The church now known as the First Congregational of Gray was established over two hundred years ago. Please click on the links below to read a detailed history of our church and community:


* 1736: The township of New Boston (later Gray) is authorized. Settlement occurs slowly over the next decades due to war and hardship.
* 1774: The first Parish Church is established in the center of the settlement.
* 1812-1816: The War of 1812 and the "Year of No Summer" cause difficult conditions to all in the region.
* 1829: The Portland Road as planned will pass through the initial church building. A new building is erected at the current location a short distance from the town center.
* 1901: The church is successful at raising the funds necessary to construct a third (and current) church building. Soon after, a reed organ is also purchased and installed.
* 1912: The church becomes officially incorporated as the First Congregational Church of Gray.
* 1935: Only $381 is collected in offerings for the year. The church survives the Great Depression through careful investment by the Trustees of its endowment fund.
* 1957: The United Church of Christ is formed from a combination of Congregational and other churches.
* 1958: A church Book of Remembrance is begun, containing history, photographs and newspaper clippings.
* 1973: The Parish House (fellowship hall) opposite the church is dedicated after four years of construction.
* 1998: A new parsonage is purchased and refurbished, directly across from church.
* 2000: The church web site is established.
* 2001: In January of 2001, the church celebrated the centennial of the construction of the church building. Church history was reviewed, and greeting and visits were received from former pastors.

• Rev. Samuel Nash 1774-1782
• Rev. Samuel Perley 1784-1791
• Rev. Daniel Weston 1803-1825
• Rev. Samuel Peckham 1825-1830
• Rev. Thomas Riggs 1831-1833
• Rev. Calvin White 1833-1839
• Rev. Nathan Sheldon 1839-1943
• Rev. Allen Lincoln 1844-1859
• Rev. James Richardson 1859-1862
• Rev. Ebenezer Bean 1863-1873
• Rev. Edward Eastman 1874-1875
• Rev. Herbert R. Howes 1876
• Rev. Ebenezer Bean 1877-1893
• Rev. Henry C. Thayer 1893-1895
• Rev. Edgar M. Cousins 1896-1898
• Rev. Herbert McCann 1899-1910
• Rev. Franklin Slade 1912
• Rev. Dickson Harrison 1914
• Rev. Wellington Rogers 1915-1918
• Rev. Earle R. Steeves 1919-1924
• Rev. I. James Merry 1926-1930
• Rev. Herbert McCann 1926-1930
• Rev. J. Frank Robinson 1920-1935
• Rev. Arthur Wallace 1935-1939
• Rev. Edward White 1940-1944
• Rev. Paul Syster 1944-1946
• Rev. Richard Snyder 1946-1948
• Dr. John Willis 1948-1953
• Dr. Joseph D'Alfonso 1953-1958
• Rev. Ronald Smith 1958-1960
• Rev. Carl Hall 1960-1964
• Rev. Robert Sparks 1965-1968
• Rev. Ian Stewart 1968-1973
• Rev. Dr. John Simpson 1973-1978
• Rev. Charles H. Whiston 1978-1991
• Rev. Rick Hughes - Interim 1991-1992
• Rev. Douglas Hedstrom 1992-2007
• Rev. Nancy Salisbury 2007 -

• George T. Hill, "History, Records and Recollections of Gray, Maine", Copyright (c)1978 Willard M. Sweetser, Portland, Maine.
• First Congregational Church of Gray "Book of Remembrance"
• UCC history
• Personal recollections: Mae Beck, Margaret Sawyer.
• Research, editing: Mark D. Grover and Louise Knapp.