First Baptist Church, Medford, Massachusetts

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First Baptist Church, Medford, Massachusetts, 2021

The First Baptist Church, Medford, Massachusetts is an historic church currently located at 29 & 34 Oakland Street in Medford, Massachusetts. The congregation affiliates with the American Baptist Church USA and the Massachusetts and National Council of Churches. The congregation began meeting in 1818 in the house of sisters Polly and Sally Blanchard on High Street in Medford. The first baptism took place in the Mystic River in 1820, and the church was incorporated in 1841. From its earliest days, the church was part of the anti-slavery movement and minutes from the meetings in the weeks before its legal incorporation show the depth of this commitment.

June 22, 1841, RESOLVED That no distinction shall ever exist among us, by reason of color, and that no prejudice or preference shall ever be manifested among us respecting colored brother, or sister who may become a member of our body.

July 22,1841, VOTED to hold [meeting] for prayer for the spread of the gospel and for the extinction of slavery on the first Sabbath evening of every month.

In 1881, the strong impulse for racial reconciliation and equity prompted the church to support missionaries Harriet Giles and Sophia Packard in establishing the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary, later to become Spelman College, the oldest historically black women’s college in the country. The North Baptist Missionary Society initially refused to support the women in this effort, but the First Baptist Church provided the funds to begin their project and to found the school.

Today, the church is a vibrant hub of activity in the Medford and Great Boston area, hosting concerts, community events, a food-insecurity ministry, and, in response to COVID-19, innovative hybrid—in-person and live-stream—worship venues.

History

Early Years

Gravestone of Sally Blanchard

The Baptist community of Medford first began meeting in 1818 in the home of Miss Polly Blanchard on High Street. The participants of these meetings were members of Baptist churches in the vicinity of Medford. Weekly meetings were held, out of which the Baptist Foreign Missionary Society was formed. Funds from the society were regularly contributed to the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions. These members served as the foundational group of the First Baptist Church of Medford. The first baptism of the Medford Baptist community occurred on May 3rd, 1820. Miss Sally Blanchard, sister of Miss Polly Blanchard, was baptized in the Mystic River by Rev. Nathaniel M. Williams, pastor of First Baptist Church of Malden. The Society continued to meet on High Street and make contributions to Foreign Missions for the next 20 years.

Among the small group of meeting attendees was a man named Moses Parsons, a member of Marshfield Baptist Church. Parsons believed the group needed a more definite organization and obtained the Town Hall as a worship space on August 16th, 1840. He personally paid the expenses of securing the Town Hall for worship. Moses also secured the services of Rev. Lucius M. Bolles, corresponding secretary of the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions, to preach that day. The group continued to hold services regularly, with men from the Newton Theological Institute serving as interim preachers for the church. A Sabbath school was also formed.

On July 7th, 1841, the small group, which at this time included Moses Parsons, Robert L. Ells, Lewis C. Santas, Polly Blanchard, Jane Parsons, Ruth Gardner, Catherine Childs, Sally Blanchard, Mary Gage, Mary H. Ford, Hannah D. Stevens, and Eliza J. Blood, (assisted by Rev. N. W. Williams - pastor of the Baptist Church in Malden) formed "The First Baptist Church of Medford" and adopted "The New Hampshire Articles" as articles of faith. On July 22nd following the first meeting of the organization, Rev. George Bosworth was called to the pastorate of First Baptist Church of Medford. He began his work on August 1st, 1841 and helped the congregation to grow in numbers. Robert L. Ells was selected as the first deacon of the church - a position he held until his death in 1883. In celebration of Bosworth's ordination and in recognition of the church, an event was held on September 8th 1841, courtesy of the Second Congregational Church. Rev. Baron Stow of the Second Baptist Church of Boston gave the sermon to a particularly large and appreciative audience. At this time, the membership of The First Baptist Church of Medford was reported to be 17, with a congregation of 150-200 people.

In congratulations for their incorporation, the Bowdoin Square Baptist Church of Boston gifted the First Baptist Church of Medford a table and communion set, which were used for the church's first communion service on November 7th, 1841. 40 congregants participated in the service.

The new Baptist society held regular services in the fall and winter months of 1841-42, and youth meetings were started. The society also began to play a large role in the affairs of the town.

