Initially established in 1648 as a Congregationalist church, First Parish Malden became a Universalist congregation in 1828 and a Universalist Unitarian congregation when the two denominations merged in 1961. Completed in 1909, the current Gothic Revival building was designed by George F. Newton, who designed several churches in the Boston region. The church features stained-glass windows from J & R Lamb Studios, America’s oldest continuously-run decorative arts company.

Today, First Parish Malden serves as a vital community hub, providing space to the Greater Malden Asian American Community Coalition, Science Club for Girls, a Brazilian Spiritist society, and a Narcotics Anonymous group. The church has also hosted a number of immigrant- and refugee-focused community groups and community organizing groups. 

In September 2025, a building conditions assessment revealed urgent life safety issues related to the bell tower masonry. The study identified multiple areas of displaced and deteriorated masonry that could be at risk of falling.

An Intervention Fund grant of $100,000 will help the church install shoring, remove displaced stones, replace mortar, and re-install salvaged stone where possible. This will ensure the safety of the building’s users and the public while the congregation raises funds to complete a larger restoration.