Board members of the First Parish Preservation Foundation reached out to the community Wednesday with a breakfast presentation on the history and importance of the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church building.
The newly established foundation will work to fund restorations of the building. Recently, the clock from the steeple was restored and will mark the hour with the ringing of the Paul Revere bell again soon.
“I really applaud the effort to include the community,” said Kate Chappell, honorary board member and cofounder of Tom’s of Maine. “The church is in the heart of our town, and it’s a symbol of our community.”
The building dates from 1773, three years before the American Revolution, according to board chairman and congregation member Bob Lown. It was enlarged and the steeple added in 1803. Over the years, it has served as a church, Town Hall, library and an emergency medical station during wartime.
Throughout the last 10 years, church members have funded about $10 million in repairs and restoration to the building, Lown said. The financial responsibility has grown too much for the congregation to handle on its own, though, he said. The building now needs painting and shutter work.
“We’re launching this program from a position of strength,” said Lown. “We see it as our responsibility to maintain it.”
The board invited town officials, philanthropists and leaders of non-profits to give them a chance to see the building and restored bell and clock. Guests Greg Paxton, director of Maine Preservation, and Robin Stancampiano of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission also spoke with guests about the building.
The foundation is a non-profit corporation dedicated to preserving the historic building, which houses the First Parish Church. The foundation is separate from the church’s organization and finances. The board is planning a capital campaign to start this spring.
— Staff Writer Robyn Burnham can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 329 or rburnham@gwi.net.
