READFIELD — Maranacook Adult and Community Education will host two historical presentations by local historian Dale Potter-Clark.

“Early Religion in Readfield” will begin at 9:30 a.m. Monday, April 23, at the Senior Cafe’ Maranacook Middle High School cafeteria, 2100 Millard Harrison Drive.

This Methodist meeting house was built in East Readfield in 1795 and later named the Jesse Lee Methodist Church. Today it is the oldest Methodist church still open for worship, in New England. Contributed photo

These stones mark the graves of some Packard men in Kents Hill Cemetery. They were among dozens of Revolutionary War Patriots who lived and are buried in Readfield and Winthrop. Contributed photo

Readfield was settled years ahead of the War of Independence and before the U.S. Constitution assured religious freedom. In those days the Congregational Church and Puritan lifestyle still prevailed. It was not long, however, before Baptist, Methodist and other evangelists and missionaries came into this backcountry and converted many of its fair residents. Still later the Universalists appeared, according to a news release from Potter-Clark.

Early Readfield became a hot bed of free thinkers, movers and shakers.

Potter-Clark will share information about the coming of early religions in Readfield, which was on the missionary circuit in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Methodists, Baptists, Universalists and even the Shakers impacted Readfield in its earliest days.

“Patriots of the Revolutionary War” will take place at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, at Maranacook Adult and Community Education, Maranacook Community High School, 2250 Millard Harrison Drive.

Soon after the first shot was fired at Lexington, 243 years ago, 19 men from Winthrop, ages 14 to 46, picked up arms and marched off to fight for independence, others soon followed. Some had also fought in the French and Indian War, according to the release.

Several of them were living in the part of Winthrop that later became Readfield (1791) and North Manchester (1850). Over the years, more than 90 Patriots lived in Readfield alone and many are buried here.

In this presentation those who attend will hear some of their stories. A $12.50 registration fee will help support a “Museum in the Streets” project in Readfield.

For more information, contact Potter-Clark at crossings4u@gmail.com or call 441-9184.

Related Stories