Landmark West Tisbury Church:
Now a Residence
Built in the Greek Revival style in 1846, the church was first known as the North Shore Charge, that being the name of the area now known as Lambert’s Cove. In 1875 it became the North Tisbury Church, then in 1895 the North Tisbury Methodist Episcopal Church and finally in 1911 it became the Lambert’s Cove Methodist Episcopal Church. In the late 1800s the church was enlarged, a belfry added and in 1881 a cast iron bell was installed.But by 2001 the congregation had dwindled to about 30 people who could no longer support the upkeep of the wooden structures and the church was sold. When the current owners bought the property in 2008, it looked like the church was still in use because the pews and hymnals were still in place. While the owners retained a few pews, they allowed past members of the congregation to take a variety of church memorabilia and donated others to the Martha’s Vineyard Museum.
The owners brought their considerable talents as architect, builder and interior architect/preservationist together to imagine an adaptive reuse for the complex. The parsonage, originally two buildings, is now a compact two-bedroom home and the church is a self-contained studio apartment.
“The restoration was one of the most challenging taken on by the team,” the owner said. “In addition to staying true to the original architecture, restoring and carefully reusing the original materials, there was the need to transition to a well-designed, comfortable and functional residence that reflected the modest luxury of Martha’s Vineyard. The parsonage, broken in to tiny spaces really required creatively pushing the boundaries of spatial constraints. Being true to current building methods and Island values, green sustainable technologies and materials were integrated wherever possible.”
The parsonage, a separate building to the left of the church that is the main residence, was reimagined with a contemporary slant. It was so badly deteriorated that a large section had to be removed but that allowed the two portions to be joined. The front façade was restored with historically appropriate energy efficient windows while the open living/dining room with vaulted ceiling and rough-hewn beams was opened in the rear to let the outdoors in with two sets of French doors leading to a granite patio and the woodlands beyond. A wood stove in the living room is perfect for chilly autumn evenings while radiant flooring and forced hot air heat and air conditioning provide year-round comfort. Half of the wooden flooring was saved from the original parsonage and reused.
An efficient, high style kitchen with European appliances, concrete countertops and island seating is a cook’s dream. A bedroom with built-in cabinets and a full bath complete the first floor.
A floating steel and wood staircase leads to the second floor private master bedroom with built-in cabinets, drawers and shelving and a full bathroom. Nautical lighting and the built-ins lend the feel of a boat to the space.
The unfinished walkout basement houses the laundry area and utilities but could provide additional living space including access through French doors to a stone terrace. Two small sheds add storage space for lawn and garden equipment and an outdoor shower is located behind one of them.
The church itself was reimagined to create a private retreat. “The church was in need of serious repair,” the owner said. “It also needed to transition from its former use to a viable residential space. The building remains original with the addition of a full bath at the rear (no plumbing was in the original building). This process required creativity, lots of research and meticulous construction.”
The church itself is an eclectic blend of old and new. The old bell, weighing more than 500 pounds, is still there to be rung but the new owners had to rebuild the belfry; over the years the weight had caused a structural failure. The missing tower cap was rebuilt based on historic photos. Roof leaks had caused some the church’s tin ceiling to rust so replacement fiberglass panels were designed from the existing pattern while the original chandelier and sconces remain.
Turning the large open space into living quarters took some design ingenuity.
The rear church wall was moved forward to create a wall of storage closets and cabinets that also hides a kitchenette. Behind it is a sumptuous but low-key marble bathroom with a glass shower and a separate round soaking tub.
The light-suffused interior with soaring ceiling height now incorporates a bedroom and living/dining room with a wood stove and surround sound music system as well as forced hot air heating and air conditioning.
“The usable original flooring was stretched creatively, by combining the salvageable remaining wide planks with the matching sub-floor discovered underneath,” the owner said. “The flooring was removed, stripped, planed and re-installed. The entire angled church floor (built to aid in viewing during services) was leveled. All flooring in the church is original to the building, including the newly added bathroom floor.” There is a new Title V septic system and new roofs on both buildings.
