Longmeadow churches collection, 1758-2000
First Church
Background Note
The churches collection documents Longmeadow’s various religious institutions. The bulk of the material is related to the First Church of Christ. Other denominations, including Catholics, Episcopalians, and Jews, are less well represented.
The First Church of Christ, Longmeadow was established in 1713. The first meeting house was built in 1716. In 1767 and 1768 a second meeting house was built to replace the first, and was located on the Green just north of the initial meeting house. A new bell for the church was purchased in 1809 from Paul Revere in Boston. The church was extensively remodeled in 1828 and 1874 when it was moved to its present location at the corner of Longmeadow and Williams streets. The church was a gothic style building from 1874 until 1932 when it was remodeled to its current colonial style.
Reverend Stephen Williams was the first minister, beginning in 1716 and continuing until 1782. Subsequent ministers include: Richard Salter Storrs, 1785-1819; Baxter Dickenson, 1823-1829; Jonathan Bailey Condit, 1831-1865; Hubbard Beebe, 1837-1843; Samuel Wolcott, 1843-1847; John Wheeler Harding, 1850-1891; Stephen Goodyear Barnes, 1892-1901; and Henry Lincoln Bailey, 1901-1916.
Scope and Content Note
Materials related to First Church of Christ include: general histories; weekly bulletins, newsletters, and yearbooks; annual reports and budgets; miscellaneous materials related to a number of Church committees including the Men’s Prayer Group, Music Committee, Sewing Society, Evening Fellowship, and Women’s Committee; menus, reports, and newspaper clippings for the annual May Breakfast. Of particular interest is a volume beginning in 1716 of church records which note church admissions, dismissals, baptisms, deaths, marriages, church meetings and other church related information.
St. Mary’s Catholic Church materials include photos and Seed Sown on Good Ground: a History of St. Mary’s Parish, written in 1977. Material related to St. Andrews Episcopal Church includes newspaper clippings, photos, and an illustration. The collection also contains several photos of Beth Israel Synagogue and Congregation B’nai Jacob and a copy of Declaration of Faith and Covenant of the Baptist Church, Longmeadow, from 1842.
Box and Folder Listing
| Folder/Item label | Description/Date range | Box:Folder |
|---|---|---|
| First Church – History | Annual Reports, budgets, lists of officers and members, 1900-1966 | 1:1 |
| First Church – History | Index of first 918 members of church, 1716-1838. Compiled by Thomas Cordis, ca. 1892 | 1:2 |
| First Church – History | Memories of the Longmeadow First Church Chapel, prepared by Mrs. George Goodman (Mary E. Watrous) and James D. Booth, 1967 | 1:3 |
| First Church – History – Building Dedication | Program, 1875 | 1:4 |
| First Church – History – Chapel | Written history and photograph, undated | 1:5 |
| First Church – History – Financial records | 1822-1875 | 1:6 |
| First Church – History – General | 1837-1996 | 1:7 |
| First Church – History – General | 1872-1951, undated | 1:8 |
| First Church – History – Meeting House | Miscellaneous materials, 1714-1932, undated | 1:9 |
| First Church – History – Ministry Lot | Written histories, 1966 and undated | 1:10 |
| First Church – History – Music | Includes a 1774 bill for a bass viol “to assist the public in singing,” and reflections by C. S. Newell on music played at First Church circa 1840 | 1:11 |
| First Church – History – Organ dedication | Printed Order of Worship, 1929 | 1:12 |
| First Church – History – Parish Houses and Parsonages | Written histories, undated, Dedication invitation, 1949 and a stereograph, undated | 1:13 |
| First Church – History – Pastoral Letters and printed sermons | 1960-1961, 1974 | 1:14 |
| First Church – History – Pew assignments | 1759-1881 | 1:15 |
| First Church – History – Revere Bell | Receipts and newspaper clippings, 1810, 1816, 1932, 1966 and undated | 1:16 |
| First Church – History – Sunday School and Vacation Bible School | Printed card, 1819 and Vacation Bible School class photograph, undated | 1:17 |
| First Church – Committees, societies and associations – Brotherhood | Meeting notices, membership lists, and programs, 1912-1921, undated | 2:1 |
| First Church – Committees, societies and associations – Building Committee | Meeting notice and brochures, 1932-1947, undated | 2:2 |
| First Church – Committees, societies and associations – Christian Commission | List of items sent to the Christian Commission 1864 | 2:3 |
| First Church – Committees, societies and associations – Evening Fellowship Club | Lists of meetings and members, 1975-1978 | 2:4 |
| First Church – Committees, societies and associations – Female Missionary Association | Book of records, 1803-1825 | 2:5 |
| First Church – Committees, societies and associations – Married Couples Club | Program, 1965-1966 | 2:6 |
