From:"History of Worcester County, MA with biographical sketches of many of its Pioneer & Prominent Men" Volume 1; pages 196, 197 ; D. Hamilton Hurd--compiler; J.W. Lewis & Co. publisher....1889 Ashburnham, alias Dorchester Canada incorporated Feb 22 1765. The first meeting house, erected 1739 or 1740, was not injured during the years the settlement was abandoned, and it silently invited occupacy 20 years before the organization of a church and the settlement of a minister. A considerable number of the settlers were members of the church in Lunenburg, and there many of the children born in Dorchester Canada previous to 1760 were baptized. A call for a minister was extended Nov 27 1759, and Mr. Jonathan WINCHESTER was ordained April 23 1760, the same day a church was organized. The covenant bears the signatures of Mr. WINCHESTER and of 12 male residents of th settlement, 6 of whom were Germans. The first church in Ashburnham remained in full relations with the Orthodox or Trinitarian Congregationalists The second meeting house, built in 1791, was located on the Old Common, and near the site of its primitive predecessor. The third and present church ediface was erected in Central Village, 1833, and dedicated Feb 19 1834. =================================== *** This is the only FISKE minister I found mentioned...Rev. Frederick A. FISKE, son of Rev. Elisha & Margaret (SHEPARD) FISKE, born Wrentham, MA, 15 Apr 1816; installed 30 Dec 1851; dismissed 17 Apr 1854; died at North Attleborough, MA, 15 Dec 1878 ================================== In the autumn of 1793 Rev. Jonathan HILL preached the first Methodist sermon in the town, and a society was gathered the following year. In 1831 the Ashburnham and Westminster Societies were united and constituted a station. A meeting house was built on Main Street, and dedicated July 4 1832. This building is now owned and occupied by the Catholic Society. The present commondious ediface was built 1870. Previous to 1832 sixty-five preachers were assiged to the station to which the Methodist Church in Ashburnham belnged, and since that date thirty-six appointments have been made by the conference. A accommodate families in that portion of he town, a meeting house was erected in North Ashburnham, 1842, and a church with Evangelical proclivities was emboded Feb 21 1843. At no time has the membership been large, and public ministrations have not been continuously sustained. In 1860 the church was disbanded, and the Second Congregational Church of Ashburnham with a amended creed was organized. The Catholics of Ashburnham held services in the town hall several years, and since 1871 have owned and occupied the ediface erected by the Methodists in 1832. The church is under the spiritual direction of Father John CONWAY, who is also in charge of the church in Winchendon.