Chestnut Street Methodist Church (Portland, Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Chestnut Street Methodist Church
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Pictured in 2011
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 15 Chestnut St., Portland, Maine |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1856 |
| Architect | Charles A. Alexander |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000063 |
| Added to NRHP | October 20, 1977 |
The Chestnut Street Methodist Church is an old church building. You can find it at 15 Chestnut Street in Portland, Maine. It was built a long time ago, in 1856. This building is special because it's one of the first examples of Gothic Revival style in Portland. It's also one of the few buildings still standing that was designed by Charles A. Alexander. He was a famous architect back then. In 1977, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site. Today, it's used as a place for events.
Contents
About the Church Building
The old Chestnut Street Church is right in the middle of the city. It sits behind Portland City Hall. The building is made of brick and has brownstone decorations. Its roof is made of slate and is very steep in the middle. The foundation is also brick, covered with brownstone.
Architectural Style
The church walls have strong supports called buttresses. Between these supports, you can see tall windows with pointed tops. These are called Gothic arched windows. The front of the church looks the same on both sides. It has two towers, one on each side of the main part.
Changes Over Time
The towers used to have fancy spires on top. But these tall, pointy parts were taken off in the 1950s. This was done to make the building safer. There are three ways to enter the church. One is in the middle, and two are on the sides. All the entrances have those cool Gothic arched openings.
History of the Church
The church was built in 1856 for a Methodist group. This group had been meeting in that spot since 1808. It was the very first Methodist church to have an organ installed inside.
Designed by a Famous Architect
The building was designed by Charles A. Alexander. He created many important buildings in Portland during the 1850s. Most of his other designs have either been torn down or changed a lot. This church is also special because its early Gothic style is rare in Portland. Many buildings from that time were destroyed in a big fire in 1866.
Important Events
In 1904, an important meeting happened here. The Maine Women's Suffragist Association held their 24th yearly convention at the church. This group worked to get women the right to vote.
Modern Use
The building was fixed up and turned into a restaurant called Grace in 2009. Later, in 2019, it became a place for different events.
See also
