History of the Baptist Church of East Corinth, Maine
Source writer, Beverly Blackwell
Our town of Corinth was only ten years old when the Reverend Steven Dexter became a resident. Prior to his coming, the only other spiritual leader was a young circuit rider appointed to the Exeter circuit.
Being the first settled minister the town through the Ministerial and School fund gave him 320 acres of land. After a few months, the minister deeded back half of the land to the town. The Ministerial and School fund was raised and voted in by the townís people at town meeting. Services were started in several schools. On the first day of January 1822, our church was constituted by a council meeting and named the Independent Baptist Society. The church began with 18 members. The Charleston Baptist Church dismissed 16 members for the purpose of starting our church.
In 1831, the first Baptist Meeting House was erected on property now known as the Morison Estates. The pastorís home set across the street. In 1832, our first Sunday school was started.
In 1836, the churchís bell was raised. The bell was cast in West Medway, Massachusetts by T.H. Holbrook. This bell cracked and a new bell was raised in 1890. This bell was received from the McShane Bell Foundry in Baltimore, Maryland.
Our first official church records were recorded in 1854. We are fortunate to have all four books of recorded records in our possession. Prior to this date, all information was sent to the Baptist Convention. In 1845, it was recorded in the book, Maine Baptist, that the Church had 155 members. Services were well attended, and minutes of business meetings showed that lights, heat, and the ringing of the bell were of utmost importance. At this time, lights were gas operated, wood stoves generated heat, and Church members faithfully rang the bell. Of course, filling the desk (pulpit) was always a priority. Family pews were numbered and appraised to raise money for church expenses. The numbers on the pews remain to this day.
In 1856, the Baptist House was dismantled and erected on the present location, which is in Corinth village across from the Town Hall. The vestry made the building a two story structure and a very suitable place for: prayer meetings held twice a week; Sunday School classed; and other related church activities such as the Ladies Aid Society.
In 1867, the church received a deed of land from Jared Fuller for the purpose of erecting a parsonage. This was well built and stands to this day. We have had 39 ministers on the first 175 years of history, 3 of whom were interim; the longest ministry was 17 years and the shortest was 7 months.
For several years before 1913, the Free Baptist Society shared our services. On April 1, 1913, it was voted unanimously to organize with the Free Baptist Society forming the new united Baptist Society.
The church pipe organ was probably put in about 1856. The organ used to stand high above the auditorium in the choir loft. The organ was later moved to is present location in the front of the church. George Stevens, a native of Norway, Maine, built the organ. He was an organ builder in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He built more than 800 organs. Our organ is one of only 70 left in existence.
In 1872, Pastor L. P. Guerney delivered a message on the fiftieth anniversary
of the Church. The last line of his discourse read, "Be vigilant, be active,
be trueóthat thou doest, so quickly, do it well, for its influence
will last through all time".
Click here to see a more complete list of former Pastors
References
Church Records, books 1-4
History of Penobscot County, published in 1882 by William Chase &Co.
History of Maine Baptist, Rev. Joshua Millet, Charles Day and CO, 1845
Observations from the Diaries of Joseph P. Wheeler, James Wagner, 1969.
Maps, Corinth town office and Health Center
Registry of Deeds, Bangor, Maine.
