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Church History

Our church has a long and colorful history, dating back to the foundation of the First Church of Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1632. In the words of church historian, Dr. Leonor M. Rich, "Grim and terrible as the religion of those early Puritans was, rigid and severe in doctrine and barren in sentiment, there was in it a humanity, a strength and a solidarity, which lent its worshippers an almost majestic power and dignity, lifting them to heights of achievement both heroic and sublime." The times and our church have come a long way in the past 400 years, but the presence of God's spirit actively at work in our faith community remains strong.

Some landmarks of growth and change:

1642 - A colony moved from Charlestown to establish First Congregational Church of Woburn.

1840 - 97 members of Woburn church received permission to establish the First Congregational Church of South Woburn; church members later led the petition the state legislature to incorporate the separate town of Winchester in 1850.

1853 - Original church meeting house completely destroyed by fire. The small but visionary congregation quickly raised $26,000 to build the substantially larger present-day church structure.

1854 - New church building dedicated nine months after the fire.

1921 - Practice of renting pews discontinued in order to welcome visitors with more freedom and greater hospitality. Church thereafter supported by members' free-will offerings.

1925 - Last major renovations to church structure included a new chancel with central pulpit and installation of memorial stained-glass windows.

1961 - First Congregational Church voted to approve and join the Constitution of the United Church of Christ.

1969 - Fiske pipe organ installed.

1975 - Mary Brink became the first woman Deacon.

2001 - We became an Open and Affirming Congregation, intentionally welcoming people of all ages, races, genders, sexual orientation, economic status, ethnicity and religious traditions to join us in worship and full participation in the life of our church.