Our Story
The historic Brandon Congregational Church is centrally located facing the town green. It is typical of a traditional New England scene.
The Brandon Congregational Church was incorporated in the year 1785 and was supported by a town tax until 1795 when anyone who could prove they were supporting the Baptist Church was exempt from the tax.
The members first met in private homes, Loren Larkin’s being one of the favorites, which was known as the Ayrshire Building now currently being occuppied by a dentist. The first meeting house was constructed of logs prior to 1790 and occupied the site of the residence of Deacon Vail. The second structure was begun about 1797-98 on the present piece of land, but before its completion a fire destroyed the building. It is interesting to note that the members petitioned the state to hold a lottery in order to raise additional funds to rebuild but as far as the records show, this petition was denied. Undaunted by these turn of events, a third building was begun. This was a frame structure that served the congregation as a place of worship until the year 1831 when it was razed to make way for the present building. David Warren, a leading contractor and builder, erected this structure at a cost of $5,000. Extensive refurbishing was done in the years 1858 and in 1891. The chapel to the left of the church, now known as Fellowship Hall was built during the years 1860-61 at a cost of $825.25.
The marble pulpit was a gift of the Deacon Selden and according to records, the marble ws quarried at the Selden Quarry on High St. The baptismal font was given in memory of Anderson and Eliza Dana and their children in 1916. The carillonic tower was dedicated in 1948. Our bell is from Mennly Bell Co., weighs 3,043 pounds and is engraved with the names of the original officers of the church. In 1892 the church voted to accept $300.00 from the fire district towards a bell to be used by the fire department as a warning alarm. Access to this bell was on the outside of the church and the hole for the rope is supposedly still visible. The bell tower also contains the clock, which is owned and maintained by the town, and chimes by the hour.
Some of the stained glass windows depicting various biblical scenes and symbols were given by past members as memorials to loved ones. The beauty of the windows are testimony to the art of stained glass and craftsmanship of their creators.
The organ was purchased around the year 1907, with the committee instructed not to spend more than $2,580.00. The instrument prior to 1920 had the bellows pumped by hand. The Ladies Aid Society donated funds in that year to purchase an electric motor. Today we continue to enjoy the music produced by this wonderful musical instrument!
