Abstract In 1743 the Second North Housatonic Parish of Sheffield was gathered with Rev. Samuel Hopkins as the first minister. The first meeting house was completed by 1743. In 1761 the North Parish of Sheffield was incorporated as the town of Great Barrington and the church was renamed to the First Congregational Church of Great Barrington. In 1769 Rev. Hopkins was dismissed after both financial and religious difficulties between him and the parish community. The second meeting house was constructed...