Rev. John Wesley Hosmer is the 23rd minister to supply the pulpit of our church and is still the minister as this history is written.  Rev. Hosmer came to Southington in 1965, having served the people of the East Hampton, Connecticut, Congregational Church.

Since Rev. Hosmer came to serve our church, interior work on the new addition was completed.  The basement under the sanctuary was made attractive with the construction of paneled walls, ceilings, lights, and a stage.  Frequent floods in the basement because of drainage problems were ended.  A new roof was installed, shutters were placed on all windows in the sanctuary.  The exterior of the building was protected with aluminum clapboards and storm windows.

Rev. Hosmer grew up and attended the local schools of Newton, Massachusetts.  He attended college at the University of New Hampshire under the Army Specialized Reserve Program, and volunteered to serve oversea with the Air Force during World War II.  After leaving the service, he graduated from Northeastern University and Andover Newton Theological School.  He also received training at the Harvard Divinity School.  While still a student, he served as minister of Congregational Churches in Bingham, Nebraska, Upton, and North Newry, Maine; Timber, Montana, and Medway, Massachusetts.  Mr. Hosmer was ordained in Medway, Massachusetts.  After serving the people of this town, Rev. and Mrs. Hosmer then moved to Anamosa, Iowa, where Rev. Hosmer had received a call to serve the local Congregational Church.  He later returned to the East to accept a call from the East Hampton Congregational Church.

Rev. Hosmer is the author of a book, "The Immortal Hope," and various devotional materials.  He has served as State Chaplain of the American Legion and the Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Mrs. June Hosmer is a native of Stoneham, Massachusetts, and is a graduate of Bryant and Stratton Business School of Boston.  The Hosmers have four children: Susan (Mrs. Glenn Tillotson of Bristol), and Carl, Linda, and William, who are attending local schools and are active in various church activities.

1998 update of the pastorate of Rev. John W. Hosmer
Rev. Hosmer, now retired, still lives in Southington which he has done since he left as pastor of our church.  In his words, "After 15 years as pastor in Southington, I became chaplain at the Rocky Hill Veterans Home and Hospital and served eleven and a half years.  At the same time, in 1980, I became part-time associate minister of First Congregational Church, Meriden, and served 14 years.  When I retired I was made Pastor Emeritus.  I’ve been state Chaplain of the Veterans of the Foreign Wars for 20 years and was national Chaplain from 1988-1989.  On Set. 4, 1997, Rev. Hosmers’ beloved wife, June was killed in an automobile accident.  Quoting Rev. Hosmer, "Except for quick action by police, medics and surgeons, I would have died with her.  June is buried where our church was organized in 1724, in Oak hill Cemetery.  Someday, in God’s good time, I’ll join her there and become forever a part of Southington."  Rev. John W. Hosmer reminiscing briefly on his pastorate, relates, "in April 1965, I arrived in Southington with my wife June, our four children and our dog, Brownie, to begin my pastorate at First Congregational Church.  The brick education wing had just been built, but the interior work remained to be done.  With the help of many volunteers, we completed the project.  Under the sanctuary was a large, dark, room known as the dungeon.  Along the sides were foundation walls supporting the church. At one end on a concrete platform, was and old broken furnace.  With Trustees permission, I removed old unused heating ducts.  On a Saturday when I thought no one would be around, I dismantled the furnace.  Mid-way in the project, covered with soot, standing on top of the cast iron furnace using a sledge hammer.

I was suprised to see three ladies appears, one an active church member for many years.  She smiled and said to her friends, "Oh, this is our new minister."  I wish I could have disappeared.  Eventually the "dungeon" was known as Fellowship Hall.

Believing that God expects a church to do more than care for it’s own housekeeping, we were actively involved serving the needs of others in our town and world.  We re-established Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, provided meeting space for 300 Girls Club members, andcontributed to several other outreach causes.  We were the first church in town to sponsor a Vietnamese refugee family.  The first Ecumenical service in Southington was on Thanksgiving Eve, 1968.  Many local priests, nuns and ministers with their parishioners packed our church.

Responding to Jesus’ command to be ‘fishers of men,’ several of our church men with special training would visit potential new members and invite them to join our church.  The successful endeavor was known as the ‘Fishermen’s Club."

The success of my pastorate was due to the loyalty and dedication of the congregation and the loving support of my wife June.  She cared for our home and our children, served as the church’s part-time secretary, sang in the choir, played the chapel organ for Lenten and Sunday school services and attended our church’s Women’s Group meetings.

Rev. Hosmer joins with us all in celebrating the fine history and the spiritual impact our church has inspired over the last 275 years.  He can be proud of his part in our history.