History of the Chapel

Beginning in 1882, the South Farmington Chapel was built in stages by  South Farmington community members.  It resides on the first land sold out of  the Phelps-Gorham Purchase.  Acreage to construct the building was donated by Charles Herendeen with the restriction that if the “purpose” for the land  was no longer used for community, the land would revert back to the original owners. (The deed is still in effect today.)  The original  purpose for the building was  to teach temperance of alcohol use to school age children of all ages  and to hold non-denominational services.  Temperance classes ended after the close of  prohibition in 1932 although  services continued for decades. The building was completed in 1889. In 1895, the chapel was donated to the South Farmington Friends cemetery. 

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In 2015, a tornado destabilized the building and rendered it unsafe to occupy.  In 2017, a grassroots group of community members formed the South Farmington Friends Cemetery Association as a non-profit 501(c)3 organization to seek funds necessary to preserve the historic chapel. The organization is now in the third phase of the project. The group has received the Certificate of Occupancy from the town but still lacks the funds to install an ADA public restroom, doors and ramp.  Upon total completion, the chapel will be available for its intended purpose – community use.