About Us A Word of Welcome!
Like the island of Nantucket itself, First Congregational Church has a long rich history combined with a physical beauty that has attracted people for nearly 300 years. Founded in the early 1700s, First Congregational Church has served the needs of the island community through centuries of change and stability, prosperity and adversity. Today we are a vibrant community of faith, proud of our heritage, while desiring to meet the needs of people in the twenty-first century. First Congregational Church sits high on Beacon Hill above Centre Street overlooking the town of Nantucket and Nantucket Harbor. From our church tower, on a clear day, you can see for miles the beauty of the island, harbor, and Nantucket Sound. Our congregation treasures the gift God has given us in the physical beauty of our buildings and our surroundings. We want to share our church and island with the world.
We are a church of retirees, young working families, and single adults. We include year-round and seasonal residents of Nantucket, along with regular island visitors who call our church home. Our people come from all over the United States—New England, the mid-Atlantic states, South, Midwest, and far West. As a church we’re richly diverse in our backgrounds, stories, and perspectives on life. We welcome all who live on Nantucket or find their way here.
What we have in common as a church is an openness to explore faith in the God who loves us and to learn what it means to live by the teachings of Jesus. “Grace” is a big word for us at First Congregational Church. It’s a biblical word that reminds us that life is gift from God — and that the appropriate response to a gift is gratitude.
In that spirit of gratitude, we welcome you to come worship with us. You will be warmly welcomed!
The Rev. Gary W. Klingsporn, Ph.D.
Senior Minister
