as in a need which had begun to be felt of additional accommodation for public worship, resulting from the growth of the town, especially of the Factory population.’
The Manufacturing Company and some of their employes, with other of the townspeople, having decided to build another church, a paper was circulated for the signatures of those favoring the project, the agreement being to settle a minister according to the wishes of the majority of the signers.
The Congregationalists prevailed, and Rev. Sewall Harding, from Medway, who had been preaching to them in the school-house on Elm Street, was ordained January 17, 1821, the same day the new house of worship was dedicated on Church Street, on the spot now occupied by the Catholic burial ground.
The views of Rev. Mr. Harding not according with those of a majority of the parish, he was dismissed by a vote of the society, April 4, 1825-62 affirmative, 15 negative.
The church-members, with the exception of one or two only, adhered to their pastor and left in a body, worshiping at Deacon Pearson's house on Main Street until they procured a hall on the corner of Main and Newton Streets, where they remained till their first house of worship, erected on the corner of Main and Heard Streets, was dedicated, October 11, 1826. ‘The church, in withdrawing with Mr. Harding, were desirous of retaining the original name; but as this was deemed to be inadmissible the present name was taken’ July 5, 1826.
The building was originally small, with but 60 pews.
It was twice enlarged, first by taking the original porch into the body of the house, which added some twenty more; and at the same time a basement vestry was constructed.
In 1859 the interior was renovated, and an organ introduced.
July 19, 1870, the corner stone of the present fine church edifice on Main Street was laid, and it was dedicated March 2, 1871.
The farewell sermon in the old church was preached August 14, 1870, by the Rev. Sewall Harding, who had preached the first sermon within its walls forty-four years previous.
For about six months
Thomas Lewis, Landscape Photographs, 1879.
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