The Old Whaling Church on Martha's Vineyard is a historic Edgartown landmark built in 1843. Visitor information, events, and its cultural significance.
The Old Whaling Church at 89 Main Street in Edgartown is one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in New England: a soaring 1843 masterpiece built by Methodist whaling captains at the height of Edgartown's maritime prosperity.
Table of contents [Show]
The Old Whaling Church, a great Greek Revival landmark built with whaling money in the 1840s, still anchors Main Street.
The church was built in 1843 when the original congregation of whaling captains and their families outgrew their earlier church (now Edgartown Town Hall). The architect was Frederick Baylies Jr., born in Edgartown in 1795 and Harvard-educated, who also designed multiple Edgartown public buildings. Construction was supervised by Ellis Lewis using local carpenters and shipwrights, craftsmen equally skilled in building churches and ships. The wood was brought from Maine on the vessel Rhine, captained by John O. Morse.
The façade features six massive tapered Doric columns supporting a cantilevered entablature with triangular pediment. The 92-foot clock tower is crowned with Gothic Revival elements including crenellations, rounded arches, and four spires capped with gilded acanthus leaf finials. The interior features an elegantly curved ceiling supported by massive trusses fashioned from ship-building timbers. Original whale oil lamps remain in the main hall. Seating capacity is approximately 470–500 in the sanctuary.
The island letter
Three island guides, free on arrival
The Beach Guide, The Vineyard in the Fall and Where to Stay, plus a short letter from the island when there is something worth telling.
One-click unsubscribe, and we never share your email.
The murals were originally painted by Carl Wendte, a Swiss-born artist who worked closely with Baylies and died at age 28. Margot Datz restored and recreated these murals between January 2013 and December 2022, nearly a decade of meticulous work. She worked from a single grainy photograph from c.1865, using approximately 24 shades of gray for the full-scale trompe l'oeil arch that transforms a flat rear wall into what appears to be a light-filled antechamber.
The Methodist congregation transferred ownership to the Vineyard Preservation Trust in 1980. The church now serves as a performing arts center and community event venue hosting concerts, weddings, lectures, and town meetings. The Edgartown United Methodist Church still holds Sunday morning services during summer. Ticketed events vary in price. The Vineyard Trust also offers 75-minute guided Historic Walking Tours through their Carnegie Heritage Center.
Located immediately adjacent at 99 Main Street, this Federal-style house was built c.1840 by Dr. Daniel Fisher, a wealthy whale oil industrialist who operated one of the largest whale oil processing factories in the country. The house is now used for events and is the site of the famous July 4th BBQ; see our 4th of July Edgartown Guide.
The church is part of the Edgartown Village Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. For a complete guide to Edgartown, see our Edgartown Town Guide (2026).
Island Tip of the Day · Timing
Visit Edgartown on a Tuesday or Wednesday. Same beautiful town, maybe 30% of the weekend crowds. Most restaurants have availability without reservations.
On August 19, 1991, Hurricane Bob hit Martha's Vineyard at the height of the season: 98 mph winds, 84 boats wrecked in Edgartown Harbor alone, a sloop in the Harborside Inn pool, and a false autumn by Labor Day. The story of the storm, told through an original Vineyard Gazette storm edition we found in an island thrift shop.
Inside Edgartown's 4th of July: the Main Street parade with fifes, floats, classic cars and Camp Jabberwocky, then fireworks over the harbor, with photos, video and tips for doing the day right.
Take a guided Jaws tour of Martha's Vineyard with local guide Mike Currid. Walk the real Amity Island in Edgartown and book the "Amity" Walking Tour.
A first-hand look at the Edgartown Historic Walking Tour and "Amity" Jaws Tour with Mike Currid of the Edgartown Tour Company: what to expect, what you'll learn, and how to book.
Plan a Chappaquiddick day trip: the On Time Ferry, Mytoi Japanese garden, Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge, Wasque Beach, and biking routes on Martha's Vineyard.
Every verified Jaws filming location on Martha's Vineyard. The Jaws Bridge, Edgartown town hall, Menemsha, the Orca, Bruce the shark, and Amity Week.
The free island library · 2026
Beach reports, events worth a day, ferry heads-ups. Sent when there is something worth telling. The Beach Guide, The Vineyard in the Fall and Where to Stay arrive with your welcome email.
Get the free guidesIsland prices, hours and details change often. Please verify with businesses before you go. Full disclaimer
Three free downloads · 2026
The island guides, in your inbox
The Beach Guide, The Vineyard in the Fall and Where to Stay. No spam, one-click unsubscribe.
