Calvinistic Congregational Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Calvinistic Congregational Church
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Fitchburg, Massachusetts |
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| 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 in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. It is located at 820 Main Street. This church was built in 1896. A famous architect named Henry M. Francis designed it. The building is a great example of Richardsonian Romanesque style architecture. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
In 1967, the church's group joined with the First United Methodist Church of Fitchburg. They formed a shared ministry called Faith United Parish. Since 2013, the building has been owned by the Casa De Gracia y Restauración. This name means "House of Grace and Restoration."
Contents
Discovering the Church's Design and Past
The Calvinistic Congregational Church building stands at the south end of the Fitchburg Upper Common. It is next to the city's main business area. The church is a rectangular building. It is made from red sandstone and brick. Its roof is parallel to Rollstone Street, which runs north of the building.
Unique Architectural Features
The front part of the roof has steps and a decorative top. A smaller roof section on the side also has steps. A tall tower, over 158 feet (48 meters) high, stands at the corner of the two streets. This tower has a clock, a bell area, and an eight-sided spire. Another smaller tower is at the back right of the main church area. Inside, there are five beautiful windows made by Tiffany.
How the Church Began
The church group that built this church started in 1802. They were a traditional Congregationalist group. They wanted a different church from Fitchburg's first church, which had changed its beliefs. This group built its first church in 1806. They built a larger 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.
Changes and New Beginnings
The Calvinist Congregational Church had fewer members over time. Around 1967, it joined with the First United Methodist Church. The Methodist church was previously on Fox Street in Fitchburg. Even though the groups managed themselves separately, they shared the building and the minister. The old Fox Street Methodist Church building was sold. It was later taken down.
The Building's Sale and New Owners
By 2013, the Faith United group had fewer and older members. They found it hard 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. However, the Faith United members decided to stop meeting in 2017. Faith United held its last worship service on June 24, 2018. As of August 2025, the building is still used by Casa De Gracia y Restauración.
See also
