Pembroke. Bryantville Methodist Church. [CH-MA P3 B75] Earliest preaching in this area traces to 1825 by a Duxbury pastor, B. Otheman, with an appointment following in 1826. The church was built in 1828, but had its ups and downs, even being served for a time by a Wesleyan minister. The church was closed briefly in the 1860's, but reopened and was renovated in the 1870's, adding a tower, bell and clock. The name was changed from South Hanson to Bryantville (a section of Pembroke) in 1878. In 1883, the church was yoked with Silver Lake, and in 1913 with West Duxbury. Part-time pastorate continued nearly 80 years, until 1958, with the full time appointment of Gilbert Caldwell. At this time the church experienced new periods of growth and renovation. Around 1903, the church was lifted and facilities were built on the ground level. In the 1956, the original parsonage was sold and a new one purchased two houses away, and in 1964, a new education wing was built at the back of the church. The congregation celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2000. Box 1. Membership records, 1880-1926 Membership records, 1928-1958 Membership list, 1939-1945. Official Board minutes, 1914-1953 Official Board minutes, 1953-1962 Board of Trustees minutes, 1884-1940 Box 2. Fourth Quarterly Conference minutes, 1906-1933 Board of Trustees treasurer's records, 1862-1901 Treasurer's records, 1917-1919 Treasurer's records, 1919-1921 Treasurer's records, 1923-1924 Commission on Finance records, 1955-1964 Leader's and Steward's meeting records, 1882-1901 Box 3. Church Improvement Committee records, 1899-1928 Willing Worker's reports, 1920-1923 Ladies' Aid Society records, 1908-1925 Ladies' Aid Society records, 1925-1932 Ladies' Aid Society records, 1932-1938 Ladies' Aid Society records, 1938-1940 Ladies' Aid Society suppers, 1934-1942 Women's Society of Christian Service treasurer's records, 1940-1950 Box 4. Quarterly Conference Reports, 1940-1951. [Envelope 1] Histories. [Envelope 2] Bryantville News, vol. 3 no. 41 (November 22, 1905). [Folder 1] Then and Now: Bryantville Church retains original character. Clipping from Pembroke Reporter (October 20, 1963). [Folder 2] Bryantville United Methodist Church, 150th Anniversary Celebration Program, 1975. [Folder 3] Bryantville United Methodist Church, 175th Anniversary Program, 2000. [Folder 4] Church Documents. [Envelope 2] [Folder 5] 1827--List of subscribers to church construction, Nov. 29, 1827. Long sheet in five pieces. 1827--Minutes of meeting held Dec. 19, 1827, authorizing construction of the church. 1828--Manuscript minutes of meeting, May 28, 1828. Painting of the church. 1828--Pew sales list, June 19, 1828. 1828--Manuscript declaration of June 21, 1828 in support of the building committee. 1828--Manuscript minutes of trustees meeting, June 21, 1828, regarding pew sales. 1828--Accounting of costs for materials and labor for church construction, June 21, 1828. 1828--Manuscript account of donors to pay Mr. Whittemore Peterson's share. 1828?--Quarterly conference record, undated. 1828?--List of donors to church construction project. 1828?--Part of page of price list for pews, no. 24 noted "sold to John Gardner, April the 1, 1832" [Folder 6] 1829--Bill for Pew 21, dated Dec. 5, 1829. 1830--Notice of note received by Whittemore Peterson, builder of the church, dated April 13, 1830. 1831--Deed from Benjamin H. Tubbs to Elijan Dammon the eighth of one share in the church, dated April 6, 1831. 1831--Account of money due the trustees, April 9, 1831. 1871--Deed for sale of pew no. 4 from Elisha Tillson to Betsey Perry and Abbie Howland, for five dollars, dated Dec. 21, 1871. 1899--Typed letter from Henry Fletcher Bryant dated Sept. 11, 1899, regarding changing the pews. 1975--Announcement of ordination of Neil S. Sweet, Jr., October 26, 1975. Ladies' Aid Society Documents. [Envelope 3] 1907--Pencil note of pieces from sewing machine lent to L.A.S., Sept. 19, 1907. 1914--Deed of sewing machine from Deborah Josselyn to Ladies' Aid Society, dated Oct. 8, 1914. 1914--Appointment of trustees for sewing machine, dated Oct. 9, 1914. 1921--Letter from Mr. and Mrs. J. O. Rutter to Rev. Schwebaum, dated Jan 20, 1921, on the fiftieth anniversary of the Ladies Aid Society. 1921--Letter from Phoebe Damon to L.A.S., an octogenarian's remembrance (on the fiftieth anniversary?). 1921--Typed letter from W. T. Johnson dated Jun 18, 1921, to Ladies' Aid on fiftieth anniversary. 1921--Letter from Mr. and Mrs. Finney on University of Minnesota letterhead dated June 19, 1921, on the Ladies Aid anniversary. 1921--Menu and program of fiftieth anniversary service, June 22, 1921. 1938--Note from Jennie Baker to Ladies Aid, dated Feb. 16, 1938, thanking for cards and flowers during illness. 1944--Note from Mabel Waring to Hattie Wilson, dated Jan. 31, 1944, about Cultivation Fund and gift of membership in national society. Undated--pencil note from Sally Stetson(?) to Mr. Sampson: "Please send me bushel oats bag corn and half bushel of corn meal." Pictures. [Envelope 4] The original church building. Small photo on 5.75 x 7.2 paper. The church raised with church hall beneath. Small photo on 5.75 x 7.2 paper. View down the street. Small photo on 5.75 x 7.2 paper. Drawing of the church. Engraving (4x5) photocopied. Post card of view down street, published by Lewis & Turner. Original photograph (4.5 x 6.5) showing woman at bend in street, view of church and parsonage, c. 1900. Original photograph (3.25 x 3.25) showing Henrick house. Inscription on back in pencil: "Mr. Prescott--The church met in the 'Henrick' house (across the street) at one time. Is it in the records? Lillian Hobell." Original photographs (4.5 x 6.5) mounted on green card. Side 1, man with car, inscribed in pencil: "Chas. Eaton car, shoe mann's ear, Brockton." Side 2, the church before being renovated. Original photographs (4.5 x 6.5) mounted on brown card. Side 1, the old parsonage. Side 2, The church. Card (7 x 10) with four pictures of the church: 1) Interior. 2) Raised church viewed down the road. 3) Exterior original church. 4) Exterior of raised church. Original photograph (3.25 x 4.25) showing town in snow, church in the distance. Original photograph (5 x 8.5) on card, showing interior, dated 1915. Original photograph (8 x 10) showing modern interior at Easter. Original photograph (3.5 x 5) dated 1964. The church. Original photograph (3.5 x 5) dated 1964. Rear of church with cinderblock foundation being constructed. (Five different pictures. Original photograph (3.5 x 5) dated 1964. Rear of church showing new addition nearly complete. Original color photograph (3.5 x 5) dated 1966. Altar of the church. Original color photograph (3.5 x 5) dated 1966. The choir, people identified on back. Original color photograph (3.5 x 5) dated 1966. The organist, Betty White.

February 19, 2003