Historic Houses of Worship

Free Will Baptist Chruch, Bowdoinham

United Baptist Church, Lewiston

As membership in mainline denominations decline, religious properties are threatened by deferred maintenance, and abandonment. Yet in addition to serving as religious purpose, these community landmarks offer gathering and nurturing institutions serving many humane community-enhancing roles. Below are two very different examples of an issue that affects many communities statewide.

Free Will Baptist Church, Bowdoinham

The Story : Built of native brick on the highest point of Bowdoinham Ridge, the Free Will Baptist Church served as a religious and social hub of the community for 100 years after its construction in 1837. The modest and graceful church building was the place where Maine evangelist Frank Sanford heard his “first call to God.” After the church disbanded, the congregation left the building in the care of the Ridge Cemetery Association, which began to raise funds to repair it.

The Threat : The roof of the church is currently in serious, but not irreparable, structural condition, as a hole in the roof has gone unpatched. The breach is currently covered by a plastic tarp. Estimates to close the roof and address structural concerns are much higher than originally anticipated. Water has begun to infiltrate the church, which faces demolition by deferred maintenance.

The Solution : While there is passion in the community to save this historic structure, an organized effort has yet to coalesce around the Free Will Baptist Church. Repair work began through a New Century Community Program grant in 2006, but was halted when further issues were discovered and funds were insufficient to tackle the new challenges. The upcoming 250 th anniversary of Bowdoinham can help illuminate the place of the Free Baptist Church in the towns past and the potential role for the building in its future.

United Baptist Church, 250 Main Street, Lewiston

The Story : The most prominent building on the west side of Lewiston’s downtown, the United Baptist Church was constructed in 1922 to better serve a growing membership on the site of the former Main Street Baptist Church. The United Baptist Church congregation had formed in 1917 from three smaller churches, following the trend towards unification in the Baptist faith. The building is in the English Gothic style, and the fifty-foot main entrance tower has welcomed the faithful since its construction.

The Threat : Like many urban churches, the United Baptist Church has experienced declining membership, and as a result of inadequate funding, the church building has been gravely imperiled by years of deferred maintenance. The congregation, which has dwindled in recent years to some 35 members, is strongly considering selling the property. A buyer would most likely demolish the church.

The Solution : The situation at United Baptist has only recently come to light, and as a result, solutions are in their infant stages. According to engineering estimates obtained by the church, repair of structural and roof damage would cost about one million dollars, but some preservationists question this estimate. With the increased visibility of the problems facing United Baptist, hopefully the religious and civic committees of Lewiston can come together to find new funding and new uses for the landmark church.

For additional information and resources, visit Partners for Sacred Spaces

Free Will Baptist Church, Bowdoinham

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Free Will Baptist Church, Bowdoinham

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United Baptist Church, Lewiston

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-Return to Maine's Most Endangered Historic Properties 2008-

To help rescue these and other Endangered properties, contact Maine Preservation at (207) 775-3652 or email at maineprs@gwi.net.  Charitable donations to the Preserve Maine Fund can be made by credit card to the above number or mailed to 500 Congress Street, 2nd Floor, Portland, ME 04101.