tales of old Ipswich
During the tragic fire of the Old North Church in June of 1965. I heard one person comment: "I hope they are able to save the pulpit and sounding board in the steeple.''
Whoever heard of a pulpit in a steeple? But there was a pulpit in the scorched steeple and it all started back in 1749 when the third church on the hill was erected (the present church is the fifth).
A local carpenter, Abraham Knowlton. built a pulpit, which was considered a masterpiece, and sounding board. They were completely hand-carved. The pulpit was about six feet tall and overhead was the sounding board. It is said that a church in Boston copied the plan.
The pulpit and sounding board remained in the church until it was razed to build the Old North Church in I846. The plan for the new
church differed in style and the pulpit and sounding board were not included. However. there was great sentiment attached to the pulpit and the people wanted to save it.The only place the items could be stored was in the belfry of the new church steeple. Before the steeple was boarded in, the pulpit and sounding board were lifted up into the belfry, where they remained until the church burned in 1965. Fortunately, item was seriously damaged.
They were moved to the chapel across the green, where they remain and can be seen today.
What will finally become of the items no one knows. But perhaps when the present sanctuary and other rooms are finished. a historical room may be found where the pulpit and sounding board can be permanently housed.—HAROLD D. BOWEN