First Congregational Church - Waterville, ME - Continental Reformed and Congregational Church Sites on Waymarking.com

The First Congregational Church in Waterville sits at the corner of Main Street (= ME-104) and Eustis Parkway. The congregation has a long history, founded by 12 members in 1828. It still thrives today and has an active philanthropic and ministerial presence in the Waterville area.

From the church's website (listed below):

"Since it was founded by 12 members on August 21, 1828, the First Congregational Church of Waterville, Maine has had a colorful history marked by both difficulties and successes. In 1835 our Church’s then seventeen members called its first minister, Thomas Adams, and three weeks later, without any money in hand, voted to build a meetinghouse on Temple Street in downtown Waterville. The first twenty-five years were lean times for the Church, with numerous intervals without a minister, frequent disagreements, and a continuing lack of funds. The congregation persevered, and our Church began to stabilize and grow in the 1850’s as the region’s manufacturing industries developed. By 1900 the Church had over 200 members in a vibrant and active congregation.

"The World War 1 years from 1914 to 1919 were challenging as the minister, Rev. Robinson, was too preoccupied with assisting the war effort to preach, the Church was unable to pay for fuel to heat the building so that winter services needed to be held in the Waterville Opera house, and the influenza epidemic of 1918 caused the Church to be entirely closed for several weeks. The Church was revitalized in the 1920’s, and by its centennial year of 1928 had over 300 members.

"Like most of our country, the Great Depression of the 1930’s deeply affected our Church, as it was unable to pay current expenses. In October 1934 the Church’s Prudential Committee said that they were unwilling to further extend the Church’s debt and wanted instructions from the congregation. To save money the Church’s minister, William Smith, even offered his early resignation at the January 1935 annual meeting. This crisis stirred the congregation, and by a large majority the Church refused to accept his resignation. By the spring of 1935 the Church had raised money to pay for all current expenses and had even completed needed facility repairs. The Church continued to grow and by the 1950’s numbered 400 members.

"We look forward to a present and future vibrant living Church by continuing the faith, courage, love, persistence, and faithfulness to Christ that have been the hallmarks of our 180 year-old history."

Reformed or Congregational Denomination: United Church of Christ Associated Website: [Web Link] Status: Active House of Worship Address: 7 Eustis Parkway Waterville, ME USA 04901 Date of Construction or Event Occurrence: 08/21/1828 Architect: unknown

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Date Logged Log   08/16/2015 ORDIMIC visited it