Andover Church - Free Christian Church

The Free Christian Church was founded on May 7, 1846, by ink factory owner William Donald. It was formed by Andover residents who did not feel members of other churches in Andover were making a strong enough stand against slavery. Initially the congregation gathered in the home of Stephen Dinsmore at the corner of Chestnut and Main Street. In 1849, Smith & Dove mill owner John Smith, a founding member of the congregation, purchased the Methodist Chruch building from Main Street and had it moved to the area that is now 22 Railroad Street. The Free Christian Chruch congregation worshipped at that location until 1908 when the current building at 31 Elm Street was ready for occupancy. The 1908 ediface, designed by the Richardson of the firm McKim, Mead and White was dedicated in September 1908. At the congregation's fiftieth anniversary in 1896, Joseph W. Smith carried an anti-slavery banner depicting a slave mother being parted from her child on one side and on the other side was the likeness of a black man with the inscription, "Am I not a man and a brother." The banner reflected the abolitionist principles of the founding of the church.

Rev. Jack L. Daniel was pastor of the Free Christian Church for 35 years, from 1977 to June, 2012. In 1977, the church had 75 members. In 2012, the church had 1,200 members.

...Free Christian Church circa 1908 from Columbia University Archives .... click to enlarge

...Free Christian Church circa 1908 from Columbia University Archives .... click to enlarge

REFERENCES

See Also

• "Andover church unveils addition," Eagle Tribune, November 19, 2001, p. 1.
• Andover Free Church Observes its fiftieth anniversary with interesting exercises, The Evening Tribune, May 8, 1896.
• "Dedicated to the Lord: New $1.7 million addition," Andover Townsman, November 21, 2001, p. 10.
• "Underground" The Townsman, July 17,02003, page 11.
• "Exodus, of sorts: Free Christian severs final UCC ties," Andover Townsman, October 7, 2004, p. 1.
• "Pastor of Free Christian Church changing course," Andover Townsman, April 19, 2012, p. 10.
• "Assistant pastor now heads Free Christian Church, Andover," Eagle Tribune, August 4, 2012, p. 5.
• Memorial Booklet of the Free Church Fire January27, 1941
• The history of Free Christian Church : Andover, Massachusetts., Andover Room
• Free Christian Church Congregational Andover, Massachusetts : rededication exercises Sunday, April 20, 1941 / Rev. Herman C. Johnson, Minister ; Dr. William Reese, Organist, Andover Room, Vertical Files
• History of Free Christian Church
• The founding of the Free Christian Church of Andover : read at the 100th anniversary of its founding by Mary Byers Smith., Andover Room.
• In memory of John Dove, esq. : a sermon preached in the Free Church, Andover, Mass., November 26, 1876, Andover Room

--Stephanie (talk) 09:31, 31 January 2024 (EST)
--Kim 13:22, May 24, 2013 (EDT)
--Eleanor (talk) 13:52, 26 March 2015 (EDT)
--Eleanor (talk) 15:39, 18 December 2015 (EST)

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