The First Parish of Bolton, originally known as the First Church of Christ, was gathered on 4 November 1741. We are affiliated with the UUA, UCC and American Baptist denominations and have Quaker roots.
In 1930, the First Church of Christ and Bolton’s two other churches (Quaker and Baptist) were struggling, and so, in 1931, the three churches “federated,” maintaining separate bylaws and budgets, but supporting one minister and one program. The first Church of Christ became the home of this “new” church, which called The Federated Church.
In 1984, Bolton’s Unitarians and American Baptists agreed to give up their individual identities and the federation was dissolved by an act of the state legislature. While maintaining relationships with the Unitarians and American Baptists, the Federated Church now had one budget, one set of bylaws and church offices, and one membership list.
In the years since, the church voted to revert to its historic name, “The First Parish of Bolton,” and also added an affiliation with the United Church of Christ.
In 1999, the First Parish of Bolton purchased nine acres of land immediately behind the church buildings to preserve valuable green space in the center of town and allow for future expansion of the church. And, in 2007, the first capital campaign since 1956 provided funds to restore the church steeple, create a new parking area, and increase accessibility to the sanctuary and Davis Hall.