Who We Are
​Our Future

We believe that many in our community, in Milton and beyond, could find sustenance and comfort in our congregation. We want to make our presence known in ways that call our neighbors to join us, and to make them feel at home, nurtured and encouraged, when they answer. That is the future we envision.

There is so much detail in this congregational packet about our history, our strengths, our challenges and our aspirations that this point could be easily lost. 

We want so much: 

More opportunities to connect with each other
More engagement in the greater community
More unified approaches to social justice
More of a common thread among our activities
More cross-pollination among silos of activity 
More adult Religious Exploration 
More stimulating worship
More kinds of music
More kinds of people
More people in the pews
More money in the plate
More members that stay
Less burnout

What a list, and there’s more. But if we look closely at what we want, it all boils down to two things. We want our congregation to make a difference in the world, and we want to be an even stronger caring and welcoming community for all who seek comfort and spiritual growth.

We were fortunate to have had a highly respected and much loved minister for ten years. She helped us discover what kind of congregation we want to be and set us on a path toward it. But we do not at all expect our next minister to be her clone or to do things the way she did them.

We want a partnership with a new minister that will open our hearts to possibilities we do not even know exist. We want to be nurtured, encouraged, and challenged. One of our members has often said that First Parish is the best-kept secret in Milton. We want to welcome a minister who will help us spill the beans and become the best known blessing in town, a minister who will help us build a congregation where anyone who wants to join us will know they have found a home.

Our Past

The first Meetinghouse in Milton was built sometime between 1650 and 1660 as our Puritan ancestor’s house of worship as well as the town's public meetinghouse. The town maintained the property and paid the minister's salary. At the time Milton was called Unquity, still a part of Dorchester and thus the church was the First Parish of Dorchester. 

In 1662, the Town of Milton incorporated, legally separating from Dorchester. Ten years later, the Second Meetinghouse was built, the Parish was organized, and ten men subscribed to the covenant. Rev. Peter Thacher became the first settled minister and served the congregation for 47 years. A man of many gifts, he was regarded as an able preacher and a sound advisor in both religious and secular matters throughout Massachusetts Bay Colony. His dedication to the well being of the community was evident – he preached to the native Ponkopoag Indians in their language and, with some medical know-how, he served as the Parish's only physician. 
























As population increased and a more centralized church was needed, a third Meetinghouse was constructed in 1728 near the site where our present church stands. By 1771 this structure was in need of major repairs and the Parish again voted to build another Meetinghouse. The Revolutionary War delayed these plans, but in l788 the fourth Meetinghouse was dedicated. This structure is our present day Meetinghouse, though it faced west toward Thatcher Street and looked very different inside and out, with galleries around three sides and porches at each end. 

Reverend Nathaniel Robbins was the first minister to preach in this space. He was also appointed by the town to represent them on the Massachusetts Commission that served to ratify the Constitution. His son, Nathaniel Jr., donated the clock that is still mounted (and working!) on the front wall of the choir loft. 

During the early 1800s two significant and historical changes took place for First Parish. In 1818 First Parish, still the only church in Milton, petitioned the town to be incorporated as a separate body, no longer under Milton’s jurisdiction. This separation was granted and legalized by the General Court of Massachusetts. As liberal theological groups emerged in the Boston area, they formed ''the Boston Association" which sponsored pulpit exchanges. 

When Dr. Samuel Gile became minister in 1804 he agreed to these frequent exchanges, even though he was a committed Calvinist. However, he did not honor this agreement to the letter, precipitating a split in 1826 when a liberal group withdrew from the Parish and formed the First Unitarian Society. Unsuccessful in their attempt to acquire a claim to a portion of the church property, they eventually resumed their membership and dissolved the Society. The group eventually became a majority in the Parish, however, and Dr. Gile was dismissed. When he refused to accept this, a council of clergymen from the surrounding towns concluded that Dr. Gile had violated the ministerial agreement in regard to pulpit exchanges and his connection with the Parish was ended. It is interesting to note that Horace Mann presented the case for the Parish in the matter. 

In 1834, First Parish became Unitarian when the Supreme Court handed down what is known as the ''Dedham Decision.” Dr. Gile and a group of followers formed "The First Evangelical Society" and tried to claim a share of the church's property. The court ruled that a church separated from its Parish had lost its existence and thus had no right to property, title, records or possessions. This Society built their own church across the town green from First Parish and became the First Congregational Church of Milton, where it still stands today. 

That same year, repairs and alterations were started on both the exterior and interior of the Meetinghouse. The entire building was turned to face south and a bay enclosed the tower of the church. The galleries were removed, the upper windows were boarded with closed shutters, the ceiling was lowered, and window and door locations were changed. And because of the influence of the Forbes family – one of the prominent families of the parish during that time – the architecture of the building took on a Greek Revival style. Additional repairs and alterations also took place in the years 1852, 1871 and 1896. Our Meetinghouse as we now know and enjoy it has remained unchanged for 100 years, except for necessary repairs and updates.

