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A New England Pastor Gives up his Ministry on the Sea
On the rough and rocky edge of the United States, Rev. Ted Hoskins takes his boat to as many churches as he can. When the summer people leave, there are barely enough residents to keep the churches going. With a white cross emblazoned on its side, the 72-foot boat "Sunbeam" is a church on the sea serving as second home to these weathered New England lobster men.
When Hoskins decided to retire, the Maine Sea Coast Missionary Society put out the call for anyone willing to pick up the struggle and found a young hospice chaplain named Rob Benson in Washington DC ready to uproot his wife and five-month-old baby to take over in Maine and allow Ted to return to his first love, the sea.
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Rev. Ted Hoskins walks up the hill to visit the church on Isle au Haut, an island off the coast of Downeast Maine, the day before Easter. The church isn't heated so Rev. Hoskins will lead Easter service aboard the 72 foot "Sunbeam.” -
Rev. Ted Hoskins walks past lobster traps on the dock, heading back to the Sunbeam after visiting parishioners on Matinicus, an island off the coast of Maine.
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Rev. Ted Hoskins holds an Easter service aboard the “Sunbeam” at Isle au Haut, the night before Easter. He was supposed to give the service on Easter Sunday, but weather caused the early visit. Hoskins gave five sermons on five different islands that day.
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Rev. Ted Hoskins relaxes with a book on the bridge of the “Sunbeam” as they leave the island of Matinicus, headed back to Rockland, on the mainland of Maine.
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Island people expect the unexpected in terms of weather and being on time because currents and wind can be finicky. Rev. Ted Hoskins kept a flexible schedule due to inclement weather and gave his third Easter sermon to parishioners on Monhegan Island two hours off schedule. Hoskins gave five sermons on five different islands for Easter.
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The churches on the islands are small and usually unheated and the summer people won't arrive for a couple more months. Until then, Rev. Ted Hoskins will enjoy the small, intimate, congregations. He leads a 6:30 a.m. Easter service for seven people at a small church on Monhegan Island.
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Rev. Ted Hoskins admires Christopher Sawyer's new baby, Isaia upon his arrival on Frenchboro Island for the Easter Sunday service. It would be Ted’s fourth service and fourth island on Easter.
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Because the island has an unheated church, Rev. Ted Hoskins held the service aboard the “Sunbeam” docked at Isle au Haut. He carries a stack of bibles to put away at its conclusion. Parishioners stay after the service for talk and refreshments. He was supposed to give the service on Sunday, but weather caused the early visit.
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Rev. Ted Hoskins talks to lobstermen about their fishing rights in coastal Maine as part of his duties with the Maine Sea Coast Missionary Society. Sternman Lee Runge, 24, talks to Rev. Ted Hoskins while he works aboard the lobster boat, "Perseverance” off the coast of Isle Au Haut, Maine.
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Rev. Ted Hoskins has a cup of coffee on the mainland in Camden, Maine pondering his next step as a minister and his decision to pass the torch to a younger man so he can take on more fishing advocate duties. He went to town to look after the welfare of a parishioner; meeting with a lawyer to discuss the care of a friend and resident of Matinicus, Island.
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The time had come for Rev. Ted Hoskins to introduce the islanders to their new minister. Hoskins puts up a sign next to the dock on Isle Au Haut, Maine, inviting them to a get together where he would introduce Rev. Rob Benson, the new island minister with the Maine Sea Coast Missionary Society.
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Hospice Chaplin, Rev. Rob Benson tells a friend all about his new job in Maine, while his wife Cristy tends to their new son Peter, left in mirror. The Benson's were packing up their Washington DC home to move to the coast of Maine where Rob would replace Rev. Ted Hoskins.
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Hospice Chaplin, Rev. Rob Benson makes his rounds in Washington DC and breaks the news to his patients that he is leaving to become a minister in Maine. He visits with Mrs. Rucker on Capitol Hill and prays with her one last time.
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Hospice Chaplin, Rev. Rob Benson, heads to the U.S. Supreme Court for lunch between visiting patients in Washington DC. He will be trading in the concrete landscape of DC for the rocky coast of Maine.
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Rev. Ted Hoskins meets the "Sunbeam," at the dock in Isle Au Haut, Maine to greet his replacement, Rev. Rob Benson. Rob Benson would meet his new flock.
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Rev. Rob Benson, holds his baby son Peter, while following Rev. Ted Hoskins around the “Sunbeam.” Rob feels a sense of awe around Hoskins and knows he has big shoes to fill.
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Lobsterman, Bill Clark, welcomes Rev. Rob Benson, and his son Peter, with a heartfelt talk on the dock at Isle au Haut.
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Rev. Rob Benson gets together with his new parishioners at a welcome reception aboard the Sunbeam and is greeted with warmth and suspicion. He talks to islander Kipp Quinby, 19, while Rev. Ted Hoskins talks to islanders on Isle Au Haut.
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Rev. Rob Benson stands on the deck of the “Sunbeam,” at Isle Au Haut, Maine and says good-bye to Rev. Ted Hoskins, former island minister.
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Happy to start a chapter in his life, Rev. Ted Hoskins salutes a good-bye to parishioners standing in front of the little wooden church on Frenchboro Island. The generations he has ministered to on the islands will miss him but will welcome Rev. Rob Benson.
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The parsonage on Isle au Haut has housed many ministers. Though retired as island minister, Rev. Ted Hoskins' work with area fishermen keep him involved the Maine Sea Coast Missionary Society. He eats dinner at the parsonage, with his dog "Tucky,” to keep him company.
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A lighthearted Rev. Ted Hoskins rows his skiff away from Isle Au Haut, Maine towards his boat anchored in the thoroughfare a few days after turning over his ministry to a younger man. Enjoying the extra time on his hands, he headed to the mainland to visit a former parishioner in the hospital.
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Between visiting friends and fishermen, Rev. Ted Hoskins enjoys a foggy day on the dock with some young friends. James Finney, 6, Lucy Finney, 4, Mael Drew-Morin, 7, and Kate Finney, 8, get a lesson from Ted in fishing for pollock off the dock at Isle Au Haut.
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Back home on Isle Au Haut, Rev. Ted Hoskins gets a kiss from his chocolate lab, "Tucky,” after tying his skiff to the dock.
