Church

Church

The Sandy Point Congregational Church along US Rt 1 in Stockton Springs, Maine The Sandy Point Congregational Church is relatively small with a very tall steeple, creating an easily seen landmark in the community. The steeple has even been used as a USGS benchmark for its high visibility. The building under the steeple is relatively simple, in the style of eighteenth century meeting houses. Painted bright white, it is in very good condition for a building coming up on its 177th birthday. See "The Story of Stockton Springs", Allis Ellis, pg 100.2 HISTORY In the summer of 1839, a group of people residing in the Sandy Point area of the Town of Prospect and members of the Second Congregational Society of Prospect petition that society to be dismissed from their fellowship to form a church of their own. They pledged to build a meeting house and selected a committee to engage a pastor for their fledgling congregation. The church was officially organized October 16, 1839 and the following year, September 23, 1840, the meeting house was dedicated. There were eighteen charter members signed on the original papers. On Sept. 23 1840 a new meetinghouse was dedicated. A hymn was composed by John Martin (a Revolutionary soldier who was famous in his day for a diary he published of his experiences during that time) and sung by the congregation. It has been used in all the anniversary celebrations since then. This church is fortunate in that all the original books from the very beginning have been preserved. Immediately opposite the church is a small burial ground with many stones marked 'Lost' or 'Died at Sea.' The most pretentious monument is that in memory of Captain Albert Partridge; a globe of polished granite bears the names of the many distant ports he visited.