The Reverend John Morison served as minister of First Parish from 1846 to 1886. During his ministry he encouraged and supported the education of women, was instrumental in the establishment o the Milton Public Library and served on the Board of Trustees until his death. As a minister during the Civil War he preached against slavery, opening the church to blacks and inviting Booker T. Washington to lecture in the Meetinghouse where a collection was taken to assist in the emancipation movement. It was also during Rev. Morison's tenure that the Parish Hall was built and ''The Ladies Social and Charitable Society" was formed. The women of the congregation held lectures, dancing parties and a three-day fair. Rev. Morison showed his support by offering the first donation – a sum of fifty dollars. 

In 1886, Rev. Roderick Stebbins became associate minister at First Parish for three years, and then senior minister for 42 years until his death in 1925. The sanctuary walls were inscribed with readings and electricity was installed. He was one of the founders of the corporation known in the present day as Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center - Milton and served as its first President. It was a momentous day on January 17, 1915 when Rev. Stebbins stepped down from his pulpit at the same moment as the Rev. Albert Smith left his pulpit in the First Congregational Church. They walked out of their respective churches, crossed the town green, shook hands, and entered the other's church and delivered the sermon. We still enjoy a yearly pulpit exchange with our Congregational neighbors. 

Another beloved minister was the Rev. Vivian Pomeroy, originally from London. He was regarded as an excellent preacher and writer of beautiful prayers and charming children's stories. His wife, Dorothy Pomeroy, was instrumental in moving a 107-year-old one-room schoolhouse to the church property and refurbishing the structure, thereby establishing a separate "Children's Church" on the church grounds. The youth and children of First Parish hold their own services of worship in this small replica of the main Meetinghouse. 

After Rev. Pomeroy's retirement, the church called Dr. Malcolm Sutherland as its next permanent Minister. He and his wife were very interested in music and through their efforts First Parish’s music program flourished. An active choir was formed and the memorial Schlicker organ was donated by Anna W. Chase in memory of her parents. The organ contained 43 ranks of pipes totaling approximately 2,500 pipes in all, a remarkable musical instrument. The choir loft was renovated to accommodate both the new organ and the growing ranks of choir members. 

During this era the Unitarian and Universalist denominations merged and Dr. Sutherland was partially relieved of his Parish duties to become the new UUA Executive Secretary. Dr. Prescott Wintersteen was installed as our minister from 1961 to 1976 after serving as a Navy chaplain. First Parish broadened beyond serving just as a place for worship during this period and he assisted in organizing the Milton-Mattapan Clergy Association. With his leadership three Catholic Monsignors in Milton and a Jewish Rabbi joined the association. Dr. Wintersteen also played a prominent part in the support for construction of Milton's first elderly housing project and the formation of a town-wide Youth Study group to address the needs of Milton’s young people. After his retirement in 1976 his successor, Rev. Philip Larson, built on Dr. Wintersteen’s work and opened a youth drop-in center in the Parish activities room. Health issues forced his resignation.

More recent growth and renewal of First Parish began under the stewardship of Dr. Patrick Green, a distinguished pastoral minister from 1981 to 1987. Young families became active members of the church and a very successful Capital Campaign raised $600,000. This insured a healthy endowment for the congregation’s future and the first wave of growth in the Religious Education program took place. Dr. Green resigned in 1987 to serve the United Church of Christ in St. Paul, Minnesota. 

During the two-year interim ministry of Rev. Malcolm Boardman, the growth of the First Parish membership and the church school continued. A Director of Religious Education was hired and began a renewed emphasis on social action and community involvement. This outreach continued to expand during the ministry of Mark Harris, who was settled at First Parish in 1989. Rev. Harris encouraged the congregation's participation in a town wide multi-cultural committee and involvement in the ''meal-a-month" program at a nearby homeless shelter. He supported new and varied approaches in our worship service and welcomed lay participation. Differences between the minister and the congregation led Rev. Harris to resign in 1996. Janet Newman was the interim minister for a year during which time she focused on pastoral care. Her commitment to the concerns of the congregation as well as her accessibility and management skills strengthened staff relationships. 

Rev. Laurie Bilyeu Hotchkiss served as minister from 1997 to 2002, during which time there was growth in Religious Education and youth programs and a subsequent increase in membership and attendance. The music program stayed strong and the steeple was completely restored during her tenure in preparation for further work on the Meetinghouse. 

When Rev. Hotchkiss left First Parish due to ill health in 2003, Rev. John Robinson, retired from the Unitarian Universalist Church of St. Louis, Missouri, and joined us as interim minister. 

The Reverend Parisa Parsa served as minister from 2004 to 2014 and brought about many notable changes in our congregation, including the adoption of the new covenant. It replaced the Ames covenant that had been in use for over a century and is notable for its emphasis on many spiritual paths and the lack of any reference to Jesus Christ, who had been central to the previous one. 

