History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

was organized in 1861, and tlie chapel dedicated
to Christian worship October 2, 1861. The
first pastor was Rev. William A. Whitwell, who
remained pastor till his death in 1865. He was
succeeded by Kev. Artemas Bowers Muzzey and
Mr. Buckingham.
Unilarian Church, Newton Ceitlre. — In tiie
autumn of 1877 persons attached to tlie Unitarian
faith, belonging in Newton Centre and Newton
Highlands, commenced holding worsliip in the hall
in White's Block, Station Street, near the railroad
depot. The first service was held on Sabbath,
November 11, 1877. Rev. Dr. Rufus P. Steb-
bins was called as the first pastor, and regular
worship has been maintained since the above date.
Chapel at ThompsniiviUe. — Thompsonville, a
village half a mile southeast of Newton Centre,
acquired its name from the name of ^Ir. Thomp-
son, a laboring man, wlio lived a kind of liermit
life in that locality. A few families, chiefly Germans,
became residents of the place, and a room
was hired at the expense of members of the First
Baptist Church, and a Sabbatli-school commenced
March 6, 1867. The immber present was forty-
five. Tile cliapel was erected during the followhig
summer, and dedicated November 9, 1867. At
the close of eleven years, it was stated that no
Sabbath had passed without a public service. In-
cluding the cost of the chapel, up to March 31,
1878, $1,700 had been laid out to sustain the
chapel and scliool, and a (juarterly collection taken
up in the First Ba[)tist Church supplied the funds.
It was in this iinmcdiate vicinity that the New
Light excitemeut commenced nearly a hundred
years before, which was among the elements lead-
ing to the formation of the church now holding
out its helping hand to support this mission.
The Central Congregational Church, Newton-
ville, grew out of a )ieighborhood conference meet-
ing, first held at the house of Mr. Nathaniel D.
Vose, December 11, 1867, and continued weekly,
until it resulted in the formatioti of a church and
society, the purchase of a house of worsliip, and
the settlement of a pastor. The chapel on the
corner of Washington and Court streets, previously
occupied by the Methodist society, was opened for
the regular Sabbath services of this new society,
April 8, 1868. The churcli was organized September
8, 1868, and Rev. Joseph B. Clark was
installed pastor. The constituent members num-
bered thirty-six. Mr. Clark resigned July 1,
1872. The church edifice was enlarijed in 1869.
NEWTON. 245
The second pastor. Rev. James R. Danforth, was
installed January 2^ 1873, and resigned March 17,
1874. He was followed by Rev. E. Frank Howe,
who was installed December 6, 1876. The original
cost of the church edifice was $ 6,500. It was en-
larged the second time in 1875, and re-dedicated
November 6, 1875. Its seating capacity was now
about six hundred and fifty. Deacons, William
A. Goodwin, D. Wayland Jones, M. D., William F.
Slocum, Henry C. Haydcn, Charles E. Chester, Edward
W. Greene.
The New Church [Swcilentjorgian). — '\:\\c first
families in Newtonville holding tlie Swedenborgian
faith were those of Mr. Davis Howard and, a year
later, Mr. T. H. Carter. The former, shortly after
his removal to Newtonville, died. The church
services were read first at the house of Mrs. How-
ard, and afterwards for several years at the house
of Mr. T. H. Carter. As tlie families attached to
this faith increased, a hall for worship was hired
in the village, and in October, 1857, Rev. John
Worcester was invited to preacli regularly. This
arrangement continued eleven and a half years, and
the services were held during that time in four
different halls. The chapel on Higliland Avenue
was built in 1868-69, on land given for the ])ur-
pose by Mr. T. H. Carter, and dedicated A])ril 11,
1869. It will seat about two hundred and seventy-
five persons. At the same date a society was organized
with twenty-nine members. Rev. John
Worcester was histalled pastor December 26, 1869.
Among the original members were Messrs. T. II.
Carter, H. L. Keyes, R. M. Pulsifer, Edwin Field,
S. I. Kellogg, and F. N. Palmer. In February,
1878, the society numbered sixty-three members.
The VninermUst Society of Newtonnille embraced
at the outset several persons who had been
connected with the former Newton and Watertown
Universalist Society and the Waltham Universalist
Society. The first meeting was held in the small
hall over Williams's drug-store in Newtonville
Square, in February, 1871. The following spring
the society removed into Treinont Hall. The soci-
ety was legally organized in April, 1871 ; the cor-
ner-stone of the church on Washington Park was
laid October 22, 1872, and the building was dedi-
cated June 26, 1873. The church is of stone, and
suited to accommodate three hundred hearers. Rev.
J. Coleman Adams, the first pastor, was ordained
December 19, 1872. The church was organized
in February, 1873, with thirteen members.
The Meihoilisf Eltiiicopal Chiirrh i„ Nnrlmiri/fe