The original church building was built in 1804, with renovations throughout the years. It gained the nickname, Old Sloop, from local mariners who used the prominent steeple to guide them into port.
This church has witnessed some amazing moments in American history. One of its pastors served during both the Revolutionary and French & Indian Wars, and in 1843 the congregation supported the abolitionist movement. After the Civil War, President Franklin Pierce welcomed returning soldiers on the church’s front lawn.
Perhaps the church’s most famous story happened on September 8, 1814, when the crew of the British frigate Nymph fired a cannonball trying to silence the bell warning townspeople of the British invasion. The cannonball became lodged in the steeple, where its legacy remains today. The original cannonball is still preserved by the church, while a symbolic cannonball can still be spotted high up on the steeple—if you look closely.
We handcraft this church in 3/4" thick wood so it can sit on a windowsil, bookshelf, mantle or the trim above a window or doorway. Look for Casper, our black cat mascot, relaxing in the sun on the front steps.
