(the Stone Church)
89 Williams Street
Vineyard Haven MA 02568
508.693.4424 (office)
Hours of Worship:
September - June
11 AM @ Trinity Worship Center
aka Trinity United Methodist Church
Trinity Park, across from the Tabernacle
Oak Bluffs
Summer Worship:
July & August @ 10 AM
Pastor Richard Rego 508.693.0589
Organist/Choir Director: Mr. Edward Rose
Church office: 508.693.4424
Directions:
Driving down Main Street in Vineyard Haven, take a left onto Church Street. When you get to the corner of Williams & Church Street, the Church is on your right.
Christ UMC-Mission Life Center
Pastor Richard Rego
Church History
The first Methodist to preach the Gospel on Martha's Vineyard was John Sanders - an indentured servant who was later a local pastor. The year was 1787. In 1795 Rev. Jesse Lee who founded Methodism in New England came to Holmes Hole - the head of the Harbor; Vineyard Haven. Captain William Daggett was the leader in establishing the Methodist Church in Vineyard Haven; called Holmes Hole. In 1833 the male members ot the Methodist Society met in Conference to build a Meeting House. In March of that year, the Society was incorporated and on July 11, 1833, the first Methodist Chapel was dedicated. Over the years, there was evidence the men ran the affairs of the church while the women were on fundraising committees. Their efforts were rewarded - on April 10, 1871 a new organ was purchased for $1200. From 1846 - 1863 the Sabbath School (Sunday School) flourished and there were three worship services each Sunday. Through the years the Trustees were responsible for the maintenance of the building, and the Ladies Aid committee was responsible for cleaning, furnishing and general upkeep of the parsonage at the corner of Center and Franklin Street, which was purchased from Mrs. Cordelia Luce in 1893.
In 1918, a fuel shortage interfered with all church activities; for nine weeks union services were held between the Baptist church and Methodist church. On July 12, 1921, the First Quarterly Conference adopted the official name, "Christ Methodist Episcopal Church of Vineyard Haven."
On Sunday morning, December 31, 1922, the church building was practically destroyed by a fire that started about 6 A.M., probably due to an overheated furnace. During the 1-1/2 years of reconstruction worship services were held at the Masonic Hall. Woodbury and Stuart Construction under the direction of Herbert Hancock began construction of the new church on June 1, 1923. On June 8, 1924, the new building was used for morning worship and Bishop Edwin Hughes conducted the dedicatory service on July 20, 1924. Cost of the new building as of December 13, 1925 was $58,367.34
In February 1930, Rev. Clifton Chase reported how substantial a place Christ Church held in the community. In one week the Church hosted students from Junior and Senior High Schools, adult groups, Brownies, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Men's Club, and various committee meetings - a total of 300 people used the gym (lower level) and social rooms. Christ Church hosted Mother/Daughter banquets, Father/Son banquets, youth groups from on and off island, song-fests, and other Youth Fellowship programs among various other successful endeavors.
Near the main entrance on William Street is a granite inscribed with a cross and "Methodist Episcopal Church - AD 1924." The tablet is of Westerly granite; a gift from a sister church in Westerly and lettered by granite-cutters of that church. A lead box containing many objects of interest from the Westerly church to Christ Church was placed under the stone at a later date. This was a symbol of the itinerancy system - gifts from Rev. Edgar Curry, previous pastor of Westerly Church, to Christ Church.
(Written by Esther Hancock) "And so our church stands today, mellowed with the years as stone will mellow, but upright, a beacon in our harbor sending out its message of strength, welcome, and dedication to God. We honor not only the building on its anniversary, but also the spirit exemplified by it's Pastors and congregation over the years who, despite set-backs, doubts, fire, and discouragement, continued on."
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