First Meeting House

The church soon outgrew the Town Hall space. In an effort to "protect their 'separation of church and state belief' financially," the church formed a separate society and legally incorporated as "The First Baptist Society of Medford" in the spring of 1842. The Society then purchased a lot on Salem Street in the spring of 1842. A meeting house was built on the lot the following summer and dedicated on September 17th, 1842. In a letter to the Baptist Association in September 1845, the society reported a membership of 87. During this time, the church passed a resolution opposing slavery and alcohol. Rev. Mr. Bosworth served the society for 5 years, until he was called to pastor for a larger church. The society then was served by Rev. B.C. Grafton (9 months) and subsequently Rev. G.C. Danforth (1 year). The church requested the service of Rev. Edward K. Fuller in February 1849, and during his 5 year pastorate, experienced a membership increase to 120 members. Rev. Edward K. Fuller remained as pastor until October, 1854, and was succeeded by the Rev. Thomas E. Keeley.

The church had prospered since its formation and had been a group renowned of joy and faith. At the time of Rev. Keeley's pastorate, the church's financial situation had declined significantly, so they made the decision to grant any congregant a letter of dismissal to join another Baptist church. Those remaining after the dismissal assumed the name of "Central Baptist Church, Medford," installed Rev. T.E. Keely as their pastor on September 9th, 1856, and re-elected former officers. Rev. Keely served until July 3rd, 1857.

In the spring of 1858, Rev. George M. Preston began preaching for the church and was called to pastor 6 months later. During his pastorate, the church flourished socially, religiously, and financially, dissolved a debt of several years' standing, and regained the name of the "First Baptist Church." Rev. Preston is remembered as a generous, patient, and self-sacrificing pastor who strengthened loved the church greatly. Preston resigned from the pastorate in June 1868 due to health issues.

Second Meeting House

In November 1868, the church secured the Rev. J.C. Hurd as pastor, who remained with the church until May 1870. The church was then without a preacher until May 1871, when they secured the Rev. J.G. Richardson. Rev. Richardson was a pastor of great enthusiasm and drive. It was during his pastorate that he suggested the church erect a new house of worship - an idea that he worked very earnestly to accomplish. John Brown, a contractor, ship builder, and member of the church, was chosen to build and design the new building. A lot on Oakland Street was purchased and the cornerstone was laid on September 2nd, 1872. The lower part of the house was completed and furnished and the lecture-room was occupied on June 29th, 1873. The old meeting house on Salem Street, in which the church had worshiped for 31 years, was sold.

After 6 years of service, Rev. Richardson resigned from his position as pastor in May, 1877. He was succeeded on December 19th, 1877 by Rev. Dr. Abbott of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Rev. Mr. Abbott continued the line of enthusiastic, beloved pastors, and managed to further increase the church's membership. On July 10th, 1878, the completed church (whose property cost totaled at approximately $35,000) was dedicated to the worship of God. The occasion was a joyous one, though the church held a considerable debt of $12,000 for the building and its assets. The outlying debt was cancelled later on April 13th, 1880.

In the summer of 1881, two women by the names of Harriet Giles and Sophia Packard came to First Baptist Church from the south and solicited funds (approximately $100 was donated) to establish Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia.

The church's bible school celebrated its 50th anniversary on Sunday, Oct. 19th, 1890, and the church its 50th anniversary the next year on Sept. 6th and 7th. In 1893, the church decided that it should not be managed by its separate society, but by its own members, and began the process for incorporation under the Massachusetts laws. The society was dissolved and the First Baptist Church of Medford was incorporated.

In June 1896, another Baptist Church was formed in West Medford, and as a result, thirty members from the First Baptist Church of Medford were dismissed to transfer membership.

In January 1898, after 21 years of service, Rev. Mr. Abbott left the pastorate at First Baptist Medford to tour the Holy Land and later preach for First Baptist Church in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Rev. Mr. Abbott was succeed at First Baptist Medford by Rev. M. F. Johnson in September 1898. Johnson served the church for 2 years, after which he resigned and took up the pastorate at First Baptist Church of Nashua, NH. From October 1900 until June, 1901, Rev. Henry C. Graves of West Somerville served the church as pastor. On the first Sunday of June, 1901, the church received Rev. Mr. Levy, a recent graduate of the Newton Theological Institution and former pastor of the Baptist Church at Hingham, Massachusetts, as pastor of the church. During his pastorate, the church was presented with a bell from Deacon Elisha Curtis in memory of his father, mother, wife, and sister. A service was held in the belfry on May 13th, 1906, to commemorate the gift.

