•Our Church History
Ministers who have served the spiritual life of the
Houghs Neck Congregational Church:
Houghs Neck Congregational Church:
1908 – Present All lay leaders who have given of themselves with great love and devotion
1908 – 1910 Reverend Charles R. McMeeken
1911 – 1916 Reverend W. J. Sayre
1916 – 1918 Reverend W. M. Hubbard
1919 – 1920 Reverend William P. Taylor
1920 – 1925 Reverend Russell E. Waitt
1925 – 1926 Reverend Charles Weeden
1926 – 1934 Reverend Hugh C. Leggatt
1934 – 1941 Reverend Frank Seymour
1941 – 1945 Reverend Harold Woodbury
1945 – 1947 Reverend Glade L. McClish
1947 – 2001 Reverend Dr. Peter V. Corea
1949 – 2003 Reverend M. Alicia Corea
1956 – 1958 Reverend Robert L. Johnston, Associate Pastor
2003 – 2004 Reverend Dr. Charles Maxwell Olmstead, Interim Pastor
2005 – 2013 Reverend John A. Castricum
2013 – 2017 Reverend Felix Carrión, Interim Pastor
2017 - Reverend Stephen Vandergrift
The Early Years
In the early 1880s, nondenominational worship services were held by summer residents in cottages and under a big elm tree on Centre Road (Macy Street). By August 19, 1884, sufficient money ($100) had been collected to purchase from Chapin Thayer a lot of land on Bay View Avenue opposite Ratchford Street. The deed was held by the Houghs Neck Union Christian Association. By 1893, summer services were being planned by the Christian Endeavor Society of Bethany Congregational Church and included preachers of different faiths. A building was erected with money collected during services and special fund-raising programs. The People’s Union Chapel at 64 Bay View Avenue was dedicated July 8, 1894, with Theophilus King as one of the speakers. Worship services were held only in July and August.
From 1908-1910, Reverend Charles R. McMeeken was the first regular pastor of the church at a salary of $15 per week. The Ladies’ Aid, Men’s Club, Christian Endeavor and a Young People’s Society contributed funds for payment of bills and upkeep. Succeeding ministers were W. J. Sayre (1911-1916), W. M. Hubbard (1916-1918), William P. Taylor (1919-1920), Russell E. Waitt (1920-1925), Charles Weeden (1925-1926) and Hugh C. Leggatt (1926-1934). The religious group reorganized and on May 25, 1911, became The People’s Union Church, advertised as “The Little Church with the Big Welcome.” That year a kitchen was added to the church building. In 1913, a bell was secured and a tower built. Pews were ordered in April 1914. The need for a new church building arose. Two lots of land, part of the Cavanaugh farm on Manet Avenue, were purchased in 1917 for a parsonage and church. In 1919, the members became associated with the Congregational Conference in Boston. Two years later the parsonage at 300 Manet Avenue was built at a cost of $5,200.
On October 1, 1922, a group of 33 people met at Mr. Wiggins store at the corner of Bell and Sea Streets to hold services. The next year, they voted to organize as the Congregational Church of Christ with Reverend Charles Clark as pastor. Land was bought at the corner of Sea and Ratchford Streets and a building erected in 1924.
The Houghs Neck Congregational Church
In 1928, the two churches, both Congregational in background, united to become the Houghs Neck Congregational Church. Following this union, with assistance from the Massachusetts Home Missionary Society of the Congregational Church, plans were made for construction of the church building at 310 Manet Avenue. The cornerstone was laid November 8, 1931, by Ephraim J. Kilcup, and on Easter Sunday in April 1932, the new building was dedicated, although the nave and entire second floor of the church were still unfinished.
Volunteer labor by men of the church aided its construction. Holidays and days off were sacrificed. Once setting their minds on a goal, the members of the church were bent on the completion of the upper portion. The Women’s Society, which became the Women’s Association, worked to raise money and feed the men as they labored to finish the interior.
There were many planning sessions. Should the pipes be hidden or should they be exposed? How wide should the Chancel be? How can we seal off the wings to save on heat? On October 6, 1940, the first service was held in the new sanctuary, and on December 29, 1940, it was dedicated with Reverend Frank Seymour, minister (1934-1941). He was succeeded by Reverend Harold Woodbury (1941-1945) and Reverend Glade L. McClish (1945-1947).
Reverend Peter V. Corea became pastor on October 16, 1947. Reverend M. Alicia Corea was ordained at the church May 5, 1949, and also served as pastor. Reverend Robert L. Johnston was an associate pastor from 1956-1958. The first stained glass window, depicting Christ as the Good Shepherd, was installed in 1952. During the next six years, an electronic organ was installed, the upstairs north wing completed, a new kitchen added, and the old mortgage discharged. Later new individual pews were purchased. The Newsletter, a weekly church publication, was begun. A conference room kitchenette was built by a long-time member. The patio and wall at the front of the Church were built in 1966 under the supervision of church members. A stained glass window depicting Jesus as a boy in the Temple was dedicated to the memory of Randal Coombs.
In the fall of 1972, a Thanksgiving Service was held for the Coreas on their 25th Anniversary at the Church. The balcony stained glass window, “Immortal Love, Forever Full,” was dedicated in their honor. Air conditioning was installed in 1973 in the Sanctuary. Mrs. Corea wrote, “Our past is illuminative, our future is challenging, and the work and worship of the Houghs Neck Congregational Church are dedicated to the glory of God and the memory of all those who have done their work and gone before us.”
“The vision, the commitment, the sacrifice, and the devotion of the people of the Church are outstanding.” These words taken from the report of the minister, Dr. Peter V. Corea, in the 1981 Annual Report is a continuing and constant indication of the valuable contribution of the life, the worship, and the work of the Houghs Neck Congregational Church in the community and the City of Quincy. The vision, the commitment, the sacrifice, and the devotion of the people of the Church are outstanding.
