Union Chapel

June 24, 2021

Union Chapel Celebrates 150th Anniversary Summer

Union Chapel will open its doors for its 150th summer season on Sunday, July 4 with Swarthmore College president Valerie Smith in the pulpit.
Union Chapel
July 29, 2021

Union Chapel Organ Dedication Concert

On Wednesday, August 4, Union Chapel in Oak Bluffs is hosting a free dedicatory recital of its recently restored organ, which dates back to 1924.
Union Chapel
Organs (aerophones)
July 31, 2021

Nikole Hannah-Jones, Michael Eric Dyson Electrify Union Chapel Crowd

Louisa Hufstader
Two of the country’s most prominent black intellectuals joined forces on the stage of Union Chapel in Oak Bluffs Thursday afternoon, where an eager crowd of listeners filled the pews.
Union Chapel
August 10, 2021

From Capitol Hill to Oak Bluffs Pulpits; Finding a Way Out of No Way

Noah Asimow
On Saturday night at 10 p.m., Sen. Raphael Warnock was on Capitol Hill, fighting to pass a bipartisan infrastructure bill. On Sunday morning Reverend Warnock was preaching on Martha’s Vineyard.
Raphael Warnock
Union Chapel
Tabernacle
West Tisbury Congregational Church

1971

May 7, 1971

Union Chapel is Celebrating Its 100th Birthday This Year

Mabel Gillespie
History of the Union Chapel
Union Chapel
It was just 100 years ago that Union Chapel raised a spire 96 feet into the air. There was nothing else higher in the rapidly growing community of Oak Bluffs at the time, but a year later the Sea View Hotel was built opposite the new steamboat wharf, and one of its towers was 100 feet high with a flagstaff on its peak adding an additional 16 feet to the overall height. It stood on the bluffs, while the Union Chapel was built on lower ground. The Chapel Hill on which it was built was little more than a mound of slight elevation.
 

1958

August 8, 1958

Editorial: Item of History

Vineyard Gazette
History of the Union Chapel
Union Chapel
The Union Chapel was dedicated on Sunday, Aug. 20, 1871, and it had its first christening on Sunday, Aug. 3, 1958. We do not mean to imply that the years between these two dates were lost or without event, but only that the christening adds to a long history rather more than newer generations might suppose. The early builders and supporters of Union Chapel, and those who followed them, would be particularly proud of that christening, id they could know.
 

1931

July 17, 1931

Union Chapel Plays Big Part in Summer Life on the Vineyard

Vineyard Gazette
History of the Union Chapel
Union Chapel
Churches
To many of the summer residents of Martha’s Vineyard, Union Chapel services have become as much a part of their lives as the Vineyard itself. Each year new visitors attend the chapel and become dependent upon it for their Sunday devotions.
 

1928

August 24, 1928

Burleigh’s Compositions Heard at Chapel

Vineyard Gazette
Union Chapel
African American History

Two of the anthems sung by the Union Chapel choir last Sunday were new arrangements of Harry T. Burleigh’s “Were You There When They Crucified Him” and “Deep River.”  Mr. Burleigh, one of the country’s eminent composers, was present in the congregation. Mr. Burleigh is, as well, a noted baritone whose voice is heard over the radio from the vespers of St. George’s Episcopal Church, New York, where he is a soloist. He is a regular summer visitor to Oak Bluffs.

1871

August 25, 1871

Union Chapel

Vineyard Gazette
History of the Union Chapel
Union Chapel
The much-talked-of Dedication of the Chapel at Oak Bluffs came off last Sunday morning. The exercises opened at half past ten o’clock, Rev. Dr. Turner of Hartford, chairman of the dedicatory committee, presiding. An organ voluntary introduced the services, followed by the singing of the Credo, from La Hache’s Mass for Peace, by the Park Church choir. The other exercises then occurred in the following order: Invocation and reading of the Scriptures, by Rev. J. J. Roberts, D. D., of New York; hymn by the congregation; introductory address by Rev. Dr.
June 23, 1871

Oak Bluffs

Vineyard Gazette
Union Chapel
History of the Union Chapel
The plank walk along the edge of the Bluff has been extended 2600 feet from the wharf. About 250 yards south of the wharf the restaurant and pagoda or pavilion is to be built. Workmen are now engaged in excavating a place for the lower story. The pagoda will be large, octagonal in form, with glass sides, arranged so as to be raised or lowered. In the pagoda, through which the plank walk will run, will be seats and tables where the visitors may eat ice cream, and articles of light diet, or have a substantial meal. 200 yards further south, a bath arbor will be erected 33 by 22 feet.

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