Methodist
Church - Church St.
Present
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Methodist Church
Past
Methodist Church
From Ella Bigelow's Book
Phineas Sawver was the first Methodist who came into the town of Marlborough, and was the only man Here who was not taxed to support Congregationalism. Being a Congregationalist he was exempt. He was the father of Methodisrn in Marlborough. About 1798, he purchased a water privilege together with a water mill and a grist mill at Feltonville and erected the second cotton factor in Massachusetts. He opened his house at Feltonville and invited Methodist preachers to hold services. It became a hone for all Methodists. January, 1820, he was killed in his mill and he and his wife are both buried in Central cemetery in Marlborough. The first Methodist class in this vicinity was formed in 1808 in Mr. Sawyer's house in Feltonville.
The Marlborough charge was included in the old Needham circuit until 1832. In 1828 the old Brick Meeting House was built (near Rockbottom) and in 1832 Marlborough became a station. The late John Chipman wrote : "I recall vividly to my mind the appearance of that rudely finished and awkwardly constructed church. The high built, box-like pews with narrow hard seats and straight backs, coming up to an ordinary sized man's ears. The choir of musical voices, seated just back of the pulpit, sang with the spirit and with the understanding also. Lucas Parmenter was there with his bass viol. F. D. and Cyrus Brigham struck up on their violins, while the tall form of their leader, Uncle Solomon Weeks, standing erect and beating time with his long attenuated fingers, was a picture never to be forgotten. 'Ah, ' he exclaimed, 'the Methodists of this town those early years were earnest men and women.
They made great sacrifices
to sustain themselves and keep peace with the other religious societies.
They hailed the Sabbath with delight. They were poor in this world's goods,
but rich in the faith of a happy and glorious immortality. " In 1852 the
old Brick church was destroyed by fire and the meetings held in a hall
in Rockbottom (now Gleasondale). In February, 1858, the church was divided,
one part remaining in Rockbottom and another erecting a house of worship
in Marlborough which was dedicated October 1853. Pastors to the present
date
Rev N. B. Fisk
Rev. N. H. Martin
Rev. A. M. Osgood
Rev. L. P. Frost
Rev. W. W. Colburn
Rev. S. Sweetser
Rev. T. `V. Lewis
Rev. Mr. Abbott
Rev. A. P. Sharpe
Rev. B. J. JnInson
Rev. B. Judd
Rev. F. T. Pomeroy
Rev. Mr. Dwight
Rev. G. H. Cheney
Rev. W. L. Adams
Rev. Mr. Day
Rev. A. Gould
Rev. N. T. Whittaker
Rev. D. K. Bannister
Rev. A. F. Herrick
Rev. T. J. Judge
Rev. Mr. Bailey
Rev. P. Sloper
Rev. J. W. Fulton
Rev. E. P. Herrick
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