At 33 Concord Street in Peterborough, New Hampshire, a brick sanctuary with a tall white steeple has anchored a Christian community since 1839. The congregation that meets inside it, however, goes back much further: Union Congregational Church was organized in 1745, making it one of the older continuous congregations in the Monadnock region. Today the church describes itself as "A Church for All People - Where Faith Grows, Love Serves, and All Belong," and the rhythm of life around the building reflects exactly that - Sunday worship, a free Monday supper, choirs that rehearse on Thursdays, a long list of service projects, and a deep pride in a sanctuary that has been rededicated, repainted, and rung again over nearly three centuries.
A Congregation Older Than Its Building
The story of Union Congregational Church runs back to the Scotch-Irish settlers who founded Peterborough in the mid-1700s. In 1745 they built the town's first meetinghouse, a simple log structure that hosted both civic and spiritual life. As the community expanded, that building gave way to a larger one, and in 1799 the Rev. Elijah Dunbar was called as minister. Worship blended Congregational practice with Presbyterian polity, a hybrid that reflected the diverse traditions of early New England and shaped the church for the next century.
In 1802 the congregation built a new meetinghouse at Gordon's Corner, the intersection now known as Old Street Road and Sand Hill Road. It was constructed with bricks from the nearby Hadley Brickyard, a reminder of local industry and thrift. That location served the congregation for nearly forty years until Peterborough's center of gravity shifted closer to the river. In 1839 the Gordon's Corner building was dismantled, and its bricks and timbers were reused to construct a new sanctuary on Concord Street - the present home of the church. Pews were sold at "public venue" for $25 a share to fund construction, and the new building was dedicated in 1840. The Rev. James French, a Presbyterian pastor, was the first to preach from its pulpit, and in 1841 a 1,258-pound bell was hoisted into the steeple, where it still rings today.
By 1858 the Presbyterian and Congregational members formally united as the Union Evangelical Church with 67 charter members, and a year later the Rev. George Dustan was ordained as the church's first official Congregational pastor, a call he would hold for 25 years. The late nineteenth century was a season of growth: a church choir was organized, Sunday School programs flourished for children and young adults, and the Ladies' Circle of Industry (now Women's Fellowship) was formed in 1855. In 1894 the congregation changed its name to Union Congregational Church, taking its final step away from formal Presbyterian affiliation. In 1897 the church purchased a farmhouse on Pine Street as a parsonage, replacing it in 1922 with a new residence on the same site. In 1961 the congregation joined the United Church of Christ, the new denomination formed by the union of the Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Church, affirming a commitment to unity, justice, and what the UCC calls a still-speaking God.
The Steeple, the Bell, and a Century of Craftsmanship
For a congregation that has spent so much of its life inside the same walls, the building itself is part of the story. Not long ago, a group of curious members climbed from the sanctuary balcony into the attic above the ceiling, then through a small porthole into the steeple floor. What they found stopped them in place: massive hand-hewn beams forming a double support system, built entirely without power tools, designed to hold a 1,200-pound brass bell that is now nearly 180 years old.
The bell bears the casting mark "Holbrook East." Church records confirm it was purchased in 1841 for $375 from George H. Holbrook of East Medway, Massachusetts, who had apprenticed under Paul Revere. Inside the steeple the group found painted initials and dates - "ELB" and "Waine" from a 1946 paint job by the crew of local contractor Ivar Olaf Ingelstrom, and a quieter "H.M., 1926" near the access panel to the roof. They also found treasures tucked away in the attic: a cloth-lined offering basket on a long handle, antique brass candleholders once clipped to pews for Christmas Eve, a decorative carved arch panel, and a carved pew end resting near a wall etched with sexton signatures from the 1800s.
When the rope in the attic is pulled, the clapper stays put and the entire bell rocks on a massive wooden wheel, sending a wave of sound through the steeple. The tolling arm, shaped like a sledgehammer and connected to a rope in the balcony, produces gentler dings. After the climb, the bell rang again on Easter morning - a sound the congregation had not heard in some time, and a reminder that the building still has surprises left to offer.
Worship on Sunday Morning
Worship is the heart of life at Union Congregational Church. Sunday services follow the program-year rhythm of the school calendar: 10:00 AM from September through June, shifting to 9:30 AM in July and August through the last Sunday before Labor Day. Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month, and all are welcome to participate, members and visitors alike. The service includes prayer, scripture, a message or meditation, music, and time for reflection, along with a "Message for All Ages" before children head to Sunday School.
First-time visitors will find a building designed to be welcoming. The big red sanctuary doors are the main entry; greeters meet without pressuring anyone, and a Deacon in a name badge is on duty each Sunday to answer questions and help newcomers get oriented. Bulletins are available in large print, hearing assist devices are ready to borrow, and the entire building is ADA compliant, with wheelchair-accessible entrances and restrooms. Dress is "come as you are" - some folks wear ties, others wear jeans, and no one will be out of place. After worship, there is a Coffee Hour in the cooler months and Lemonade on the Lawn in the summer.
