The Baptist Church of Greene was organized August 15, 1793, five years after the incorporation of the Town of Greene. Many of the early settlers had to travel considerable distances to the nearest church body. In 1794 a meeting house was built just west of the present fire station and, according to early church records, it was a one story building 40x36, totally unfinished inside and without heat. This building also served as a meeting house for the town from 1794 until a new town house was built in 1836. A corner of the room had a closet that held the town's powder supply which was kept under lock.
The Church ca. 1880
In 1827 after three decades of growth, it was voted to build a new church on the present location as the center of town had gravitated to what is now the Village. Its massive frame was so heavy that the workers were unable to raise the pegged walls and timbers. With the help of the shipyard at Bath the job of raising the exterior walls was completed in one day. In 1870 a cyclone blew down the steeple but was soon replaced and could be seen from several points about town. A lightning bolt during a thunder shower on May 20, 1900 struck the steeple and this lovely edifice, said to be one of the best rural churches in the Bowdoinham Association, if not the state, burned to the ground. A rapid response from the townspeople saved the Parsonage that was built in 1878 as well as much of the church furnishings including the old Communion set that was purchased in 1812. This set now resides at the Maine Historical Society at Portland.
1901 Dedication
Plans were made at once to rebuild the present church and a special service of dedication was held on June 5, 1901. Several changes and additions have taken place since that time.
The Church Today
In 1952 an addition to the rear of the church provided Sunday School classrooms from funds left by the estate of Walter Rose. In 1977 a large addition was made to enlarge the Sunday School by adding on another 20 feet which included three stories.
