Living History
Culture was changing. Evangelism and Universalism, a belief that all people are valued and will be saved, were experiencing a period of growth. The year was 1856. On November 22nd, the First Universalist Society in Franklin was founded.
Economic and political influences played a role in the society’s first 140 years. Fortunes ebbed and flowed. The congregation had been as small as 9 and as large as 264 members, occupying four different meetinghouses, with 14 ministers during this period.
By 1998, the congregation once again flourished. We were stable, enjoying a dedicated and enthusiastic membership lead by Rev. Carol Rosine. It was time for a “Home of Our Own”. The last 20 years has witnessed our purchase of 11.6 acres of land and literally building the Meeting House, RE wing, and campus ourselves.
Origins
The year was 1783. Oliver Dean was born. Franklin was a rural town with a population of 1500 offering only one place of worship, The Congregational Church.
1830- Many factories had been built. The population had grown. The culture was changing.
1845- Dr. Oliver Dean was instrumental in the growth of evangelism and Universalism. He was even noted for paying half the ministers’ wages himself.
1856- Dr. Dean donated a piece of land from his estate for the newly formed Universalist Society in Franklin.
1858- The first Universalist Church was erected for a sum of $6,659 on the land donated by Dr. Dean, who was a primary contributor to the building fund as well.
1858- Dr. Dean donated the land for Dean Academy, which was dedicated in 1868 as the northeast’s first Universalist academy, a preparatory school for Tufts University.
Over the years, Dr. Oliver Dean’s ongoing support kept the dream alive.
In The Beginning 1856 – 1904
1856- The first church roster contained 85 names, including some of Franklin’s leading citizens. Two years later, they had built a church of their own for the sum of $6,659. The congregation had outgrown that building within 14 years.
1858- Rev. A. N. Adams, the Society’s first full-time preacher was paid and annual salary of $800.
During the first fifty years, nine different ministers, most staying only a few of years, served the congregation.
1868- Dean Hall, the central building of Dean Academy, was dedicated. 700 Boston Universalists boarded 12 railroad cars to attend the ceremony.
1874- A second larger meetinghouse was built, only to be destroyed by fire within a few years.
1878- The third meetinghouse, Grace Universalist Church, was erected on the Dean Academy campus where the Dean College Library now stands. It was an impressive gothic structure able to seat 700. It would serve the congregation for the next 80 years, into a period often referred to as “the golden years”.
Golden Years 1905 – 1937
1906- Dr. Reingold Marvin arrives, just one year after the 50th anniversary. He never married and dedicated his whole life to the church.
1918- Five hundred people crowd into Grace Church to attend a farewell send off for Dr. Marvin’s departure to serve as a Chaplin overseas. Upon his return, he served Grace Church until 1937.
1920’s- The congregation began social outreach projects. Funds were sent to Japan, Armenia, Japan Home, Near East Relief, the Clara Barton Guild, and the Anti-Saloon League.
1938- Membership grew to its highest level 242, up from 65 in 1906. The Ladies’ Circle expanded in number and involvement. Their craftwork and baking raised enough money over the years to purchase an organ, chandelier, stove, carpet heating system, and the silverware FUSF still uses today. Their legacy lives on in the present FUSF meetinghouse, their remaining funds furnished the kitchen.
1938- Dr. Reingold Marvin receives the distinction of Minister Emeritus for his 32 years of service.
1948- Dr. Reingold Marvin dies suddenly.
1950- The chapel at Dean Academy was named Marvin Chapel in his honor commemorating his service on the Dean Academy Board of Trustees.
Excerpt from the tribute: “Dr. Marvin has left us a people united in friendship and in affection for our Society. He has left us a great heritage and with it a corresponding responsibility. We must not be faithless to either. We shall go forward at his behest to greater things.”
Changing Times 1938 – 1958
1938- Dr. Trueman Menadue followed Dr. Marvin’s tenure, serving the congregation for 22 years. His ministry always stood in the shadow of Rev. Marvin.
