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!