Millbury Federated Church
20 Main Street
Millbury, MA
Images
2023-04-08 - Organ façade (Photograph by Stephen St. Denis/Stephen St. Denis)
2023-04-08 - Stained glass window (Photograph by Stephen St. Denis/Stephen St. Denis)
2023-04-08 - Builder's nameplate on the console (Photograph by Stephen St. Denis/Stephen St. Denis)
2023-04-08 - Console (Photograph by Stephen St. Denis/Stephen St. Denis)
2023-04-08 - Organ at the front of the sanctuary (Photograph by Stephen St. Denis/Stephen St. Denis)
2023-04-08 - Church interior (Photograph by Stephen St. Denis/Stephen St. Denis)
2023-04-08 - Church exterior (Photograph by Stephen St. Denis/Stephen St. Denis)
Notes
2023-04-17 - The present Greek Revival building was built in 1828 as the First Presbyterian Society Meeting House. In 1834 the parish became known as the Second Congregational Church of Millbury. The First Congregational Church of Millbury is in the Bramanville section of the town. In 1919 the Second Congregational Church merged with the Methodist Episcopal Church of Millbury under this roof to form the Millbury Federated Church.
About the organ; Information from “Centennial History of the Town of Millbury Massachusetts” copyright, 1915 by the Town of Millbury Massachusetts. Davis Press Worcester, Mass.
History of the Second Congregational Church Page 316-317 “After being reduced in musical instruments to one flute, played by Col. Asa Waters, during the winter of 1843 – 44 Mr. Charles Sibley purchased an organ from the Union Church in Worcester, secretly transported to Millbury on Friday night and installed on Saturday, so that it stood with bold front facing a surprised congregation on Sunday morning. There was opposition to the innovation, but it remained in place to the enrichment of the service of worship. …” In 1884, the building was thoroughly renovated. The organ, which had done service for forty years was removed and the present fine instrument was Installed.”
It is likely that in 1951 Joseph W. Smith rebuilt the organ installed during the 1884 renovations. The builder of the original instrument is not known.
-Stephen St. Denis
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