RUMFORD – St. Barnabas Episcopal Church celebrated its centennial Saturday, June 7, with an open house.

One hundred years ago a constitution was drawn up and construction started on the “stone church” in Rumford.

Bernard McCafferty was commissioned to build the church from a design by the Stevens Architects of Portland. McCafferty was a local illiterate man who made all his calculations by rule of thumb, using rocks from the Swift River.

In 1905, the work was completed for less than $5,000, only two years after the constitution was drawn up in 1903. Until this time people were meeting in the upper courtroom of the bank building to worship.

The first vicars, the Revs. Frederick C. Lee and Culbert McGay, served until 1915. Several others served until 1925 when the Rev. William Williams became rector. He stayed until 1932. During this time the upstairs was completed, a pipe organ was installed and several other improvements were made. The upstairs was consecrated in 1927.

Around 1947 a memorial altar stone was consecrated and in 1963 oak pews were installed as a memorial gift .

The Rev. Canon Henry A. Male, retired priest from the diocese of Bethlehem, Pa., was appointed as priest in charge in 1994. Since that time a handicapped ramp was built by vocational students of the Mountain Valley School District and an electric lift was installed with financial aid from the United Thank offering.

A new stained glass window was added in 2002 to the church’s entrance narthex doors. The window which incorporates gem stones from Perham’s in West Paris depicts the shield of St. Barnabas symbolizing the stoning of St. Barnabas. The mill is depicted as bands, the blue the river, with the sky, mountains and trees in the background. The Rev. Male designed this window as well as another one depicting the Holy Spirit in memory of Deacon Waltigney.

Many vicars have served the members and many donations have added to the completion of the historic edifice in the center of Rumford.

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