Via Community News Service, a VTSU-Castleton internship, for The Poultney Journal
POULTNEY — Religion in Vermont varies widely from town to town. And despite being in one of the least religious states in the United States today, the little town of Poultney still acknowledges and embraces its religious roots.
Vermont currently has fewer than 19% of highly religious adults—the lowest in the nation—according to Pew Research Center.
But the historic churches in Poultney are not just places to worship. They are also used as venues for holiday events and various community gatherings, such as the annual MapleFest pancake breakfast at Poultney United Methodist Church and holiday concerts regularly held at St. Raphael’s Roman-Catholic Church.
Residents and church leaders say Poultney’s churches continue to function regularly as community spaces.
Another example is the Teacup Auction held at St. Raphael’s Roman-Catholic Church. The auction features donated gifts and has snacks and a space for the community to get together and raise money for the local community.
The town’s Welsh Presbyterian Church recently underwent much-needed roof repairs following a fundraiser last summer.
Janice Edwards, nonprofit member of the Poultney Welsh Church Preservation Alliance and Presbyterian Fellowship Inc., said she is grateful for the donations, and they will continue to upgrade the building.
“Fundraising for roof repairs has been very appreciated,” Edwards said. “A first section was repaired in the fall season (of) 2025, and more is yet to be done when funds are available.”
These historic buildings still serve as some of Poultney’s most important, although they have seen some changes over the years due to shifts in population and culture. But Poultney continues to preserve its history by keeping up the buildings for community use.
Julie Demaree, pastor of the Poultney United Methodist Church, said they have been “very community focused in the last 20 years.”
She said the congregation chooses to serve the community through shared meals, donating to local non-profits and providing help where they can.
“The original Methodist church in town was located at the current Stone Valley Arts building,” Demaree said. “The current Methodist church building was built closer to accommodate the students at the college to attend services twice a day.”
Rev. James Hogan, of St. David’s Anglican Church, said he has not noticed many significant changes over time, but he did note that many of the churchgoers at St. David’s are primarily older people, although not exclusively.
“From 2019 to today, we have lost some folks through death, relocation, and travel logistics. The demographic is mostly older people,” he said.
He said there are currently two families that attend the church regularly. Conversely, Edwards said attendance at the Welsh Presbyterian Church changes according to seasonal and community changes.
“Attendance always varies and shrinks in the winter months due to snowbirds who seek warmer climates,” she said.
She said that churchgoers tend to be between ages 30 and 85 and the number of families each Sunday is never the same.
Although they continue to grow and change with the community, Poultney’s churches still serve as important meeting areas for the community to congregate and support each other. It is not just about religion; it is about community, church community members said.