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 really old and important building in Atwater, Ohio, USA. It's so special that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 23, 1973. This means it's officially recognized as a historic landmark!
This church was built way back in 1841. It mixes different building styles, like the Federal and Greek Revival looks. It's also quite tall, standing over 100 feet (30 m) high!
People have been gathering here for church services since 1818. That's a very long time! Today, it's a non-denominational church, meaning it welcomes people from different Christian backgrounds. Over the years, the building has been fixed up and updated many times to keep it looking great.
Contents
Church History
Early Beginnings
The church community, called a congregation, started on March 20, 1818. It was organized by Reverend Caleb Pitkin, William Hanford, and Joseph Treat.
At first, only 11 members attended the very first service. The church was part of the Grand River Presbytery, which is a group of churches.
The next year, 22 new members joined the church. Meetings were held in the home of one of the church members.
Building the First Church
In 1822, a small brick church was built. It was located close to where the current church stands today.
The congregation met in this brick church for many years. However, by the fall of 1836, they decided they needed a bigger building.
Constructing the Current Church
Construction on the new, larger church began in 1838. The building was finished and officially opened on November 7, 1841.
Just a week later, on November 14, 1841, Reverend E. C. Sharp gave his first sermon in the beautiful new building.
Becoming a Congregational Church
After Reverend Sharp passed away, the church members made a big decision. On May 20, 1870, they voted to leave the Cleveland Portage Presbytery.
In 1871, they wrote a new set of rules for the church. This made it a Congregational church. This means the local church members have more say in how things are run.
The church was then officially named "The Congregational Church of Christ in Atwater."
Renovations and Updates
The church building has been repaired and updated many times over the years.
- 1877 Repairs: The church was repaired in 1877. This cost $1,548.01. After the repairs, it was officially opened again.
- 1896 Ceiling Change: In 1896, the plaster started falling from the inside dome of the church. So, a flat ceiling was put in instead.
- 1920 Modernization: In 1920, the basement was fixed up. It became a good place for meetings and other events. At the same time, electric lights were put in the main church area. These replaced the 16 oil lamps that used to hang from the ceiling.
- Celebration: When these updates were done, a big festival was held. Over 1000 people came, even from far away places like Fort Wayne, Indiana!
- 1933 Painting: In 1933, the church was repainted by M. C. Hall.
- 1934 Chimes: A year later, in 1934, musical chimes were installed in the church.
- 1944 Dome Restoration: Another big renovation started in 1944. The dome inside the church was brought back to its original look. Electric lights were also added in a circle around the dome.
- 1954 Re-dedication: Ten years later, on June 6, 1954, a special service was held to celebrate the restored church.
- 1960s Roof and Steeple: A new roof was put on in 1964. The tall steeple on top of the church was repaired in 1967.
- 1980 Roof: In 1980, a new asphalt shingle roof was installed.
- 2000s Major Restoration: In 2001, another restoration project began. From 2005 to 2007, the church went through a very big renovation. This project was possible thanks to a large gift from the family of a former pastor, Fred Hofer.
What the Church is Used For
- It is used as a religious building for church services and community gatherings.
