By the 1760s, the inhabitants of the southerly part of the Town of Bolton were becoming more numerous. In 1766 they petitioned to become a separate community. The chief reason was to reduce the distance of travel to public worship, particularly in winter. A similar petition was granted in 1778 with the incorporation of the South Parish of Bolton by the General Court of Massachusetts. The Church of Christ of that parish was gathered at an ecclesiastical council of the churches of Northborough, Westborough, Shrewsbury and Stow on April 6, 1779. The Covenant was signed by twenty-five men the following day. While their wives did not also sign, they were apparently included as members and their deaths were recorded by the Church accordingly.

A piece of land was given by Samuel Jones, the local innkeeper, for a meeting house place. The Parish raised the First Meeting House on June 16th of that year. It was located near the present flagpole on the Common. This building was typical of the Puritan meeting houses of its time. It resembled a large white barn with windows. Inside it had some open seats, but was mostly divided into family pews, particularly around the sides. There was a gallery on three sides and a high pulpit in the middle of the back wall. It had no heat. The worshippers brought hot coals from home in tiny footstoves to provide meager warmth while listening to sermons often of two hours’ duration. The building was not completely finished until 1794 due to the difficult economic times following the Revolutionary War.

In recent years, improvements have been made in the Meeting House to provide access for wheelchairs and those with difficulty walking. An elevator was installed in 1991 and the rest rooms were made accessible in 1997. A new sound system was installed in 2002, including individual listening devices for people with hearing difficulties.

Following a mission statement workshop in the fall of 1991, the First Parish Church adopted a new convenant in 1992. It is found at the head of our home page. Prayed as part of our public worship services, it guides our work together as a church. Among its elements is an affirmation of our diversity. One expression of this is our use of three hymnals. Singing the Living Tradition (UUA, 1993) and the New Century Hymnal (UCC, 1995) express the breadth of thought of our two denominations in modern language which is sensitive to gender and other issues of inclusion. We also retain our Pilgrim Hymnal (1958) for its Christmas carols and other traditional resources not included in the newer books.

A living, active church is ever renewing itself. So it is with us. Our present and future members and friends will have their part in molding our history in the coming days and years.