Saint Barnabas's Church, Falmouth

Saint Barnabas's Church is a historic gem founded in 1888 by E. Pierson Beebe and his siblings as a memorial to their parents. The cornerstone of the church was laid on June 11, 1889—Saint Barnabas’s Feast Day—which inspired the church’s name. Designed by English architect Henry Vaughn, the granite structure with mountain meadow red sandstone trim was completed in June 1890. Reflecting the English village style, the church combines aesthetic charm with symbolic design elements, including a cruciform layout and a nave reminiscent of the underside of a boat, evoking early Christian worship practices beneath overturned vessels for shelter.

The church’s interior is rich with meaningful artistry, starting with the intricately stenciled chancel ceiling. Six repeating patterns, attributed to Henry Vaughn, depict key symbols of Christian faith, including the crown of thorns, Greek letters for Jesus and Christ, and instruments of the crucifixion such as the ladder and hammer. The High Altar window, crafted by Boston-based Heaton, Butler, and Byrne, illustrates the Ascension of Christ, flanked by his eleven apostles, and is the earliest of the church’s windows. The Te Deum window over the front entrance, added in 1964, commemorates Reverend Wallace, a former rector, while the stained-glass windows throughout the church were created by Charles E. Kempe’s studio in England, identifiable by the golden sheaves of wheat in the lower left corner.

The architectural and symbolic details of Saint Barnabas’s Church embody a deep connection to faith and heritage. Visitors can admire its plain walls, symbolizing Christianity’s strength and permanence, interspersed with narrow stained-glass windows that narrate biblical stories and values. From the eagle-shaped lectern inspired by verses from Isaiah to the historical lineage of Barnabas Beebe, the church offers a profound spiritual and historical experience, seamlessly blending artistry, history, and devotion.