Congregational Christian Church of Somerset

   The story began in 1838 when a group of Thirty, known as the "Christian Band", signed a covenant to organize a church community in Pottersville. The covenant led, in November, 1840, to the construction of a meeting house through pledges totaling $1,220 and land donated by Samuel Purinton, founder of the church and a former Quaker. On May 26, 1841, a double ceremony was held for the dedication of the new meeting house and the acceptance into the Christian denomination, a choice permitting continued strong emphasis upon the roles of the laity. Later that year William Shurtleff was called to be the first pastor of the religious society known as the First Christian Union Society in Somerset, Massachusetts. By 1842 the membership grew to 100.

   It was not until September 28, 1911, that the First Christian Church, as it came to be known, was incorporated under the laws of Massachusetts. In 1931 the denominations of the Congregational Churches and the Christian Church united and became the Congregational Christian Churches. However, it was not until the 1939 annual meeting that a vote was taken to change the name to the Congregational Christian Church of Somerset Centre. In 1957 the Congregational Christian Churches joined the Evangelical and Reformed Church to become the United Church of Christ. Our local Congregational Christian Church of Somerset voted to approve the constitution of the U.C.C. and to become a part of it.