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
pastorjo
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)
| 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 |
Photo from "The History of the Town of Bowdoinham 1762-1912" by Silas Adams 
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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Copyright 2011 Bowdoinham Second Baptist. All rights reserved.
Bowdoinham Second Baptist Church
1 Church Street
Bowdoinham, ME 04008
ph: 207-666-5523
pastorjo