Episcopal Summer Chapels in Maine

Summer Chapels in Maine

A summer chapel quiz:

This summer chapel held some of its first services in an ice cream parlor.
Before it became a summer chapel this church served as a diocesan mission church for granite quarry workers.
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain took a steamer from Portland to attend the first Episcopal service at what would become this summer chapel.
At the time of its organization, this summer chapel was the only congregation in the world named after its patron saint.
This community began with a summer chapel and later developed a year round mission that became a parish in 1968. The two congregations continue to worship together.

Above are a few of the wonderful details about the 18 summer chapels in Maine that have become communities of worship and friendship over the last 125 years. Many of the chapels date from those times when the Maine coast was growing popular as a summer destination, the days when families came for the summer and when going to church meant walking there.

Today few families spend the entire summer at their second homes. The roads are paved, the cars are dependable. Still, the summer chapels continue to draw families back to mark life's milestones: weddings and baptisms, memorial services and lovely, unremarkable Sunday mornings. The connections remain for those families who have worshipped and celebrated together in places of great natural beauty and the visitors they welcome into their midst.

To read more about the summer chapels, click on the links below...

All Saints by the Sea, Bailey Island

St. Lukes, Baileyville/Woodland

St. Martins in the Field, Biddeford Pool

St. Peters by the Sea, Cape Neddick

St. Johns, Dresden

St. Philips by the Sea, Fortunes Rocks

Our Lady of the Evergreens, Harborside

Christ Church, Dark Harbor, lslesboro

Trinity Chapel, Kennebunk Beach