First Congregational Church and Meetinghouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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First Congregational Church and Meetinghouse
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | Near jct. of VT 30 and VT 35, Townshend, Vermont |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1790 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival, Greek Revival |
| MPS | Religious Buildings, Sites and Structures in Vermont MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 02001344 |
| Added to NRHP | November 15, 2002 |
The First Congregational Church and Meetinghouse is a really old and important building in Townshend, Vermont. People also call it the Church of Christ or the Townshend Church. You can find it at 34 Common Road.
This church was built way back in 1790! It got a new look in 1840. It's one of the oldest church buildings in Vermont that people still use today. Because it's so special, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. The church group itself started even earlier, in 1777. It is part of the United Church of Christ.
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About the Townshend Church Building
The First Congregational Church and Meetinghouse is in the middle of Townshend village. It sits on the north side of the town common. You can find it close to where Vermont Routes 30 and 35 meet.
The building is made of wood and has two stories. It has a sloped roof and its outside walls are covered with clapboard siding. The foundation is made of brick and sits partly on natural rock.
Church Design and Features
The front of the church faces east and looks very balanced. It has three main sections, separated by flat columns called pilasters. These support a triangular part called a pediment. This pediment has a fancy edge with small blocks.
The two outer sections on the ground floor have doors for people to enter. The windows on the second floor are special. They are sash windows, which means they slide open. Above each of these windows is a pointed, arch-shaped louver. This same pointed window style is also seen in the center of the roof's triangular part. You can also see them in the windows on the sides of the second floor.
Above the front of the church, there's a tall tower. The first part of the tower is square. Above that is an eight-sided section where the church bell is kept. This part is called a belfry. On top of the belfry is an eight-sided steeple, which is the very top of the tower.
History of the Townshend Church
The church building was first built in 1790. It wasn't fully finished until 1795. Back then, it was a "meetinghouse." This meant it was used for both church services and town meetings. The main entrance used to be on the long side of the building, facing the common. Today, that entrance is used less often.
Inside, the building had a narrow balcony on the second floor. Around 1840, a sixth section was added to the building. This is when the tall tower was also built. The main entrance was then moved to the east-facing front of the church.
At the same time, the church got new design styles. These were the Greek Revival and Gothic Revival styles. The church group started in 1777, even before the building was complete. This building was also used for town offices until 1908.
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