The first known settlement in Reading was in 1639 on the south shore of Lake Quannapowitt. The town of Reading was incorporated in 1644 and encompassed an area that is now known as North Reading, Reading, and Wakefield. It was not until a century later that the first church was built in the West Parish or Wood End, the area we know today as Reading. The organization of this church was a result of a "Great Religious Awakening" in the late 1730's. On October 10, 1740, Reverend George Whitefield, an associate of Wesley's in England visited Reading and preached in the parish church on the south shore of the lake, known then as South Reading but today known as Wakefield.
In 1769 the population of the township and membership in the church increased to such an extent that the people of Wood End, which later became Reading, called a meeting "in his majesty's name" and voted to build themselves a new house of worship. The building was a rectangular frame structure with solid oak timbers. It had square box stalls for the pew owners around the inside walls with a long row of stalls running lengthwise near the center. The church became known as "South Church" to distinguish it from a church which had been erected eighteen years earlier in the "North Parish", now North Reading. Reverend Thomas Haven was selected as the first pastor.
In 1815 a hurricane blew down hundreds of trees in the woodlands owned by the parish. The original church had stood for forty-five years and was now too small and in need of many repairs. It was voted to build a new chuch using the best of the fallen timber. The new building was built on the site of the present church and dedicated in 1817. It was a colonial style structure, of which the present church is a replica. The old church was moved to what is now Union Street, leaving a large common in front of the new building. The site of the old church is indicated by a stone marker on Reading Common.
The new church became known as Old South Parish. Reverend Peter Sanborn was its minister for thirty years. The Parish had two serious divisions which greatly affected its history. The first came in 1827 when forty-six families withdrew and formed a new society of their own. This society disbanded a few years later. The second division came in 1849 when sixty-six members of the Parish withdrew and formed a society called the Bethesda Congregational Church. The society built a new church on the corner of Woburn and Sanborn Streets on land given by Reverend Peter Sanborn.
The village had a Baptist Church, two Congregational Churches, and a Universalist Society. In the fall of 1866, there was a call for Methodist preaching and Reverend Abraham D. Merrill preached three times in Lyceum Hall and once in Old South Parish. Shortly after this Reverend Andrew Gray, who had been serving the South Reading Church, began to preach each Sunday in Lyceum Hall. Meetings and classes were held in the homes of the people.
At the Annual Conference in the spring of 1867, Reverend Daniel Atkins was appointed minister of the REading group. Under his leadership the Methodist Society was formally organized on June 9, 1867. THere were nineteen members and eleven probationers. Regular services were held in Lyceum Hall, which was located on the corner of Ash and Haven Streets. Early in 1869, the Society purchased a plot of land on Ash Street at a cost of $2,800. A plain wooden building was built on this site at a total cost of $8,300; the building was dedicated July 1, 1869. This property is now owned by the American Legion, Post 62.
In 1886, the population of Reading was 3,539. As the town grew, the Methodist Society prospered and grew; in 1886 the membership had increased to one hundred fifty members. The Ash Street chapel was inadequeate and needed extensive repairs.
Meanwhile, after thirty-seven years the divisions in Old South Parish had weakened it so that in 1886 the remaining memmbers voted to reunite with the Bethesda Society to form the First Congregational Church of Reading. This left the Old South building vacant. Under the leadership of Reverend James H. Humphrey, and through the generosity of Society members, townspeople, and the Congregational Church, whose members wanted their old building to remain a house of worhsip, the Old South building was purchased for $5,000 and the name of the church was changed to Old South Methodist Episcopal Church. The Church took possession of the property January 16, 1887. The Ash Street "Chapel" was sold for the amount of the mortgage, $3,000.
The Parish House was built in 1854. It was a two-story building that originally contained horse sheds on the first floor. The following notes from the Middlesex Journal tell of its beginning:
June 10, 1854
The Old South Meeting House is at last doomed to an attack of paintbrushes, and to a general renovation, and the rear is to have a FRILL of horse shed that will allow the worshippers some claim to the rank of merciful men, on the score of being merciful to "his beast".
Saturday, July 15, 1854
Parish Economy. The First Congregation Society in Reading have for some time past felt the needs of more extensive accomodations in two particulars: first, more ample and convenient horse sheds, and second, a suitable and pleasant lecture room. Having either the fear of a parish debt before their eyes, or the caustic stricture of our "suburban" correspondent, "RUSTICUS", the committee having decided in the true spirit of economy to combine the two, by erecting a suitable building, the basement of which shall be devoted to horses, and the upper part to contain the lecture room. The project is worthy the imitation of all parishes who wish to make the most of their space and money.
Saturday, November 11, 1854
NEW CHAPEL - FAIR - SOCIAL GATHERING
The Old SOuth Society has just built a very comfortable and commodious chapel. It is snugly built into the brow of the hill. ----
The first floor held fourteen horse stalls for which the owners paid $35 each. The second floor had a multi-pupose hall and a small parlor and kitchen. On October 23, 1877, the first telephone call in Reading took place in the hall. The Bell Telephone Company strung a wire from the Parish House to the High School which was located where the education building is now. To the amazement of the crowd, the voices of those talking in the two buildings were easily recognizable, and conversation between the two was easy.
The Methodist women have been especially noteworthy for their continuous support of the church. The Old South Benevolent Society was the first formally organized women's group; it was formed in 1895 with nine members.