Unique Converted Church: History, Character, Style
Barn in Bridgton, Maine
- 8 guests
- 3 bedrooms
- 5 beds
- 2 baths
Rated 4.89 out of 5 stars.
Hosted by Kerry
- 6 years hosting
Listing highlights
A historic church turned grand retreat
A converted 1818 church with 30-foot ceilings, exposed hand-hewn beams, and stained glass accents
Concert-hall acoustics with Bose sound
A Bose sound system fills the great room, taking full advantage of the church's natural acoustics
If you're looking for something special, this is it! Enjoy the serenity and beauty of western Maine and the White Mountain region in a completely unique property that combines historic character with modern convenience and luxury. “The Church” was build in 1818 and has been updated to showcase the original post and beam construction, featuring a huge, light filled main room with 30’ ceilings, fabulous acoustics, eclectic decor and art, and a sound system that will wow any music lover.
The space
Why stay in a generic hotel or tiny inn when you could enjoy the dramatic grandeur of this unique historic property and have it all to yourself? The Church was built in 1818 and served as a congregational church until being disbanded, then used as the town garage for storing tractors, later falling into an extreme state of disrepair. In the 70’s, a seasonal visitor to the area fell in love with the bones of The Church and set about to restore it over the next two decades – redemption!
For architecture and construction lovers, we have an album on the property that documents all the renovations that took place over the past half century. The impressive double truss rafters in the great room were exposed, showcasing beautiful architectural geometry and hand hewn craftsmanship. The great room will literally take your breath away with soaring ceilings with 200 year old wood beams, and large windows on two sides that flood the room with light. Love music? The Church has an outstanding Bose sound system that takes advantage of the acoustics. Download the Bose app to your phone (instructions included after rental) to stream your own music. Enjoy the fully stocked library (is there anything cozier than sinking into a deep couch on a rainy day, reading the day away?) games for all ages, and cable TV with Roku so you can stream your own providers. You’ll be surrounded by pieces of art and history - reclaimed altar rails, rescued stained glass windows, antique artifacts, quirky accents, art and decor that is both eclectic and inviting. Belly up to the pulpit bar for an evening cocktail, or work remotely using our wi-fi internet access.
History is everywhere in the church, from the historically accurate reproduced windows and doors to the centuries old rafters marked by time. The upstairs converted choir loft features a master bedroom with king size bed, closet and reading nook, and a charming guest room with queen size bed. A third bedroom with a 4-poster queen size bed on the ground floor overlooks the back grounds. Staircases to the choir loft are narrow and somewhat steep, with one full bathroom and large soaker tub upstairs, one bathroom with shower downstairs. The kitchen features all the amenities, with updated stainless steel appliances and a light filled breakfast nook table perfect for morning coffee and keeping an eye out for our local wildlife.
The TV room has a ROKU tv, comfortable seating, and a daybed that can accommodate an extra person sleeping plus a pull out trundle bed for one more. We have a woodstove (with provided firewood) for those experienced with using wood stoves. If you’ve never used a wood stove before, this is not the time to start. A smart thermometer, mini-split for heating and cooling, and a propane heater in the mudroom provide additional heat. Our welcoming mudroom is fully finished and heated, and could accommodate an extra blow up mattress to sleep 1-2 more people if needed (please inquire as to availability).
It’s large, spacious, and like nothing you’ll find elsewhere. The property is bordered by old rock walls, mature perennial plantings, fruit trees and berry bushes, with an outdoor seating area and bubbling fountain. A tiny house on the property has an inviting deck for sipping wine in the evening, and a private space to read, write, paint, or escape to. It’s a short walk down to the local pond; you’ll also be able to have a view of the pond and surrounding mountains when the leaves fall; truly a delight for all your senses. Relax, recharge, renew, rejoice, and reward yourself with the full experience at The Church!
Guest access
The entire property, with the exception of the Tiny House loft area.
Other things to note
There is a 5" step down level change going from the Great Room towards the kitchen/TV room/choir loft portion of the house. It is marked and there is an LED lighting strip that can be turned on to make it more visible.
The space
Why stay in a generic hotel or tiny inn when you could enjoy the dramatic grandeur of this unique historic property and have it all to yourself? The Church was built in 1818 and served as a congregational church until being disbanded, then used as the town garage for storing tractors, later falling into an extreme state of disrepair. In the 70’s, a seasonal visitor to the area fell in love with the bones of The Church and set about to restore it over the next two decades – redemption!