It’s an inspired take on historic design that blends a respect for the past with modern layouts and functions.
The owners brought their considerable talents as architect, builder and interior architect/preservationist together to imagine an adaptive reuse for the complex. The parsonage, originally two buildings, is now a compact two-bedroom home and the church is a self-contained studio apartment.
“The restoration was one of the most challenging taken on by the team,” the owner said. “In addition to staying true to the original architecture, restoring and carefully reusing the original materials, there was the need to transition to a well-designed, comfortable and functional residence that reflected the modest luxury of Martha’s Vineyard. The parsonage, broken in to tiny spaces really required creatively pushing the boundaries of spatial constraints. Being true to current building methods and Island values, green sustainable technologies and materials were integrated wherever possible.”
The parsonage, a separate building to the left of the church that is the main residence, was reimagined with a contemporary slant. It was so badly deteriorated that a large section had to be removed but that allowed the two portions to be joined. The front façade was restored with historically appropriate energy efficient windows while the open living/dining room with vaulted ceiling and rough-hewn beams was opened in the rear to let the outdoors in with two sets of French doors leading to a granite patio and the woodlands beyond. A wood stove in the living room is perfect for chilly autumn evenings while radiant flooring and forced hot air heat and air conditioning provide year-round comfort. Half of the wooden flooring was saved from the original parsonage and reused.
An efficient, high style kitchen with European appliances, concrete countertops and island seating is a cook’s dream. A bedroom with built-in cabinets and a full bath complete the first floor.
A floating steel and wood staircase leads to the second floor private master bedroom with built-in cabinets, drawers and shelving and a full bathroom. Nautical lighting and the built-ins lend the feel of a boat to the space.
The unfinished walkout basement houses the laundry area and utilities but could provide additional living space including access through French doors to a stone terrace. Two small sheds add storage space for lawn and garden equipment and an outdoor shower is located behind one of them.
The church itself was reimagined to create a private retreat. “The church was in need of serious repair,” the owner said. “It also needed to transition from its former use to a viable residential space. The building remains original with the addition of a full bath at the rear (no plumbing was in the original building). This process required creativity, lots of research and meticulous construction.”
The church itself is an eclectic blend of old and new. The old bell, weighing more than 500 pounds, is still there to be rung but the new owners had to rebuild the belfry; over the years the weight had caused a structural failure. The missing tower cap was rebuilt based on historic photos. Roof leaks had caused some the church’s tin ceiling to rust so replacement fiberglass panels were designed from the existing pattern while the original chandelier and sconces remain.
Turning the large open space into living quarters took some design ingenuity.
The rear church wall was moved forward to create a wall of storage closets and cabinets that also hides a kitchenette. Behind it is a sumptuous but low-key marble bathroom with a glass shower and a separate round soaking tub.
The light-suffused interior with soaring ceiling height now incorporates a bedroom and living/dining room with a wood stove and surround sound music system as well as forced hot air heating and air conditioning.
“The usable original flooring was stretched creatively, by combining the salvageable remaining wide planks with the matching sub-floor discovered underneath,” the owner said. “The flooring was removed, stripped, planed and re-installed. The entire angled church floor (built to aid in viewing during services) was leveled. All flooring in the church is original to the building, including the newly added bathroom floor.” There is a new Title V septic system and new roofs on both buildings.
It’s an inspired take on historic design that blends a respect for the past with modern layouts and functions.
Offered at: $1,675,000
For more information, please contact: Dee Moyer or Janet Scott
Wallace & Co. Sotheby’s International Realty
508-627-3313 • www.wallacemv.com
For more information, please contact: Dee Moyer or Janet Scott
Wallace & Co. Sotheby’s International Realty
508-627-3313 • www.wallacemv.com
