First Congregational Church (Hudson, Ohio)

Founded 1802; between 1842-1849 a separate church, known as Free Congregational Church, was formed by members in disagreement with the church's policy on slavery; Free Congregational Church later returned to become part of First Congregational Church.

The First Congregational Church was the first organized church in Hudson, Ohio. Hudson was founded by David Hudson (1761-1836), of Goshen, Connecticut, who had purchased rights to land in the Western Reserve. Hudson made his first trip to the area in 1799 and a year later returned with a group of settlers. The first worship service was held on Sunday, June 8, 1800, a day after the group's successful trip.

The church was formally organized on September 4, 1802 with the assistance of Rev. Joseph Badger of the Connecticut Missionary Society. The church had 13 charter members and David Hudson and Stephen Thompson, Jr. were named the first deacons.

Services were held in a log schoolhouse until 1820 when a meeting house (where the Town Hall stands today) was built. The present church at 47 Aurora Street was dedicated on March 1, 1865 and designed by local architect Simeon Porter (1807-1871). In 1909, James Ellsworth (1849-1925) gifted the house next door to the church for use as a parsonage, but it was sold in 1947. A new wing was added in 1924, which included a new gymnasium, Sunday School rooms, and a kitchen. An educational wing was dedicated on October 25, 1959.

In 1836, the First Congregational Church became involved in the slavery debate, which eventually divided the congregation. Among those dedicated to the cause was longtime Hudson resident Owen Brown (1771-1856). His son, abolitionist John Brown (1800-1859), who was among one of the church's members, famously vowed during an 1837 prayer meeting that he would dedicate his life to abolishing slavery. While most of the congregation felt that slavery should be abolished, the congregation disagreed over what should happen to the freed slaves. Most of the congregation felt that former slaves should be sent back to Africa to start their own colonies. However, other individuals, including Owen Brown, felt that former slaves should be freed and allowed to remain in the United States. A group of 11 members, led by Owen Brown, left the church and formed the Free Congregational Church in a building next to Turner's Mill. Most of the members eventually returned to the First Congregational Church in the 1850s after the colonization program failed.

Source of First Congregational Church history: Manak, Frank, ed. The First Congregational Church of Hudson, Ohio United Church of Christ : bicentennial history, 1802-2002 . Hudson, Ohio: The First Congregational Church of Hudson, Ohio, 2003.