ST. Brendan's Anglican Mission ACNA

Looking for a place to worship God while visiting Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park? Won’t you take time to worship with us on Sunday amidst the beautiful landscape God has blessed us with? 

St. Brendan’s Anglican Mission, Anglican Church of North America, is blessed with the mission of serving visitors to our special place, whether just for a few days or as summer residents. 

 Olsen Chapel is a small (750sf) 1922 traditional white clap board chapel located at 176 Harbor Drive, on the eastern shore of picturesque Bass Harbor, a working fishing village, on the southern end of Mount Desert Island’s quiet side. 

 Our core team conducts the 11 am service based on the ACNA 2019 Standard Text Eucharist and the atmosphere is informal, family oriented, many casually dressed for outdoor recreation, with seating arranged to promote discussion and sharing. You will find anywhere between five and twenty-five in attendance depending upon visitation. Additional participants, shut in or living at a distance, are present via Zoom.  We encourage open conversation and fellowship both before and after the service with a brief family prayer time mid the one-hour service. Refreshments provided. 

 This service to Anglican and other similar denominations is our primary mission and attendees enjoy learning about each other’s walk of faith. Feel free to call ahead if desired and we will be expecting you. Contact: Vicar Clay Gilley 207-460-7722. vicarclay@gmail.com  

Frequently short-term seasonal visitors to St. Brendan’s Parish’s Services in Bass Harbor are ACNA Clergy and family, or those in lay ministry, on vacation. St. Brendan’s as a part of its Travelers Mission wishes to encourage Clergy and lay ministry to vacation in the Mount Desert Island area and Acadia National Park. As well worship with us on Sundays when present.

Affording vacations can be difficult for clergy and lay ministers, especially with the high cost and low availability of lodging in our area. Traditionally many visitors economize by camping. Compromising by staying in sleeping cabins in campgrounds is popular now. Therefore, our vicar has made available, for two seasons only, a 6-person Bunkhouse and its adjacent Bathhouse free of charge to visiting Clergy, Seminarians, interns, or Lay Ministry and family. Bookings are to be for one-to-two-week periods from Memorial Day to Columbus Day Weekends. Bunkhouse and Bathhouse are located at the Vicar’s residential compound in Orland Maine, 35 minutes from Acadia and Mount Desert Island. As well, it is located one hour from the highly popular and scenic Camden Maine Area with all of its shops & windjammers. 

 WE HAVE BOOKED 9 FAMILIES FROM ADLW and HAVE 8 SLOTS STILL VACANT FOR ANY  ACNA CLERGY FAMILIES

 The accommodations come with cooking, heating, refrigeration, shower, toilet facilities and are fully out fitted for a quiet and comfortable stay.   

 All that is asked for in return is that visitors participate and introduce yourselves in St. Brendan’s Sunday service with other travelers. Offers to provide teaching, preaching, testimony or music accompaniment are welcomed and encouraged when coordinated in advance, but not required. The ultimate goal is to enable ministers to receive refreshment and renewal vacationing in the gifts of God that our area holds.

 Priority booking is for Anglican Diocese of the Living Word ministry secondly to Anglican Church of North America ministry. Bookings for the 2023 season will be taken January 2, 2023 and continue until filled. For further information please contact Vicar Clay Gilley at vicarclay@gmail.com or text/voice (207) 460-7722