First Free Will Baptist Church in Meredith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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First Free Will Baptist Church in Meredith
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Location | 61 Winona Rd., Meredith, New Hampshire |
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Area | 0.2 acres (0.081 ha) |
Built | c. 1802 |
Architectural style | Greek Revival |
NRHP reference No. | 86003368 |
Added to NRHP | December 01, 1986 |
The First Free Will Baptist Church in Meredith is a very old building in Meredith, New Hampshire. It was built around 1802 and changed in 1848. This building is a great example of a country church from the mid-1800s. It shows a style called Greek Revival. Today, it is a museum known as the Pottle Meeting House. The local historical society takes care of it. This special building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
Contents
What Does the Church Look Like?
The First Free Will Baptist Church is in a quiet, country part of Meredith. You can find it on the east side of Winona Road. It is a single-story building made of wood. It has a rectangular shape. There is a small addition on its north side.
Special Design Features
The church has some cool design parts. These are called Greek Revival elements. They include wide boards at the corners. There is also a decorative band that goes under the roof's edges. The front of the church is simple. It has two doors placed evenly. Each side of the building has three windows. Inside, there is a large main room. There are also two small entry areas. These are next to the choir area at the back.
History of the Church Building
The Free Will Baptist group in Meredith started meeting in 1800. This was in an area called Oak Hill. Within two years, their group grew very big. It had 134 people, even some from nearby towns. We do not know the exact date the church was built. This is because the early records are missing.
When Was It Built and Changed?
However, a land lease from 1802 suggests the building was there. The way the church looks now is mostly from later changes. The biggest changes happened in 1848. That is when the main part got its Greek Revival style. The small addition was put on later. It was added in either 1890 or 1909. This part was first used as a meeting room.
From Church to Museum
The building was used as a church until 1946. Then, in 1950, the Meredith Historical Society bought it. This society was new at the time. They turned the old church into a museum. The museum shows many interesting things. You can see old tools and items used for farming. The building was officially recognized as important in 1986. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.