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Canaan Chapel
BarringtonNH CanaanChapel.jpg
Canaan Chapel is located in New Hampshire
Canaan Chapel
Location in New Hampshire
Canaan Chapel is located in the United States
Canaan Chapel
Location in the United States
Location Canaan Rd., Barrington, New Hampshire
Area 0.5 acres (0.20 ha)
Built 1881 (1881)
Architect Perry, John Hill
Architectural style Greek Revival
NRHP reference No. 82001877
Added to NRHP March 11, 1982

The Canaan Chapel is a very old and special church building in Barrington, New Hampshire. It's also known as the Canaan Free Will Baptist Church. This chapel was built in 1881. It's a great example of a country church from the mid-1800s, even though it was built a bit later. It shows a simple style called Greek Revival. This important building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

What is the Canaan Chapel Like?

The Canaan Chapel is in the western part of Barrington. You can find it on the north side of Canaan Road, right where Canaan Back Road meets it. It's a one-story building made of wood. It has a pointed roof and its outside walls are covered with wooden boards. The building sits on a strong stone foundation.

Inside the Chapel

When you go inside, you first enter a small entrance area. There's a little room to your right. The main part of the church is a big open space, about 24 feet wide and 32 feet long. At the far end, there's a raised stage. In the middle of the stage is a raised pulpit, which is where the speaker would stand.

To the left of the pulpit, there's an old organ from 1890. It was made by the Boston Organ Company. Most of the room is filled with the original wooden benches, called pews, where people would sit.

Other Buildings at the Chapel

The property also has a horse shed. This shed was built around 1898. It was used to shelter horses when people came to church.

History of the Canaan Chapel

The Canaan Chapel was built in 1881. It is one of the few churches from that time that still stands in the area. These churches belonged to a group called the Free Will Baptists.

The Free Will Baptists

The Free Will Baptist group started nearby in New Durham in 1780. Their churches spread throughout the small towns in eastern New Hampshire. Most of their churches were built in the middle of the 1800s. The Canaan Chapel is special because it was built a bit later. However, it still has the simple Greek Revival style that you can see in older buildings.

Changes Over Time

The building has not changed much over the years. The biggest changes were adding electricity. This included changing the original light fixture. Also, the old wood stove was replaced with a newer heating system.

See Also

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