Bowdoinham Second

Baptist Church

Our mission is to bring the Truth and Love of God into our community and world

through the lives of committed and growing Followers of Jesus Christ

Bowdoinham Second Baptist Church
1 Church Street
Bowdoinham, ME 04008

ph: 207-666-5523

pastorjon1@comcast.net

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Our History

Our Church History

 The First Baptist Church in Bowdoinham (said to have been the first organized church society in town) was organized on May 21, 1731. The records of 89 years were destroyed by fire - only a few scattered papers escaped. Some time in 1820 that church became divided (according to tradition) on the questions of salaried ministry, Sunday schools, revival meetings and missions. 

The Second Baptist Church was formed Dec. 21, 1820 at the schoolhouse at Cathance Landing, now Main Street, Bowdoinham, with 27 charter members. Daniel Pierson was the first preacher. This church soon became what was known as the new School Baptist, and separated themselves from the old creed in 1834 because of doctrinal differences.

In 1836, the church building was built almost wholly by Captain William Purington who was a life-long friend and generous supporter of the church. The new church building was dedicated in June 1837. In 1850 the commissioned William B.D. Simmons organ(which is still played) was installed (see picture below). About 1860, the church was raised and a vestry added as a basement. The church was also thoroughly repaired and remodeled at that time.

  •  This society (The First Baptist Church) became very large, covering much territory for one church, so they formed a new society called the Second Baptist Church,* on December 21, 1820, at Cathance Landing. The charter members, who formed the new church were—Daniel Parsons, Urial Hunting- ton, Wm. Denham, John Rogers, Robert Jack, Richard Coombs, Wm. Purington, Robert Staples, Rachel Pearsons, Betsy Huntington, Sarah Springer, Rosanna Coombs, Jane Fisher, Isabella Henry, Jane Staples, Sarah Denham, Polly Colby, Rebecca Ross, Elizabeth Purington, Emma Summer, Eunice Bloomore, Abigail Graves, Delia Huntington, Mercy Ross, Abigail Mac- omber, Martha Graves and Betsy Stewart. The council were from the 2nd church in Litchfield; the 1st church in Bowdoin and the 1st church in Lisbon. This council proceeded to organize the church by electing Wm. Stinson, Moderator of the council, and Urial Huntington, Clerk. This church soon after became what is now known as the new School Baptist, and separated themselves from the old creed in 1834; and the new church building was dedicated in June, 1837.

    * For reasons which are apparent to close students of Baptist interests at that early time, it is believed that the real ground for this division was not so much an over-crowded church membership as a difference of doctrinal belief. The anti-mission sentiment, along with other beliefs that mark the standard faith of the Old School Baptists, had been accepted by many of the members of the First Baptist church. Therefore, those members who had continued in the Regular Baptist faith, naturally found their environment unfavorable for developing the Missionary spirit. So, in an orderly and regular manner they were formally dismissed from the First Church in order to form themselves into the Second Baptist Church, the same to be located in Bowdoinham village.

     from "The History of the Town of Bowdoinham 1762-1912" by Silas Adams (pg. 51)

  • BOWDOINHAM, SECOND CHURCH. This church is the offspring of the first church, and although the old stalk has decayed and fallen, the branch lives and flourishes. It was organized Dec. 1820, with twenty-seven members, and is situated in the pleasant village of that town. Rev. Daniel Piersons was then elected pastor, and served the church about six years in the office, and still remains a worthy member. Since his resignation the church has enjoyed preaching at stated times, by Elders R. Milner about two years, John Butler, E. W. Cressy, W. T. Sargent, and William O. Grant. [Wm. Bailey is now their pastor, 1845.] In 1837 the church and society was accommodated with a new and convenient house of worship, built principally by Wm. Purington, one of its worthy members. The first and only revival in this community of Baptists was in 1840, under the labors of Mr. Cressy, by which the church was considerably enlarged. It is now a flourishing church, and is exerting a healthful influence over the village. It has sixty-nine members.

    taken from "A History of the Baptists in Maine" (1845)
    (for more information on the establishment of Baptists in Bowdoinham, - read from page 86)

Bowdoinham Pastors

NAME:                    BEGAN 

Daniel Pierson       12/21/1820

R. Milner                          1827

John Butler                      1830

E. W. Cressy                       ?

W. T. Sargent                      ?

William O. Grant                  ?

William Bailey                  1845

Mid. Kelley               4/24/1855

William Day              1/29/1856

Daniel Litchfield     10/23/1856

Moses Hanscomb   10/23/1858

William Beavins          1/4/1868

A.B. Pendleton         11/5/1870

L.E. Grant                  9/1/1872

Moses P. Kelly               4/1881

Ernest A. Royal        6/20/1895

J. Frank Jones        12/19/1897

Henry A. Brown       11/15/1903

Charles E. Gould      8/31/1905

Myles W. Reed         11/1/1907

Frank Long              3/19/1916

F.S. Leathers           7/10/1921

Ella Nash & Alice Whittier                     7/23/1922

P.J. Quigg(part-time)    6/27/1930

Leroy Cleveland       6/14/1931

** Services discontinued **

Archie Craig                6/1/1941

Paul West               11/14/1943

Robert Smith             1/13/1946

Horace Moffatt           6/20/1948

Ralph Champlin              6/1951

Donald Taylor                 7/1956

John Young                 7/3/1960

Eugene Dawson             3/1965

Arthur Veno                    1/1968

John Godfrey               1/1/1973

Paul Mitchell              6/13/1976

Gary Knox                 12/6/1981

Herbert Hixon            4/26/1987

Charles Reed            3/19/1995

Kenneth Carr                  6/2002

Jonathan Stratton      10/1/2004

Second Baptist Church  1912

Photo from "The History of the Town of Bowdoinham 1762-1912" by Silas Adams

1850 Pipe Organ

1850 W. B. Simmons organ
Our sanctuary is the home to a rare 1850's William B.D. Simmons 1 manual 5 rank organ. This instrument was partially restored in 2003 and is in excellent working condition. The organ is used at least monthly in worship, and has also been featured in special concerts.

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Bowdoinham Second Baptist Church
1 Church Street
Bowdoinham, ME 04008

ph: 207-666-5523

pastorjon1@comcast.net