Category: Community Photos

A CELEBRATION OF GLOUCESTER’S 400TH ANNIVERSARY, NOVEMBER 18TH AT 2:00PM IN THE HISTORIC
MEETINGHOUSE, CORNER OF MIDDLE AND CHURCH STREETS (GPS, #50 MIDDLE ST.)
‘REFUSING TO PAY,’ GLOUCESTER’S ROLE BUILDING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN AMERICA
This three-part program was created for Gloucester’s 400ᵗʰ Anniversary Celebration to share the story of
how Rev. John Murray and his Gloucester followers influenced the separation of church and state, the
promise of religious liberty in the First Amendment.
The first segment is a video that tells the story about how in 1782 Murray’s followers refused to pay
Gloucester taxes to support the town church system. Their possessions were seized and they sued to get
them back. It took three years, but they eventually won, setting a key precedent. The Massachusetts
Supreme Judicial Court ruled that “a free populace cannot be taxed to support a state church.”
In the second segment Rev. Murray magically returns to share what happened in Gloucester, details
about the famous court case, and a second court case that led to Massachusetts legally recognizing the
independence of diverse churches and synagogues.
The third segment features a panel discussion including Q&A with the audience about why this story
matters so much in present-day America with often caustic civic discourse and religion in the center of
political culture wars.
A reception with light refreshments will follow at the Sargent House Museum, a short walk down Middle
Street (#49.)
This event is free and open to the public. It will also be live-streamed by Studio 1623 on the local
channel 6 and will be available later on YouTube.
It was jointly produced by the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation, the Gloucester Unitarian
Universalist Church and the Sargent House Museum. For more information please visit:
http://www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org