On December 6, 1998, at Sunday worship, the people of the Congregational
Church in Exeter, United Church of Christ, celebrated the 200th
anniversary of their meeting house.
The building, which has undergone
several renovations and additions since it was built in 1798, houses a
congregation that was gathered in 1638 by the founders of the town of
Exeter.
This was the culmination of a year of celebrations and commemorations
throughout 1998. 
For the bicentennial rededication of the building,
Deacon James Walsh, in period costume, read to the congregation from an
1898 article in the Exeter Gazette about the centennial celebration one
hundred years earlier. The choir sang early American choral music
originally published in Exeter about two hundred years ago and just
rediscovered by the church's Music Director, Charles Kaufmann.
In honor of the building's bicentennial, members and friends of the
church have pledged and contributed a total of about $425,000 to the
Third Century Building Fund, which will provide capital for restoration
and renovation projects in the building.
The project's goal is to ensure
that the meeting house is safe, strong, beautiful and useful for another
hundred years.
The building is a meeting place for many community groups and events, as
well as the church's own worship and all its programs and activities.
Back to History Page
Home