Guided by Rev. Parisa, First Parish in Milton explored many new paths for worship, social action, and lay leadership. Worship flourished with increased lay participation and more diverse music, often tapping the talents of the congregation. Combined with a meditation group, the earth centered spirituality group, and small group ministries, a wide array of options for spiritual growth were created. Circle conversations and cottage meetings became a common method for tackling congregational issues on a deeper level. First Parish also opened its doors wider than ever before by becoming an official Welcoming Congregation and mounting a capital campaign for a major renovation to make the campus more accessible for members and friends with physical disabilities. Rev. Parsa also inspired congregants to explore different forms of social action including several service trips to the Mississippi coast following Hurricane Katrina, involvement in Jericho Road in Roxbury, and frequent visits to the Occupy Boston camp in Boston’s South End. A strong religious education program for children grew into religious exploration for all ages with a variety of programs and social activities including Common Hearth, Cafe Blue Hills, and film nights. Rev. Parsa was also a leader in the growing Milton Mattapan Clergy Association which supports interfaith programs such as the annual “thanks for giving” service to recognize volunteers throughout our community. 

It may not be possible to completely convey the impact Rev. Parsa had on First Parish in Milton, but suffice it to say that during her years in the church, the community grew stronger and she touched everyone in countless ways. In 2014 Rev. Parsa resigned amicably.

Reverend Hank Peirce has been the interim minister from 2015 to the present. With warmth, humor and no holds barred, Reverend Hank has inspired and challenged the congregation to name their weaknesses and has graciously offered support in the search to find the next settled minister. 



Our Present 
An Historical Tour of First Parish


First Parish Milton, 535 Canton Avenue, Milton, Massachusetts 02186 ~ Email: office@fpmilton.org ~ P:617.698.6329 ~ http://fpmilton.org/
First Parish in Milton is a caring, welcoming congregation with aspirations of improving the world around us. There is a prevailing sense of community at the core of the parish, which extends to members and FP Staff alike, and a strong commitment to meeting the personal needs of members and friends during times of need. 

We enjoy fellowship with one another. We have recently reinstated our annual harvest supper, and over the years we have held holiday gatherings, dances, potluck dinners, craft nights, film nights, Seders, coffee house style music events, and an annual chocolate auction. 

We are not entirely focused on ourselves, though. The parish has a history of social action and there is a 
widespread  wish for the congregation to broaden its outreach to the larger community. A high percentage of our congregation is very active in civic affairs as individuals, but some of us seek a more unified presence within our community. 

There are strong commitments among different groups of congregants focused on religious explorations for children and youth, music, caring for one another, and social action. Each of these areas has a core of people who are passionate about them, and individuals sometimes dedicate themselves to more than one. However, if there is a unifying strand among these areas, we have not articulated it or adopted it.

We engage in and enjoy a variety of of spiritual practices including prayer, meditation, yoga, pagan celebrations and connecting with the natural and creative world. Buddhism, Humanism, and Protestant Christianity were most often cited in our survey as faith traditions important to us, but our most commonly shared religious belief is that the interconnectedness of all things grounds us in our spiritual lives.  

We are not predominantly Christian or Humanist or Pagan. Although our liturgy tends to follow the Christian calendar and our order of worship is traditionally Protestant, we do not have a dominant theology.

The majority of us come to First Parish to get our batteries recharged, but we want more opportunities to connect with one another in small groups outside of worship services, coffee hour, and committee meetings.

We love music! Our historic pipe organ is magnificent. We have a wonderful grand piano in the Meetinghouse, and a lovely, small gem of a pipe organ in the Children's Church. Our singers are highly skilled, both amateurs and professionals. We like all kinds music. If it can be hummed, strummed, sung or pounded, there’s almost always a part of the congregation that loves it.  







































Religious exploration at First Parish is multi-faceted and provides opportunities for all age groups to explore a wide range of religious beliefs and practices while developing their own religious framework. It is a large draw for newcomers and has been for three decades. The full curriculum with details of the program can be found here.

First Parish in Milton draws members and friends from many surrounding communities, but the congregation is predominantly made up of Milton residents. We are a mid-sized congregation of over 200 active members and friends, mostly white, well-educated, and reasonably comfortable financially.

There is a strong core of lay leaders who weave in and out of leadership roles, and we have a good record of recruiting new members to committees and leadership positions (perhaps a little too aggressively). As in most active organizations, burn-out is an issue, but those of us who stick with it have found that there is plenty of room for leadership sabbaticals.

As with all congregations, we have our share of challenges, which are detailed in the Congregational 
Record. And while one of our perennial challenges is fundraising, our endowment helps us maintain financial stability. A discussion of our financial standing can be found here.

In recent years there has been a concerted effort to provide “radical hospitality”, to encourage guests who come through our doors on Sunday morning to come back so we can get to know each other better. We know that strong communication is key to strong community so we distribute a weekly newsletter The Link and we maintain an active website, which we hope will appeal to guests and newcomers in addition to informing current members and friends about church programs, worship and other church events.  

The strong sense of this community echoes every Sunday when we say these words to each other: 

Come let us gather.

We gather to celebrate the sacred within and among us.

We come to seek spiritual growth and understanding. 

We strive to practice acceptance, forgiveness and love.

Together we work to build a world with justice and compassion. 

Come let us gather together.