A Rich Past Spanning Nearly
Three Centuries. ​

The story of Legacy Church begins in colonial America in 1735, when the congregation was founded by Rev. Benjamin Marsh and Dr. Thomas Green. Just two years later, Dr. Green helped establish Greenville Baptist Church, another congregation that continues to serve today. Rev. Marsh would faithfully shepherd the church for more than forty years—the longest pastorate in our history—during a period marked by the spiritual awakening that swept through New England. During this era, the church supported the ministry of evangelist George Whitefield as he preached the Gospel throughout the region.

The church’s first meetinghouse was constructed in 1750 at the corner of Hutchinson and Boston Roads. During the American Revolution, the building was destroyed as British forces moved through the area. Following Rev. Marsh’s death and the challenges brought by the war years, the congregation experienced a season of decline. Yet God preserved His church, and in 1785 the members reorganized under the leadership of Elder Ebenezer Lamson. A second meetinghouse was erected on Freeland Hill, serving the congregation as it continued to grow.

Within a decade, the church had outgrown its second building and began planning for a larger home. In 1829, the congregation completed the construction of its present sanctuary—the third church building in its history. Designed to seat approximately 250 worshipers, including a balcony, the sanctuary remains a prominent landmark in Sutton today and currently seats about 190 people. In 1959, a fellowship hall and classroom wing were added to support the church’s growing ministries.

The church’s second meetinghouse continued to serve the community long after the congregation moved into its new home. In 1842, the building was relocated to Manchaug Village for use by Manchaug Baptist Church. Today, that historic structure serves as the home of the Sutton Historical Society, preserving an important piece of the church’s heritage.

Over the course of nearly three centuries, the congregation has been known by several names, including The Baptist Meeting House, First Baptist Church, West Sutton Baptist Church, Sutton Baptist Church, and today, Legacy Church. While the names have changed, the mission has remained the same: proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and making disciples for the glory of God.

In 2018, the church entered a new chapter when Legacy Church at First Baptist Church of Sutton became one of the first church revitalization efforts in New England supported by the North American Mission Board. Today, Legacy Church continues to build upon its rich heritage while looking forward to the future, seeking to be a healthy, Gospel-centered church that reaches new generations with the hope of Christ.

1735–Present: Sharing Hope to All Generations.

Our History of Pastors

1. Benjamin Marsh, 1735–1775 (40 Years)
2. Thomas Green, 1735–1737 (2 Years)
3. Ebenezer Lamson, 1785–1794 (9 Years)
4. William Batchellor, 1794–1799 (5 Years)
5. Samuel Waters, 1799–1825 (26 Years)
6. Moses Harrington, 1825–1831 (6 Years)
7. John Walker, 1831–1836 (5 years)
8. L. B. Cole, 1836–1837 (1 Year)
9. Charles H. Peabody, 1837–1840 (3 Years)
10. Otis Converse, 1840–1842 (2 Years)
11. Samuel Richards, 1842–1843 (1 Year)
12. George Deland, 1843–1846 (3 Years)
13. Job B. Boomer, 1846–1849 (3 Years)
14. G. W. Benton, 1849–1850 (1 Year)
15. J. Thayer, 1850–1852 (2 Years)
16. Lorenzo O. Lovell, 1852–1859 (7 Years)
17. O. Crane, 1859–1860 (1 Year)
18. J. D. Donovan, 1860–1862 (2 Years)
19. David Avery, 1862–1863 (1 Year)
20. C. L. Baker, 1863–1864 (1 Year)
21. J. Barber, 1864–1865 (1 Year)

22. Gilman Stone, 1865–1868 (3 Years)
23. N. Medbury, 1868–1869 (1 Year)
24. A. E. Battlle, 1869–1872 (4 Years)
25. J. H. Tilton, 1871–1873 (2 Years)
26. E. J. Stevens, 1872–1873 (1 Year)
27. Charles F. Myers, 1873–1876 (3 Years)
28. E. J. Stevens, 1876–1877 (1 Year)
29. Joel P. Chapin, 1877–1880 (3 Years)
30. Charles Newhall, 1880–1885 (5 Years)
31. Albert Green, 1885–1888 (3 Years)
32. Benjamin Tuck, 1888–1891 (3 Years)
33. William D. MacKinnon, 1892–1897 (5 Years)
34. Charles B. Williams, 1897–1900 (3 Years)
35. Fred F. Thayer, 1900–1902 (2 Years)
36. Leopold Sharf, 1901–1903 (2 Years)
37. Arthur Davis, 1903–1906 (3 Years)
38. Joseph J. Theakston, 1906–1910 (4 Years)
39. Allan H. Bissell, 1910–1912 (2 Years)
40. Frederick Webb, 1912–1915 (3 Years)
​​​41. O.D. Thomas, 1915–1916 (1 Year)
42. H.Y. Vinal, 1916–1920 (4 Years)​

43. J.D. Matthews, 1920–1922 (2 Years)
44. Leonard Smith, 1922–1925 (3 Years)
45. Sydney Cahoon, 1925-1926 (1 Year)
46. A.C. Krane, 1926–1927 (1 Year)
47. Kenneth Hatch, 1927–1928 (1 Year)
48. Henry Schwab, 1928–1936 (8 Years)
49. Fred Bopp, 1936–1937 (1 Year)
50. Vernon D. Byron, 1937–1942 (5 Years)
51. Lee L. Burton, 1942–1944 (2 Years)
52. Warren C. Young, 1944–1947 (3 Years)
53. Lewis F. Hall, 1947–1954 (7 Years)
54. Arthur Darby, 1954–1962 (8 Years)
55. John Olson, 1962–1965 (3 Years)
56. Everett Nickerson, 1965–1967 (2 Years)
57. Willard Smith, 1968–1969 (1+ Years)
58. C. Vaughn Overman 1969–1972 (3 Years)
59. Charles Pentland, 1969–82 (13 Years)
60. Lloyd Yeagle, 1982–1992 (9 years)
61. S.H. Hartman, 1992–1997 (5 Years)
62. Edward J. Pentland, 1997–2017 (20 Years)
63. Donald J. McKinnon, 2017–