Old Indian Meeting House
Encyclopedia
Old Indian Meeting House (also known as Old Indian Church) is a historic meeting house
at 410 Meetinghouse Road in Mashpee, Massachusetts
. The meetinghouse is the oldest Native American
church in the eastern United States and the oldest church on Cape Cod
.
The church was built in 1684 by Deacon John Hinckley on the site of an earlier Indian meetinghouse built in 1670. It was used by the Wampanoag Native Americans
as a Christian church. In 1717 the church was moved from its original location in the town to its current one, and the building was remodeled. The building also served as a school. In the late eighteenth century, a cemetery
("burial ground") was founded on the church grounds. The site was re-dedicated in 1923 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1998. The meetinghouse is still used by the Wampanoag tribe for services.
Meeting house
A meeting house describes a building where a public meeting takes place. This includes secular buildings which function like a town or city hall, and buildings used for religious meetings, particularly of some non-conformist Christian denominations....
at 410 Meetinghouse Road in Mashpee, Massachusetts
Mashpee, Massachusetts
Mashpee is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 14,006 as of 2010.For geographic and demographic information on specific parts of the town of Mashpee, please see the articles on Mashpee Neck, Monomoscoy Island, New Seabury, Popponesset, Popponesset Island,...
. The meetinghouse is the oldest Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
church in the eastern United States and the oldest church on Cape Cod
Cape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
.
The church was built in 1684 by Deacon John Hinckley on the site of an earlier Indian meetinghouse built in 1670. It was used by the Wampanoag Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
as a Christian church. In 1717 the church was moved from its original location in the town to its current one, and the building was remodeled. The building also served as a school. In the late eighteenth century, a cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
("burial ground") was founded on the church grounds. The site was re-dedicated in 1923 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1998. The meetinghouse is still used by the Wampanoag tribe for services.