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The origins of the church of All Saints
by-the-Sea go back well over a century. The Reverend John Thomas Magrath, an 1862 Bowdoin
graduate, became the Rector of Christ Church in Gardiner, Maine from 1866-1869. He then
ministered to congregations in Michigan, Philadelphia and Boston. While in Gardiner, he and members of his congregations would come to Pig Island (now Capitol Island) for picnics. Mr. Magrath noticed a green hayfield on the East shore of Southport and his family acquired this small salt water farm. A summer cottage was built in the early 1870s. Since there was no Episcopal Church accessible to the vacationers, the congregation of All Saints by-the-Sea came into being under the leadership of Mr. Magrath. Services were held under the oak trees surrounding the hayfield or in the cottage living room if weather was cold. In the 1870s, Miss Mary Williamson, one of the Gardiner congregation who had come on many picnics, purchased land to the south of the farm. She donated part of this land for the building of the church. In 1905 the present church building was erected. The architect, Mr. Albert Hall, donated his services and the construction of the Chapel was done by Captain Charles Gray, a neighbor and a ship builder. The church was consecrated in July 1906 by the Right Reverend Robert Codman, Bishop of Maine. Mr. Magrath continued to be in charge of the church until his death in 1908. Subsequently, clergy from all over the country have officiated and All Saints by-the-Sea has been fortunate to attract many people of high caliber to its pulpit. All Saints by-the-Sea was the only Episcopal Church on the Boothbay Peninsula until the mission of St. Columba’s was established. From the beginning the two congregations have found ways to work together and to share resources and they continue to cooperate in many ways. The vicar of St. Columba’s officiates at least once at All Saints during the summer and members of St. Columba’s volunteer at All Saints. Many long time summer attendees at All Saints are now year round residents and a number of them are members of St. Columba’s during the months when All Saints is closed. Each summer representatives of the two congregations meet to continue to explore ways to further strengthen this relationship. While not a parish church in the ordinary sense, neither is All Saints by-the-Sea a diocesan mission. It remains essentially a congregation of residents and summer visitors who share its services and give it their support. Carol Joy who still attends services there was the first baby to be baptized at All Saints. Both she and Alfred Moses, the great grandson of the founder, were part of the 90 th birthday celebration in 1996.The chapel is managed by a Board of Governors elected for three year terms and much of its maintenance and improvements are done by this group of volunteers joined by other friends and loyal supporters. Its island location and approach by water have endeared the church to many and have made it an important part of the region’s summer life. It is one of the very few summer chapels in the country which has its own dock and float. The "Novelty", a tour boat out of Boothbay Harbor makes a special trip on Sundays to bring visitors to the church and private boats are welcome to dock for church services. Over the years the All Saints has become a spiritual summer home for hundreds of worshippers of all denominations in the Boothbay area. |
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