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First Church to celebrate Heritage Sunday

Date: 10/14/2009

LONGMEADOW - On Oct. 18, the First Church of Christ, 763 Longmeadow St., will honor the almost 60 amazing people who have been members of its congregation for 50 years or more. The morning will be full of opportunities to learn more of the history of First Church, which was originally constructed in 1716.

To honor a bit of the past, the sound of drumming that announced the start of service in the early years of the church will be reenacted by folks wearing colonial dress. (Before the first bell was installed in the church in 1743, Nathaniel Burt was paid 10 shillings a year -$2 - to go up and down the street beating a drum announcing the services.)

After the 10 a.m. service, there will be a special reception in First Church's Bailey Hall, where there will be several items on display that are of historical interest, including a Bible that is 200 years old and a display of memories from longtime members. First Church historian Brewster Sturtevant will also give a brief history of the church.

To honor the connection between First Church and the history of Longmeadow, the Storrs House next to the library will open for tours that day. The collection at the Storrs House includes artifacts from the first minister of First Church, Stephen Williams, who was taken captive as a boy during the Deerfield raid of 1704. The meticulously preserved home of Richard Salter Storrs, second pastor of First Church, is a history text itself, a time capsule not only of the town's colonial days but of the Pioneer Valley 250 years ago.

The First Church of Christ in Longmeadow is located at 763 Longmeadow St. Street parking is available, as well as off-street parking at nearby Center School or behind the Longmeadow Community House. For more information about First Church, please call the church office at 567-6287. For more information on the Storrs House, please call 567-3600.