Bristol County, Massachusetts - Chapter 8: Churches in Attleboro, 1924

Most of the varying expressions of religious beliefs are represented in Attleboro. The older church organizations are in the old town; but thirtyseven years after the call was first given a minister to the First Congregational church, or in 1743, the Second parish pastor took up his duties here. From that time onwards the various churches, Protestant and Catholic and Jewish, have arrived at the call of their increasing flocks. The following survey of the churches outlines their story in this section of the Attleboros, so far as response was made to the requests for information:

Congregational Churches. - The east parish was divided from the western section of the town April 7, 1743, because of the inconvenience to many of the parish in attending public worship at great distance from their homes. The first record of an attempt to build a meetinghouse in this part of the town was that of June 20, 1743, and Rev. Peter Thacher, not then ordained, commenced to preach here August 20, 1743. He was ordained and settled here November 30, 1748. One hundred and fifty pounds was appropriated for the meetinghouse begun in the autumn of 1743, but not - completed for several years later. Mr. Thacher continued as pastor until October 26, 1784. He died September 13, 1785, in the seventieth year of ° his age. He was a native of Middleboro, and graduate of Harvard College. The pulpit was supplied by several ministers before the ordination of Rey. Ebenezer Lazell of Bridgewater, a graduate of Brown University, who preached his first sermon here November 21, 1792. He remained until January 3, 1797, and was succeeded by Rev. Nathan Holman, graduate of Brown University in 1797. He was ordained here October 15, 1800, and he re- mained until May 22, 1821; he died at the age of seventy-five years, October 28, 1844. Rev. John Ferguson, a native of Scotland, succeeded Rev. Mr. Holman, and was ordained here February 27, 1822. His ministry at second Congregational Church was closed March 25, 1835, and he died at Whately, Mass., November 11, 1858. While he was pastor, a parsonage was built. The second meetinghouse was built in 1825. Rev. Jonathan Crane succeeded Rev. Mr. Ferguson as pastor, being ordained October 30, 1836, his pastorate continuing until June 12, 1854.

Rev. Charles D. Lothrop was the next settled minister for this parish. A graduate of Amherst College and Andover Theological Seminary, he was installed as pastor December 14, 1854, and remained until April 29, 1857. There was no settled minister here for about nine years. Rev. Mr. Belden was the next pastor, who was here during the period of the Civil War. Rey. Francis N. Peloubet, graduate of Williams College and Bangor Theological Seminary, was pastor of the church from June 26, 18656, to October 19, 1871; Rev. Samuel Bell from December 18, 1872, to October 28, 1878; Rev. William A. Spalding from September 11, 1879, to November 19, 1883. Rev. Walter Barton, graduate of Amherst College and the Connecticut Theological Institution, began his ministry here in March, 1884. He resigned in September, 1893. Rev. E. L. House was installed January 31, 1894, and concluded his pastorate December 21, 1898. Rev. Wilson S. Fritch was installed December 12, 1878, and his pastorate was brought to a close December 27, 1900. The pastorate of Rev. J. Lee Mitchell, Ph. D., began April 21, 1901. The new church was dedicated May 22, 1904.

Bethany Chapel at South Attleboro had its organized beginning in a Sunday school that was begun in 1874 by Rev. John Whitehill, pastor of the First Congregational Church, assisted by members of his parish. On October 15, 1886, a society was organized as the Bethany Chapel Association, its president being William Coupé, who gave land for the parish; William F. Shaw, vice-president; Damon A. White, secretary and treasurer ; and nine trustees. A chapel was built at a cost of $3,900, the value of both chapel and land being $5,000. The chapel dedication took place April 14, 1887. Rev. James C. Alvord was the pastor in 1922.

