“Forward through the ages in unbroken line.” That’s how the old hymn goes.
Who are we? Officially, we’re the First Congregational Church of North Attleboro.
But we have many aliases, such as “Oldtown.” (Remember to correct those who call us Old Town; it’s all one word!) Then one Pastor called us FCC, another “First Church,” and one local clergy even referred to us as “Kelly’s Church down on Old Post Rd.” Well, let’s just back up here.
Back in 1643, a brave group followed Rev.Samuel Newman through the wilderness to a spot now called Rumford, RI, where they settled. People spread out, and some came to our local area, but as was required, they had to travel back to Rumford for Sunday worship, which was especially hard in winter for women and children. So in 1710, they asked for permission to have their own meeting house right here in Oldtown. It took four years to build, and they had already outgrown it. We think it may have been across the street, in the area of the schoolhouse.
Plans made and carried through for a second building on this side of the street, south of our present Church, used for a hundred years until it became unsafe. More plans…
In 1828, our current, third, building was erected, and we’re still using it, moving through the ages in unbroken line! First, we were a Society, and then incorporated as the First Congregational Church.
So ask a third grader: Why do we face the front doors? Why do we have shutters on the inside of our building and little doors on our pews? How did they light the building or heat it to stay warm? And how in the world did they support their town and their meeting house as well? Who was the tithing man, and what did he do? All this and more is what we tell our third graders as they come on a tour of their town and learn all about it each spring.
This year, 2025, we saw 326 children and 58 teachers and chaperones, for a total of 384 visitors. Thanks to Pastor Kelly, Ed Clavette, Tom Sanford, and others, we shared our story. The month of May is the time, and if you’d like to help, please speak to one of us.
We are looking forward to working with local historical groups as plans are being made for the 250th celebration of our country in July. Stay tuned for details.
So the line goes: “Ever forward through the ages, in unbroken line…”
Respectfully submitted,
Carolyn E. Chretien, Historian
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