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By Kim Grubb
I would like to speak regarding the City Council resolution recognizing the closing of the Congregational Church of West Medford.
I am sure that those who are putting forward this resolution may be focusing primarily on the last 13 years of the church’s history. However, I feel it is important to recognize and remember all the years that came before, under the leadership of the many ministers who helped shape this church and its place in the community.
The Congregational Church of West Medford, or CCWM, has a history spanning more than 150 years. Its story began with a woman named Rachel Barnes, who started a Sunday school in her home so that children in West Medford would not have to walk all the way to Medford Square or Arlington to attend Sunday school. That simple act of caring for children was the beginning of something that would become an important part of the community for generations.
In June 1872, residents of West Medford founded the Congregational Church of West Medford. At the time, there was already a Mystic Congregational Church in Medford Square. A wooden church with a steeple was built at Harvard and Bower streets, on the site where the fire station stands today. The church’s bell became the community’s fire alarm, and its clock served as the timepiece for West Medford.
From its earliest days, the church was much more than a place of worship. It was an important part of everyday life in the community.
Between 1889 and 1895, under the leadership of the Reverend Herbert Warner Stebbens, the church experienced an extraordinary period of growth. Carriages and barges were sent to Hillside to bring people who were lame or convalescing to Sunday morning services. The cost was 20 cents per person each way. A committee was established to help unemployed people find jobs, and an Athletic Association was formed, which was later taken over by the town. Sunday school enrollment reached 381 children, and the church had two large choirs.
These accomplishments tell us something important about the church. Its mission extended beyond its own congregation. It was a place where people came together to care for one another and meet the needs of the wider community.
On March 4, 1903, tragedy struck when the church burned to the ground after its bell sounded the first alarm. But the congregation did not give up. The parishioners came together, determined to rebuild. Just two years later, they dedicated a new granite church at 400 High Street. The city helped pay for a clock in the new steeple, and its clock and chimes continued to mark the time for the people of West Medford.
The church prospered after the First World War and again after the Second World War. In 1954, the Parish House was added, providing even more space for the congregation and its activities.
Throughout its history, CCWM continued to find ways to serve its community. In the early 1970s, an associate minister helped run a weekend drop-in space for teenagers, providing young people with a place to gather. The church’s ninth minister, Dr. Gordon Washburn, served for more than 35 years. He was also a member of the Medford School Committee in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was deeply invested in the community and always willing to help wherever he could.
That spirit of service continued through the many programs and organizations that called CCWM home. These included Community Family, an adult day care program; Gentle Dragon Preschool; Bright Stars Afterschool Program for elementary-age children; Alcoholics Anonymous; and Scout troops as well as Campfire Girls and Boys. The church also hosted an innovative group called New Beginnings for people who were recently divorced.
Through English at Large, volunteers helped immigrants learn English and offered other forms of support as they adjusted to life in this country.
And, of course, CCWM was known as the "eatingest church in Medford!" We hosted countless community gatherings and meals, including lobster luncheons, Finnan Haddie dinners, pancake breakfasts, Easter breakfasts, and turkey dinners. One of the biggest events was the annual Church Fair, which brought everyone together. Members prepared food, knitted items, and contributed all sorts of treasures for the ever-popular White Elephant Room. We held many Bible studies to bring us closer to Christ, for all members, and most recently before we sold the church building the creation of the Lakota Youth Stay Program that is still run by some past members of CCWM on their own.
These events were about more than raising money. They brought people together, created friendships, and made the church a welcoming place for the community. The music program was so beautiful and would just draw people in.
Now, I would like to share why this history means so much to me personally.
I was born into this church in 1958. As soon as I was old enough, I became involved in volunteering in just about every aspect of church life. I taught Sunday school for more than 30 years, sang in the choir, and served on numerous committees alongside so many wonderful people. My weeks were filled with meetings, teaching Sunday school, and working with youth groups.
I could go on and on about my experiences and memories from over 60 years of being a member and attending CCWM, including the years before we sold the building. This church was not simply somewhere I went on Sundays. It was a major part of my life, my family, and my identity.
One of the things that made CCWM so special was its people. Over the years, people came and went, but the friendships and connections remained meaningful. My children grew up knowing many of the wonderful people I had grown up with. Even those who were part of the church for only a short time became part of that caring community.
It was a place where people cared about their faith, helped their neighbors, supported one another, and genuinely wanted to make a difference. And when you give of yourself in that way, it often comes back to you in ways you could never have imagined.
I remember one elderly woman who had been a member of the church years earlier. No one asked her about her financial circumstances, but members assumed she was living on a fixed income. They quietly brought her food and clothing and made sure she had rides to church.
They did these things simply because they cared about her.
When she passed away, the church learned that she had left it more than one million dollars. Everyone was shocked. Her generosity helped the church continue on, even as membership declined.
I have always thought that this story captures the heart of CCWM. This woman had been welcomed and cared for without question or expectation. In return, she chose to leave a remarkable gift to the church she loved.
That was the kind of community we had. People looked out for one another, not because they expected anything in return, but because that was who they were.
I am incredibly grateful for the years I spent at CCWM, for the opportunity to serve, for the friendships I made, and for the many memories that I will always carry with me. It is heartbreaking that the church is now gone, but the impact it had on so many lives cannot be erased.
As we recognize the closing of the Congregational Church of West Medford, I hope we will remember its entire history—not just its final 13 years. We should remember the people who built it, the ministers who led it, the generations who worshiped there, the children who learned there, the volunteers who gave their time, and the countless people in the community who benefited from its presence.
CCWM was a place of faith, service, generosity, friendship, and love. It was part of the fabric of West Medford for more than 150 years.
CCWM may be gone, but the history, the contributions, and the memories remain.
This is what the Congregational Church of West Medford was all about, and this is the legacy I hope we will recognize and honor.
Kim Grubb is a Medford resident.
