United Church Of Monmouth

History

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.