First Baptist Church of Cornish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
First Baptist Church of Cornish
|
|
 |
|
 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Meeting House Road., Cornish Flat, New Hampshire |
|---|---|
| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1803 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000222 |
| Added to NRHP | February 14, 1978 |
The First Baptist Church of Cornish is a very old and important church building located in Cornish Flat, New Hampshire. You can find it on Meeting House Road, right by NH 120. This church was built way back in 1803, making it the oldest church still standing in Cornish. It's also one of the oldest Baptist churches in the entire state of New Hampshire! Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, which means it's recognized as a special landmark.
What Does the Church Look Like?
The First Baptist Church of Cornish stands out in the small village of Cornish Flat. It's at the top end of the town's green space, where Cornish Stage Road meets New Hampshire Route 120.
This church is a two-story building made of wood. It has a pointed roof (called a gabled roof) and its outside walls are covered with overlapping wooden boards (clapboards). A tall, square tower rises from the front of the church. This tower has three parts:
- The first part is the base.
- The second part has a clock.
- The third part holds the church bell (this is called a belfry).
On top of the tower is a four-sided, pointed roof made of slate, known as a spire.
The front of the church looks balanced and even on both sides. Above the main entrance, in the triangular part of the roof (the gable), there's a large, fan-shaped decoration. This is a common design from the Federal style of architecture. The doors have special half-round windows above them. On the second floor, there are round-arched windows. In the very center, there's a special three-part window called a Palladian window, which is also a classic design.
A Journey Through Time: The Church's History
This church building was first built in 1803, making it the oldest church still standing in Cornish. Interestingly, it wasn't always in the same spot! It was first located at Harrington and Parsonage Hill roads.
In 1818, the entire building was moved to where it stands today. When it was first built, it looked like a traditional colonial meeting house. These buildings often had square seating areas called pews and a balcony (gallery) for more seating.
Later, in 1845 and 1846, the church was changed. The old square pews were taken out. The balcony area was built over, creating a full second story inside the church. The church's design, known as Federal architecture, seems to have been inspired by the ideas of Asher Benjamin. He was a famous architect who lived nearby in Windsor, Vermont, and published books about building designs.
More to Explore
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Sullivan County, New Hampshire
- New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 265: Cornish Meetinghouse
