Sister June Carpenter, the Oldest Shaker, Has Died

Sister June Carpenter, the oldest practising Shaker and a member of the last active Shaker community in the United States, died on 3 November aged 88. Her death leaves two practising members at Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village in Maine, drawing attention to the community’s small numbers and the challenge of sustaining its way of life.

Carpenter first visited the village in 1988 and later joined, drawn by a desire to devote her life to God. The Shakers practise pacifism, celibacy and communal living; the Sabbathday Lake community was founded in 1783 and is now supported by workers, volunteers and visitors who help maintain its farm, museum and traditions. The community says it welcomes the public, and receives as many as 70 enquiries from potential novices each year.