1908 – 1910 Reverend Charles R. McMeeken
1911 – 1916 Reverend W. J. Sayre
1916 – 1918 Reverend W. M. Hubbard
1919 – 1920 Reverend William P. Taylor
1920 – 1925 Reverend Russell E. Waitt
1925 – 1926 Reverend Charles Weeden
1926 – 1934 Reverend Hugh C. Leggatt
1934 – 1941 Reverend Frank Seymour
1941 – 1945 Reverend Harold Woodbury
1945 – 1947 Reverend Glade L. McClish
1947 – 2001 Reverend Dr. Peter V. Corea
1949 – 2003 Reverend M. Alicia Corea
1956 – 1958 Reverend Robert L. Johnston, Associate Pastor
2003 – 2004 Reverend Dr. Charles Maxwell Olmstead, Interim Pastor
2005 – 2013 Reverend John A. Castricum
2013 – 2017 Reverend Felix Carrión, Interim Pastor
2017 - Reverend Stephen Vandergrift
The Early Years
In the early 1880s, nondenominational worship services were held by summer residents in cottages and under a big elm tree on Centre Road (Macy Street). By August 19, 1884, sufficient money ($100) had been collected to purchase from Chapin Thayer a lot of land on Bay View Avenue opposite Ratchford Street. The deed was held by the Houghs Neck Union Christian Association. By 1893, summer services were being planned by the Christian Endeavor Society of Bethany Congregational Church and included preachers of different faiths. A building was erected with money collected during services and special fund-raising programs. The People’s Union Chapel at 64 Bay View Avenue was dedicated July 8, 1894, with Theophilus King as one of the speakers. Worship services were held only in July and August.
From 1908-1910, Reverend Charles R. McMeeken was the first regular pastor of the church at a salary of $15 per week. The Ladies’ Aid, Men’s Club, Christian Endeavor and a Young People’s Society contributed funds for payment of bills and upkeep. Succeeding ministers were W. J. Sayre (1911-1916), W. M. Hubbard (1916-1918), William P. Taylor (1919-1920), Russell E. Waitt (1920-1925), Charles Weeden (1925-1926) and Hugh C. Leggatt (1926-1934). The religious group reorganized and on May 25, 1911, became The People’s Union Church, advertised as “The Little Church with the Big Welcome.” That year a kitchen was added to the church building. In 1913, a bell was secured and a tower built. Pews were ordered in April 1914. The need for a new church building arose. Two lots of land, part of the Cavanaugh farm on Manet Avenue, were purchased in 1917 for a parsonage and church. In 1919, the members became associated with the Congregational Conference in Boston. Two years later the parsonage at 300 Manet Avenue was built at a cost of $5,200.
On October 1, 1922, a group of 33 people met at Mr. Wiggins store at the corner of Bell and Sea Streets to hold services. The next year, they voted to organize as the Congregational Church of Christ with Reverend Charles Clark as pastor. Land was bought at the corner of Sea and Ratchford Streets and a building erected in 1924.
The Houghs Neck Congregational Church
In 1928, the two churches, both Congregational in background, united to become the Houghs Neck Congregational Church. Following this union, with assistance from the Massachusetts Home Missionary Society of the Congregational Church, plans were made for construction of the church building at 310 Manet Avenue. The cornerstone was laid November 8, 1931, by Ephraim J. Kilcup, and on Easter Sunday in April 1932, the new building was dedicated, although the nave and entire second floor of the church were still unfinished.
Volunteer labor by men of the church aided its construction. Holidays and days off were sacrificed. Once setting their minds on a goal, the members of the church were bent on the completion of the upper portion. The Women’s Society, which became the Women’s Association, worked to raise money and feed the men as they labored to finish the interior.
There were many planning sessions. Should the pipes be hidden or should they be exposed? How wide should the Chancel be? How can we seal off the wings to save on heat? On October 6, 1940, the first service was held in the new sanctuary, and on December 29, 1940, it was dedicated with Reverend Frank Seymour, minister (1934-1941). He was succeeded by Reverend Harold Woodbury (1941-1945) and Reverend Glade L. McClish (1945-1947).
Reverend Peter V. Corea became pastor on October 16, 1947. Reverend M. Alicia Corea was ordained at the church May 5, 1949, and also served as pastor. Reverend Robert L. Johnston was an associate pastor from 1956-1958. The first stained glass window, depicting Christ as the Good Shepherd, was installed in 1952. During the next six years, an electronic organ was installed, the upstairs north wing completed, a new kitchen added, and the old mortgage discharged. Later new individual pews were purchased. The Newsletter, a weekly church publication, was begun. A conference room kitchenette was built by a long-time member. The patio and wall at the front of the Church were built in 1966 under the supervision of church members. A stained glass window depicting Jesus as a boy in the Temple was dedicated to the memory of Randal Coombs.
In the fall of 1972, a Thanksgiving Service was held for the Coreas on their 25th Anniversary at the Church. The balcony stained glass window, “Immortal Love, Forever Full,” was dedicated in their honor. Air conditioning was installed in 1973 in the Sanctuary. Mrs. Corea wrote, “Our past is illuminative, our future is challenging, and the work and worship of the Houghs Neck Congregational Church are dedicated to the glory of God and the memory of all those who have done their work and gone before us.”
“The vision, the commitment, the sacrifice, and the devotion of the people of the Church are outstanding.” These words taken from the report of the minister, Dr. Peter V. Corea, in the 1981 Annual Report is a continuing and constant indication of the valuable contribution of the life, the worship, and the work of the Houghs Neck Congregational Church in the community and the City of Quincy. The vision, the commitment, the sacrifice, and the devotion of the people of the Church are outstanding.