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Needham was a small rural town until the turn of the century. Until 1900, Christ Church held services in the Town Hall. An evening service often took place in Whetton’s Hall in Highlandville, where a large percentage of the parish lived. At this time, many people lived in Needham Heights, or Highlandville as it was first known, and were employed by a knitting company located there.
In May 1900, the parish purchased three buildings at the corner of Highland Avenue and Mellen Street: a poolroom, a paint shop, and a blacksmith shop. The poolroom and paint shop combined to form the structure of the church with chancel and vestry rooms. Bishop Lawrence formally dedicated the church on September 20, 1900.
The location of the church in the Height’s Square caused dissension with the members who lived farther from the church and nearer the center of Needham. This minority petitioned the diocese for permission to hold separate services in Needham under the name of Trinity Mission. Christ Church members gave their permission. Thirty-two persons signed the original charter for the mission. The Rev. Pember, with assistance from several local clergy and lay readers, served both congregations. When the Rev. Pember became seriously ill in 1903, The Rev. Newton Black filled in until he was called to be the second full-time rector of Christ Church in 1906.
Both Bishop Lawrence and the Rev. Black hoped to unify the two congregations. When the property at the corner of Highland Avenue and Rosemary Street (the present location of Christ Church) became available for purchase in 1912, Bishop Lawrence made it possible for this hope to be realized. The cornerstone of the lovely new stone church was laid on June 28, 1913. It served well from 1914 to 1955, when it was outgrown.
The parish grew steadily as people worked tirelessly to raise the funds to pay the bills and to carry out their sense of mission. Gradually the nave of the church was extended to include a new chancel and pipe organ. By 1917 the parish house was added to the church building.
With the advent of the automobile and a building boom during the 1920’s, Needham became a suburban community of homes, schools, churches, shops, and some small industry. The Rev. M. Oakman Patton was rector from 1919 to 1925, a time when new equipment was purchased and a fund started for a new organ. During his few years as rector (1925-1929), the Rev. Richard G. Preston brought new life to Christ Church. He was a fine administrator, and from his time all records were kept systematically. In 1927 the newsletter, The Visitor, began its regular appearance in the homes of the parishioners. A rectory was purchased on Highland Avenue next to the church; and a new Franzee pipe organ was installed. By its 35th anniversary in 1929, Christ Church had gone from the status of mission to that of an independent parish. |
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