12 Washburn Road  ~ Alexandria, New Hampshire 03222 ~ Phone  603-744-8104
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Alexandria Methodist Church History
From 1818 to 1968

THE CHURCH ON THE ALEXANDRIA COMMON
-Its Early History-
By Mrs.   Nellie K. Wadhams


V.    The Union Church on the Common 1818-1913

The total population of Alexandria, according to the census of 1830, twelve years after the purchase of the
land on which the church stands, was 1, 250 persons. The village was apparently flourishing. A map of the
town in I860 shows several small industries operating in the village and sizeable settlements' at Four
Corners, North Alexandria, Plumer Hill, Kelley Corners, South Alexandria and the Rhodes District on the
Danbury Road. Records of Methodist classes in 1844 show them to have been six in number as follows:
South Alexandria 31 members, Rhodes District 25 members, and Village 17 members. Kelley Corners 16
members, Plumer Hill 30 members, North Alexandria 10 members.    In contrast, in 1869 the Methodist
records show one class of 17 members in town. This demonstrates what a bloodletting Alexandria took as a
result of the trek to the western farmlands that followed the close of the Civil War. War and resettlement,
however, had still not clouded the horizon of Alexandria's prosperity on April 25, 1818, when for the sum of
$19. 50 David Atwood Junior, William Crawford Junior and Daniel Corliss, all of Alexandria and Philip Ferrin
of New Chester (now Bristol), "gentlemen for and in behalf of the proprietors and owners of the Meeting
House that is now building, " received from William Lock a deed for the land on which the church now stands,
including the Common. This deed was registered with the Registrar of Deeds, February 15, 1821. The
Proprietors of the Union Meeting House in Alexandria were incorporated by an act of the legislature
December 22, 1819 and adopted By Laws on December 18, 1857, forty-two years later and almost exactly
one hundred years ago.  According to these By Laws, an annual meeting was to be held on the second
Tuesday of January at one o'clock P. M. to choose officers and transact business; a warrant to be posted in
advance by the clerk. The officers were to consist of a chairman, clerk, treasurer and three directors. All
officers were required to take an oath of office. Repairs were to be made by vote of a majority of the
members and their cost prorated to them, anyone not meeting the assessment to forfeit membership. The
church was to be used for religious services only and time was allotted to each denomination in proportion to
the number of pew owners it represented. Each denomination paid a minister to preach during its allotted
period and also sextons to wash, sweep, and warm the building during that period. If the denomination failed
to take advantage of its opportunity, another denomination might take over by agreement with the
proprietors. A perusal of the names of the proprietors in 1857 shows, as near as can be determined, a fairly
even distribution between the Methodists and the Free Will Baptists, the only two religious organizations
represented in town at that time.

It is interesting to note that this corporation was subject to periods of hibernation and was revived more than
once by the expedient of having a meeting called by a Justice of the Peace at the request of five proprietors.
The Justice posted a warrant for the meeting of the corporation in two public places, giving date, place of
meeting and business to be acted upon. New officers were then elected and a new start made. During the
ninety-five years when this corporation was active, the Union Church on the common was served by
ministers of participating denominations, the names of some of which remain in the records as follows:






















We see then, the flowering of this unique idea in Alexandria between the years 1818 and 1913. In the weekly
class meetings each denomination indoctrinated its members in its peculiar beliefs; on Sunday all united in a
service of praise, prayer, Bible reading and sermon, the minister emphasizing the common beliefs of all
Christians. Our predecessors, the inhabitants of Alexandria during those 95 years of comparative harmony
are to be congratulated on its success. But in 1913, the fatal weakness of the plan led to its abandonment.
The proprietors, those who constituted the lega1 body to do business for the Union Church were those who
bought pews in the meetinghouse. When the buying of pews went out of style, no attention was given to
amending the By Laws to provide another way of securing official membership. The Methodist Church took
over and supplied the organization for the church from 1913 on. This move was not contested because it had
become a reality almost fifteen years before it was official. The known records of the Calvin Baptist Church
end March 14, 1853: those of the Antipedo Baptist in 1851. In 1898, the members of the Free Will Baptists
Organization, fourteen in number, voted to take their letters to the Bristol Baptist church. In 1913, when the
corporation held its last meeting, the field had been left to five Methodists and the last list of proprietors were
all of that denomination. Four names appearing on that last list will be familiar to present day Alexandrians:
Will Patten, Warren Verrill, Mary Tenney, and Harry Thissell.

