Bernardston Congregational Unitarian Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bernardston Congregational Unitarian Church
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Bernardston Congregational Unitarian Church
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 49 Church St., Bernardston, Massachusetts |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1739 |
| Architect | Connable, Samuel Jr. & Sr.; Couch, James et al. |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 93000128 |
| Added to NRHP | March 18, 1993 |
The Bernardston Congregational Unitarian Church is a very old and special building in Bernardston, Massachusetts. It's famous because it was first built in 1739, just two years after the town was settled. What makes it truly unique is that it has been moved and rebuilt several times over the years! This historic church is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. Today, its community is part of the Unitarian Universalist Association.
Contents
The Church's Amazing Journey
This church building stands in the center of Bernardston, at the corner of Church and Depot Streets. It's a two-story building made of wood, with a sloped roof and a classic look. The style is called Greek Revival, which means it has features inspired by ancient Greek temples. You can see tall, flat columns called pilasters on the corners, and a triangular shape at the top of the walls, known as a pediment.
A part of the building that sticks out slightly is the entrance, which also has these Greek-style features. Above the roof, there's a square tower. This tower has two octagonal (eight-sided) sections on top, each getting smaller. It's finished with a bell-shaped dome and a weathervane.
Inside the Church Today
The inside of the church was originally one big open space with a balcony. Now, it has two stories. The main worship area, called the sanctuary, is on the upper level. Downstairs, you'll find a room for meetings or events, called a vestry, and office spaces.
When the church was first built, the sanctuary had special enclosed seating areas called box pews and a very tall pulpit. These were changed during updates in the 1800s.
Moving a Whole Building
The church started as an early meeting house on Huckle Hill, close to where people first lived in town. In 1772, the whole building was moved about half a mile (0.8 km). Imagine that! People used large turning devices called capstans and rollers, powered by human strength, to slide the building along.
In 1791, it was moved again. This time, they took the building apart and rebuilt it on Bald Mountain Road. Then, in 1825, it was moved a third time, again by taking it apart and putting it back together at its current spot.
Changes Over Time
The church building was significantly updated in 1846. This is when it got its Greek Revival look and the tower with the bell.
The church community itself also changed over time. It began as a traditional Congregationalist group. In the early 1800s, it became Unitarian. Some members who preferred the older traditions left in 1824 to form a separate Congregational group.
See also
