Name/Title
Central Meeting House | 26 Middle Street, Eastport, Maine | I7-0C3-15 | District #46Entry/Object ID
046Description
The Central Meeting House was constructed in 1828 and dedicated in February, 1829 as The First Evangelical Congregational Meeting House. Daniel Low of Eastport served as architect and builder. He based his design for the Meeting House on a plan found in a building design book in his personal library by British-American architect, Asher Benjamin. The congregation itself had formed 10 years earlier in 1819 and in 1828 took the name of the First Evangelical Congregational Church and Society. Two years later, in 1830, the congregation’s name was changed to The Central Congregational Church and Society of Eastport. The Meeting House building employs uniquely strong construction techniques not found elsewhere in New England. The original steeple of the church blew over in the Saxby Gale of 1869 and was replaced by the current steeple of different design. The original main sanctuary space (as shown in photograph above) is very largely intact though the original balcony was enclosed and the original ceiling modified in 1892. The building is deemed “the finest example of federalist architecture in Washington County, Maine” and it has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1976.
The building and property were gifted to TIMA by the Central Congregational Church and Society congregation in 2016. Many of the original church records are now in the collections of TIMA. TIMA is developing the building for TIMA and other public talks, workshops, celebrations, and receptions; as exhibition space for maritime and architectural artifacts drawn from TIMA’s extensive collections; as an important feature of a walking tour of TIMA’s campus of historic buildings; and for other community events. A small contemplative park, including an historic Victorian Playhouse, is planned for the rear of the building. The main sanctuary space can host an audience of up to 150 people. Until 2024, the small remaining congregation continued to meet seasonally at the church building on Sunday mornings until they disbanded in 2025.
Built:1829
Address:
26 Middle Street
Eastport, Maine
National Register
ARCHITECTS
Daniel Low
ARCHITECTURAL STYLES
Federal
From Sunrise County Architecture (2nd revised and enlarged edition) 1996, p.24
CENTRAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
Built in 1829 by architect-builder Daniel Low, of Eastport, Central Congregational Churchis called "one of the finer provincial Federal style churches in the state. On a stone foundation, the wooden frame building is covered with clapboards. The front entrance has 3 doors, the center door being taller, each with arches and fan lights. Three 12-over- 12 windows, each above a door, punctuate the balcony floor. The square tower holds front and side clock faces, and above is the spire, which was added in 1831. After the 1869 Saxby Gale blew off that spire, a differently designed spire was restored. Only a few years ago this church has also survived being struck by lightning, but has been restored. A wrought iron weather vane crowns the spire. The interior is large, with an arched ceiling. The pews have been filled both for worship and for musical concerts. F AB, JCB
From Eastport Walking Tour Brochure, 2010:
56) The Central Congregational Church (NR) Middle Street, Federal style. In January of 1818, a religious society was formed under the name of "First Evangelical Congregational Church and Society of Eastport," which chose Deacon Ezekiel Prince, Capt. Thomas Rogers, Nathan Bucknam, Benjamin B. Leavitt and Daniel Low as the building committee. Daniel Low, an architect and master builder, took charge and completed the church prior to its dedication February 18, 1829. Mr. Low's carpenters were said to have been mostly ship's carpenters. The original steeple was blown off during the Saxby Gale of 1869. In 1830, by an act of the State legislature, the society's name was shortened to the "Central Congregational Society of Eastport."
From Kilby's Eastport and Passamaquoddy (1888):
CENTRAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. In the winter of 1819, Rev. Mighill Blood, of Bucksport, employed by a Massachusetts missionary society, came through to Eastport, and on the 8th of February instituted a church consisting of five persons, Ezekiel Prince, Samuel Starboard, Samuel Whitcomb, Jane N. Weston, and Sarah S. Whitney. The first Congregational meeting-house was then in process of construction; and it was the expectation of the members of the newly formed church that it would be connected with the society, worshipping in the new meeting- house when completed. But, when the time came, the proprietors voted to send to Cambridge for a Unitarian minister; and the connection was not made. The church, however, kept together, worshipping generally with the Baptists, and, though the numbers were reduced by death and removal, others were added by letter; and in 1825 Rev. Wakefield Gale, a graduate of Andover Theological Semi- nary, who had been preaching for a few Sundays for the Baptists while they were without a minister, commenced regular services in the Old South School-house, and soon gathered a congregation exceeding the capacity of that building. On the 11th of January, 1828, the society was organized under the name of the "First Evangelical Congregational Church and Society of Eastport." It was then decided to have a new house of worship; and Ezekiel Prince, Thomas Rogers, Nathan Bucknam, Benjamin B. Leavitt, and Daniel Low were chosen a building committee. The house, under the direction of Mr. Low as architect and builder, and dedicated Feb. 18, 1829, Mr. Gale preaching the sermon. This was the first church in town with a vestry under the same roof, and is the only one retaining the then prevalent style of interior finish. Its tall steeple was blown over in the great gale of 1869, and replaced by one of slightly different form. It has a clock paid for by the town. On account of the length of the name originally adopted, it was changed in 1830 by act of the State legislature to the "Central Congregational Society of Eastport." The first deacons chosen were Ezekiel Prince and Libbeus Bailey. Deacon Prince may be said to have founded the church and society, and was Its faithful friend to the end of his long life. He died July 18, 1852, aged ninety-one years. His was a marked figure in our streets, the last of the old school, clad in long stockings and knee breeches. Deacon George A. Peabody is now in the fiftieth year of his service in that capacity. Not long since, the church received a bequest of $2,000 from the estate of Miss Sarah Leavitt, and earUer in its history the sum of $400 from Mrs. Margaret Dawson. Organization for 1888. Pastor, Rev. Ora A. Lewis. Deacon, George A. Peabody. Prudential committee, George A. Peabody, John A. Lowe, Herbert Kilby. Clerk and treasurer, George A. Peabody. Superintendent Sunday-school, George A. Peabody.
( ) From Eastport Sentinel, September 21, 1892, p.5,c.2: "The Central Congregational society are having extensive repairs and alterations made to the interior of their church edifice, the work is begin done under the supervision of Mr. James H. Camplin. The society finding they no longer need the galleries which extended around two sides and one end of the building for the purpose originally intended, have partitioned them off utilizing the room thus gained, for vestry, library and dining room purposes. The ceiling of the church will be arched, while stained glass windows will admit the light from above. When completed it will be much more convenient for the society, yet its original arrangement must be greatly missed by those who have long worshiped within its old-time walls, hallowed by the sacred memories which cling to a place that has sheltered so many generations of the town's people, who have worshipped the Father within its consecrated precincts."
