AUGUSTA — The South Parish Congregational Church United Church of Christ was built 150 years ago with a tower and spire rising 178 feet into the sky, a soaring arched sanctuary ceiling decorated with religious symbols, a dozen intricately detailed stained glass windows that glow and twinkle with sunlight, and a massive, custom-built, 35-foot-tall E. & G.G. Hook pipe organ encased in solid black walnut.
But having just seen their previous church building get struck by lightning and burn to the ground a year prior, church leaders then also made sure their new sanctuary was as practical as it was spectacular.
“You’ll notice this church was built out of granite and has six lightning rods,” said Jane Coryell, the South Parish Congregational Church’s unofficial historian.
Indeed its substantial walls made of locally-quarried granite still stand. And there were relatively recent major restorations of both the classic pipe organ on a raised platform at the rear of the church and the stained glass windows – nine of which were created by Tiffany Studios. The building and the still-active congregation have withstood the test of time to celebrate the church’s and organ’s 150th anniversary with a series of special events.
“There is a definite spirit about it. You can feel it when you walk in,” the Rev. Jane MacIntyre, pastor of the church, said of the spectacular sanctuary.
Bob Dodge, a trustee of the church, said church leaders met immediately after the congregation’s second church building burned after being struck by lightning July 11, 1864, and vowed to rebuild.
Inscribed into the bell in the tower is “In this year of peace,” noting it was built in the first year after the Civil War.
The church building and stately organ, both built in Gothic style, cost $57,000 to build and furnish.
It cost well more than that, more than $125,000 primarily donated by the late Elsie Viles, to restore in 2006 the stained glass windows depicting scenes including “The Ascension,” “The Good Shepherd” and “Madonna.”
The church’s roughly 150 members struggle sometimes with the burden of maintaining the historic structure, but find a way.
“It can be a bit overwhelming sometimes,” MacIntyre said. “You have a responsibility to take care of it for anyone else who comes here. But the general feeling is we have to find a way.”
As part of the church’s 150th anniversary celebration, Earle Shettleworth, state historian, will speak at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the church about the architecture and Tiffany windows.
Among other events scheduled throughout the year are a guitar and flute concert with Nicholas Wallace and Nichole Pelonzi on Oct. 16, and an organ concert Nov. 5 with Katelyn Emerson.
MacIntyre said they also are working to bring former ministers of the church together for a special Thanksgiving service Oct. 30.
Events earlier this year included a choir festival and performances by handbell choirs.
The organ was custom-built for the church in Boston and brought by boat to be installed. It was restored to its original voicing and pitch in 1980. The church’s organist, Jay Zoller, worked on the organ restoration project and then took over as organist after longtime organist Margaret Godfrey stepped down about 10 years ago.
Dodge said hearing the organ on Sundays – or anytime – is moving.
The congregation was first established in 1782 in Market Square at the intersection of Water and Winthrop streets. In 1794, amid the separation of Augusta from Hallowell, a “new” church was chartered and was renamed South Parish.
The second church was built in 1809 and burned in 1864 at the current location of the granite church that replaced it.
MacIntyre said in the early days the church was probably the “foundational” church in the area and had many of the local governmental leaders as members.
Dodge said the staying power of the congregation has as much to do with the leadership qualities of the people involved in it over the years, as it does the building itself.
Coryell noted it helped that, as a Congregational church, the local church leaders and members could make their own decisions and not seek approval from a central church organization.
MacIntyre said the church has also survived, in part, because its members and leaders kept the emphasis on serving people. The church’s community outreach programs include a pet pantry, a roomful of household items such as pots and pans it gives to people leaving shelters or others who need help, participation with other local churches in providing free weekly meals, and “Teddy Totes,” boxes containing a Teddy bear, blankets, a book, nightlight and other items for children coming out of shelters or whose homes were damaged by fire.
“It’s a beautiful building filled with wonderful people that do great things,” Coryell said of the church building now in its 150th year.
Keith Edwards can be contacted at 621-5647 or at:
kedwards@centralmaine.com
Twitter: kedwardskj
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