New England’s colonial meetinghouses stand as monuments to the formation of our nation and our culture. In the 17th and 18th centuries, every New England town had one – it was a requirement for receiving a Town Charter from the Colonial Governor. Using photographs of the few remaining meetinghouses, this 57-minute YouTube presentation by the Jaffrey Center posted on July 26, 2025 tells their story.

Paul Wainwright (above) realized that there is an important chapter in American history that needs to be told, and his work has evolved to become both this presentation, as well as his book, A Space for Faith: The Colonial Meetinghouses of New England.

In these meetinghouses, our forefathers and mothers shaped and formed many of our civic and religious foundations, and they were at the center of our communities, both figuratively and literally.

Depicted in the video are the 1772 meetinghouse in Waldoboro, MA, the 1681 meetinghouse in Hingham, MA, and the 1707 meetinghouse in Wickford, RI.