work was proof of their craftsmanship.Music is an important part of worship at First Parish Church in Taunton. In addition to its magnificent Hook Organ (see description below), First Parish also houses two Steinway grand pianos which complement the beautiful sanctuary and intimate chapel. From 16th century organ works to contemporary spirituals, music at First Parish strives to be inclusive, varied, and inspiring. A typical Sunday morning worship service features a diverse mix of instrumental music, vocal solos, and congregational hymns.
In the Western church, the Reformation brought the voices of the entire congregation into religious music. At first accompanied by stringed instruments, the organ eventually became the accepted instrument of accompaniment, establishing the need for organ builders. Elias (1805-81) and George G. (1807-80) Hook were the sons of a Salem, Massachusetts cabinetmaker. In 1824 the brothers were accepted as apprentices to James Goodrich of Boston, a reputable organ builder of his day. Three years later the Hook brothers established their own shop where for the next forty years they produced about six hundred large and small organs. The demand for their work was proof of their craftsmanship.
Early in the 1860s James H. Sproat approached several friends about the need for a new organ in First Parish Church. His enthusiasm resulted in contracting with the Hook brothers for a two-manual mechanical action organ with twenty-one stops. Installed in 1864 at a cost of $4,500.00, it was a commendable effort by the people whose nation was divided in a Civil War. Families left at homes by men in uniform were having difficulty supplying sustenance for themselves, and a new organ was not their first priority.
There are now several Hook organs in use - three of them in Taunton. In addition to First Parish, the St. Mary's Church has a three-manual and St. John's Episcopal Church has a small two-manual organ. An early one-manual Hook organ may also been seen in the Berkley Congregational Church. It is estimated there may be at least a dozen Hook instruments in Massachusetts. The largest and best known, recently restored, is in Mechanics Hall in Worcester.
The First Parish Hook organ has had several changes since 1864. The W.B. Williams Co. added some of the romantic stops in 1914. When the organ was electrified in 1949 by the E.M. Skinner Co., a new console and several stops were added. Within ten years of that work, the organ required major repairs. In 1960 a contract with the Williams Organ Service, Inc. resulted in the expenditure of $7,450.00 for a new two-manual console and a standard American Guild of Organists' pedalboard, plus new stops that replaced the old Hook - all of which to make the
organ more flexible. Unfortunately, the electric action did not survive its life expectancy, and in 1987 the Roache Organ Co. of Taunton was contracted to recreate the spirit of the original Hook organ. The instrument is once again a mechanical action organ with the original Hook pipes retained and new pipework added to make the organ complete.
First Parish is grateful to the past and present generations who have concerned themselves with the Hook organ, particularly to the Women's Alliance and the Couples Club, and other individuals who have contributed to support this wonderful instrument.
First Parish Church currently employs an organist/pianist plus three alternating soloists who provide beautiful anthems and solos for Sunday morning worship services.
Jennifer came to First Parish Church in 2006 after serving two years as organist/pianist at the Universalist Unitarian Church in Haverhill, MA. With over twenty years experience, she has held
positions as organist, pianist, accompanist and/or music director in Congregational, Episcopal, Jewish, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Unitarian Universalist congregations. Jennifer received her Bachelor's degree in piano performance from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and her Master's degree in music therapy from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. She has formally studied with David Walters, Roland Carter, Dr. Mario Abril, Dr. Michele Forinash, and Marilyn Walthall, former organist with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. Since 2004, Jennifer has been the rehearsal and performance accompanist with Voices Rising Women's Chorus of Boston, led by Leora Zimmer. She also plays guitar and works as a board-certified music therapist in the greater Boston area. Jennifer is an active member of the American Guild of Organists and the American Music Therapy Association. She lives in Chestnut Hill with her three beloved felines.
A native of Taunton, Vicky started singing and studying voice at the age of 7, performing in local variety shows and her home parish. She has been the soprano soloist at First Parish since the mid 1980s and has given several solo recitals at the church. In addition to singing at First Parish, she also does solo and choral work at Holy Family Church. Vicky received a Bachelors degree in Music Education and a Masters in Vocal Performance from the Boston Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Elisabeth Phinney and John Moriarity. Vicky has had the opportunity to perform her two favorite roles, Mrs Ford in the Merry Wives of Windsor and Pamina in the Magic Flute at Harvard University, and performed in the chorus of the Providence Opera for one season. Vicky also holds a Bachelors Degree in Political Science from American University and an MBA in Organizational Behavior from UMass Dartmouth. She is the Director of Human Resources at the Holiday Inn Taunton and is Co-chair of the Taunton Area Chamber of Commerce's HR Committee. As a former Miss Taunton, she is actively involved with the Miss Taunton Scholarship Pageant Committee, and is currently president of the local branch of the American Association of University Women, an organization dedicated to educational equity for women and girls.
Having grown up in a musical family in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, Carolyn started singing with three of her sisters in a children's church choir. She later went on to study voice under Margaret Frazier at the University of Rhode Island. Carolyn has sung with the South County Chamber Singers and is currently a member of Providence Singers. She also sings every summer at the Berkshire Choral Festival. Carolyn is the Director of the Women's Center at the University of Rhode Island. She and her partner Christopher live in Rehoboth.
A native of Newton, MA, Wayne started singing at age 9 in his church's children's choir and
has been singing ever since. Currently a member of the Providence Singers of Rhode Island,he has also performed with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus and the Handel & Haydn Society of Boston. Wayne enjoys singing as many different types of music as possible. While living in New York City in the 1980s and '90s, he performed with several close-harmony a cappella groups and sang on the soundtracks of a variety of movies and television shows, including Sesame Street and several Nickelodeon and MTV shows. Wayne and his wife Kate now live in Sharon with their dog Oakley and cats Cheeser and Scootie.