At 159 State Street in Portland, Maine, near the former Mercy Hospital campus, State Street Church United Church of Christ is known for an open and affirming congregation, a landmark red sandstone sanctuary, and worship that combines a pipe organ with contemporary music. Its story reaches back to 1852 and includes abolitionist preaching, women's suffrage activism, LGBTQ+ affirmation, and a focus on the needs of marginalized neighbors, including people experiencing homelessness and recent immigrants.
A Red Sandstone Landmark on State Street
Its most recognizable presence is its red sandstone facade and three towers, which rise above the city skyline. The structure feels imposing yet inviting, and State Street works continually to preserve it. Inside, the sanctuary, Chapel Hall, music room, and other shared rooms support worship, music, education, and community meetings under one roof.
A National Votes for Women Trail marker stands near the former church parsonage and its courtyard, recognizing the suffrage history connected with that building. The marker keeps this part of the church's civic history visible beside the sanctuary.
Justice Has Shaped State Street Since 1852
State Street Congregational Church opened its doors in 1852 as an offshoot of High Street Congregational Church. It was founded by some of Portland's most prominent families. Throughout its history, its members have both challenged and embraced the assumptions of their times, choosing to speak and act deliberately on questions of justice, dignity and community responsibility.
Before the Civil War, the pastor preached openly against slavery. State Street also lent financial support to the Abyssinian Church, identified as Portland's first Black church. In 1916, the church parsonage hosted the Maine Women's Suffrage Association meeting that launched the first suffrage referendum in Maine. These efforts placed religion and civic action together in the church's early history.
In the 1960s and 1970s, State Street sponsored The Gate, a coffee house behind the church on Congress Street. Described as a church without walls, it welcomed everyone and especially reached lonely and alienated people. The church has been open and affirming to the LGBTQ+ community since 2006. Its community focus has also included people experiencing homelessness and recent immigrants.
Membership and influence reached a peak in the 1950s. In 1960, the congregation voted to join the newly formed United Church of Christ, a denomination formed from several Christian traditions. Services were broadcast on radio through the 1980s. For years, the building also housed the 40,000-volume General Theological Library of New England and later the Portland campus of Bangor Theological Seminary. Six ministers emerged from State Street to serve churches in Maine.
Women have played a major role throughout the church's life. When the building was constructed in 1851, 38 of its 58 members were women. The State Street Afternoon Guild, founded in 1893, became the oldest continuously organized women's group in the United Church of Christ. It met on Monday afternoons from October through May and raised money for the church and its mission. Women became deacons in 1971, Ellis Bliss became the first woman elected moderator in 1977, and the Rev. Jeanette A. Good became the church's first woman pastor in 2008. The Rev. Judith Blanchard, the Rev. Constance Wells and the Rev. Elly Haney were also active ordained ministers in the church's life; Haney organized the Feminist Spiritual Community of Maine, which met weekly from its inception.
A Sunday at Ten: Arrival, Parking and Livestream
State Street is a one-way street heading south, placing the red sandstone church on the left as travelers approach. Parking is free on Sundays on either side of State Street. Except on Mother's Day and Easter Sunday, visitors may also use the Cumberland Club lot. From the church, drivers continue past it, turn left onto Spring Street, and travel about a block and a half; the lot entrance is on the left just past 129 Spring Street.
Sunday worship begins at 10:00 a.m. in the main sanctuary, and dress is casual. An usher greets arrivals and answers questions. Visitors can also complete a Connect with Us card found in the pews and leave it in the offering plate or hand it to an usher. For those joining away from Portland, the Sunday worship livestream begins at 10:00 a.m. and can also be watched later.
Classic Hymns Meet Contemporary Music
State Street describes its worship as a dynamic blend of traditional and fluid styles. Classic hymns performed on the church's pipe organ mingle with newer contemporary music on piano or through string ensembles. Different art forms are incorporated into the service, giving worship a broad and expressive character.
The service often follows the common lectionary for Bible readings. Pastor Bryan combines education with interpretation that speaks to contemporary culture and life. State Street finds power in metaphor and emphasizes interpretation rather than literalism. Its worship is intended to bring hope, humor, challenge and change to life in the present rather than concentrating only on the life to come.
Music has long been central to the church's identity. In 1892, the original Hook & Hastings organ was replaced by the present Roosevelt organ, and prominent organists have played an important role. Talented musicians from Portland have also appeared as guest artists. The pipe organ remains a defining part of a sanctuary that balances old and new in both music and worship.
