In 1847, the need for worship, for a place to worship and for enlightenment was pressingly felt. Beginning with a Sunday School, instituted by Miss Joanna T. Oliver and her friends, interest grew so that in March 1848, a group of twenty-four souls organized the Church. It was then called Winthrop Congregational Church, because at that time it was thought that this area was to become a part of that township. Under the guidance of Rev. Joseph A. Benton, the church’s first pastor, the original By-Laws and the Confession of Faith were drawn up. During the term of his successor, Rev. Francis G. Pratt, the land on which the church is built, was purchased and the building erected. Dedication of the building took place on December 8, 1852, and the first Sunday Service was held on December 12, 1852. This undertaking was certainly a great and arduous one for such a small group, but despite many hardships and financial difficulties they succeeded. Down through the years, no doubt inspired by these early devout people, the members of this church have given much to the church, not only to better the church building by enlarging it, renovating it and remodeling it, but through creating and maintaining many organizations that have and still are serving not only the needs of the church, but the entire Christian world. Such organizations as the Ladies Aide and Missionary Society, founded in 1892, later reorganized and now knows as the Women’s Union – the Washburn Society (1886); the Sigma Gammas (1992); and the various youth organizations such as the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, etc, and the Church Sunday School which is itself older than the church. The Church has also served the community by providing a meeting place for the local government at the time Everett became a Town; affording a forum from which such eminent speakers as Charles Sumner, Anson Burligame, and Wendell Phillips addressed interested members of the community. The church also served as an emergency hospital and shelter for the homeless survivors of the great Chelsea fire and even today it is designated by the Red Cross Disaster Committee to serve as an emergency relief station in time of disaster. Though we can look upon our past history with pride and thanksgiving, growing spiritually and physically from its original twenty-four members of 1848, to our present church and congregation, the task of continued survival is primarily one of growth. Even as our predecessors were not without their trials and tribulations, we are not without ours. But as our courageous predecessors have shown – that the making of this great church from such small beginning was not impossible – we here now cannot but help bear continued faith of our predecessors that we too can do great things in His Name by drawing upon His Divine Grace exemplifying that His Word is forever. R. L. MacGregory All historical information was taken from Miss Betty McCulloch’s “Historical Sketch” published in the 100th Anniversary Program, 1948. |
| The History of the First United Parish of Everett, Massachusetts |
| Pastors of Our Church Click here for a complete list of the Pastors who have served our Church since its origin in 1848. |
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| First United Parish of Everett ~ 460 Broadway ~ Everett, MA 02149 617-387-2515 firstunitedparish@yahoo.com |
| First United Parish of Everett 460 Broadway, Everett, MA 02149 firstunitedparish@yahoo.com "The Church in the Square with a Circle of Love" |
