User:Leicester Unitarian Church

The Leicester Unitarian Church was originally founded in 1833, followed by the current structure being built between 1833 and 1834. Prior to 1833, Unitarian religious services were conducted as part of town meeting business. Thereafter, joint services were held at the newly established First Parish of Leicester, later referred to as the First Congregational Church. The “Great Revival” of the early 1800’s was followed by a division in the established congregational church based on divergent opinions as to the essential truths of the Christian religion. A group of these dissenters began to hold meetings for discussion in a front room over the bank near the corner of Main and Market Streets. They organized themselves as the 2nd Congregational Society of Leicester. The governing committee of three members were Waldo Flint, Isaac Southgate and Joshua Clapp. Sixteen members of this group petitioned to be recognized as a religious society under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Proprietors of the Second Congregational Meeting House in Leicester was incorporated by a Special Act of the Legislature of Massachusetts, passed March 10, 1834. The official vote to do so was taken April 13th, 1833 in the town hall. In those early days, services were held in the town hall. Our first minister, the Reverend Samuel May, Jr. of Boston, preached there on September 15th, 1833. Nine months later, he settled here as our first pastor at the age of 24 with an annual salary of $600. The well-known abolitionist kept a diary that encompassed the 12 years of his ministry with this church (1834 – 1846), after which he was requested to resign to devote himself to the anti-slavery cause. Miss Louisa May Alcott, the Rev. May’s cousin, spent many Sundays visiting with her cousin’s family and attending services, sitting in the front pew. Rev. May remained active and involved with the Unitarian church until his death in 1899.

The Unitarian Church is the oldest public building on the north side of the common. The foundation of the building was laid during the autumn of 1833 but, due to inclement weather, completion of the oak frame structure was delayed until April 1834. The total cost of the building was just under $4,000.00. Title of the property rested with these “proprietors of the Second Congregational Meeting House in Leicester” until transferred to the Leicester Unitarian Church on May 28, 1928.

Except for the steeple cupola, the exterior of the main building has remained the same since 1834, the Doric pillars adding a subtle elegance to the structure. The 900 pound cast bronze bell in the tower was made by the G.H. Holbrook company of East Medway, MA. in 1834.

In 1866, renovations were completed on the inside of the sanctuary that included the replacement of the clear windows with the current stained glass windows, and the removal of the pew doors and upper galleries. The front side pews were removed in 1886 so as to allow the newly added parish house, which included the lecture hall with a stage, kitchen, dressing room, and the 3 “holer” outhouse at the rear of the building for a cost of $850.00. Mrs. Henry Bisco donated the Victorian chandelier that hangs centrally in the main sanctuary. Although modernized, it still holds many of the original 12 oil lamps. It would take 15 minutes to trim the wicks and light the lamps.

On April 10th, 1892, Mr. Booker T. Washington of the Tuskegee Institute arrived with 4 of his students for a one-day speaking engagement. Town’s people were so enamored with his topic that his stay lasted for 3 days to standing room only crowds.

In 1903, the Vocalion Reed Organ, locally made in Worcester, was purchased for $900.00. The organ is still used for Sunday Services. There are approximately 100 Vocalion organs in existence today and we are told that there are less than 12 working reed organs (this model) in the world today. Before the purchase of an engine to run the Vocalion, it was hand pumped. While on duty, the younger male parishioners were rumored to occasionally fall asleep behind the organ while waiting to pump.

All the public buildings on the town common were destroyed by fire in 1901 with the one exception of this Unitarian Church building. Only the steeple was destroyed and had to be rebuilt. As time passed, certain accommodations were made between the two churches (First Congregational and the Unitarian Church). For instance, in 1901-02 the First Congregational Church met in the Unitarian Meeting House for 15 months after their building was destroyed by fire. This was repeated in the winter of 1920 during repairs to the First Congregational Church’s heating system. Joint services were again held beginning November 1926 and on May 1st, 1927, they united as the Leicester Federated Church due to economic reasons. In 1927, the Second Congregational Church was incorporated as the Leicester Unitarian Church to establish two independent churches to unite through membership in a third church known as the Leicester Federated Church.

In 2001, an Architectural Repair Committee was formed with members from the Unitarian and Congregation churches, the Leicester Historical Commission and other town folk making this a community effort. During the fall of 2002, we began the long needed structural repair, to ensure a sound foundation for the future. A structural engineer commented that this balloon framed building will most likely last another 200 years. While the bell tower has been repaired, the cradle in which the bell sits is still requiring repair. We long to hear its beautiful sound once again across the Town Common. In 2003, the building was painted by an enthusiastic crew of volunteers from the entire community with ages ranging from 4 to 90 years old. This was accomplished in one miraculous day! Storm windows have been installed to protect our stained glass windows and fight off the winter chill. In 2005, a handicap ramp was added. In 2007, furnaces were installed and the Community Room was insulated and, unlike our ancestors, we have a heated space in which to hold services through the winter months. In 2010, we added a modern bathroom. In 2014, we completed interior and exterior painting and replaced the roof. We continue the renovations.

In September of 2007, the Leicester Unitarian Church consisting of 12 members, dissolved the current relationship with the First Congregation Church and hold services year round in the Unitarian building that so proudly graces the Town Common. The result is a rediscovery of our Unitarian spirituality. Worship Services are held every Sunday morning from 9:30 am to 10:00am which is preceded by a Social Time from 9:00am to 9:30am. All visitors are warmly welcomed to join us for a cup of coffee and share in our experience.