St. Thomas Episcopal Church located on Central Avenue
With the coming of the Industrial Revolution to Dover in the early 1800s, the town’s population increased substantially (from 1700 during the Revolution to 2800 in 1820) and this increase brought members of other faiths into the community, among whom were the Episcopalians.
The first services of the Protestant Episcopal Church were held in February, 1832, at the Great Falls, with the permanent establishment of the church taking place in 1839. Prior to the erection of their first church, services were held in the old Court House and later in what was then the Belknap School on Church Street. In 1840 land was purchased and the first St. Thomas Church was built on the corner of Central Avenue and St. Thomas Street, the street being named after the church. In 1891 the church was torn down and the present structure, designed by the famous Boston architect Henry Vaughn, was built next to the home of William Hale. Stones collected in the Durham fields were used in the tower and a quarry near Rochester supplied the granite. The new church was opened for use the first Sunday in September, 1892, and dedicated the following year.
From “Dover, New Hampshire, 350th Anniversary Commemorative Book 1623-1973”, 1973
Current St. Thomas Church, located at 5 Hale Street
From the back of the photo:
Rev. Ithamar W. Beard, rector.
Fred O'Neil - front
Men-left- Mr. Babbett, Mr. Swallow, Mr. J. Herbert Richardson, Mr. Crossley (?)
Right-front- Edward Pinkham