History of the Dighton Community Church
In 1861 the church was “modernized”. Many parish members were disappointed at the result but voted to accept the work.
In 1870 an English Georgian era organ was obtained. It had been used in Harvard College Chapel. In 1949 the case of the old Georgian organ was used to enclose a new organ, a Hutchings pipe organ. A set of Deagan chimes was installed then as the gift of Dr. and Mrs. Arnold Wordell in memory of all children. Now in 1975, Verdin Carillons have been given to the church by Rev. and Mrs. Edward A. Robbins, Sr. in memory of John Joseph Mascolo, father of our pastor’s wife.
Not to be forgotten in the church history are ministers who have served through the years. Many of them came as young men and left to render further service in larger towns and cities where they left their impact on the communities. We are justly proud of them.
No more faithful man ever served as pastor than Rev. Abraham Gushee who was born in 1775 and died eighty-six years later. He was a Brown University graduate and accepted his pastorate of the Second Congregational Society, now the Dighton Community Church, and was ordained in 1803. The church became Unitarian during his pastorate. It is known legally as the Pedo Baptist Congregational Society, Inc. It became the Community Church in 1971.
Rev. Gushee ran a fashionable boarding school on Elm Street. It’s now the home of the Gordon James family. To it came sons of distinguished families such as the DeWolfs from Bristol, the Ames of Easton, the Sanfords of Boston, and the Baylies of Taunton. He still faithfully served as pastor for over fifty-seven years.