First Congregational Society

On November 19, 1820, the first Protestant Church of Presbyterian sect was organized by Reverend Jonithan Leslie with eight members. On August 12, 1823, the "Articles of Practice" consisting of seven articles was adopted.

The first house of worship was a log house – built in 1818 and used by the township – on the north end of the park. This building burned in 1828 and, in the spring of 1829, an auxiliary society to the church was formed and a lot nine rods square located thirty rods north of the park on land now owned by the school was purchased from George R. Emory. A building 40 by 52feet with fifteen-foot posts was to be built if funds could be raised. It was voted to sell the "sittings" by deed to cover the estimated cost of $800. this house of worship was used some twenty years.

In 1837,after the original church and the Society had separated, a new building twenty-six by forty feet was built by the Society on the southeast side of the park where the Robison Company now stands. On the reunion of the two groups, the new building was chosen as the better of the two. The old building was sold in 1852 for $125, and the new one was used until 1860. In 1846 the Society purchased a house 22 by 28 feet and one and one-half stories on a half-acre of land adjoining the church lot at a cost of $300. In 1860 it was resolved to build a thirty-six by fifty-two foot church with steeple. This was completed with a chestnut interior audience room accommodating 208 adults on fifty slips, a ten-foot vestibule, a ten-foot gallery and a total cost of $1,800. In 1864, Reverend H. B. Hall’s wife, Sophronia, succeeded in soliciting $200 for a 518-pound bell. The church was destroyed by fire on February 14, 1868.

In March, 1868, the Society voted to replace the church and, with help from Methodists, Spiritualists and non-affiliated persons and donations from Painesville ($100), Claridon ($38), the Congregational Union ($350), and the Ladies Aid of the Thompson group ($200), the new building was constructed at a cost of $4,000 with lumber and labor as part of the donations. In 1872 Reverend C. E. Page secured 103 pledges from area families in amounts ranging from $.50 to $10 to replace the burned bell with one weighing 920 pounds which cost, mounted, $501. In 1875, repainted and debt-free, the church held ceremonies of commemoration with Reverend W. D. Williams officiating. Member families included: Strong, Moseley, Stockwell, Benjamin, Leonard, Pomeroy and Daniels.

In the summer of 1876 the old parsonage was sold and a new one built for $990 and in February, 1877, a call as pastor was accepted by William T. Richardson who resigned January 1, 1878 – disturbed by "an entertainment given in the church by the young people for the benefit of the Ladies Aid."

Subsequent pastors included: Darius Woodworth, F. A. Valentine, D. T. Williams, H. A. N. Richards, George Hill, Darius Woodworth (second time), J. B. Warner and W. O. Town. During the tenure of Reverend Town, the Plymouth Rock Converence held its fiftieth anniversary with the Thompson Church. After his replacement, Reverend Newcomb, decided to enter the missionary field, Reverend Town returned and stayed until 1905, followed for a few months by Reverend Leslie and Reverend F. Dann who served from 1906 until 1915. During his pastorate, in 1909, the name was changed from the First Presbyterian Society to The First Congregational Society of Thompson and the organization was incorporated.

In 1929, The Society of First Congregational Church disbanded and the church property was sold. The few remaining members found another church home – not unmindful of the effort and sacrifice of the pioneers who "rest from their labors, and their works do follow them."