First Congregational Church (Alton, New Hampshire) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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First Congregational Church
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | Church St, W of Main St., Alton, New Hampshire, USA |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1853 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 90000386 |
| Added to NRHP | March 09, 1990 |
The First Congregational Church is a very old and special church building in Alton, New Hampshire, USA. It was built in 1853 and 1854. This church is known as one of the best examples of Greek Revival architecture in Belknap County.
It was once called the Congregational Meetinghouse. Today, it is known as the Community Church of Alton. Because of its history and beautiful design, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. This means it is a nationally recognized historic site.
Contents
What Does the Church Look Like?
The Alton Community Church is in the main part of Alton village. You can find it on the south side of Church Street, just west of Main Street. It is a one-and-a-half-story building made of wood. The outside is covered with horizontal wooden boards called clapboards. The roof has two sloping sides that meet at the top, which is called a gabled roof.
Special Features of the Church
The main entrance of the church sticks out a little. It has tall, flat columns called pilasters at the corners. These columns help support the church tower. The tower has two main parts. The first part is covered with panels. The second part is an open bell tower, or belfry. It has square posts at the corners and decorative railings called balustrades in between. A decorative border, called a cornice, sits on top of the belfry. Above that is a tall, four-sided spire that points towards the sky.
Inside the Church and Changes Over Time
The inside of the main meeting room, called the auditorium, has been changed many times. Areas that used to be balconies or galleries are now used for storage. The basement level has been changed to hold classrooms. This meant adding a new staircase in the entrance area, called the vestibule.
The outside of the church has also seen some changes. A decorative wall around the tower spire was removed. A beautiful stained glass window was added to the back gable. Also, a room called a vestry, often used for meetings or church activities, was built next to the main building.
History of the Church
The church was built for a group of people who started their congregation in 1827. This group is now known as the Community Church of Alton. The building itself was constructed between 1853 and 1854.
This church is one of only twelve Greek Revival buildings that are still standing in Belknap County. Among these, the First Congregational Church has one of the most impressive and detailed exteriors. It shows off the grand style of Greek Revival architecture very well.
See also
