Blooming Grove United Church of Christ facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Blooming Grove Church
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Church in 2007
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | W side of NY 94, jct. with Old Dominion Rd., Blooming Grove, New York |
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| Nearest city | Newburgh |
| Built | 1824 |
| Architect | Joseph Cromwell |
| Architectural style | Federal style |
| NRHP reference No. | 96001434 |
| Added to NRHP | December 06, 1996 |
The Blooming Grove United Church of Christ, also known as Blooming Grove Church, is a historic building in Blooming Grove, New York. It sits where Old Dominion Road meets NY 94. This church is located between the villages of Chester and Washingtonville in Orange County, New York. It is a simple white building built in the Federal style. What makes it special is that it doesn't have a tall steeple or cupola, which are common on many churches.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's Story
How the Church Began
The Blooming Grove Church started in 1758 as a Presbyterian group. They had enough members to buy land for their first meeting place the very next year. We don't know the exact spot of that first building. The group grew, and by 1823, they needed more space.
Instead of making the old building bigger, the members decided to sell it. They used the money to buy new land for a brand new church. The old building was taken down soon after. Only some of its inside wooden parts were saved.
Building the New Church
Back then, it was common for people to help pay for new buildings. Families would buy special seats called pews in their name. This made them like partners in the church. The new building was designed by an architect named Joseph Cromwell. It was quite large, about 75 feet long and 63 feet wide.
The church had a sloped floor and box pews. There was also a balcony behind the pulpit, which is where the speaker stands. The builders used a special method to support the roof. This meant the main worship area was completely open. There were no pillars or columns blocking anyone's view of the pulpit.
The church also had special seating areas for all people who attended, including those who were enslaved at the time. A local plasterer finished the walls with a unique putty-like look. He never told anyone his secret! The new church was finished and opened in 1824.
Changes Over Time
About ten years later, the church group decided to leave the Presbyterian faith. This happened after their leader, James Arbuckle, had different ideas about faith, which caused a big discussion. The church then became a Congregational church. However, it didn't officially change its name until 1871.
The inside of the church saw its only major change in 1902. A wealthy businessman from the area, David Moffat, bought a pipe organ. He bought it to honor his father, who had been the church's choirmaster. Adding the organ caused a lot of disagreement among the members. One person even tried to take legal action because their family's pew would have to be moved. But the action was later stopped.
After World War I in 1919, the church put in a stained glass "Service Window." This window honored people from Blooming Grove who had served in the military. Charles S. Whitman, who was the governor of New York at the time, came to speak at the dedication ceremony.
Modern Era and Recognition
The church joined its current type of Christian church in 1957. This happened when the Congregational Christian Churches merged with another group to form the United Church of Christ. In 1996, the church building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This made it the first and only building in the town to receive this special recognition.
