PLYMOUTH, Mass., Feb. 23, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- A historic
1897 Plymouth, MA church designed
as a memorial to the Mayflower Pilgrims and built by famed
architects Hartwell, Richardson & Driver is getting a new lease
on life. Final papers were submitted to the Plymouth Registry of
Deeds on Tuesday, February 19, 2019
making the General Society Mayflower Descendants (GSMD) sole owner
of the former First Parish Church of Plymouth.
For the past few years, large white panels have stared down at
passersby where Tiffany stained-glass windows once resided. They
had to be taken down and stored because the structure could no
longer bear the weight of them. Today, at the same time the deed
was finalized, photos of the stained-glass windows were installed
over the white panels signaling a new day for the deteriorating
historic icon. One of the many treasures in the building, all of
the stained-glass windows are from Tiffany studios and all have a
Mayflower theme. The windows in storage depict pastor John Robinson saying a farewell prayer as the
Pilgrims board the Mayflower in Holland.
To save their beloved building, the First Parish Church
congregation donated the Meetinghouse to GSMD. The society will
make it an education center to tell the Mayflower story. It is
operated by the National Pilgrim Memorial Meetinghouse Charitable
Trust, an entity of GSMD.
"Our goal is to enlighten the general public about the Mayflower
story," said Lea Filson, President,
NPMM Charitable Trust. "Those who visit will be surprised,
delighted, and entertained while gaining an understanding of how
the Pilgrims introduced civil and religious freedom to
America."
The relationship between GSMD and the Meetinghouse spans
generations. When it was first constructed in 1897, a campaign
launched by GSMD raised funds to build the Pilgrim memorial from
churches across America. The society also funded most of the
Pilgrim-related Tiffany windows as well as some furniture in the
sanctuary.
For the next year, restoration work will preserve and seal the
exterior. GSMD will then begin work on the interior at an
additional cost of $8 to $10 million dollars. Once the entire project is
complete, it will become a starting point for visitors as they
begin a journey of exploration throughout the town of Plymouth. Interactive programs, films, and
exhibits will educate the public on the Mayflower story, the town
of Plymouth, and the Mayflower
Meetinghouse.
"This iconic landmark, and the story it tells, is truly an
authentic part of American history, and a treasure we want to
share," said Governor General George
Garmany, GSMD. "While members of GSMD are honored to have
lineal descent from the Mayflower Pilgrims, we know our ancestors
are truly America's family."
In addition to colorful photos of the Robinson stained-glass
windows, two banners hang on either side. One displays the new
name, the National Pilgrim Memorial Meetinghouse (NPMM), and the
other a thank you to both the residents of Plymouth for supporting the Community
Preservation Act (CPA) and to the Fall 2018 Town Meeting
representatives for dedicating the CPA fund to restore the exterior
façade of the National Pilgrim Memorial Meetinghouse.
This is the fifth structure on the location where the Mayflower
Pilgrims built their first Meetinghouse in 1621. It sits at the top
of Leyden Street, the oldest Main Street in America.
Over a million people are expected to visit Plymouth during 2020, the 400th anniversary of
the Mayflower voyage. Today, there are over 10 million Americans
who descend from the Mayflower Pilgrims and over 35 million
worldwide.
About the National Pilgrim Memorial Meetinghouse Charitable
Trust
The National Pilgrim Memorial Meetinghouse Charitable Trust is an
entity of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants (GSMD). It
operates the National Pilgrim Memorial Meetinghouse (NPMM), located
at 19 Town Square in Plymouth, MA,
as GSMD's education center. Its mission is to teach the Mayflower
story and its importance to western civilization to all
generations. Website: http://www.SaveTheMeetinghouse.org
About the General Society of Mayflower Descendants (GSMD)
Founded in 1897, The Mayflower Society, or General Society of
Mayflower Descendants (GSMD), is a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization with national headquarters in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Membership requires proof of lineage from one of the passengers who
traveled to America on the Mayflower in 1620. Its mission is to
educate the public about the Mayflower story and its impact on
Western civilization. GSMD upholds the highest standards of
genealogy research in verifying the lineage of the Pilgrims. The
Mayflower Society operates The National Pilgrim Memorial
Meetinghouse on Plymouth's Town Square, the Mayflower Society
House, and a genealogy research library at its Plymouth
headquarters. It publishes Mayflower Families Through Generations,
also known as the "Silver Books" because of the distinctive covers.
Website: http://www.theMayflowerSociety.org;
Instagram.com/themayflowersociety; twitter.com/gsmd;
Facebook.com/GSMD
SOURCE General Society of Mayflower Descendants