Christian Union Society Meetinghouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Christian Union Society Meetinghouse
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | Bayley-Hazen Military Rd., South Walden, Vermont |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1825 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000385 |
| Added to NRHP | May 23, 1980 |
The Christian Union Society Meetinghouse is a very old and important church building in South Walden, Vermont. It's also known as the South Walden United Methodist Church. This historic church was built way back in 1825. It's a great example of a building style called Federal architecture. The church is also special because it was part of a big religious movement in the 1800s called the "Age of Benevolence." Because of its history and unique style, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
Contents
What the Church Looks Like
The old Christian Union Society Meetinghouse is in a quiet, countryside area. It stands on the west side of the Bayley Hazen Military Road, north of South Walden village. This building is made of wood and has two stories. It has a pointed roof and its outside walls are covered with clapboards. The bottom part of the church is made of stone and concrete.
Unique Design Features
The church sits on a hill that slopes steeply. This makes it look like a single-story building from the front. However, the lower level is almost completely visible from the other three sides. A tall tower rises from the middle of the roof. This tower has three parts. The first part is square and has an open area for a bell. On top of that are two more parts, shaped like octagons, each getting smaller. The very top of the tower has a bell-shaped dome.
Front Entrance and Inside
The front of the church has three sections. There are windows on either side of the main entrance. The entrance itself has a small, pointed roof over it. This roof is held up by decorative brackets. The inside of the church was mostly changed during a big update in the late 1800s.
History of the Meetinghouse
This church was built in 1825. It was designed to be a "union church." This meant it served four different Christian groups at the same time. The land for the church belonged to Leonard Farrington, who was one of the first people to settle in the area.
The Age of Benevolence
Around the time the church was built, a strong religious movement was happening in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. This period was known as the "Age of Benevolence." During this time, many new churches were built all over the region. The design of the South Walden church was inspired by another church in nearby Danville, which is no longer standing.
Changes Over Time
As time went on, three of the original church groups became smaller. Eventually, the Methodists took full control of the building. The church had major updates in 1897. Later, in 1975 and 1976, more changes were made. These later changes were mainly to make the basement area more modern and useful.
See Also
