The Swellesley Report

More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.

A little bit of Wellesley’s St. James the Great Church lives on at sports complex

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St. James the Great plaque
Selectmen Tom Ulfelder, Father Robert Blaney and St. James the Great parishioners

 

St. James the Great Church parishioners would much rather still have their place of worship, but those in attendance at a ceremony to commemorate the parish at the new Boston Sports Institute on Rte. 9 are thankful that the space is still being used to bring community together.

Plaques were unveiled recognizing St. James the Great and those in town who worked to buy the property when the archdiocese made it available and turn it into a facility for community use. St. James, built in 1947, served a couple thousand parishioners before being closed by the archdiocese in 2004 and torn down in 2015 following a nearly 8-year vigil.

“It’s a very fitting way to remember a vibrant parish,” said Betty Garvey, a St. James parishioner, speaking loudly over the voices of excited children entering and leaving the sports complex. “People worked collaboratively to build a place that brings together families.”

Among the others in attendance was Beth Hinchliffe, who was baptized at St. James and recently penned an excellent history of the church for WellesleyWeston Magazine.

father blaney sports center
Father Robert Blaney blesses the St. James the Great plaque

 

Wellesley Board of Selectmen member Tom Ulfelder, Father Robert Blaney of the St. John-St. Paul collaborative, and 900 Worcester St. project chair Andy Wrobel all shared thoughts on the past, present and future of the property. Father Blaney said that while parishioners were devastated to lose the church, the plaque will help those who visit the center keep the spirit of St. James alive in their hearts.

Wrobel said the new skating, swimming and recreational facility was a dream more than 10 years ago. Its arrival required involvement from many residents and town officials such as then-Planning Board head Don McCauley (who was in attendance),  and required numerous Town Meeting presentations. His hope is that the facility will stand for at least 57 years, as did the church.

Once the ceremony ended, attendees took a tour of the sports center. And some stuck around to watch the defending state champion Wellesley High girls’ hockey team open its season at one of the arena’s rinks.

 

plaque st james

 

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Wellesley to remember St. James the Great with plaque

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A ceremony at which a plaque will be revealed to memorialize St. James the Great Church in Wellesley will be held on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 5pm at 900 Worcester St.

That’s the site of the former house of worship and the current site of the Boston Sports Institute, Wellesley’s new skating and swimming facility.

The church was torn down in 2015 after the town bought the property in the wake of the Catholic church scandal. As part of the agreement, the town vowed to erect a memorial or plaque to commemorate the parish.

St. James the Great parishioners held vigils for 7-plus years before ending the stay in 2012.

st james the great wellesley.
Photo courtesy of Glenn Meister

 

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St. Andrew’s Church in Wellesley celebrates 125 years of worship and outreach

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Back in 1892, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church parishioners, confident the time was right to build a permanent church home, collected $650 at the Easter service for the construction of what is now the 79 Denton Road church. Two years later on November 30, 1894 the first service was held in the newly completed sanctuary. The congregation had come a long way from its early years when it met in various locations, first in the upper story of a wheelwright shop that stood opposite Wellesley Town Hall and then in the Town Hall itself.

St. Andrew's Church, Wellesley, Rev. Adrian Robbins-Cole
St. Andrew’s Church Rev. Adrian Robbins-Cole raises a glass at the 125th anniversary celebration at the Wellesley Country Club. Photo credit: John Mottern

“All this is a legacy given to us by previous generations of parishioners, to build up the spiritual life of the community and fill it more with the spirit of Christ,” noted current St. Andrew’s Rev. Andrian Robbins-Cole.

Amen to that, said today’s parishioners of the 300-family church, now let’s party. To commemorate the 125-year anniversary of the bricks-and-mortar location, party they did at a gala at the Wellesley Country Club earlier this month.

St. Andrew's Church, Wellesley, Parishioners
St. Andrew’s parishioners celebrate the generations of members who have maintained, improved, and added to the church building to make it a central spot for worship and the church’s outreach programs. Photo credit: John Mottern

Parishioner Lynda Sperry said, “The Gala was pure celebration of our 125 years. We just wanted to have a good time and enjoy. We’re not done celebrating. On November 24th there will be a big church service for the 125th.”

They’re not tired yet

The 125th celebration follows on the heels of a $2 million capital campaign, which got started early last year and wrapped up in May. Sperry, co-chair of the campaign, said, “The capital campaign was three-fold. To create a property refurbishment fund, to increase our endowment, and to share 10% of the $2 million we raised with our three main outreach partners — El Hogar in Honduras, St. Stephen’s Church in Boston, and Family Promise Metrowest.”

