St. Saviour's Episcopal Church is the oldest, largest and tallest public building on Mt. Desert Island. The church is named for the French Jesuit Mission,
"Saint Sauveur," which was established on the island in 1613. In 1871, land was purchased, upon which the first church was constructed. It was completed in 1878 and seated 325 people.
With a large year-round congregation and summer congregations often exceeding one thousand, more space was needed and in 1885 - 1886, the original building became the
transept for the new church with a 16' radius apse and an Italian marble altar.
In 1888, Mrs. William Vanderbilt had a church hall built for the Sunday School program, and in 1900 the present chancel and
sanctuary were added. Both the Church and the Rectory (built 1899) are listed on the National Register of Historical Places.
During the following years a gate house was donated and moved to the property and larger hall was built as an addition to the Parish House. In 1985 the parish accomplished a $90,000 renovation of the 18 room rectory, followed by the refurbishing of the 10 bell carillon and the
re-roofing of all the buildings.
The Vestry established a restoration fund in 1995 to repair the historic stained glass windows. The windows most critically in need of repair have been repaired by local stained glass artisan Ann Seavey ("Hot Flash Anny's") and by New Jersey's Arthur Femenella. If you would like to learn how you can help save these beautiful windows please see the page about our windows.
In 1999, the Parish began a major repair and refurbishment project. Expected to take three years, the project has exterior and interior dimensions.
Interior work has included a wonderful new lighting system, followed shortly by a much improved sound system. Future plans include cleaning the interior stone to remove the staining caused by water seepage and the soot deposited over 50 years of a (long since retired) coal fired hot air heating system.
On the exterior, the first item was a new underground drainage system to eliminate moisture damage to the buildings. Window facings are being replaced around the Church building. Porches are being restored. The
temporary ramp to the cloister is being replaced with a landscaped walk which will rise gradually to the level of the Parish Office, and temporary ramps in the cloister are being replaced with permanent brickwork. The woodwork about the
cloister will be restored. Soon to come is refurbishment and extension of the iron fence about the property. For the first time, there will be an entrance walkway to the main doors of the church, paved with large granite blocks. The grounds, having been scoured clean by the drainage work, will be one of the last pieces to receive treatment, after the other exterior work has been accomplished. Finally, we are planning a Memorial Garden in the nook between the cloister and church building, where people may scatter the ashes of those who have gone to eternal life, and where family members may come for reflection and remembrance.
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