"Fifty years since," says Dr. Gray, in his half-century discourse, "I preached my first sermon to this society. The fulfillment of previous engagements alone prevented my remaining then, as requested. The small-pox had broken out in the mean time, and in the general alarm the doors of the church were closed till November 11, when I resumed my ministry here, and accepted a call on the twenty-fourth day of the next month to settle down in this place with a small handful of people, a people of exhausted means but of noble hearts, and here I have ever since continued."
Social and full of anecdote, Dr. Gray was greatly beloved by his parishioners. As a preacher he was practical, agreeable, and often effective. But it was as a pastor, in the faithful and affectionate oversight of his flock, that his chief excellence lay. Two of his valuable historical discourses have been printed: a "Half-Century Sermon," 1842; "Notice of Rev. John Bradford, and sketch of Roxbury Churches," 1825.
Reverend Dr. Thomas Gray, who viewed death as a phase in the cycle of life which should be honored near church. He also wanted the community to have a sense of their past with a church yard burial ground. It was during his fifty year ministry, that most of the burials took place.
The First Church in Jamaica Plain was the only church in Jamaica Plain until 1841. During this time, especially during the able pastorate of The Reverend Thomas Gray (who served 50 years 1793-1843), the congregation grew and was not disturbed by the Unitarian controversy that split so many congregations descended from the old Puritan order. By the end of his ministry, The Reverend Gray was referring to his church as "the Unitarian Church in Jamaica Plain".
"Fifty years since," says Dr. Gray, in his half-century discourse, "I preached my first sermon to this society. The fulfillment of previous engagements alone prevented my remaining then, as requested. The small-pox had broken out in the mean time, and in the general alarm the doors of the church were closed till November 11, when I resumed my ministry here, and accepted a call on the twenty-fourth day of the next month to settle down in this place with a small handful of people, a people of exhausted means but of noble hearts, and here I have ever since continued."
Social and full of anecdote, Dr. Gray was greatly beloved by his parishioners. As a preacher he was practical, agreeable, and often effective. But it was as a pastor, in the faithful and affectionate oversight of his flock, that his chief excellence lay. Two of his valuable historical discourses have been printed: a "Half-Century Sermon," 1842; "Notice of Rev. John Bradford, and sketch of Roxbury Churches," 1825.
Reverend Dr. Thomas Gray, who viewed death as a phase in the cycle of life which should be honored near church. He also wanted the community to have a sense of their past with a church yard burial ground. It was during his fifty year ministry, that most of the burials took place.
The First Church in Jamaica Plain was the only church in Jamaica Plain until 1841. During this time, especially during the able pastorate of The Reverend Thomas Gray (who served 50 years 1793-1843), the congregation grew and was not disturbed by the Unitarian controversy that split so many congregations descended from the old Puritan order. By the end of his ministry, The Reverend Gray was referring to his church as "the Unitarian Church in Jamaica Plain".
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