Center Methodist Church

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The Center Methodist Church or Center Methodist Episcopal Church is a nationally registered historic place in Provincetown, Massachusetts at 170 Commmercial Street. The church moved to a new building in 1955.

The Center Methodist Church is the most prominent building in this part of Provincetown center.

[edit] Building of Many Lives

The building was sold to Walter Chrysler in 1958 for use as the Chrysler Art Museum. In 1978, it was sold to the Provincetown Historical Association and used for the display of town artifacts as the Heritage Museum. In 2005, the Provincetown Public Library moved into this building from another historical building (Provincetown Public Library (old)) just a couple blocks up Commercial Street.

When the church was built in 1860 it was reputed to be the largest church of Methodist denomination anywhere in the United States. It cost $22,000 to complete and could seat 900 people in the 128 pews. The original spire, weakened during the Portland Gale, was 162 feet tall and contained a huge bronze bell cast by George Holbrook in Eastmeadow, Mass., according to a history of Provincetown Methodists done in 1995 by the 200th Anniversary Committee of the modern-day Provincetown Methodist congregation. The present steeple, when it is restored, will rise only 100 feet from the ground. Even today looking from the end of MacMillan Wharf towards town, the building is one of the most prominent on the skyline.

At Town Meeting on April 2, 2001 the Provincetown Heritage Museum property was officially conveyed to the Board of Library Trustees for rehabilitation of the property as the Provincetown Public Library. After much study, the Trustees had concluded that the building could be successfully renovated and transformed into a new library for the Town. In 2002 renovations began to convert the building into the Provincetown Public Library when the Town engaged the firm of Perry Dean/Partners Architects to design the new library. The Provincetown Public Library website set forth the plans, “The interior of the building will be completely gutted, reconstructed and restored to its original design insomuch as is possible. ... Finally complying with the Massachusetts Historical Commission requirements to maintain the grand staircases and restore the vaulted ceiling in this National Historic Landmark property, the stairs will be re-railed in order to open them for use by the public, and the vaulted ceiling will be enhanced with a secondary vault to embrace and accommodate the masts of the Rose.” At last, after many long years of work, the Provincetown Public Library will officially open to the public on April 28, 2005, and this great building that has had so many lives will begin a new phase in its history.(Laurel Guadazno, "Architectural Treasure Restored", Provincetown Banner, April 28, 2005)

As of 2007, the "present" church steeple is still on the ground for renovation.

This drawing of the proposed finished design for the building's renovation is on display inside.

[edit] Clarification of Quote

Note that the newspaper article quoted above is technically incorrect because the church building is a Nationally Registered Historic Place and not currently listed as a National Historic Landmark.