It was built in 1818 by conservative breakaway members of Dedham's First Church and Parish in the Greek Revival style.
The preaching of Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield helped to revive the churches of Dedham during the Great Awakening.
[2] The theological debates that arose as a result, however, helped bring about a split in the churches into different denominations.
[8][9] When the parish installed and ordained Lamson, the more conservative or orthodox members left in 1818 decided to form a new church nearby.
[8] During the split, the departing members included Deacon Samuel Fales, who took parish records, funds, and the valuable silver used for communion with him.
[10][11][8] Members of the First Church sued and the case, Baker v. Fales, reached the Supreme Judicial Court.
"[12] The court held that the property had to be returned to First Church, setting a precedent for future congregational splits that would arise as Unitarianism grew.
[22] Burgess was deeply interested in the work of the American Colonization Society which encouraged the migration of free blacks to Africa.
[23] In the run up to the Civil War, "he did not support the anti-slavery movement" and segregated the pews in the church by race.
[22] However, when President Joseph Jenkins Roberts of Liberia would visit the United States, he would frequently preach from the Allin pulpit.
[23] William Jenks, a pastor from Green Street in Boston, would spend the summers in Dedham.
[22] Burgess would invite him to stand on his left during services and Jenks would lead the "long prayer.
[29] A double bass viol, no longer needed with the organ, was instead loaned to the Baptist Church in Mill Village.
[22] A singing school was run in the church during the winter months which provided singers for the choir.
[31] Burgess built a chapel immediately behind the church and another was constructed behind Benjamin Boyden's store in Mill Village.
[23] The East Dedham chapel had an open timbered framework and was occasionally used for religious services.