History of Swansea, Massachusetts, 1667-1917; - citizen hylbom blog

94 History of Swansea
by any one denomination, timely and needed repairs were
not made, for want of which it became unfit for use and was
finally demolished. The site was for a number of years disused
Since it seemed impracticable for a private title to be acquired,
it was finally condemned and taken into possession by the
town, upon the generous offer of Mr. Stevens to erect for the
town's use a pubUc building suited to the needs of the place.
Thus, in the order of occupancy, upon this spot there has
been reproduced a picture of early New England. The primary
organization was the church, as we have seen in the
history of Swansea; after the church the town; so here, we
have had first the house of religious worship, and now the hall
for municipal use and the library.
Universalist Society
Some of the prominent men of this and adjoining towns,
who had maintained occasional religious services, were organized
in 1838 as the First Universalist Society of Swansea^
The Rev. Aaron L. Balch, who was a preacher to this
people before the organization of the society, died in this
village Nov. 4, 1837, and was buried in the cemetery. The
society has not maintained regular services for many years,
and the members have to some extent become connected with
other religious bodies.
Christ Church, Swansea
In May, 1845, Rev. A. D. McCoy, rector of the Church
of the Ascension in Fall River, opened a Sunday evening
service here which he maintained till November, 1847. A
church was organized January 7, 1846. A Sunday school was
established and superintended by Dr. Geo. W. Chevers, a
physician of Fall River, afterward a clergyman, who during
the greater part of 1847 conducted lay readings on Sunday,
morning and afternoon.
The services were at first held in the Union meeting house.
A neat and attractive church edifice was shortly erected and
dedicated December 2, 1847. The first resident rector was
Rev. John B. Richmond, who served the church four years
from January 1st, 1848. The duration of most of the subsequent
pastorates has been brief, though that of Rev. N.
Watson Munroe lasted eleven years. (See sketch).
.