El Hogar’s mission is to transform the lives of children who are crippled by extreme poverty by providing a home and education to children who would otherwise have little hope of a future;  St. Stephen’s has long been in partnership with St. Andrew’s; and Family Promise Metrowest works with families with children who are homeless by mobilizing a diverse community to provide shelter, education and comprehensive support.

When I’m 125, I hope someone gives me a facelift

$1.3 million of the funds raised during the capital campaign will go toward property improvements, which will be done over three consecutive summers. Just to paint the interior of the church is no small task. To do so, first the magnificent Juget-Sinclair organ must be wrapped, and all the stained glass must be protected. Also on the punch list for an upgrade: the lighting, restoration of the pews; sanding the hardwood floors; some landscaping; and other projects.

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Church services at St. Andrew’s

Sundays, 8am & 10am
Wednesdays, 7:30am
Weekdays, 8:50am for silent contemplative prayer

St. Andrew's Church, Wellesley
St. Andrew’s Church, Wellesley, circa 1946. Photo courtesy of St. Andrew’s Church.
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Heaven knows there will be great bargains at annual Wellesley Village Church Rummage Sale

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Wellesley Village Church Rummage SaleThe Wellesley Village Church at 2 Central Street in Church Square will host its 78th annual Rummage Sale on Saturday, October 5, 2019, 9am – 1pm. Each year savvy shoppers flock to this bargain haul to search for women’s clothing and accessories, jewelry, furniture, menswear, kitchenware, antiques and treasures, children’s, toys, and more.

Rummage Sale Chair Sally Kellogg said, “We are excited to continue the traditional of holding the 78th annual Rummage Sale. This sale helps many patrons from area Metro West communities.”

The Chic Boutique is a big favorite, specializing in higher-end women’s designer clothing, purses and shoes. Last year featured Prada, Armani, D & G, Michael Kors, Burberry, Jimmy Choo, Stuart Weitzman, Vera Bradley, Bottega Venita, Tory Burch, Ann Taylor, and many more.

More than 100 volunteers work tirelessly to make this sale phenomenal. 2018 proceeds totaled $18,000 and benefitted local charities such as Family Promise Metrowest, Hoops and Homework, Inc., Wellesley Food Pantry, Wellesley ABC House, and more.

The entry fee is $2.00. Doors open at 9am on Saturday, but the early-birds get there at 8am to be the first in line.

WHAT: Wellesley Village Church Rummage Sale
DATE: Saturday, October 5, 2019
TIME: 9am – 1pm
WHERE: 2 Central Street, Wellesley

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Wellesley is on Hawaiian cultural and history theater program’s circuit

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“My Name is ʻŌpūkahaʻia” by Moses Goods is coming to Wellesley Hills

Sunday, October 13 at 11:30am-1pm (following church service that morning at Wellesley Hills Congregational Church, 207 Washington St.)

Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives is presenting a Bicentennial Hawaiian cultural and history theater program in New England between Sept. 29-Oct. 23.  The play “My Name is ʻŌpūkahaʻia” will be on a month-long tour of museums, churches, and historic sites. It brings the story of Henry ʻŌpūkahaʻia, the Native Hawaiian man who travelled to New England and inspired the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mission (ABCFM) to send Protestant missionaries to the Hawaiian Kingdom, to a new audience.

This is the first time Hawaiian Mission Houses is taking the program to the continental United States.

The play is written by and stars Hawaii’s Moses Goods.

“My Name is ʻŌpūkahaʻia” will be at the following venues in Massachusetts:

[Read more…]

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Mozart’s Requiem being performed in Wellesley

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Mozart’s “Requiem” will be presented on Sunday, March 24 at 10 a.m. at the Wellesley Hills Congregational Church (207 Washington St.) as part of the regular worship service. The Chancel Choir of the Hills Church will be accompanied by a full symphonic orchestra. Soloists will include Laurie Stewart Otten, soprano, Shannon Lebrón, mezzo-soprano, Christian Figueroa, tenor, and Stephen Lebrón, bass. John Finney, Director of Music for the Hills Church, will conduct.

The Requiem by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart includes the famous Dies Irae and Lacrymosa (well known to many through their use in numerous film-scores and other soundtracks). Mozart composed the Requiem for soloists and choir, accompanied by an orchestra consisting of strings, trumpets, timpani, and trombones, as well as two bassoons and two basset horns.

For more information, the church office can be reached at 781-235-4424.

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Wellesley church Bingo game humbles this fierce competitor

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wellesley bingo

We settled at a table smack in front of the letter and number callers at Saturday night’s Wellesley Village Church Bingo game, not taking chances that our fading hearing would cause us to miss any crucial calls. I exchanged banter with one of the emcees at the start, hoping to boost my karma.

I arranged multiple Bingo cards in front of me, upping my chances of victory and scoring any number of fabulous plastic prizes. A treasure trove of yo-yos, flashing rings, and candy were no doubt coming home with us.

