Old North Congregational Church, Marblehead (1825)
Marblehead’s first meeting house was built in 1648, when the town was still part of Salem. In 1684, the church in Marblehead became separate from the First Church in Salem. In 1695, the original wood meeting house on Old Burial Hill was replaced by a new building on Franklin Street. A lot was purchased on Washington Street in 1821 and the current stone church building was constructed in 1824-1825. It is known as Old North Congregational Church because a separate second congregation was later formed to the south. The church originally had brown ashlar walls on all four sides, but the granite front facade was added later. The church has a golden cod weather vane. In 1969, the church’s silver, including a baptismal bowl made by Paul Revere, was stolen and eventually returned upon payment of ransom money.
Could you inform me of your Christmas service times. Night before and Christmas Day
I suspect that an early 19th c. Staffordshire blue transfer printed plate with a pattern known as “Fisherman’s Hut” could include the steeple of the Old North Church as viewed from across the Harbor from the Eastern end of Gerry Island. It would help my research and be very helpful to know of any drawings, paintings or prints exist from around the time of the churches completion in 1825 from this or a nearby vantage point.
Many thanks
Colin Knight ( President Emeritus San Francisco Ceramic Circle )