United Church of Monmouth
History

Former Congregational Church of Monmouth

The Congregational Church was built in 1856-1857. The tower known as
the "Leander Macomber Tower" was largely a gift of Mrs. A. W. Strauss
of Cambridge, Mass., formerly Wealthy Macomber of Monmouth and member
of the church. The clock was a memorial to honor George H. and Sarah
(Safford) Andrews by their children.
The Congregational Church federated with the Methodist Church in the
early 1930's. This building became the Masonic Lodge in 1939; however,
the Congregational society maintained ownership of the clock.

United Church Anniversary
by Rev. Craig Cowing
(August 2000 Newsletter)

With the 70th anniversary of the United Church of Monmouth coming up this fall it is important to remember the events that led up to the federation of the First Congregational Church of Monmouth and the Monmouth Methodist Episcopal Church.

The First Congregational Church of Monmouth ordained three pastors between 1911 and 1920 when worshipping on its own in the building which is now the Masonic Lodge. The first was in 1911, when George E. Whidden was ordained as pastor by the Kennebec Association on June 29. Whidden remained for just two years before resigning in 1913. Student pastors filled the pulpit for several years. The next ordination was on June 6, 1918, when Edward B. Williston was ordained. Williston had already served as a supply preacher while finishing his course of study at the Bangor Theological Seminary. He stayed for less than a year, for the church was searching for another pastor by June 1919. The last ordination of the last settled pastor of the Congregational Church (when it was on its own) took place on Oct. 20, 1920,, when Bessie F. Crowell was ordained. Rev. Crowell did not stay very long either, submitting her resignation on July 7, 1921, after an illness. No reason for her resignation is given, but the church expressed their regrets at her taking such action. This quick succession of newly ordained pastors probably indicates a couple of things: 1) That the church was unable to find a pastor who was already ordained and had some experience. Such a person would be looking for a larger church with a greater salary; 2) that students were taking the position of pasteor and quickly looking for something “better.” This still happens today, when students take a church, get ordained for the position, and move on to something else with ordination in hand.

In the fall of 1922 Harold C. Burdon, a student at Bates College and supply preacher for the First Congregational Church of Monmouth became ill and required hospitalization in Lewiston. The Minutes of the October 1, 1922, meeting of the church follow:

The year for which Mr. Burdon was engaged having nearly expired, a meeting of the church was called by Chairman of Committee, J. B. Packard 2 o’clock PM at the church. Clerk presided.

Mr. Burdon being ill in CMG Hospital (now Central Maine Medical Center) an invitation was received from Rev. P. C. Ridlon, pastor of M. E. church to unite with them until Mr. Burdon should be able to return. Invitation accepted and committee instructed to thank Mr. Ridlon for his kindness.

Question discussed whether it would be best to hire Mr. Burdon again, until June, at which time he graduates from Bates College and goes to another field, or, if possible, to have union services with Methodists thru winter. After consideration it was unanimously voted to have a committee confer with Mr. Ridlon; proposition being to have union services Sunday morning and evening and Sunday school, alternating churches.

Nov. 5, 1922
A church meeting called at close of morning service and the following three articles of agreement drawn up, at a meeting of committees from Cong’l and Methodist churches, was read by Mr. Burdon, and also note in regard to amount of money to be paid M. E. church. Voted to accepted the agreement and note as read:
1. That the Methodist and Congregational churches shall unite for Sunday services from the second Sunday in November, 1922 through the last Sunday in March, 1923.
2. That the services, morning and evening, and the sessions of the two Sunday-schools will be held in the Methodist church and vestry during the period of this union.
3. That the two Sunday schools shall preserve their own identity.
(Note.) By vote of the Congregational Church the church treasurer will pay the sum of eight dollars ($8.00) per week to the M. E. church.

The union services went through the winter as planned and each church resumed its own services in April. During the next few years the First Congregational Church struggled to stay open. They continued with their own services during the winters of 1924-25 and 1925-26. The next union services were held in April and May, 1928, when the Methodist Church had a gap of four weeks in pastoral coverage. During the winter of 1928-1929 the First Congregational Church managed to hold its own services until the end of January, when they closed until the middle of Ap0ril. Services continued that spring and summer, during which informal conversations were probably held about the possibility of federating the two churches. A meeting to that effect was held on November 7, 1930.

Monmouth's Old Yellow Meeting House

It was erected in 1795, after something of a struggle, and was taken down in 1844.
James Bowdoin, Jr. of Boston and his sister Lady Elizabeth Temple of Medford donated the land.

