First Parish Westwood Meeting House

Meeting House Timeline

• 1807 - Deacon Ellis’ Rock voted for the location of the new meeting house for the Third Parish of Dedham
• 1808 – the frame was raised.
• 1809 - the new meeting house was completed at a cost of around $5,500 and dedicated on March 1 with a central pulpit, room for fifty-three oblong box pews on the lower floor and with galleries on three sides.
• 1817 – stoves were installed making it usable year round.
• 1826 – A Sunday School was started; an innovation greatly opposed.
• 1828 – voted that people of color have the southeast pew in the gallery.
• 1855 – remodeling included raising the floor two feet; new semi-circular pews and a rosewood pulpit with much of the funds contributed by the Ladies Benevolent Society.
• 1857- an organ was purchased from First Parish of Dedham.
• 1869 – the first break came in the two services held every Sunday at 10:30 am and 2 pm.
• 1866 – oil lamps were installed.
• 1883 – a lightning strike of unusual power and force struck the church forcing pieces of rock through the floor.
• 1890 – women of the parish were allowed the same right to vote as the men.
• 1900 - the budget for the church was $2045.83 with some income still coming from the rent of pews.
• 1944 – formal federation of the First Parish, Unitarian and First Parish Church, Congregational
• 1947 – electric lights and oil heat installed.
• 1969 – with $185,000 in pledges, a thirty-five foot addition was added along with new pews, a raised chancel, bathrooms as well as rooms for choir and minister.
• 2004 - removing the central pulpit and railing opens the chancel.
• SUNDAY, SEPT. 27, 2009 - First Parish’s “Meeting House on the Rock” celebrates its 200th birthday, the oldest Meeting House in continuous use in Norfolk County, Massachusetts