Chichester in Merrimack County, New Hampshire — The American Northeast (New England)
On This Spot Stood the First Congregational Church
Photographed By Douglas Finney, February 7, 2019
1. On This Spot Stood the First Congregational Church Marker
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Churches & Religion. A significant historical year for this entry is 1793.
Location. 43° 15.13′ N, 71° 23.103′ W. Marker is in Chichester, New Hampshire, in Merrimack County. Marker is on Main Street, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 161 Main Street, Chichester NH 03258, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Pineground Bridge (approx. 0.8 miles away); Major Andrew McClary (approx. 3.3 miles away); Red Pine Plantation (approx. 6.4 miles away); Bear Brook CCC Camp (approx. 6.4 miles away); On The Interval Below This Spot (approx. 6˝ miles away); Robert Frost in Allenstown / Buck Street Mills (approx. 6˝ miles away); First New Hampshire Turnpike (approx. 6.9 miles away); Shaker Village (approx. 6.9 miles away).
More about this marker. The marker is a small bronze plaque affixed to a boulder and is roughly 100 feet east of the Chichester Library. There is an ornamental shrub planted on the left side of the stone. There is also a beautiful granite watering trough nearby.
Regarding On This Spot Stood the First Congregational Church.
this page online
"To see if the town will found and establish a church in this town in order to have an ordained minister who shall go in and out before this people, teaching us the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ truly." It was also stated in another article that - "August 3, 1791 will be set apart as a Fast Day to seek God's direction." Both were so voted!
The first meeting house was erected in 1793 near the site where the town library is situated - the spot is marked with a plaque.
Reverend Josiah Carpenter was called in September 1791 with a proposed salary of fifty pounds ($250) and this salary supplemented by twenty-five cords of wood and six tons of good English hay! He served the church for thirty-six years.
Over the years the meeting house fell into disrepair and it was voted to build a new building. In 1838 Josiah Carpenter deeded about a half an acre of land to the Union Congregational Society "there upon" to erect a new meeting house.
http://hicnh.com/about/our-history
Photographed By Douglas Finney, February 7, 2019
2. View of marker and boulder looking toward the Library.
Photographed By Douglas Finney, February 7, 2019
3. Marker and boulder, granite trough and Chichester Library.
Photographed By Douglas Finney, February 7, 2019
4. Nearby Granite 1880 Watering Trough
Credits. This page was last revised on February 10, 2019. It was originally submitted on February 7, 2019, by Douglas Finney of Concord, New Hampshire, USA. This page has been viewed 196 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 7, 2019, by Douglas Finney of Concord, New Hampshire, USA. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
