Old South Methodist Church (2A)

We stand here at Old South United Methodist Church. This current building was constructed in 1913, long after the colonial era. 

The first “Church of Redding” was erected in 1644 as a meetinghouse, which is a building used for both church and civic functions. It is located in what is now Wakefield, on the site of the First Parish Congregational Church, the stone church by the lake.

In 1769 a meeting house was built in this area, at the town common near where we now stand. 

So, while the Old South church building was not around during Reading’s colonial days, we will use it as a symbol to consider the ways that Reading’s early Black and enslaved residents were involved in local churches.

Let’s begin with a question: How do you think colonial Reading’s Black and enslaved residents were involved in the town’s church and religious life?

(Read by Megan Howie, History and Social Studies teacher, Reading Memorial High School)