WHAT WE BELIEVE

Beechwood Congregational Confession of Faith

“We believe that God is my loving, heavenly Father, and that He has sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to reveal His character and His will, and to redeem humanity from sin.”

Believing that we have been led by the Holy Spirit, I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior, my teacher, my Lord, my example.”

“We accept the Bible as the record of God’s revelation of His will.”

“We declare it to be our purpose, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to be conscientious in regard to prayer and the study of the Bible, especially as revealed in the life and words of Jesus Christ, the final standard for our faith, for our conduct in all business and social relations and in our personal life.”

WHY WE ARE HERE

Five Purposes of Beechwood Congregational Church

I. Maintenance of the public worship of God.

II. Instruction in the Christian religion.

III. Development of Christian character.

IV. Furtherance of the moral and social interests of the community.

V. Advancement in the world of the Kingdom of God.

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 the 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.

 

OUR COVENENT

"We covenant with the Lord and with one another, and do bind ourselves in the presence of God to walk together in his holy ways.

We will strive to be doers of the Word and not hearers only, to be firm in faith, quickened in hope, and constant in charity.

And we will consecrate our time, talent, substance, and influence as heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus."