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St. Paul's Church (Dedham, Massachusetts)

April 10, 2024

St. Paul's Church is an Episcopal Church in Dedham, Massachusetts

St. Paul's Church

History edit

A group of Anglicans began meeting in Clapboardtrees in 1731.[1]

Colburn grant edit

Samuel Colburn[a] died in the Crown Point Expedition of 1756.[2] Though he was not an Anglican, he left almost his entire estate to the Anglican community in Dedham to establish St. Paul's Church.[2] The grant, consisting of 135 acres of land and other cash and property, was hindered only by a life estate left to his mother.[2] Some of the eight parcels were on the outskirts of town, along Mother Brook or up in Sandy Valley, but most were centered around modern day Dedham Square, including 369 Washington Street.[2] The main portion ran from Maple Place to Dwight's Brook, and 10 acres bounded by High, Court, and School streets.[2]

When Colburn's mother died in 1792, Montague began laying out streets and house lots on the property.[2] The first street Montague laid out, modern day Church Street,[b] was the first street in Dedham to be laid out with house lots on either side, as opposed to simply being a road to connect one farm to another.[2] Norfolk Street was next, followed by School street.[2][c] Montague rented out the parcels in 999 year leases.[2] One lessee, Samuel Richards, hired Charles Bulfinch to design his house on the corner of Highland and Court Streets.[2]

Music edit

William H. Mann was the organist in both the 1797 church and in the 1845 church until it burned down.[3][d] John H.B. Thayer then left the brand new organ at the Allin Congregational Church in 1858 to play at St. Paul's.[4][e] He held the position until his death in 1873.[4]

Churches edit

1758 building edit

The first church, a simply structure measuring 30' by 40', was built on Court Street in 1758 diagonally across from where the current church stands.[5][1] It was built by a Mr. Durpee.[1] When the main beam of the church was raised, it broke causing 12 men to fall.[1] None were injured.[1] It was dedicated in 1761, but it wasn't complete until 1771 when it was plastered and permanent seats were installed.[1] When Norfolk County was established in 1792, the congregation offered their building for use of the courts, but it was in such poor condition that the county declined.[6]

The people of Dedham stoned the church during the American Revolution and then took it over for use as a military storehouse.[7][8] From then on, Rev. William Clark would secretly conduct services in his house.[7]

1797 building edit

The congregation attempted to move the church to Franklin Square in 1797, but the entire structure collapsed, sending a cauldron of bats out of the belfry.[9] It was reconstructed in that location in 1798 using various portions of an abandoned church in Stoughton.[5][9]

In 1845, Comfort Weatherbee was commissioned to demolish the church.[3] All the boarding was removed and a capstan was used to pull the frame and tower down.[3]

1845 building edit

The builders of the 1845 church, Thomas and Nathan Phillips, were from Dedham.[5] Designed by Arthur Gilman after Magdalen College, Oxford, it was consecrated on Court Street in 1845 but burned down in 1856.[5] The bell from the 1797 church hung in the tower for three or four years, but was eventually replaced with a rich toned bell.[3] The old bell, which was small enough for neighborhood boys to pick up and chime, was then placed on the ground next to the tower for a few weeks before removal.[3]

1858 building edit

The present church was built in 1858 at the corner of Court Street and Village Ave.[10] It was 90' long and the bell tower, added in 1869, was 100' high [10] The bell was donated by Ira Cleveland.[11] It is made of Dedham granite.[12]

Chapel edit

A chapel was built with a bequest from George E. Hutton.[11] As of 2001, it is a nursery school.[11]

Good Shepherd edit

Main article: Church of the Good Shepherd (Dedham, Massachusetts)

Lay readers from the church began ministering to Episcopalians in the Oakdale section of town in 1873 who could not get to the church easily.[13] Out of their efforts grew the Church of the Good Shepherd , which was dedicated in 1876.[13] One of the early members was William B. Gould.[14]

Ministers edit

Anglican Church Minister Years of service Notes
William Clark 1760–1777 [15]
William Montague 1794–1815 [15]
Samuel B. Babcock 1834–1873 [11]
Melanie McCarley 2016-present [16]

The first minister, Rev. William Clark, held controversial Tory views.[5] By March of 1777, Clark announced that he would cease preaching; such an action was easier to swallow than eliminating prayers for the king.[8][7] Two months later, he was charged by the Board of Selectmen in Dedham of being a traitor to the American Revolution.[17][5]

