First Congregational Church of Shrewsbury has stood at the head of the Shrewsbury Common since 1723, the year after the town was first settled. Generations of residents have walked across the green to gather for worship, town meetings, vigils, and celebrations. The congregation still meets in a Federal-style meetinghouse that has been enlarged, lifted onto logs, and reoriented over three centuries, while the parish itself has grown into a multi-staffed United Church of Christ congregation known for its choral and handbell music, its Open and Affirming welcome, its Creation Justice commitments, and a children and youth program that draws families from across the town.
A congregation of the United Church of Christ
The church is a member congregation of the United Church of Christ, which was formed in 1957 through the merger of four denominations, including the Congregationalists of New England, from whom this parish draws its heritage. The congregation joins with other UCC churches in supporting common ministries in the region, across the country, and around the globe.
The parish holds to the UCC Statement of Faith, acknowledging Jesus Christ as the sole Head of the church, looking to the Word of God in the Scriptures and to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, claiming the faith of the historic Church expressed in the ancient creeds and reclaimed by the Protestant Reformers, and recognizing two sacraments: Baptism and the Lord's Supper or Holy Communion.
The congregation describes itself in its mission statement as an inclusive and compassionate community of worship and mission, working for a faith that "transcends the things that separate us," endures "tests of life and time," and is environmentally responsible in protecting God's creation.
Open and Affirming, and Creation Justice
First Congregational Church of Shrewsbury is an Open and Affirming (ONA) congregation of the UCC. Open and Affirming is the denomination's designation for congregations and other bodies that make a public covenant of welcome into their full life and ministry to persons of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions.
The church's own ONA statement reads: "We, the First Congregational Church of Shrewsbury, endeavor to live out the Great Commandment by loving, welcoming and affirming all people. We welcome and affirm everyone including people of all gender identities and expressions, sexual orientations, ages, races, cultures, family configurations, economic circumstances, physical, cognitive and emotional abilities, educational levels, spiritual and religious traditions. We invite all to share in the Christian life, leadership, ministry, fellowship, worship, sacraments, responsibilities, blessings and joys of our church family."
The parish is also a certified Creation Justice Church of the UCC. The Creation Justice program is not a prescribed checklist but a process of discernment in which each congregation drafts its own covenant. The church's covenant pledges members to work together to heal and restore Creation and to protect the planet, its people, and all the abundant life and resources within it from exploitation and degradation.
Three hundred years on the green
The church's roots go back to the early days of Shrewsbury itself. On October 27, 1719, the proprietors of the town voted "that the meeting house be on Rocky Plain near the pines," choosing a spot just easterly of the present meetinghouse at the head of the Common. The first meeting house, forty by thirty-two feet, was begun in 1721 at a cost of two hundred and ten pounds, about five pounds per family.
On December 4, 1723, fifteen male members drew up a covenant and ordained their first minister, the Harvard graduate Rev. Job Cushing, who served until his death in 1760. After forty-five years, the original meeting house was taken down, and a new one was built in 1766, designed by Daniel Hemenway in the Federal style and built with the help of all the townspeople. A steeple followed in 1807, the first bell in 1808, and a clock not long after.
In 1834, the building was moved by putting logs underneath and rolling it, turned ninety degrees and shifted fifty feet back from the Common to its present location, facing south, with a vestry constructed beneath it. A parish house with a basement and hall above was added to the north end in 1923. The hurricane of 1938 blew the original steeple through the roof; a new one was built on the ground and hoisted into place. A three-story addition with a chapel and other rooms was dedicated in the spring of 1956, and in 1995 a second three-story addition brought an elevator. The building still serves its original purpose three hundred years later.
In 2023, the congregation marked its tercentenary with a 256-page anniversary book, Honoring Our Past, Cherishing Our Present, Looking to Our Future, compiled over two years and featuring 544 images. The "Our Story Ministry," also known as the Historians, was formed in 2018 and continues to gather and share the parish's story.
