Unitarian Universalist Church of Medford and the Osgood House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Unitarian Universalist Church of Medford and The Osgood House
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 141 and 147 High St., Medford, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1894 |
| Architect | Brown, J. Merrill; Dodge Bros. |
| Architectural style | Gothic, Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000281 |
| Added to NRHP | April 21, 1975 |
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Medford and The Osgood House are important historic buildings in Medford, Massachusetts. They include a church and a house called the Osgood House. Both are located on High Street and have a long history in the community.
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A Look at the Church's History
The church started a very long time ago, in 1690. Back then, it was a Puritan church. This meant it was an official part of the Massachusetts state church. In 1696, the first building for the church, called a meeting house, was built.
In the early 1820s, the church community changed. Some members, who were called 'orthodox' Trinitarian Christians, decided to form their own separate church. The building you see today is the fifth one for this congregation. It was built in 1894. Because of its history and importance, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
Some famous religious leaders have connections to this church. William Ellery Channing, a well-known minister, gave his first sermon here on August 8, 1802. Another important figure, Thomas Starr King, studied to become a minister at the First Universalist Church before Hosea Ballou II became the first president of Tufts College in 1852.
In 1961, two churches, the First Universalist Church and the Hillside Universalist, joined together with the First Parish Church (Unitarian). They formed what is now known as The Unitarian Universalist Church of Medford. Since 1996, this church has been a "Welcoming Congregation." This means they openly welcome everyone, including people from the LGBT community.
The Church's Amazing Architecture
The church building itself is a great example of Late Gothic Revival architecture. It was built between 1893 and 1894. J. Merrill Brown, an architect from Boston, designed it. He had worked with famous architects like H.H. Richardson before. The builders were the Dodge Brothers, a well-known company that built many religious buildings in the area.
The Osgood House, which used to be the minister's home, is also very old. It was built in 1785 for Reverend David Osgood. This house shows off the beautiful Federal period architecture style. Today, it is used for other church activities.
Notable People Connected to the Church
Many interesting people have been part of this church's community over the years. Here are a few of them:
- George Luther Stearns
- Lydia Maria Child
- Fannie Farmer
- Rev. John Pierpont
- James Pierpont
- Robert D. Richardson
- Samuel C. Lawrence
- Gov. John Brooks
- Rev. Hosea Ballou II
- Rev. Clarence Skinner
Images for kids
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The Unitarian Universalist Church and Parsonage in Medford, Massachusetts.
See also
