A fixture of South Acton for 148 years, the South Acton Congregational Church (SACC) will permanently close its doors this year on December 31. SACC’s worshiping congregation has been welcomed by the West Concord Union Church and will move there permanently in January. The building has been listed for sale with Region Commercial Real Estate.
In its history, the church was a center of life in South Acton and beyond. Countless community events – rummage sales, dinners, concerts, holiday celebrations, theater productions, meetings of community groups – took place in the building. Sesame Street’s Carroll Spinney, better known as “Big Bird,” grew up at SACC and later brought the church’s warm and loving spirit to a national audience.
Church members have been leaders in service to the community. The church has prided itself on “putting feet to faith” with active giving to others. SACC ran a biannual rummage and bake sale that drew people from around the region; the “SACC Movers” recently celebrated its 52nd year of moving house at a reduced rate or for free for people who needed their help; SACC sent an annual contingent to the Mothers’ Day Walk for Peace in Boston; for years, SACC members stood out at the bridge on Central Street to protest gun violence; and SACC was one of the first places in Acton to stock an outdoor food box, built by one of its younger members, for people needing something to eat.
Constructed in 1892, the building’s appearance has changed little since then, except for the addition of an entry ramp a few decades ago. SACC was the first church in Acton to have stained-glass windows, all of which are extant today. The church’s sanctuary, whose warm interior hearkens back to the unemployed ship builders who built the church, features a 1912 Estey pipe organ which is played on Christmas Eve each year.
What happened? How did the church end up closing after serving so many for so long?
Like many mainline Christian churches in the U.S., SACC was challenged to attract new members as Acton residents became more involved in sports and other secular activities. The pandemic dealt the church a blow, making it extremely difficult even for long-time members to keep attending. And members discovered that the church’s leaders and members could no longer sustain the effort needed to keep up worship, missions, fundraising, and building maintenance. In February 2024, the church collectively made the difficult decision to pursue a strategy of closing while the congregation was strong enough to go through the closing process gracefully. After a search, SACC found a welcoming home at West Concord Union Church (WCUC), a church whose values match SACC’s and which has warmly welcomed members of the congregation.
The church that began as a way to serve South Acton village and became a force for good in Acton will be missed. On January 12, 2025, 7:30 am, members will begin a walk from SACC to their new home at WCUC carrying precious objects from their history – to begin their new life with a new congregation.
Acton resident Martha Rounds is a non-fiction writer with a deep interest in people, places and things that are in the midst of change and transition – as she is.