Methodist Episcopal Churches. - On November 24, 1865, writes Frederick Lincoln, historian of this church, Dr. D. H. Ela, then pastor of the M. E. Church in Pawtucket, and James Davis, a prominent layman of the same church, established a meeting at Attleboro. A hall was hired, and on November 26, 1865, Rev. D. H. Ela preached the first sermon, and this service gave so much encouragement that Union Hall was hired for future meetings. Among the first members who formed this church were Ezra Arnold and daughter, E. D. Parmenter and Emily Dean, later his wife, Freeman Robbins and wife, Delia Pierce, Eliza A. Clark, Harriet A. Engley, and Ellen M. Morrison. Rev. Mr. Ela continued to preach here, and was greatly aided in his missionary work by Rev. Isaac J. Lansing, then a young man fitting for the ministry; also by James Davis, Daniel B. Ingraham, and other members of the church at Pawtucket. On Sunday, December 3, 1865, a Sunday school of forty members was formed, with James Davis as superintendent and Ezra Arnold as assistant. At the expiration of four months, Mr. Arnold left the State, and Freeman Robbins was chosen in his place. The pulpit was supplied every Sabbath until the next conference, by Rev. Isaac J. Lansing. December 6, prayer meeting was held at Union Hall, and on the 16th the first class meeting convened at Freeman Robbins' house, with thirteen present. March 11, 1866, a formal organization was made with nineteen members, and the church was called 'Davis Centenary M. E. Church." At the conference held in Bristol in March, 1866, Attleboro applied for a minister, and Alexander Anderson became by appointment the regular pastor. Ground was broken for the church in October, 1866, and November 26 the cornerstone was laid. The vestry was occupied on the first Sabbath in June, 1867, and on February 23, 1869, the church was dedicated, Rev. Mark Trafton, D. D., preaching the sermon. The church was built at a cost of $17,000, seven thousand of which was provided for, leaving a debt of some $10,000. The building was completed in a little less than three years from the date of the laying of the cornerstone, the congregation worshiping a part of the time in the vestry.

In May, 1873, Rev. E. D. Hall, together with Mr. and Mrs. Freeman Robbins and Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Luther, formed a mission at Lane's Station, since called Chartley. There a Sunday school was formed, and Mr. Robbins was chosen superintendent. A church was shortly afterwards organized, with nine members. During the pastorate there of Rev. J. C. Gowan, a chapel was built at a cost of $1,500, and dedicated February 3, 1876, free of debt.

At the Centenary Church the ladies of the society began the Home Mission April 27, 1866, and the society called the Gleaners, organized for the purpose of providing money for the church organ, raised $1,650. During the pastorate of Rev. J. A. L. Rich, the debt upon the church was removed, and many former pastors were present at the jubilee reunion November 20 and 21, 1883. About a month after the church had been freed from debt, the church building was totally destroyed by fire. The people rallied undismayed, under the leadership of Rev. Mr. Rich, and the new building was completed in March, 1885, at a cost of about $25,000, Bishop Foss preaching the dedicatory sermon. The parsonage was built during the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Povey. The annual conference was entertained here in the spring of 1883. Rev. V. V. Sawyer was the pastor in 1923.

April 4, 1875, is the date of the organization of the Hebronville Methodist Episcopal church, in Hebron Hall, the headquarters for a number of years. The church was dedicated April 5, 1883, the cost of the edifice being $12,000. The first pastor was Rev. John Q. Adams, 1875. Rev. Samuel F. Maine was the pastor in 1922.

The African M. E. Church was established in 1871, in which year a committee consisting of Isaac R. Johnson, John Williams and Israel Jackson purchased land of Dr. J. M. Solomon where the first church building was erected. The building was burned and a new church building has since been built. The first pastor was Rev. R. H. G. Dyson. Rev. Jeffrey B. Wallace was pastor in 1922.