HISTORY OF THE HORSE SHEDS AT ALEXANDRIA CHURCH

On March 19, 1895, the Proprietors of the Union Meeting House voted in meeting assembled to "grant leave
to individuals to erect horse sheds on the common; to choose a committee of three persons to select the spot
where said sheds may be built, and said individuals shall notify said committee of the number of sheds
wanted; that said sheds shall be built to the acceptance and agreeably to the plans of said committee. "
In calling the above meeting, the warrant read, "To see if the proprietors will vote to authorize individuals to
erect horse sheds on the Common east of the meeting house. "
On December 30, 1892, an article in the warrant for a meeting of the proprietors says; III To see if the
proprietors will make it obligatory on the owners of the horse sheds to keep them in good repair. If not, they
forfeit the same.
These sheds were torn down about 1928.


From the Alexandria Methodist Church records
1903 to 1968

By Evelyn B. Hutchins, Recording Secretary
1903 to 04 - Rev. Adolphus Linfield was the pastor.

July 21, 1907 - Rev. F.H. Sleeper reports morning and evening services every Sunday, and a weeknight
service on Thursdays, and every month our Church paper is sent to the homes of the people free of charge,
the expense being paid by a servant of the Lord. The Saturday evening Bible class has been well attended,
this class has been held at the homes.
April 19, 1908 - Pastor A. E. Burns reports an average attendance of 39 in the morning service and 26 in the
evening; have continued the Bible class and meetings are held at Riverside.
Feb. 1909 - Pastor Rev. Frank P. Fletcher.
Dec. 1909 - Pastor Rev. E. May.
Nov. 1910 - a committee was chosen to act on selling the parsonage.
June 1911 - Pastor Rev. A. M. Markey.
Nov. 1912  - Pastor Rev. D. B. Dow.
July 1913 - Pastor Rev. G. J. Buckley.
Mar. 1914 - Parsonage valued at $700.00: membership 61.
Mar. 1915 - The Ladies Aid was organized-19 members soon increased to 33: meetings were held every two
weeks; a silk quilt was made and sold for $10.00: other articles were made and sold, and a quilt presented to
the Pastor's wife.
Aug. 1915 - At the Old Home Day meeting subscriptions were pledged for repairs on the Church. In the early
fall workmen were available and work was started to beautify God's House.
Dec. 12th - was the time for reopening the services. The District Supt.   Rev. Adolphus Linfield was the
speaker for the morning service and Rev. D. E. Burns speaker for the evening service.  The work of repairs
included electric lights $35.00, nine memorial windows $382. 00, new ceiling and walls painted $500. 00.  D.
B. Plumer gave $70.00 for the carpet and the Ladies Aid gave $10.00 and sewed the carpet together.  With
miscellaneous expenses the total cost was $1062. 10.
A Sunday School was organized at South Alexandria, which was called the Merrill Mission Sunday School.
Mrs. G. J. Buckley, supt.
Feb. 1916 - Voted that the secretary extend a note of thanks to the Tilton   bank for the piece of mahogany
donated for a pulpit.
Mar. 1916 - The Epworth League was organized with 17 charter members.
April - Sunrise service was held at the Church and a
concert in the evening.
Dec. - The Epworth League held a supper and presented a play "The Village Schoolmarm". Total amount
received for the year was $99.04 from this a communion set and Hymn Books were given to the Church.
July 1918 - Voted to raise the Pastor's salary to $550. 00.
Feb. 1919 - From the will of S. B. Sleeper the sum of $1000. 00 was invested in the Town Trust Fund, the
interest to be used for the Church.The Ladies Aid in the past year held 21 meetings. From 8 suppers and
sale of articles, $289. 00 was paid to the Church.
Jan. 1920 - Pastor A. H. Drury. The attendance smaller than last year, the Sunday School has gone down to
Supt; Pastor and Treasurer. The Epworth League is a thing of the past. The Ladies Aid summer suppers
were a grand success - $265. 00 was paid to the Church and a stove was bought for the parsonage for $33.
00. Also paid for insurance and articles for the parsonage, total paid out $392.67.
Jan. 1921 - There are three Sunday Schools held during the summer: Riverside is the largest.
Sept. 1921 -  Voted to assess the pews to make up the deficiency on painting the Church.
Dec. 1922 -Voted to add to the benevolent budget $50. 00 a year for 5 years, not to begin until 1925. This is
to go to the School of Theology in Boston.
1929 - Rev. A.B. Thompson.
June 1930 - Voted to authorize the Trustees to sell the parsonage if it
was in their judgment to do so.
April 1931 - The $1000. 00 received for the parsonage was invested in the N.H. Conference, the dividends to
be used for the Church.
May 20, 1934 - Rev. E. W. Thompson
Sept. 1934 - Voted that the Pastor's salary be $400. 00.
Jan. 31, 1936 - Rev. C.Yinger
Apr. 11, 1936 - Voted that the Trustees and Treasurer
of the Church turn over such funds as may be in their hands for investment in N. H. Methodist Conference,  
the dividends to be used for the Church budget.
Jan. 1937   Mrs. Emma Phillips of Concord has willed the Church $2000. 00 the interest to be used for
preaching.
1938 -The roof of the Church was shingled.
1939 - Rev.A.B. Thompson.
1939-51 - Sunday services were held in the Church in the afternoon. Winter services were held in the town
hall in a small room upstairs.
May 16, 1951 - The Women's Society of Christian Service was organized. 16 charter members this group
was discontinued Jan. 1953.    Suppers and sales were continued by the finance committee of the Church.

