A Brief History of First Church Houlton, Maine

First Church of Houlton was organized on October 10, 1811 and celebrated its two hundredth anniversary in 2011. 

The history of Houlton and history of First Church are closely linked. The town of Houlton was settled in 1807 as a land grant issued to New Salem Academy in New Salem, Massachusetts and many of its first shareholders were members of First Church of New Salem. 

They established a Congregational Church in Houlton and maintained correspondence with Rev. Alpheus Harding the settled minister at New Salem. 

In 1835, after a visit to Houlton by Rev. Harding, a portion of the congregation formed the Unitarian Society of Houlton and constructed The Unitarian Meeting House in 1837, the first church building in Aroostook County of the Protestant variety. 

We are currently in our third church structure located next to Monument Park in downtown Houlton.  

The great fire of 1902 burnt down the previous church building and a resolute congregation was able to quickly build a new then very modern and grand Mission Style Church, by 1903. 

By 1027 the church had added a pipe organ that was aspirated by hunab powered bellows, and by 1938 this instrumant was electrified and substancially expanded and rebuild with the help of funding by the Frisbee Family, has become a well balnced, playable exceptional instrument. Our Friends of the Frisbee Organ (FOFO) are committed to the upkeep of this fine instrument and regularly host special Organ Music related events.

This Church has benefitted from excellent leadership, and our present Minister David Hutchinson has led this church compassionately, competently and resourcefully for more than 20 years.