History of the New Boston Congregational Church
The New Boston congregation was organized in 1874, by Rev. Elbridge Bradbury (1805-88), at the request of residents of the New Boston section of Sandisfield. They wanted to worship closer to home vs. at the old church at Sandisfield Centre some four miles away.
Bradbury’s successor, Rev. Calvin McLean (1839-1905), raised money and supervised the construction of the church in 1879. The probable builders were the Gladding brothers, master carpenters who lived in a home directly across the street which they built in 1877-78.
The Gladdings were employed by Orlow Northway, a wealthy factory owner and a town leader. Northway and his Civil War-hero son, John were strong supporters of the New Boston Congregational Church (NBCC).
The fact that the building went up in the late-1870s, is remarkable because the country was experiencing a great economic depression on the heels of railroad and bank failures all over the country. The situation was even worse in Sandisfield owing to the collapse of the much heralded Lee & New Haven railroad venture. Bankrupted were the Town as well as many farmers and merchants that invested with Northway who was president of the L&NH. Was a beautiful new church his way of making amends for the debacle?
Since 1879, forty-one men and three women have been pastors here. Hundreds of others, at least, have preached as guest speakers or filled in for various reasons. Historically, the pastors fall into three groups: young, well-educated men who started out here and (mostly) went on to illustrious careers; accomplished ministers who retired or were about to retire to the Berkshires; and students, lay ministers and ordained others who occupied the post for relatively short periods. Some in the first group achieved acclaim, even national recognition. Local native Rev. Charlotte Brown-Whitney (1879-1954), was in 1918 the first ordained woman in the Berkshires Congregational conference area if not in the state.
The congregation’s fortunes have closely tracked economic trends, wars and social movements. The Little Brown Church, as it is affectionately called, although dormant for short periods has enjoyed revivals including what is happening today with some of the highest sustained attendance numbers in its history.
For most of its existence the NBCC was also a lively social center for all of Sandisfield thanks to energetic Ladies Aid Society and the local Grange which were located in the parish hall.
Our Gothic revival-style church building is especially charming, and is in virtually original condition thanks to good stewardship, few renovations and relatively gentle usage over 150 years. The church is considered one of the most important “contributing elements” in the New Boston Village National Historic Register District which was awarded in 2022.
Historical Narrative by Ronald M. Bernard, October 2023