A BRIEF HISTORY OF SHIRLEY'S HISTORIC MEETINGHOUSE

The first Meetinghouse in Shirley was small and simple. It was built soon after the town’s founding in 1753 and was located on Green Lane, off Parker Road. It served both as a place of worship and as a place to conduct town business. As the population grew, a larger more permanent building was needed. In 1773, the original 40’ X 50’ section of the present Meetinghouse was erected in the middle of the Common, where the Civil War monument now stands. In 1804 a bell tower was added and in later years two side entry porches were attached.

From 1762 – 1819, the Rev. Phineas Whitney was the pastor who helped the new parish grow. The Rev. Seth Chandler served as minister from 1833-1879. Chandler also served as town treasurer, and historian. In the front of the Meetinghouse there are plaques honoring these two leaders. In the lobby there is also a bas-relief plaque honoring Shirley native Oliver Holden who wrote the famous hymn tune "Coronation."

In 1851 the Meetinghouse was moved out of the center of the Common and over to the side on a newly dug cellar. This was accomplished by many men and several teams of oxen. The purpose of the move was to open up the center of the Common for larger gatherings and activities. This also provided a better view of both the Meetinghouse and the Town Hall which was built in 1847.

For almost one hundred years, the Meetinghouse was used as a church, first by Congregationalists, then by Unitarians. By 1944 there was no longer a congregation actively using the building and in November of that year Dr. Clifford Shipton, concerned about the preservation of the building, initiated a meeting with a group of concerned citizens. From this meeting the First Parish Meetinghouse Preservation Society was formed with the goal to preserve the Meetinghouse as Shirley’s oldest public building, and to encourage its continued use.

Many generous donations have been made to the Meetinghouse over the years. Mrs. John Hancock, wife of the acting governor, presented a Bible in 1772. The current bell has been in place since it was donated in 1836. In 1847, through the generosity of Mrs. Henrietta Whitney, a Stevens’s tracker organ was brought from Cambridge by ox-cart, to "be used in aid of church music." Although its location has been changed slightly, it is the same organ in use today. One may still look around the corner and see where the boys would sit to pump the bellows by hand. In the 1970s, Ruth Flager gave the chandelier. During 1980s major repair work was done on the Meetinghouse steeple and Melvin Longley restored the interior as a donation to the Town. An anonymous donation of all the paint made the four year project cost free. A plaque in honor of Mr. Longley hangs on the front wall of the Meetinghouse.

The large old pulpit was later removed to make more space for weddings and programs. In the 1990s money was raised to purchase an Emerson baby grand piano for use in recitals and concerts. Current fund raising projects are being done to repair the roof and to re-paint the exterior. There are also plans to add heat and restrooms to the building in the future.

The Meetinghouse is used for the town’s annual Memorial Day service. For over fifty years the building was used for ecumenical summer worship services by the United Church of Shirley and Trinity Chapel. The Meetinghouse continues to be used for weddings, funerals, memorial services, concerts, recitals, dramatic presentations and programs of historic interest.

Hallmark cards once used a photo of Shirley’s Historic Meetinghouse on a set of Christmas cards. It is truly a beautiful building with a rich history, and, God willing, a long and fruitful future.