Travel Back in Time: First Parish Church

Picture it: It's 1650 and yours is one of the few brave families who left their home in Europe for the possibility of a better life.

You move to a desolate area now known as Chelmsford shortly before King Philip's War breaks out. While towns such as Groton and Billerica have a growing population during this time, even after the war, Chelmsford is still known as a "frontier town."

The roads are dirt, the transportation has four legs instead of four wheels, and your social life revolves around church and trying to decide which sections of land belong to Chelmsford and which belong to Billerica and Carlisle.

During this time, the First Parish Church and First Meeting House was a place for people to worship as well as a place to conduct town business.

The first town meeting was held here in September 1654, even though Chelmsford didn't become an official town until 1655.

The church's first pastor, Rev. John Fiske, came to Chelmsford in 1655 from England with many members of his church. Fiske is buried behind the church in . There you'll also find the graves of many of the town's first leaders and more than 40 Revolutionary War soldiers. 

First Parish Church was used as a town hall until 1880.

The Town Clock in the steeple of the church was purchased with private donations had was dedicated on May 17, 1876. The town took responsibility for winding and maintaining the clock in 1892.

To learn more about the rich history of the First Parish Church, check out First Parish Facts and visit the church and cemetery for yourself. 

Check out Your Passport to Chelmsford.