Sunday morning worship
Worship is at the center of congregational life. Services are held each Sunday at 9:30 a.m., both in person and via livestream. Visitors are encouraged to arrive from 9:15 a.m. and to come as they are. Dress ranges from jeans to business attire. Services typically last just over an hour and include music, scripture readings, a sermon, time for prayer, and a passed offering.
The sacrament of Holy Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month. All are welcome to participate at the open table. Parents who feel their children are ready may bring them forward in the sanctuary; Communion is also shared together by the children during their Sunday school time.
The sacrament of Baptism is celebrated during worship services throughout the year and can be arranged by calling the church office. Infants, children, youth, and adults can all be baptized, with the ceremony normally taking place in the presence of the gathered congregation.
The sanctuary entrance is reached by walking up one flight of stairs or taking the elevator, then crossing Gifford Hall through the double doors, where ushers greet visitors. The building is fully handicapped accessible.
Music at the heart of worship
Music is one of the most vital ministries of the parish and central to its worship. The Music Ministry, directed by Curtis Smith, offers opportunities for singers, ringers, and instrumentalists of all ages, with groups regularly presenting music in worship from September through June and at special services throughout the year.
The church's collection of instruments is a point of pride, and choirs are open to children through adults at all levels of ability and experience. Handbell and chime choirs are available for school-age children and adults, and instrumentalists, whether soloists or ensembles, are invited to play in worship, join the monthly group, or take part in the church's coffeehouses.
For younger musicians, the Music Committee designates youth each year for internships that recognize musical excellence and foster youth leadership; several interns have gone on to professional careers in music. The Stowe Music Scholarship, established in May 2025 in honor of long-time member Florence Stowe, extends that tradition of support.
Beyond the sanctuary, the Arts on the Green concert series, presented with the Worcester Cultural Coalition, brings a broader range of performing arts to the Town of Shrewsbury and surrounding communities, including the Annual Spooktacular, Church Road Coffeehouse evenings, and the Annual Organ Concert.
Children, youth, and confirmation
The Christian Education program is organized around the conviction that "God Isn't Boring - why should Sunday School be?" Children and youth from preschool through grade four begin worship with their families in the sanctuary and, after a short Children's Message, are dismissed to KidZone. Using the Sparkhouse Digital Curriculum, KidZone classes follow a three-week rhythm that revisits a Bible passage through art, cooking, games, and activities.
Middle School youth in grades five through eight stay for the Children's Message and then gather in the Middle School lounge for scripture-centered discussion, often with video clips to spark conversation.
Nursery childcare for infants and toddlers up to age two is available during the entire worship service and KidZone time. The nursery is staffed by a dedicated provider and CORI-checked volunteer members, and is equipped with books and toys.
Two youth groups extend ministry into the evenings. The High School Youth Group, for grades nine through twelve, meets on the second and fourth Sundays of the month from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. during the school year. Tween Connection, for grades five through eight, meets on the first and third Sundays from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Both groups are led by CORI-checked volunteers following the church's two-adult policy and are open to all youth, whether or not they are church members. Activities include games, outings such as apple picking and paintball, service projects, lock-ins, and a June mission trip.
Confirmation is offered for students in or near ninth grade. The year of intentional learning covers God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, the history of the universal church, and the local congregation, using the UCC's Affirming Faith curriculum. Confirmation students are then invited to consider taking church membership.
Adult faith formation
Formation for adults takes several forms during the week. Lectionary at Lunch is a drop-in Bible study held on Tuesdays from noon to 1:00 p.m. in the Adkins Room. Participants bring a lunch and study the lectionary readings that will appear in the coming Sunday services. Pastor Karen Dorshimer-Chaplin leads the study.
Morning Meditation meets on Tuesdays at 8:00 a.m. in the Church Parlor. Open to beginners and longtime practitioners alike, the half-hour gathering offers a way to start the day in peace.
Multi-week Bible studies are offered seasonally, often in Advent or Lent. A recent six-week course walked participants through The Gospel of Mark: A Beginner's Guide to the Good News by Amy-Jill Levine on Wednesday evenings in the Chapel.
