Alexandra Butler

Mr. Viles

Honors History 10

12/18/2007

High Street Congregational Church

~United Church of Christ~

High Street Congregational Church is one of the oldest churches in Newport, Maine. The church is located, fittingly, at 24 High Street in Newport. It has grown immensely over 176 years and over generations of people and families.

The high street church grew from an organization, on February 25, 1831, which wanted a Christian church in Newport. Elder Joseph Merrill (who lived and grew up in Cornville, Maine) as well as nine other members, helped organized the church. This organization gained two more members by Sunday February 27, 1831. The first monthly conference was held later that year on March 5^th. The first communion was held on April 2, 1831. The population of Newport grew and different religious groups started to appear alongside the Christian church. These different groups included Methodist, Baptist, Congregationalists, and Universalists. For lack of a better place, all of the religious groups had to meet in private homes.

In the spring of 1837, the Christian church, as well as the other religious groups, decided to build a joint meeting house. It was called the Union Church and the minister of each group was able to use it one Sunday per month. The group raised a total of about $1, 500 was raised. In the late fall of 1837the new high street union meeting house was built and given and dedicated to the members of the Christian community who was attending.

Over the sixty-five years from 1837 through 1902 the church continued to be successful, even though there may have been very difficult things to deal with during these times. Starting about 1850, the Methodists started to have their own meetings and slowly, the other religious groups went their own separate ways as well. In 1902, the church society made as decision that they needed a building that was newer. They again raised money, about $3, 000 total. The old church was then redesigned. More seating was added, electricity, city water, a new kitchen, as well as a ladies parlor. In 1915 the parsonage was built next to the church. With this a new parking lot had to be found to keep the horses and buggies.

The church did not keep a complete record of all the ministers for the church. Starting only at the decade before the 20^th century was anything recorded. Reverend John Webster was the pastor from 1889 to 1916; it was believed that there were sixteen pastors before him. Reverend John Reynolds came to the church in 1925 and was there until he retired in 1941. From 1941 through 1971 the church was served by eleven ministers, ten of which happened to be student pastors during their academic years at Bangor Theological Seminary. In 1971, Reverend Terry Dinsmore became the full time minister at High Street Church. The church flourished under the authority of Dinsmore, while he reached out to both the church community and local community. Under the new leadership, Dinsmore Hall (a new building) was added. Dinsmore Hall included Sunday school rooms, a big meeting room, and a kitchen.

Between 1980 and 1998, six different ministers served the church. During this time, the church had started to fall behind financially. It could not afford a full time minister anymore. Reverend Dr. Henry Wyman, who was a ‘fill in minister’, led the decision for the church to go back to a part time minister. In July of 1998, Al Warden (who was a member of the church) became the new Pastor of the church.

Generous members of the church helped to make many changes in and around the church. They added a new elevator, handicapped accessible restrooms, coverings for the stained glass windows, low voltage lighting for the windows at night, new landscaping, and new siding for the outside of the church building. The parsonage was taken out in 2001.

The High Street Congregational Church has a lot of history dating back for many years. It has developed and has grown through many generations. Thanks to the many contributions and changes so many people made, it has only grown better and stronger over the almost two centuries that it has been open. Newport may be a fairly small town, but every town has history to be looked back on.