Church on the Hill (Lenox, Massachusetts) facts for kids
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Church on the Hill
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Church on the Hill
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| Location | Main St., Lenox, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 6 acres (2.4 ha) |
| Built | 1805 |
| Architect | Benjamin Goodrich |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Part of | Lenox Village Historic District (ID100006987) |
| NRHP reference No. | 82001894 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 30, 1982 |
| Designated CP | June 27, 2022 |
The Church on the Hill is an old and important church building located at 169 Main Street in Lenox, Massachusetts. It was built way back in 1805. This church is special because not many buildings from that time, known as the Federal period, are still standing in the area.
The church community, or congregation, started even earlier, in 1769! They are part of the United Church of Christ. The church building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. This means it's officially recognized as a very important historical place.
The Church's Design and History
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The Church on the Hill sits on a small rise at the north end of Lenox village. It is on the west side of Main Street. The church stands on a piece of land about 6 acres in size. This land also includes the town's very first cemetery.
The church is a two-story building made of wood. It has a pointed roof and its outside walls are covered with clapboards. A small entry area sticks out from the middle of the front of the church. The main door is in the center of this area. It has columns on each side and a pointed roof above it.
Above the entrance, there is a special window called a Palladian window. It has three parts. The corners of the building have decorative columns. A tall tower rises from the church. It has a square section with a clock. Above that is an open, eight-sided bell tower. This bell tower has decorated supports. On top of the bell tower is another eight-sided section. This is topped by a small dome, a decorative point, and a cross.
The church building was constructed in 1805. The architect and builder was Benjamin D. Goodrich from Richmond. He used ideas from famous designers like Asher Benjamin and Charles Bulfinch. The church was officially opened on January 1, 1806. It cost about $6,619.00 to build and furnish. The new church was built near where the town's first meetinghouse stood, which was built in 1770.
Today, the pastor of the church is Reverend Elizabeth (Liz) R. Goodman.
A painting of the church can be found in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. It was painted by Clark G Voorhees, an American Impressionist artist.
Past Leaders of the Church
Many different ministers have led the Church on the Hill over the years. Here are some of them:
- 1770-1793 Rev. Samuel Munson
- 1795-1846 Rev. Samuel Shepard, D.D.
- 1846-1854 Rev. Henry Neill
- 1854-1859 Rev. Edmund K. Alden
- 1860-1865 Rev. Reuben S. Kendall
- 1872-1873 Rev. Samuel H. Tolman
- 1874-1880 Rev. Charles H. Parkhurst
- 1880-1889 Rev. R. DeWitt Mallary
- 1890-1898 Rev. Edward Day
- 1899-1904 Rev. Frederick Lynch
- 1904-1907 Rev. Clayton J. Potter
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