Historical Sketch

First Baptist Church, Freeport, Maine

An early church record book states that “the origin of the church must be attributed to the Holy Spirit accompanying the preaching of the Gospel.” In the summer of 1807, a preacher from Boston, the Rev. Thomas Paul, was used by God as an instrument of revival in Freeport. He was the Pastor of the First African Baptist Meetinghouse in Boston (which is now a National Park site).

Several converts became convinced that immersion of believers was the only proper form of baptism according to the Scripture. Sarah Dunham and Betty Wesson were baptized on October 8, 1807, and the first Baptist service was held on October 11, 1807.

On November 20, 1807, a Baptist church of 17 members was organized in the house of Nathan Wesson. Forty five were baptized within one year. The first meetinghouse was erected in 1809. Numerous revivals occurred during the history of the church. On one Sunday in 1883, over fifty were baptized.

The second church building on the site was dedicated in 1897—a beautiful Gothic structure designed by prominent Maine architect John Calvin Stevens. It was leveled by fire on Palm Sunday morning March 5, 1944. The present meetinghouse was completed in 1952 and the Christian Education building was purchased in 1965.

Pastors of the church have included the Rev. Nelson Felch (1951-1960); the Rev. John Dunn (1960-1968); the Rev. Ehrmann Bennett (1969-1978); Pastor Sandy Williams (1979-2015); Pastor Donald Thomas (2015-2017); Interim Pastor Steve Kerhoulas (2018-2020); Senior Pastor Michael Whitney/Associate Pastor Jonah Bissell (2021-2022); and Pastor Jonah Bissell (2023-present).