Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-08-10
d First Congregational
Church, Thomaston.
Appropriate Exercises Held on
Sunday, August 8.
Occasion Also 9th Anniversary
Of Present Building.

lHOHndStOIi ME-, Aug. J-tCpcSidi/
The Centennial exercises of the First
Congregational church of Thomaston
were held Sunday, Aug. s.. 1t was also
the 37th anniversary of the dedication
Of the present church building.
These exercises consisted of the reg
ular morning service at 1880, with SER
mon by Rev Clayton d. BoOthby of
Calais, former pastor; special ser
vice at p NJ, with a historical sketch
by the present pastor, Rev. f. Nj. COuS-
.irls and the evening service at p NJ,
i the principal features of which were
words of greeting from the three living
4 former pastors the pastors of three
sssister Churches, and the three resident
Z pastors
Ata lr,of these services a special mu-
steal Program was carried out. One Of
the solists was Mrs. Lillian Sprague
Coping, of Rockland, who was this
musical director of the choir for years.
The following is a brief outline of
the historical sketch given by the pres
efit pastor, Rev. f. NJ. Cousins:
vF'rom the early days we find that
some religious services were held in
Thomaston. more especially by minis
tiers acting as chaplains of the garrison,
here so early established.
The arrival of Gen Knox with his
enterprise and expansion, the town,
which of course included what is now
Rockland and South Thomaston. was
divided into North and South Parishes,
and in the portion which concerns us
most today, the commodous and at
Do ,itI cht It,il Il Ing
was erected by public subscription and
still stands today. This church build
ing was usually known as the Town CT
Congregational westinghouse. After 80
years Ut joint ownership and occupa
ton with other denominations in 1926
the Congregationalist sold their inter-
est in this building to the Baptist and
proceeded at once to erect the meeting
house, which the Catholics now use
this building was dedicated oct. .
1927. The beautiful lot upon which
the church was located was the gift o.
Benz. Buzzey Esq. of Roxbury, Ma So
the consideration as expressed in the
deed being: MY regard for our holy
religion, my interest in the support OF
moral institutions and my desire for
the prosperity of the town of Thomas
ton" -.
This church building, costing over
$4,000, was occupied until the erection
of the present building in 1872. Tho
dedicatory services of the present
building were held 81 years ago
Aug. s. There are several articles still
preserved by the church. which connect
us with the former days. The Bible
presented by Gen. Knox to the West
Du-; )
Bible until 1875. The communion table
with its top of Thomaston marble was
presented 1923 by John Gleason. An
other link with the past is found i'm the
sun dial, which pastor of the church
erected on the lawn in front OF the re-
Gently. erected meeting house in 1884.
During the last year. the granite shat,
supporting this sun dial which was
broken many years ago, has been re
stored by the daughter of that honOred
pastor. On Oct. %, 1906 occurred the
death of Gen. Knox. the leading man
of the church.
The council. which installed Rev.
John Lord as pastor of the church
June Is. 1907, assisted in the organza-
ton of the church. This church con-
were men.
sDuring the business depression
brought about by the Embargo Act
of Jefferson and the Non Intercourse
Acts of Madison which led up to tho
War of 1872. it was with difficulty that
the parish taxes were collected, even
with commission of 10 per cent to
the collector During these trouble
cept for missionary supplies. John Fl.
1ngraham became pastor in 1917 This
pastorate continued for IL years and
was one of mingled cloud and sunshine
During the last two years of his pas
torate Is persons were received int
the church. Mr.. Ingraham closed his
labors In 1929 and was followed by
Rev. Richard woodruff He was or
dained July I, 1880 and there began tbs
longest and. in some respects. the most
important pastorates of the 100 years
we review. For % years Mr.. Wood
hull remained here, a teacher as well
as preacher. He taught more than 100
persons in this seafaring town, thei,
navigation. He was followed by fou.
pastorates. none of which We're over
two years.
butiuS tue pdStoTdte OF JO1n Mason
came the removal from the old churc;,
building and the dedication of this
house in 1872. BY reason of his Join.
work with other resident pastors a.
chaplains of the prison. he was an
pointed by the Governor a commission
err of Maine to the international Con-
gross held in London in 1872 and again
after leaving Thomaston. to the same
body meeting in Rome in 1884.
Then followed the passionate of Cha :
II. Pope of nearly five years, and Chas
A. Marsh of about two years. This
covered about IS years and the last
% years has been quite evenly divide, /
among three pastors. JOS w. Strout
lSS5-1S@3; Clayton D. Boothby 1894
1901 and Edgar NJ. Cousins 1901 to the
present date.
The membership has never been
larger than $50. At the present time il
Is 116. The total enrolment has been
$40 members"