April 12, 1861 – The American Civil War began when Confederate forces opened fire on the Union-held Fort Sumter in Charleston, SC.
October 2, 1861 – First Church first convenes in the Chestnut Hill Chapel.
October 5, 1861 – February 10, 1865. Rev. William Augustus Whitwell.
May 13, 1866 – September 27, 1876. Rev Artemas Bowers Muzzey.
October 8, 1876 – June 20, 1881. Rev. John Albert Buckingham.
1885 – Rev. George W. Shinn commenced Episcopal mission services until the building of the nearby Church of the Redeemer was completed in 1891.
1881 – 1897 Did not meet as a congregation.
October 3, 1897 – May 27, 1918 – Rev. Edward Hale.
April 10, 1910 – Cornerstone for the new First Church laid at 26 Suffolk Road.
December, 1910 – First service was held on Christmas Day.
January 1, 1911 – New First Church in Chestnut Hill dedicated
May 12, 1919 – Mrs. Webster was elected the first woman member of the Standing Committee.
November, 1919 – first annual Thanksgiving Food and Flower Sale, which became a fixture in the community for over a century.
1929 – First Church Women’s Alliance formed, taking on an important role in the life of the church.
Oct, 1929 – Nov, 1931 The First Church was without an established minister.
1961 – Centennial of the First Church’s founding as the Chestnut Hill Chapel.
May 3, 1969 – Rev. Joseph A. Bassett joined the First Church as minister.
1971 – Samuel Adams joins the First Church as organist and music director. He remained a fixture at the church for the next half century.
October 5, 1986 – 125th Anniversary Celebration of the First Church in Chestnut Hill
1989 – Initial meeting of the Church Book Group, which has met continuously to this day.
June 1989 – The tracker-action organ, custom built for the church by Darren Wissinger, is installed in the new organ loft where it remains in use.
1995 – Celebration of Joe Bassett’s first 25 years as minister of the First Church in Chestnut Hill
May 3, 2007 – Rev. Rosemarie Smurzynski named Interim Minister.
June 3, 2007 – Joe Bassett retires after 38 years as minister of the First Church in Chestnut Hill
May 18, 2008 – Joseph Bassett installed as Minister Emeritus
April 5, 2009 Reception honoring Sam Adams’ 35 years at FCCH
September 13, 2009 – Rev. Mark J.T. Caggiano joined the First Church as minister
December 2011 – First Taizé Service held
January 23, 2012 – Outreach Coordinating Committee established to oversee and align Church’s impact in the community
2012 – Parish Service Committee formed
2020 – Services move online due to COVID-19
September 2022 – In-person services resume
August 2026 Diego Garrido is called to serve as Ministerial Intern
This present, we have been waiting for you to make history.