Restoring the Building -

Opening the Doors

Our Legacy, Our Future: The First Parish Meeting House

For nearly 200 years, the First Parish Church, and its iconic Meeting House, hasn’t just been a church, it’s been the unwavering heart of Berlin.

Our history is the town’s history:

  • The Meeting House bell has marked the joys and sorrows of countless generations, tolling to announce deaths and ringing in celebrations.

  • It has been the setting for the most important milestones in our lives: baptisms, weddings, and funerals for generations of town residents.

  • We’ve stood for justice, hosting the renowned abolitionist Frederick Douglass in 1842.

  • We’ve worked for our neighbors, famously leading the charge to develop North Brook Village, which today is a thriving, essential part of our community.

We are not just preserving a building; we are protecting a legacy of service that has anchored our town for centuries.

Why we must act now

The future of this historic center is in imminent jeopardy. Two critical, non-negotiable repairs must be made to ensure the safety and longevity of the Meeting House.

  1. The Steeple’s Structural Failure. The most urgent risk was overhead. A structural beam supporting our beloved steeple cracked, which led to the building being closed for almost 2 years. While the building is now open, the cracked beam caused residual damage in the Meeting House, especially in the Sanctuary. We now must repair plaster and repaint the interior.

  2. The Mandated Water System Replacement. To remain a viable community center, we must comply with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to discontinue the old Meeting House well. This requires connecting all our buildings to the Children’s Church (church office building) well, installing a modern treatment system, and establishing an annual monitoring system. This is essential to ensure we can continue to provide a safe, modern public water supply for all church and community events.

How you can help: A clear path forward

We have launched the Restoring the Steeple, Opening the Doors Campaign to address these critical needs with transparency and a clear plan.

Our Fundraising Goal: $200,000

Thanks to an insurance payment and initial generous donations, our immediate fundraising need is $82,000.

Project: Steeple Repair
Total Cost: $130,000
What it Covers: $30,000 for engineering & general contracting; $90,000 for physical repair work by experts, plus $10,000 contingency.

Project: Water System
Total Cost: $70,000
What it Covers: Laying pipe under Carter Street to connect the Children’s Church well to the Meeting House, decommissioning the well at the Meeting House, and installing the required treatment system.

Project Timeline

  • Phase 1 (2025 - Early 2026): Steeple repair begins in 2025, with completion by the end of January 2026 (COMPLETED ON SCHEDULE!). Water system connection under Carter Street is also part of Phase 1.

  • Phase 2 (Spring 2026): Decommissioning of the old well and installation of the new water treatment system.

Accountability and Oversight

This project is being managed by trusted professionals and community leaders

  • Spencer Preservation Group (Nahant, MA): Handling engineering and general contracting, specializing in historic renovations.

  • First Parish Church Council (Stan Rogalinski, Moderator) and Property Committee, and the Restoring the Steeple, Opening the Doors Campaign Committee.

  • After receiving three quotes, we have chosen Yankee Steeple Jack (Harvard, MA): Local contractors performing the physical repair work.

The Future You Are Building

Your gift goes beyond structural repair. It is an investment in the community vitality at the center of Berlin.

The main building is called the Meeting House for a reason. It is the primary communal gathering space in the center of town. Throughout its history, this building has been a fully accessible home for groups such as

  • Community guilds

  • Senior citizens

  • Scouting programs

  • Ham & bean supper for the firehouse

When you donate, you are ensuring this space remains available for everyone, from all walks of life for centuries to come.

Please join us in saving the heart of our town. Your gift today protects our past and secures our future.

We accept cash, checks, and Breeze credit card donations. Please note that any contributions made via Breeze will incur a fee. NO DONATION IS TOO SMALL, and all is gratefully received!

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