For architecture and construction lovers, we have an album on the property that documents all the renovations that took place over the past half century. The impressive double truss rafters in the great room were exposed, showcasing beautiful architectural geometry and hand hewn craftsmanship. The great room will literally take your breath away with soaring ceilings with 200 year old wood beams, and large windows on two sides that flood the room with light. Love music? The Church has an outstanding Bose sound system that takes advantage of the acoustics. Download the Bose app to your phone (instructions included after rental) to stream your own music. Enjoy the fully stocked library (is there anything cozier than sinking into a deep couch on a rainy day, reading the day away?) games for all ages, and cable TV with Roku so you can stream your own providers. You’ll be surrounded by pieces of art and history - reclaimed altar rails, rescued stained glass windows, antique artifacts, quirky accents, art and decor that is both eclectic and inviting. Belly up to the pulpit bar for an evening cocktail, or work remotely using our wi-fi internet access.
History is everywhere in the church, from the historically accurate reproduced windows and doors to the centuries old rafters marked by time. The upstairs converted choir loft features a master bedroom with king size bed, closet and reading nook, and a charming guest room with queen size bed. A third bedroom with a 4-poster queen size bed on the ground floor overlooks the back grounds. Staircases to the choir loft are narrow and somewhat steep, with one full bathroom and large soaker tub upstairs, one bathroom with shower downstairs. The kitchen features all the amenities, with updated stainless steel appliances and a light filled breakfast nook table perfect for morning coffee and keeping an eye out for our local wildlife.
The TV room has a ROKU tv, comfortable seating, and a daybed that can accommodate an extra person sleeping plus a pull out trundle bed for one more. We have a woodstove (with provided firewood) for those experienced with using wood stoves. If you’ve never used a wood stove before, this is not the time to start. A smart thermometer, mini-split for heating and cooling, and a propane heater in the mudroom provide additional heat. Our welcoming mudroom is fully finished and heated, and could accommodate an extra blow up mattress to sleep 1-2 more people if needed (please inquire as to availability).
It’s large, spacious, and like nothing you’ll find elsewhere. The property is bordered by old rock walls, mature perennial plantings, fruit trees and berry bushes, with an outdoor seating area and bubbling fountain. A tiny house on the property has an inviting deck for sipping wine in the evening, and a private space to read, write, paint, or escape to. It’s a short walk down to the local pond; you’ll also be able to have a view of the pond and surrounding mountains when the leaves fall; truly a delight for all your senses. Relax, recharge, renew, rejoice, and reward yourself with the full experience at The Church!
Guest access
The entire property, with the exception of the Tiny House loft area.
Other things to note
There is a 5" step down level change going from the Great Room towards the kitchen/TV room/choir loft portion of the house. It is marked and there is an LED lighting strip that can be turned on to make it more visible.
Where you’ll sleep
Bedroom 1
1 queen bed
Bedroom 2
1 queen bed
Bedroom 3
1 king bed
What this place offers
Mountain view
Kitchen
Wifi
Dedicated workspace
Free parking on premises
Select check-in date
Add your travel dates for exact pricing
4.89 out of 5 stars from 19 reviews
Overall rating
- 5 stars, 89% of reviews
- 4 stars, 11% of reviews
- 3 stars, 0% of reviews
- 2 stars, 0% of reviews
- 1 stars, 0% of reviews
Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars for cleanliness
Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for accuracy
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for check-in
Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for communication
Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars for location
Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars for value
Guests mention
Where you’ll be
Bridgton, Maine, United States
This listing's location is verified and the exact location will be provided after booking.
Neighborhood highlights
The location is just slightly off the beaten path to give you a true sense of getting away from it all, but is deceptively close to popular activities and prime locations. A mudroom and two car garage accommodate winter visitors and gear with extra parking for trailers. Close to ski areas, hiking, extensive ATV and snowmobile trails, North Conway outlet shopping, Bridgton antique stores, galleries, and shops, dining, and many nearby lakes.
If quiet and solitude are your preference, bring your bikes to tour the local rural roads, hike in nearby Evans Notch, visit Pie Tree Orchard, use The Church as a base of operations to explore the many hiking trails of the White Mountains, peruse local art galleries, discover quaint towns, and enjoy local Maine and New Hampshire businesses, eateries, and breweries. See the Milky Way and stargaze (no light pollution!) while listening for the sounds of night owls from the grounds of The Church. Truly magical, you can step back in time by visiting the nearby cemetery (est. in 1811) or read up on the history of local buildings dating back to the early 1800's.
Looking for a more social experience? The Church is only 8 miles from Bridgton, ME and 23 miles from North Conway, NH.
