Atwater Congregational Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Atwater Congregational Church
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September 28, 2009
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | Atwater, Ohio |
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| Architect | Simeon Porter |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Gothic Revival and Other |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001517 |
| Added to NRHP | 1973-02-23 |
The Atwater Congregational Church is a very old and important building in Atwater, Ohio, United States. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 23, 1973. This means it's officially recognized as a special historic site. The church was built in 1841. It mixes different styles of architecture, like Federal and Greek Revival. This tall church, over 100 feet (about 30 meters) high, has been home to a church group since 1818. Even today, the congregation still meets there, now as a non-denominational church. Over the years, the building has been repaired and updated many times.
Contents
History of the Atwater Church
Starting the Church Group
The church group, called a congregation, began on March 20, 1818. Reverend Caleb Pitkin, William Hanford, and Joseph Treat helped start it. They held their first service with 11 members. The next year, 22 new members joined. At first, they met in a member's home.
In 1822, a small brick church was built nearby. The group met there for several years. By the fall of 1836, they decided they needed a bigger building.
Building the Current Church
Construction on the new, larger church began in 1838. The building was finished and officially opened on November 7, 1841. A week later, on November 14, 1841, Reverend E. C. Sharp gave his first sermon in the new church.
Changes Over the Years
After Reverend Sharp passed away, the church group voted to become a Congregational church on May 20, 1870. They wrote a new set of rules in 1871. The church was then called "The Congregational Church of Christ in Atwater."
In 1877, the church building was repaired. This cost about $1,548.01. In 1896, plaster started falling from the inside dome. So, a flat ceiling was put in instead.
Modern Updates and Restorations
In 1920, the basement was updated. This made it good for meetings and other events. At the same time, electric lights were put in the main church area. These replaced 16 old oil lamps. When the updates were done, a big festival was held. Over 1000 people came, some from far away.
The church was repainted in 1933. A year later, chimes were installed. Another big renovation started in 1944. The dome was fixed, and electric lights were put in a circle around it. A special service was held on June 6, 1954, to celebrate these updates.
A new roof was put on in 1964. The tall steeple was repaired in 1967. In 1980, another new roof was installed.
More restoration work began in 2001. From 2005 to 2007, the church had a major renovation. A large gift from the estate of a former pastor, Fred Hofer, helped pay for this work.
Historic Uses
- Religious structure
