When an entity celebrates 150 years in existence, it reflects the work and dedication of many. This rings true for the Presque Isle Congregational Church, which marks its 150th anniversary this year.
From the five stalwart souls who formed it in 1865 to its presence in the community today, the church has sprung from seeds planted by the pastors who have led the faithful.
Church records indicate that many of these pastors were itinerant shepherds, sent by the Maine Missionary Society to preach the gospel to the more rural areas of the state. Most stayed a year, if that long, to two, and then moved on. Still others oversaw major renovations and rebuilding after tragedy; one was the son of a writer, and another became a divinity professor and prolific writer himself.
These are just a few of the many who have served over the years.
• Rev. William Leavitt became the first minister of the Presque Isle Congregational Church at its founding in 1865.
• Rev. Charles Edward Stowe, the son of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” writer Harriet Beecher Stowe and her Bowdoin professor husband, was sent north in 1879 to sharpen his ministerial skills. Fresh out of the seminary, he served in Presque Isle for a brief six months before heading a church in Saco.
• Serving from 1900-01, Rev. John Spencer later found fame of a different color; following his tenure in Presque Isle, he went to California, where in a well-known criminal case he was convicted of killing his wife despite lack of evidence.
• Rev. Christian Goezinger and his wife made significant contributions to the church for seven years, from 1923-30. He was responsible for the installation of the church’s first pipe organ in 1927, which involved some remodeling. They began the “Groezinger Club” for young girls of the church.
• From 1934-43, Rev. E. Milton Grant not only served as pastor, but was the creator of the Presque Isle Recreation Department. The former outdoor pool was named after him.
• Now living in Pennsylvania, Rev. John H. Westerhoff III was pastor here from 1958-60, and is arguably the church’s most famous servant. After he left Presque Isle, he later became an Episcopalian and a prolific spiritual writer, and spent most of his career as a professor at Duke Divinity School. He is still writing and recently talked with current pastor, Rev. Timothy Stohlberg.
• Rev. Richard Ryder, pastor from 1960-65, was here when the church had its largest membership and when it officially joined with the United Church of Christ (UCC).
• Rev. John Karrer was here for six years, from 1973-79. During his tenure, Boy Scout Troop 168 was formed, and Mary MacBride was named the church’s first female moderator. When the organ stopped working, he acquired the current Kilgen pipe organ, a 1906 model.
• Arriving in 1980, Rev. James Fletcher oversaw an expansion to the back of the church, remodeling of the downstairs and a new heating system installed, as well as new carpeting, stained-glass window repair and creation of a parking lot. He will attend the special anniversary service later this month.
• Rev. Robert Grove-Markwood, the longest serving pastor in the church’s history, was here for 25 years, from 1988-2013. During his tenure he oversaw the most recent renovations in 1996, marked the church’s 125th anniversary and oversaw the creation of the church website. He will attend the anniversary festivities, and his wife, Susan Grove-Markwood, will serve as organist for the worship celebration.
• Rev. Timothy Stohlberg is the church’s current leader. Hired as an associate pastor during Grove-Markwood’s service to Bangor Theological Seminary, he officially became pastor in 2014. He is a former pastor of the Evangelical Covenant Church in New Sweden.
Organizers of the Congregational Church’s 150th anniversary festivities have planned several events to draw the entire community into the celebration, including a display at the Northern Maine Fair Historical Pavilion, a community walk last month, and an upcoming performance by the Aroostook River Voices on Sunday, Oct. 11, at 2 p.m. at the church .
The culmination of the festivities will be a special worship service, planned for Sunday, Oct. 25.
Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series of articles marking the Presque Isle Congregational Church’s sesquicentennial. Information for this story was gleaned from church historical documentation.