Bridgton, ME (antiques, shopping, restaurants, hiking, lakes): 13 min (8.3 mi)
Bridgton Academy: 13 min (7.9 mi)
ATV and snowmobile trail access Sweden, ME: 4 min (0.9 mi)
Fryeburg, ME (Fryeburg fair, Fryeburg Academy): 19 min (12.9 mi)
Scenic Railway North Conway, NH: 37 min (24.4 mi)
Settlers' Green Outlet Village: 34 min (22.3 mi)
Shawnee Peak: 15 min (10 mi)
Cranmore Mountain Resort: 38 min (25.1 mi)
Jackson Ski Touring (cross country skiing): 50 min (32.9 mi)
Sunday River Resort (Newry ME) : 43 min (32.1 mi)
Story Land: 47 min (30.5 mi)
Mount Washington Auto Road (Gorham, NH): 1 hr 16 min (47.4 mi)
Attitash Mountain Resort: 50 min (33.4 mi)
Wildcat Mountain: 1 hr 3 min (42.6 mi)
Evan's Notch: 33 min (21.3 mi)
Stow Corner Store: 17 min (10.3 mi)
Krista's: 43 min (29.1 mi)
Naples Marina 25 min (16.8 mi)
Stone Mountain Arts Center (Brownfield, ME) : 33 min (22.1 mi)
Barnstormers Theater (Tamworth NH): 54 min (36.2 mi)
M&D Playhouse : 38 min (24.7 mi)
Eastern Slope Regional Airport: 26 min (17.7 mi)
Kahuna Laguna: 37 min (23.6 mi)
Kezar Lake Country Club: 9 min (5.5 mi)
Bridgton Highlands Country Club: 14 min (7.9 mi)
If quiet and solitude are your preference, bring your bikes to tour the local rural roads, hike in nearby Evans Notch, visit Pie Tree Orchard, use The Church as a base of operations to explore the many hiking trails of the White Mountains, peruse local art galleries, discover quaint towns, and enjoy local Maine and New Hampshire businesses, eateries, and breweries. See the Milky Way and stargaze (no light pollution!) while listening for the sounds of night owls from the grounds of The Church. Truly magical, you can step back in time by visiting the nearby cemetery (est. in 1811) or read up on the history of local buildings dating back to the early 1800's.
Looking for a more social experience? The Church is only 8 miles from Bridgton, ME and 23 miles from North Conway, NH.
Bridgton, ME (antiques, shopping, restaurants, hiking, lakes): 13 min (8.3 mi)
Bridgton Academy: 13 min (7.9 mi)
ATV and snowmobile trail access Sweden, ME: 4 min (0.9 mi)
Fryeburg, ME (Fryeburg fair, Fryeburg Academy): 19 min (12.9 mi)
Scenic Railway North Conway, NH: 37 min (24.4 mi)
Settlers' Green Outlet Village: 34 min (22.3 mi)
Shawnee Peak: 15 min (10 mi)
Cranmore Mountain Resort: 38 min (25.1 mi)
Jackson Ski Touring (cross country skiing): 50 min (32.9 mi)
Sunday River Resort (Newry ME) : 43 min (32.1 mi)
Story Land: 47 min (30.5 mi)
Mount Washington Auto Road (Gorham, NH): 1 hr 16 min (47.4 mi)
Attitash Mountain Resort: 50 min (33.4 mi)
Wildcat Mountain: 1 hr 3 min (42.6 mi)
Evan's Notch: 33 min (21.3 mi)
Stow Corner Store: 17 min (10.3 mi)
Krista's: 43 min (29.1 mi)
Naples Marina 25 min (16.8 mi)
Stone Mountain Arts Center (Brownfield, ME) : 33 min (22.1 mi)
Barnstormers Theater (Tamworth NH): 54 min (36.2 mi)
M&D Playhouse : 38 min (24.7 mi)
Eastern Slope Regional Airport: 26 min (17.7 mi)
Kahuna Laguna: 37 min (23.6 mi)
Kezar Lake Country Club: 9 min (5.5 mi)
Bridgton Highlands Country Club: 14 min (7.9 mi)
Meet your host
Where I went to school: Pratt Institute
My work: Artist/Designer
I'm an artist, jewelry maker, designer, coffee addict, and am slightly obsessed with color and design details. I grew up in and around Maine, discovered "The Church" during a visit home, fell in love with it, and bought it. I rented out The Church for a year before moving back to Maine, and so enjoyed being able to share the area with our guests, that we found and renovated another getaway we could share with visiting families.
Host details
Response rate: 100%
Responds within a few hours
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