First Church In Salem
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First Church in Salem (officially known as the First Church in Salem, Unitarian Universalist) is a
Unitarian Universalist Unitarian or Unitarianism may refer to: Christian and Christian-derived theologies A Unitarian is a follower of, or a member of an organisation that follows, any of several theologies referred to as Unitarianism: * Unitarianism (1565–present) ...
church Church may refer to: Religion * Church (building), a place/building for Christian religious activities and praying * Church (congregation), a local congregation of a Christian denomination * Church service, a formalized period of Christian comm ...
in
Salem Salem may refer to: Places Canada * Salem, Ontario, various places Germany * Salem, Baden-Württemberg, a municipality in the Bodensee district ** Salem Abbey (Reichskloster Salem), a monastery * Salem, Schleswig-Holstein Israel * Salem (B ...
,
Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...
that was designed by Solomon Willard and built in 1836.


History

Before the church was built, around 1635, its members had to gather in houses or a building near the Town House Square. The congregation claims to be "one of the oldest continuing Protestant churches in North America and the first to be governed by congregational polity, a central feature of Unitarian Universalism". The values of the Puritans who founded the First Church in Salem stated that they were on a pilgrimage to the city of God. This made them want to perfect their world and community. It also made some of their members such as third minister Roger Williams, activists in the community. He specifically argued that Native Americans should be compensated for their land and that the colonial government should not have power over the church. Thomas Treadwell Stone became minister of the church on July 12, 1846. In December 1851, the Salem Female Anti-Slavery Society held their annual general meeting at the church. For twelve years,
Charles Wentworth Upham Charles Wentworth Upham (May 4, 1802 – June 15, 1875) was a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts. Upham was also a member, and President of the Massachusetts State Senate, the 7th Mayor of Salem, Massachusetts, and twice a member of the M ...
was minister of the church. Grace Parker commissioned a
stained-glass Stained glass refers to coloured glass as a material or art and architectural works created from it. Although it is traditionally made in flat panels and used as windows, the creations of modern stained glass artists also include three-dimensio ...
window for the church in dedication to her late husband,
George Swinnerton Parker George Swinnerton Parker (December 12, 1866 – September 26, 1952) was an American game designer and businessman who founded Geo. S. Parker Co. and Parker Brothers. Life and career Parker was born in Salem, Massachusetts.Cutter, William Ric ...
of
Parker Brothers Parker Brothers (known as Parker outside of North America) was an American toy and game manufacturer which in 1991 became a brand of Hasbro. More than 1,800 games were published under the Parker Brothers name since 1883. It remained family owne ...
fame, and their two sons.


See also

* First Universalist Church (Salem, Massachusetts)


References


External links

* Unitarian Universalist churches in Massachusetts Churches in Salem, Massachusetts 1836 establishments in Massachusetts 19th-century churches in the United States Churches completed in 1836 Religious organizations established in the 1630s 19th-century Unitarian Universalist church buildings Gothic Revival church buildings in Massachusetts {{unitarianism-stub