The Stone Church,
64 years old in 1890

The History of the First Parish
in Portland, Maine

Portland Ministry at Large

In 1846, area Unitarians established the “Portland Ministry at Large”, undertaking a series of programs designed to serve Portland’s poorest citizens. In 1849, the group called the Rev. William Hadley to develop and carry out these innovative projects. Mary Deering Preble donated land for Preble Chapel, and it became the base for religious services, Portland’s first school for poor children, and evening school for adults. First Parish women supplied clothing, books, and teachers. 150 years later, Preble Chapel no longer holds religious services, but houses “Youth and Family Outreach” programs.

Dr. Nichols continued as the sole pastor until January 3, 1855, when the Reverend Horatio Stebbins joined him as colleague pastor. Rev. Nichols retired to Cambridge and died in January 1859.

Senator Jefferson Davis, previously Secretary of War and later President of the Confederate States, spent the summer of 1858 in Portland. While in Portland, he was a regular visitor to First Parish services, sitting with the Asa Clapp family in pew 75.

After succeeding Dr. Nichols, Horatio Stebbins served as pastor until 1864 when he was called to the Unitarian Church of San Francisco. A dynamic preacher, he created a sensation during the Civil War by draping the pulpit with the American flag. In California, he became prominent in educational circles as a founder of Stanford University and was considered the most outstanding Unitarian minister on the West Coast

The tower bell was hung in 1862 and recast in 1908; it was rung for fires as late as 1915. The present bell-rope is a replacement for the one broken during the ringing of the bell for the Allied Victory in Europe in 1945.

In 1851, German-born musician, Hermann Kotzschmar was hired as musical director of First Parish. In 1852, the church underwent extensive alterations and a new organ was purchased; it was first played on July 24, 1853. People traveled great distances to hear Kotzschmar play at First Parish on Sundays. It was considered that there was no one who could make the instrument sound as beautiful as he did.

In 1898, First Parish had financial difficulties and was forced to reduce its music program. After 47 years of service, Kotzschmar resigned because of these cuts. He worked at the State Street Congregational Church for five years and occasionally substituted at area churches after that. He died in April 1908; and, in April 1909, at a crowded memorial service at First Parish Church, his ashes “were placed in a cinerary urn, located in a columbarium carved in the solid rock on the back wall of the church.” A commemorative tablet and display, designed and paid for by the Kotzschmar family, is thought to be the first example of cremains deposited in a Portland church.

After Rev. Stebbins’ departure for California in 1867, First Parish was served by Reverend Benjamin H. Bailey until 1872. A year after the departure of Bailey, Dr. Thomas Hill assumed the pastorate and spent 18 fruitful, happy years preaching, writing, and lecturing, and in conducting scientific and educational experiments. The years that Dr. Hill spent here were probably the most serene of his entire career.

After graduating from Harvard College in 1843 and the Divinity School in 1845, he spent 14 years as a Unitarian minister at Waltham, Massachusetts. In 1859 Rev. Hill was persuaded, much against his wishes, to accept the presidency of Antioch College. Financial problems closed the college in 1862 and Hill then accepted the presidency of Harvard College. His administration was met with opposition because of his liberal theology, predilection towards science, and lack of executive ability. He resigned from Harvard in 1868, and in 1870 he accepted the call of First Parish. Dr. Hill died in November 1891.

The 20th Century

A year before the death of Dr. Hill, Reverend John Carroll Perkins joined him as colleague pastor. Ordained in 1891, Dr. Perkins was a graduate of Bates College, attended Harvard Divinity School and served as minister until 1913.

Various alterations occurred during his ministry. A single story parish house was added in 1891, the chandelier was changed from gas to electricity. A new organ was installed in 1910. Dr. Perkins was also instrumental in obtaining two memorial ministerial tablets, executed by Tiffany of New York and installed in 1907. Other memorial tablets followed soon thereafter. In 1906, in order to best care for First Parish’s heritage buildings, members and pew owners approved establishment of a permanent Board of Trustees to hold title to First Parish Meeting House and Parish House as well as all contents and trust funds.

In 1911, Dr. Charles Rhind Joy joined Reverend Perkins as an assistant minister. A scholarly and compassionate man, Dr. Joy served the parish with great dedication. Early in his pastorate he became an ardent pacifist, decrying the militarism that was sweeping the western world prior to World War I. When the United States finally entered the war, his statements were construed by some parishioners as unpatriotic; and his resignation was hastily accepted in 1917.

A replacement for Dr. Joy was not found immediately. After three years of interim ministers, Dr. Joel Hastings Metcalf accepted a call in 1920; and, he quickly won the hearts of his parishioners. As an amateur astronomer, Dr. Metcalf enjoyed an international reputation for scholarship. The parish deeply lamented his sudden and untimely death in 1925.

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