Around 1840, the East Gray Methodists built a church about four-fifths of a mile south of the Goff house on the easterly side of what is now called Mayall Road; a small cemetery was established beside the church in the direction of North Yarmouth. And, in 1840, the society at West Gray built a church on the westerly side of the Windham Road just beyond the Robert Allen store; this building, which is shown labeled “Union Ch” on old maps, was sometimes used by other societies and for non-religious gatherings. Very little is known about the activities of the town’s Methodists over the next three decades. But records for early 1869 show that there were forty- five members; that Class Leaders were E. M. Haines at Gray Corner, Emery Allen at West Gray, and George A. Morrill at Dry Mills; that E. M. Haines was Recording Secretary; and that Emery Allen, Marshall Morse, Hiram Skillings, Daniel Doughty, E. M. Haines, John D. Anderson, and Henry Pennell were Trustees. That year, the groups decided to merge, and, to provide a central meeting place, the East Gray church was moved to Gray Corner and set on the lot beside the Baptist Church that is now occupied by the school offices. Within a year or so, the church at West Gray was sold and then moved to become an addition to the carriage and sleigh factory there. Later, the cemetery at East Gray was moved to Gray Cemetery.
As soon as the church at the Corner was ready for use, the united group proceeded to organize. A petition, dated July 10, 1869, and signed by B. F. Skillings, John D. Anderson, Ai. S. Fogg, J. Hill, and E. Buker, was submitted to Jacob Clark requesting that a meeting be called for the purpose of incorporating a Methodist Episcopal Society of the Town of Gray. In response, a warrant was issued to J. D. Anderson, who called a meeting, to be held in the Methodist Meeting House at Gray Corner on July 17, 1869. At the meeting James Clark was chosen moderator, the society was incorporated, and the following officials were elected: Clerk, John D. Anderson; Assessors, Henry Pennell, William M. Dow, and Josiah Hill; Collector, Edson Buker; Treasurer, Amos Colley; Trustees, B. F. Skillings, Emery Allen, A. M. Shaw, and L. D. King. Later that month, the church building, renovation of which had been completed, was dedicated by the Reverend Joseph Colby, Presiding Elder of the Portland District at that time. Services were held regularly in this church until 1881.
The church was moved again in 1896, this time to a lot on the eastern side of the Portland Road a little south of the South Gray Cemetery, and regular services were conducted there until 1902. There was a close association between the Gray and West Cumberland Methodists during this period, and, in 1903, services began to be held in West Cumberland. Later, the church building was sold to Elmer Graves; he converted it to a residence on the same site, and it still
serves as such.
See also East Gray Cemetery
Original East Gray Location
Mayall Road
Approximately 43.88372, -70.2928
