Timeline of Events:

1700:

  • Mattakessett (later Pembroke) grows large enough to become a parish itself, ending the weekly journey through the woods to Duxbury for meetings.

1708:

  • A small separate home is constructed for use as a meeting house.
  • First Church of Pembroke is established in June.

1712:

  • The first meeting house is moved to the site of the present church.
  • Pembroke becomes a township in October.
  • The new parish of Pembroke is organized, next Hanson, Halifax and Bridgewater split.
  • Rev. Daniel Lewis of Hingham is chosen as minister and granted a homestead.
  • Rev. Daniel Lewis is ordained on December 3rd.

1717:

  • The church is enlarged to accommodate the growing congregation.

1719:

  • Rev. Lewis salary is raised from 50 to 80 annually.

1728:

  • A committee of twenty-four is chosen to plan and propose a new Meeting House, settling on a 40 by 50 foot structure.
  • Pews in the new Meeting House are sold by public auction.

1735:

  • Isaac and Nathaniel Thomas separate from the main parish and establish the West Parish in Pembroke.

1745:

  • Agitation for separation of the eastern and western sections of the town begins.

1746:

  • A boundary line is drawn to separate the eastern and western sections, creating the Bound House district and solidifying the West Parish.

1754:

  • Rev. Thomas Smith is ordained as the new minister following the death of Rev. Lewis.

1765:

  • News of the Stamp Act arrives in October.
  • A town meeting is held on Monday, October 21st to discuss the Stamp Act.
  • Citizens vote to instruct their Representative to use his utmost endeavor to oppose the act.

1772:

  • Another town meeting regarding independence is held, with a resolution adopted denouncing British oppression.

1775-1775:

  • A series of town meetings takes place in the East Meeting House regarding British oppression and the colonies’ rights.

1785:

  • The West Precinct meeting house is built.

1786 – 1788:

  • Records show that every third town meeting was held in the West Precinct meeting house.

1788:

  • Rev. Thomas Smith dies at eighty-two.

July 1788:

  • Rev. Kilborn Whitman is ordained, succeeding Rev. Smith.

December 1787:

  • Rev. Smith s successor, Rev. Kilborn Whitman is chosen, with Rev. Whitman serving until December 1796.

1796:

  • Rev. Whitman is succeeded by Rev. James Hawley.

October 8th, 1800:

  • Rev. James Hawley dies.

May 1801:

  • Rev. Morrill Allen is ordained as the new minister.

1819:

  • A new Meeting House is granted to the parish.

April 1820:

  • The old Meeting House is sold at auction for $5 to Christopher Oakman.
  • A new Meeting House is erected upon a large, square belfry, with a commanding view of the North River.

1834:

  • The Town paid the Parish for the use of the church as a place of public meeting.

1836:

  • A new organ is installed, causing a division in the parish between those who supported the organ and those who opposed it.

1841:

  • Rev. Joshua Chandler is dismissed after a quick succession in 1841.

1844:

  • Rev. Allen resigns.

1845-1849:

  • Rev. William L. Stearns serves as minister.

1850-1856:

  • Rev. Preserved Smith serves as minister.

1857-1861:

  • William Bicknell serves as minister.

1861-1874:

  • Rev. Theodore P. Doggett serves as minister.

1868:

  • The "Organ Quarrel" erupts, dividing the parish over the installation of a new organ.

1874:

  • Rev. Jesse Temple succeeds Rev. Doggett.

1875:

  • The Parish admits women to membership.

1877-1880:

  • Rev. J. H. Collins serves as minister.

1881-1885:

  • Rev. J. W. Pratt serves as minister.

1885-1887:

  • Rev. Henry M. Dana Dix serves as minister.

1888-1889:

  • Rev. Mr. Gardner serves as minister.

1889:

  • Rev. William H. Fish serves as minister.

1890:

  • Rev. Mr. Barhill serves as minister.

1891:

  • Rev. Mr. Perkins serves as minister.

1891-1892:

  • Rev. Mr. Thompson serves as minister.

