About Our Church

The oldest continuously Congregational church in North America was "gathered" in 1632 in a section of Marshfield known as Greene's Harbour, (now Green Harbor).

The group, headed by Edward Winslow, had been farming the land since about 1628. But they found it to be very arduous to make the long journey to Plymouth every Sabbath, so they agreed to establish themselves in what is now Marshfield. It was further agreed that they would come to the assistance of the colony at Plymouth whenever the need should arise.

They, at first, met in one another's homes. In 1640, they erected the first meeting house of record, which was located in what is now Winslow Cemetery. Reverend Richard Blinman, from Wales, England, was induced by Edward Winslow to come to Green's Harbor and become their first pastor. He was with them for a very short time.

In 1657 land was given them on which they erected their second meeting house, as the first one was no longer large enough to accommodate the congregation. This was located about one hundred feet East of the present Church.

In 1706, the third meeting house was erected on the site of the present Church, the parish still increasing in number.

In 1739 the Parish was organized distinct from the Town. From then on, it was no longer called a "meeting" house, but a Church. In 1758, the fourth meeting house (Church) was erected on the same site. This one served until the fifth one was erected in 1838 on the same site. It is the present Church, and in August 2008, will be 170 years old. Come age with us...

You might like to read more of our history in book form as written by our own Linda Ashley @ http://www.radiocom.net/1stCongregational/ChurchAshley.pdf

And the next time you read, " The Devil and Daniel Webster ", think of him as a faithful communicant for more than 20 years while in Marshfield.  A bronze plaque marks his pew...