First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Main St., Farmington, Maine |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1887 |
| Architect | Coombs, George M. |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000149 |
| Added to NRHP | July 25, 1974 |
The First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in Farmington, Maine is a really old and important building. It's also known as the New Old South Congregational Church. This beautiful church, located at 235 Main Street, was finished in 1887. It was designed by a famous architect named George M. Coombs. The church is known for its special Romanesque style, which makes it one of the most impressive buildings in the area from the 1800s. Because of its history and amazing design, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. The church community started way back in 1814 and celebrated its 200th birthday in 2014!
Contents
A Look at the Church's History
How the Church Began
The church community, called the South Congregational Church, officially started in 1814. But before that, for about 10 years, people met informally. They shared a meeting house with other religious groups. In 1814, the community built its very own church building.
The Great Fire of 1886
Sadly, a big fire swept through Farmington in 1886. This fire burned down the church building. After this, the church leaders hired an architect named George M. Coombs. He was from Lewiston, Maine, and was asked to design a new church. Coombs also designed many other important buildings in Farmington after the fire.
The Church's Amazing Design
What Makes It Special?
The new church that Coombs designed is a large building made of brick. It's built in a style called Romanesque Revival. This style often uses round arches and strong, solid shapes. The church has a strong foundation made of granite. It also has brownstone trim, which is a type of reddish-brown sandstone.
Front of the Church
The front of the church faces Main Street. It has a pointed roof gable in the middle. On each side of the gable, there are two towers that stick out a little.
The Towers
The tower on the right side is bigger. It has four levels and a pyramid-shaped roof. At the corners of the roof, there are square decorations called pinnacles. The tower on the left side is a bit smaller, with three levels. It doesn't have the pinnacles. At the bottom of each tower, you'll find a doorway. These doorways are set back inside a round arch.
The Big Wheel Window
In the very center of the front of the church, there's a huge, beautiful wheel window. This window is made of stained glass. It was created by a company called Redding and Baird from Boston. The wheel window is placed under a slightly set-back arch. Below this, there is a row of five rectangular windows.
See also
