First Congregational Church and Parsonage (Kittery, Maine) facts for kids
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First Congregational Church and Parsonage
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Postcard view of church, c. 1912
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 23 Pepperrell Rd., Kittery Point, Maine |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) (original); 1 acre (0.40 ha) (increase) |
| Built | 1729 and 1733 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Colonial |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000333 (original) 97000602 (increase) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 18, 1978 |
| Boundary increase | July 03, 1997 |
The First Congregational Church and Parsonage is a very old church and house in Kittery, Maine. It is located at 23 Pepperrell Road in the Kittery Point area. The church building was finished in 1730. Its church group, called a congregation, started way back in 1653. This makes it the oldest church in Kittery and one of the oldest in all of Maine.
Next to the church is a house called a parsonage, built in 1729. This is where the church's minister used to live. There is also a small cemetery nearby, which was started in 1733. These buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The cemetery was added to the list in 1997. This means they are important historical places worth protecting.
Contents
Exploring the Church's History
The First Congregational Church group in Kittery began in 1653. In 1729, this group decided to build a new parsonage, which is a home for the church's minister. That same year, the church building next door burned down. So, the current church building was built the very next year, in 1730.
A rich merchant named William Pepperrell, Sr. helped pay for the church. His son, William Pepperrell, became a famous military leader in the French and Indian War. Both were active members of the church. In 1733, the church started a burial ground south of the church, across Pepperrell Road. Many important people from the town are buried there. A newer parsonage was built in 1910, located between the old one and the church. Close by, you can also find the Lady Pepperrell House, which was built in 1760.
What the Church Looks Like
The church is a simple building made of wood. It has a rectangular shape and a roof that slopes on two sides, called a gable roof. It also has a small tower. The front of the church faces south and has three sections. The main door is in the middle. There are tall windows on either side of the door. A smaller window is above the door, in the pointed part of the roof.
The corners of the building have decorative flat columns, called pilasters. These were added during a renovation in 1840, when the church was updated in the Greek Revival style. The square tower has a short first part. On top of that is a belfry, which is where the church bell would be. The belfry has openings with slats and more pilasters. The very top of the tower has a rounded, dome-like roof. The inside of the church still has its original layout with two aisles and its pulpit, which is where the minister speaks. The building was moved a short distance to its current spot in 1872.
The Old Parsonage House
The old parsonage is a two-and-a-half-story building made of wood. The front of the house faces south and has five sections. A long, two-story section extends from the back of the house, facing the road to the west. In 1958, another section was added to the north side of the house. After the new parsonage was built in 1910, this old building was used as a community center for everyone in the area.
The Historic Cemetery
The cemetery is about one acre in size. It has a low stone wall on three sides, which people believe was built in 1733. The fourth side of the cemetery is next to the Piscataqua River. An iron gate was added to the north entrance in 1910. This gate is on concrete posts with rounded arch designs and decorative tops. People have been buried in this cemetery from the mid-1700s to the mid-1900s. The most famous grave marker is for the crew of the ship Hattie Eaton. This ship was lost at sea with everyone on board in 1876.
Important People from the Church
Some notable people were part of this church:
- William Pepperrell, who was a judge and a military leader.
- William Whipple, who was one of the people who signed the United States Declaration of Independence.
See also
- List of the oldest churches in the United States
- National Register of Historic Places listings in York County, Maine
Images for kids
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The church in 2011
