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Somerville, Massachusetts. Broadway Winter Hill Congregational Church. Records, 1864 -2002
Records, ca. 1864 - 2004
RG 4674
7 linear feet
Processed June 2002 by Jessica Steytler.
Copyright: requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the archivist or librarian.
History of the Church
The Broadway Winter Hill Congregational Church started off in 1864 with the name Winter Hill Orthodox Congregational Church. Founding leaders in the church included Rev. E. Porter Dyer, Samuel F. Rugg, Samuel Oakman, Benjamin W. Eldridge, Joseph P. Williams, and John W. Atwood. The records note 26 "constituting members."
The Reverend William H. Pierson, pastor from 1872-1881, was greatly influenced by a Unitarian beliefs. In early 1881, these beliefs triggered a schism in the congregation. There were a number of pastors that lead the newly formed Broadway Congregational Church, while Charles L. Noyes guided the (original) Winter Hill Congregational Church/Society. In 1918, the two churches reunited under the Rev. Noyes, who remained pastor until 1922. The church has remained like thusly unified ever since.
Name Changes
| 1863-1866 | Winter Hill Orthodox Congregational Church |
| 1966-1881 | Broadway Orthodox Congregational Church of Winter Hill |
| 1881-1918 | Schism |
| 1883-1918 | Broadway Orthodox Congregational Church of Winter Hill became Winter Hill Congregational Church |
| 1883-1918 | Broadway Church became Broadway Congregational Church |
| 1918-2004 | Broadway Winter Hill Congregational Church |
Pastors
| |
1863-1866 | E. Porter Dyer, Acting Pastor | ||
| 1866-1868 | E. P. Marvin, Acting Pastor | |||
| 1868-1870 | Samuel H. Virgin, First Pastor | |||
| 1871 | no pastor | |||
| 1872-1881 | William H. Pierson | |||
| Schism | ||||
| Broadway Congregational Church Pastors | Winter Hill Congregational Church Pastor |
|||
| 1881 | A.H. Quint, Acting Pastor | 1882-1918 | Charles L. Noyes | |
| 1884-1889 |
Lewis V. Price | |||
| 1889-1891 | Charles E. Andrews | |||
| 1891-1893 | Joseph F. Loverling, Supply Pastor | |||
| 1894-1905 | Horace H. Leavitt | |||
| 1905-1912 | Robert W. Beers | |||
| 1912-1918 | George L. Parker | |||
| Broadway Winter Hill Church Pastors | ||||
| 1918-1922 | Charles L. Noyes | |||
| 1922-1925 | Albert Buckner Coe | |||
| 1925-1936 | Klein K. Haddaway | |||
| 1937-1973 | William T. Howe | |||
| 1973-1989 | Jacob Merrill | |||
| 1990 | J. J. Gunther III, Interim Pastor | |||
| 1991-2000 | L. J. Knight, Pastor | |||
| 2001 | J. J. Gunther III, Associate Pastor | |||
| 2001-2004 | Russell Kent, Pastor | |||
Scope and Content Note
The Rev. Russell Kent contacted the Congregational Library in 2002; he was concerned about the church's older records and he wanted to make sure that nothing was lost or destroyed accidentally. The church kept its active records until it closed in 2004. The types of materials within the collection include church meetings, membership records, pastor's records and reports, financial and building records, clubs, societies, sunday school, and historical records.
The church's records: annual meetings and such, are steady until 1977, then there is a large gap until the final days of the church from 2000-2004. These last records are not complete. The most valuable part of Series 2 is a set of minister's reports which span from 1925 to 1968. The financial records are consist ant up to 1999, after which point, they are less complete or missing. Membership lists do not extend past 1977 and baptisms not beyond 1984. The social and charitable organizations, particularly the Woman's Union, are well represented from the earliest years up to the 1960s, with a particular boom in all groups in the 1930s. Researchers should be sure to look at the historical sketches in Series 5.
Description
Series 1. Church Records. This set of records contains reports from church council meetings, annual meetings, by - laws, statements of faith, covenants, constitutions, membership, correspondence, and some committees: executive, nominating, and personnel. The ledgers and folders are arranged in ascending chronological order. During the schism years, the records from the separate churches are kept together as often as possible.
Series 2. Minster Records. These records can be divided into two sections. First are reports given at annual meetings (1920s and 1930s) during Rev. Haddaway's and Rev. Klein's tenures. Supplementary folders belong to Charles Noyes and Albert Coe. The second half contains records of the search for a new pastor in 1990 - 1991, which resulted in Linda Knight's call to the church.
Series 3. Financial and Building Records. The majority of this series are treasurer's reports. The folders are arranged in clusters: benevolence reports, treasurer's reports, and financial ledgers, all in ascending chronological order. Older financial records and ledgers that are summarized in treasurer's reports, insurance records, and recent legacies.
Series 4. Clubs and Societies, Sunday School. The dominant group represented in this series is the Woman's Union. The Library chose to keep the Woman's Union annual reports over their minute ledgers when possible. Other groups in this series are the Men's Union, youth groups, and Serviceman's Committee. The Serviceman's Committee was organized to assist soldiers in World War II.
Series 5. Historian Files. This series has notable programs (from new minister installments, anniversaries, and special events), histories of the church, sermons and speeches, and records for historic landmarks. There are a few photographs, but there are only a few individuals identified. There are also a sample of Sunday service programs.
Folder List