Maine Baptist Monument

The latter half of the seventeenth century witnessed the advent of the Baptists within the bounds of Maine. Baptists worshipping in the Kittery area requested that the First Baptist Church of Boston license one of their number, William Screven, as minister. Screven was licensed January 11, 1682 and proceeded to prosecute the great and noble work of preaching the gospel. Immediately, the established religion proceeded to persecute the preacher. Screven was arrested, fined and imprisoned for speaking against “infant baptism”. Brought from prison April 12, 1682, Screven was presented before the court at York. He was ordered to pay ten pounds into the county treasury, forbidden to hold services on the Lord’s day within the Province of Maine and was demanded to attend the standing order services. Screven refused to comply with the decisions of the court and, as a result, was brought before the general assembly at York June 28, 1682, where he was ordered to leave the province. In spite of trial, and resigned to leave Maine, the Baptists of Kittery sought organization as a church. Once again, they called for the assistance of their Boston brethren. Pastor Isaac Hull, Thomas Skinner and Philip Squire traveled to Maine and, on September 25, 1682, formally constituted the saints of Kittery as the First Baptist Church of Maine.

Their church covenant, exemplary of Baptist faith and practice both past and present, reveals reverence for God and resolve to obey His Word:

We whose names are here underwritten do solemnly and on good consideration, God assisting us by his grace, give up ourselves to the Lord and to one another in solemn covenant, wherein we do covenant and promise to walk with God and one another in a due and faithful observance of all his most holy and blessed commandments, ordinances and institutions or appointments revealed to us in his sacred word of the Old and New Testament and according to the grace of God and light at present through his grace given us or hereafter he shall please to discover and make known to us by his holy Spirit according to the same blessed word all the days of our lives; and this we will do if the Lord graciously please to assist us by his grace and spirit and to give us divine wisdom, strength, knowledge and understanding from above to perform the same without which we can do nothing.

In 1683, seeking rest and religious liberty, the Baptists boarded a ship and sailed to Charleston, South Carolina. The church continues today as the oldest Baptist church in the south. William Screven died in Georgetown, South Carolina, October 10, 1713.

For over eighty years, there was no organized Baptist church in Maine. In 1767, however, Hezekiah Smith, pastor of the Baptist church in Haverhill, Massachusetts, made his way into Maine preaching the word of God. Ironically, Smith was ordained to the ministry by the Baptist church in Charleston, South Carolina. In June of 1768, he organized Baptist churches in Gorham and Berwick. The church in Berwick is presently the oldest Baptist church in the state of Maine. From that time, the Baptist faith began to flourish in Maine, and while the standing order continued to harass the saints, they went everywhere preaching the word.

Baptists have contributed significantly to the great number of hymns which have been enjoyed by Christians for centuries. William B. Bradbury, a Maine native, was used of God to compose many tunes which are familiar melodies in the hearts of the saints. Jesus Loves Me, He Leadeth Me, The Solid Rock, Sweet Hour of Prayer, Just As I Am and Savior like a Shepherd Lead Us are among the well known songs with tunes written by Bradbury and sung by Christians all around the world. This monument is erected to honor the saints who so faithfully served God in the down east state. May God also use this memorial to provoke future generations of Baptists to follow their scriptural example. To God be the glory!

Marker placed by the Baptist History Preservation Society – May 09, 2012