Weddings at the Phippsburg Congregational Church (UCC)
Enter through separate doors, leave as one . . .
Welcome!
The Phippsburg Congregational Church is a beautiful and historic site much loved by its members and by the local community. First and foremost, this church is home to an active and growing Christian Community with roots dating to 1765. We share this landmark with couples who wish to be married here because it is such a hallowed place. The church is a place of worship, therefore all ceremonies here must be religious. We hold that "God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them." (I John 4:16) As you come to honor the love God has given you to share we also ask you to honor this sacred space.
The People Involved
Sherry Jacobs is our Wedding Contact, representing the church at all weddings. You will be working with her in reserving the church for your wedding date and all other aspects of the actual church building itself: viewing the church, flower drop-off, rehearsal times, and being present at your rehearsal and weddings. You may reach her at (207) 751-7116.
Our Pastor is Mark Wilson. Reserving the church does not automatically mean you have "reserved" him, so please contact him at (207) 389-1767 or at markdw@gwi.net if you require his services. He is willing to work with you as his schedule allows, but you must commit to several meetings before your service takes place. He wants to speak with you at length not just about your wedding, but about your marriage. He wants your wedding day to be as meaningful to you as your love is to each other. Therefore, if you have already have a minister who you would like to celebrate your marriage covenant, he highly encourages you to work with her/him.
Our Staff Organist is Steve Masters. (207) 386-0345 or stevemast73@aol.com We have a wonderful Allen Digital Organ and a person very capable of playing it, but reserving the church does not automatically mean you have reserved him. As with our Pastor, make separate arrangements with him if you require his services at your wedding. If you have special music that is outside the standard repertoire, please provide the Organist with this music at least one month in advance. As with our Pastor, if you have a friend who you would like to play our organ instead of our Staff Organist, please have your organist contact him to make arrangements for use of the organ. We also have a nice Steinway Grand Piano you may use for your service, as well as a CD player, cassette tape player, and microphones.
Policies, Terms, and Conditions
Parking. When the church building was completed in 1802, there was no way our forebears could have understood the need for parking. We are fortunate to now offer a parking lot across from Church Lane on the Parker Head Road that holds around 30 cars. We are also fortunate to have property that we can use for parking near the church, but it is limited to 50 cars and only to the space in the field in front of the church (around the Linden tree). Please respect the private property of the homes around the church and do not park anywhere on the east (or "river") side of the access road to the church ("Church Lane"). The church is located off a small, rural road. Especially during the summer, traffic volume on this road, for its location, is heavy. Therefore, you must contact the Phippsburg Town Hall (207) 389-2653 to arrange for the Town Constable and/or Chief of Police and an assistant to direct traffic at your wedding. You should hire these folks for at least one hour: 30 minutes before your service starts and 30 minutes afterwards. Compensation of these people is your responsibility.
Church Furnishings. The pulpit in the church is on casters and is usually moved to one side for weddings, or it may be used as a lectern for readers. We have two plant stands and two lecterns in the church which are available for your use. Hymnals are property of the church. If you find that a guest has inadvertently removed a hymnal from the church, mail it to us at the address given below. Symbols of our faith, flags and other furniture in the church must not be moved.
Photography. As a wedding is a worship service to God celebrating love, we ask that folks restrain from taking flash photographs, especially during the service itself (that is, while the bride and groom are "at the altar"). Please have your photographer/videographer check in with the presiding Pastor on this issue.
Respect for the space. Do not use confetti or rice. Do not use pins, tacks, nails, or any other objects that might mar the surfaces of the church. Smoking and alcoholic beverages are prohibited on church grounds.
Reservations. Because most of the people involved with your wedding have lives outside the church, we try to only schedule one wedding per weekend. If your date is available, you can reserve it by sending an original, signed copy of the wedding contract to Sherry Jacobs at the address listed below, along with the Church Rental Fee as a deposit. The rest of the fees are due 30 days before your wedding date. If you wish to use our Pastor and/or Staff Organist, it is highly recommended that you check their availability first before committing to the church.
Fee Schedule for the Church:
1. Those in Fellowship of the Church.
Church Rental: Free of charge
Pastor's Fee: Negotiable.
Organist's Fee: Negotiable.
Wedding Contact Fee: Negotiable.
Cleaning Fee: Negotiable.
2. Phippsburg Residents or Taxpayers Not in Fellowship of the Church
Church Rental: $250
Pastor's Fee: $175
Organist's Fee: $125
Wedding Contact Fee: $100
Cleaning Fee: $50
3. All Others
Church Rental: $500
Pastor's Fee: $250
Organist's Fee: $175
Wedding Contact Fee: $150
Cleaning Fee: $75
4. Cancellation Fee
In the event the wedding at the Church is to be canceled, the Church Rental deposit , payable to the Church, is forfeited.
Note: Please make out separate checks for these fees to the following:
Church Rental: The Phippsburg Congregational Church
Pastor (if you use him): Mark D. Wilson
Organist (if you use him): Stephen C. Masters
Wedding Contact: Sherry Jacobs
Cleaning: Marie Harvell
Contract
Click here for an easily printable copy of our Wedding Contract. Please check first with our Wedding Contact, Sherry Jacobs, to see if your chosen date is available before sending it in. By signing this contract, you agree to all of the Terms, Policies, Conditions, and Fees set forth on this website.
The Linden Tree Meeting House
Linden Tree Meeting House
In addition to offering our historic church for your wedding, we are pleased to offer the Samuel Johnson Fellowship Hall of the Linden Tree Meeting House as a place to hold your wedding rehearsal dinner, wedding reception, or just socialize and/or do final preparations before the wedding. You may use only the upstairs of the hall itself, the bathroom, and the kitchen. This new multi-purpose facility, located adjacent to the church, will seat 75 people and more for those who stand. All other church policies apply to the use of this space. For a copy of this contract that you can print out for your use, click here . . . Linden Tree Meeting House Contract
