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Brighton, Boston, Mass. Faneuil Congregational Church records, 1884-1984.

 Collection
Identifier: RG0025

Scope and Contents

The collection contains records for the Faneuil Congregational Church for its entire lifetime of 1903-1976, with some earlier records from the Faneuil Sunday School and some later financial records. The collection includes volumes of meeting minutes, treasurer's account books, receipt ledger books, and church registers. It also includes folders of correspondence, annual reports, treasury reports, meeting minutes, service programs, publications, member lists, baptismal records, bylaws and constitutions, legal precedings, financial records, newspaper clippings, member dismission forms, photographs, minister sermons, and histories. The collection also includes a film reel of the church's 50th anniversary, a gavel, and a box of member contact cards. The records are from or about the church itself, its members, or the organizations within it.

Dates

  • 1884-1984

Creator

Restrictions on Access

Access to this collection is unrestricted and open to the public.

Restrictions on Use

Items in this collection are subject to U.S. Copyright Law. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine the copyright status of collection items and to secure any permissions necessary for their reproduction and publication. Requests for permission to publish material must be discussed with the archivist or librarian.

Historical Note

The Faneuil Congregational Church was located in the Brighton area of Boston, Mass and existed from 1903 to 1976. The church grew from the Faneuil Sunday School which began in 1877 to serve the children of the Faneuil area so that they did not have to travel to Brighton Congregational Church. The Sunday school began classes at the home of James W. Harvey on Newton Street before moving to a rented room in a store on Brooks Street. In 1900, Faneuil Chapel was built for the school and was dedicated in November of that year. The school continued to operate out of the chapel until 1914 when the new church building was completed, and the chapel was sold to the City of Boston to be used as a public library. In 1941, Faneuil Church repurchased the chapel and moved the school back to that location until the school’s closure in 1972 due to a lack of students.

In 1903, the community of Faneuil came together to create their own church separate from Brighton Congregational Church and incorporated the Faneuil Congregational Church of Boston in January 1903. The first service of the church was held at Faneuil Chapel on February 4, 1903. In May 1903, the first permanent pastor, Rev. Andrew H. Mulnix, began serving the church and remained pastor until his resignation in December 1935. In January 1911, the mortgage for the Faneuil Chapel was paid and a service was held to commemorate the burning of the mortgage. The church began plans for a new building after 1911 and construction was completed in December 1913. The mortgage for the new building was paid and burned in January 1924. The church bought and installed a new organ in October 1925 and a new chancel window in November 1930.

The church celebrated its 25th anniversary in February 1928. In 1935, Rev. Mulnix resigned and was replaced in May 1936 by Rev. Aaron N. Meckel who served the church until March 1941. In 1953, Faneuil Church celebrated its 50th anniversary with a special service and other events. In 1969, Rev. Harry W. Mason Jr began serving the church and remained as pastor until its closure. In the 1970s as the membership and budget declined, the church began plans to close. The last service was held on June 29, 1975 and the final annual meeting for the dissolution of Faneuil Congregational Church corporation was held in January 1976 at Brighton Center Church where many members had moved. The materials owned by the church were returned to the original donor, given to the Brighton Historical Society, thrown away, or entrusted to the United Church of Christ. The church building was sold to the Central New England District of the United Pentecostal Church in 1975, while the parish house had been sold previously to Edward P. Long in 1963. Any remaining funds were separated among various charities or given to the Massachusetts Conference of the UCC.

The Faneuil church was home to multiple organizations throughout its lifetime. The Women’s Association began in November 1901 and remained heavily involved in the church operation until its dissolution in 1976. The Pilgrim League began in 1924 for the business women and young mothers of the church and merged with the Women’s Association in 1932. The Men’s club began in or before 1926 and existed until 1975 when the church closed.

Extent

2.99 Cubic Feet (2 cartons, 2 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The Faneuil Congregational Church was organized in the Brighton area of Boston, MA from 1903 to 1976. It grew out of the Faneuil Sunday School and built its own church building in 1913. The church closed in 1975 and was officially dissolved in 1976 due to the lack of membership. The collection contains records about the administration and history of Faneuil church and some of the organizations within it. The collection includes correspondence, meeting minutes, constitution and bylaws, annual reports, church registers, membership lists, baptismal records, account ledgers, treasurer's reports, service programs, materials relating to the 50th anniversary of the church, sermons (1937) of minister Aaron N. Meckel, photographs, newspaper clippings, a gavel and publications from or about the church.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in five series, one of which has four sub-series. The series and the records within them are arranged chronologically by start date.

Series 1: History of Faneuil congregational church, 1884-1969

Series 2: Organization records, 1901-1975

Subseries 1: Women's association, 1901-1975

Subseries 2: Missionary auxiliary group, 1914-1932

Subseries 3: Pilgrim league, 1924-1932

Subseries 4: Faneuil men's club, 1927-1975

Series 3: Administrative records, 1903-1975

Series 4: Member records, 1903-1976

Series 5: Financial records, 1934-1984

Acquisition Information

Originally deposited 24 October 1975 with the Congregational Christian Historical Society, Boston, Mass. by Roy B. Stewart, clerk, and Rev. Harry W. Mason Jr, on behalf of the church. Converted to Gift 3 December 1985 by Metropolitan Boston Association of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ.

Processing Information

Originally processed 1990. Reprocessed by Madison Bellew, 2023 using DACS.

Title
Brighton, Boston, Mass. Faneuil Congregational Church records, 1884-1984.
Author
Madison Bellew
Date
November 2023
Description rules
3
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Congregational Library & Archives Repository

Contact:
14 Beacon Street
Suite 200
Boston MA 02108
617-523-0470