Courtesy / Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate/The Masiello Group
The church, built in 1835, attracted at least a dozen showings.
August 15, 2023
Hampden credit union buys historic church for training and community space
Courtesy / Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate/The Masiello Group
The historic Hampden Congregational Church sold to Maine Savings Federal Credit Union, which plans to repurpose the property for its own use and for community needs.
Maine Savings Federal Credit Union has purchased the historic Hampden Congregational Church, and plans to restore the building for the needs of both the credit union and the community.
The church and an adjoining parsonage sold for $575,000, said Mary Ellen Farrell at Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate/Masiello Group. Farrell represented Hampden Congregational Church in the deal.
The credit union closed on the purchase of the property, at 101 Main Road North in Hampden, last Friday, and said the church will be renovated to its former state, creating a space open for community use.
A newer addition behind the church will be used as a training space for the growing workforce at Maine Savings. The parsonage will be renovated and provide additional space for future professional needs.
The property went under contract within a couple of months after it was listed and attracted at least a dozen showings.
The church was built in 1835 and is in good condition, she said.
“It’s a cool, old building,” she said. ”It’s a simple country church with big windows and nice pews. It’s been well cared for.”
The church sits on 0.65 acre with 103 feet of frontage on Route 1A. The original church building offers approximately 4,400 square feet, which includes the foyer, the first-floor sanctuary and below that a fully outfitted industrial kitchen and meeting room. Many church suppers were served there, and the space now houses the Hampden Neighborhood Food Cupboard.
A two-story education building was added in 1988, adding another 3,200 square feet to the church building for classrooms, offices, meeting areas and another kitchen/meeting room.
Under the main building is an unfinished basement.
A Craftsman-style parsonage, built between 1903-05, sits on a half-acre with 76 feet of road frontage, and offers approximately 1,700 square feet with a kitchen, dining room, living room, three bedrooms, 1.5 baths, family room and a laundry.
The church and parsonage are in the Penobscot County town’s historic district and the church is in the National Register of Historic Places.
Courtesy / Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate/The Masiello Group
The church has been well cared-for and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Maine Savings President and CEO Vanessa Madore said she has a personal connection to the property.
“As a child, I attended Vacation Bible School at this church, as did my husband, and we both have fond memories of our time there,” Madore said. “My personal and professional connections to this property are meaningful, and I am extremely passionate about deepening them.”
Services at the church ended in June.
The church also serves as the home of the Hampden Neighborhood Food Cupboard, which will continue operations there, according to a news release. Maine Savings participate in and contributes to the Maine Credit Union League’s Ending Hunger Campaign and partners with the Good Shepherd Food Bank, donating annually to the campaign and directly to the Hampden Food Cupboard. A Maine Savings board of directors retiree volunteers at the food cupboard.
Maine Savings was founded in 1961. It has more than 35,000 members, 11 branches and over 140 employees and branches in Bangor, Bar Harbor, Brewer, Corinth, Ellsworth, Hampden, Milo, North Vassalboro, Old Town and Portland.
Maine Savings was ranked No. 2 among the largest Maine-based credit unions in the 2023 Mainebiz Book of Lists, based on total assets of $587.8 million as of Sept. 30, 2022.
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