about us

who we are

Welcome to First Parish in Hingham, Unitarian Universalist, known as Old Ship Church.

We are a liberal Unitarian Universalist community of about 250 members of all ages. More than 100 children and youth participate in our religious education programming. We worship in an historic Meeting House and we hold religious education classes and gather after services in our Parish House across the street. Our minister, Rev. Kenneth H. Read-Brown, has been with us for 30 years.

Our Meeting House, a National Historic Landmark, has stood on Hingham’s Main Street since 1681. It is the only remaining 17th-century Puritan meeting house in the U.S.

Our community encourages personal spiritual growth through worship, engagement and service to others.
We do not require adherence to a specific creed. We affirm the Unitarian Universalist (UU) Principles and Sources, and we support each individual's unique search for truth and meaning. We are proud that our community is both a "Welcoming Congregation" and a "Green Sanctuary," both official designations from the Unitarian Universalist Association. We cherish diversity of religious backgrounds, racial and cultural identities or backgrounds, ethnicities, national origins, ages, ranges of ability, sexual orientations, gender expressions, financial means, educations, and political perspectives. We welcome all to share in congregational life.

What are Unitarian Universalists? click here.
Copyright and Text—Unitarian Universalist Association

tours of Old Ship Meeting House

We love to give tours of the
Old Ship Meeting House!

From September 1 - June, we are happy to give tours, but kindly request two days notice in order to arrange a volunteer tour guide. Please call 781-749-1679 or email the office to schedule a tour. Please note: Old Ship Church is not open unless there is a tour scheduled.

To receive weekly e-updates, sign up here.

MINISTER'S BLOG: Musings etc.
SERMON ARCHIVES: read Ken's sermons here

DRE's BLOG

Click here for directions

Curious about the early history of Old Ship and of Hingham?
Purchase this excellent DVD, televised in 1998 on The History Channel®. Details here…

welcome

We are very pleased to welcome you to Old Ship. We want you to feel comfortable among us. For a glimpse into our congregation, please watch this introduction to Old Ship Church, a video put together by our student minister intern, Dave Egan. Enjoy!

From September through mid June, our worship service, held in the Meeting House at 90 Main St., begins promptly at 10:25 am and lasts about an hour. You can park along Main Street on either side of the street, or along the circular driveway in front of the Parish House. The Meeting House is handicapped-accessible. A few handicapped-accessible spaces are located at the top of the circular drive in front of the Meeting House. Childcare, located in the Parish House, is available before and during Sunday services.

Our Parish House, where we hold religious education classes, child care, fellowship hour, meetings, the office, etc. is across Main Street from the Meeting House at 107 Main St. It is handicapped-accessible, with parking spaces and the entrance on the left side.

Click here for more information about what to expect on Sunday morning.

upcoming worship services

Sunday, April 22, 10:25am
David Egan, our student intern minister, will be preaching a sermon entitled: "One Planet, Two Worlds." On this Earth Day, David will explore how climate change is
affecting different socio-economic classes differently, and what our responsibility is as people of faith to protect the most vulnerable among us.

Sunday, April 29, 10:25am
Ken's sermon for our Unitarian Universalist Service Committee's "Justice Sunday" will be "One Day at a Time... Especially in These Times." Ken writes: "My intention in this sermon will be to offer a
sort of coda to Earth Day in this time of critical climate change threats that might also be of use as
we navigate our lives at any time."

events

Coffeehouse of the Square presents Wheelhouse Rodeo, Saturday, April 21 at 8pm
- Are they pirates or casually dressed yachtsmen? The answer is that they are a powerful, imaginative northeastern bluegrass band. As they say themselves, “What was once a bluegrass cover band (is now) a songwriting machine” They have over 25 originals with “Land Line Lose” and “Ghost of John” being among the best known. A recent memorable outdoor concert celebrated the renovation of Hull’s Fort Revere. Now you can hear them indoors in our
Fellowship Hall. $15 at the door.

May Breakfast - Saturday, May 5, 7:30am-1pm
A long-time tradition, May Breakfast, generally held the first Saturday in May, features a pancake, egg and sausage breakfast as well as a vibrant spring plant sale. People from throughout Hingham enjoy a morning of good food and company while welcoming the rites of spring.

calendar

rental information

Support Old Ship

Old Ship is proud that the Meeting House Restoration Project completed in 2014 received a significant award: The 2015 Massachusetts Historical Commission Preservation Award, given for Restoration and for Stewardship. Click here to donate to helping preserve the historic Old Ship Church, including the current major project: restoring its steeple.

Support Old Ship Church through Amazon Smiles!
Using this link below, shop on Amazon and a portion of the sales are donated back to Old Ship!
How? Start here: https://smile.amazon.com/ and designate Old Ship Church as your charity of choice.