History of The Presbyterian Church of Needham

CXX

One Hundred Twenty Years of Christian Service

The Presbyterian Church in Needham began life May 3, 1887 as the Scotch Presbyterian Church, for the purpose of ministering to thirty-five Nova Scotian immigrants in their native Gaelic language.  At that time, there were four other Presbyterian churches in the city of Boston and five more in surrounding communities, but none offered services in the Gaelic language.  For the initial services, space was rented in the basement of the Swedish (Lutheran) Church on Emerald Street under the guidance of two young graduates of Pine Hill College in Nova Scotia.  Over the course of seventy years, at three different Boston locations, the congregation grew in size and diversity.

05/03/1887	Emerald Street	01/29/1888
02/05/1888	76 Warrenton Street	Spring 1925
Spring 1925	640 Tremont Street	06/02/1957

The congregation was served by two young graduates of Pine Hill College in Nova Scotia until the Rev. Samuel Cameron Gunn, D.D. of Pictou, Nova Scotia began his tenure as the first permanent minister on August 1, 1887.  He was followed by six subsequent ministers during the period in which the church was located in Boston.

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