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 a historic church building in Lenox, Massachusetts. You can find it at 169 Main Street. Built in 1805, it's one of the few churches from the early American "Federal period" that are still around.
The church's group, which started in 1769, is part of the United Church of Christ. The church building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. This means it is recognized as a very important historical place.
Contents
Discovering the Church's Design
The Church on the Hill stands on a small rise at the north end of Lenox village. It is on the west side of Main Street. The church sits on a piece of land about 6 acres in size. This land also holds the town's very first cemetery.
The church building is made of wood and has two stories. It has a gabled roof and its outside walls are covered with clapboards. A special entry area sticks out from the front of the church. This entry has a door in the middle, with tall, flat columns called pilasters on each side. Above the door is a triangular shape called a pediment.
Unique Architectural Features
Above the main entrance, you can see a special three-part window called a Palladian window. There is also a decorative trim with small block-like shapes, known as dentils. The corners of the building have fluted pilasters, which are like columns with grooves carved into them.
A tall tower rises from the church. It has a square section with a clock face. Above this is an open, eight-sided bell tower, called a belfry. This belfry has supports that look like paneled pilasters. On top of the belfry is another eight-sided section. This is topped with a small dome, a decorative top piece, and a cross.
Building History and Cost
The church was built in 1805 by Benjamin D. Goodrich. He was an architect and builder from Richmond. He used designs by famous architects like Asher Benjamin and Charles Bulfinch. The church was officially opened on January 1, 1806.
Building the church and furnishing it cost a total of $6,619.00. The new church was built on land near the town's first meetinghouse, which was built in 1770. The new building replaced that older one.
The current pastor of the church is the Rev. Elizabeth (Liz) R. Goodman.
Artistic Connection
A painting of the Church on the Hill can be found in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. This painting was created by American Impressionist artist Clark G Voorhees.
See also
