On March 30, 1630 a band of 140 Puritans, with the support of Rev. John White of Dorchester, England, set sail on the Mary and John from Plymouth, England. Having explored the mouth of the Charles River and areas as far south as Nantasket, the Puritans settled between the two points. This area became known as Dorchester.

First Parish has had a number of distinguished ministers including Richard Mather (under whose ministry the church founded the first public school in the nation), Moses Everett who participated in the Continental Congress, Thaddeus Mason Harris who guided the church from Calvinism into Unitarianism, and Nathaniel Hall a Transcendentalist and close friend of Theodore Parker who delivered strong abolitionist sermons and developed a political awareness and spiritual awakening in the church.

For many years during the latter half of the Twentieth Century, First Parish church's ministry was largely dedicated to the needs of the large and diverse community that settled in the area. First Parish Church opened its doors to all community groups that needed a place to meet. Because of the church's ecumenical spirit, it is often regarded by many as Dorchester's community church.

This ecumenical spirit remains as First Parish's goal: To be a spiritual and community focal point for all of Dorchester.

LINKS

Wikipedia Article        Massachusetts Historical Society