Our History
“Essex Street, Roger Beckmans, Congo Church, Cliftondale School,” Saugus Public Library, Saugus, Mass., https://digitalheritage.noblenet.org/saugus/items/show/613.
“Essex Street, Old Congregational Church, Cliftondale,” Saugus Public Library, Saugus, Mass., https://digitalheritage.noblenet.org/saugus/items/show/612.
“Essex Street, Cliftondale Church Congregational,” Saugus Public Library, Saugus, Mass., https://digitalheritage.noblenet.org/saugus/items/show/601.
Gathered on May 7th 1888, our church held it’s first services in Clifton Hall in Cliftondale Square, known today as the Odd Fellows Building. Our church was then called the First Congregational Society of Cliftondale with Reverend Andrew W. Archibald serving as our first minister.
During the pastorate of Rev. Clifton Mix, the Ecclesiastical Society was dissolved and the church incorporated, becoming a self-governing body known as the First Congregational Church of Cliftondale. The church was raised in 1909 to provide a hall in the basement for social occasions and a Sunday School. In 1925, during the were still being held at Clifton Hall. Work proceeded and the building was completed in 1892. Under the pastorate of Rev. Charles B. McDuffee, it again became necessary to enlarge the church building with a new addition, which was dedicated in 1926. Rev. McDuffee, served our church for 36 years, from September 1915 to September 1951.
Tragedy struck on February 10, 1935 when a fire was discovered shortly after the evening service, and our church building was practically destroyed. The church quickly rallied to the task of rebuilding and on March 15, 1936 the new and present building was dedicated.
On August 7th, 1992 we were accepted into the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference (CCCC). Today, the church is pastored by Rev. Pastor Joe, who is also Executive Director of the Saugus United Parish Food Pantry and has served in leadership with the Saugus Faith Community Clergy Association.
From 130+ years ago until now, we exist to share the love of God with our neighbors and to be continuously renewed and transformed by the Gospel. Read more about the CCCC here.