Churches of Buxton

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The primary churches active or established in Buxton, York County, Maine, from 1750 to 1850 were predominantly Congregational (the established church in early New England towns), with Baptist groups emerging later in the period. Buxton (originally part of Narragansett No. 1, incorporated 1762) had a strong Congregational foundation tied to its early settlement and town meetings. Other denominations like Methodist or Quaker appear limited or absent in Buxton proper during this timeframe based on historical records—Methodist activity is noted nearby (e.g., in Hollis or later in Buxton areas post-1850), but not prominently in Buxton until after 1850.

Here is a list of documented churches/meetinghouses in Buxton during 1750–1850, drawn from town histories, church records, vital statistics compilations (e.g., Cyrus Woodman’s works), Maine Genealogical sources, and local historical society references:

1.  Church of Christ in Buxton (also known as the First Congregational Church of Buxton or Tory Hill Meetinghouse / Buxton Lower Corner Church)

• Established/organized: 1763 (formal church covenant and admissions records begin then; some sources note preliminary plans or informal gatherings as early as 1739–1742 for a first log meetinghouse).
• Key details: This was the town’s primary (and initially only) church, Congregationalist/Standing Order. The first meetinghouse (log structure) was built around 1742–1762 on what became Tory Hill. The current historic building (Federal-style) was constructed in 1822 on the same site (ME Route 112, Buxton Lower Corner/West Buxton area). Records include admissions (1764–1818), baptisms (1763–1813), and journals up to ~1844. It served as the central religious and civic institution for much of the period.
• Active throughout 1750–1850: Yes, continuously.

2.  First Free Baptist Church (also called First Freewill Baptist or similar; at West Buxton or Bog Mill area)

• Established/organized: 1834 (formed by separation from an earlier Baptist society or the Congregational influence).
• Key details: Emerged during the Second Great Awakening era when Freewill Baptists grew in rural Maine. Located in the West Buxton vicinity.

3.  Second Free Baptist Church (at Groveville)

• Established/organized: 1834 (also split/formed around the same time as the First Free Baptist).
• Key details: Another Freewill Baptist congregation in the Groveville section of Buxton.

4.  Central Baptist Church (or Buxton Center Baptist Church precursors)

• Established/organized: Around 1801 (records begin 1801–1899; some Baptist activity may trace to late 18th/early 19th century separations from Congregationalists, common in Maine).
•  Key details: Baptist records exist from 1801 onward, likely in the Buxton Center area (e.g., Long Plains Road vicinity in later years). This may represent an earlier Baptist society that evolved or split.

Additional notes:

• No strong evidence of Methodist churches in Buxton proper before ~1850 (e.g., Methodist Society activity is documented in nearby towns or voted on in Buxton town meetings around 1839, but actual churches/buildings came later, such as in Bar Mills or Clarks Mills post-1850).
• Quaker (Friends) or other denominations like Episcopal/Universalist had little to no presence in Buxton during this era (Universalist activity appears in nearby Scarborough/South Buxton later).
• Early records are mostly Congregational until Baptist splits in the 1800s–1830s. Many residents attended the Church of Christ initially, with dissenters forming Baptist groups.
• Sources for records include: “Records of the Church of Christ in Buxton, Maine, 1763–1818” (published extracts), FamilySearch/Maine Genealogy pages, Buxton-Hollis Historical Society holdings, and town anniversary publications (e.g., 150th anniversary booklet from 1922 referencing church history).

The Church of Christ (also known as the Congregational Church or First Congregational Church) in Buxton, Maine, as referenced in Cyrus Woodman’s published records, belongs to the broader tradition of Congregationalism in New England. This is distinct from other groups that use similar names, such as the 19th-century Churches of Christ from the American Restoration Movement (associated with Alexander Campbell and Barton W. Stone), which arose later and have different origins.

Origins of Congregationalism (the Tradition Behind Buxton’s Church of Christ)

Congregational churches trace their roots to 16th-century England during the Protestant Reformation:

•  English Puritan Movement: In the late 1500s, Puritans sought to “purify” the Church of England (established under Elizabeth I) from what they saw as lingering Catholic practices, rituals, and hierarchy. They emphasized Reformed (Calvinist) theology, including predestination, the authority of Scripture, and simpler worship.

•  Separatists vs. Non-Separatists: Some Puritans were Separatists (they broke entirely from the Church of England, viewing it as irreformable) and formed independent “gathered” churches of believers who covenanted together under Christ. Others remained within the established church but pushed for reform.

•  Key Principles — Congregationalism emphasized:

         •  Each local church is autonomous and self-governing (no bishops or external hierarchies).

         •  Governance by the congregation (democratic, with members voting on major decisions).

         •  A covenant among believers to form the church body.

         •  This “congregational” polity contrasted with Presbyterian (elder-ruled) or Episcopal (bishop-led) systems.

These ideas emerged from radical Puritan thinkers and groups in England, influenced by earlier reformers like John Calvin and continental Protestants.

Arrival in New England (American Context)

•  Pilgrims (Separatists): In 1620, the Pilgrims (a Separatist group) founded Plymouth Colony and established the first Congregational-style church in America, viewing it as a covenant community.

•  Puritans (Non-Separatists): Starting in 1629–1630, larger waves of Puritans settled the Massachusetts Bay Colony. They brought and adapted the Congregational model, establishing independent churches in each town. These became the dominant religious institution in colonial New England.

•  Established Religion: In places like Massachusetts and (later) Maine (then part of Massachusetts), Congregational churches were the official or “Standing Order” churches, supported by taxes and closely tied to town government. They influenced education, law, and community life.

Specific to Buxton’s Church of Christ

•  Buxton’s Church of Christ (organized formally in 1763 under Rev. Paul Coffin) was a classic New England Congregational church.

•  It followed the pattern of town-founded meetinghouses in frontier settlements: settlers gathered, formed a covenant, called a minister, and established the church as the center of religious and civic life.

•  Records (transcribed by Cyrus Woodman in 1868) show it as a Congregational body with typical practices: admissions by profession of faith, baptisms (often of infants), church discipline, and community oversight.

•  Many early Maine towns (including Buxton, settled in the 1730s–1750s as Narragansett No. 1) had such churches, reflecting the migration of New England Congregationalists northward.

In summary, the origin of the Church of Christ / Congregational Church tradition is in 16th-century English Puritanism, evolving through Separatist and reformist strands, then transplanted to New England colonies where it became the foundational Protestant denomination for centuries. Buxton’s version is a direct descendant of this colonial New England Congregational system.