Congregational Church-Grand Isle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Congregational Church-Grand Isle
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | 12 Hyde Rd., Grand Isle, Vermont |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1853 |
| Architect | Aschel Hollister, John Chamberlain |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Gothic Revival |
| MPS | Religious Buildings, Sites and Structures in Vermont MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 01000224 |
| Added to NRHP | March 2, 2001 |
The Grand Isle United Methodist Church is a very old and important building in Grand Isle, Vermont. It used to be called the Congregational Church—Grand Isle. This church was built a long time ago, in 1853–54. It's a great example of a building style called Greek Revival architecture. It's also the oldest church building still standing in the town!
Even though it was first built for a group called Congregationalists, it is now used by a United Methodist Church group. Because of its history and special design, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. This list helps protect important places in the United States.
Contents
What Does the Church Look Like?
The Grand Isle United Methodist Church is in the village of Grand Isle. You can find it on the north side of Hyde Road. It's about 0.1 miles (or 0.16 kilometers) west of where Hyde Road meets United States Route 2.
Building Style and Features
The church is made of brick and has a roof that slopes down on two sides, called a gable roof. It has a big front porch, known as a portico, which is a key part of its Greek Revival style. This porch is held up by four large, round columns. These columns have special grooves called flutes.
The corners of the building also have flat brick columns, called pilasters. The front part of the roof, above the porch, is covered in wooden clapboards. In the middle of this triangular section, there's a special opening with slats, called a louver.
The Bell Tower
A tall, wooden bell tower rises from the roof. It has two main parts. The first part has flat columns and a decorated top edge. The second part is where the bells are, and it has openings with slats. On top of the bell tower is a tall, eight-sided steeple.
Some of the church windows have a pointed, arched shape, which is typical of Gothic architecture. Inside, the original wooden benches, called pews, also have these special Gothic details.
A Look at the Church's History
Religious groups started forming in Grand Isle a long time ago. The Congregationalist Society was created in 1802. Soon after, another group, the Methodists, also started up.
Working Together and Separate Buildings
At first, these two groups worked together. In 1834, they built a shared meetinghouse where they could both worship. But later, the Congregationalists decided to build their own church. This is the building we see today, which they finished in 1853–54. It was built right across the street from the shared meetinghouse.
The original Methodist church building was sold to the town in 1903. It was later taken down in 1975.
Coming Together Again
In 1919, the two church groups decided to join forces again. This building became a "union church," meaning both groups used it. Over time, the Congregationalist group became smaller. Now, the church is used only by the Methodists. It continues to be an important part of the Grand Isle community.
See also
