Fire of 1868

No insurance! Fire destroyed everything but the courage and resolution of the parishioners.

Just after midnight on the 26th of January 1868, the fire broke out. Newburyport Fire Department arrived promptly but lack of water made it impossible to save the structure, which was destroyed with all its contents. The rooster on the spire fell clear and was not damaged. We see it on our present structure.

The ashes of the house were still hot when the parish met and voted to rebuild. The new structure was raised early the next summer.