Why a New Church Start in Mashpee

Why A New Church Start in Mashpee?

New congregations are formed when there is a new or emerging population in a region.  Many of our congregations in Massachusetts were new churches formed by existing congregations as populations shifted and grew.  In fact, we are actually re-planting a church in Mashpee.  In 1670 the Indian Church was founded by our Puritan forebears.  This church continued until 1840 when it became a Baptist congregation.  So with a new church start we would be re-claiming a tradition of a church that existed for 170 years!

There has not been a new church start on the Cape since 1927 when the West Barnstable Finnish Congregational Church was formed and there has not been a new church start in the Southeast Area since the Norwell congregation was planted in 1966.   We are long overdue for a new church start!

But why a new Church Start in Mashpee now?

• Mashpee was one of the last areas of the Cape to be developed because much of the land was in litigation for many years.
• Since the legal settlements, Mashpee has grown rapidly.  In 1990 there were just under 8,000 year-round residents.  By 2008 that will have doubled to almost 16,000!
• There is no mainline Protestant congregation in Mashpee and thus there is a great untapped mission field.
• Since many of our congregations were new church starts we would be doing the same mission for our sisters and brothers in Mashpee.

Who is moving into Mashpee?

• Many of the new people are age 55 or older and many are coming to active adult communities like Southport and New Seabury.
• Like many of this age group they have needs for fellowship, health questions, take care of elderly parents and recreation issues.
• A congregation that can reach out and meet these needs can grow and thrive.

Are there community issues a new church could address?

There are many potential issues in Mashpee that a new church start could minister to, including:

• Environmental issues due to building growth.
• Meeting the needs of economically challenged people.
• Many social service needs.
• Reaching out to the Native American people of Mashpee.

When a congregation forms it determines its own program and mission but there are many possibilities in Mashpee.

Mashpee is a mission waiting to happen!

The Mashpee Native American         UCC Congregational Church of

Meeting House which once              Norwell. The last new church start

housed a Puritan new church start.  in the Southeast Area-1966.