MISSION & HISTORY OF CHRIST CHURCH
MISSION STATEMENT
Christ Church is a Federated Church affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Church. We welcome all people from every denominational background. We worship God and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ through worship, education, fellowship and service. Our goal is to grow in our personal faith while serving people around us and in the world beyond us. Our vision is a practical Christianity that applies the historic faith to the needs of people in today's world. Our hearts are open and our hands are extended in faith, love and friendship.
Adopted by the Christ Church Cabinet, June 15, 1999
HISTORY
Christ Church has a rich heritage dating back to the
1700's. The Congregational portion of this federated church was first
organized as the Second Congregational Society of Wells (now Kennebunk)
and incorporated on June 14, 1750. The original church was built at the
Kennebunk Landing. In 1753, the Landing Church was torn down and part
of the materials salvaged to build the Second Congregational Church on
Main Street. This building now houses the Unitarian-Universalist meeting
house. By 1826, as the winds of Unitarianism were sweeping through New
England, a sizeable group of people
broke away from the trend toward Unitarianism and formed The Union Church
of Christ in Kennebunk. A church was built at the current Dane Street
site in 1827. Extensive renovations were performed on the building throughout
the years and a parsonage for the use of the Congregational minister and
his family was purchased. This parsonage was next to the Baptist Church
on Main Street.
The Methodist portion of Christ Church dates its beginnings to the early
to mid 1800s. At one time, the Methodist Church was one charge, consisting
of Kennebunk, West Kennebunk and Kennebunkport. During 1858-59, a church
was built in Kennebunk on the Portland Road. Currently this is the site
of a small Presbyterian congregation. In 1864, Sister Sarah M. Burnham
died and left her house for a parsonage. This parsonage was on the land
where Christ Church's present-day parsonage now stands.
In 1953, Christ Church was formed by the merger of the Congregational
and Methodist congregations. Prompted by young couples from both congregations
who regularly worked and socialized together, it was decided to combine
forces. It was voted to retain the Congregational Church building and
the United Methodist parsonage. The first pastor of the newly federated
church was Methodist. Again at this time, extensive renovations were performed.
An important and historically significant architectural feature of Christ
Church is the repeating use of three arches, symbolizing the Trinity.
You can find this design incorporated in the steeple, the communion table
and the pulpit. The Rev. John Wesley Prince, in 1939 remarked that Church
people have always though that the pulpit should be more than a common
stand and the communion table more than a common table. They have wanted
these to have such a distinctive shape that when people look at them they
would be reminded of the great truths of Christianity.
Today Christ Church is an active and thriving congregation, proud of its
role as a community centered and community friendly church. We continue
to reach out in service to God in Kennebunk, Maine!
P.O. Box 87, 6 Dane Street, Kennebunk, Maine 04043-0087
Telephone and Fax: 207-985-4494 E-Mail:
christchurch@roadrunner.com