Broad Bay Congregational United Church of Christ will celebrate recent improvements to the church as well as more than 175 years of continuous service to the Waldoboro community with an Open House on Oct. 4 from noon to 4 p.m. The church welcomes people to come for refreshments, drop in to view photos, hear about the church’s and town’s history, listen to music or learn more about Broad Bay’s current role in the life of the town.
The historic church was built in 1838 and served the community as the First Baptist Church until 2002 when the building was sold to the Broad Bay Congregational United Church of Christ. Members of the First Baptist Church walked up the hill to their new home behind Moody’s cabins and the members of Broad Bay Congregational UCC walked up the hill from their meeting place at the Meenahga Grange to their new home at 941 Main St.
Standing in the center of downtown Waldoboro, the building has heard the tears, prayers, laughter and hopes of generations of Waldoboro people. It is the home of an historic Hook and Hasting organ, built in Boston in 1875, and restored over the last 10 years. The sanctuary chandelier, installed in the 1850s, was converted to electricity at the turn of the century and cleaned and renovated in 2014. The ceiling and walls have been repaired, plastered and painted, and a new carpet laid. The Pleasant Street lawn and sidewalk have been freshly landscaped, and the office and Sunday School room renovated. Historical documents, artworks, artifacts, and pictures are being gathered for display. Everyone is invited bring wedding pictures and other photos that were taken in the church to share.
At noon, grilled hot dogs and beverages will be available on the side lawn; historical documents, photographs, artwork and artifacts will be on display in the sanctuary. At 1 p.m., the program will start with a hymn and continue with stories from the sanctuary shared by Broad Bay’s pastor, Rev. Nancy Duncan, Waldoboro historian Mark Biscoe, and former church moderator, Fred Merrifield. At 2 p.m., the organ will take center stage as the church’s organist, Carroll Smith, plays a selection of musical pieces and talks about the organ. At 3 p.m. Jonathan Clowes, Broad Bay trustee, and Jim Derby, restoration carpenter, will discuss the building’s structure and history, as well as the restoration that has been done to date.
Refreshments and displays about the ministries of the congregation and some of the organizations the church supports will be available downstairs in the fellowship hall. In recognition of domestic violence awareness month, there will be an opportunity to create purple prayer flags with the initials of people whose lives have been impacted by domestic violence.
FMI: Contact the church at 832-6898 or waldoucc@midcoast.com
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