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West Newbury, and soon after the Second Church in 

 West Newbury, the last being its present corporate name. 

 It has therefore existed one hundred and forty-three 

 years, and has had nine pastors, of whom all save one 

 were ordained here, beginning their ministry with this 

 church. The following have been the pastors: 1, Wil- 

 liam Johnson, ord. Sept. 15, 1731, died Feb. 22, 1772; 



2. David Tappan, ord. Apr. 18, 1774, dis. Sept. 6, 1792 ; 



3. Leonard Woods, ord. Dec. 1798, dis. Sept. 28, 1808 ; 



4. John Kirby, ord. June 12, 1816, drowned Dec. 5, 

 1818 ; 5. Elijah Demond, ord. Mar. 7, 1821, dis. Sept. 3, 

 1826; 6. Paul Couch, ord. Mar. 27, 1827; 7. J. Q. A. 

 Edgell, ord. Sept. 17, 1832, dis. Oct. 27, 1853 ; 8. Davis 

 Foster, ord. Nov. 4, 1855, dis. Sept. 24, 1867; 9. Sen- 

 eca M. Keeler, installed June 13, 1872. 



The first meeting house was erected on Silloway Hill, 

 and the first meeting of the parish was held June 5, 1731. 

 The second house was built in what was then known as 

 Woodman's Lane, in 1815, and was dedicated Jan. 5, 

 1816. The third house (the one in which the church 

 now worships) was removed to its present site, remodelled 

 and enlarged into its present form in 1856 and 1857 ; 

 corner stone laid Sept. 24, 1856, dedicated March 12, 

 1857. 



The sun was pouring down its hottest rays as we walked 

 up the hill from the shore to the church, and we felt the 

 heat in striking contrast to the refreshing breeze on the 

 river. At the northwest the black storm clouds were ris- 

 ing rapidly, the lightnings were .flashing with scarce an 

 interval, and the thunders were incessantly reverberating 

 among the lofty hills and valleys. Soon the rain poured 

 down in torrents for a short time, the party having in the 

 meantime obtained shelter in the vestry of the church. 