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History of the Methodist Church of Monmouth

For nineteen years after the first settlers came to Monmouth, no attempt was made to organize a religious society. Meetings were held occasionally in private homes and barns when preachers could be obtained, which was not often.

In 1793, a rider came through Monmouth going from house to house announcing a religious service to be held in the near future. This was Jesse Lee, the circuit rider, founder of Methodism in Maine. He designated a tract of land extending from Hallowell to Farmington, and named it Readfield circuit.

In 1974, Philip Wager was appointed to take charge of this circuit in the capacity of “circuit rider.” It was his task to talk with the people, teach them the essentials of God’s truth and the principles of Methodism, and preach whenever an audience could be gathered. About the first of November 1794, he organized a class of fifteen at Monmouth. This was the first permanent Methodist organization in Maine.

On November 12th, Lee returned to lodge at Simon Dearborn’s residence (Dumaine’s) and the next day preached at Peter Hopkin’s Tavern, then traveled to Readfield. He returned to Monmouth on December 25th, and was met by a large congregation at Hopkin’s Tavern. Here he administered for the first time the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. While there, Lee discussed with the class members the advisability of building a church.

At the town meeting on April 7, 1794, the sum of nine pounds, the equivalent of a little more than $43.50, to be paid in produce, was appropriated for the support of gospel preaching.
At the second town meeting held September 29, 1794, business relating to the building of the meeting house was passed over.

A meeting was called December 1 and again the subject of the meeting house was passed over. Another meeting was passed over. Another meeting was called December 21st, and it was voted to build a meeting house. It was to be built “on the west side of lot 27.” It was voted to build the meeting house by the last of June, or the first of July. It was to be sixty feet long and forty-five feet wide. On the 12th of January the following month, a meeting was held to reconsider the building of the meeting house and in the spring of 1795, they voted not to build. Most of the people at that time were Methodists. There was no other organized group. If the Methodists were to occupy the church, the conservatives and irreligious did not want a church built, and the Methodists didn’t want to put much money into it if they couldn’t have it half the time.

At a meeting on September 14, 1795, it was voted to build a meeting house 40 x 50 on the north side of lot 27. The Methodist society was not represented. This building became known as the “Old Yellow Meeting House” and was located where Cumston Hall now sits. It was five years before the interior was finished. In 1844, it was sold for $100, and the lumber used for building barns. Some lumber was used in building the barn across from Clement Smith’s. The same year, 1844, a second meeting house was built where the Old Yellow Meeting House had stood. It was a barn-like structure. The former building had been far more imposing and much more suitable for large public gatherings than this new meeting house.

In 1795, the Methodists started building a church at Ellis Corner. (LeMaster’s) Major David Marston provided the land for the meeting house, although he had donated money towards the building of the “Old Yellow Meeting House.” It was a heavy burden for the Methodists to build this church. However, the outside was finished in May of 1796. The interior was never finished. It was dedicated by Jesse Lee. This was the second Methodist Church in the state. The first was the Jesse Lee Church in Readfield, which was erected one year earlier. The Methodists were elated that their church saw service before that of its rival “the Old Yellow Meeting House.” Service could be held during good weather. When the rains came the congregation hurried to a neighboring farmhouse for safety.

Francis Asbury (the Pioneer Bishop) came to Monmouth August 1798, and held a service. He was considered the greatest of all Methodists in America. A painting of this famous bishop done by Harry Cochrane hangs in the United Church of Monmouth.

In 1802, the New England Conference met at Monmouth at the “Old Fort” located where Lawrence Hodges lives today. The conference lasted three days. Women filled the building and others stood outside. An estimated 3000 people attended this conference. They met again in 1809. Bishop Asbury attended this meeting but there is no account of the meeting. Monmouth was part of the Readfield circuit until 1827, when the Monmouth circuit was formed consisting of Monmouth, Leeds and Wayne.

In 1843, the church at Ellis Corner burned to the ground. After this, meetings were held in private homes until the new church was built. It was erected at the junction of Academy and Main Streets in 1844. It was moved to its present site in 1866, and a spire was added. In 1858, a parsonage was purchased at the Center, built in 1856. A vestry was built between the parsonage and the church in 1874. In 1881, the church auditorium was frescoed and a fine toned bell hung in the tower.

At a trustees meeting held March 1900, it was voted to sell land for the site of the proposed soldiers monument about to be erected by the Ladies Relief Corps. The church sold the land to Bill Waterhouse for $50. He was to present it to the Relief Corps for the monument. If the monument should be removed or not erected the property should revert back to the Methodist Episcopal Society.

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United Church of Monmouth 778 Main Street (Route 132) Monmouth, ME 04259 Reverend Desmond Parker, Pastor (207) 933-2931

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