Congregational Church of Chelsea facts for kids
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Congregational Church of Chelsea
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Front of the church
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | Chelsea Green, Chelsea, Vermont |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1811 |
| Architect | Asher Benjamin |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Part of | Chelsea Village Historic District (ID83003212) |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000140 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 03, 1976 |
| Designated CP | September 29, 1983 |
The United Church of Chelsea is a very old and important church in Chelsea, Vermont. It stands on Chelsea Green, a central park area in the town. This church was built a long time ago, between 1811 and 1813. It is a great example of a building style called Federal architecture. Later, in the 1840s, it got some new features in the Greek Revival style.
The church was first built for a group called Congregationalists. Today, it is a "union church," which means different Christian groups use it together. It is part of the United Church of Christ. Because of its history and special design, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. This list helps protect important historical places in the United States.
Contents
What Does the United Church of Chelsea Look Like?
The United Church of Chelsea is a two-story building made of wood. It has a pointed roof and its outside walls are covered with overlapping wooden boards called clapboards. The building sits on a strong foundation made of granite stone.
The Front of the Church
The front of the church has five sections, like five windows or doors in a row. The middle three sections stick out a little bit, and they have a smaller pointed roof above them. The corners of the building have flat, column-like decorations called pilasters. These pilasters go up to a wide band of decoration called an entablature.
The Church Tower
A tall tower rises from the church roof, right where the middle section sticks out. The first part of the tower is square and has a low fence-like railing on top. Above this is an eight-sided section called a belfry. This is where the church bell would be. It has openings with slanted slats, called louvers, on four sides. A smaller eight-sided section sits on top of the belfry. It has a bell-shaped roof and a weather vane that shows wind direction.
Inside the Church
When the church was first built, it had a U-shaped balcony inside, called a three-sided gallery. But in the 1840s, during a big redesign, this balcony was changed. It was closed off to create a full second floor inside the church.
When Was the United Church of Chelsea Built?
The United Church of Chelsea was built between 1811 and 1813. It was first known as the Chelsea Congregational Church. Since then, it has been a very important building in Chelsea Village.
Who Designed the Church?
The church's design was inspired by drawings found in a book called The Architect's Companion. This book was written by a famous architect named Asher Benjamin. Many of the church's Greek Revival style additions were made in 1848.
How Did It Become the United Church?
In 1929, the Congregational church group joined together with the local Methodist church group. They formed a new group called the United Church. This new group still uses the historic building today.
See also
