Deering Memorial United Methodist Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Deering Memorial United Methodist Church
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 39 Main St., Paris, Maine |
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| Area | 0.2 acres (0.081 ha) |
| Built | 1911 |
| Architect | Sidney Badgley and William H. Nicklas; Littlefield, E.A. (contractor) |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 07001444 |
| Added to NRHP | January 24, 2008 |
The Deering Memorial United Methodist Church is a very old and special church located at 39 Main Street in South Paris, Maine. It was finished in 1911. This church is unique because it's the only building in Maine designed by the famous architects Badgley and Nicklas from Cleveland, Ohio. It's also considered one of the most beautiful churches in Oxford County built in the late Gothic Revival style. Because of its importance, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. The church stopped holding regular services on November 18, 2016.
Contents
What Does the Deering Church Look Like?
The Deering Church stands on a noticeable piece of land on Main Street in South Paris, Maine. This area is the main part of Paris, which is the county seat for Oxford County.
Building Design and Materials
The church has a special shape called a cruciform, which means it looks like a cross from above. It has a tall tower that sticks out. The church is built from strong, gray granite stones. It also has fancy trim made from a different type of stone. The whole building sits on a slightly raised base.
Size and Special Features
Even though it's shaped like a cross, the church isn't very wide. Its side sections, called transepts, only stick out about 6 feet (1.8 meters) on each side. The whole building is about 87 feet (26.5 meters) long. Strong supports called buttresses help hold up the corners of the building and the tower. They also line the long sides of the church. The top of the tower has a decorative, castle-like edge called a crenellated parapet. Inside the tower, there's a clock and a bell. These were actually used in the church building that stood here before this one!
History of the Deering Memorial Church
This church building is the third one to be built on the same spot. It was used by a Methodist group that started way back in 1815. A minister named Rev. John Adams from Poland helped them get started.
How the Church Was Built
In 1909, the church members decided they needed a new building. A man named William Deering, whose father was a local judge, gave a lot of money for the project. He donated $16,000, which was a huge amount back then! The rest of the money needed to build the church was collected from other people who wanted to help. The church was named "Deering Memorial" to honor William Deering's parents.
Who Designed and Decorated It?
It's not fully known why the architects Badgley and Nicklas from Cleveland were chosen to design the church. Their work is very unique for Maine. The beautiful paintings and decorations inside the church were done by Harry Hayman Cochrane. He was a famous artist in the region. You can also see his special artwork in another important building called Cumston Hall in Monmouth, Maine.
See also
