Congregational Church of Edgecomb facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Congregational Church of Edgecomb
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Location | 15 Cross Point Rd., North Edgecomb, Maine |
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Area | 3.5 acres (1.4 ha) |
Built | 1877 |
Architect | Decker, William H. |
NRHP reference No. | 87000923 |
Added to NRHP | June 12, 1987 |
The Edgecomb Community Church, originally known as the Congregational Church of Edgecomb, is a very old and special building. You can find it at 15 Cross Point Road in North Edgecomb, Maine. This church was built in 1877, making it a great example of how churches looked in the 1800s. Because of its history and beauty, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. The church community started way back in 1783 and is part of the United Church of Christ.
Contents
About the Church Building
The Edgecomb Community Church is in northern Edgecomb. It sits on the west side of Cross Point Road. This road is just a short distance south of where it meets Eddy Road.
What the Church Looks Like
The church is a one-story building made of wood. It has a pointed roof and its outside walls are covered with clapboards. The building rests on a strong brick foundation.
The Tower and Windows
A tall tower sticks out from the front of the church, which faces east. The main entrance is at the bottom of this tower. Above the entrance, there is a special window with a rounded top, like an arch. This is called a Palladian-style window.
The top part of the tower is an open bell tower, called a belfry. It has rounded arch openings where the bells would be. The very top of the tower is an eight-sided steeple. On either side of the tower, there are narrow windows with rounded tops. The sides of the church also have wider windows that are shaped with rounded arches.
Inside the Church
When you go inside the church, you can still see many of its original features. The wooden parts are still there, just as they were when the church was built. There are also chandeliers that used to hold oil lamps. These have been changed to use electric lights now.
History of the Church Community
The first records about the Edgecomb church community go back to 1783. That's a very long time ago! For many years, the church members met in the town hall.
Meeting Places Over Time
They continued to meet in the town hall until around the time of the American Civil War. After that, they used a school building for their gatherings. This continued until the current church building was finished in 1881.
Unique Design Features
The church building has rounded arch windows. This was a bit unusual for rural churches in Maine during that time. Most other churches built then had different window shapes. This makes the Edgecomb Community Church special and unique.