Church History of Acworth NH

The Congregational Church in Acworth was organized March 12, 1773, with eight members, as follows: Henry Silsby, Betbiah Silsby, Thomas Putnam, Rachel Putnam, Samuel Silsby, Elizabeth Silsby, Dean Carlton, Anna Cross.

During the first fifteen years the church was supplied by George Gilmore, David Goodale, Isaiah Kilburn and others. The first pastor was settled on the second Tuesday of November, 1789. The first meeting-house, erected in 1784, in front of the present house, was not ready for use till 1789. The present edifice was built in 1821. The Confession of Faith and Covenant were revised by direction of the church, and adopted in their present form by vote of the church, on the 13th of April, 1884.

The following is a list of the pastors and ministers

1. Rev. Thomas Archibald, ordained November 1789, dismissed June 13, 1794

2. Rev. John Kimball, ordained June 14, 1797, dismissed May 4, 1813

3. Rev. Phineas Cooke, ordained September 7, 1814, dismissed February 18, 1829, died April 28, 1853, buried in Acworth

4. Rev. Moses Grosvenor, installed October 14, 1829, dismissed April 25, 1832

5. Rev. Joseph Merrill, installed October 16, 1833, dismissed July 11, 1838

6. Rev. Thomas Edwards, installed August 19, 1841, dismissed February 16, 1843

7. Rev. R. W. Fuller, acting pastor, 1843-1845

8. Rev. Edwin S. Wright, ordained January 7, 1846, dismissed March 10, 1856

9. Rev. Amos Foster, installed February 18, 1857, dismissed June 13, 1866

10. Rev. J. L. Merrill, installed June 13, 1866, dismissed March 1, 1870

11. Rev. S. V. McDuffee, acting pastor, June 7, 1870-71

12. Rev. Nathan R. Nichols, ordained February 1., 1872, dismissed September 30, 1873

13. Rev. James Marshall, installed June 9, 1874, dismissed April 25, 1877

14. Rev. Benjamin H. Labaree, D.D., acting pastor April, 1877-November, 1878

15. Rev. Albion H. Johnson, acting pastor, November, 1878-September, 1882

16. Rev. Edward G. Stone, acting pastor, November 26, 1882 to present time.