Trustees for the United Methodist Church in Vineyard Haven plan to restore the interior structure of the church tower, including its nearly century-old clock and brass bell.
Inside the closet of the pastor’s office at the Christ United Methodist Church in Vineyard Haven a cobwebbed wooden ladder extends up through a square hole in the ceiling.
Church bell was cast in a foundry in East Medway.
Church bell was cast in a foundry in East Medway.
On a recent afternoon, Tom Engley carefully ascended the ladder, wearing rubber boots. In the dusty, dimly lit space above, the many-wheeled mechanism of the church’s clock stood bolted to the floor. A pendulum dropped through the ceiling into the office below.
“The clock probably could work, but nobody has come up and wound it in years,” Mr. Engley said. As chairman of the trustees for the Stone Church, as it known to most Islanders, he is leading the effort to replace the roof and restore the interior structure of the church tower, including the nearly century-old clock and brass bell.
“It’s the town clock,” he said. “My mother used to look up at it from the beach to see when it was time to go home.”
He said the clock hasn’t been functional since the United Methodist congregation stopped worshipping in the church in the 1980s. Methodist congregants now meet at the Trinity church in Oak Bluffs under the leadership of the Rev. Roberta Williams, while the Stone Church is used by a congregation that worships in the Brazilian denomination, Assebléia de Deus. The church basement also houses the Island Food Pantry and Clothes-to-Go, nonprofit community programs that help people in need and operate year round.
“The food pantry has given us a great amount of energy,” Mr. Engley said.
Clock mechanism. Clock has not been working since the 1980s.
Clock mechanism. Clock has not been working since the 1980s.
And while its congregation has continued to evolve and migrate, the distinctive church and its stone tower remain an enduring landmark in Vineyard Haven.
The church was built in 1924 after a fire destroyed the previous church in the winter of 1922, according to Esther Hancock’s A History of Methodism in Vineyard Haven. The iconic facade of the new church was assembled from Island field stones. The project cost $58,367.34, according to records.
Herbert C. Hancock oversaw the project and Stephen Carey Luce was chairman of the building committee.
“I remember him from when I was a kid. He used to sit in the back,” Mr. Engley said of Mr. Luce, an influential Island financier and philanthropist. “I spent my whole childhood in this church.”
Standing by the dusty clock mechanism, Mr. Engley pointed out some rotting wood where the low ceiling of the room meets the inner wooden wall of the stone tower.
“These are original beams,” he said. Then considering the rot, he added: “I’m never quite comfortable when I’m up here.”
Islander and church trustee Tom Engley is leading the project to renovate the clock and bell tower.
Islander and church trustee Tom Engley is leading the project to renovate the clock and bell tower.
Undeterred, he climbed another ladder, situated directly above the first one and leading to another chamber above, this one dominated by a massive bronze bell. Afternoon light seeped in through the louvers and a great wooden wheel, connected by ropes to the clock contraption below, looked poised to rock the bell back and forth. Decades-old echoes were almost audible.
A chain of fish figures encircle the bell along with the words “East Medway Mass.” and “George H. Holbrook”.
“They made hundreds of bells at that bell foundry. They’re all over New England,” Mr. Engley said.
The tower, roof, clock and bell have already been assessed, Mr. Engley said, and the cost of restoring the tower is estimated at around $179,000. Mr. Engley plans to hire International Chimney Corp., the same engineering firm that relocated the Gay Head Light in 2015, to do the work.
He said the church has already received $37,500 in Community Preservation Act funds and another $25,000 that came from the estate of Island engineer George Wey. The rest will come from fundraising. Mr. Engley hopes to begin work in November.
From atop tower: the historic port of Vineyard Haven.
From atop tower: the historic port of Vineyard Haven.
Leaving the belfry, Mr. Engley climbed yet another ladder to a last cramped room, where sheet metal was pulling away from a low ceiling. He ascended a final ladder, pushing open the hatch that led to the tower’s roof. A few mossy branches and sticks fluttered down.
“Osprey nest,” he said.
Finally he emerged onto the tower roof, and looked out over the town and the water. Carefully avoiding the Verizon cellular transmitters installed there, he pointed out the open drawbridge, the schooner Shenandoah in the harbor, the ferry Governor docking at the Steamship Authority terminal, the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse across the street and the whole village of Vineyard Haven nestled neatly as it has been since the first Methodist preacher, a former enslaved person, arrived on the Island in 1787.
The view was dizzying, the history complete.
Comments
It would be wonderful to have
Christine VHIt would be wonderful to have the bell toll the hour when its fixed. We have three churches on William St and only get the occasional toll of the bell on Sundays, its a shame not to have them toll the hour every day the way they do Edgartown...
I believe the toll you hear
Barbara TisburyI believe the toll you hear comes from the First Baptist Church. Used to play chimes at 5:00 every evening there, too.
Happy to hear of the renovation at the Stone Church.
I grew up in the Stone church
Miriam Anderson Woodburn OregonI grew up in the Stone church too. I was talking to someone about sitting in the overflow room on a holiday and they not only didn’t know what or where that room was, they never saw the church full enough to need one. Mrs Hancock, my mother and some of the other members of the church did all the needlepoint at the kneeling rail, the chairs, and a few wall hangings. Such perfectly beautiful hand work done with love. If ever a church felt like home, that one is mine.
My bedroom window on William
Alan Brown Bethel, CTMy bedroom window on William Street during my school years looked out on the tower. Whenever we went off-island, I actually found it hard to sleep because the quarter-hour chimes were such a part of my life. The town feels a bit empty to me without it.
I remember the Saturday night
Charlie Cape CodI remember the Saturday night ham and bean suppers there so fondly.Everyone pitched in and had a marvelous time
great location for a webcam
charles bedfordgreat location for a webcam
I have fond memories of
Rebecca Bieber Graves Waco, TXI have fond memories of Christ Church. My dad was pastor from 1962-1966. The sound from the pipe organ, the choir, the fellowship the MYF group and so much more! Oh yes, I worked many a ham and bean supper. I always got the stage area. Thank you Mr. Engley for what you are doing. Roger Engley was good friend of mine.
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