State Street Congregational Church first opened its doors in 1852, as an offshoot of its mother church, High Street Congregational Church. A long and storied history has brought it to this day, nearing its 175th anniversary in 2027. Founded by some of the most prominent families in the city, it has played an important role in Portland for over a century and a half.
Throughout its rich history the people of State Street Church embraced and challenged the social assumptions of their times and chose to speak and act deliberately to make the world a better place. From being staunchly abolitionist to being a spark for women’s suffrage in Maine, to courting the disaffected in the turbulent 1970s, State Street has been willing to be in the forefront on societal issues and concern for the less fortunate.
Before the Civil War the pastor preached openly against slavery. The church lent its financial support to the Abyssinian Church, (the first Black church in Portland.) In 1916, the church parsonage was the site of the meeting of the Maine Women’s Suffrage Association meeting which launched the first suffrage referendum in Maine. In the 1960s and ‘70s the Church sponsored “The Gate,” a coffee house behind the church on Congress Street as a “church without walls” that welcomed all, especially the lonely and alienated. The church has been open and affirming to the LGBTQ+ community since 2006. In recent years the church has focused on meeting the needs of the marginalized in our community, including people experiencing homelessness and recent immigrants.
Meaningful worship and preaching supported by exceptional music has always been a hallmark of the State Street faith community. A history of dynamic and prominent pastors has enriched our history. In 1892, the original Hook & Hastings organ was replaced with the current Roosevelt organ and prominent and talented organists played a crucial role. Many of Portland’s most prominent musicians have been guest artists in State Street worship services.
State Street Church has followed a common trajectory of many mainline churches, reaching its peak of membership and influence in the 1950s. In 1960, State Street Church voted to join the newly formed denomination of the United Church of Christ, a combination of several Christian denominational traditions. Until the 1980s, the worship services were broadcast on the radio, reaching out to many beyond the church’s walls. The church housed the 40,000 volume General Theological Library of New England and then the Portland Campus of Bangor Theological Seminary for many years. A number of our members took good advantage of the presence of the seminary and six new ministers emerged from State Street to serve churches in Maine.
As State Street strives to meet the current challenges of being a progressive mainline church in the 21st century, we have become more integrated with our community. Our building is shared with four other organizations that serve the wider community. In addition, the building houses a free clothing ministry, a winter family shelter, two Narcotics Anonymous groups, and is available for rent to community groups.
The history of State Street Church is not yet finished. Our building is an iconic landmark on the city skyline and we strive continually to preserve it. It is not just a landmark but is also a place where a relatively small yet active group of people try to make God’s love and compassion seen and felt in a world so desperately in need of both.
