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Vane of the Old North Church
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Written by Charles W. Brewster
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Page 2 of 3
Notes on Brewster's North Church Poem
 It may not be top-notch poetry, but this little chestnut tells a quick history
of Portsmouth from a unique perspective. Charles W. Brewster (1802-1869) is remembered
today for his two-volume collected essays about the history of his native New
Hampshire town, "Brewster's Rambles". Shy and unassuming in person, Brewster rarely traveled beyond the few city
blocks of downtown Portsmouth. He worked there for 50 years as a newspaper writer
and editor.
In "The Vane of the North Church" Brewster uses a simple poetic form to tell
his familiar history. The personified weather vane, set to come down after more
than a century atop the highest point in the city, recalls a few historic moments
it has seen. In that time, the city had changed from a British colony to a member
of the United States. New Hampshire's original State House had been built in the
center of Market Square and removed. Washington, Jones, Langdon and a series of
famous North Church ministers had come and gone. Ben Franklin had installed his
famous lightning rod. The "heathens" on the Isles of Shoals had been tamed by
Rev. Tucke. Brewster even references the famous voyage of Cap. James Cook, whose
famous ship HM Endeavour has been reconstructed and scheduled to tour the city
as part of the city's 375th Anniversary Celebration, the logo of which depicts
the famous steeple.
Today the North Church steeple is again in the news. The 150-foot spire has grown
weak, discolored and is badly in need of costly renovation. At this writing, the
church has a number of architects studying the problems. --- JDR
History of the North Church
The first church was a Meeting House erected near the junction of South and Marcy
Streets about 1657. In 1671, under the name of "The Church of Christ in Portsmouth",
the church was formally organized.
The first building was erected on the present site in 1714. It was a three-decker,
in the second gallery of which worshiped slaves and servants. Noted worshippers
in this edifice were General William Whipple, a signer of the Declaration of Independence,
John Langdon, a signer of the Constitution of the United States, Daniel Webster
and John Paul Jones.
Some parishioners preferred to remain at the former location where they incorporated
themselves into the South Parish, now the Unitarian Church. The older organization
retained its original name, but by custom it assumed the name of the First or
North Parish in Portsmouth under which title, it was formally incorporated in
1791.
About this time the so-called schism developed in New England Congregationalism.
In an endeavor to avoid the loss of church property through such a division, and
to provide more adequately for the administration of trust funds, a corporation
known as "North Church of Portsmouth" was formed in 1816 by action of the legislature.
The building was renovated in 1837 and changed to a two-story structure. Because
fashions were changing around it, the building was torn down and the present edifice
constructed and ready for dedication on November 1, 1855.
- Text courtesy of the North Church
Original commentary copyright ©1998 SeacoastNH.com. All rights reserved
CONTINUE to see RESTORED VANE 2007
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| Saturday, November 21, 2009 |
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