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The Union Christian Church was erected in 1840 as a town meeting house, and was formally dedicated as the “Congregational Church Society” in 1842.
The Property where the church stands was sold by Rowland R. Pollard and deeded to Thomas Moore, Lyman Wood and Enoch Wetherbee for nineteen dollars. The original deed stated that the land was to be used for “the special purpose of erecting a meeting house, sheds and necessary buildings and for no other purpose whatsoever.”
The lumber for the church was cut locally. The iron thresholds at the two outer front doors were made from iron that was mined, smelted and cast at Tyson Furnace in the southern part of Plymouth. These thresholds are still in use.
Originally, the church had box pews and deacons’ benches at the front; the latter are still in the right-hand front corner of the church. At the time of the dedication in 1842, pews were allotted. It is recorded that on December 24, 1842 at 6 p.m., Calvin Galusha Coolidge, the President’s Grandfather, paid $31.00 for pew number 17, “to have and to hold, his heirs and assigns, to his and their own use now and forever.”
The melodeon, which now stands in the vestibule of the church, was used to accompany the singing of hymns.
In the early days of the church, town meetings were held in the basement.
By 1890 the church was in serious need of repair as it served as an active center for religious and social activities. The ladies of the community, led by Carrie Brown Coolidge, stepmother of the President, took on the job of raising funds for repairs by putting on strawberry socials and ten-cents-a plate baked bean suppers. It is probable that the men, including Col. John Coolidge, the President’s father, made major contributions by donating labor and materials.
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