FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CONCORD.
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��dover Theological Seminary in 1824. He was not only a faithful minister of of Christ, but a citizen of valued and acknowledged influence, during a per- iod of the great growth and prosperity of Concord, and bore for a generation an active part in questions of reform and public weal, both at home and abroad. A friend of learning and its institutions, he was a Trustee of Dartmouth Col- lege from 1 840-1 8 7 7. In the eccle- siastical bodies of this State, and in the benevolent organizations of the land, he was active and respected, and was a corporate member of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and of other charitable socie- ties. In 1856 he published the History of Concord, and also published, during his ministry, many sermons, historical and biographical, and of public interest. Dr. Bouton was State Historian of New Hampshire from 186 7-1 8 7 7, and com- piled the ten Volumes of Provincial and State Papers, which have been pub- lished.
On Sunday, March 23d 1878, the 53d anniversary of his settlement, he at- tended public worship for the last time, and died June 6th, at nearly 79 years of age.
His form was laid, as have been those of all his predecessors in this ministry, among the people he had so faithfully served for nearly half a cen- tury.
Rev. Franklin D. Ayer, a graduate of Dartmouth College in 1856, and of An- dover Theological Seminary in 1859, was installed by the council which dis- missed Dr. Bouton, September 12, 1867. The Sermon was by Rev. Eden B. Foster, d. d., of Lowell, Mass. ; In- stalling Prayer, by Rev. J. M. R. Eaton, of Henniker ; Charge to the Pastor, by Rev. P. B. Day, d. d., of Hollis ; Fel- lowship of the Churches, by Rev. W. R. Jewett, of Fisherville ; Address to the People, by Rev. W. T. Savage, d. d,. of Franklin. He is still the Pastor.
Thus this church has not been with- out a settled ministry since March 7th, 1798, and reaches nearly its one hun- dred and fiftith anniversary with its fifth pastor.
��In the present pastorate 139 have
- en added to the chi
total additions, 1,566.
��been added to the church, making the
��OTHER CHURCHES FORMED.
For many years this was the only church in the town. The steady growth of the population at length called for other churches, and this church sent out three colonies of the Congregatonial order.
The West Tarish Church. After mature deliberation, the families resi- dent in the west part of the town decided to organize a new church. Eighty-eight members were dismissed, by unanimous consent, from this church, and April 22, 1S33, organized into the West Parish Congregational Church, and the next day Rev. Asa P. Tenney was installed its pastor.
The South Church. Soon the inter- ests of religion, and the increase of pop- ulation in the southerly part of the vil- lage, required the establishment of a Congregational Church in that vicinity. February 1, 1837, the sixty-seven mem- bers dismissed by a vote, unanimous, and sealed with prayers and friendly wishes, were organized into the South Congregational Church. May 3d, Rev. Daniel J. Noyes was installed its pastor.
The East Church. In 1842 a new house of worship was built, on the east side of the Merrimack river, and a church formed of the forty-four mem- bers, dismissed from this church for that purpose.
HOUSES OF WORSHIP.
The first meeting-house of Concord was built of logs, in 1727, and served as a fort and a place of worship. It stood near West's brook, and was occu- pied by this church twenty-three years. The second house was that so long known as the "Old North." The main body of the house was built in 1 75 1. In 1 783 it was completed with porches and a spire, and in 1802 enlarged so as to furnish sittings for twelve hundred people, and a bell was placed in the tower. Central in its location, it was for a long time the only place of pub- lic worship in the town, and was used by this church for ninety years. It
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