For future research

In 1915, at the fiftieth anniversary of Asylum Hill Congregational Church, Rockwell H. Potter, pastor at Center, aka First, Congregational Church, said that "[i]t was not without pain and travail that the mother [Center] brought forth this church. … But the First Church realizes today that this branching out has been for the upbuilding of the Kingdom of God and all the pangs that were suffered fifty years ago have been compensated many times over by the joy of seeing this church in all the fullness of her strength." There also reports that the North Congregational Church, on its way to becoming the Park Congregational Church in 1865, may have opposed AHCC's formation.

According to Atwood Collins, “it is probable” that Horace Bushnell suggested Twichell because a "daughter of Dr. Bushnell" told him that she recalled Twichell took part in a midweek service at North Congregational while visiting the home of Austin Dunham and because a member of AHCC recalled Bushnell telling her father that he knew "no young man of greater promise as a preacher than Mr. Twichell."

On February 12, 1904, at the dedication of the new parish house, Charles E. Gross remarked in his speech that he hoped the church "would follow the example of South Church and provide Mr. Twichell with an assistant." This is, so far, the earliest reference that I've found to any plan to install an assistant pastor. Philip C. Walcott was in place as assistant pastor on June 1, 1904 -- or May 9, 1905, or both? -- and the quick turnaround on Gross's remark suggests to me that some discussion had already been underway.

By the mid-20th century, Asylum Hill Congregational Church became primarily a commuter church, with most of the members having moved to the suburbs, and consequently the members contemplated re-locating the church to the suburbs as well. So far, I’ve identified four times that the church formally considered relocation: 1960, 1965, 1973, and 1985, but each time the members voted to stay in Asylum Hill.