Restoration Road, Wakefield, MA
Restoration Road, Wakefield, MA
Pillars & Foundations documents an exploration of communities, as well as faith through religious institutions. My intent is to share experiences, and spread the positivity that I observe. The hope is to provide a window into these organizations allowing those who might not other wise venture in to appreciate these thoughtful, often intimate groups in our midst. Faith centers embody a drive to make a difference which they deliver upon, regardless if it is with one person looking for hope & community, or a recipient of their expansive charitable work.
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| I typically don't adjust photos, but I really appreciated how this B&W came out. The Church has particular historical significance and therefore it seemed fitting. |
Building & History
Greenwood Union Church is the historical name of Restoration Road, and I suspect is the label many long term residents of Wakefield may know this building by. The sign in the front of the building still boasts this name, with "Restoration Road," added on below. Built originally in 1884-1885 it is one of the few churches I've visited to be bestowed with its own Wikipedia page. The church had two substantial additions through the decades, the last one occurring in 1960 which created the new sleek sanctuary which faces Main St. The large crucifix superimposed on blue tile is unique and ties into large stained glass windows which feature blues in the color selections. It is an impressive amalgam of architectures split between the Victorian accents of the late 1800s and the modern optimism of the early 1960s. I can't imagine the neighborhood with out it, which is perhaps why it was put on the Register of Historic Places in 1989. The Lucius Beebe Memorial Library's digital resources note that Greenwood Union was originally a non-denominational Congregational Church. It is perhaps of note that the current residents, Restoration Road, are perhaps very much cut from this tradition.
The Congregation
It is a youthful congregation full of energy. The pastor Joie Thompson, approached my wife and I immediately engaging us as though we were friends that he had not seen in some time. We exchanged the typical pleasantries when you meet someone, about where we live, how long we've been here and where we came from originally. Others also introduced themselves including Rev. Thompson's wife Natalie. The commonly used idiom "down to earth," comes to mind when I describe the congregants. While the church was not full, there was a good showing for a beautiful summer day, and a congregation that defines itself as a "plant." Restoration Road is affiliated with Seven Mile Road, an organization that has planted churches across the Boston area. The church has an active Facebook page demonstrating the liveliness of the community.
The Service
We were perhaps lucky to see another special event in our exploration. In lieu of a typical service Restoration Road had testimonies of some of its congregants. Testimonies are special accounts of revelation, the stories of those who were born again, or are choosing to be born again into the faith. The link in the prior sentence includes some old testament reference that basically summarize that God has revealed "divine truth," to an otherwise/previously secular person. Testimonies may have significance in all of Christianity, but perhaps are more significant to Evangelical Christian churches such as Restoration Road.We heard five amazing stories of people who faced challenges in life, and found strength to rectify wrongs through their acquisition of faith, and the continued support of this community. I will not go into the details of these accounts, however the church website does make them available in the form of a podcast. It is wonderful to hear of people who can begin the process of healing after remedying difficult situations that may occur in life.
Natalie, the pastor's wife is the lead vocalist in the passionate praise rock band that ties everything together. Natalie's strong voice with a touch of vibrato, demonstrates a level passion to the faith, and helps to make the service resonate further to its congregants. The band has a strong percussionist as well which has been uncommon in the services I've experienced throughout New England.
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| The entrance of the church, shown above in black & white. This church is on a fairly busy street corner in the Greenwood neighborhood of Wakefield, and because of several expansions and the way it is situated, it is perhaps the one building I've truly had difficulty capturing in entirety in a photograph. |
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| I'm not sure what the significance of this patriotic, coat of arms display for the branches of the military is. It is in the glass window directly adjacent to the main entrance, likely added in the 1960s when the new addition was built. |
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| The Sanctuary seems more modern than something from the 1960s, and I can't speak to whether it has had an additional renovation. Perhaps lighting and the LCD screens, as well as the praise band set up has contributed to this. This nave has beautiful natural light, the blue and light panel windows carry accents of color visible on the outside of the church, through the interior. Not something I've seen often. |
Outreach & Activities
Before the service Rev. Thompson made a plea of the congregation to assist a family with food, as an example of the generosity of the congregation. While the summer is a bit slower for activities/ministries, there are several during the winter months. Examples of this are a kids ministry and a hospitality group. Restoration Road has also done some work in relation to the Boys and Girls Club of Wakefield according to their FB page. It seems like this church relatively new to Wakefield is already making waves in the surrounding communities to make them richer.
Text and photographs by George Parks
Sources are embedded in links
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