LB2009.10.117418

LB2009.10.117418

Woman, Child in Horse & Carriage, Church Steeple, Bell Tower View (from Court Street) of the bell / clock tower of the First Church on Church Street, [built in] 1818, Samuel French, architect, based upon South Parish Congregational Church of 1809 in Augusta. Built as a Congregational Church." As a result of the preaching of the Rev. William Frothingham, it was decided in 1818 to build a meeting house. Land acquisition was funded by the sale of pews. A plan was made by Samuel French, master builder, which featured a building 50 feet in width and 67 feet in length with an estimated cost to build of $6,000.00. 126 square rods of land on the corner of Church and Spring Streets owned by Robert Miller was acquired for the meeting house. William Frothingham was installed as the Congregational Society's first pastor in 1819. Permission was given in 1836 to install a town clock in the steeple. Also, found there is Paul Revere bell # 219 (1260lbs.) which was installed in 1819. When the Reverend William Frothingham took over the First Parish Church (Congregational) in 1819, he brought with him some decidedly Unitarian ideas. This precipitated a theological falling-out. The members of the congregation that did not embrace this philosophy, seceded and eventually built the North Congregational Church in 1831. The theological differences that separated them largely faded by 1900. In 1921, the Congregationalist sold the church to the American Legion and moved back in with the Unitarians at the First Church, healing the century old split.