The History of our "Little Church on the Common"
The Second Congregational Church was organized on April 27, 1824 and was without a settled Pastor until Rev. John A. Albro was ordained and installed on November 21, 1827. The Second Congregational Church was reincorporated in 1911 as "The Congregational Church in North Chelmsford."
During this time, a strong Unitarian movement had developed. In 1830, the Massachusetts Legislature gave pew holders control of the pulpit. In the Second Congregational Church, the Unitarians had the majority and the Congregationalists were compelled to move to a nearby second story hall at 1683 Middlesex street, known as Wood's Hall, owned by Samuel Wood. Wood's Hall remained the home of the Congregationalists from 1830 through 1836. The Unitarians remained in the original meeting house until they disbanded in 1836. It then remained vacant until it was sold to the Catholics and moved to North Chelmsford. In 1836, the Second Congregational Church moved their meetings from Wood's Hall to the "Old Red Schoolhouse" on Dunstable road where the J.H. Butterfield house now stands.
In September of 1838, a new meeting house was built on the east corner of Middlesex and Gay streets. The brick basement was used as a store entered from Middlesex street while the church was entered from Princeton street. Funds for the purchase of a bell came from both Protestant and Catholic residents. In recognition of this, traditionally the church bell is rung at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday for the Catholic service as well as for our own service.
On January 20, 1893, a fire, caused by a stray dog that knocked over a kerosene lamp, destroyed the meeting house (see picture to the left, top). The pulpit chairs, among a few other things, were saved and are still in use today.
The cornerstone for our present sanctuary was laid on October 7, 1893. The church was dedicated April 26, 1894 (see picture from 7 years later to the left, middle). An addition which includes a chapel, church offices, Sunday School classrooms, and an auditorium, was dedicated on April 19, 1959.
In 1965, the church parsonage at 45 Princeton street was sold and the present parsonage adjoining our church at 17 Princeton street was purchased.
While our meeting houses have changed over the one hundred and eighty+ years of our church's existence, the chief cornerstone has always been and will remain our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.