First Presbyterian Church of Margaretville facts for kids
Quick facts for kids First Presbyterian Church of Margaretville |
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East elevation, 2008
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Presbyterian |
| Location | |
| Location | Margaretville, New York, US |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| Groundbreaking | 1894 |
| Completed | 1894 |
| Specifications | |
| Direction of façade | East |
| Materials | Wood, stone, metal |
| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
| Added to NRHP | 2004 |
| NRHP Reference no. | 04000348 |
The First Presbyterian Church of Margaretville, also known as the Margaretville New Kingston Presbyterian Church, is a beautiful old wooden church in Margaretville, New York, USA. It was built in the late 1800s.
This church was designed with an "open plan" inside. This style was popular with revivalists who wanted a space that felt more welcoming for worship. A new part was added to the back of the church in the 1960s. Other than that, the church looks much like it did when it was first built. In 2004, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical building.
Contents
Exploring the Church Building
Location and Views
The church stands on a corner where Orchard Street meets Mountain Street. The land here gently slopes upwards towards the Catskill Mountains. Because the church is a little higher than the street, it has amazing views. You can see Pakatakan Mountain and other beautiful scenery to the east of the village. The area around the church is mostly homes. A stone path and steps lead up to the church from Orchard Street. There's also a parking lot next to Mountain Street.
Outside the Church
The church is made of wood and sits on a stone foundation. It has a full basement underneath. The walls are covered with clapboard siding, which are long, thin wooden boards. The roof is steep and made of metal. The ends of the roof, called gables, have decorative fish-scale shingles. The edges of the roof are decorated with fancy, cut-out wooden designs.
On the southeast corner of the church, there's a tall, square bell tower. It's also covered in clapboard siding. The main entrance has two wooden doors with arched windows above them. There's also a single arched window on the east side. Above these, you'll see round windows with pretty designs. The top part of the tower is the belfry, where the bells are. It has arched openings and decorative pillars. The tower's pointed roof is topped with a small, fancy ornament.
Inside the Church
The front of the church has a large, three-part stained glass window. On the sides, there are projecting sections with narrow, arched windows. Each of these windows has a religious picture made of stained glass, like a Bible, a cross, or a dove. On the west side, near the front, there's another entrance with stone steps. There's also a door at ground level that leads to the basement. A newer addition at the back of the church, built in the 1960s, covers most of the original back wall. However, a round stained glass window showing Jesus can still be seen.
When you enter, you step into a small entry area called a vestibule. From there, double wooden doors open into the main worship area, called the auditorium. This is one big open space with curved pews (church benches) arranged in rows. The walls are covered with beadboard up to a certain height, and plaster above that. The ceiling follows the shape of the roof.
At the far end of the auditorium, there's a raised platform. It's about 20 inches (51 cm) higher than the floor. This platform has a lectern (a stand for reading) in the middle and space for a choir. The furniture on the platform, like the carved chairs and communion table, seems to be original to the church. There's also a piano and an organ. Beyond this platform is a community room, which is a large open space with a kitchen and bathrooms.
History of the Church
Starting the Congregation
The idea for this church began in 1891. People in Margaretville felt there was a need for a Presbyterian church. Many farmers from nearby New Kingston, who used to worship at New Kingston Presbyterian Church, were moving to Margaretville when they retired. At first, the members met in the local Baptist church. In 1892, a group was formed to find a place to build their own church. They chose the current spot on what was then called Doolittle Avenue.
Building and Design
The church was finished and opened in 1894. Its design is similar to other Presbyterian churches built around the same time in Delaware County, New York. For example, the churches in New Kingston and West Kortright Presbyterian Church, which are also historic, share many features. All these churches are made of wood, have bell towers on the corner, and mix different styles from the Victorian era.
We don't know who the exact architect of the Margaretville church was. However, its design looks a lot like plans found in a popular book by Benjamin Price. This book was supported by the American Methodist Church. The church's tower is even an exact copy of the one at St. Mark's Baptist Church in Highland Falls, New York.
The "Open Plan" Interior
The inside of the church was designed with an "auditorium plan." This was a popular idea among Christian revivalists of that time. They believed it was the best way for people to worship. These revivalists wanted a space where everyone in the congregation could easily see and connect with the preacher. This was similar to the large tents used at camp meetings. The curved pews, wide aisles, and corner entrances helped make the most of the space. The raised platform brought the preacher closer to the people, allowing them to move around and keep everyone focused. Music, textures, and colors, like the beaded walls and stained glass windows, were also used to create a special atmosphere.
Changes Over Time
Since it was built, the church has not changed much. The biggest change was adding the rear wing in 1964. This new section was built for Sunday school classes. To make room for it, a new entrance was cut into the back of the building, and about 10 feet (3 meters) of the platform inside was removed. New lights and carpeting have also been added over the years.
See also