| First Church – Committees, societies and associations – Men’s Prayer Group | Charter, 1766 | 2:7 |
| First Church – Committees, societies and associations – Missionary Committee and Society | 1832 -1975 | 2:8 |
| First Church – Committees, societies and associations – Missionary Committee and Society | “Missionary Flag”. Includes names, when born or arrived in Longmeadow and missionary or educational service. | Oversize folder 1 |
| First Church – Committees, societies and associations – Sewing Society | Report extract, 1902 | 2:9 |
| First Church – Committees, societies and associations – Sunday School Committee | 1839-1966 | 2:10 |
| First Church – Committees, societies and associations – Benevolent Society | 1840-1969 | 2:11 |
| First Church – Committees, societies and associations – Women’s Fellowship | Yearbooks, 1971-1977 | 2:12 |
| First Church – May Breakfast Association | Secretary’s Report, 1869-1882 | 3:1 |
| First Church – May Breakfast Association | By-laws, 1957 and articles related to various Breakfasts, 1900-1944 | 3:2 |
| First Church – May Breakfast Association | 1893-1941 | 3:3 |
| First Church – May Breakfast Association | Menus, 1874-1891 | 3:4 |
| First Church – May Breakfast Association | Menus, 1892-1901 | 3:5 |
| First Church – May Breakfast Association | Menus, 1902-1808 | 3:6 |
| First Church – May Breakfast Association | Menus, 1909-1915 | 3:7 |
| First Church – May Breakfast Association | Menus, 1916-1939 | 3:8 |
| First Church – May Breakfast Association | Menus, 1940-1976 | 3:9 |
| First Church – May Breakfast Association | Harvest Supper menus, 1919-1952 and newspaper clippings, 1917 and 1949 | 3:10 |
| First Church – May Breakfast Association | Photographs and clippings, 1878, 1902-1988 | 3:11 |
| First Church – Pastors – General | Miscellaneous materials relating to past pastors | 4:1 |
| First Church – Pastors – Rev. Daniel B. Leavitt | 4:2 | |
| First Church – Pastors – Rev. Thomas A. Roan | 4:3 | |
| First Church – Anniversaries – 200th | Dedication and newspaper clippings, 1916 | 4:4 |
| First Church – Anniversaries – 225th | Anniversary programs, 1941 | 4:5 |
| First Church – Anniversaries – 250th | Committee minutes, notices, and 1965-1967 | 4:6 |
| First Church – Anniversaries – 250th | Anniversary booklet, 1966 | 4:7 |
| First Church – Anniversaries – 250th | Newspaper clippings, 1965-1966 | 4:8 |
| First Church – Anniversaries – 275th | 1991 | 4:9 |
| First Church – Anniversaries | Newspaper clippings, 1941-1966 | 4:10 |
| First Church – Publications | Weekly bulletins, 1910-1920 | 5:1 |
| First Church – Publications | Weekly bulletins. 1921-1973, 1987 | 5:2 |
| First Church – Publications | Newsletters, 1924-1971 | 5:3 |
| First Church – Publications | Newsletters, 1975-1990 | 5:4 |
| First Church – Publications | Newsletters, 1991 | 5:5 |
| First Church – Publications | Newsletters, 1992 | 5:6 |
| First Church – Publications | Newsletters, 1993 | 5:7 |
| First Church – Publications | Newsletters, 1994 | 5:8 |
| First Church – Publications | Newsletters, 1995 | 5:9 |
| First Church – Publications | Newsletters, 1996 | 5:10 |
| First Church – Publications | Newsletters, 1997 | 6:1 |
| First Church – Publications | Newsletters, 1998 | 6:2 |
| First Church – Publications | Newsletters, 1999 | 6:3 |
| First Church – Publications | Newsletters, 2000 | 6:4 |
| First Church – Publications | Yearbook and directory, 1977-1981, 1990 and 1993 | 6:5 |
| First Church – Miscellaneous | Newspaper clippings, 1910-1972, and undated | 6:6 |
| First Church – Miscellaneous | Photos and images, 1874, and undated | 6:7 |
| First Church – Miscellaneous | Photograph of Church on the Green, undated | Oversized photographs box 1 |
| First Church – Miscellaneous | Program for a play, “The Ladies of Crawford,” by Margaret Taylor, 1912 | 6:8 |
| First Church – Miscellaneous – Architecture | Floor plans and layouts, undated | 6:9 |
| First Church – Miscellaneous – Architecture | Elevations, longitudinal section and ceiling plan, by Alexander Rice Esty, undated | Oversize folder 1 |
| Churches – Baptist Church | “Declaration of Faith and Covenant of the Baptist Church, Longmeadow, Mass,” 1842 | 6:10 |
| Churches – Jewish Synagogues | Photographs, 1980’s | 6:11 |
| Churches – St. Andrews Episcopal | Newspaper clipping, 1994 calendar image, 1980 and photographs, undated and 1980’s | 6:12 |
| Churches – St. Mary’s Parish | “Seed Sown of Good Ground: A History of St. Mary’s Parish Longmeadow, MA.,” 1977 (2 copies), typed history, undated and photographs, undated | 6:13 |
Subjects
- Church buildings--Massachusetts--Longmeadow
- Church committees
- Clergy
Contributors
- Beth Israel Synagogue (Longmeadow, Mass.)
- First Church in Longmeadow (Longmeadow, Mass.)
- Saint Mary's Parish (Longmeadow, Mass.)
- St. Andrews Episcopal Church (Longmeadow, Mass.)
Types of material
- Clippings
- Photographs
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