Organizers of the event, which raised money to send students on a service trip to New Mexico during April vacation, attempted to soften everyone up early by doling out ice cream sundaes. I gulped mine down early, so as not to be distracted.

wellesley bingo

I couldn’t afford to be off my game. The ladies at the adjacent table were not messing around with the little beans distributed to the amateurs among us to mark their Bingo cards: these ringers brought custom markers. They weren’t about to fall prey to a table being shaken by some sugar high tot and the beans scattering hither and yon.

Games begin

The first game of “regular” Bingo came and went before I could fill in a single  I, N or G. As a student of the game, I smugly knew not to clear off my card after the first winner yelled Bingo!, and watched as others unwittingly disqualified themselves from being eligible for follow-up wins.

I still failed to achieve 5 squares in a row, but not to worry.  I was biding my time anyway for the more sophisticated games, like 4 corners and the X formation. That’s where I knew my experience, preparation, and concentration would give me an edge.

But no. The kid sitting next to me quickly won twice, after nimbly dotting his card with beans in just the right configuration.

 

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While I was happy for him, and even happier when a sibling got to hit the prize table courtesy of Dad’s victory, I was still left fretting. I was on the verge of getting shut out and wanted to turn the clock back on this Daylight Saving Time eve.

Funny ha-ha

The teen emcees tried to lighten the mood by inviting youngsters to the mic to tell jokes and riddles, such as:

Why do you have to be quiet at church?

Because everyone is asleep

and…

Why was the football stadium so hot?

All the fans left

 

Yes, these and the other zingers might have been hilarious under other circumstances, but this Bingo game was no laughing matter.

The “plus” formation Bingo game that followed proved to be a minus for me, as again my cards failed to produce a winner. At that point, the number callers announced that we were onto the final game, an all-or-nothing Blackout Bingo where you had to cover the entire card.

wellesley bingo

Number & letter combos were called, excruciatingly, by the teens. Then they were echoed by the spirited elementary school kids. It was as if they were mocking those of us who’d yet had a chance to strut to the sparkling prize table, which started to take on the look of the Wellesley dump’s give-and-take area late on a Saturday afternoon.

B-I-N-G-O!

Alas, the emcees ended the night in “everyone’s a winner” mode, and called letters and numbers until all of our cards were filled. “G65”, just 3 numbers from the end, patronizingly filled my card.

I barely had the heart to push through the crowd of kids to secure a prize at the end.

But this isn’t over. We still have a chance at winning Red Sox tickets in the raffle. Winners will be announced at a later date, and I’m feeling lucky.

wellesley bingo

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Elmwood Chapel in Wellesley closes, new church to take over the space

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Elmwood Chapel, Wellesley MAAfter 67+ years of ministry, Elmwood Chapel held its last service on Sunday, February 17, 2019. Church staff members say the decision came after many months of prayer and fasting. In a Facebook post, leadership for the evangelical non-denominational place of worship said, “We are grateful for the countless lives that were impacted and the ministry God has allowed us to participate in over the years.”

Starting Easter Sunday (April 21) at 42 Elmwood Road, Milestone Church, which has a location in Natick, will launch Milestone Wellesley. Between now and Easter, the property is being cleaned and prepared for this new Wellesley church.

Milestone identifies as a life-giving Bible-based Christian church with big plans to start ten new churches in the next ten years.

Elmwood Christian Preschool, which operates out of three classrooms and a playground located on church grounds, going forward will be affiliated with Milestone Wellesley and will not experience any  suspension in service. Starting in Fall 2019 the preschool will offer a transitional kindergarten program in addition to their programs for children from ages 2.9.

Wellesley’s changing religious landscape

In 2017 Christ United Methodist Church at 2 Brook St., faced with decreasing membership, ceased worship services, with many of its members choosing to go over to a church in Needham. After a short period of no religious activity in the Christ United sanctuary, a new church took over the space and the house of worship is now known as Metrowest Baptist Church. Pastor Dave Melton and his wife Kim Melton have lived in Wellesley for more than fifteen years and raised their four sons in town.   

Back in 2015 St. Paul School, affiliated with St. Paul Catholic Church at 502 Washington Street, was shuttered, upsetting families who had plenty to say about what they called an abrupt and unexpected decision. St. John School in Wellesley Hills ended up absorbing many of the displaced preK – grade 8 students into its program.

Also in 2015, St. James the Great church on route 9 was razed to make way for the Wellesley Sports Center. The Catholic church’s parishioners held vigils for 7-plus years before ending the stay in 2012 as the archdiocese sold off its property to the town of Wellesley. St. James was one of many churches the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston started shuttering in the early part of the century so that it could pay costs associated with its many sexual abuse cases. The Town of Wellesley purchased the property for $3.8 million.

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