Wheaton Church

As part of his contract to become President of Wheaton College, Blanchard was installed as pastor of the nearby Wesleyan church. Although not a Wesleyan, Blanchard’s personal convictions supported the beliefs of the Wesleyans: Slavery was wrong, secret societies were dangerous, intemperance was unbecoming of Christians, and the keeping of the Sabbath was a holy commandment. Blanchard affiliated the church with both the Wesleyans and the Congregational Association. The congregation met rent-free in Blanchard Hall. Blanchard served as pastor for only two years but was a prominent member of the congregation until his death in 1892. Blanchard's force of personality also affected the congregation. Blanchard’s differences with J. M. Chapman and John Calvin Webster in the late 1870s would cause the Church – and Blanchard himself – to be removed from the Congregational Association. This congregation grew into the present-day College Church.