After being denied bail, he was brought to Boston to stand before a military tribunal.[18][19] He refused to pledge allegiance to the Commonwealth, and so was sent onto a prison ship for 10 weeks.[19][20] In June 1778, Fisher Ames obtained a pass for him and Clark was allowed to leave America.[19][21]

In 1791, the congregation regrouped and called William Montague away from Old North Church.[22] Montague received a salary of £100 sterling.[23] He remained in the Dedham church until 1818.[24][f]

Samuel B. Babcock served as rector in three buildings from 1834 to 1873.[11]

Burials edit

When Bishop Alexander Viets Griswold died in 1843, he was interred in Trinity Church on Summer Street in Boston.[25] In 1876, the bodies of Griswald and his family were removed to the churchyard outside St. Paul's.[25] Bishop Manton Eastburn is also buried outside the church.[25]


Notes edit

  1. ^ Colburn was a descendant of Nathaniel Colburn and John Hunting.[2]
  2. ^ It was known at the time as New Street.[2]
  3. ^ Norfolk Street was originally known as Cross Street, and School Street was originally Back Street.[2]
  4. ^ Mann lived on Court Street. He also played at the First Church and Parish in Dedham and at the Baptist Church in East Dedham. He learned the trade of a printer and in his later years he was a bookkeeper at the Maverick Woolen Mills.[3]
  5. ^ Thayer was the son of postmaster Elisha Thayer and a cashier at the Dedham Bank.[4]
  6. ^ Burgess has his departure as being in 1815.[15]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f Hanson 1976, p. 136.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Hanson 1976, p. 165.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Clarke 1903, p. 10.
  4. ^ a b c Clarke 1903, p. 13.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Dedham Historical Society 2001, p. 27.
  6. ^ Hanson 1976, p. 166.
  7. ^ a b c Worthington 1827, p. 70.
  8. ^ a b Hanson 1976, p. 157.
  9. ^ a b Hanson 1976, p. 194.
  10. ^ a b Dedham Historical Society 2001, p. 27-28.
  11. ^ a b c d e Dedham Historical Society 2001, p. 28.
  12. ^ Parr 2009, p. 19.
  13. ^ a b Dedham Historical Society 2001, p. 32.
  14. ^ Stephen K. Brayton (2003). . Dedham Historical Society Newsletter (July). Archived from the original on December 31, 2006.
  15. ^ a b c Burgess 1840, p. 515.
  16. ^ "MELANIE MCCARLEY, RECTOR". St. Paul's Church. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  17. ^ Hanson 1976, p. 155-156.
  18. ^ Worthington 1827, p. 70-71.
  19. ^ a b c Hanson 1976, p. 158.
  20. ^ Worthington 1827, p. 71.
  21. ^ Hurd 1884, p. 56.
  22. ^ Hanson 1976, p. 164.
  23. ^ Burt, Sally (January 2008). "Church History". St. Paul's Church. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  24. ^ Slafter 1905, p. 89.
  25. ^ a b c Worthington 1958, p. 26.

Works cited edit

  • Burgess, Ebenezer (1840). Dedham Pulpit: Or, Sermons by the Pastors of the First Church in Dedham in the XVIIth and XVIIIth Centuries. Perkins & Marvin. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  • Dedham Historical Society (2001). Images of America: Dedham. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7385-0944-0. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  • Hanson, Robert Brand (1976). Dedham, Massachusetts, 1635-1890. Dedham Historical Society.
  • Hurd, Duane Hamilton (1884). History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts: With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men. J. W. Lewis & Company. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  • Parr, James L. (2009). Dedham: Historic and Heroic Tales From Shiretown. The History Press. ISBN 978-1-59629-750-0.
  • Slafter, Carlos (1905). A Record of Education: The Schools and Teachers of Dedham, Massachusetts 1644-1904. Dedham Transcript Press. 1642-3.
  • Worthington, Arthur Morton (1958). History of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Dedham (PDF).
  • Worthington, Erastus (1827). The History of Dedham: From the Beginning of Its Settlement, in September 1635, to May 1827. Dutton and Wentworth. pp. 106–107. Retrieved 14 August 2019.


