Natick in Middlesex County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)

First Congregational Church

1875

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 7, 2019

1. First Congregational Church Marker

Inscription.
This elegantly detailed Victorian Gothic building is the seventh meeting house of Natick's first Church established in 1651 by John Eliot. The church moved to this location at the geographic center of town in 1799 from the original settlement in South Natick.

The Church’s 2,531 pound steeple bell was a gift of Leonard Morse and the Town Clock a gift of Nathaniel Clark, both leading citizens in the town. U.S. Senator and Vice President Henry Wilson was a notable Church member.

The church building's visual prominence, physically and symbolically, represents the center of Natick.

Natick Center Historic District.
National Register of Historic Places 1977

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Churches & Religion • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1875.

Location. 42° 17.042′ N, 71° 20.818′ W. Marker is in Natick, Massachusetts, in Middlesex County. Marker is at the intersection of East Central Street (Massachusetts Route 135) and Main Street (Massachusetts Route 27), on the right when traveling west on East Central Street. Marker is mounted on the southwest corner of the subject building, facing East Central Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2 East Central Street, Natick MA 01760, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Odd Fellow's Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Indian Meetinghouse (approx. 1.8 miles away); Sherborn (approx. 2.3 miles away); In Honor of Two Magnificent and Historically Significant Trees (approx. 2.3 miles away); Site of the Home of Amos Mills (approx. 2.3 miles away); Wellesley Town Hall (approx. 3 miles away); Old Burying Ground Cemetery (approx. 4.3 miles away); Thomas Eames (approx. 4½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Natick.

Regarding First Congregational Church. Contributing property, Natick Center Historic District, National Register of Historic Places #77000186.

Also see . . .
1. First Congregational Church Natick, UCC. Church website homepage (Submitted on March 14, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. First Congregational Church of Natick. Historic Buildings of Massachusetts website entry:

Disaster struck Natick on January 13, 1874. Nearly all the business portion of Natick was laid in ashes, including every hall in the place and the Congregational Church. This loss of the sanctuary rendered necessary the building of a temporary tabernacle, which, in a rough way, was made ready for religious and other purposes as soon as possible. The erection of the
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 7, 2019

2. First Congregational Church Marker
(southwest corner of church • facing East Central Street)
present beautiful brick church edifice commenced, and so far completed that the vestries could be used for public worship April 30, 1876. The church, built in 1875-1880 and attributed to J.B. Goodall, is an example of High Victorian Gothic, with a distinctive polychromatic steeple.

(Submitted on March 27, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

3. Natick Center Historic District. Wikipedia entry:

The Natick Center Historic District is a historic district on North Ave., Main, Central, and Summer Streets in Natick, Massachusetts, encompassing the 19th century civic and economic heart of the town. After a fire in 1874 destroyed most of the central business district, the present collection of brick Gothic and Romanesque buildings was constructed.

(Submitted on March 27, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

First Congregational Church (<i>south/front elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 7, 2019

3. First Congregational Church (south/front elevation)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 14, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 27, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 67 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 27, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.