The Portland daily press., 1891-04-29
the OLD NoRTA CHURCH.
You VIII Miss a Landmark as You
Pass on the Cape Road.


Ii the inhabitants Of churchyards could
nave any eognizance Of what goes on upon
the earth above them, there would be some
tning OF commotlon In the churchyards Of
cape Elizabeth, and especially In that church
yard which adjoins the old North church, on
the TOP OF Meeting House hill on the Cottage
road. They are actually moving the old
North church, taking 1t from the spot beside
the ehurchyard where 1t and the structure
which preceded II have stood for more than a
hundred and fifty years.
The old church will not be moved far from
the spot where IL has stood so long. They
are merely moving 1t across the road into the
angle formed by the cottage road and what Is
called the middle Road" The old church
has always faced nearly south. 1t will be
swung around so as to face nearer west. the
front coming towards the apex Of the angle
formed by the meeting Of the two roads. A
short street will be put across In front Of
the church and In the triangular park left In
front 1t Is proposed to erect soldiers mon
ument, for which subscription has already
been started.
The first meetings In Cape Elizabeth, OF IN
"Purpoodock" as the place was then and has
sometimes since been called. were held in
the block house and In the garrison house at
Spurwink, over on the southwesterly end Of
the Cape. In those days there was no min
lister especially for "PurpoodOck." Rev.
\ Thomas Smith was settled over the whole Of
Falmouth. which include what Is now the
towns Of Falmouth. Deering. Cape Elizabeth
and the cities Of Westbrook and Portland.
In the spring Of 1898. II was the 7th OF
May, the general court of Massachusetts, di-
vided the parish Of Falmouth and:erected
what Is now Cape Elizabeth, into the second
parish Of Falmouth. The new parish at
once got pastor. Rev. Benjamin Allen. and
began the erection of a meeting house on the
spot where the old North church stood until
the other day.
That old meeting house OF 1893 was built
upon honor, and was quite building in its
day. The frame was bewn Of white oak
trees which grew where the church was to
be built. 1t was two story structure with
galleries, and In few years after It's COM
pletion was enlarged so as to have the pulpit
In the middle with pews and galleries In its
rear. This old church, as was the custom in
those days was used not alone as place Of
worship. New England then inclined to a
theocratie form Of government, and politics
and religion were much mixed up. The
meeting house was also the town house,
ministers we're hired In town meeting, and
In return the ministers preached. in polIti-
cal campaign seasons. at hangings and on
other public occasions. The old building
served for many and varied occasions until
1884, when 1t was torn down. 1t was more
than century old and men looked upon 1t
as venerable and remarkable relic Of long
ago.
1t had probably witnessed more stirring
scenes than the newer church has been the
scene Of. The people Of old"PurpOodock' did
not have any water question to trouble them
in the old days; but over their ministers they
often had very stirring differences. About
1854, Mr.. Smith writes that, "the Purpoo-
dock parish Is in a sad situation. dIsmally
divided and quarrelling" This quarrel con-
tinued for some time, for In 1856. when, af-
ter long contentious, Rev. Ephraim Clark
was installed. the Installation had to take
place in neighboring orchard. inasmuch as
the other faction had barred the doors of the
old cnurch. This same Mr. Clark, however,
renamed pastor Of the church upwards Of
torty-one years, some Of the dissenters hav
Ing been set of from the parish and others
having been won over by the good conduct
OF the uastor This speaks we'll for Mr..
Clark, Tor at one time the contest was so hot
hat he was publicly prosecuted for lying but
f-sseS a5SfSissesi by the 1,ha asxs-z.-Sss--
| lster to have such serious trouble In the par
ish was Rev. Isaac Esty, who was called in
1923. He stated publicly at a meeting OF the
Cumberland County Temperance Society
that more than three-fourths Of the male
heads OF families In Cape Elizabeth are hab-
itually intemperate." This caused much
STIR and at the annual meeting 1t was voted
that the pastoral cares Of Rev Mr. Esty be
discontinued" The offence Of Mr.. Esty was
not lying, like the alleged offence Of Mr.
Clark, but exaggeratioD, il any thing NAV be
Judged Of an incident related OF the affair
1t seems that shortly after Mr.. Esty made
his statement as TO intemperance. ha- -1ss-
met by the Methodist minister, who re-
preached him with exaggeration, ,sayingthat
families In Cape Elizabeth were habitually
Incorporate.
With the passing away OF the old meeting
house passed away the old timos In Cape
Elizabeth, and no minister now makes such
an accusation against the thriving and pro-
gresslve town.
The present church was erected In 1884,
and consequently has stood on the spot from
which 1t has Just been moved, over half
century It Is familiar landmark Of those
who drive over the Cape roads. and its lat
ticed belfrey and the half Moorish splre
will for some time seem out Of place on the
other side Of the road After II Is placed in It's
new location 1t will undoubtedly be repaired
extensive changes will be made.