Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 2.djvu/281

 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CONCORD.

��261

��HISTORY OF THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH,

CONCORD, N II

��BY REV. F. D. AVER.

��The First Congregational Church in Concord was organized November 18, 1730. The proprietors of the town, at a meeting in Andover, Mass., Feb- ruary 8, 1726, voted to build a block- house, which should serve the double purpose of a fort and a meeting-house. Early in 1727, the first family moved into the town, and Rev. Bezaleel Toppan was employed to preach one year from the 15th of May. Mr. Toppan and Rev. Enoch Coffin, both proprietors of the town, were employed by the settlers to preach till October 14, 1730, when it was resolved to establish a permanent ministry. Rev. Timothy Walker was at once called to be the minister of the town.

A Council met November 18, 1730, and organized, " in this remote part of the wilderness," a church of eight mem- bers, and Rev. Timothy Walker was installed its pastor. The Sermon by Rev. John Barnard, of Andover, Mass., was from Prov. 9 : 1-3. The Charge to the Pastor was by Rev. Samuel Phil- lips, of Andover, and the Right-hand of Fellowship by Rev. John Brown, of Haverhill, Mass. The church was ortho- dox and stable in its faith, and during the long ministry of Mr. Walker — fifty- two years — it was united and prosperous. Strong in the confidence and affection of the people, Mr. Walker always and actively opposed any thing which threat- ened division in the church or the town.

It is impossible to measure accurately the growth of the church during this period, owing to incompleteness of the records. No regular record is found after 1736, and the names of those who owned the covenant are gathered only in part, and these from entries made in his diary. While the names of only ninety-five who united with the church are known, many more than this must

��have become members, for, at the instal- lation of his successor, though but few of those whose names were recorded were alive, there were one hundred and twenty members. The growth of the church must, therefore, have been rapid for those days, and its prosperity, stab- ility and influence in the town and throughout the state are proof of a faithful ministry.

Rev. Timothy Walker, a. m., was a native of Woburn, Mass., and a gradu- ate of Harvard College, in the class of 1725. His salary, at settlement, was annum till it reached ^120; also use of parsonage. He died suddenly, on Sabbath morning, September 1, 1782, aged 77 years, deeply mourned by the people he had so faithfully served and led, and between whom and himself the mutual attachment had remained strong to the last.
 * £ioo, to increase forty shillings per

The deep impress of this early min- istry has never been effaced, and the influence of Mr. Walker, to a large de- gree, decided the moral tone and habits of the town. For more than half a century he directed the thought, and was the religious teacher of the early settlers ; and his clear convictions, his bold utterances, and his firm adherence to practical principles, made him a wise leader. He served the town as well as the church. His 'wise council and prompt and judicious action in relation to every matter of public interest, were of great benefit to the people, and gave him a wide and acknowledged influence. Three times he visited England, as agent for the town, to confirm its endan- gered rights, and was enabled by his personal influence and wisdom to make secure forever the claims and privileges of the settlers. His influence will be acknowledged, and his name remem-

�� �