Pillars & Foundations

Saint Agnes Parish, Reading, MA Pillars & Foundations is a project I started over the 2016-2017 holiday season to explore my surrounding communities through its diverse churches and centers of faith. I think we can all benefit knowing of the positive impact that these organizations have. I have been visiting area places of worship in Wakefield where I reside, as well as an assortment of other communities such as Malden, Melrose, Stoneham and Lynnfield. This is my first visit to one of neighboring Reading's beautiful cornerstones, and Palm Sunday was an excellent day to experience Saint Agnes. Building & History Beyond the interesting history of the Parish itself, I found myself wondering, who is Saint Agnes? The story of Saint Agnes is sad and troubling, and this short video at Catholic.org quickly summarizes. In brief she is the patron saint of young girls, chastity, rape survivors and the Children of Mary. She was a martyr being killed allegedly by men who tu...

Wakefield-Lynnfield United Methodist Church, Wakefield, MA This blog documents my exploration as I attend the services of many different churches, predominantly near where I live in Massachusetts. These institutions are important, often overlooked and occasionally misjudged centers of our communities. These institutions have positive impact on their participants as well as others through their generosity and public service. It is possible that through this activity I may eventually consider a long term relationship with one of these pillars and foundations of the community, however I am eager to do a lot of exploring first. The Building, and the History The church is located right on the Lynnfield border in an area that is convenient to the centers of both towns. It is in a pleasant, perhaps quaint neighborhood of colonials and suburban New England appeal. The church is very unique looking, it has an art-deco style of architecture with a wood beam vaulted ceiling inside...

Centre Congregational Church, UCC, Lynnfield, Massachusetts My intent with this blog is to explore and experience the services of many different churches, predominantly near where I live in Massachusetts. These institutions are important, often overlooked and even misjudged centers of our communities that seek to make a positive impact on their participants as well as others through their generosity and public service. It is possible that through this activity I may eventually consider a long term relationship with one of these pillars and foundations of the community, however I am eager to do a lot of exploring first. The Building & History: Centre Congregational lies in bucolic Lynnfield Massachusetts, populated with wide expanses of tree-filled yards with grand colonial structures, often covered in white clapboard as is the church itself. It feels like a living museum on display, as the people of Lynnfield have clearly made efforts to preserve the historic character ...

Melrose Unitarian Universalist Church, Melrose, Massachusetts I intend to explore and experience the services of many different churches, predominantly near where I live in Massachusetts, and to share my observations as part of this blog. These institutions are important, often overlooked and even misjudged centers of our communities that seek to make a positive impact on their participants as well as others through their generosity and public service. It is possible that through this activity I may eventually consider a long term relationship with one of these pillars and foundations of the community, however I am eager to do a lot of exploring first. The Building and Organization History: My source for information, Melrose UU website does a nice job or writing up details on their congregation history . Part of the congregation itself dates to 1849, where the first church was constructed in 1852 under what became the First Universalist Parish of Melrose. Interestingly thi...