Churches / Houses Of Worship

Listed in Chronological Order by Date of Organization
Links are provided to the current websites

North Parish Church – Organized October 24, 1645

Originally named “The Church at Andover”, North Parish served as a meeting house until one could be built.
In order to incorporate a town in a Massachusetts colony, first, there had to be a church and congregation established.

• And Firm Thine Ancient Vow - The History of the North Parish Church of North Andover
  Written by Juliet Haines Mofford (AHS Library 974.451 Mo)

South Church – Organized October 17, 1711

In 1707, a committee first met to discuss separation of the North & South Andovers - the separation was granted in 1709; the creation of South Church in 1711 formally separated the Andover's North and South Parishes.
Throughout New England it was common for towns to sub-divide over time; the sizes of the original towns were so large they became hard to manage as they became populated.

• South Church records, 1708-1932 (AHS Library MSS665)

• Historical Manual of the South Church in Andover, Massachusetts
  Printed by Warren F. Draper, 1859 (MHL Library R285.8 Sou)

• The South Church Congregational, Two Hundred Fiftieth Anniversary
  Written and Published by the South Church, 1961 (MHL Library R285.874)

Andover Historical Society Newsletter Article:
Restored 1861 Steeple Dedicated (South Parish) - written by Karen Herman - Vol. 19, No. 4

West Parish Church – Organized December 5, 1826

• West of the Shawsheen, by Eleanor Campbell (AHS Library and Gift Shop)

• Historical Manual of the West Church and Parish in Andover, Massachusetts
  Includes the complete roll of the members of the Church 1826-1926 (MHL Library R285.8 WES)

• Historical Sketches of West Parish Church Andover Mass, 1906 (MHL Library R285.8 WES)

• One Hundred and Thirty Years of Church and Parish History:
  The West Parish Church, Andover, Mass, 1826-1956, Written by Herbert P. Carter

Andover Historical Society Newsletter Article:
The West Parish Church - written by Winthrop Newman - Vol. 05, No.3

Trinitarian Congregational Church – Organized September 3, 1834

• Formally organized by 31 members – 14 from South Parish and 7 from North Parish and 10 from others.
  See North Andover Historical Society for more information.

Christ Church – Organized August 6, 1835

• The Parish of Christ Church, Andover
  Diocese of Massachusetts 1833-1975
  Written and Published by Christ Church, 1975 (MHL Library R285.8 Pat)

Andover Historical Society Newsletter Article:
Christ Church was Fourth - written by Wintrhop Newman - Vol. 06, No. 2

Free Christian Church – Organized May 7, 1846

• The History of Free Christian Church Andover Massachusetts
  Research and Editing by Kathryn S. Daniel and Martha H. South (AHS Library & Gift Shop)

• The Founding of the Free Christian Church at Andover
  Read at 100th Anniversary, 1946 (MHL Library R285.8 Smi)

Andover Historical Society Newsletter Articles:
Free Christian Church Was Anti-Slavery - written by Winthrop Newman - Vol. 6, No. 3

St. Augustine’s Parish – Andover Mission Commenced by Reverend Father O’Donnell 1850

• St. Augustine's Parish 100th Anniversary, 1852-1952
  Written and Published by St. Augustines, 1952 (MHL Library R282.74 Sai)

Faith Lutheran Church – Andover Mission Commenced December 1, 1963

Andover Historical Society Newsletter Articles:
Faith Lutheran Church Serves Large Area - written by Marilyn Burns - Vol. 29, No. 1

Temple Emanuel – Andover Mission Commenced 1979

Andover Historical Society Newsletter Article:
Andover's Temple Emanuel Has Roots in Lawrence - written by Sandra Ciolfi - Vol. 28, No.3

More information:

Andover Historical Society's List of General References & Resources

Andover Historical Society Newsletter Articles:
Our Old Family Bibles - From Hebrew, Greek to King's English - written by Dino Valz - vol. 03, No. 4
Third South Church Built in 1788 - written by George Glennie - Vol. 04, No. 4
Old Christmas Cards Communicated Faith & Hope - written by Dorothy Hill - Vol. 04, No. 4
The Third Church was Baptist - written by Wintrhop Newman - Vol. 05, No. 4
The First Ballard Vale Churches - written by Wintrhop Newman - Vol. 07, No. 1
Andover's Catholic Churches - written by Wintrhop Newman - Vol. 07, No. 2
Saint Joseph's Mission Church (Ballardvale) - written by Bernice Haggerty - Vol. 07, No. 3
Andover: Island of Orthodoxy in a Sea of Liberalism - written by Dino Valz - Vol. 12, No. 1
Two Andover Steeples Are Grounded Simultaneously (South & West Parish) - written by Warren Lewis and Dorothy Tavern - Vol. 15, No. 4
Andover Shunned Chautauqua - written by Joan Patrakis - Vol. 25, No. 1

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