During that time, a town could only be incorporated if a church were established. The first meeting house, known today as the Carter house and standing at the intersection of Dudley-Oxford and Ramshorn Roads, served as a meeting place for both worship and town meetings for a few years, until a second meeting house was built on land donated by Nipmuc Indian John Pegan at the top of Dudley Hill. In
1824, the meeting house was dismantled, the wood from which was used to construct a white clapboard church on the same site. This church stood only 66 years before it was consumed by fire in 1890. Later that same year, the present day church was constructed in the same location, as a gift by Hezekiah Conant, a local scientist, inventor and philanthropist. Its tower houses one of Hezekiah's unique clocks, a clock which continues to keep time today. In 1989, under the direction of Rev. Stehr, an addition, the Stehr wing, was built onto the north side of the church, This wing houses Sunday School classrooms, the Dartt-Davis Pastor's Study, the Eaton Music Room (combined music room and library), Penniman Parlor and the church office. On November 19, 2006, after almost 2 years of open discussions, forums, and intensive soul searching under the guidance of
Rev. John White, the Church voted to become Open and Affirming, meaning that ALL are welcome to our church as they
are, regardless of race, sexual orientation, gender identification, economic status, political stance, etc. We welcome any who
care to join us on our faith journey to becoming the children God has created us to be. Then in 2008-2009, the church
tower underwent a significant restoration project, to ensure that it will remain standing for the next 100 years. As the First Congregational Church, UCC of Dudley, we seek to provide opportunities to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to encourage education, discipline, fellowship and social concern, to be a beacon of hope to all the world around us and to spread the word of God, as we continue our journey on the Way of Jesus.