Murray Universalist Church - The Universalist doctrine had its adherents and well-wishers in the town of Attleboro, all through the early part of the last century, but no positive move was made to establish a Uni- versalist church in this part of the town until the year 1875. It was on June 19 that year, that the Murray Universalist parish was crganized, due to the activity of Charles EK. Hayward, the first services under the direction of this society being held at Union Hall. The second important step was taken on December 16, 1875, when the upper part of the Edwin J. Horton building on North Main street was dedicated as Murray Chapel, and there services were held for nearly a decade. Rev. Franklin C. Flint officiated as the first pastor of the society in the chapel, from November, 1875, untii his death, which took place March 23, 1876. He was succeeded from September, 1876, to July, 1878, by Rev. Alphonso E. White. Rev. Thomas W. Illman, who. was ordained at Saugus near Lynn, in 1876, began to officiate here October 1, 1878, and it was while he was here that two events of special importance took place, namely, the purchase in May, 1881, of the lot on South Main street for $2,000, and the incorporation of the society May 11 as the Murray Universalist Society, in honor of Rev. John Murray, founder of the denomination in this country. Mr. Illman remained as pastor until May 1, 1884, and he was succeeded September 14, 1884, by Rev. Hiram E. Philbrook.

December 11, 1884, the cornerstone of the new church building was laid; and in July, 1885, the vestry was ready for occupancy. November 15 that year, the auditorium was occupied for the first time. The building committee for the new church consisted of J. Lyman Sweet, chairman; Rey. Thomas W. Illman (his place being taken subsequently by Rev. Hiram A. Philbrook); W. R. Cobb, Charles E. Hayward, L. J. Lamb and E. O. Richardson; and the building and land cost $16,000. The building was dedicated May 11. 1887, and it was improved and enlarged by the addition of Murray Hall in 1908. The pastors since Mr. Philbrook have been as follows: Revs. Jabez N. Emery, June 3, 1888 to October 1, 1891; Daniel L. Fisher, 1891-93; A. Francis Walch, 1893-95; James Henry Holden, Septemper 1, 1895, to April 30, 1903; Hendrick Vossema, September 13, 1904, to December 2, 1908; Fred Atkins Moore, May 17, 1909, to March, 1914; Charles Huntington Pennoyer, since September 1, 1914.

All Saints' Episcopal Church. - On Sunday, July 6, 1890, Rev. J. B. Wicks, general missionary of the Diocese of Massachusetts, held a service in the G. A. R. Hall, the choir from Grace Church, North Attleboro, assisting in the service. About fifty persons were present at this meeting. A few interested in the holding of church services remained and a meeting was called for the following Wednesday, when it was decided to ask Rev. George E. Osgood to conduct a service on the following Sunday. On July 23, another meeting of those interested in forming a society was held and a temporary organization was effected as follows: George F. Coe, chairman; W. H. Wade, treasurer; George K. Roberts, secretary. On August 26 a meeting was called, when it was voted to invite Rev. George E. Osgood to hold regular Sunday services for three months in Royal Arcanum Hall. At the close of this period Mr. Osgood was asked to become minister in charge of the mission then known as "All Saints' Mission." In September, 1891, the establishment of a mission seeming an assured matter it was deemed best to secure a hall for its permanent use. Finally a hall in the Horton block in North Main street was leased for two years, suitably fitted up and the first service held there on Sunday, February 14, 1892. Services were held in this hall until the building of the present church building in 1900. The first resident rector was the Rev. Isaac T. Bagnall, who was followed by Rev. James L. Tryon, Rev. Albert Crabtree, Rev. R. J. Mooney, Rev. Alwin E. Worman. The membership in 1923 was 350. The church is a flourishing organization, with a boy choir and a number of societies for carrying on church work. The church was consecrated on November 4, 1906, by Rt. Rev. William Lawrence, D. D.

