Cape Neddick Baptist Church
Serving Cape Neddick
      and the World
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Cape  Neddick Baptist Church and Parsonage in the Early 1900s.
  


Cape Neddick Baptist Church  History

    Time here does not  permit us to detail the entire the history of our beloved Church.  Its Baptist  background may be traced to the preaching as far back as 1780 by Elder Nathaniel  Lord in the house of Jeremiah Weare on Pine Hill Road.  His Calvinistic  doctrine antagonized many and was not preached again until 1803 when Elder  William Batchelder preached at what is now Elm Farm.  He reported that nearly  fifty souls were converted in a  short time. In 1804 a baptism by immersion was  conducted by Elder  Elias Smith.
    On December 20,  1822, “The Proprietors”  organized to build a Meeting House for  the use of the first Methodist Society of York which had been organized.  When  not in use it required that it might be opened for the use of other  denominations and their ministers.  A committee of three proprietors were  elected yearly to have charge of the admittance of qualified ministers of such denominations.  This procedure continued until February 7, 1829, when they voted that the First Baptist Society which had been organized February 6, 1829, shall have  “pre-eminence” since they had assumed responsibility for the ministry and its support.  From their organization in 1822 until March, 1887, the proprietors met  as the owners of the Cape Neddick Meeting House.  They with the Society and  Church were responsible for the physical and spiritual operation of the Meeting  House, built in 1823.
    On August 13,  1829, a council met to consider organizing a Regular Baptist Church. Representatives from Wells, South Berwick, Kennebunkport, and Portsmouth resolved to recognize  them.  Oliver Barron was the first Pastor and Cotton Chase the first  Deacon.  Mr. Chase and Mr. Samuel Weare were two of the original  Propietors..Seven women and five men signed a statement of beliefs and a church  covenant.  Before the year 1829 had passed many others of the original builders  had come into the church including Samuel Adams.  On January 1,  1830, Samuel Adams was chosen Church Clerk, serving unstil  1863.
    In May, 1830, the  church joined the York Association.  It is possible that many others were  interested without joining the church, and continued to be of great help in the  early years of our history.  By 1840 there were 83 members on the Church  Roll.  In October, 1840, twenty-five were dismissed to form a church at  Wells.  By 1843 there were sisty-six members.  In the early days discipline was  strict, members  were called to account for unchristian actions, some were even  dismissed because of mis-conduct or non-attendance, but the church was  ministering and growing.
    In the first 25  years eight Pastors ministered faithfully.  In the second 25 the records tell of  the passing home to glory one after another of the stalwarts of that early  church.  There were frequent changes of Pastor, and sometimes there were  intervals without a resident Pastor.  In 1878 during the pastorate of Rev. Mr.  Stetson, who gave the bell to the church, the church was reorganized with  thirty-three  members.  The vestibule and belfry were added during the Pastorate  of Mr. Stetson.  Rev. Gilbert  Robbins was the first Pastor in the third 25-year period, (1879-1886).  During  his time the old singing gallery was removed, new pews installed, and a  rededication service held. In 1889 the Church Letter read, “In 60 years 190 members were united: 155 by baptism.  Most of  these have passed to their reward and many of the  living are now over 3 score  and ten.  Membership 25.”
     In 1890 a Bible School was organized at York Beach and a chapel planned on land donated by Mr. H.Z. Ellis and subscription and cash amounted to $1,200.00.  Although the Baptist work continued, the chapel was never built.
    The last entry in the Proprietors book was for November 13, 1893.  September 29, 1894, the Cape Neddick Baptist Society was organized.  Soon after this the chapel or vestry was  built.  In 1894 the Church and Society voted to call Bro. William Fletcher and  ordained him soon after. The old parsonage, of which we have no knowledge concerning its original construction, was purchased by Rev. Mr. Fletcher, the then retiring Pastor, and was moved across the street where it was his retirement home.  In 1902 the present parsonage was built at a  cost of $2,009.00, on the site of the original parsonage.
    The one-hundredth  anniversary was celebrated November 15,1954,  and was a day of rejoicing under Pastor Gilbert Ward.  Rev. J. Wesley Stuart  brought the morning message and Rev. James Dagino the evening sermon.  Previous  to that, during the previous ten years many improvements were made to the  property.  A new oil-fired heating system was installed, an electric organ  bought, and the sanctuary repainted with a new ceiling.  The parsonage was  painted and remodeled.  Five different pastors serve.From   November 1954 to November 1958, the Church was led forward by Rev. Norman MacFarlane. Rev. Richard Parker came to us and served from March 4, 1959, to Sept. 6, 1961.  It was during his pastorate that the Cape Neddick Baptist Church was incorporated. This incorporation took place  February 24, 1960, and all property belonging to the Society was conveyed to the Church. Pastor Donald B. Weymouth came to us January 21, 1962. It was Pastor Weymouth who conducted the dedication service for the new building on November 12, 1961.     
    On February 4, 1968, a formal burning of the mortgage was celebrated  after only six years instead of the anticipated ten. During the leadership of  Pastor Weymouth, land was purchased for increased parking and recreational  uses.Rev. Alvin Cooper became the pastor on July 8, 1979.  Rev. Cooper baptized seventeen people during  his pastorate. Rev. James Waugh arrived in March 1984  and served until 992. Sixteen baptisms took place, a new piano purchased and an  alarm system installed. Several thousands of dollars were donated to help a  clinic in Haiti.  The Rev. Henry Bock served as interim  until the Rev. Dr. Judson I. Stone arrived in October, 1993.  Pastor Stone baptized sixteen people
during  his years at Cape Neddick.  Many  improvements were made to the church, vestry and parsonage.  New hymnals and Bibles were purchased, the  school house razed in 2000 and a part-time youth worker served in 2003-2004. The  Church has been ranked in the top twenty-five mission giving churches in the  American Baptist Churches of Maine.
     A celebration was held in August of  2004 to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the Church.  Rev. Dr. Judson I Stone was called to  ministry in Texas during the summer of 2005. Rev. Dr. Linwood Welch served as interim pastor until September 2006.  Our  fellowship has continued to grow, with one baptism and two people joining our  fellowship.  
    In March of 2006 Matt  Wigton, a Gordon-Conwell seminary student, was hired as a youth worker to help  develop our youth programs. In September of 2006 Rev. Carsten T.  Lotz was called as pastor of the Cape Neddick Baptist Church. In December of  2007 Rev. Carsten Lotz moved to England to complete his Ph.D. degree. In September of 2008 Rev. Dr. Richard  Visser and Rev. Carol Visser served as interim  pastors. In September of 2009 Rev. Donald Nelson was called as pastor of the Cape Neddick Baptist  Church.
    On December 4, 2016 Rev. Donald Nelson retired.  On February 26, 2017 Rev. David Strosahl was called as interim pastor of the Cape Neddick Baptist Church.
    The Church has ministered to the community at every opportunity and in many different ways. This Meeting House has been a place of worship for many summer people throughout the years. It has been a place where many have found comfort in times of trials. The gospel of Jesus Christ has been preached in its fullness. The activities undertaken were for the glory of God and to honor Him. Our Heavenly Father has blessed this body  of believers and Church property greatly over the past years.  


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