Daily Kennebec journal., 1925-06-27

Il OSleE, MIS-. LID CiiNbJ All.
E. Webb, Mr. II. c. Bishop. Miss
Alice Wood.
Decorating Committee, Helping
Hand" class of the Sunday School.
The Methodist Church is not the
oldest church in town. The Con-
gregational Church Is nearly a half
century older, and the Baptist
Church at East Winthrop observed
it's Centennial last year., but the
| Methodist Church has at present the
| largest membership of any Protes-
| tant church in town, with 100 men,
| bers, and IA probationers.
| 1t has a historical record of which
| it may we'll be proud. Names
prominent in the history Of the Town
| are identified with it.
No history of the Methodist church
could be written without mention of
| Nathaniel Bishop, for Nathaniel
| Bishop was the father of Methodism
in Winthrop, and through his efforts
almost unaided was brought about
| the erection of the Methodist Chapel
for which the corner stone was laid
| one hundred years ago.
: The records tell that the first
| Methodist sermon in Winthrop was
| preached by Rev. Jesse Lee, Oct. 21st
I 1893, ana lIldl Tic lOiiOWiHs yCui q
| class was formed by Rev. Philip
| Wager, with six members. From that
| time occasional preaching services
were held until Nathaniel Bishop
| determined to build a chapel for
| regular services and on June "a, 1876
| the corner stone was laid. The
building was financed by Mr.. Bishop,
| who purchased the site, and himself
| betrayed the expenses of the build
| ing. The frst sermon in the build
| ing was preached before the roof
| was laid by Bishop Towle. who was
on his way to the Conference at
Gardiner. There were but fifteen
| members, but regular services were
| held and on Nov. 3 1926 the build
| ing was dedicated to the service of
| God. Rev. Stephen Lowell preach
| ing the dedicatory sermon from End
| Chronicles, 7, Is and 16.
The following year, at the Annual
Conference, Winthrop was added to
| the regula., list of appointments, Rev.
Stephen Lowell was the first man to
serve pastor of the church.
The complete list of preachers from
Stephen Lowell in 1926 to Rev. H.
f. Aldrich, the present pastor, fol-
lows: tE
Stephen Lowell, 1S26-1S2S; J. B.
| Hustled, 1S2S-1S29; Moses Hill, 1929
1881; E. Crooker, 1S31-1SS2; g.
Greely, 1s32-1S33; D. Fuller, 1889
1894; A. Caldwell, 1SS4-1S36; G. p.
Bragdon, 1S36-1S37; e. Hotchkiss,
1s37-1S3S; A. p. Hillman, 1S3S-1S39; !;
Abel Alton. 1S39-1S40; J. Cleaveland,
1S4O-1S41; D. b. Randall, 1S41-1S42;
E. Robinson 1S42-1844; A. F. Barn
ard. 1S44-1S46; George Webber, 1876
1S47; C. w. Morse, 1847-1S49; Moses
Hill. 1S49-1S51; Parker jacques,
1s51-1S53; C. Munzer, 1S53-1S55; j.
II. Jenne, 1S55-1S56: Stephen Allen,
1s56-1s5S; C. C. Mason, 1S5S-1S6O;
Ezekiel Smith, 1S6O-1S61; George
Weber, 1S61-1S63; James Mcmillan,
1S63-1S64; p. E. Brown, 1S64-1S
Parker Jacques, 1S661S69; +. c.
Aver. 1S69-1S70; A. r. Sylvester,
.1S70-1S73: Stephen Allen. 1S73-1S76;
James Nixon, 1S76-1S79; David
Church, 1S79-1SS1; G. f. Cobb. 1851
1884; c. f. Springer, 1SS4-1SS7; Il.
F.. Jones, 1SS7-1SS9; C. T.. Bisbee,
| 1SS9-1S91; o. S. Pillsbury, 1891
1892; f. T. Adams, 1S92-1S94;
Sylvester Hooper. 1S94-1S9S; e. T.
Adams, 1S9S-1S99; F. c. Norcross,
1S99-1902; T. N. Kewley, 1902-19Ol;
r. A. Rich, 1907-1910: H. A. Cliff
ford. 1910-1915; John Wriston, 1916
1916; n. r. Pearson, 1916-1920; p.
J. Clifford, 1920-1924; H. F. Aldrich,
1924.
A study of this list shows many
men, who have done wonderful work
for Maine Methodism. or this list,
Rev. James Nixon now residing In
Arrowsc is the Oldest living pastor,
and he is expected to be present at
the Centennial services tomorrow.
When erected the chapel stood on
a small hill top, and when vestry
was needed, the earth was excavated
from beneath the building and the
and among other improvements that
year was the installing of an organ,
which is still in use, though more
than 70 years old.
A tower and bell were added to the
building in 1886.
From time to time improvements
and repairs have been made and a
year ago the interior of the church
was entirely renovated and re-
decorated at a cost Of approximately
$1,000
The oldest living member of the
church is Benjamin Fairbanks of
Belgrade who is nearly SO years of
age, and who joined the church April
"a, 1870.
On the Centennial Committee ap-
pear the names of Frank I. Bishop
Ransom Bishop. Members of the