The Micah Project, named for the prophet's call to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God, gathers adults to study and reflect on contemporary social issues through a faith lens. Theology on Tap events, held at local restaurants and pubs, bring the same spirit of conversation to a more social setting. Occasional book discussions draw on the lending library in Gifford Hall, and the UCC Daily Devotional and the parish's own "60 Days of Prayer" booklets support daily reflection.
Fellowship, service, and outreach
Sunday mornings at First Congregational extend well past the benediction. Coffee hour follows worship each week in Gifford Hall, with lemonade and conversation, and special Sundays add 90th Birthday breads, Confirmation cake, Souper Sunday, Appetizer Sunday, Christmas Eve cocoa, or Easter cinnamon buns to the table.
Care Teams provide a long-standing ministry of cards, calls, visits, and homemade meals for members who are temporarily or permanently separated from the life of the church, as well as occasional transportation to medical appointments or Sunday services. The teams keep a stocked freezer so that soups, casseroles, quick breads, and cookies can be delivered when needs arise.
Hands for Hope is a knitting, sewing, and crocheting ministry that creates items for the congregation and for others in the community and abroad. The Music Ministry and Earth Stewardship team offer additional ways to serve, while monthly collections gather clothing, gift cards, food, and Christmas gifts for local organizations serving families and individuals in need.
Senior Minister Rev. Holly MillerShank serves on the Town of Shrewsbury's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee. The congregation has also helped initiate the Shrewsbury Pride Run, and supports a range of community partners through prayer, presence, and financial giving.
Caregiver resources
The parish maintains a Caregiver Resources page with links to elder-care programs, memory cafés, the Alzheimer's Association MA/NH Chapter, the Massachusetts Family Caregiver Support Program, the Town of Shrewsbury's Dementia-Friendly resources, and the Shrewsbury Fire Department's Community Connect platform, which allows residents to share critical household information with first responders. The church notes that these resources are provided for convenience and do not constitute endorsement.
Weddings, funerals, baptisms, and building rental
The historic sanctuary is a popular venue for weddings, including the renewal of vows. The parish welcomes couples of all kinds, understanding that God's love is manifest in manifold ways, and offers both ceremonies and officiating. Funeral ceremonies are also held in the church and are tailored to celebrate the life of the person who has died while supporting family and friends through their loss.
The building is also available for meetings and other life events such as baby showers and birthday parties. Spaces range from a large hall to a single office, and requests are coordinated through the church office.
Safety and security
A Security Committee works with local police and fire departments to review the facility on an ongoing basis. Emergency evacuation plans are posted, an AED is on hand, and the entrance is monitored using key cards, an intercom, and security cameras. The Christian Education team leads the church's Safe Church Policy, with all staff and volunteers trained and CORI-checked.
Leadership and staff
Rev. Holly MillerShank has served as Senior Minister since 2022 and is supported by Rev. Karen Dorshimer Chaplin as Acting Associate Minister. Curtis Smith serves as Music Director, April Mullins as Christian Education Director, Christine Evasius as Administrative Assistant, Lauren Morse as Finance Administrator, and Mike Ferreira as Building Superintendent, with Doug Nichols and Seth Mullins as Sextons.
Visiting and getting involved
The church sits at the corner of Route 140 and Main Street, on the Common next to the Shrewsbury Fire Station. Parking is available in the lot at the far end of the Common; visitors enter through the main entrance marked by a Welcome banner and may take the elevator or stairs up one flight. Gifford Hall, just inside, hosts a welcome and visitor center staffed by volunteers who can answer questions, add names to the mailing list, register children for KidZone, or lead tours of the building.
The office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and can be reached at 508-845-7286 or office@fccsm.org. "The Looking Ahead," a weekly email of upcoming events, is sent every Thursday. Supporters may give online, by mail, or in person; pledges for the coming year are part of an annual Stewardship campaign that draws on a Creation-themed verse about trees that bear fruit when they trust in God.
After worship each Sunday, the coffee hour in Gifford Hall is often the easiest place to start. The Music Ministry, KidZone, youth groups, Care Teams, Hands for Hope, Earth Stewardship, the Micah Project, and the church's many committees and small groups offer further ways to connect - and all are open to anyone who wishes to join in the work of the parish.