First Congregational Church of East Longmeadow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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First Congregational Church of East Longmeadow
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 7 Somers Road, East Longmeadow, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 1.667 acres (0.675 ha) |
| Built | 1828 |
| Architectural style | Early Republic |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000444 |
| Added to NRHP | January 3, 1978 |
The First Congregational Church of East Longmeadow is a really old and important church building in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts. It was built way back in 1828, making it the oldest church building in the town. It's also home to the oldest church group in East Longmeadow! Because of its history, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This means it's recognized as a special place that's important to American history. The church group is part of the United Church of Christ.
Contents
About the Church Building
The First Congregational Church is in the middle of East Longmeadow. You can find it on the south side of the main traffic circle. It sits on a piece of land shaped like a triangle, with Somers Road and Prospect Street on its sides.
How it Looks
The church is a one-story building made of wood. It has a roof shaped like an upside-down "V" (called a gabled roof). The outside walls are covered with overlapping wooden boards, known as clapboard.
The front of the church has a part that sticks out in the middle, where the main entrance is. This front section has three main areas, separated by flat, column-like decorations called pilasters. The very top of this front section has a triangular shape, like a classic Greek temple, which is called a pedimented gable.
Originally, all three areas on the front had doors. But now, the two outer doors have been changed into windows.
The Church Tower
The church also has a tall tower. The bottom part of the tower is square. Above that is a section with eight sides, called an octagonal belfry, where the church bells would be. At the very top of the tower is a small, dome-shaped structure called a cupola.
History of the Church
The church group itself started in 1827. The building you see today was finished the next year, in 1828.
Moving and Changing the Building
The church wasn't always in its current spot. It was first built further up Somers Road. In 1859, the entire building was moved to where it stands today. When it moved, it also got some updates and new designs. These new features were similar to the style used by a famous architect named Charles Bulfinch.
More Than Just a Church
For many years, the church building wasn't just used for religious services. It was also where town meetings were held for East Longmeadow. This continued until 1882, when the town built its own town hall.
The inside of the church was updated again in 1948. A few years later, in 1953, the basement was finished, and a connected building called the Fellowship Hall was added.
See also
