“Gentle, Kind, True”—that is what the icon plaque in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Nantucket reads. In the center, a picture of Mister Rogers, wearing his quintessential red cardigan, smiles. 

Fred Rogers, of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood fame, was beloved by multiple generations of American children. Before he rose to fame on public television with his gentle and thoughtful children’s programming, he trained to become a Presbyterian minister. 

Rogers summered with his family on Nantucket, living in a summer cottage in the island’s west side community, Madaket. With no Presbyterian church to attend, his family frequented St. Paul’s Episcopal on Fair Street.

To this day, St. Paul’s commemorates Mister Rogers, both as a congregant and nationally recognized neighbor to all, through this icon plaque located in one of the church’s pews.