Pilgrim's Story

Congregationalism came to this country on the Mayflower and to Taunton with Elizabeth Pole, the founder of our city and its first Congregational Church in 1637. Pilgrim Church is the spiritual descendant of this first house of worship.

The Pilgrim voyage to a new land was made necessary in order to re-establish a Church on the New Testament pattern - a fellowship of those who had chosen to be followers of Christ, spiritually competent to direct their own life and work. Because they had pledged themselves to live and worship in freedom according to the dictates of conscience, the Pilgrims were compelled to flee from their homeland. One of the abiding effects of their costly plea for liberty is that modern Congregationalists will not submit to a conformity which their forefathers resisted unto death.

It has been more than 180 years since the forming of our church by 25 women and 4 men in 1821 and 152 years since we first occupied this building in 1851. These years are filled with fond and historic memories of a faithful and treasured past.

When the congregation outgrew the wooden church building they built in 1822, our present church building was constructed in 1851 of 43,388 square feet of stone that weighed 2,889 tons. The church bell, originally brought to Taunton from Holbrook in 1822, was subsequently moved to this building in 1851, where it rang out joyfully for the Emancipation Proclamation, the end of wars and for weekly worship ever since.

To celebrate the church's 75th Anniversary in 1896, three stained glass windows were installed in the apse in memory of the Rev. Erastus Maltby, the church's second minister who served as pastor for 45 years from 1826 to 1870. These windows, made of Tiffany favirle glass, were the first of their kind to be seen in Taunton and were considered to the the finest in New England. In 1894, individual communion cups were used and we are thought to be the first Congregational Church in Massachusetts to make this change. During the flu epidemic of 1918 the church became a hospital sheltering those who had no other place to go during their illness.

As you can see this is a story of strong religious conviction, commitment to excellence, and a vision of a worthy and faithful future. Pilgrim Congregational Church continues to build on that solid foundation. We welcome all those who believe in the traditional Congregational values of faith, fellowship and freedom. Our members have entered into a covenant relationship with each other that says:

• "Accepting the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the authority in matters of faith and practice, we join with one another and with the Church Universal in confessing Jesus Christ the son of the living God and consecrating our whole body to His service, we convenant as a church of Christ to walk together in unity, love and good works."

While supporting each other we reach out to the community in an attempt to assist it materially, morally and culturally. We of Pilgrim Church have the legacy of a great tradition, and we reach out to all who would join us in our particular Christian expression.

Congregational Christians believe very deeply in God, in Jesus Christ, in the guiding Spirit of God in prayer, in the worth of worship, in the value of the sacraments and holy rites, and in the power of God to triumph over all that is unholy and evil.

For over 350 years the Congregational Way has been serving our community. We look forward to continuing this service, walking in God's way as we have in the past.

Member of Congregational Christian Churches / National Association