Historical Background:
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.
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Photo from "The
History of the Town of Bowdoinham 1762-1912" by Silas
Adams |
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 Wm.
B. D. Simmons organ (which is still played) was installed.
About 1860, the church was raised and a vestry added as a basement. The
church was also thoroughly repaired and remodeled at that time.
See pictures from Bryce Muir's "Steeple
Jacking" photo essay from March 1999 when the original steeple
was replaced
The following paragraph is taken from "The
History of the Town of Bowdoinham 1762-1912" by Silas
Adams (pg. 51)
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.
The following paragraph is 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, 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.