Worship is also streamed live on Sunday mornings through the church's Facebook and YouTube channels, with a worship video archive available for anyone who wants to revisit a service or catch up. Prayer requests can be submitted to the pastor at any time, and prayer is shared in worship or held privately, as the requester prefers.
A Music Program Built on Volunteer Voices
Music is a particular point of pride. Cathy Harvey serves as Organist, Music Director, and Choir Director, leading the Senior Choir and collaborating on seasonal concerts and worship planning. The Senior Choir rehearses on Thursdays at 7:00 PM and sings most Sundays during worship. A Youth Choir for young singers of all ages rehearses on Thursdays at 6:30 PM and typically sings on the first and second Sundays of each month. The handbell choir, the Union Tower Ringers, is directed by Carele Mayer and rehearses on Thursdays at 6:30 PM as well, ringing in worship on the third Sunday of each month. New voices and instrumentalists are always welcome; no auditions are required.
The musical scope is broad. The church uses a tracker organ in the sanctuary alongside an upright piano, and the music draws on classic hymns, global music, meditative melodies, and joyful praise. Guest musicians and summer soloists add variety through the warmer months, and the Music Committee supports seasonal concerts, cantatas, and community programs that are open to the wider Peterborough area.
Monday Night Supper: A Free Table in Fellowship Hall
If the sanctuary is the public face of the church, Fellowship Hall is its open kitchen door. Every Monday at 5:30 PM, the church's kitchen and dining room host a free community supper that feeds 50 to 65 neighbors each week. Doors open at 5:30 and the meal runs until 6:30 PM. There is no sign-up, no charge, and no expectation - just a hot meal, friendly faces, and a place to be.
Menus change weekly and range from clam chowder night and comfort-food mac and cheese to summer cookouts with hamburgers and hot dogs. Vegetarian options are offered when possible, and the team tries to accommodate gluten-sensitive guests. Fellowship Hall is fully wheelchair accessible, with ADA restrooms and assistive listening devices available. The supper pauses in late summer and resumes each September. Three crews keep the program running - a cooking crew that prepares the meal, a serving crew that welcomes guests and plates food, and a cleanup crew that resets the kitchen. Volunteers with thirty minutes or three hours a month are welcome.
Monday Night Supper is one expression of a broader outreach ministry that includes End 68 Hours of Hunger (volunteers shop, pack, and deliver bags of food so that children who receive free school meals do not go hungry over weekends), Project Linus (church knitters and quilters create handmade blankets for children in crisis), and an annual collection of hygiene kits, school kits, and blankets for Church World Service to support families recovering from disasters. The congregation also advocates for affordable housing and supports a regional Mission House, continuing a long tradition of hospitality and care.
Christian Education for Every Age
Christian Education at Union Congregational Church is built on the conviction that learning and laughter are meant to be shared across generations. Sunday School meets during worship for children in kindergarten through twelfth grade, using the Connect curriculum from Sparkhouse (1517 Media), a multi-year journey through both the Old and New Testaments with engaging videos, hands-on projects, and thematic connections across Bible stories. Children begin worship with their families, hear a short, child-friendly message, and then head to class. Nursery care for infants and toddlers currently happens alongside their caregivers in worship, with a soft space and quiet activities available. All teachers and volunteers are background-checked and trained.
Older youth have their own pathway. A Confirmation class serves eighth and ninth graders with adult mentors. Kids4Action empowers children and youth to lead their own service projects and fundraisers - the annual Super Bowl Subs fundraiser has supported Heifer Project, End 68 Hours of Hunger, New England K9 Search and Rescue, Monadnock Kitty Rescue in Jaffrey, and ColdSprings Healing Paws in New Ipswich. Middle and high schoolers also gather every other Sunday for Youth Group, focused on faith, friendship, and fun. Adult study meets online every Wednesday at 6:30 PM via Zoom, reading and discussing scripture in an open, welcoming space.
Intergenerational events are a regular feature too, including escape rooms, game nights, service projects, and other gatherings designed to bring children, youth, and adults together around shared play and learning.
An Open and Affirming Community of Faith
As a congregation of the United Church of Christ, Union Congregational Church shares a faith rooted in the love of God, revealed in Jesus Christ, and renewed by the Spirit. Worship here is not bound by rigid creeds or narrow doctrines; it is described as a living faith that grows as God continues to speak in the world today. The core beliefs are simple: God is still speaking; every person is beloved and made in the image of God; baptism and communion are for all; and following Jesus means caring for neighbors, working for justice, and practicing compassion in action.
