History Story:
Baptists in Canton, Maine
by Malcolm Ray
(Edit: The missionaries were Vincent and Jacques Bigot.)
The average term of a pastor was 3 years.
At least 5 were “elders,” meaning they were never ordained lay preachers.
At least 5 were ordained during their term.
The building was located on Staples Hill Road. There is a small cemetery near the foot of the hill, on the right. The church was just north of the cemetery.
I don’t know if there was a connection between this E.B. Foster and the former pastor C.W. Foster. (In put welcome!)
Miss Treadwell served in 1917 and 1918. This was very unusual for an unmarried woman to be a pastor of a Baptist Church at that date.
Millard Gile was my grandfather. He served in many churches in New Hampshire and Maine for 60 years.
Some of us will remember pastor Ricker and Bolio
Pastor Arnold Hanson was installed from 1977-1983, and Robert Blue in 1984.
Charlotte Marsters and Hazel Ray were involved in many aspects of the Church, including Sunday School, vacation bible school, Ladies Aid, etc.
Rachel Ray started playing the piano in Canton when she was 15 years old. She would play for several churches continuously for the next 65 years, ending up back at Canton and then at Wayside.
Bob and June Stevens were mainstays for decades. Bob was a deacon and June a treasurer. Their daughter Robyn McClintock now keeps up the family tradition.
Jackie Conant was another that was always involved, including Sunday School, VBS, choir, and whatever needed to be done.