Pilgrim Unitarian Church. - Pilgrim Church was organized January 24, 1901. as an independent religious society, the by-laws of the church stating that the aim of the society shall be to promote reasonable, progressive, practical and fervent religion; the government shall be democratic; the spiritual methods shall be liberal and positive, and in harmony with the covenant of the church, which is as follows: '"'We join ourselves by a covenant of the Lord into a church estate in the fellowship of the gospel, to walk in all His ways, made known or to be made known unto us, according to our best endeavor, whatsoever it may cost us, the Lord assisting us." This, in essential, is the story of the church here: The first audiences met at the Bates Opera House, and crowded that hall twice every Sunday. Rev. Wilson S. Fritch, who for several years previous to the close of 1900 was pastor of the local Congregational church, was the minister. Finding himself gradually growing out of sympathy with the thought of his church, he resigned in the fall of 1900, with the intention of entering a more liberal field outside of Attleboro. But he was persuaded to remain by a number of prominent citizens, and the Bates Opera House was engaged for services. Mr. Fritch was a brilliant preacher, and on account of his scholarly attainments an appreciative set of resolutions was passed in his behalf by his people, in which Mr. Fritch was pledged their hearty support. He later became interested in the stage, and since made a success on the lecture platform.

Mr. Fritch resigned October 29, 1904. In January, 1905, Rev. John H. Applebee was called from the First Parish, Unitarian Church, West Roxbury, to be the minister. Meantime, while there was no settled minister, the pulpit had been supplied by the American Unitarian Association, which association this church joined in 1910. During the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Applebee the church prospered, the Woman's Alliance, the Men's Club and the Young People's Union were organized, and these have been active since. In 1907 the church at the corner of North Main and Peck streets was built, and from that time onwards the society had their church home. In October, 1910, Rev. Mr. Applebee resigned to accept a call to the Unitarian church at Syracuse, New York. In January, 1911, Rev. Thomas Jay Homer came from Melrose, this State, and he remained eight years. During the World War the pastor and people were put to the test; nearly all the young men went into the war service, and the majority of the men and women were engaged in some kind of war work. During the winter of 1918 the coal situation became so serious a matter that this church united in service with the Murray Universalist Church for a few months. In December of that year, Rev. Mr. Homer accepted a call to Manchester, New Hampshire, and in September Rev. Manley B. Townsend came from Nashua, New Hampshire, to be the minister. He remained until March, 1922; and in May a call was extended to Rev. Charles W. Porter J. Shirley of Geneseo, Illinois, and he assumed this pastorate the following September. Since that time a parsonage has been purchased, and the church is in every way prosperous.

Catholic Churches. - The Catholic population in the central part of the town had so increased in the early eighties that the first branch of St. Mary's was established in 1883. Right Rev. Bishop Thomas F. Hendricken set about the organization of this parish, Rev. Father Mongan to that date having celebrated the mass in the Union Hall. Rev. John O'Connell, then curate of the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Providence, was appointed the first regular pastor of St. John's parish in Attleboro, his first mass being said here January 6, 1883. The estate of the late F. D. Bliss on North Main street was purchased, and the house standing thereon made use of as the rectory. September 17, 1883, the cornerstone of the present church was laid, the sermon for the occasion being preached by Rev. Father J. C. Walsh, of the Holy Communion Church, Providence. The window over the high altar is the gift of Rev. Father James Murphy, of St. Theresa Church of Providence; the side windows are gifts of various members of the church; the high altar was presented by the congregation, and the side altars by friends of the parish. The lot opposite the church was purchased by P. M. Carpenter in 1891, and the present rectory built at a cost of $6,000. The church property cost about $25,000. The dedication of the church took place September 22, 1885, the Right Rev. Bishop Hendricken having charge of the service. Soon after the death of Father O'Connell in 1910, Rev. Father David F. Sheedy was appointed to this pastorate.

There were few Catholics living in Dodgeville before 1840, and about that year the Dodges began to employ some Irish help in their factory. From 1860 the Catholics increased. When Father Delaney relinquished his work at the Attleboros in 1856, Father Gilleck took charge of the Hebronville Mission, St. Mary's. In May, 1872, the Hebronville Manufacturing Company bought a large piece of land, which they donated to the Catholics, with the stipulation that it should be used only for church or burial purposes. Mass was said in the unfinished basement for the first time 'on Christmas Day, 1875. In 1880 this mission was detached from North Attleboro and given to St. Joseph's parish, Pawtucket, and mass was said every Sunday from that time on. Rev. Father P. S. McGee was appointed pastor in 1885, and in 1894 he built a parochial residence.