1892-1893:

  • Rev. Mr. Brunton serves as minister.

April 1893:

  • Rev. Stanley M. Hunter serves as minister.
  • The belfry of the church is struck by lightning, causing a fire that damages the building.

Fall 1894:

  • The church is rededicated.
  • Rev. Martha Aitken serves as minister.

Spring 1895:

  • Rev. Edward C. Guild serves as minister.

November 1899:

  • Rev. Guild dies in Boston.

Fall 1899 – 1899:

  • Rev. John W. Barker serves as minister.

1900:

  • Rev. Charles Casson serves as minister.

1901:

  • Rev. Barker returns as interim preacher.

1902:

  • Rev. Henry A. Westall becomes the twentieth minister of the First Church in Pembroke.

Summer 1907:

  • Palfrey Perkins of Salem fulfills the duties of pastor.

1908:

  • The First Church in Pembroke celebrates its bicentennial.
  • Henry Baker, the long-time caretaker, retires.

Cast of Characters:

  • Rev. Daniel Lewis: The first minister of the First Church in Pembroke, ordained in 1712. Known for his strict Calvinist teachings and his love for horses. Died in 1754.
  • Abraham Pearce: Early settler of Pembroke, owned a large estate in the central north section.
  • Isaac Barker: Early settler of Pembroke, held a large estate and was a junior partner of Abraham Pearce.
  • Isaac and Nathaniel Thomas: Broke away from the First Church in Pembroke in 1735 to establish the West Parish, based on differing theological views.
  • Rev. Thomas Smith: Succeeded Rev. Lewis as minister in 1754. Known for his progressive views and willingness to embrace a less strict form of Calvinism. Died in 1788 at the age of eighty-two.
  • Rev. Kilborn Whitman: Succeeded Rev. Smith in July 1788. Served until December 1796.
  • Rev. James Hawley: Succeeded Rev. Whitman in 1796. Died in October of 1800.
  • Rev. Morrill Allen: Ordained in May 1801 and served for forty years. Remembered for his folksy wisdom and his ability to connect with his parishioners. Resigned in 1844.
  • Dr. Gad Hitchcock: A prominent Revolutionary figure who delivered a famous election sermon in Pembroke. Known for his wit and independent spirit.
  • Christopher Oakman: Purchased the old Meeting House at auction for $5 in April 1820.
  • Rev. Joshua Chandler: Followed Rev. Allen as minister but was dismissed in 1841.
  • Rev. William L. Stearns: Served as minister from 1845 to 1849.
  • Rev. Preserved Smith: Served as minister from 1850 to 1856.
  • William Bicknell: Served as minister from 1857 to 1861.
  • Rev. Theodore P. Doggett: Served as minister from 1861 to 1874.
  • Rev. Jesse Temple: Succeeded Rev. Doggett in 1874. Known for his ministry of temperance.
  • Henry Baker: The long-time caretaker of the church. Retired in 1908 after many years of dedicated service.
  • Rev. J. H. Collins, Rev. J. W. Pratt, Rev. Henry M. Dana Dix, Rev. Mr. Gardner, Rev. William H. Fish, Rev. Mr. Barhill, Rev. Mr. Perkins, Rev. Mr. Thompson, Rev. Mr. Brunton, and Rev. Stanley M. Hunter: All served as ministers of the First Church in Pembroke for brief periods between 1877 and 1893.
  • Rev. Martha Aitken: Served as minister in the fall of 1894.
  • Rev. Edward C. Guild: Served as minister in the spring of 1895. Remembered for his scholarship and devotion. Died in Boston in November 1899.
  • Rev. John W. Barker: Served as minister from the fall of 1899 to 1899 and then again as an interim preacher in 1901.
  • Rev. Charles Casson: Served as minister in 1900.
  • Rev. Henry A. Westall: Became the twentieth minister of the First Church in Pembroke in 1902. Known for his scholarship, broad views, and sincerity.
  • Palfrey Perkins: Fulfilled the duties of pastor during the summer of 1907.