1955- The Universalist Youth Fellowship was organized. Meetings included discussions of scientific, social, and religious matters followed by a social hour.
1956- The society celebrated its 100th anniversary, Dr. Menadue presided.
1958- Dr. Menadue resigns the pulpit and assumes the role of Chaplin at Dean College. He also assumed a heavy schedule of teaching. His was engaged in community outreach serving as chaplin for Masonic Temple and the Norfolk Prison.
1959- Dr Menadue was awarded Minister Emeritus status for his 22 years of service.
Conflict & Controversy 1959 – 1976
1959- Consistent with national trends, membership was down from 240 to 137.
1959- Rev. Jack Daniels assumes the pulpit. His valiant attempts to increase membership were unproductive.
1961- The First Universalist Society in Franklin became a Unitarian Universalist congregation after the merger of the two religious denominations.
1965- Dwindling membership had reduced funds leaving the historic Grace Church building in serious need of repair.
1967- The congregation sold the Grace church property to Dean College for $150,000. Dean demolished the building and built a new college library.
1969- The congregation’s fourth meetinghouse was a contemporary structure on a five-acre wooded site, two miles from the town center.
1969- A controversial anti-war vote divided the membership. Many quit in protest.
1975- Minister Rev. Geer’s nontraditional leadership further eroded membership. He resigned due to philosophical differences with the Society.
Philosophy and politics affect the dream.
Faithful Few 1976 – 1987
1976- Membership declined to 40.
1977- Unable to support the fourth church property with a smaller membership, the congregation sold the property and for a decade was both mortgage holder and tenant as they rented back the space for Sunday services until 1988.
1977- Congregation agreed to hire Rev. Alan Cleeton and his wife as “clergy couple”. Although intended to be temporary, they served for ten years.
1979- First Universalist Society was without a permanent home or a full-time minister. In danger of extinction the membership was reduced to a faithful few members between 20 and 50, records vary.
1985- The congregation sought help from the district UUA. A student and an interim minister served for 1.5 years.
1987- “The Faithful Nine” was a group of very dedicated members. They were passionate in their resolve to save The First Universalist Society in Franklin. To that end, they agreed to use some of the church’s remaining assets to enter into UUA’s extension program. Rev. Carol Egan/Rosine arrived.
Rebirth 1988 – 1996
1987- Extension Minister Carol Rosine was specially trained to nurture congregational growth. Her initial outreach involved creating an atmosphere of shared community and high-quality worship and religious education.
1988- Without a church building of its own, the congregation returned to the Dean College Campus for services in Marvin Chapel and religious education in the college classrooms.
1986-1991- The next five years witnessed a 317% increase in membership and a 376% enrollment in religious education, the third highest in the Unitarian Universalist Association, UUA. Twenty members had become 120.
1989- The borrowed space at Dean College was appreciated, but soon became unwieldy. Set-up and takedown was difficult. The congregation was soon outgrowing that space.
1990- Reverend Carol Rosine was installed as the settled minister. Under her leadership, the growing congregation began to embrace their future and make plans to embrace their role as a liberal spiritual community in the Franklin area.
1992- The congregation voted to commit to the acquisition of a permanent home. The Building Committee was charged with preparing options for a site.
1995- The congregation set its #1 goal as finding a piece of property within a year. The following June 34 sites had been investigated.
1995- The Building Committee set a goal of building occupancy within 4 years of site acquisition.
1996- FUSF was now a mid-sized church with 155 members, nearly 200 active adults, and 125 children in the bustling religious education program.
1996- Members voted to become a welcoming congregation for gay, lesbian, and bisexual people.
1996- The congregation purchased an 11.6-acre parcel on Chestnut St, Franklin. After years of searching, this would be the large wooded setting for FUSF’s permanent home, worth the wait.
