The Church History
**Disclaimer: This page is for the sole purpose of the history of the building and the past dealings with the past congregations. This in no way represents our current congregation and how things are now.**
The first available record of a church in Whitefield, which was then a part of Ballstown, is the formation of the Ballstown Church in January 3, 1789. This was the only church in town for 20 years. The early services were held in private homes. In 1806, the Ballstown church was built, this building was where the Fowles school house afterward stood and was burned in 1864. By 1809 several withdrew and organized the 2nd church of North Whitefield. Later the 3rd church was formed in Whitefield, evidently Kings Mills. During 1829 a church was built a little north of Kings Mills bridge about where Lyman Staples house now stands. When the present church was built in 1870 the old church was torn down.
A corporation was formed in Whitefield, ME in Oct.. 14, 1869. This corporation went under the name of the Whitefield Methodist-Baptist Corporation. At this same time the ladies organization was known as the Ladies Benevolent Society. There has been no record of this organization, but the corporation voted to accept their report on Oct. 21st, 1869.
The Whitefield Methodist-Baptist Corporation had planned to build a meeting house. On Nov. 22nd, 1869, it was voted to build a house the same size and design as the Methodist house at Sheepscot Bridge. The meeting house was then built the following year, closely following the design. At some point a vote was also taken to build a vestry. However this vote was rescinded.
A lot, where the house stands now, was purchased on Apr. 21st 1870 from Jonathan Heath for $100.00. Mr. Heath sold the lot with the reserved right to buy it back for $50.00 if the corporation vacated the lot. On Dec. 22nd, 1870, the meeting house was dedicated, the same year it was built.
From 1871 to 1893, there was a large lapse in the records. During 1899, there was a change in the church constitution. During this same time a vote was passed to allow the Old School Baptist (also known as the Reformed Predestinarian Baptist or Primitive Baptist) to use the church every fourth Sunday of each month. In 1809 the building was repainted by money raised.
In 1916 the steeple was repaired because it was blown out of perpendicular by high winds. This same year, Mr. and Mrs. Collins Porter presented to the church the first bell to be installed in the belfry. At a meeting, held July 9th, 1950, the trustees of the corporation voted to change the name of the church to Whitefield Union Church. This included to dissolve the board of officers and put the corporation under the control of the officers of the Whitefield Union Church (interdenominational).
The church was repainted again in 1951 by the efforts of the church, Helping Hands Society, and other special contributions. In September, Mr. Chester Frantz took over as Pastor temporarily as Mr. Ernest Harvey had only agreed to stay til then. In this same year, the suspended ceiling and lights were installed by Matson and Ladner on March 6th.
During 1973, work began to add a complete cellar under the building. The church was raised in the air on Sept. 12th. While the building was jacked up, the cellar was excavated and walls were poured. When the work was being done, worship was held in the Community Hall next door. The work on the cellar was completed and the church lowered onto the new walls in October. A new furnace and a 100 amp circuit unit was installed at this point. Worship was held in the Community Hall until December 2nd so this work could be complete.
Other improvements were made to the church as the years past. In 1975, a small room was used for preschoolers. A fire retarded room around the furnace was completed in compliance with insurance in January 1976. During January 1980, a well was drilled and water was put into the church and piped to the Union Hall. To continue with the improvements, storm windows done in 1997 and siding was put on the church in 1999.
This brings us to the present when the church has been renamed to Sheepscot Valley Community Church in January of 2010 and Pastor Les Dancer took the place as minister. During the 2010 year, the crippled steeple was removed for safety and the church was touched up with paint. Also new ramp, deck, stairs were built to replace the existing entrance. So you can see, this church building has quite a history in this area and will continue to do so for many, many years...
