Sunday, January 13, 2008

Palmyra Episcopal Church

Heidi R. Wyman

Ms. Lind & Mr. Viles

Honors English / History

1/9/08

Throughout the development of the little town of Palmyra Maine, the Episcopal Church has been a lasting influence on the society for 169 years. Through this 169 year the Church has developed from the Grange hall to different church denominations, to its current denomination of the Episcopal Church. This church’s influence on the society can be seen throughout their charitable work within the community.

The church building currently occupied by St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, was built in 1838. (Palmyra Bicentennial. 188-197) The building started as the Palmyra Free Meeting hall, a place where the community could meet for free to worship and discuss as they please. The land for the meeting hall was sold to the church by Stephen Robinson who only charged the church one pew. (Palmyra Bicentennial. 188-197) The church also sold 52 pews to fund the building of the church. (Palmyra Bicentennial. 188-197) Each pew buyer would hold the right to choose a minister who would preach on the week corresponding with the number on their pew. (Palmyra Bicentennial. 188-197) The total construction cost of the church was $1800.00. (Palmyra Bicentennial. 188-197) The building was constructed by George Lancey. He hired a building crew with Lewis Williams the head carpenter. In 1871 the church was in need of repairs. Pew owners re-organized and were able to tax the pews to raise $350.00. (Palmyra Bicentennial. 188-197) This money was used to paint the outside, repair the blinds and to shingle the roof.In the next 124 years the church was home to three denominations, the Methodist, Baptist and Christian’s. They worshiped in this one church at different times on service days. Some ministers of the Christian denomination include, Mr. Stackpole, Mr.Tibbetts and Mr. Webster. Baptist elders included James Langley and Virgil Sweetland, son of one of the town’s initial settlers. Methodist preachers included Jesse Harriman Springer, La Marsh, Southard, Tingliny Brooks and Charles H. Johonnett. (Palmyra Bicentennial. 188-197)

In 1962 the building which was currently owned by the Union church, a group of Jesus Christ followers who provided choir services to the community, was bought for $1 by the St. Martin’s congregation. (Breau, Beverly 12/15/07) The St. Martin’s group has formed in Pittsfield in 1959, originally meeting at Shorey’s Funeral Home and the former Jaycee Hall. (Palmyra Bicentennial. 188-197) This price was set by the townspeople to make the price low enough so it would be bought and put into use. The building was then renovated in preparation for the first Episcopal service in May 1963. The purchase and renovation of the free meeting hall restored regular Sunday services to the town. (Mack, Sharon K. Bangor Daily News.) A community church had been absent from the town for many years.

In 1964 the St. Martin’s congregation purchased the Palmyra Grange hall, a building residing next to the church. This building was constructed in 1896, by the grange. (Palmyra Bicentennial. 188-197) The grange was a group of seventy members organized by their master F.L Brown on November 13, 1893. (Palmyra Bicentennial. 188-197) This group first held its meetings in the upper town house until they had the Hall built. (Palmyra Bicentennial. 188-197) The grange hall and group sponsored the Palmyra band, which provided music for the town and other neighboring towns. The grange hall was also known for holding old time fairs with exhibits of cattle, horses, vegetables, foods and needlework. Since 1922 the hall has also housed Farm Bureau or Extensions and 4-H clubs. (Palmyra Bicentennial. 188-197) The congregation purchased this building for $300, a price that would pay off the mortgage of the Grange hall. The congregation then turned the Grange hall into the Parish hall for the church. The parish hall would be used for community activities, public suppers and Sunday school.

In 1985 Janet McAuley was installed as the priest as St. Martin’s. McAuley had two bachelor’s degrees, three master’s degrees and a doctorate degree in religion. McAuley was a well known priest in the community. She oversaw many new programs in the church. The first program was the start of the library in 1988. The library started by Beverly Breau was held in the attic of the church. The library along with the literacy program taught around 200 adults how to read. Janet McAuley served the church up until her death in 2005. (The Northeast. June 2006)

In 1991 the Church lit on fire, destroying the steeple of the church. (Palmyra Bicentennial. 188-197) This fire was started by a lighting bolt that struck the bell in the tower. The great ring drew many townspeople to the church to see what had happened. Local fire departments from five towns were able to control the fire and secure the rest of the church. The church in itself was saved but the steeple had to be replaced, new siding had to be installed and some restorations were needed inside the church. The fire did not harm any of the surrounding buildings and left the parish hall as it had always been.

The church again strived for the next 14 years until April 19, 2006 whey yet another fire ripped through the church. (Palmyra Bicentennial. 188-197) The efforts of the six area fire departments did not pay off, the fire was unable to be controlled and the church damage was too severe to be repaired. There were few items saved from the fire including the alter, pews, crosses, candle sticks and the door that led to the basement of the church. The door was old and wooden with a vintage latch and hinges. On the door the dates including 1854, these dates represented when the church had been painted.

The burning of the church did not stop the worshiping; as planned the church installed Reverend Levering Sherman Jr. as their new vicar and priest-in-charge five days after the fire. On April 30, 2006 Reverend Levering Sherman Jr. celebrated his first Eucharist as vicar in the parish hall. (Palmyra Bicentennial. 188-197) He is currently still at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church.

Since the fire, the congregation meets, prays and cooks in the church hall. The church continues all of its regular services such as Sunday school, service and the community suppers in the parish hall. Beverly Breau says that the church lines up the pews to have Sunday service and then has to take them off and put up the tables for the suppers at the church. (Breau, Beverly 12/15/07) The church holds turkey pie suppers twice a month, on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month from 4:30 to 6:30pm. These suppers provide for an average of 70 people and have been a tradition of the church for over 20 years. The profit made during the community suppers goes to the fund to rebuild the church and the literacy program at the church. The suppers provide dinner for an average of 70 people With the community suppers, literacy program and donations to the county food band, the church is more involved with the community. (Palmyra Bicentennial. 188-197)

This church has affected society with its charitable works throughout the history of Palmyra. During the war they provided special support services for families of those in the war. These services provided memorials for the men and women who were lost during the war. There was also a church choir that brought community members together. The church also provided a meeting place for church and community services. Currently the church provides a literacy program for families in the community. They also hold turkey suppers twice a month and also contribute food to the county food bank. The growth and development of Palmyra Maine, has been positively influenced by the existence of the church in the town. This church has come a long way from a Grange hall to becoming a full time Episcopal Church in the community.

Work Cited

  • Breau, Beverly. Dec. 15 2007

  • Mack, Sharon K. “Palmyra pies bring town together.” Bangor Daily News. 14 Nov. 2007. 3 Dec. 2007. <htt[://bangordailynews.com/news/+/lifestyle.aspx?articleid=156476&zoneid=14>.

  • Palmyra Bicentennial. International Standard Penobscott P, 2007. 188-197.

  • Saintmartins.sebasticookvalley.net/images/church.html

  • Seekins, Brenda. Images of America Sebasticook Valley. Portsmouth: Arcadia, 2004.
  • "St. Martin's Already Rebuilding in Palmyra After April 19 Fire." The Northeast June 2006. 20 Dec. 2007.

Work Consulted

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