READFIELD, “THE CRADLE OF METHODISM”

Many years ago Readfield was dubbed the "Cradle of Methodism" for good reasons.

 

In 1794 a public house of worship was built in East Readfield and one year later dedicated as the "Jesse Lee Meeting House". The infamous Methodist missionary Rev. Jesse Lee preached the dedicatory sermon. Today the Jesse Lee Meeting House is the oldest Methodist church, in ongoing use, in New England. In August 1798 Bishop Francis Asbury made his way to East Readfield to preside over the first New England Methodist Conference with nearly 2,000 people in attendance. Two years later Rev. Jesse Lee visited Readfield again but this time to preach the dedicatory sermon at the Kents Hill Meeting House. Readfield was a new town - only 9 years old at the time - and already boasted two Methodist Meeting Houses.

 

In 1800 James Bowdoin III of Boston, the son of Kennebec Proprietor James Bowdoin II, deeded 5 acres to the Town of Readfield for use as a Common Ground “...excepting and reserving 1/4 acre where a public house of worship (Jesse Lee) was already built”. Town inhabitants used “Bowdoin Common” as a training ground for the Militia and for public gatherings as well as for public worship. Those five acres in East Readfield remain intact to this day.

 

In 1824 Luther Sampson of Kents Hill founded Maine Wesleyan Seminary and Female College where many Methodist preachers were "fitted for the ministry". Also gracing “the Hill” were many early, illustrious Methodist itinerant preachers who were sent by the New England Methodist Conference to train and teach Seminary students. Today the Maine Wesleyan Seminary is known as Kents Hill School, and is the oldest ongoing private preparatory school in the Country.

 

In 1827 the Union Meeting House was built at Readfield Corner, to be used by all denominations one being Methodists. That building is on the National Historic Register today and remains available for use by all denominations true to its original mission. Near the Union Meeting House, and next door to the historic John Smith, Esq. mansion house, a Methodist Chapel was built in 1875 and used as such well into the twentieth century.

 

Rev. Stephen Allen, D.D. was a teacher and trustee at Maine Wesleyan Seminary and a founder and benefactor of the University of Maine. He co-authored the "History of Methodism in Maine" in 1887, a comprehensive history which religious scholars and historians draw from to this day. Dr. Allen resided at Kents Hill and remained a strong influence on the School and its students until his dying day.

 

Starting in 1794 there was a pastor in charge at East Readfield but Kents Hill depended on itinerant preachers until Maine Wesleyan Seminary came into existence. Seminary students helped fill the needs at churches in Readfield as well as in other towns in the surrounding area. In time there was a resident Methodist minister who served all the Methodist churches in town, with support from "preachers in training" from the Maine Wesleyan Seminary. Over the years there have been four Methodist parsonages in various parts of this community - two in Kents Hill, one at Readfield Depot and another at East Readfield.

 

At Readfield Depot the Smith Memorial Methodist Church was built in 1906, lovingly called "the little brown church". With that addition each of the four sections of Readfield had its own Methodist Church.

 

With all that rich history it is no wonder that Readfield was dubbed "the Cradle of Methodism".

(C) 2016 All Rights Reserved by Dale Potter-Clark

This story appeared in Community Advertiser May 21, 2016