The year of the postmark on the back of this postcard is 1914
1870 - The First Primitive Methodist Church was started as a volunteer missionary movement headed by Thomas Leland. The first services were held in Preston's Hall in Davis Square on Gorham Street with Rev. William Kirkby as the pastor.
1871 – The society was incorporated on February 14, 1871 as the Zion Primitive Methodist Church. A building was constructed at the corner of Gorham and Congress Streets with Rev. Kirkby, the first pastor. Dr. J.C. Ayer, a prominent citizen in Lowell, laid the cornerstone. Believers worshiped in that church for 30 years.
1872 – 1875 – Pastors in these years were Rev. W. Kirkby, Rev. H. Matthews, Rev. W. Marks; Rev. G. Parkes, Rev. J. Barkes, and Rev. C. Spurr.
1874 – 1875 - In the economic hard times of 1874-1875 the building was sold and the society disbanded.
1879 - In 1878, Rev, Nathaniel Williams Matthews came to Lowell and in January 1879, the society was reorganized. The building on Gorham and Congress Streets was repurchased, and the church was reincorporated in October 1880 under its name, “The First Primitive Methodist Church of Lowell.” Rev. Matthews was the first pastor until 1883 when he left, returning in 1897.
1883 - Rev. Matthews was succeeded in 1883 by Rev. John A. McGreaham.
1888 - Rev. T. M. Bateman became pastor and remained till 1893.
1893 - Rev. W. H. Yarrow began his ministry with the church in May and remained until 1897.
1897 - The membership of the church was 170.
1897 - Rev. N. W. Matthews returned and served as pastor for 26 years until his death in 1922.
1901 – The laying of the cornerstone for a new church building to accommodate the growing congregation. The building is at 799 Gorham Street, on the corner of Gorham and Ellsworth Streets.
1902 – First service in the new building
1904 – The church was completed and formally dedicated. The cost was approximately $22,000 and was designed to seat 500 - 600 people. Warren L. Floyd, a local architect, designed the church and also designed the Pawtucketville Congregational Church
1922 – Rev. N. W. Matthews dies. He is buried in Edson Cemetery in a family plot.
1923 - Rev. John T. Ullom was pastor from 1923 until his death in 1936.
1926 – The name was changed to Matthews Memorial Primitive Methodist Church in honor of the late Reverend N. W. Matthews.
1929 – 50th Anniversary. Rev. Arthur Hiley, at the time at a church in Methuen, who attended the church as a boy returns for celebration.
1929 – The dedication of new organ.
1937 – 58th anniversary. Rev. Arthur Hiley begins 28-year pastorate.
1964 – Rev. Hiley retires after 28 years as pastor of the church.
1968 – Church members began raising money for a new building.
1969 – New church building under construction in East Chelmsford
1969 – Organ moved to the new church building
1969 – First services held in the new church building at 128 Gorham Street in East Chelmsford.
1969 – The building was sold and became the Spanish American Center serving both social and religious functions. The Center was started in Lowell by the Catholic Archdiocese.
Mid-1960s – The first large influx of Latinos to Lowell, mostly from Puerto Rico, moved in to the Acre. Soon after, “Urban Renewal” scattered many Puerto Ricans from a section of the Acre.
1966 - Latinos establish the first community center, the Spanish American Center, in part due to the dispersion, in the basement of St.
Joseph’s Shrine on Lee Street.
1969 – The Spanish American Center finalizes the purchase of the former Matthews Memorial Church for their church and community center
1987 – The Spanish American Center closed.
1994 – In August, the building was demolished over the protests of advocates. The Center's files, photographs, and furniture were lost to the
demolition.
2016 – The name of Matthews Memorial Church in East Chelmsford was changed to the Chelmsford Bible Church.
