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Boston, Mass. Union Congregational Church records, 1822-1984.

 Collection
Identifier: RG0031

Scope and Contents

This collection contains the administrative records of the Union Congregational Church, in Boston, as well as records of the church's membership and church activities. The collection contains administrative meeting minutes, vital records, such as records of marriages and baptisms, membership lists, financial documents and ledgers, legal documents and deeds, church histories, records of two church auxiliary groups, and select Sunday service programs.

Dates

  • 1822-1984

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 history of the Union Congregational Church begins with the formation of the Essex Street Church in 1819. The church was first formed in Boylston Hall and then moved to the Essex Street location which was constructed later in 1819. In 1822, owing to a disagreement with the church’s pastor, James Sabine, the majority of the congregation returned to the Boylston Hall with Sabine to reform as the Essex Street Presbyterian Church. A minority of the church remained with the church building on Essex Street. With financial support from the Old South Church and Park Street Church, and new members transferring from the Old South Church, Park Street Church, and a church in Braintree, the Union Congregational Church was formally organized in 1822.

Samuel Green was installed as the first minister at the Union Congregational Church in 1823. During his pastorate, which ended in 1834, approximately 600 new members were added to the church’s membership. In 1826, along with the Old South Church and Park Street Church, the Union Congregational Church helped to erect the Hanover Street Church, whose first minister was Lyman Beecher. In 1827, eighteen members of the Union Congregational Church agreeably split with the church to help form the Pine Street Church.

The church was substantially rebuilt in 1840. In 1868, the church’s prudential committee was empowered to buy land at the corner of Columbus Avenue and West Newton Street. Construction on a new church building was completed in 1870. In 1907, at the recommendation of an ecclesiastical council, the Berkley Temple Congregational Church, whose history began with the formation of the Pine Street Church in 1827, merged into the Union Congregational Church.

Demographic changes to the South End of Boston caused major financial hardship for the Union Congregational Church throughout the first half of the 20th century. The Old South Church provided significant financial assistance during this time, however, by 1948, it was clear that the church could not remain solvent. In 1948, the Union Congregational Church merged into the Old South Church.

Ministers of the Union Congregational Church

Samuel Green
1823-1834
Nehemiah Adams
1834-1878
Henry M. Parsons
1870-1874
Frank Warfiel
1876-1881
R. R. Meredith
1883-1887
Nehemiah Boynton
1888-1896
Samuel Lane Loomis
1896-1907
Allen A. Stockdale
1907-1913
Ernest Graham Guthrie
1914-1925
Herbert A. Jump
1927-1932
Dwight J. Bradley
1934-1937
Fred D. Bennett
1938-1944
Ferdinand J. Loungway
1945-1948

Extent

3.27 Cubic Feet (3 boxes, 2 folders)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The history of the Union Congregational Church begins with the formation of the Essex Street Church in 1819. In 1822, owing to a disagreement with the church’s pastor, a minority of the church withdrew from the Essex Street Church and reformed the Union Congregational Church. The church was substantially rebuilt in 1840 and a new church building was constructed at the corner of Columbus Avenue and West Newton Street in 1870. In 1907, the Berkley Temple Congregational Church merged into the Union Congregational Church. In 1948, the Union Congregational Church merged into the Old South Church. This collection contains the administrative and membership records of the Union Congregational Church and includes meeting minutes, financial ledgers, legal documents, vital records, and records of church activities.

Arrangement

This collection has been arranged into the five series listed below. Materials within each series have been arranged primarily by chronological order and secondarily by topic, when appropriate.

Series 1: Church records, 1822-1984

Series 2: Pew records, 1822-1905

Series 3: Financial and legal records, 1840-1949

Series 4: Membership records, 1876-1973

Series 5: Histories and programs, 1906-1945

Acquisition Information

Materials were initially donated to the Congregational Library & Archives at an unknown date; no accession number. The volume of worship programs was donated by Hubert E. Beckwith in March, 2019; 2019-22. Additional materials related to the merger between the Union Congregational Church and the Old South Church were acquired in an accrual of materials from the Old South Church; 2022-13.

Related Materials

The Congregational Library & Archives holds the Boston, Mass. Pine Street Church records, 1827-1907, RG0029, collection. The Pine Street Church was gathered in 1827, partially by members drawn from the Union Congregational Church. In 1907. The Pine Street Church, renamed the Berkeley Temple Congregational Church, merged into the Union Congregational Church.

The Congregational Library & Archives holds the Boston, Mass. Old South Church records, 1659-2012, RG0028, collection. The Old South Church provided significant financial assistance to the Union Congregational Church during the early 20th century and in 1948 the Union Congregational Church merged into the Old South Church.

Bibliography

The One Hundredth Anniversary of the founding of Union Church, Boston, 1922. Boston: 1922. 17.11.1 B65.5 UniCB

Processing Information

Processed by Thomasin Kellermann in April 1988. Reprocessed by Zachary Bodnar, November 2023, using Describing Archives: A Content Standard.

Title
Boston, Mass. Union Congregational Church records, 1822-1984.
Status
Completed
Author
Zachary Bodnar
Date
2023-11-29
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