by seamensb | Sep 20, 2025 | Legends of the Hill
New Bedford is home to many historical figures and that includes our very own Sarah Rotch Arnold! Born on June 3, 1786, in Nantucket, Sarah Rotch grew up in a family whose Quaker faith and maritime livelihood anchored their lives. When the Rotches moved to New...
by seamensb | Aug 4, 2025 | Blog
This short film, produced by Wacky Hat Productions, was filmed on location at the New Bedford Port Society’s Seamen’s Bethel. Rather than serving only as a backdrop, the Bethel plays an active role in the film. Its aisles, pews, and quiet presence help anchor the...
by seamensb | Aug 4, 2025 | Blog
Within the quiet walls of the Seamen’s Bethel, stories of loss, survival, and reflection have echoed for generations. The Letter is a short film that draws directly from that legacy, using this historic space as a setting for a deeply personal journey shaped by memory...
by seamensb | Jun 20, 2025 | Legends of the Hill
Long before the Seamen’s Bethel rose above Johnny Cake Hill, one woman’s quiet conviction helped shape the moral and spiritual foundation of New Bedford itself. Mary Rotch (1777 – 1848) was born into the renowned Rotch family of Nantucket — a family whose whaling...
by seamensb | May 5, 2025 | Blog
This highlight video captures moments from the 2025 Remembrance & Blessing of the Fleet on the historic New Bedford waterfront. Community members, clergy, and members of the working waterfront gathered to honor fishermen lost at sea and to continue the...
