.D.J Collins November 21, 1999

First Church of Saugus History
HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHAT IT TAKES TO KEEP A
CHURCH GOING FOR OVER 250 YEARS?

 
The History of the 1st Congregational Church in the Town of Saugus

  The first communities of New England were founded shortly after the English arrived in North America, in the first half of the 17th century. Many of these communities revolved around the local church. This was both physically and literary, for the church was usually situated in the center of the town. Also, it was the main force behind many colonists lives.

 In the early 18th century each community had only one church, and at that time Saugus was a part of Lynn. Local colonists who felt that the church in Lynn was too far to travel first started the church in Saugus on July 1, 1736. Those who lived in the Saugus area found it difficult to get to services in Lynn because of poor roads and bad weather and wanted to form their own church. The original building was built on Soldier's Field Hill, facing what today is Main Street. Although the church was built, it was not recognized as such for a few more years.

 The parishioners broke away from the Lynn Church on June 5, 1737 when they renamed themselves and their church, The Society of Proprietors of the Meeting House in the Western End of the Town of Lynn.  It was at this time the elders went before the General Council of the Massachusetts Bay Colony to be formally recognized as a separate church. Their petition was denied and again denied a few years later. Despite the petition of recognition having been denied twice, church members forged ahead. In 1737, it was decided that money should be put aside for a minister.

 Ten years after members declared a separated church, in 1747, they again went to the General Council of Massachusetts, to petition their recognition by the colony. Without much surprise, The Council rejected their petition. However, the House of Representatives passed it. For the next three years, church members lobbied the General Assembly, and in 1750 were finally recognized as a separate church by the Colony of Massachusetts.

 Now that the First Congregational Church was finally recognized by the colony, it was decided that Reverend Joseph Roby would be appointed as the church's minister. Roby accepted the position in July of that year. The salary that was paid to Reverend Roby as annual compensation was: use of a house and barn, wheat for 2 cows and 1 horse, 30 pounds of silver, 20 cords of wood, 60 bushels of corn, 41 rye, 600 pork and 888 beef.

 Rev. Roby was very involved in the church and the community during his tenure. Besides marrying approximately 300 couples, Rev. Roby was also involved in the American Revolution. He was at the Battle of Lexington and Concord, and after the war officially began, he traveled to local churches trying to get local colonists prepared for war. His message to the colonists was that they should remain armed at all times; this included bringing firearms to church. Rev. Roby continued his tenure at the church until his death in January of 1803.

 Roby's death left the church without a permanent minister of their own for over a year. Reverend Frothingham took over as minister in June 1804. His tenure lasted until 1817. During this period, the western part of Lynn officially broke away and became known as the Town of Saugus. This meant that the Meeting House was now known as the First Congregational Society of Saugus.

R.L. Keene Oct.18,1953 

 The church moved to Main St. in 1821 where at this site the first woman's seminary in America was established.
It only lasted a few years but it marked a major turning point in women's rights in the area. Up until that time only the
head of the house and their sons were allowed such privilege.

The next big change to the church started in 1827 when the pulpit was taken over by Reverend Randall. He was only the church's minister for a year, but his influence was felt long after he left, because Reverend Randall was a Unitarian; he greatly influenced by the enlightenment philosophy of the day. His ministry caused a split between the conservative or (traditionalists) and the liberal or (modernists) members of the church. The dispute between the two groups of people became very bitter. In fact, the church split in 1832. The conservatives left to continue in the traditions of biblical accountability and salvation.

Due to the split, the ancestors of the present First Congregational Church moved to a new site, very close to the original church. The Old Stone Church, which is now the Park Press building on Main St. was completed in 1836, four years after the separation of the original church. The congregation, in 1836, did not have much structure, and this is probably the reason there are very few church records from this period. This lack of organization lasted 16 years, until 1852.

 Legend has it that during this time certain members of the congregation were actively participating in the underground railroad by providing food, shelter, transportation and spying eyes as free slaves made there way to Canada. One of the Underground Railroad locations was The George Washington Raddin House, 768 Boston St., Lynn, MA. The house borders the Saugus River in the area of Boston St. and Hamilton St., Saugus. 

The church's next reformation occurred in 1852 for two reasons. First, a new larger church was built on the site that it is on today, and the church members started to become more involved in both the decisions making and the financial aspects of the church.

 Members had the option of becoming shareholders in the church. As a shareholder, a member would receive one vote when it came to making important church decisions. Also, the shareholders helped the church financially. This practice of one member one vote is still in existence today. Every member of the present First Congregational Church receives one vote when it comes to making church decisions.

 The new building, costing a total of $4,145.54, was dedicated on September 15, 1882. It was also at this time that the church was now called the Orthodox Congregational Church and Society. Since this time the congregation has been at the same location at the corners of Central and Hamilton streets.

 In 1963 the newest addition was built. This sanctuary and is connected to the older building and is wheelchair accessible.The older building is used for church functions and other community uses.

 photographed and edited by D.J.....Collins 1999

The 1882 church building 

can bee seen in the back

of the 1963 addition

 After over 200 years of change, the group that was originally known as the Society of Proprietors of the New Meeting House in the western end of the Town of Lynn is now known as the First Congregational Church of Saugus, U.C.C.

  Copyright © 2008 First Congregational Church UCC S. All Rights Reserved.

Original Copyright 12/6/1999
By Donna Collins
site//architecture//design//construction
Text by Donna Collins

Historical text by Amy Spencer
-use without license or permission violates US & International copy

laws-quotation without attribution is plagiarism

 the C.I.A. (Christ in Action)Logo  September 2004 is the property of First church Saugus

to be used only by permission  
Copyright © 2008 First Congregational Church UCC S. All Rights Reserved.