The Federated Church of Norfolk invites the community to take part in its upcoming Holy Week and Easter services. Events begin with a Palm Sunday service on Sunday, March 29 at 10 a.m. A Last Supper service will follow on Thursday, April 2 at 7 p.m. The church will host an Open Sanctuary for prayer and reflection on Friday, April 3 from 12 to 3 p.m., and its April Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, April 4 from 8 to 10 a.m. Easter Sunday services will take place on April 5 at 8 a.m. on Town Hill and at 10 a.m. in the sanctuary, featuring the bluegrass band Southern Rail.

These events highlight the long-standing presence of the Federated Church as part of Norfolk’s history.

The church traces its origins to 1795, when members of the Congregational Church in Wrentham, along with their pastor, Rev. David Avery, left to form the North Parish Association. Like many early New England communities, the congregation’s first building was a meetinghouse that served both as a place of worship and as the site of town meetings.

The church is closely tied to Norfolk’s early development. When Norfolk applied for incorporation in 1870, Massachusetts required that a town have defined boundaries and a Protestant church. Early town records also show that many church leaders served as town moderators, selectmen, and other officials. In 1875, the congregation donated the original meetinghouse to the town for use as Norfolk’s town hall.

In 1918, under the leadership of Rev. William Lowstuter, the congregation invited the local Baptist church to consolidate, forming the Federated Church of Norfolk. Today, members represent more than 15 denominations.

The church continues to play an active role in the community. Its pastors have served as chaplains and emergency contacts for the Norfolk Police and Fire Departments, the church participates in local events, and it hosts Boy Scout Troop 80. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the church also joined other groups in the Love Your Neighbor initiative.

Members are also working to preserve the church’s history. A History Committee is collecting and organizing documents, photographs, and other materials into an interactive database. The committee is also transcribing 22 oral history interviews recorded with longtime members between June 2025 and January 2026, with excerpts to be shared online.

Much of the church’s earlier story is documented in The Federated Church of Norfolk: A Bicentennial History, published for the church’s 1995 bicentennial and available at the Norfolk Public Library.

All are welcome to attend the upcoming Holy Week and Easter services.