SUNDERLAND — The First Congregational Church has stood at the corner of Bridge and South Main streets since before the town of Sunderland — or the United States — existed.
On Sunday, members celebrated the 300 years their church has stood as a pillar of the community and a landmark in Franklin County. About 140 people gathered to celebrate with a Homecoming Anniversary Celebration Service and reception.
Kathy Ryan, who oversees stewardship for the church, said that it’s impressive for a church to last as long as it has, especially given how many churches are struggling to stay open.
The service started at 10 a.m. and lasted about an hour, then celebrants moved to the adjoining building for a reception.
Ryan said because of how connected the church and the town are, the church does a lot of community-related activities for how small it is.
“It speaks to our value to the town,” she said.
The Rev. Barbara K. Seamon said the church has about 100 members and the doors are open to anyone seeking God. She said this church is different because it is governed by the people, not by a board of directors.
“We are a welcoming church,” she said.
The church’s history is intrinsically tied to that of the town. In the late 1600s, New England settlements were required to have a church or meetinghouse to be an officially sanctioned municipality. After arriving in 1673, settlers petitioned the colonial legislature of the time to become a town and were granted seven years to attract enough settlers and hire a minister.
After King Philip’s War ended around the turn of the century, the first meeting house was raised on June 18, 1717. Months later, with around 40 families living in town, the first worship service was conducted by the Rev. Joseph Willard in January 1718. Then, in November of that year, the “Township of Sunderland” was incorporated, according to the church history.
“Three hundred years is a long time because of the location. The church is right on the river — where the trading happened. It was right in the hub of very early activity,” Seamon said.
Three buildings, 27 ministers and many restorations later, the church still stands at the center of Sunderland, church officials noted. The third and current building was built in 1836 on the same site as the second church.
In honor of the church’s 300th, its current congregation and the surrounding community have scheduled a few events throughout the year. Also in honor of the event, carpenter Ken Kushi built a scaled-down model of the church by hand. The model will be presented at the town’s 300th anniversary celebration next year.
Reach Miranda Davis
at 413-772-0261, ext. 280
or mdavis@recorder.com.