Following the civil war years, “the church held itself warmly alive to the high interests of unity and liberty.”  Many of the women joined the Soldiers’ Aid Society to provide for the needs of the veterans.  The clergy leadership during that time was uncertain with a number of short-term pastorates.

Stability returned when in 1872, Rev. Henry Martyn Grout accepted the call at a salary of six hundred dollars.  In that same year, Hubbard Street was laid out resulting in advantageous redrawing of the church property.  The building also saw changes - adding stained glass windows, chandeliers, furnaces and a slate roof.  The center aisle was eliminated in favor of side aisles along the walls. 

In 1876, The church celebrated its jubilee- the first half century with worship services and celebrations and a historical discourse preached by the pastor on Samuel VII:12 “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.”  In that same year, the last two pews in private ownership were bought back with congregants now sitting as to personal preference and all contributing to the support of the church.

In 1884, a Manse was constructed on a plot on the south side of the church given by Miss Mary Munroe.  This was a long-felt need as previous pastors needed to rent or take lodgings in homes in town. Described as a “large and pleasant structure, square in general form, of two and a half stories and furnished with modern conveniences,” the house was built at a cost of $5,607.09

Also in 1884, at the annual meeting of the Ladies Missionary Society, initial steps were taken to meet the “growing need of larger and more appropriate accommodations” for ladies’ meetings and large gatherings.  A committee was formed and a second story was added at the rear of the meeting house providing ample space for a kitchen, ladies parlor, and reception room/dining hall.

In 1886, at a Friday evening prayer meeting, Rev. Henry Martyn Grout expressed interest in having a drinking fountain on the church grounds with a Biblical inscription that could serve as a “perpetual preacher.”  Less than a month later, Rev. Grout died unexpectedly, following a brief illness.

The following year, a drinking fountain “of plain, yet comely style” was dedicated in his honor and placed immediately in front of the sanctuary and a watering trough (inscribed 1887) was placed near the road.

The fountain had the inscription suggested by Rev. Grout - "Whosever drinketh of this water shall thirst again; but whosever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." John 4:14

On the reserve, was the inscription, “In Memory of Henry Martyn Grout, D.D. Pastor 1872-1886 By his Sorrowful Church.”

In the1960’s, the fountain was damaged and it was moved to an obscure location on the church property and the horse trough went missing.  In 2000, as part of a major building and site renovation, the fountain was repaired and moved to its present location in the memorial area on the lawn and the horse trough, discovered buried under the parking area, became a planter at a location just yards from its original location.

A special report issued by the Standing Committee in 1896, informed the church that the time had come to make major renovations.  An architect was hired to draw up a plan and an estimated cost.  After a presentation by the architect in 1897, the congregation voted unanimously to go forward “with cordial enthusiasm and courage”.

In 1898, the church signed a contract with a builder from Fitchburg to construct a new edifice.  Grant blocks that had supported the no-longer-needed railroad turntable at the corner of Thoreau Street and Sudbury Road were used as foundation stones for the enlarged church building.

The corner stone was laid in May 21st, 1898 and in his address to the congregation, Rev. Tewksbury stated, ‘We give our allegiance anew to the gospel which our fathers in Christian loyalty and love, and with a measure of sacrifice greater than is required of us, built this house to perpetuate.  The stone we now put in place has the same significance as that that was laid seventy-two years ago – it suggests no departure from the essential truth which began to be taught in this house and from which the church has not swerved throughout the intervening years.”

An addition of thirty-one feet to the front end gave it a length of ninety feet, retaining the original width of fifty-eight feet. A spire on the northeast side rose one hundred and thirty-five feet and contained the new bell, which had been funded by selling shares at ten dollars (about $400 today). The bell, which combined with the yoke, clapper and mountings weighed about 3,000 pounds, had a “rich resonant tone in the key of F that was easily heard in remote parts of town”.  In the photo, smaller spire can be seen of the southeast side just peeking over the roofline.  The manse build in 1884 stands next to the church.

The new structure featured a beautiful panel ceiling, stained glass windows in “varied and tasteful design,” a new Hutchings organ with a water motor, new circular oak pews, “easily seating six hundred” and arrangements for steam heat and electric lighting.  The entire cost of the renovation was $18,005.20.