April 7, 2006

Manchester’s Clock

"The First Parish Church clock is Manchester’s clock. It belongs to all of us...". So said a local resident when asked what they thought about the clock which has kept time for our community since 1882. That year, the Town appropriated $550 to purchase the clock and place it in the tower of the First Parish Church. According to town records, it was acquired from "...the E. Howard Watch and Clock Company of Boston…to strike the hours, with pulleys, dial works, and figures for the four dials, packed and delivered at the railroad station in Boston...".

The Town owned the clock until 1990, when ownership was transferred during a town meeting to the First Parish Church for the sum of $1. The church is obligated to maintain the clock and arrange for individuals to wind the clock weekly.

It has been said that some of the clock winders would wind the clock only if there was someone in the building in case they did not make it to the top of the stairs which are very steep, and fell. Some of the winders it is alleged had a drink or two to help them ascend the long flight of stairs to the top and climb over the new beams that were put into place when the tower was repaired in the 1980s. The Town was happy with this new arrangement as it saved the Town $500 each year to pay for the clock winder and the liability involved.

The First Parish Church Meeting House Campaign plans to raise $500,000 to fund the restoration, repair and future maintenance of the building which was built in 1809, served as the Town meeting house in its early years, and has housed Manchester’s clock for 124 years! For more information, please visit the campaign website at www.FirstParishChurchMeetingHouse.org; contributions may be mailed to P.O. Box 502, Manchester.