First Parish Meetinghouse; A Centerpiece to the Pilgrim Story

First Parish Meetinghouse; A Centerpiece to the Pilgrim Story 

By: Shelia Fey – Communications Coordinator – Plymouth 400th 

In 1744 a new meetinghouse was erected to replace the one built in 1683 which was old and in bad repair, having been struck by lightning. 

In 1794 the bell, now 62 years old, was replaced by a bell imported from England, and weighing 564 pounds. Mrs. Elizabeth Russell presented the bell as a gift to the Town of Plymouth, the place of her birth. This bell had a short life, having been broken in 1801, and a new one was purchased from Mr. Paul Revere of Boston. In a bill made out to the selectmen dated May 21, 1801, Revere charges $375.12 for a bell weighing 844 2/8 pounds. A vote of the Parish on April 10, 1831, authorized the demolition of the 1744 Meetinghouse as it was in substantial decay. (It was around this time that separation of church and state took place.) The new church, a wooden structure of Gothic type architecture, was dedicated on December 14, 1831 and cost $10,000 to build. 

The Paul Revere Bell was hung in the tower where it rang for 61 years until the fire of 1892. At the time of the fire, the 60 year old Meetinghouse was undergoing extensive interior renovations including re-lathing and plastering. On November 22, 1892, the heating furnaces were going at their maximum to dry out the plaster when a fire started in the basement, spread to the area around the chimney, and rapidly spread from there. The church was completely destroyed! First Parish Meetinghouse is indeed fortunate to be able to provide a home for this historic bell. More recently, the Town installed an automatic ringer, so the bell can be heard several times a day, as it was when it was rung by hand. The Town Bell(s) Jan Palmer-Tarbox The Town Bell is housed in the belfry tower of the First Parish Meetinghouse as it has been since the 1600’s. 

The current bell, also known as the Paul Revere Bell, was recast in 1896 following the 1892 fire which destroyed the 1831 Meetinghouse. The tower of the Meetinghouse fell to the ground, and the bell struck the ground and broke into fragments. It was decided to build a new Meetinghouse out of stone and in so doing, to create a memorial to the Pilgrim fathers and mothers. The bell fragments were collected and recast. On November 28, 1896 a crowd of some 500 people assembled in Town Square to hear the curfew rung on the new Revere Town Bell. 

The story of the Town Bell really began in 1679 when it was first referenced in the Town’s historical records. Town Meeting voted that a bell be installed in the turret of the 1648 Meetinghouse, set at the foot of Burial Hill. In 1683 a new Meetinghouse was constructed and the bell was moved again. Alas,this bell did not outlast its new home, and a new bell was procured in 1732. continued on next column With the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower voyage and the founding of Plymouth Colony approaching, Plymouth and its surrounding areas are already buzzing with excitement over this commemoration of national and international significance. 

The story of the 102 passengers of the Mayflower who left England in the hopes of finding a better life in the New World, the hardships they faced, and the interaction between the Wampanoag Tribe and the Pilgrims are moments that shaped America’s earliest beginnings and truly altered the course of world history. In an effort to tell the story in a comprehensive, historically accurate, and culturally inclusive manner, Plymouth 400, the organization leading the planning and execution of the 2020 Commemoration and its events and programs, has been working with historians and cultural entities to highlight the lesser-known pieces of the story of the founding of Plymouth Colony. 

One central theme of this moment in America’s narrative is religious freedom. The Pilgrims’ faith is what led them to the New World, and First Parish Meetinghouse in Plymouth’s Town Square stands today as an iconic tribute to the Pilgrims’ journey to find freedom from persecution for their beliefs. Although the current Meetinghouse wasn’t built until 1899, it is believed that a church has stood on this location for nearly 400 years, as the Pilgrims’ first meetinghouse was located at this location. In fact, First Parish’s records date back to the 1606 congregation which worshiped in secret in Scrooby, England. Several of those worshippers made their way to the New World on the Mayflower in 1620, including William Bradford. Over the last 400 years, five churches have stood on the grounds upon which First Parish Meetinghouse was erected. 

The current church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014 due to its historical significance to the Pilgrim story and the founding of America. It remains today an attraction sought out by visitors and locals alike for its architecture, symbolism, and Pilgrim roots, and in 2020 its history will be honored through various events and programs. 

To learn more about Plymouth 400 and plans for 2020, visit www.plymouth400inc.org.