Follen Church Society-Unitarian Universalist
Encyclopedia
The Follen Church Society is an historic Unitarian Universalist congregation located at 755 Massachusetts Avenue in Lexington
, Massachusetts
.
who was the first minister called by the church, in 1835. Follen served the congregation from 1835–1836 and from 1839-1840. Ralph Waldo Emerson
was the interim minister of the congregation, then called the Second Congregational Society in Lexington, from 1836 to 1838. This was his last ministerial position.
Follen Church, built in 1839, is the oldest standing church building in Lexington. The unique octagonal sanctuary was designed by its first minister, Rev. Charles Follen.
On April 30, 1976, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places
as the Follen Community Church.
Its past minister is the Rev. Lucinda Duncan. The church has now entered an Interim period, with Rev. Cricket Potter and Rev. Tricia Brennan as Co-Ministers. The director of religious education is Deborah Zagaeski. Thomas Stumpf
is director of music.
Lexington, Massachusetts
Lexington is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 31,399 at the 2010 census. This town is famous for being the site of the first shot of the American Revolution, in the Battle of Lexington on April 19, 1775.- History :...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
History
The church is named for Charles FollenCharles Follen
Charles Follen was a German poet and patriot, who later moved to the United States and became the first professor of German at Harvard University, a Unitarian minister, and a radical abolitionist.-Life in Europe:...
who was the first minister called by the church, in 1835. Follen served the congregation from 1835–1836 and from 1839-1840. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American essayist, lecturer, and poet, who led the Transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century...
was the interim minister of the congregation, then called the Second Congregational Society in Lexington, from 1836 to 1838. This was his last ministerial position.
Follen Church, built in 1839, is the oldest standing church building in Lexington. The unique octagonal sanctuary was designed by its first minister, Rev. Charles Follen.
On April 30, 1976, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
as the Follen Community Church.
Its past minister is the Rev. Lucinda Duncan. The church has now entered an Interim period, with Rev. Cricket Potter and Rev. Tricia Brennan as Co-Ministers. The director of religious education is Deborah Zagaeski. Thomas Stumpf
Thomas Stumpf
Thomas Stumpf is a classical pianist in the Boston area. He is also a conductor, composer, author, and teacher.-Biography:Thomas Stumpf received his degrees in piano performance from the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, and the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. He was awarded the...
is director of music.