First Church of Monson
Encyclopedia
The Congregational Church, or the First Church of Monson is a historic church located in Monson, Massachusetts
that is currently affiliated with the United Church of Christ
.
was built in 1803, and was replaced by the current structure in 1873. The older building apparently survived beyond its days as a church and was then used as an A&P
store. The Reverend Jesse Ives was minister from 1773-1805. The church is currently affiliated with the United Church of Christ
. It is home to an organ
which is a sought-after instrument for many recitals.
severely damaged the church, toppling the steeple, and damaging buildings and trees in the adjacent area.
Monson, Massachusetts
Monson is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 8,560 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.The village of Monson Center lies at the center of the town....
that is currently affiliated with the United Church of Christ
United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination primarily in the Reformed tradition but also historically influenced by Lutheranism. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC...
.
History
The church was first established in 1762. A second meeting houseMeeting house
A meeting house describes a building where a public meeting takes place. This includes secular buildings which function like a town or city hall, and buildings used for religious meetings, particularly of some non-conformist Christian denominations....
was built in 1803, and was replaced by the current structure in 1873. The older building apparently survived beyond its days as a church and was then used as an A&P
The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company
The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, better known as A&P, is a supermarket and liquor store chain in the United States. Its supermarkets, which are under six different banners, are found in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. A&P's liquor stores, known as...
store. The Reverend Jesse Ives was minister from 1773-1805. The church is currently affiliated with the United Church of Christ
United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination primarily in the Reformed tradition but also historically influenced by Lutheranism. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC...
. It is home to an organ
Pipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
which is a sought-after instrument for many recitals.
2011 Tornado
On June 1, 2011, an apparent tornado2011 New England tornado outbreak
The 2011 New England tornado outbreak occurred on June 1, 2011, in Massachusetts' Connecticut River Valley and also in southern Maine, devastating sections of the large city of Springfield, Massachusetts and its surrounding region...
severely damaged the church, toppling the steeple, and damaging buildings and trees in the adjacent area.