Select Board members and the Finance Committee voted at a joint meeting to accept in principle an offer by the congregation of First Parish (First Parish Church) to transfer the historic church building to the town for community use.

Town Administrator Nate explained the congregation’s intent is to dissolve and hand the building “to the community,” not to sell it. The town’s counsel will review the transfer, the building commissioner will inspect the structure for unforeseen conditions, and the administrator said he would investigate grant eligibility and the organization model for future stewardship (for example, a trustees or nonprofit steward to help manage programs and grant writing).

Members of the congregation attended the meeting and described the offer as driven by an aging, shrinking membership and the costs of keeping the building heated and maintained. Board members repeatedly noted the structure’s historical significance: the building is listed on the National Register and previously received preservation aid. Nate said the town would seek available grants and consider repurposing the building for community programming, storage of archival collections and limited events; he also noted that to receive public funding the property would need to be transferred out of active religious use and formal dissolution of the congregation would be required.

Vote and next steps: The joint bodies approved the motion “to move forward with the property transfer proposal of the First Parish Church and accept the gift/transfer in principle.” The vote was taken by voice, and the chair declared the motion carried. The administrator will meet with the town attorney, direct a building inspection, and return options and cost estimates to the boards for a future decision or a town meeting article.

Ending: The town will examine the property’s physical condition and funding options; any formal acceptance or appropriation will be decided later by the Select Board, Finance Committee and voters at town meeting.