A replica of Wiscasset’s Union Church sits at Wiscasset Speedway, at 274 West Alna Road. The replica was built by longtime racer and track volunteer Bill Pierce in memory of Wiscasset Speedway owner Richard Jordan’s aunt, Edna Verney, who passed away in December 2023. (Piper Pavelich photo)
Patrons of Wiscasset Speedway may have noticed a new addition on the property during the track’s season opener at the end of April. Now calling Wiscasset Speedway home is a replica of what was once known as “the smallest church in the world,” Wiscasset’s Union Church.
The original church was constructed by the Rev. Louis W. West in 1958, and was located at the corner of Route 218 and Clark’s Point Road, near the Wiscasset-Alna town line. West, a retired Baptist pastor from Boston, Mass., performed 10 marriages and one baptism in the church before his passing in 1966, according to a statement on Wiscasset Speedway’s website.
Wiscasset Speedway co-owners Richard and Vanessa Jordan have a unique connection to the original church that drove them to placing a replica at the track – Richard’s aunt, Edna Verney.
Verney, who passed away in December 2023, was fascinated by the church and its history, and would often visit it with her children and friends. Verney dreamed that it would be rebuilt someday.
Dubbed the smallest church in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records, the building measured 31 square feet, or 7 feet by 4 1/2 feet. Unfortunately, the church lost its title to Cross Island Chapel in New York in 1990.
The church was maintained as a memorial to West after his passing, but, overtime, vandalism and general deterioration lead to its eventual demise.
Vanessa Jordan said the idea to build a replica of the church had been talked about amongst her family for awhile.
“(Verney) had always spoken about it being rebuilt,” said Vanessa Jordan. “She had all the pictures and the drawings and some measurements … When we realized time was getting short for her … That’s when we started really focusing on getting the plans.”
Longtime racer and track volunteer Bill Pierce built the replica, working on it in one of the track’s garage bays through the winter until it was finished in early April, just in time for the track’s opening day for the season.
“(Verney) knew his work and she wanted him to build it, and he had the time to build it this winter,” said Vanessa Jordan.
The track staff has received overwhelming support from the community since the replica was put in place, she said. She added the church is always open to the public.
“Lots of people have memories of it, and plan to visit if they haven’t already,” Vanessa Jordan said. “It was just important to get it back into the community.”
The church can be found along the fence between the main grandstand gate and the pit gate at Wiscasset Speedway, at 274 West Alna Road.
The original Union Church, constructed by the Rev. Louis W. West in 1958. The church was located at the corner of Route 218 and Clarks Point Road, near the Wiscasset-Alna town line. West, a retired Baptist pastor from Boston, Mass., performed 10 marriages and one baptism in the church before his passing in 1966. (Photo courtesy Wiscasset Speedway)
