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Finally in 1859-1960 the last major renovations and alterations were undertaken, again for the purpose of Finally in 1859-1960 the last major renovations and alterations were undertaken, again for the purpose of bringing the building in line with contemporary usage. Moved back four feet, the whole structure was raised to allow the introduction of a vestry below the auditorium. The sanctuary was enlarged; 138 pews on the main floor and 42 in the balcony. A new façade was added with elaborate decorations, Corinthian columns, pilasters, urns and enriched pediment and cornice surmounted by a rebuilt spire 152 feet 2 inches high. The 60x90 foot church remains almost unchanged in appearance since its dedication January 29, 1861. There have been some minor changes in the 60x70 foot and 30 foot high auditorium; a kitchen was constructed in part of the vestry in 1870. This space was converted into Chapel and office use in 1959-1960. Installed on one wall is a portion of a stained glass window from the Court Street Church. Other historic souvenirs of this building, removed in 1965, are the pulpit chairs now in use, communion silver, baptismal font and a memorial cross. In 1924, a two-story brick parish house was erected adjacent to the church, and this structure was renovated and enlarged in 1959-1960. The most cataclysmic accident of recent history was the loss of part of the spire in the great 1938 hurricane. Some 37 feet 6 inches was replaced in exact duplication of the original. The church today appears almost as it did in pioneer photographs of Central Square taken just after the close of the Civil War. Within the church are numerous objects of historical importance. The ornate rosewood pulpit, made by local cabinet makers, was a gift in 1860 from Abijah Kingsbury. A fine mahogany communion table still in use was also locally crafted and presented to the church in 1829 together with a side chair which was copied to constitute a pair in the present century. Also dating from the turn of the century is the central chandelier with its cluster of incandescent electric bulbs. A sanctuary gallery clock was presented by John Pond in 1829, since electrified. At either side of the pulpit recess are bronze plaques. One memorializes the Rev. Zedikiah S. Barstow (1790-1873) and his wife, Elizabeth Fay Blake Barstow (1792-1869). Dr. Barstow occupied the pulpit of the First Church for half a century, the longest pastorate in the history of the church, 1818-1868. It is interesting to note that during all this time, the pastor used as his parsonage the historic "Wyman Tavern" of Dartmouth College and Revolutionary War fame which in 1968 became Keene's first museum and period house under the auspices of the Historical Society of Cheshire County. The other tablet recognizes the Rev. Aaron Hall (1751-1814) pastor 36 years, from 1778 until his death. The Rev. Mr. Hall represented Keene at the convention which voted New Hampshire adoption of the Federal Constitution in 1788. Both ministers were outstanding leaders in matters of religion, education, temperance and charitable works in community and state. The church's Berkshire/Gilbert pipe organ, one of the largest and most versatile in the state, incorporates elements from the First Church's 1903 Hutchings-Votey and the Court Street Church's Johnson instruments and has most recently undergone additional renovations by Czelusniak et Dugal. It is a three manual instrument of thirty stops and forty ranks of pipes. It is used for a wide variety of programs, recitals and concerts and has proved to be popular with musicians and organ enthusiasts. A published history of the First Congregational Church, by David R. Proper, is available. For further information, contact the Historians Committee, United Church of Christ in Keene. Rev. Dr. Zedekiah S. Barstow's Semi-Centennial Discourse entitled “Remember The Days of Old”, has been republished by the Historian's Committee of the Keene United Church of Christ in Keene. The sermon was preached on July 1, 1868 at the close of Dr. Barstow's fifty years’ pastorate and originally published by his children back in 1873. Rev. Barstow served as pastor of the First Congregational Church 1818-1868 and Pastor Emeritus 1868-1873. The United Church of Christ came into being in 1957 with the union of two Protestant denominations: the Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches. Each of these was, in turn, the result of a union of two earlier denominations. |
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