Early Challenges:

As a response to falling church membership in 1662 a group of clergymen including our first minister, John Allin, proposed a radical new concept called the Halfway Covenant. This eased the requirements for membership and extended it through baptism to members’ children. Thanks to John Allin’s advocacy, Dedham adopted these changes in 1671.

Over the next century, the church as well as the town of Dedham, survived war against the Wapanoag Indians, political turmoil within the colony and the ruin of the economy. William Adams, pastor from 1673- 1685, was so beset by these and other disasters, that he was convinced that this was evidence of “Divine retribution” on an unregenerate society.

In 1803, Joshua Bates became the new minister and inherited more turbulence and troubles inside the congregation. In 1805, the entire choir resigned. In 1809, Republicans opposed to Mr. Bates’ Federalist views, brought a cannon up under his bedroom windows and shot it off! Mr. Bates finally left in 1818.