First Parish Church in Plymouth facts for kids

Quick facts for kids First Parish Church in Plymouth
The current First Parish Church building, built in 1899, in Plymouth is located downtown on Town Square at the base of Burial Hill (on the right)
Location	12 Church St., Plymouth, Massachusetts
Country	USA
Denomination	Unitarian Universalist
Membership	64 (2016)
History
Status	Active
Founded	1606
Architecture
Heritage designation	National Register of Historic Places
Designated	2014
Architectural type	Neo-Romanesque
Years built	1899

The First Parish Church in Plymouth is a very old and important church in Plymouth, Massachusetts. It's located right in the town square, at the bottom of Burial Hill. This church was started by the Pilgrims in 1620 when they first arrived in Plymouth. The building you see today was built in 1899. It's a special place because of its long history and beautiful design.

History of First Parish Church

The Church's Beginnings

The story of this church began in England in 1606. It was started by the Pilgrims, who were a group of Protestant Christians. They wanted to practice their religion in their own way. Because of this, they decided to leave England.

In 1620, the Pilgrims sailed to North America on the Mayflower. When they arrived in Plymouth, they set up their church. It became a main church for the Massachusetts colony.

Over time, some members of the church had different ideas. In 1801, many people in the church decided to follow Unitarianism. This was a new way of thinking about Christianity. Other members who disagreed formed a new church called the Church of the Pilgrimage. By 1834, churches in Massachusetts were no longer connected to the government.

Today, the First Parish Church is part of the Unitarian Universalist Association. As of 2016, it had 64 members.

Church Buildings Through Time

When the Pilgrims first arrived, they held their Christian services on the Mayflower ship. From 1621 to 1648, they met in a fort on Burial Hill. This fort was also used for important colony meetings.

In 1648, the first church building was constructed in the town square. This was the first of four church buildings built in that spot. New churches were built in 1684, 1744, and 1831.

The church building standing today was finished in 1899. It was designed by architects Hartwell, Richardson & Driver. They used a style called Romanesque-style. This new building replaced the older wooden church from 1831.

The 1899 building is very special. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014. Inside, you can see beautiful Tiffany stained glass windows that show the story of the Pilgrims. The main hall, called the sanctuary, has amazing carved oak wood. It's a great example of a special type of roof construction called a hammer beam roof.

Gallery

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  Burial Hill Fort, around 1621, where the first church met in Plymouth

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  William Harlow House, built in 1677, used timbers from the Burial Hill Fort

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  The First Parish Meeting House from 1683

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  The First Parish Meeting House from 1744

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  The First Parish Meeting House from 1831

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  The First Parish Meeting House from 1899

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  First Parish Church in Town Square, around 1905

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  First Parish is at the back; the white church to the right is the Church of the Pilgrimage

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  Inside the First Parish Church

See also

In Spanish: Primera iglesia parroquial en Plymouth para niños

• First Parish Church (Duxbury, Massachusetts)
• Oldest churches in the United States
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Plymouth County, Massachusetts