First Parish Church in Dorchester
Unitarian Universalist

History and Organization

History

Gathered first in England in March of 1630, First Parish Church is the oldest congregation in the current city of Boston and one of the oldest in the United States. About 140 people came from Dorsetshire, England on the ship, The Mary and John, and arrived in the town they named Dorchester in June of 1630. They were part of the great work of building a new nation, and home to many historic firsts and great leaders.

The church was the site of the first recorded Town Meeting in 1633 and was involved in the founding of Massachusetts’s first publicly-funded public school—the Mather School. The church was one of the six that founded Harvard College, reflecting a concern that there were not enough educated people to become ministers.

Ministers of Note
The second minister of the congregation was Richard Mather, grandfather of the several famous Mathers in the history of Massachusetts Bay Colony. Thaddeus Mason Harris was the minister who oversaw the transition from Puritanism to Unitarianism at the turn of the 19th century Moses Everett was the father of member and governor of Massachusetts, Edward Everett.

In the history of Dorchester, beginning in 1630 where church attendance was mandatory, membership grew as the town of Dorchester did. The annexation of Dorchester to Boston in 1870 started a chain of events that saw Dorchester’s population change and grow, while membership in the church dropped precipitously. At one time there were six Unitarian and Universalist churches in Dorchester. First Parish is the only one remaining. In recent years, the congregation has been growing again, reflecting change in the Dorchester community and a welcoming stance on the part of the church.

Organization

The church is congregational in governance, which means that the ultimate authority for conducting church business resides with the members of the church corporation. The church is governed by an elected Board of Trustees and has committees, officers, and staff members who aid in the functioning of the church.

The Minister is called by the corporation members at a special corporation meeting and continues in the position until he/she resigns or is recalled by the corporation.

The Annual Corporation meeting is held on the third Sunday in May. Its purpose is to elect officials, vote in and terminate members, approve a budget, and conduct other business pertaining to the church. Other corporation meetings may be held for special purposes.

The church is supported by financial commitments and special donations from its members and friends, fundraisers, space rentals, and from its endowment.

Ministers

Rev. Arthur R. Lavoie (2005 – present)
Rev. Victor H. Carpenter (2003 – 2005)
Rev. David W. Thompson (2001 – 2002)
Rev. Shuma Chakravarty (1998 – 2000)
Rev. Kenneth R. Warren (1996 – 1998)
Rev. Elizabeth Ruth Curtiss (1994 – 1996)
Rev. David W. Thompson (1991 – 1994)
Rev. James Kenneth Allen (1954 – 1991)
Rev. Robert MacPherson (1951 – 1954)
Rev. Robert Arthur Storer (1937 – 1950)
Rev. Lyman Vincent Rutledge (1921 – 1927)
Rev. Adelbert Lathrop Hudson (1921 – 1938)
Rev. Harry Foster Burns (1918 – 1921)
Rev. Roger S. Forbes (1908 – 1917)
Rev. Eugene R. Shippen (1894 – 1907)
Rev. Christopher R. Eliot (1882 – 1893)
Rev. Samuel J. Barrows (1876 – 1880)
Rev. Nathaniel Hall (1835 – 1875)
Rev. Thaddeus Mason Harris (1793 – 1836)
Rev. Moses Everett (1774 – 1793)
Rev. Jonathan Bowman (1729 – 1773)
Rev. John Danforth (1682 – 1730)
Rev. Josiah Flint (1671 – 1680)
Rev. Richard Mather (1636 – 1669)
Rev. John Maverick (1630 – 1635)
Rev. John Wareham (1630 – 1635)

Meetinghouses

6th and present - built in 1897 on same site as 1816 building that burned in 1896. It was designed by Cabot, Everett and Mead with references to Colonial models. It is one of the finest examples of the Christopher Wren type in this country.

5th - built in 1816 on present location at Winter and Parish Streets. It burned in 1896.

4th - built in 1743 on what was the town common, later named John F. Donovan Park and renamed Rev. James K. Allen Park in 1972. The eastern entrance was about where the Soldier's Monument now stands. Enlarged in 1795.

3rd - built in 1678 on the northwest corner of Church and Winter Streets.

2nd - built in 1645; was later moved by oxen to Meeting-House Hill, on the east side of Winter Street, in 1670.

1st - built circa-1630 at Allen's Plain near the intersection of Pond, Cottage and Pleasant Streets.

(We forget to photograph the cake for our 381st celebration!)

Why Are We Here and What Are We About?
Read about a series of congregational conversations to be held this year.

What Does First Parish Mean to You?
Read member shares from our annual pledge drive.