The church is an Open and Affirming congregation, a designation it takes seriously. In its own words: "Jesus accepts all people. We aspire to follow his example. We gladly invite and welcome all persons into the life and ministry of this faith community and to full participation in all the sacraments and rites of this church." That welcome extends across age, race, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, faith background, national or ethnic origin, physical and mental ability, kind of family, socioeconomic status, and physical appearance. The congregation's wider tradition, the United Church of Christ, affirms belief in the Triune God - Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit - in the unity of the church, and in the conviction that faith and justice cannot be separated.
The congregation's mission is summarized in four movements: opening hearts in worship, opening arms in hospitality, opening minds through education, and opening hands for stewardship.
The Building as a Community Resource
The same Concord Street building that hosts Sunday worship is also a working community center. Spaces are available to rent for concerts, performances, meetings, receptions, and private celebrations, with rates set for four-hour blocks: Fellowship Hall for $100, Sanctuary for $150, Kitchen for $75, Chapel for $50, and Parlor for $50, plus a $50 custodial fee for set-up and break-down. Sanctuary seating runs to about 158 including 28 balcony seats, with a tracker organ, upright piano, sound system, and livestream capability to Facebook and YouTube. Fellowship Hall, roughly 35 by 55 feet with a hardwood floor, upright piano, and curtained stage, accommodates 168 for larger events. The Chapel seats about 50, and the Parlor, 15 by 45 feet, can be arranged for small gatherings, classes, or discussion groups. The Kitchen is currently under renovation; renters are asked to call ahead for availability. Church events take priority, and reservations are finalized only when fees and a certificate of liability insurance are complete.
The Sanctuary is also a popular setting for weddings. The church joyfully welcomes all couples, with stained glass, the tracker organ, and livestream capability for guests who cannot attend in person. The Fellowship Hall hosts rehearsal dinners and receptions; the Chapel and Parlor serve as quiet gathering spaces for the wedding party. Funerals and memorial services are also held in the Sanctuary or Chapel, and a reception may follow in the Fellowship Hall. The building is tobacco-free and alcohol-free, and the church is a place where caskets remain closed during services held in the sanctuary.
Leadership and a Generous Kitchen
The Reverend Dr. Robert Marrone - known to the congregation as Pastor Bob - has been the church's pastor for ten years, having previously served eleven years in Monson, Massachusetts. A native of New York and New Jersey, he came to New Hampshire in 1982 to attend Keene State College, where he met his wife Jodi, and later earned both his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Andover Newton Theological School. His doctoral work focused on how visual elements enrich worship, a reflection of his background as an artist. He is supported by Cathy Harvey (Organist, Music Director, and Choir Director), Carele Mayer (Handbell Choir Director), Emily Burke (Sunday School Coordinator, who has led the program since 2013), Lan DiSciullo (Administrative Assistant), and Rick Tracy (Sexton). Dan Millbauer serves as volunteer photographer.
One recent story captures the spirit of the place. After many years of faithful service, the church's old kitchen stove could no longer keep up with the growing demands of Monday Night Suppers and events. A $50,000 gift from the Phyllis Scott Family funded a long-awaited replacement, and in September 2025 the new stove was finally installed - just in time for Rally Sunday, the Monday Night Suppers, and a new season of community meals. The new equipment quickly proved its worth: it cooked up grape jelly, fueled a Sunday School breakfast, grilled for Rally Sunday, and baked pies for the fall Pie Sale. A wall plaque is being mounted near the stove to honor Phyllis Scott's lasting impact.
Giving, Connection, and the Wider Town
Online giving is being introduced as a new option; in the meantime, gifts can be placed in the offering plate during worship or mailed to the church office. The church also accepts legacy gifts and memorial donations. The Communicon, the monthly newsletter, carries reflections from Pastor Bob, worship schedules and sermon previews, highlights from youth and adult programs, community outreach updates, and photos from recent events. Subscriptions are free through the office. Beyond the newsletter, the church is active on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, where worship services are livestreamed each Sunday and a video archive of past services is kept.
Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM; Pastor Bob keeps Monday through Thursday office hours in the same window. The phone - 603-924-3272 - and the inbox - Office@UCCPeterborough.org - are the best first stops for anyone wanting to learn more, plan a visit, or get involved. The Peterborough Town Library lot is available for church parking on Sundays, in addition to a 30-space parking lot and accessible ramp behind the building.
What holds all of this together is a particular kind of welcome, captured in the congregation's own promise: "We follow Jesus by opening our hearts in worship, our arms in hospitality, our minds in learning, and our hands in service. With grace and joy, we welcome every person - just as you are." From the log meetinghouse of 1745 to the livestream of 2026, Union Congregational Church has tried to do exactly that, and the doors on Concord Street are still open.