1996- FUSF staff now includes an office administrator, piano accompanists, and childcare providers. 16 committees and a large number of volunteers did a great deal of the work. The growth continues.
Home of Our Own 1997 – Onward
1996-1997- This was the planning phase for the new meetinghouse. Long-range plans for growth and the congregation’s special needs must be balanced against financial considerations. The congregation was challenged to dream big and stretch their expectations.
1997- Capital campaign kickoff event held, big dreams proved to be expensive.
1999- Plans are finalized. Cost review published; $828,000 building and $200,000 site work. Financial assistance was provided by a mortgage to UUA.
1999- Ground was broken for new meetinghouse. The dream takes shape.
2000- November- Site work and Meetinghouse construction begins. Members and Friends assist in constructing the sanctuary. They proclaimed their ownership of the dream by constructing much of the meetinghouse themselves. Working elbow to elbow toward the dream “cemented” the community ties.
2001- May- Triumphant march from Dean College to FUSF’s new home.
2001- September- Just 2 weeks after the 9-11 terrorist attacks in New York, the new Meetinghouse was dedicated. This was a proud moment in the Society’s history and a testament to the strength of FUSF bonds.
2003- The RE wing was planned to meet the expanding needs of this vibrant congregation. $50,000 seed money donated.
2004- The Congregation held a Miracle Sunday Event where members donated $200,000 for the construction of the religious education wing. The members’ goal was to build the RE wing without incurring debt. It was quite a tribute to the children of FUSF.
2004- Ground was broken for the RE wing, once again the congregants played a significant role doing much of the site and construction work themselves.
2005- The RE wing dedicated just over a year later.
2007- The buildings now up and operational, attention was turned to the exterior spaces of the 11.6-acre campus.
2008- A stone labyrinth was constructed in the pine grove. Picnic benches were added to the three-acre natural setting to create a quiet place of respite.
2009- A Peace Garden was built at the meetinghouse entrance. Its bench and peace pole sit below the majestic birch trees messaging a passion for peace in the world.
2010- A Memorial Garden conceived. Its purpose was not only to offer a place for the interment of ashes of members and loved-ones, but also offer a beautiful garden for remembrance and contemplation.
2011- The Memorial Garden was dedicated one-year after conceived. As Reverend Rosine stated at the Garden’s dedication: “This Garden symbolizes our permanence on this property. It truly is now our forever home.”
2012- Solar panels were installed on the roof. They not only supply us with power, they send a powerful message about our environment beliefs.
2014- Thomas Lazinski Memorial Path was installed as an Eagle Scout project to provide handicapped access to the Memorial Garden. It pays tribute to Thomas Lazinski, a young member who passed early in his adult life.
2015- Acoustic Panels were installed in the foyer. Gatherings have become so lively and well-attended, sound mitigation is needed.
2018- Called Reverend Eric Cherry as new settled minister, introduced a nature based RE program, formalized a Music Director Staff Position
Ministers of the First Universalist Society in Franklin
- A. N. Adams 1858 – 1860
- Nathan R. Wright 1861 – 1862
- S.W. Squire 1862 – 1866
- H.D.L. Webster 1867 – 1868
- Richard Eddy 1868 – 1870
- A. St. John Chambre 1872 – 1880
- L.J. Fletcher 1881 – 1883
- Willard C. Selleck 1884 – 1890
- Dwight M. Hodge 1891 – 1904
- *Reingold K. Marvin 1904 – 1937
- *Trueman J. Menadue 1937 – 1959
- John Daniel 1960 – 1971
- William Greer III 1974 -1975
- Alan R. Cleeton 1977 – 1987
- *Carol Rosine 1987 – 2016
- Eric Cherry 2018 – 2022
*Minister Emeritus During the Society’s first 150-year history, only two ministers were honored with the designation “emeritus.” In 2016, The Reverend Carol Rosine was honored with this title for her 29 years of service.