In June 1906, the church welcomed Rev. Ferdinand Peterson as pastor. Peterson worked with great energy to build up the parish, especially the Sunday School. Under his leadership, the Bible School grew rapidly and became its own organization, then prompting the church to build an annex or parish house (the mortgage on which would be later burned in 1915). The parish house was built in 1908, and a graded system for church school was started a year later. Three gifts were made to the church which greatly increased the value and efficiency of the church: a remodeling of the front stairway with a glass window, gifted by Deacon Gilbert Hodges in memory of his wife, an electric lighting system, gifted by Wm. E. Crosby, an organist/music director, and a ventilating system, gifted by Deacon Walter F. Cushing. Rev. Peterson was eventually called to a larger field and was succeeded by Rev. W. A. Hill. in 1915. In 1917, a need for more room for the church school prompted an excavation beneath the auditorium, providing a large hall, kitchen, and classrooms. After the resignation of Rev. Hill, Rev. Denton J. Neily was called to pastor in February of 1918. He served the church for a full 10 years with love and strength.

In 1919, a separate Bible School was formed in Medford, eventually developing into a Baptist church, to which the First Baptist Church of Medford lost 49 members. After the pastorate of Rev. Neily, Dr. and Mrs. Smith Thomas Ford graciously ministered to the church until the arrival of Rev. C. Harry Atkinson in September 1928. In 1931, the church's 90th anniversary year, the membership of the church was recorded as 810 people. Three years later, the next door property was purchased and renovated to be used as a parsonage. On February 6th, 1935, a catastrophic fire destroyed the church building, leaving nothing but the belfry tower, the bell, the clock, and the parsonage.

Third Meeting House

On November 24th, 1935, ground was broken for the new building, and the cornerstone was laid on Sunday, April 5th, 1936. During the winter of 1936 -1937 while the new building was being built, services were held in the Medford Masonic Hall. The sanctuary was formally dedicated on Easter Sunday, March 28th, 1937. The great task of rebuilding the church was accomplished quickly and efficiently under the leadership of Rev. Atkinson and the building committee.

After 9 years of service, Rev. Atkinson resigned in January 1938. Rev. Irad Hardy served as interim pastor until a call was extended to Rev. Alexander Henderson. He was welcomed into the church on May 15th of that year. The church edifice was dedicated during the week of October 30th to November 6th, 1938, and the memorial organ was dedicated in May 1939. It was reported in 1939 that the attendance at the two Sunday services held by the church was around 700 people, and the attendance of the Sunday School was often around 600 students. Easter Sundays saw almost 2000 worshipers attend the church.

Today

The First Baptist Church of Medford holds very formal “high church" weekly worship services, led by its 1917 Estey/Pelland organ and conducted according to the New England Protestant tradition. It runs an active Church School for youth and Bible Study groups for adults, and hosts community concerts and events, including its own critically hailed concert series. Continuing its long tradition, it celebrates the racial, cultural and theological diversity of the broader community reflected in its regular attendance.

Gallery

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  The first meeting house of "The First Baptist Society of Medford" on Salem Street in Medford, Massachusetts, 1870.

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  The first meeting house of "The First Baptist Society of Medford" on Salem Street in Medford, Massachusetts, 1870.

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  Exterior of the second meeting house of First Baptist Church on Oakland Street in Medford, Massachusetts, 1878.

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  Interior of the second meeting house of First Baptist Church on Oakland Street in Medford, Massachusetts, 1878.

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  The third meeting house of First Baptist Church on Oakland Street in Medford, Massachusetts, rebuilt after the fire of 1935.

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  First Baptist Church of Medford, 2021.

Settled Ministers

• Lucius M. Bolles (acting minister), 1840-1841
• George W. Bosworth, 1841-1845
• Benjamin C. Grafton, 1846-1847
• George C. Danforth, 1847-1848
• Edward K. Fuller, 1849-1854
• Thomas E. Keeley, 1854-1857
• George M. Preston, 1858-1868
• John C. Hurd, 1868-1870
• John G. Richardson, 1871-1877
• James P. Abbott, 1877-1898
• Millard F. Johnson, 1898-1900
• Henry C. Graves (acting minister), 1900-1901
• Maurice A. Levy, 1901-1907
• Ferdinand F. Peterson, 1907-1915
• William A. Hill, 1915-1917
• Denton J. Neily, 1918-1928
• C. Harry Atkinson, 1928-1938
• Alexander Henderson, 1938-1960
• Lyle O. Bristol, 1961-1963
• William M. Childs, 1964-1967
• Louis R. Beckwith, 1968-1984
• John R. Vars, 1985-1992
• C. Jean Duecker (interim minister), 1992-1994
• Sheldon Keller, 1994-1998
• Brian S. Dixon, 1999-2014
• Matthew R. Rasure, 2014-

See Also

• American Baptist Churches USA
• Massachusetts Council of Churches
• National Council of Churches
• Spelman College
• Newton Theological Institution
• Baptist Board of Foreign Missions

External links

• Official Website

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