LAKEVILLE — Lakeville United Church of Christ will celebrate its 60th anniversary Sunday, March 9, honoring the joining of two churches, Precinct Congregational Church and Grove Chapel Congregational Church.

On March 3, 1995, then Trustee Merrill S. Norton wrote, “In the town of Lakeville, for 83 years, two Congregational churches struggled to stay in existence. Then in the early 1960s, the thought was conceived that the two churches join and build a new, more centrally located house of worship. Knowing that there is strength in numbers, this is a concept I was totally in favor of.” 

Because the cost of building a new church was determined to be too prohibitive, it was decided to move the larger 1800’s Precinct Church down Precinct Street to a plot of land near the intersection of Precinct and Bedford streets.

Grove Chapel Church was sold to a local resident, who gave the building to the Lakeville Historical Society to use as a museum.

A special fellowship coffee will follow the 9 a.m service on March 9. A historical display will include items from the 60 years and show how the 1800 building was moved.