Church of Christ (Perry, Illinois) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Church of Christ
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Image of the church on the monument
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 102 Main St. Perry, Illinois |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1880 |
| Built by | E. Shonen |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| Demolished | 2014 |
| NRHP reference No. | 06000675 |
| Added to NRHP | August 8, 2006 |
The Church of Christ was a historic church building located at 102 Main Street in Perry, Illinois. This small town is in Pike County, Illinois. The church was a special landmark because of its unique style and history.
Contents
A Look at the Church's Design
The Church of Christ building was built in 1880. It was designed in a style called Carpenter Gothic. This means it looked like a grand stone Gothic church, but it was made from wood.
Building Materials and Shape
The church had one main floor and was made of wood. Its sides were covered with a special type of wood siding called 'board-and-batten'. The building stood on a strong foundation made of limestone.
The Tall Steeple
The front of the church had a tall, three-part steeple. A steeple is a tall tower that often sits on top of a church. This one had chimneys at its two corners. The steeple itself had a tower with arched windows. Above that was a section called a 'lantern' with windows that had slanted slats, called louvers. On top of the lantern was a pointy spire, which sat on a mansard roof. A mansard roof has slopes on all sides.
Entrance and Windows
The main entrance to the church was at the bottom of the steeple. It was shaped like a Gothic arch, which is a pointed arch. On either side of the entrance, there were beautiful stained glass windows. These windows had colorful designs of flowers and geometric shapes.
The church was recognized as an important historical building. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 8, 2006.
What Happened to the Church?
Sadly, the Church of Christ building no longer stands.
The Fire
On October 1, 2014, the church was struck by lightning. This caused a big fire. Firefighters from eight nearby towns rushed to help. These towns included Perry, North Pike, Griggsville, Baylis, Pittsfield, Mount Sterling, Versailles, and Meredosia.
Even with so many firefighters, they could not save the old building. The fire was too strong.
After the Fire
After the fire, the damaged parts of the church had to be taken down. The building was completely demolished. Today, the spot where the church once stood is a memorial park. There is a special historical marker there to remember the Church of Christ.