Faith as a Journey, Not a Fixed Label
State Street describes itself as a progressive, diverse and inclusive congregation that provides a spiritual home for people from all walks of life. Its mission combines spiritual growth with activism for social justice, relationships with neighbors, and partnerships with other Portland-area churches and organizations with shared concerns.
The congregation regards faith as a journey rather than a fixed state of being or an absolute truth. It honors where people are in their spiritual journey and recognizes that there is much to learn from one another. State Street is open and affirming, with all people welcome. It does not believe in exclusivism, honors enduring faith traditions, and recognizes the spiritual truth of each individual while seeking to help people grow in Christ and increase their joy.
Children Move From the Service to Chapel Hall
Children of every age are welcome in the sanctuary. Pastor Bryan includes a Time for the Children each Sunday, and children may return to their seats with their families or move to Chapel Hall for activity-based Kids' Church. Nursery childcare is available for children three and under, and Christian Education Director Kaylyn Zipp meets and assists children and families. Families may also pre-register their children.
Kids' Church uses learning, curiosity, exploration and play to encourage children to ask questions, understand their world and connect creatively with faith. Safety measures include background-checked volunteers, at least one adult with each group of children, security cameras at both entrances and locked exterior doors during the service.
Groups Gather for Fellowship and Study
- Monthly Gratitude Group: Meets in the Music Room on the first Sunday from Easter through Thanksgiving, following worship at approximately 11:30 a.m. Sessions include a short reflection, guided conversation and a simple gratitude practice.
- Monthly Book Group: Meets in the Music Room on the fourth Sunday after worship. The group can also be joined virtually through Zoom.
- Young Adults Group: Brings young adults together for fellowship, worship and shared Christian life.
- Omega Women's Group: Emphasizes fellowship in the Christian life and gathers annually for an off-site retreat, usually in February.
- Omega Men's Group: Gathers to discuss God's word and consider how to apply it to daily life.
Coffee Hour follows every Sunday service, creating time for conversation and refreshments that volunteers help prepare and serve. New singers and musicians are always welcome. An education team supports children and youth, while the Mission Board focuses on needs throughout the community. Other volunteer roles include the clothes closet, music, coffee hour and livestream production.
A Building Shared With Portland
State Street shares its building with four community-oriented organizations. The church building also houses a free clothing ministry, a winter family shelter and two Narcotics Anonymous groups. Space is available to community groups, extending the church's commitment beyond worship and into practical relationships with neighbors.
The Clothes Closet operates from September through June and provides clothing, kitchen supplies, linens and small household goods to anyone in need. It has no barriers, and all are welcome. Volunteers sort donated items, greet people seeking support, display merchandise, provide a friendly face and encouragement, and transport unusable goods to other agencies.
General support keeps the church's wider ministry active and its doors open. Giving also helps meet practical needs associated with the building, including roof work, shelter work and tower repairs. Online giving to State Street Church supports these ministries along with the church's other work in and around Portland.
Weddings and Community Gatherings in Two Distinct Spaces
The Chapel Hall accommodates intimate weddings and receptions as well as dance groups, concerts, recitals, speakers, dinners and community events. It holds up to 150 guests for concerts or speaking events and 50 to 75 guests for seated receptions or dinners. The Sanctuary provides a larger setting for weddings and special events, with a stated capacity of 300 to 400 people.
Pastor, Organist and Christian Educator
Rev. Bryan S. Breault, Pastor
Rev. Bryan S. Breault has served as State Street's settled pastor since 2021. His career in outdoor ministry includes directing a retreat center in New York, serving with Outdoor Ministry for Maine UCC and working at Pilgrim Lodge. He is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community and brings that perspective to the church's pastoral leadership and open-affirming mission.
Kyle Bertulli, Organist and Music Director
Kyle Bertulli directs the church's music ministry and has served as an organist and choir director in United Church of Christ, Episcopal and Roman Catholic traditions. He has also taught general and choral music and performed as a concert organist. His academic preparation includes music education, organ performance and sacred music.
Kaylyn Zipp, Christian Education Director
Kaylyn Zipp is pursuing a PhD in Marine Biology at the University of Maine while leading State Street's Christian education. Her teaching approach emphasizes learning, curiosity, exploration and play as tools for a meaningful connection with faith. She also connects spiritual formation with personal growth, community transformation and work toward a just and equitable world.
At State Street, that combination remains central: historic music, interpretive worship, education and open affirmation meet social justice work and practical service. The red sandstone church continues to preserve its landmark building while its active congregation uses that building to strengthen relationships, honor dignity and make God's love and compassion visible within Portland.