First Baptist Church plans 150th anniversary celebration

The members and friends of First Baptist Church in Houlton are celebrating the 150th anniversary of the forming of their home church and the signing of the charter. So much has happened since that time — many marvelous pastors, fine lay leaders, a strong mission emphasis and generations of children growing up and going out into the world with a firm faith foundation from their church family.
It was in the summer of 1842, the Baptist State Convention of Maine sent Rev. Henry Kendall as a missionary to explore the “moral state” of the Saint John Valley Watershed. His appointment to this section of Maine was for 12 weeks at the princely sum of $2.50 per week. He was also obliged to furnish his own horse and conveyance.
It was under Rev. Kendall’s recommendation that the Maine Baptist Missionary Board appointed Rev. Roy Crafts Spaulding to visit Aroostook County. Rev. Spaulding had received a call to go to Boston. However, he asked to postpone his going to Boston in order to brave the wilderness of northern Maine. He found a small band of hardy families who had settled Houlton, among them the Houltons, Putnams and Barnes. They had strong religious roots and wanted to establish new churches as soon as possible in which to worship and learn.
He remained in Houlton for the next 24 years ministering to the people of Houlton. His wife wrote, “It costs something of a struggle to turn from a call to a Boston church to the woods of the Northeast.” This was the first step taken to establishing a Baptist church in Houlton.
For the first 12 years or so Rev. Spaulding was obliged to preach in schoolhouses and homes. Finally, in 1863, First Baptist Church was formed under the laws of the state of Maine.
There were 13 charter members and one of these 13 was Francis Barnes, the great-grandfather of Forrest Barnes who is an active member today. Houlton at this time was considered the last outpost of civilization north of Augusta and south of the Acadian French settlement on the St. John River. These were truly heroic efforts on the part of our founding fathers to establish a church in such a remote place.
The present church building was commenced in 1894 and was constructed in the “shingle style” made so popular in the late 1800s by the noted Maine architect John Calvin Stevens. When the building was completed it had, on the south side, a covering under which the horse-drawn carriages brought parishioners to church providing protection from the elements. This was changed in the 1920s to make room for the automobile.
In 1920, the church experienced such growth that expansion was necessary. Thus the existing building was raised up one story and quarters for prayer meetings, Sunday School and a kitchen were built into the basement area. Over the years many renovations have taken place but the outside remained the same. Records show that in 1939, it cost $400 to paint the outside of the church. By 1985, the cost had increased to $4,000 and in 2012, when a generous gift made it possible to give the church a fresh coat in readiness for the 150th celebration, the cost had more than quadrupled.
A committee has been formed under the co-leadership of Mary Lowery and Jennifer Sylvester. Other members are Karrie Bennett, Emily Reece and Barbara Pettit. Five events have been scheduled and the first one took place Nov. 18, with a special morning worship service followed by a beautifully prepared luncheon.
There were three special milestones recognized that morning as it not only was the launch of the 150th celebration, but also the 10th anniversary of Rev. Art Myers and his family here in Houlton as well as his very special birthday.
After the service the entire congregation gathered at the front of the sanctuary for a group photo to be presented to the Myers family as a thank you.
The day was made even more special by the arrival of son Jay earlier in the week from his medical training in Ohio. At the luncheon the church family had the opportunity to “roast or toast” their pastor while sharing birthday cake and coffee.
There are three more events for the 150th.
Events in January and February will keep the celebration going and it will all culminate with a big “150th Birthday Party Banquet” on March 23, 2013.
The actual anniversary of the signing of the charter was March 26, 1863. There will be visiting pastors, vintage clothing, testimonies and speeches and a delicious banquet.
First Baptist Church feels it has much to celebrate in 2013. It is an intimate congregation of believers where everyone knows one another and rejoices with or prays over families through high and low times.
It continues to be a faithful mission-minded church and welcomes anyone to participate in these coming events and to share in the joy of God’s service.