Central Congregational Church is a historic church at 100 Rock Street in
Fall River, Massachusetts
Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. Fall River's population was 94,000 at the 2020 United States census, making it the List of municipalities in Massachusetts, tenth-largest city in the state, and the second- ...
. It was well known in its early days for being the home church of
Lizzie Borden and her family. Borden taught
Sunday school
]
A Sunday school, sometimes known as a Sabbath school, is an educational institution, usually Christianity, Christian in character and intended for children or neophytes.
Sunday school classes usually precede a Sunday church service and are u ...
in the church. The church has been used by the paranormal team ''Tennessee Wraith Chasers'' in attempts to communicate with Borden's ghost.
History
The church was built in 1875 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
MHC Inventory Form
/ref> It was designed by Boston architects Hartwell & Swasey, who also designed several other notable buildings in Fall River, including the Academy Building and several city fire stations. It was well known in its early days for being the home church of Lizzie Borden and her family.
In the 1990s and 2000s, the church and abbey were renovated into the International Culinary Academy, with the Abbey Grille and classrooms in the abbey and a large function hall in the main church. The Academy and restaurant closed in March 2009.
In 2019 the church became a venue for events. Weddings and other large events. It is now called The Historic Abbey at 100 Rock Street.
The Hook & Hastings organ was built some time ago. This Hook & Hastings organ is one of the only ones in the area. The organ is located in the main hall.
In popular culture
It was the site used, in the spring of 1993, for the performance segment of the video for " Cryin'" by Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Boston in 1970. The group consists of lead vocalist Steven Tyler, bassist Tom Hamilton (musician), Tom Hamilton, drummer Joey Kramer, and guitarists Joe Perry (musician), Joe Perry and B ...
, who had played the area in the early days. The church was also featured on the first-season episode of '' Haunted Towns'' where paranormal team ''Tennessee Wraith Chasers'' were the first ones to investigate it, trying to communicate with the ghost of Lizzie Borden who taught Sunday school
]
A Sunday school, sometimes known as a Sabbath school, is an educational institution, usually Christianity, Christian in character and intended for children or neophytes.
Sunday school classes usually precede a Sunday church service and are u ...
here.
See also
*
* Massasoit Fire House No. 5
* Pocasset Firehouse No. 7
References
1875 establishments in Massachusetts
Churches completed in 1875
United Church of Christ churches in Massachusetts
Churches in Fall River, Massachusetts
Churches on the National Register of Historic Places in Massachusetts
National Register of Historic Places in Fall River, Massachusetts
Lizzie Borden
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