SOUTHAMPTON — Get ready for the sound of bells, Southampton.
The First Congregational Church of Southampton, MA UCC will celebrate its 275th anniversary on Sunday in a “joyous service” to honor the church’s heritage and create a vision for the future. The 10 a.m. service will be heralded with the ringing of the church bell 275 times.
Led by the church’s pastor, the Rev. Jennie Valentine, the service will symbolize the anniversary theme of “Honoring our Heritage, Visioning our Future” for the landmark church located on Route 10 in Southampton’s town center.
“It’s extremely edifying,” Valentine said. “It’s encouraging and it’s hopeful because if the church has been able to stand that long, it should be able to stand that long again.”
Former pastors and dignitaries, including the Rev. Don Remick, interim minister and president for the Massachusetts UCC Conference, plan to attend the service. Donna Butler Douglas will conduct the choir in the premier of an anthem for the church that she composed, commissioned to mark the June 8, 1743 founding of the church.
The anthem, “Turning Towards Grace,” was inspired by the church being physically turned 90 degrees to face Route 10, Valentine said. Originally, builders thought Maple Street would be the main thoroughfare of the town.
Attendees will also hear another special musical piece, “How Clear is Our Vocation, Lord,” which was written for the church in 1996 by Hal Hopson to celebrate the ordination of the Rev. Miriam Howland. Conducted by Kathy Marks, minister of music, Howland will join the festivities to play the piece on the church’s new organ.
Sunday’s service marks the culmination of 10 months of celebrations and activities in recognition of the church’s milestone anniversary, according to press materials, including a contra dance, a 50s Sock Hop, a 1700s-themed dinner served in period dress, the presentation of an original historical comedy, and a concert in dedication of the new organ.
Two monuments in the town’s Center Cemetery that memorialize the church’s first pastor the Rev. Jonathan Judd and his wife Silence Sheldon Judd were cleaned and restored using a grant from the town’s Community Preservation Act fund.
Valentine also said that U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and John C. Dorhauer, UCC general minister and president, sent greetings for the Sunday service.
“I’m looking forward to being able to proclaim the successes that the church has had, the strength of the community and to be able to — the word that comes to mind is revel,” Valentine said.
She said the celebration will show how the church has supported the Southampton community and will open doors to continue doing so in the future.
As part of the weekend capping off the months of celebration, there will be a docent tour of the historic church building on Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. with light refreshments.