42°14′49.5″N 71°10′41″W / 42.247083°N 71.17806°W / 42.247083; -71.17806

April 10, 2024
paul, church, dedham, massachusetts, paul, church, episcopal, church, dedham, massachusettsst, paul, church, contents, history, colburn, grant, music, churches, 1758, building, 1797, building, 1845, building, 1858, building, chapel, good, shepherd, ministers, . St Paul s Church is an Episcopal Church in Dedham MassachusettsSt Paul s Church Contents 1 History 1 1 Colburn grant 1 2 Music 2 Churches 2 1 1758 building 2 2 1797 building 2 3 1845 building 2 4 1858 building 2 5 Chapel 2 6 Good Shepherd 3 Ministers 4 Burials 5 Notes 6 References 7 Works citedHistory editA group of Anglicans began meeting in Clapboardtrees in 1731 1 Colburn grant edit Samuel Colburn a died in the Crown Point Expedition of 1756 2 Though he was not an Anglican he left almost his entire estate to the Anglican community in Dedham to establish St Paul s Church 2 The grant consisting of 135 acres of land and other cash and property was hindered only by a life estate left to his mother 2 Some of the eight parcels were on the outskirts of town along Mother Brook or up in Sandy Valley but most were centered around modern day Dedham Square including 369 Washington Street 2 The main portion ran from Maple Place to Dwight s Brook and 10 acres bounded by High Court and School streets 2 When Colburn s mother died in 1792 Montague began laying out streets and house lots on the property 2 The first street Montague laid out modern day Church Street b was the first street in Dedham to be laid out with house lots on either side as opposed to simply being a road to connect one farm to another 2 Norfolk Street was next followed by School street 2 c Montague rented out the parcels in 999 year leases 2 One lessee Samuel Richards hired Charles Bulfinch to design his house on the corner of Highland and Court Streets 2 Music edit William H Mann was the organist in both the 1797 church and in the 1845 church until it burned down 3 d John H B Thayer then left the brand new organ at the Allin Congregational Church in 1858 to play at St Paul s 4 e He held the position until his death in 1873 4 Churches edit1758 building edit The first church a simply structure measuring 30 by 40 was built on Court Street in 1758 diagonally across from where the current church stands 5 1 It was built by a Mr Durpee 1 When the main beam of the church was raised it broke causing 12 men to fall 1 None were injured 1 It was dedicated in 1761 but it wasn t complete until 1771 when it was plastered and permanent seats were installed 1 When Norfolk County was established in 1792 the congregation offered their building for use of the courts but it was in such poor condition that the county declined 6 The people of Dedham stoned the church during the American Revolution and then took it over for use as a military storehouse 7 8 From then on Rev William Clark would secretly conduct services in his house 7 1797 building edit The congregation attempted to move the church to Franklin Square in 1797 but the entire structure collapsed sending a cauldron of bats out of the belfry 9 It was reconstructed in that location in 1798 using various portions of an abandoned church in Stoughton 5 9 In 1845 Comfort Weatherbee was commissioned to demolish the church 3 All the boarding was removed and a capstan was used to pull the frame and tower down 3 1845 building edit The builders of the 1845 church Thomas and Nathan Phillips were from Dedham 5 Designed by Arthur Gilman after Magdalen College Oxford it was consecrated on Court Street in 1845 but burned down in 1856 5 The bell from the 1797 church hung in the tower for three or four years but was eventually replaced with a rich toned bell 3 The old bell which was small enough for neighborhood boys to pick up and chime was then placed on the ground next to the tower for a few weeks before removal 3 1858 building edit The present church was built in 1858 at the corner of Court Street and Village Ave 10 It was 90 long and the bell tower added in 1869 was 100 high 10 The bell was donated by Ira Cleveland 11 It is made of Dedham granite 12 Chapel edit A chapel was built with a bequest from George E Hutton 11 As of 2001 update it is a nursery school 11 Good Shepherd edit Main article Church of the Good Shepherd Dedham Massachusetts Lay readers from the church began ministering to Episcopalians in the Oakdale section of town in 1873 who could not get to the church easily 13 Out of their