July 1951 - Rev. A. B. Thompson resigned as Pastor.
July 1951 -  Rev. Louis C. Toppan came as Pastor.

Nov. 1951 -  It was decided to hold Sunday services in the afternoon in the homes for the winter months.
This was continued until 1959.
Apr. 1952 - Plans were made for a vacation Bible school to be held for two weeks in July.
June 1952 - The outside of the Church was painted. Cost $515.57.
July 1953 - It was voted to accept the services of a religious worker to be sent here by District Supt. Rev. Fox
to call at every home in the town.    Rev. Robert Sharp of Canaan was sent for this work. Plans have started
for redecorating the Church.
Aug. 2, 1953 - A Galilean sunset service was held on the shore of Newfound Lake, joint with Bristol
Federated Church and Hebron Congregational Church; four ministers took part in the service: Rev. L. C.
Toppan, Rev. W. Brockway, Rev. R. Sharp and Dr. Albert E. Day of Baltimore, Md. a summer resident in
Alexandria; more than 150 persons attended the service. This service was arranged under the sponsorship
of the newly formed Newfound Area Cooperative Parish (known as NACOP). This group held meetings until
1959.
Aug. 11, 1954 -The second Lakeside service was held;
Dr. H. Ockenga, pastor of Park St. Congregational Church, Boston was the guest speaker. Rev. W.
Brockway, and Rev. L.C. Toppan conducted the service.
Sept. 1954 - Mr. Will Tenney gave $500.00 to the Church to be invested as the Mary Brown Tenney Fund:
the dividends to be used for the Church.
1955 - Weekly religious education classes were held at the village school after school hours; for all who
wanted to attend. Rev. Toppan and Rev. Brockway under NACOP carried on this program.
July - The third Lakeside service was planned but was held at the Hebron Church because of the weather;
Rev. Poteat from Daytona Beach, Florida was the guest speaker.
Nov. - It was voted to buy a piano; later one was purchased for $25. 00.

