Congregational Church (Southbridge, Massachusetts) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Congregational Church
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Congregational Church
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 61 Elm Street, Southbridge, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1885 |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| MPS | Southbridge MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 89000591 |
| Added to NRHP | June 22, 1989 |
The Elm Street Congregational Church is a historic church located in Southbridge, Massachusetts. Built in 1885, it's a wonderful example of a building style known as High Victorian Gothic Revival. This church is so special that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. The church community, which began in 1816, is connected with the United Church of Christ.
A Look at the Church Building
The Elm Street Congregational Church stands on the east side of Elm Street. It's a single-story building made of brick. It has many fancy details typical of the High Victorian style. The church has a steeply sloped roof with decorative spires. You can also see beautiful brick patterns and stained glass windows with pointed Gothic arches.
The church has a tall tower at its northeast corner. This tower is square and has strong supports called buttresses. However, the very top parts of the tower are missing. They were blown off during a big storm called the 1938 New England hurricane. Those parts were never rebuilt. This church is the only one of its kind in Southbridge. Its brick design matches other important buildings nearby.
A Long History
The church community started in 1816. It separated from the town's first church, which included people from different religious groups. At first, the new congregation met in a hall built in 1818. Then, a new church building was constructed in 1822 at the same spot where the current church stands.
In 1884, a storm hit the area. The steeple of that 1822 church was blown onto its roof. So, the community decided to build a brand new church. The current building was finished the very next year, in 1885. It cost $17,500 to build. The church was officially opened on September 4, 1885.
Today, the minister of the church is the Reverend Kathryn Light. The church is a proud member of the United Church of Christ.
