Rochester’s First Congregational Church continues it 300th Celebration with more visitors from the past
The church’s 300-anniversary celebration will focus on the history of the church, but more importantly it will celebrate the lives of the people who have been responsible for 300 continuous years of Christian worship at Rochester Center.
In January, Rev. and Mrs. Samuel Arnold, the church’s first minister and his wife portrayed by Charles and Patricia Tate of Mattapoisett, appeared at the regular church service. The Tates presented an informative and, at times, humorous dialog, depicting their life and that of the church in the first little meetinghouse that was located nearby within the present cemetery. Rev. Arnold established the church in 1703.
Pat and Charlie Tate as the Rev. and Mrs. Samuel Arnold
On March 30th, the second minister, Rev. Timothy Ruggles (1685-1768) came to visit along with two of his deacons, John Freeman and Roger Haskell, and another parishioner, Noah Sprague. Rev. Ruggles, portrayed by George Smith, presented a picture of his life and times, as he lead the church from 1710 until his death in 1768. A second meetinghouse was built in 1717. It was located where the Memorial Rock stands on the little triangle near the Plumb Library. Each Sunday morning people came from all parts of Old Rochester, which included Marion, Mattapoisett, and part of Wareham at that time. They came on foot and horses with saddles and pillions behind for the ladies. The horses were tied during the service to the pine trees that surrounded the meetinghouse. After working all week from sunrise to sunset, they came to meeting dressed in their humble homemade clothes, Some came because they must or they would be reprimanded. Most came because they liked meeting friends and neighbors. The men swapped stories about crops and cattle, while the women talked of spinning, weaving, children, and new patterns for their quilts. Over 300 people joined the church during Rev. Ruggles pastorate. The meetinghouse became greatly overcrowded, but the formation of a second precinct church in Mattapoisett in 1736 helped alleviate the situation. Then, in 1739, thirty-three members and their families left to form a new church at Wareham. Meanwhile the town was growing thus church attendance continued too grow as "The Great Awakening", a religious revival swept the country in 1740 to 1742.
George Smith as Rev. Ruggles
Deacon Roger Haskell (Chuck Kantner) and Deacon John Freeman (Jay Gonsalves) explained their duties of watching over the moral character of the members and keeping a vigilant eye on ‘Sabbath-breakers". It was also their responsibility to keep order at meetings and keep parishioners from nodding off during the long sermons. At other times the deacons were sent out to members’ homes to inquire why they were not attending public worship on Sunday. It seems the deacons’ duties also included prying into member family’s affairs to find out what their living expenses were to ensure a proper contribution went to the church.
Deacon Roger Haskell (Chuck Kantner) and Deacon John Freeman (Jay Gonsalves)
According to Deacon Freeman, it was his duty to "set the psalm" at meeting. The was no music in church at that time. The Old Bay Psalm Book was used, but few people had books so the psalm was "lined out" as it was called. The congregation would follow the deacon and sing the psalms one line at a time. Deacon John Freeman, alias Jay Gonsalves, gave a demonstration of this with the congregation singing the psalm at his direction, one line at a time.
Dialog between Rev. Ruggles and Noah Sprague (Kirby Gilmore) portrayed a length controversy that arose in 1739. It seems that Mr. Sprague had taken salt hay from a stack owned by Rev. Ruggles and Deacon Samuel Winslow. Although he admitted to taking the hay and giving it to his cattle, Mr. Sprague would never make the confession of sin demanded by the church body and they suspended him. He asked for a council of pastors to settle the matter, but no final decision was given and eventually the case was buried and Mr. Sprague was restored to the "charity and communion" of the church. Sprague was left with a great resentment over what had transpired. He felt that this and other actions of Rev. Ruggles were in many cases extreme and unnecessary and presented a paper of grievances against the pastor and other members. Reconciliation had become impossible, so Mr. Sprague and his supporters eventually left the center church and formed a full parish in North Rochester in 1753.
Noah Sprague (Kirby Gilmore)
The First Parish decided to build a new meetinghouse higher up on the common in 1760. This was owned by the parish, not by the town as the previous buildings had been. Before Rev. Timothy Ruggles died in 1768, Rev. Jonathan Moore came to assist him at this meetinghouse. Rev. Moore then became the next pastor.
300th Anniversary Celebration events will continue throughout the year. Present plans include a quahog chowder supper on April 26th at the fellowship hall. This gathering will recognize the many contributions made by the Men’s Brotherhood, which continued to benefit Rochester and the surrounding communities in endless ways from 1953 until the early 1980’s. The church’s Annual Ladies Luncheon will be held on May 17th. The theme of this year’s program is Quilts from Heaven –a Patchwork of Life. Watch for more details about these and other up-coming events.
Back to the Town of Rochester
