ABOUT US
Welcome to First Congregational Church of Spencer, UCC!
No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey,
you are welcome here.
Liz Goyette
Administrative & Media Assistant
MEET THE TEAM
Pastor
First Congregational Church of Spencer, UCC is currently in search of a Pastor to lead our congregation and services. We look forward to welcoming & introducing whomever God sends to us!
Jason Fyrberg
Custodian
OUR
CHURch
HISTORy
The first church was constructed at our present site in 1743 on land donated by Nathaniel Cunningham, a wealthy Cambridge merchant. At that time the land was part of Leicester. The town of Spencer was not established until April 12, 1753, when a bill was signed by Lt. Governor Spencer Phipps. The building was little more than a barn with unplaned boards for walls that were nailed up without clapboards and without plaster or paneling in the interior. There were no pews and only a subfloor. The church was known at the time as the Second Church of Leicester. Many improvements took place over the years.
In 1772, a larger church building was erected. This building was reportedly “substantial" and even "elegant” for the time.
The Church Society was formed on May 17, 1744 with the signing of the covenant by the eight members. On November 7, 1744, Rev. Joshua Eaton was ordained. He was the church’s first minister and served for 27 years. He is buried in the cemetery behind the church.
A steeple and bell were added in 1802. In 1820, the church school was formed under the pastorate of Rev. Stephen Crosby, the third minister. It was considered one of the first in the nation.
TOWER CLOCK MOVEMENT
In 1832, William Pope, son of the second minister, Rev. Joseph Pope, donated land to the church for a vestry building. A one-story building was erected on the land to the west of the church. In addition to its use as a vestry, it was also used as a school. In 1859, this building was removed, and a high school was built in its place. In 1888, this building was removed and replaced by David Prouty High School. This currently houses the Senior Living at Prouty.
The church was remodeled inside and out in 1838. The whole building was turned one- quarter around with its front facing the south. Hinged pews were installed.
The church building was destroyed by fire on January 1, 1862. The present church was built and dedicated in 1863.
In 1881, improvements were made by adding a “Ladies’ Parlor” (now the Memorial Library) and a kitchen. Substantial changes were made in 1885. The building was extended north forty feet after excavations were made on the land behind the church. The interior was redesigned and remodeled.
A one-story wooden structure was added to the east side of the building in 1960. It contained eight classrooms, a minister’s study, and a secretary’s office. It was dedicated on Sunday, November 13, 1960.
Two large murals were painted on the west wall of Mary Porter Hall by Sara Mase in 1972.
In 1993, an elevator was installed, and in 1994 the sanctuary was renovated, and a handicapped-accessible bathroom was installed.
Church members voted in 1968 in favor of the proposal to join the United Church of Christ. This merged the Congregational Church with the Evangelical and Reformed Churches.
OUR GOALS
At First Congregational Church we are working toward becoming a relevant part of the larger community. One of our goals is to create a bridge to the larger community through ecumenical cooperation as we work together on addressing current social justice issues as Jesus Christ taught us through biblical scripture.
In conjunction with the Massachusetts Conference of United Church of Christ we believe the church's mission is to change lives - a mission we express by saying, "Never place a period where God has placed a comma."
OUR MISSION
We the First Congregational Church of Spencer, UCC, are a caring and compassionate family supporting each other and the community through strong faith and fellowship. We invite you to join our journey seeking Christ's love and grace.
ABOUT UCC
Welcome to the United Church of Christ—a community of faith that seeks to respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed. The UCC was founded in 1957 as the union of several different Christian traditions: from the beginning of our history, we were a church that affirmed the ideal that Christians did not always have to agree to live together in communion. Our motto—"that they may all be one"—is Jesus' prayer for the unity of the church. The UCC is one of the most diverse Christian denominations in the United States. We hope you'll join us.