THE CHURCHES OF WALPOLE, MASS. BY ELIZABETH COTTRELL FOREWARD Betty Cottrell, the foremost historian of Walpole, MA history had so many projects. She was working on a study of Smith's Dam in South Walpole, the Ganawattee Farm on the Sharon Line, the Royal Farm in South Walpole and too many other projects to mention. To me, the most important and complete work was of the churches of Walpole. I was honored as a friend and fellow historian to go through some of her research after she died. Even in her mid nineties she had a keener mind than I and I would still turn to her for answer to my questions. I was startled to find this manuscript of the organization of churches in the town at the town's founding, but a study of all the churches that have been here including the names of all the ministers and priest ad their dates of being here, and in most cases even the original members that formed the churches. This is being duplicated and shared with the church congregations. Karl H. West, Jr. TABLE OF CONTENTS History 1 United Church 26 Methodist Church 56 East Walpole Church 70 South Walpole Church 84 Two Catholic Churches 150 Episcopal Church 189 Church History Study 204 4 I The Succession of Churches ^Note-Rev.George Phillips W8tertown 1st. Church 1630 of Watertown, was a great• gathered July 30,1630 grandfather of Rev.Phillips 1-Rev4 George Phillips (who d. July 1,161;1A<) Payson of Walpole,Mass. -P.R.L. Dedham 1st. Church - 1637 Note--The settlers of "Contentment" (Parish set apart Sept.10,1636 later called Dedham, came up the Church gathered Nov.8,1638) Charles River in canoes or boats 1- Rev. John A'llin I638-I67I from Watertown. So the Watertown 2- Rev. William Adams 1673-1685 Church was the mother Church of 3- Rev. Joseph Belcher 1693-1723 Dedham, as Dedham became the mothe I|-Rev. Samuel De.rter 172^-1755 Church of Walpole,Norwood,West- wood and Do von • v. Walpile-1725 2nd. or * South 3rd.Parish "Springfield" 1- Rev.Joseph Parish of Dedham or West Parish Parish -1735 Belcher-1728 South Dedham "Cla pboardtrees" (Dover) -1762 2- Rev;Phillips (Norwood) (Westwood)-1736 1-Rev.Benj.Caryl Payson 1729-78 1- Rev.Thomas Balch 1- Rev.Josiah 1762-1811* 1736-1771, Dwight 2- Rev.Jabez 1735-17U3 Chickering 2- Rev.Andrew Tvler 1776-1312 17L3-1772 1818--snlit l826-|split -separated r 1 1 Dedham Allen Unitarian Congregational Universal Method ist-Episcopal :h. Cong'1, I876 of Norwood 1st.Parish 1826 "-1826 Church Church turned 1-Rev.John 1-Rev.Asahel -1827- 1818 Unitarian Storer 3igelow I -united-197li- -1818 1826-39 1828-1-9 r East Walpole-1877 Islington-l8 Methodist- (Congregational) (C ongr e ga t i ona1) Episcopal-l87L 1-Rev.Chas.B.Smith 1877-1891 United Church United Church of of Walpole-1927 norwood-193L In 1736-there were 87 persons assessed in South Dedham (Norwood) T„ T?At_4-v,Q r,«miiof:inn of South Dedham (Norwood) was 1|1|1, with I4.3 houses. if 4 Sk Edward Payson b. came from Nazing, (Norfolk?) England came on Ship Hopewell In 16.35* settled in Roxbury, -lass. 1637 Preeman-May 13,161|0 m.l Ann Parke,dau.of Dee.William Parke,of Roxbury -she died leaving one son a.2 Mary Eliot,dau.of Philip Eliot, bro.of Rev.John Eliot. He removed to Dorchester, was a husbandman, d- Rev. Edward Payson Samuel Paysou Ephraim Payson b. b- bp.1662 bp. in 1659 Harvard TTtirs* of 1677 m. Mary Phillips,dau.of md.- fsistant-minister at lev.Samuel Phillips of Rowley d-1732, aged ca.z! 73 Rowley he d. 1721 was selectman. m.Elizebeth Phillips, dau.of Rev. Samuel Phillips of Rowley, d.1732. Fsev. Phillips Payson b.l70lq,bp. in Dorchester by Rev.Mr.Danforth harvard ColiQcr,e-172it A.B.-Barvard-172U, A.M. Harvard-1727- minister at Walpole, Mass. 1729. n.l Anne Swif$,dau.of Rev. John Swift of ^amlngham she d- Dec. 30, 1756. a.2 Kezia, wid. of Dea. Seth Horse of Kedfield she d.- a.3 Sarah Mather,wid. of Thomas Mather, and dau. of Dea. Edward Payson of Pomfret, Conn. Rev. Phillips Peyeon died Jan. 22, 1778. Rev.Phillips Payson Swift Payson Samuel Payson Dee.George Payson Rev.John Rev.Seth Payson b.Jan.lO,1735/6 b.IIov.27,1737 b.Apr.26,1739 b.May 2k,VJhk b.Jan.6,17L5/6 b.Sept.30,1758 pg Harvard Coll.-175L m.Esther Clap Harvard C.