First Religious Society Church and Parish Hall
Photo: John Phelan, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

First Religious Society Church and Parish Hall

First Religious Society Church and Parish Hall is a building in Newburyport, Massachusetts, listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 2, 1976.

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Access
Access information not verified
Last checked October 31, 2026
Location
Newburyport, Essex County, Massachusetts

National Register listing does not mean a place is open to the public. Parking and accessibility are shown only when verified.

History

The First Religious Society Church and Parish Hall is a historic church building at 26 Pleasant Street in Newburyport, Massachusetts. Originally a Reformed congregation, the congregation is currently affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist denomination. The current Minister is Reverend Rebecca M. Bryan. The church's steeple is currently the tallest point in downtown Newburyport, Massachusetts.

The church building was constructed in 1801 by the First Religious Society, which was founded in 1725. The designer is unknown, but the names of Samuel McIntire of Salem and Timothy Palmer of Newburyport have been suggested. Like so many churches in the United States, the design of the church was based on the church of St Martin-in-the-Fields in London.

A stylistically complementary parish hall was added to the east side of the church in 1873. The space is utilized as a center for social and educational activities.

Barbara Owen served the congregation as organist from 1963 until 2002.

The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, and included in the Newburyport Historic District in 1984.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. The official nomination form is linked under Sources.

Other listings in Newburyport

  • Cushing, Caleb, House Building · listed 1973
  • US Post Office-Newburyport Main Building · listed 1986
  • Brown Square House Building · listed 1975
  • Coker, Benjamin, House Building · listed 1990
  • Dalton House Building · listed 1978
  • Dodge Building Building · listed 1982
  • Market Square Historic District District · listed 1971
  • Newburyport Harbor Front Range Light Structure · listed 1987
  • Newburyport Harbor Light Structure · listed 1987
  • Newburyport Harbor Rear Range Light Structure · listed 1987
  • Newburyport Historic District District · listed 1984
  • Superior Courthouse and Bartlett Mall Building · listed 1976
  • US Customhouse Building · listed 1971

See all 14 listings in Newburyport →

Nearby historic places

Sources