Church of the New Jerusalem (Fryeburg, Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Church of the New Jerusalem
|
|
Church of the New Jerusalem
|
|
 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 12 Oxford St., Fryeburg, Maine |
|---|---|
| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1879 |
| Architect | Charles H. Kimball; Calvin Merrill |
| Architectural style | Stick/Eastlake |
| NRHP reference No. | 86001274 |
| Added to NRHP | June 13, 1986 |
The Church of the New Jerusalem, also known as The Fryeburg New Church, is a special church building in Fryeburg, Maine. You can find it at 12 Oxford Street. This historic church was built a long time ago, in 1878. It has a unique design called the Stick style. A famous architect named Charles H. Kimball from Portland, Maine designed it. Because it's so old and important, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
Contents
A Look at the Church Building
The Fryeburg New Church is a two-story building made of wood. It sits on a quiet street not far from Main Street in the center of Fryeburg. The outside walls have a special design called "board-and-batten siding." The roof is shaped like a triangle, which is called a "gable roof."
Cool Towers and Details
- There's a tall, two-story tower at one corner of the church. This tower is where the main entrance is, and it also holds the church bell.
- Another, smaller tower is on the other side of the front.
- The top part of the main tower, where the bell is, has square openings with slats. It's covered by a pointy, pyramid-shaped roof.
- The smaller tower also has a pyramid roof, but its base flares out a bit.
Fancy Woodwork Inside and Out
The front of the church, especially the triangular gable part, is decorated with lots of fancy wooden designs. These designs are typical of the Stick style. You can see:
- Pointy, arch-shaped decorations above the windows, like those found in old Gothic churches.
- Decorative brackets (supports) under the edges of the roof.
Inside the church, you'll find even more beautiful woodwork. There are special wood patterns in the ceiling, on the church pews (benches), and on other furniture. Besides the main worship area, the building also has a library, a kitchen, a pantry, and a dining area.
History of the Church
The Church of the New Jerusalem was designed by Charles H. Kimball, a well-known architect from Portland, Maine. Many people think this church is one of his best church designs.
The building was made for a group of people who followed a special Christian faith called Swedenborgianism, which is part of The New Church. The church was finished in 1879 and cost about $4,000 to build back then. This was only the third Swedenborgian church ever built in the state of Maine!
See Also
