The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-11-06
RAYM0ND's OLD CHURCH.
The Flock Gathered by Rey.Zachariah
Leach in 1894.


A Free viii Baptist Stronghold in North
ern Cumberland Countrywide Centen-
Joseph Symonds One of the Pillars
Programme of Exercises.
Raymond Nov. s. The Freewill Baptist
church of this town celebrates its CEN
tennial this week with appropriate exer-
eises. The church was gathered in 1894.
Rev.Zacllariah Leach the first pastor,
having been ordained Nov. 9th of that
year, and. a building erected about that
time. Raymond was then plantation,
it being known as the plantation of
Raymondtown. The church grew from
the first and was soon one Of the
strongest in the country. Need of new
church edifice being felt building
was erected in 1884 at cost of Eabout
$1,000 it having been built by Capt. Joseph
Symonds, then a leading merchant of
Raymond, and the father of Judge
Joseph W. Symonds. The church steadily
grew, and in 1914 it is said to have been
stronger in. numbers than even the
Plymouth church in Portland. AS time
went on, however, and the membership
decreased by deaths of the leading MEM
bers, the church weakened. and for a
number of years had no regular services.
In 1889 the church building, which
was somewhat dilapidated, was extern
slvely repaired at a cost of about $6U0,
and regular services have been held
since. The church is vigorous today,
although with small mem bership. In
repairing the churi b it was found neces-
sary to wall up the old gallery, wnich,
as.in other ancient churches, was con-
s1aered necessary adjunct of the build
ing. New pews and pulpit were put in.
and other extensive repairs made, both
internal and external.
Among the prominent members of
this Old church in by-gone days may
be mentioned the following names:
Captain Joseph Symonds, Deacon John
Nash (who was the father of the well
known stove dealers) Henry Tenney and
family, John Small (who presented
parsonage to the parish), Deacon John
Jordan, Elijah Nash, Noah Kicker and
Francis Small, Jr.
The following is list of the pastors
since the foundation of the church,
With dates of preaching:
Iachariah Leach, 1724-1S2S.
Zachariah Jordan, 1875.
Almon Libby. 1922
Carlton Small, 1912.
Lowell Parker, 1890
UIiah Chase, 1923.
jeremiah Hayden 1853.
Levi Brackett; 1854.
Daniel A. Maddox, 1855.
Lorenzo ID. Strout, 1857.
Josiah Ketne, 1865.
Charles Bean, 1890.
josiah Keene, ls6l-62.
James 4Aiistil,s 1864
1svl: BTf ckttI.S S66.s sisi ag3
James SaP0tter, 1878. .f Il
David Newell. 1869
Uriah Chase, 1924 and 1851.
Frank Fulsome, 1857.
Eeorse Southwick, 1882.
MIR. Wilson, 1890.
JOSIAH ). Staples, 1912.
John NJ. Pal e. lSa3.94.
Elders Clement Ph:nney and James
Libby preached here from time to time
aud with good success.
A good sabbath school is conn. cted
with the church ; t sent aud holds
regular services ca l. S.1 ,iay, after the
church service, which . &c 10 a. m.
The programme of the centennial, SO
far as ANNOUNCED is as follows.
Friday, November 9.
aUp p. m.-Pfa1se meeting service
to be followed by short historical
sketch and sermon by the pastor.
Saturday, November 10.
1000 a. m.-Sermon; also sermon in
the afternoon.
200 p. m.-Go spel service
Sunday, November II.
Services throughout the day and eve
hing; names OF speakers not yet an
Bonnced.
Il is earnestly hoped that there will
ices. so as to make the exercises as in
(eresting as posi- BILE, and the public in
eneral are cordially invited to attend,
rGr cNnnr <>,,-