First Congregational Church of Wellfleet – Three Centuries of Community and Tradition

Standing proudly on Main Street, the First Congregational Church of Wellfleet has been part of the town’s story for over 300 years. Its white steeple, historic clock, and graceful Greek Revival design make it one of Wellfleet’s most recognizable landmarks.

A Church by the Harbor’s Edge

In 1721, the people of what would become Wellfleet decided it was time to form their own congregation. They built a modest 20-by-20-foot meeting house at Chequesset Neck, which also served as the town’s meeting space.

By 1740, the growing community moved its place of worship to a more central location at the head of Duck Creek—much closer to where the church stands today.

The 1850 Greek Revival Landmark

The current church building was completed in 1850, built in the popular Greek Revival style. It became the heart of town life, not only for Sunday services but also for meetings, celebrations, and community gatherings.

In 1873, the congregation installed a pipe organ built by E. & G.G. Hook & Hastings—an instrument still in use today. Just a few years later, in 1879, a fierce nor’easter toppled the church’s original slender steeple. It was replaced with the stronger design that still graces the skyline.

The Only Church Clock of Its Kind

In 1953, the church clock was fitted with a unique mechanism that chimes ship’s time—a centuries-old system used aboard sailing vessels to keep track of the sailors’ work shifts, or “watches.” To this day, the First Congregational Church of Wellfleet is believed to be the only church in the world with a clock that chimes this way.

Still at the Heart of Wellfleet

Today, the church remains an active part of the community, offering worship, hosting concerts, and welcoming visitors who want to experience its history, music, and charm.