48 History of Hingham. 



Rev. William I. Nichols, a graduate of Harvard College in 

 1874, was engaged as minister, and took charge of the parish 

 Sept. 4, 1881. After a year's service he was ordained pastor 

 Oct. 4, 1882, and continued as such until Oct. 7, 1883, when he 

 resigned. It was his first settlement. Mr. Nichols had previously 

 been the preceptor of Derby Academy. 



Rev. Alfred Cross was the minister from Nov. 1, 1883, to July 

 31, 1886. 



After the pastoral relations of Mr. Cross had been dissolved, 

 the parish was for four years without a settled minister. In the 

 meantime the pulpit of the Third Congregational Society had 

 become vacant, and arrangements were made to settle a minister, 

 who should have both these parishes under his charge, services 

 to be held in the New North Church on Sunday mornings and 

 at South Hingham in the afternoon. This plan was satisfactory 

 to the members of both parishes and Mr. Charles T. Billings 

 became the minister. He was born in Fitchburg, Mass., Feb. 27, 

 1863, and was graduated at Harvard College in 1884. After 

 teaching two years at the Adams Academy in Quincy, Mass., and 

 studying a year in Europe, he pursued his theological studies at 

 the Harvard Divinity School, where he was graduated in 1890. 

 He was ordained minister of the two parishes July 2, 1890, the 

 ordination services being held in the New North Meeting-house. 



He is the present minister. 



The meeting-house was raised June 22, 1742, on the lot on 

 Main Street, where it now stands. The parish was set off March 

 25, 1745. The original front of the building was on the south r 

 erly side, having an entrance there, and another entrance to the 

 galleries on the westerly side. The pulpit was on the northerly 

 side, with a sounding-board over it ; the floor was occupied by 

 square pews, and long seats were in the galleries. 



Extensive repairs were made in 1756, but the house remained 

 substantially as it was built until about 1792, when a porch was built 

 on the westerly side ; a tower was built on the easterly side, and 

 additional pews and seats were constructed. In 1793 a bell was 

 placed on the meeting-house. Stoves were introduced in 1822. In 

 1829-30 the southerly and westerly entrances were abandoned ; the 

 tower was widened to the roof ; the easterly end under the tower 

 became the main entrance, with two doors ; a larger bell was pur- 

 chased ; the old square pews were removed and new long ones took 

 their places ; the pulpit was removed to the westerly end. 



In 1869 extensive improvements and changes were made. An 

 organ gallery was built in the westerly end in the rear of the 

 pulpit and an organ was placed in it ; the pew doors were removed, 

 and the interior was quite generally renovated. In 1881 the clock 

 was placed in the tower. 



This parish is of the Unitarian denomination. 