St. Stephen's church at Dodgeville was also founded through the efforts of Rev. Father Mongan, who in the early eighties began holding services in that part of the town. The millworkers in increasing numbers came from distant sections of the country, as well as from Canada, and very soon their church home was provided. St. Stephen's Church was built in - the latter seventies. Rev. Alfred J. Levesque is the present pastor. There is a mission at Hebronville - St. Rose of. Lima.

Ample provision was made for the religious needs of the French-speaking people mostly employed in the jewelry manufacturing plants, when in 1905 St. Joseph's Church and parish were established on South Main street, with Rev. Father Napoleon Massier as the first pastor. That year, also, the parochial school was opened under the direction of nine Sisters of St. Croix, and with 181 pupils. Father Lavoie succeeded Father Massier. The present rector is Father Antoine Berube. The parish has 1100 souls.

Other Religious Bodies. - Swedish services were first held in Attleboro in 1892; but the Swedish Evangelical Free Church was first organized January 24, 1903, with twenty-four members. G. N. Larsen was elected chairman of the church society, and he was still serving in 1923. The first pastor was Rev. F. O. Swanson, of Chicago, Illinois, he serving but one year. The next pastor was Rev. G. A. Suber, of Norwalk, Massachusetts, who remained with this church nearly seven years. During his pastorate the church made rapid progress, and the first church building on Pearl street became too small for the purpose, so that a new structure was built on South Main street, which was dedicated December 17, 1911. Rey. Mr. Suber removed to Washington, Connecticut, in January, 1913, and in the spring of the same year Rev. Carl Peterson of Malden resumed the work of this church, remaining until February, 1917. Since July 1 of that year, Rev. Henry R. Nelson of Montclair, New Jersey, has been the pastor.

The Christian Scientists of this section started their church organization thus: In August, 1919, a few Scientists met at the home of Mrs. Ida M. Hyde, Tiffany street, South Attleboro, and for several months thereafter meetings were held at the homes of those interested, in Attleboro and North Attleboro. Officers were elected November 25, 1919, and Mrs. Ida M. Hyde was chosen first reader, Mrs. Louise H. Collette second reader. In March, 1920, the hall in Odd Fellows' building was obtained for Sunday service. August 9, 1921, a society was organized, Mrs. Hyde continuing as first reader, and Mrs. Jennie L. Jescen being elected second reader. The title was changed June 8, 1923, to First Church of Christ, Scientist, Attleboro, Massachusetts. A Sunday school had been held- prior to the organization of the society, and has been continued. This church maintains a free reading room and loan library in Room 3, I. O. O. F. building.

In 1827 the Hebronville Congregational Church was constituted by Rev. Thomas Williams and former parishioners of the First Church, who built their meetinghouse on the Attleboro and Seekonk line. Rey. Mr. Williams was pastor of this church-from 1827 to 1832. He was author of many pamphlet articles and sermons. In 1842 the Hebronville church voted to relinquish the Congregational usage and became an "Independent Church of Christ." The former building was sold and removed in 1870, and the new church that was built in Seekonk was burned in 1875. A new church was built and dedicated that year.

The South Baptist Church was established in 1760; and on April 20, 1789, the First and Second Baptist churches in Attleboro met and agreed upon fellowship as sister churches. Elder Elihu Daggett was the first pastor of the South Baptist Church. He died August 29, 1769, and was succeeded by Elder Elisha Carpenter, Jr., who was the settled pastor from June 7, 1778, until about 1798. Soon afterwards this church was dissolved, and the meetinghouse was taken down in 1810.

Other religious societies of Attleboro are the following-named: Advert Christian Church, Rev. George Armstrong, pastor; First Baptist Church,

Rev. Guy E. Mark, pastor; People's Free Church, Rev. John D. Walter, pastor; Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel Church; Bethany Evangelical Mission, Attleboro Branch of the Re-organized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.