~Our History~

In 1871, when the Town of Ayer was incorporated, there were three separate churches that eventually became what is now The Federated Church of Ayer.

The above image is of the First Congregational Church, built in 1867. The church was founded in 1861. This is the church now known as The Federated Church of Ayer. It has undergone several architectural changes over the years.

The Methodist Episcopal Church, shown above, was located at the corner of Columbia and Newton Streets. It has been used for several different businesses over the years and now houses a church on its second level. The Methodist Episcopal Church was founded in 1869.

In 1915 the Methodist Episcopal Church joined with the Congregational Church as a Federated Church.

In July 1931, the federation of Congregational and Methodist Episcopal churches was dissolved and a new federation was formed when the Baptist Church joined with the first two churches. The first service of this federation was held on September 13, 1931.

The First Baptist Church was founded in 1851 and was located on the corner of Faulkner and Church Streets. The building is no longer standing.

The Bell Tower underwent a restoration and strengthening in 2008 when it was found unsafe to ring the historic "Plantation Bell". The 800 pound bell once called the 325 slaves on the Beavens family's "Plains Plantation". Confiscated during the Civil War, it was destined to become bullets or a cannon, but was rescued and eventually came to call worshippers to our church. There were three bells so saved from the "melting pot" and all hung in New England churches -- one in Canton, Massachusetts, one in Morristown, Vermont, and the third is now at the Federated Church of Ayer.

Dr. Benjamin Snow of Fitchburg bought it and presented it to the Unitarian Society with one stipulation that it should not be rung until the slaves were freed.When Abraham Lincoln issued his famous Emancipation Proclamation the bell was rung by Dr. Snow.

It was purchased from the Fitchburg Society in 1872 and has hung in our Bell Tower ever since.

The Federated Church of Ayer which is comprised of the United Church of Christ (formerly The Congregational Church), the United Methodist Church (formerly Methodist Episcopal Church), and the American Baptist (formerly the First Baptist) meet as one congregation. There is now a fourth category of membership which is known as Member of the Federation which is comprised of those members who are not affiliated with the other denominations. All are welcome at the FCA. We are proud of our diversified congregation. We consist of members of all ages, and many ethnic and racial backgrounds. We are a Beloved Community in Ayer. Please join us in worship. We are handicapped accessible from the rear. Parking is available in the rear, in the parking lot next to the church (look for marked spaces), and in front of the church on Washington Street.

The source for some of the information on this page is the commemorative brochure published for the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Federated Church of Ayer in 1981.