First Parish Church (Brunswick, Maine) facts for kids
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First Parish Church
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 217 Maine St., Brunswick, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1845 |
| Architect | Richard Upjohn |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Part of | Federal Street Historic District (ID76000092) |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000008 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 02, 1969 |
| Designated CP | October 29, 1976 |
The First Parish Church is a welcoming church that is part of the United Church of Christ. You can find its main building at 217 Maine Street in Brunswick, Maine. This church was built in 1845. It was designed by Richard Upjohn, a famous architect. What makes it special is its unique Gothic Revival architecture style, especially because it's made of wood. The church uses vertical board-and-batten paneling, which is a cool way of building with wood. Because of its history and special design, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969. The church community itself is very old, starting all the way back in 1717. Today, the Senior Pastor is Rev. John Allen.
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The Church's Story and Design
The First Parish Church stands in a special spot. It's on a small hill between downtown Brunswick and the Bowdoin College campus, which is right next to it. The church is a single-story building made of wood. It has many features of the Gothic Revival style. These include a tower with strong supports called buttresses. Its doors and windows have pointed, arch shapes, known as lancet arches. The outside walls are covered with vertical wood panels called board-and-batten siding. The church originally had a tall, pointed spire on its tower. But a big storm in 1866 blew it off, and it was never put back.
Building and Community History
The church community began in 1717. The building you see today is actually the fourth church they have built! It stands on the same spot where the third church used to be. The current church was built in 1846. Many members of the church community helped build it with their own hands. The design came from the well-known American architect Richard Upjohn. Bowdoin College also helped pay for the church. Because of this, the college has used the church for important events like graduation ceremonies. A smaller building attached to the church, called the vestry, was added later in 1883.
A Famous Book's Inspiration
On May 2, 1851, something very important happened inside this church. A famous American writer named Harriet Beecher Stowe was sitting in pew number 23. While she was there, she had a powerful vision. She imagined an enslaved man who had been hurt. This strong image deeply inspired her. It led her to write her famous book, Uncle Tom's Cabin. This book helped many people understand the terrible unfairness of slavery.
Restoration and Awards
Over the years, the church building started to show its age. It needed a lot of repairs. So, the church went through a big restoration project. This work was finished in 2004. The restoration was done so well that the church received a special award. In 2006, it earned the Maine Preservation Honor Award for its excellent work in preserving history.
See also