efforts grew the Church of the Good Shepherd which was dedicated in 1876 13 One of the early members was William B Gould 14 Ministers editAnglican Church Minister Years of service NotesWilliam Clark 1760 1777 15 William Montague 1794 1815 15 Samuel B Babcock 1834 1873 11 Melanie McCarley 2016 present 16 The first minister Rev William Clark held controversial Tory views 5 By March of 1777 Clark announced that he would cease preaching such an action was easier to swallow than eliminating prayers for the king 8 7 Two months later he was charged by the Board of Selectmen in Dedham of being a traitor to the American Revolution 17 5 After being denied bail he was brought to Boston to stand before a military tribunal 18 19 He refused to pledge allegiance to the Commonwealth and so was sent onto a prison ship for 10 weeks 19 20 In June 1778 Fisher Ames obtained a pass for him and Clark was allowed to leave America 19 21 In 1791 the congregation regrouped and called William Montague away from Old North Church 22 Montague received a salary of 100 sterling 23 He remained in the Dedham church until 1818 24 f Samuel B Babcock served as rector in three buildings from 1834 to 1873 11 Burials editWhen Bishop Alexander Viets Griswold died in 1843 he was interred in Trinity Church on Summer Street in Boston 25 In 1876 the bodies of Griswald and his family were removed to the churchyard outside St Paul s 25 Bishop Manton Eastburn is also buried outside the church 25 Notes edit Colburn was a descendant of Nathaniel Colburn and John Hunting 2 It was known at the time as New Street 2 Norfolk Street was originally known as Cross Street and School Street was originally Back Street 2 Mann lived on Court Street He also played at the First Church and Parish in Dedham and at the Baptist Church in East Dedham He learned the trade of a printer and in his later years he was a bookkeeper at the Maverick Woolen Mills 3 Thayer was the son of postmaster Elisha Thayer and a cashier at the Dedham Bank 4 Burgess has his departure as being in 1815 15 References edit a b c d e f Hanson 1976 p 136 a b c d e f g h i j k l m Hanson 1976 p 165 a b c d e f Clarke 1903 p 10 a b c Clarke 1903 p 13 a b c d e f Dedham Historical Society 2001 p 27 Hanson 1976 p 166 a b c Worthington 1827 p 70 a b Hanson 1976 p 157 a b Hanson 1976 p 194 a b Dedham Historical Society 2001 p 27 28 a b c d e Dedham Historical Society 2001 p 28 Parr 2009 p 19 a b Dedham Historical Society 2001 p 32 Stephen K Brayton 2003 Diary of a Contraband Professor Gould Relates Story Of Dedham Civil War Veteran Who Escaped Slavery Dedham Historical Society Newsletter July Archived from the original on December 31 2006 a b c Burgess 1840 p 515 MELANIE MCCARLEY RECTOR St Paul s Church Retrieved November 16 2023 Hanson 1976 p 155 156 Worthington 1827 p 70 71 a b c Hanson 1976 p 158 Worthington 1827 p 71 Hurd 1884 p 56 Hanson 1976 p 164 Burt Sally January 2008 Church History St Paul s Church Retrieved May 6 2021 Slafter 1905 p 89 a b c Worthington 1958 p 26 Works cited editBurgess Ebenezer 1840 Dedham Pulpit Or Sermons by the Pastors of the First Church in Dedham in the XVIIth and XVIIIth Centuries Perkins amp Marvin Retrieved May 3 2021 Clarke Wm Horatio 1903 Mid Century Memories of Dedham Dedham Historical Society a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Dedham Historical Society 2001 Images of America Dedham Arcadia Publishing ISBN 978 0 7385 0944 0 Retrieved August 11 2019 Hanson Robert Brand 1976 Dedham Massachusetts 1635 1890 Dedham Historical Society Hurd Duane Hamilton 1884 History of Norfolk County Massachusetts With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men J W Lewis amp Company Retrieved May 2 2021 Parr James L 2009 Dedham Historic and Heroic Tales From Shiretown The History Press ISBN 978 1 59629 750 0 Slafter Carlos 1905 A Record of Education The Schools and Teachers of Dedham Massachusetts 1644 1904 Dedham Transcript Press 1642 3 Worthington Arthur Morton 1958 History of St Paul s Episcopal Church in Dedham PDF Worthington Erastus 1827 The History of Dedham From the Beginning of Its Settlement in September 1635 to May 1827 Dutton and Wentworth pp 106 107 Retrieved 14 August 2019 42 14 49 5 N 71 10 41 W 42 247083 N 71 17806 W 42 247083 71 17806 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title St Paul 27s Church Dedham Massachusetts amp oldid 1185432709, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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