How We Got Here
In 1858, dismayed because there was no community church in the Beechwood Section of Cohasset, Mrs. Clarisa Harris assembled twelve of her neighbors and dedicated herself to establishment of a house of worship. Under the name of “Beechwood Evangelical Union Society of Cohasset and Scituate” the church was formed in 1863. On October 18, 1866, the group laid the cornerstone for the present church structure, which consisted of a vestry and sanctuary with a room underneath housing the coal furnace, a small kitchen and a “gathering hall.” The pulpit and pews were purchased from a church in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts and brought by oxcart to Beechwood. The church was dedicated on January 15, 1867. The Reverend Cyrus R. Stone, who had been part of the new church since 1862, officiated at the dedication during which Mr. Charles Bailey of Scituate suggested that everyone contribute to the retirement of the mortgage. A collection was taken and $400 was raised on the spot, which paid off the mortgage of $5000.
In 1870, the Ladies Sewing Circle made a down payment on a parsonage at 505 Beechwood Street, which served as the home for the ministers for 87 years. It was sold in 1957 to help finance a two-story addition containing a new kitchen, furnace room, pastor’s study and parlor. The original steeple, constructed in 1867, was struck by lightning in 1948 and was replaced with the present shorter structure.
Over the years, Beechwood Congregational Church has been blessed with
many ministers. The Reverend William G. Sewell served 12 years from 1953 to
1965. In 1965, the Reverend Robert Campbell came as an interim minister and
ended up leading the church for 20 years, until 1985. In 1986, the Reverend
Stephen Hall of Scituate began his pastorate and served until 1994. Branson
Roberts served the congregation until 2001 when the Reverend Douglas Fish became
the minister. Pastor Fish served until November, 2007 and was succeeded by
pastor Rich Chamberlain of Hingham.