-1758 m.l Abigail 3oyden Harvard-1761; Harvard-1777 Yale minister-Chelsea -Dec.11,1766 pastor at Lunen- -1770 pastor of First pastor-Rindge,NH (Rumney-Marsh) berg d.1763 a.2 Kezia Morse- Church-Pitchburg m/T-rata Payson diad-1801 1782 d-l80lj 1782 of Pomfret,Conn. died-1820 Rev. Edward Payaon b-July 25,1783 Harvard-1803,Bowdoin-182 died 1827 •d-Anna L. Shipman, of New Haven, Conn. x 151 The Spreading of the Dedham Orthodox Church Tha Firat t>ariah Church of Dedham split in 1818. Tha original Church turned Unitarian, whila those who cling to tha original faith had to withdraw and form thair own church, tha Allen Congregational Tha Firat Parish Church of Walpole split in 1826. The original Church turned Unitarian, while those who clung to the original faith had to withdraw and form thair own church, tha Orthodox-Congregational or 2nd. Church of Walpole. They built their meetinghouse on East St. in 1826. In 192? the First Parish, Unitarian, and tna Orthodox-Congre• gational, and tha Methodist-Episcopal Churches of Walpole united to form the United Church of Chriat in Walpole. The old First Pariah Church (tha 2nd. building) built la 1783? had been moved from the Common onto its present location on Common Street. It had bean turned so that the end would face the street. In 192? this ancient church building was enlarged to accomodate the new United Church. The first Church built on the Common, near where the Cross stands, marking tha plaee, was taken down in 1783- ««d tha lumbar used in the newer church. The 2nd or South Parish of Dedham, formed in 1735 the only church in what is now Norwood for nearly 100 years. In 1827 a large memberahi left the church to form the Universal Church at the other end of town. Thia was a great blow to tha church, but through devoted members they sustained the loss and grew. In 1877 end probably a little before two churches Union Congregational Church of East Wslpola, and tha Congregational church of Islington separstad from the mother church (of Norwood) to form churches in their own villages. Thia was not a split over faith, but a separation due to growth end location. They remained in the original faith of the mother church—they were daughter churches to Norwood church. In 1827 the Universal Church of Norwood was formed, as I have said by thair separation from the Orthodox-Congregational Church. In 18?6 a Mathodiat-Epiacopal church has been organized. Their first and only Church building stands at tha junction of Washington and Walpole Street In 193U they united to form the United Church of Christ in Norwood, and worship In the old Universal church. The Methodiat-Epiacopel Church of Welpole Center, organized in I87I4., continued until their merger with the Unitarian and Congregational pariahoa to form tha United Church of Chriat in Walpole. The Metho• dist Church stood naarly oppoaita the United Church. The site is now occupied by the United Church Personage. The first Methodist Church In Wslpola was formed in South Walpole village, in The present ehurch building, built ca. 181[6? is their second church building. This church is in a prosperous state. The Epiphany Epiacopel Church in Walpole was organizad in 18<ST I beliava thay held their firat meetings in the hall over the old Hoopskirt factory, until they built their church on Front St. at the corner of West. The Methodists also h«ld services in this hall ovar tha Hoopskirt factory until they built their church (now gone) about 1885. Sabbath School - Norwood Orthodox-Congregational Church "In an historical sketch prepared In 1865 by a committee under the direction ef Mr. Francis 0. Winslew, opening of this Sunday Schoel is placed in 1819. Its official title was "The South Dedham Cengregatienalist Sabbath School. Rev. William Cogswell, Paster ef the Church, was the "originator, director and mainspring of the enterprise." The sessions were held between the morning and afterneen services, a practice which was followed for many years. The subject matter taught included the Catechism, Scripture and church hymns. Portions ef these were assigned each Sunday, memorized during the week and recited at the next session. Little or no attempt w*-s seems to have been made to explain the mean• ing ef that which was memorized. Beginning with 60 pupils divided into classes without regard to ago or training with a group ef untrained teachers, this little school grew slowly until In i860 the membership was reported as 160 pupils and 20 teachers. Among tho lay workers in the early schoel, wo find the names ef men, many of whom occupied positions of trust in the church and the town. Deacon Chickering, Deacon Willard Everett, Francis W« Bird, these and many ether Deacon Willard Everett,2d, William Rheads and Samuel Morrill—these and many others labored for tho success of tho Sunday School.