Calvinistic Congregational Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Calvinistic Congregational Church
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Fitchburg, Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Built | 1896 |
| Architect | Francis, Henry M. |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000371 |
| Added to NRHP | June 15, 1979 |
The Calvinistic Congregational Church is an old church building located at 820 Main Street in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. It was built in 1896. A famous architect named Henry M. Francis designed it. This church is a great example of the Richardsonian Romanesque style of architecture in the city.
In 1967, the church's members joined with the First United Methodist Church of Fitchburg. They formed a group called Faith United Parish. The church building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Since 2013, the building has been owned by the Casa De Gracia y Restauración, which means "House of Grace and Restoration."
What Does the Church Look Like?
The Calvinistic Congregational Church building stands at the south end of the Fitchburg Upper Common. This is right next to the city's main business area. The church is shaped like a rectangle. It is built from red sandstone and brick.
The roof has a pointed shape called a gable. This roof runs parallel to Rollstone Street, which is just north of the building. The front gable has steps and a decoration at the top. A smaller gable on the side also has steps.
A very tall tower stands at the corner of the two streets. It is over 158 feet (about 48 meters) high. This tower has a clock, a bell area (belfry), and an eight-sided spire at the very top. Another smaller tower is at the back right of the church. Inside, you can see five beautiful windows made by Tiffany.
The Church's Story
The church group that built this church started in 1802. They wanted a traditional Congregationalist church. This was different from Fitchburg's first church, which had changed its beliefs. The group built their first church in 1806. They built a bigger one in 1845.
The current building was finished in 1896. The design was likely a gift from local architect Henry M. Francis. He was a member of the church later in his life. This church is one of his best examples of the Richardsonian Romanesque style. It is also one of the best examples of this style in Fitchburg.
Around 1967, the Calvinist Congregational Church had fewer members. So, they decided to work together with the First United Methodist Church. The Methodist church used to be on Fox Street in Fitchburg. Even though the two churches were managed separately, they shared the building and the minister. The old Fox Street Methodist Church building was sold. It was later torn down.
Changes Over Time: New Owners
By 2013, the Faith United group had fewer and older members. It became hard for them to keep up the building. So, the building was sold to Casa De Gracia y Restauración. This means "House of Grace and Restoration."
The three church groups continued to meet in the building for a while. But in 2017, the Faith United members decided to stop meeting. Faith United held its last worship service on June 24, 2018. As of August 2020, the building is still used by Casa De Gracia y Restauración.
See also
