The First Congregational Church (62 Center St, Nantucket Town, Nantucket, MA) was undergoing renovations when I was on the island. This church has welcomed visitors to the island for more than 200 years.
The original vestry was built about 1725, but dismantled and
moved to its current site in 1865. The first tower was built in 1795
and a bell was hung in the tower in 1800, the first one on the island.
The tower was removed and the church moved to the back of the property
to make room for the current church in 1834. The current tower was
added in 1968.
I couldn’t resist sketching the building surrounded by a skeleton of scaffolding. The back alley I was in had manicured topiaries and an American Flag. The grey sky let loose a light rain that sent me scurrying for cover. The rain only lasted a few minutes however, so I was able to return to my spot and finish up the sketch.
For me this was a restful day wandering the island and sketching at every opportunity. I still hoped to get to sketch the oldest house on the island which would be a short hike away. The weather cooperated allowing me to continue my day long sketch crawl in peace. My friend Glen Weimer was a consummate host taking me to the best local eateries each night. I packed a lot in to my one week on the island, getting to explore it like a local.