Elder Dunham had been for some time a leader in the First-day Baptist Church at that place, and was moreover extremely scrupulous in his observance of the first day. This led him to reprove one Hezekiah Bonham, for attending, upon that day, to secular concerns. Mr. Bonham replied by requesting his censor to prove from Scripture that the first day was holy by divine appointment. Upon examination, Mr. Dunham not only discovered that his point was untenable, but became in the end a zealous advocate of the sacred character of the seventh day. In a short time, the force of his arguments carried conviction to the minds of seventeen others, who formed a church, chose him for their pastor, and sent him to Rhode Island to be ordained. He served the church until his death in 1734, and was succeeded by his son, Rev. Jonathan Dunham. The talents of Elder Dunham were above mediocrity, and although he had not been favoured with literary advantages, his preaching was very effective, and he was greatly beloved by his brethren. In the earlier part of his ministry their first meeting-house was built, the church having formerly met for worship in private houses. It was erected upon a lot of one acre of land, which had been donated to them for that purpose by Jonathan Fitz Randolph. Elder Dunham, after serving this church upwards of forty years, rested from his labours in 1777, in the eighty-sixth year of his age. Rev. Jonathan Jarman, for some time his colleague, was ordained in 1772, but soon after removed to French Creek, in Pennsylvania. Subsequent to the decease of Elder Dunham, this church remained for several years without a pastor, but depended for ministerial assistance upon the occasional visits of travelling missionaries, or a precarious supply by first-day brethren. The church also suffered much from being near the seat of war, and in the vicinity of the ravages of the British army. Rev. Nathan Rogers, in 1786, assumed the pastoral charge, and during that summer and autumn the church was blessed with a remarkable revival of religion, in which upwards of sixty were added to its numbers. During the same year, Rev. Elisha Gillette received ordination as evangelist, in connexion with this community, which relation he sustained for three years. Rev. Henry M. Lafferty, for three years the colleague of Elder Rogers, was subsequently his successor in 1797, and continued to occupy the pastoral office until 1811, when he was succeeded by Gideon Wooden, as licentiate, and subsequently as pastor, who served the church until 1825, when he was succeeded by Rev. John Watson, whose ministry continued until 1840. Rev. William B. Maxson, for eight years his colleague, was for one year his successor, when Rev. Walter B. Gillette, the present incumbent, was installed. Besides these pastors, other ministers have, at different times, been connected with this church, who have removed to other fields of labour.