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Union Church of Northeast Harbor: A Noble Past and an Uncertain
Future
By James J. Allen
Ask locals how to
get anywhere north of town and the answer usually includes a
reference to the library or the Union Church.
The Union Church of
Northeast Harbor has been a landmark since it was built in the late
1880s.
The building, which
is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was once
central to the daily life of the community.
Despite its
timeless dignity though, the church has recently faced challenges,
including a significant drop in parish numbers.
Mac Bigelow, the
church’s minister for the past 24 years, cited the town’s shrinking
year-round population and a dwindling interest in traditional Sunday
services as the biggest problems the congregation faces today.
Set firmly against
a fir tree line, the gray granite and green-trimmed church has
finely suited the island site since it was constructed.
Back then summer
and year-round worshippers from the immediate Northeast Harbor area
formed the church.
Protestants
including Methodists, Baptists and Congregationalists “joined into a
‘union’ where many Christians would be welcome,” explained Bigelow.
In 1925 the church
signed into a covenant joining six churches on Mount Desert Island.
The Mount Desert Larger Parish was formed, and was served by two
ministers.
When the covenant
was unanimously voted to an end in 1989, churches in Town Hill and
Otter Creek were closed soon afterwards due to tiny parishes.
“Two more became
what we call ‘yoked:’ the Union Church and the Union Congregational
Church of Seal Harbor,” said Bigelow.
In recent years,
the yoked churches have also seen a decrease in their parish.
Bigelow said he
sees the parish drop correlate to the year-round population drop.
Bigelow also said
community families have greater transportation abilities today.
When the Union
Church was at its strongest, at the turn of the century, people
tended to go to a church nearby.
“The Northeast
Harbor Church is small. Families today can drive to larger churches
with more programs,” said Bigelow.
“Life for many of
us is now lived in many villages.”
Bigelow doubts that
all 16 of the churches on MDI can survive year-round.
Still, he explains
that along with a beautiful structure, the Union Church has much to
offer.
The church offers
intimate personal services from weddings to marriage counseling to
food, transportation and economic help.
In recent years, a
group from the church has traveled to Honduras to educate and aid
people in need.
While the building
may be what Bigelow calls “a treasure to the town of Northeast
Harbor,” he also contends that community involvement in the church
will define its future. |
