First Parish In Framingham

Specialties

First Parish in Framingham is a Unitarian Universalist religious community that encompasses liberal religious beliefs, spirituality, personal growth, social action and community building. We welcome all, including seekers, interfaith families, LGBTQ people and people of all ethnicities and abilities.

Our Sunday service is at 10 am, led b Rev. Kathleen Hepler. Religious exploration classes are offered for grades K-​8 during the service, and child care is available for infants and toddlers. There are evening groups for middle school and high school aged youths. There are many opportunities for all ages to connect with others, deepen your spiritual practice and beliefs and serve those in need.

History

Established in 1701.

Immediately after the founding of Framingham, in 1700, a town meeting was held to call to the new community the Rev. John Swift, a recent graduate of Harvard who had been preaching in the new meeting house. He arrived and wrote a Covenant between God and the inhabitants of the new town. The Church of Christ in Framingham was born.

In 1826, a new Parish was created by the state government to run the affairs of the church, after the town had relinquished that item of business. In 1830, a split in the church population took place. The conservative wing went across the street to found the forerunner of the present Plymouth Church, while First Parish became Unitarian. In 1960, the Unitarian Church merged with the Universalist Church in Framingham.

Today, our history spans five church buildings and twenty-​five settled ministers. Our present church campus consists of the Meeting House, the Parish House, and adjacent property at 110 Edgell Road.