About Us
Atkinson Congregational Church has been a "Light on the Hill," drawing people to worship since 1772. We welcome ALL people to our historic and very active church. It is a place of comfort and strength, reaching out to members from many communities.
A TIMELINE OF IMPORTANT DATES
IN THE LIFE OF ATKINSON CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
1767 Town of Atkinson is Incorporated
1768 Town’s first “meeting house” is built
1772 Atkinson Congregational Church is organized;
First pastor, Rev. Stephen Peabody, is called and ordained
1787 Rev. Peabody helps to found the Atkinson Academy and
serves as its first Headmaster
1791 Atkinson Academy becomes the 2nd co-educational school in the U.S.
1768 Town’s first “meeting house” is built
1772 Atkinson Congregational Church is organized;
First pastor, Rev. Stephen Peabody, is called and ordained
1787 Rev. Peabody helps to found the Atkinson Academy and
serves as its first Headmaster
1791 Atkinson Academy becomes the 2nd co-educational school in the U.S.
Today it is the oldest standing co-educational school in the nation.
1834 The Congregational Society of Atkinson is formed
1835 Present church building is built on land donated by Joseph B. Cogswell
1879 Church building is remodeled and refinished
1897 Chapel is added to the church building and dedicated
1888-1956 Parsonage is built on church property and used as
Pastors’ residence until the death of Rev. Tuthill;
Tuthill House has been used continuously for Christian Education
1834 The Congregational Society of Atkinson is formed
1835 Present church building is built on land donated by Joseph B. Cogswell
1879 Church building is remodeled and refinished
1897 Chapel is added to the church building and dedicated
1888-1956 Parsonage is built on church property and used as
Pastors’ residence until the death of Rev. Tuthill;
Tuthill House has been used continuously for Christian Education
since then
1966 Present parsonage at 99 Main St. is built
1946-1967 Atkinson Congregational Church is yoked together with
Hampstead Congregational Church for financial reasons
1980 Fellowship Hall is built during the ministry of Rev. Peter Lovejoy;
Rededicated as Lovejoy Hall in October of 2004, with Rev. Lovejoy
1966 Present parsonage at 99 Main St. is built
1946-1967 Atkinson Congregational Church is yoked together with
Hampstead Congregational Church for financial reasons
1980 Fellowship Hall is built during the ministry of Rev. Peter Lovejoy;
Rededicated as Lovejoy Hall in October of 2004, with Rev. Lovejoy
present
1984-1986 Extensive renovation of sanctuary and vestibule, with consultation of SPNEA
(T
he Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities)
1988 Steeple is rebuilt and rededicated, engineered by church parishioner Maurice Bresnahan
1997 225th anniversary of ACC is celebrated
1999 Present pastor, Rev. Paul H. Dionne, is called and installed as the church’s 25th pastor
2004-2008 Rev. William Wildman and Caroline Anderberg serve as Associate Pastors
2008 Karen McLain begins work as Christian Education Director
1988 Steeple is rebuilt and rededicated, engineered by church parishioner Maurice Bresnahan
1997 225th anniversary of ACC is celebrated
1999 Present pastor, Rev. Paul H. Dionne, is called and installed as the church’s 25th pastor
2004-2008 Rev. William Wildman and Caroline Anderberg serve as Associate Pastors
2008 Karen McLain begins work as Christian Education Director
