First Congregational Church in Amherst Records, 1829-1959 (bulk 1829-1939)
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Amherst College Archives and Special Collections Amherst, MA
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First Congregational Church in Amherst Records
Creation of First Congregational Church in Amherst Records
Time of Creation of First Congregational Church in Amherst Records
First Congregational Church (Amherst, Mass.)
Biographical History for: First Congregational Church in Amherst Records
Historical Note Chronology of the First Congregationalist Church in Amherst, 1781-1939 1734The Third Precinct of Hadley is organized by the General Court with a condition to "build a meeting house and settle a learned Orthodox Minister in three years."1735Rev. David Parsons is employed as the first Minister of the church1739First Church is organized with sixteen members on November 7; Rev. David Parsons is ordained as pastor1741The First Meeting House is built on the future site of the octagon building at Amherst College1753The First Meeting House is completed1759The Third Precinct of Hadley becomes the District of Amherst1781Rev. David Parsons dies1782Rev. David Parsons (son of first Minister) is ordained1783The First Church Parish is established to manage church financial business 1784Political objections to Rev. David parsons lead a group to break from the church to form the Second Church of Amherst1785The Second Church of Amherst meeting house is completed1788The larger, Second Meeting House is erected on the site of the First 1792A Paul Revere bell is installed in the church belfry, and the practice of blowing a "konk" to gather worshipers is discontinued1819Rev. David Parsons retires1820Rev. Daniel A. Clark is installed as Minister; Noah Webster writes a constitution for the newly established Sunday school; David Parsons lays cornerstone for Amherst College1822Amherst College holds its first commencement ceremony at the church1824Rev. Daniel A. Clark is dismissed; Samuel Hills and 16 other members unite with others to organize the South Congregational Church1826Rev. Royal Washburn is installed as Minister; Oliver Dickinson and others leave the church to form the North Church1828The Third Meeting House is built on the southwest corner of South Pleasant Street and Northampton Road1833Rev. Royal Washburn dies; Rev. Matthew T. Adam is installed as Minister1834Matthew T. Adam dismissed; Edward Hitchcock serves as one of the interim Ministers1837Josiah Bent is installed as Minister1839Josiah Bent dies1840Rev. Aaron M. Colton is ordained as Minister1853Aaron M. Colton is dismissed at his own request; Rev. Edward S. Wright becomes Acting Pastor1854Rev. Edward S. Wright in installed as Minister; meeting house is used for the inauguration of William A. Stearns, President of Amherst College1857Ralph Waldo Emerson delivers lecture in the meeting house, "The Beautiful in Rural Life"1860Edward S. Dwight is dismissed1861Rev. Henry L. Hubbell ordained as Minister1865Amherst voters gather in meeting house to vote on the establishment of the Massachusetts Agricultural College; Henry L. Hubbell resigns1867Rev. Jonathan L. Jenkins becomes Acting Pastor; Amherst College buys the meeting house (now known as College Hall)1868The Fourth Meeting House is built on the south side of Main Street; the pulpit, made of wood from the Lebanon Mountains in Syria, is donated by the Rev. Daniel Bliss; Rev. Jonathan L. Jenkins is installed as Pastor1877Rev. Jonathan L. Jenkins resigns; Rev. Howard Kingbury is installed as Minister1878Rev. Jonathan L. Jenkins dies1879Rev. Forrest F. Emerson is installed as Minister1883Rev. Forrest F. Emerson resigns; Rev. George S. Dickerman is installed as Minister1888Church bylaws are amended to give women voting power1891Rev. George S. Dickerman resigns1892Rev. Frank L. Goodspeed is installed as Minister1894Rev. Frank L. Goodspeed resigns1895Rev. Oliver Huckel is installed as Minister1897Rev. Oliver Huckel resigns1898Rev. Henry R. McCartney is installed as Minister1901Rev. Henry R. McCartney resigns; Rev. William E. Strong is installed as Minister1904The administrative parish is dissolved and the church incorporates1906Rev. William E. Strong resigns1907Rev. William I. Anderson is installed as Minister1909Organ is donated by Fidelia S. Gaylord1913Rev. William I. Anderson resigns1914Rev. John A. Hawley begins ministry1915Church is remodeled to increase space for social activities1936Ruth E. Sherburne is elected clerk of the church1937Rev. John A. Hawley resigns; Rev. Raymond A. Waser begins ministry1939Rev. Raymond A. Waser resigns
Scope and Contents of the Collection This collection consists of sermon and anniversary celebration programs, correspondence, newspaper clippings, photographs, and other records documenting activities of the First Congregational Church in Amherst, Massachusetts, chiefly 1829-1939.
There is no restriction on access to the First Congregational Church in Amherst Records for research use. Particularly fragile items are restricted for preservation purposes.
Requests for permission to publish material from the First Congregational Church in Amherst Records should be directed to the Archives and Special Collections. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights.
Town of Amherst CollectionPhotographic Images CollectionFirst Congregational Church of Amherst Collection, Jones Library Special Collections, Amherst, MAJohn Lovell Photograph Collection. Jones Library Special Collections, Amherst, MA250 years at First Church in Amherst, 1739-1989. Frost Library call number: [BX7255.A24 T9 1990]
Processed in November 2011 by Sara Smith.
First Congregational Church (Amherst, Mass.) -- Sources.
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series
Series 1: HISTORIES AND ANNIVERSARY PUBLICATIONS
Souvenir programs and booklets containing historical essays and information on the church, produced for anniversary celebrations held in 1889, 1939 and 1959. A pamphlet detailing the origin of the pulpit of the First Congregationalist Church and a program from the opening of Amherst College's College Hall are also included here.
Histories and anniversary programs and pamphlets 1889, 1905, 1932-1959
Series 2: CHURCH TEXTS
Contains "The Articles of Faith and Government, of the First Church in Amherst, Mass" (1834) and the "Manual of the First Congregationalist Church" (1923) as well as programs from services held and texts of sermons delivered from 1829-1904.
Articles of Faith and Government; Manual of the First Congregational Church 1834, 1923
Sermons and programs from services and the installation of Forrest F. Emerson 1829-1904 1829-1904
Series 3: CORRESPONDENCE
Contains one letter from Aaron M. Cotton to Edward B. Marsh, 1885.
Letter from A[aron]. M. Colton to Edward B. Marsh 1885
Series 4: CLIPPINGS
Contains newspaper clippings related to anniversary services and celebrations.
Clippings 1905, 1939, 1959
Series 5: PHOTOGRAPHS
Contains two photographs of the church at Main Street, one exterior and one interior.
Photographs 1920s, 1943
Series 6: RECORD BOOKS
Contains two volumes made in 1891: a copy of the records of the First Church and of the Second Church from 1735-1819, made by Pastor G. S. Dickerman; and the Catalogue of the Pastors and Deacons of the First Church of Christ in Amherst, compiled by G.S. Dickerman, with Rev. D.W. Marsh D.D. and Mrs. Helen T. Magill.
Book-Copies of the records of the First Church and of the Second Church of Amherst, MA, covering 1735-1819. Copied by Pastor G. S. Dickerman, 1891. "The volume of original records of the first church of Amherst has been kept for better preservation in the vault of the first national Bank." 1891
Catalogue of the Pastors and Deacons of the First Church of Christ in Amherst, Mass. Compiled by G.S. Dickerman, with Rev. D.W. Marsh D.D. and Mrs. Helen T. Magill, 1891. 1891