Our church dates back to 1835. It was born out of conflict. A major moral, religious and political issue of the time was slavery. In the Mansfield area, there was little support for slavery as an institution. Even so there was little consensus as to what should be a Christian response to its existence. There were those who felt that since it was not a local problem, it need not be a strong concern of Mansfielders. Other felt strongly that it was urgent that the laws that supported it needed to be repealed and that slave holding be outlawed throughout the country. Yet more radical were those who believed that with something as inhumane as slavery, it was unchristian to do nothing but wait around for the laws to be change. They became involved in the “underground railroad”.

Though such assistance was a direct violation of the law, they identified a series of routes, safe-houses and volunteer guides to facilitate the escape to Canada of runaway slaves.

Most local churches disapproved, taking the position that it is wrong to break a law simply because you disagree with it. They believed that a good Christian should work to change the law, not violate it. In the face of this official disapproval, 35 of these “lawbreakers,” withdrew and started a new congregation: The First Congregational Church.

Now more than 170 years later, we remain a spirited, fascinating congregation of between eight and nine hundred members; an excellent and vital example of Congregationalism and of the free-church approach to nurturing the Christian Faith.