Mar. 1957 - New tiles were put in the balcony ceiling where old ones had rusted and all new in the vestibule
for $160.00. In May all new electrical wiring and new lights were installed, cost $250.00. The inside of the
Church was painted and some repair work done in the belfry, cost $600.00. The money was raised by
suppers, sales, and donations from local and summer residents. Some funds were still on hand and plans
made to have a furnace, new carpet and seat cushions.
May 5 and 19 - were community workdays to cut down old trees and to rake and mow the lawn. Pot luck
suppers were served the workers by the Ladies.
June 2 - At 7:30 a service of Rededication was held under the direction of Rev. L. C. Toppan.    The District
Supt. Rev. Ray Cowan participated in the service, by leading the Act of Rededication.  This service was
occasioned by the redecoration and improvement of the interior of the Church after more than 40 years.
There were 110 persons in the congregation for the service.
July 7  Service at 7 P.M. was a joint service with Federated Church of Bristol,  Hebron Congregational,   
Baptist Church, Bristol at the Alexandria Methodist Church. 100 present.
July 21 - The NACOP annual meeting planned to be held at the Lake was held at the Hebron Church.
Because of rain; the guest speaker was Rev. Mark Strickland of Manchester,  N. H.
Sept. 1  - The Sunday School children presented the Church with a steel church marker for mounting on the
common.    This was later mounted on the Church.
July 20, 1958 -  Again the NACOP service was held at the Hebron Church due to weather conditions. The
guest speaker was Rev. Frederick Alden.
Sunday School enrollment for summer – 34, for winter – 19. Vacation Bible School - 43 children enrolled
Rev. Toppan, leader.
Apr. 1959 - It was voted to purchase a riding power mower.
This was purchased from contributions.
June - Received the resignation of Rev. L.C. Toppan
to take effect the end of August.
Sept. 25, I960 - A meeting was held to meet the new pastor and his wife, Dr. and Mrs. Hucksoll.
Nov. 3 - A pot luck supper was held at the town hall.
About 60 attended.
Dec. - The balance was paid on the Reserve Pension Fund. Payments were started April 1952. A total of
$520.00 was paid.
May 31, 1961 - A pot luck supper was held at the town hall. Dr.Hucksoll showed slides of his missionary
work in Alaska.
June - The Church walls were painted and repair work done on the belfry, cost $141.53.
July 16 - Mrs. Stanley Ransom gave An Altar Cross to the Church in memory of her parents and sister.        .
Nov. 5  - Hymn Registers were given to the Church and Sunday School by the Larson family in memory of
their mother. The Registers were made by Rev. A. B. Thompson.
Nov. -     A furnace was installed, cost $1500. 00.
Feb. 6, 1962 - The Women's Association of the Church
was organized with 8 charter members.
Apr. 7 - The Women's Association served a supper; the proceeds were used to make eight tables. The
material cost over $100.00, the tables were made by the men of the Church.
August - A new carpet was installed, cost $1450. 00 A guest book was given by Rev. and Mrs. A.B.
Thompson.
Oct.-        From the estate of Harvey B. Locke the Trustees received $500.00. This was deposited in the
Trustees savings account to be used for repairs on the Church.
July, 1963, The old lawn mower was traded in towards a
new one and a balance of $141.37 paid.
Aug. - New seat cushions were purchased and the
three chairs were upholstered, cost $1053.95.
Nov. - A flood light was put in on the common to light the Church. This was given by Mr. and Mrs. Harold
Bennett. Apr. 1964 Dr.Hucksoll resigned as Pastor. From June until Sept. we had supply pastors.
Sept.- Our new Pastor Everett Gassett was present.
10 shares of Tonopah Mining Stock given by Mrs. Hannah Rollins was sold. $55.20 was received. This was
deposited in the Trustees savings account.
The Women's Association gave a Communion table and linen Communion cloth and napkin. This table was
made by Rev. A. B. Thompson.
May 1965 -  The Women's Association had some ever
greens planted at the front of the Church.
Dec.- The Church walls were painted, cost $269.50.
Apr. 1967 - $20.88 was received from the estate of Flossie
Adams, given by the heirs; this was deposited in the Trustees savings account.
Nov. 12 - At the evening service there was a dedication ceremony for the Christian Flag given in memory of
Kathleen Hutchins Sharp by her family.
Vacation Bible School has been held at the Church every summer for one or two weeks; this year it was held
at the Hebron Church for both Alexandria and Hebron children.    Our young people shared their gifts and
were able to send two goats to Ghana.
Sunday School has been held for ten months of the year. The past year there were 28 members, average
attendance 18.
The Women's Association has held a meeting once a month and has a summer sale the first Saturday of
August.
The Church membership is 39, average attendance 18; a meeting of the Official Board is held the second
Sunday of the month.
The capital funds of the Church, all of which are invested through the Methodist Conference Board of
Trustees are:
Parsonage Fund           $1000.00
David Rollins Fund         2383.00
Eliza Sanborn Fund          200.00
Mary Judkins Fund          100.00
Emma S. Phillips Fund   2000.00
Mary Brown Tenney Fund 500.00

The income is used for the operating budget of the Church.
1832-35  Rev. Amos Brown
1875        Rev. Moses Quimby
          Rev. W. Shaw
1876        Brother Corson
1877        Rev. McGregor
1879        Rev. T.E. Briggs
1880        Rev. David Colby
1882          Rev. C.W. Griffin
1884         Rev. George Wiggin'
1886        Rev. Dana Cotton
1889         Rev. R.J. Russell  
1891          Rev. J.N. Bradford
1894             Rev. D. M. Phillips
1897             Rev. F.J. Dark
1898             Rev. Sweet
Baptist
Free Will Baptist
Supply
M. E.
M.E.
Free Will Baptist
Free Will Baptist
Free Will Baptist
Free Will Baptist
M. E.
Free Will Baptist
M.E.
Free Will Baptist
Free Will Baptist
M.E.
Alexandria Church with Horse Sheds
Alexandria Town Hall & Haynes Library
Photos Compliments of Merry Ruggerillo