Georgia Plain Baptist Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Georgia Plain Baptist Church
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1493 Stonebridge Rd., Georgia, Vermont |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1877 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| MPS | Religious Buildings, Sites and Structures in Vermont MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 01000213 |
| Added to NRHP | March 2, 2001 |
The Georgia Plain Baptist Church is a very old and important church located in Georgia, Vermont. It was built in 1877, but the church group itself started way back in 1793! This building is a great example of a style called Gothic Victorian architecture. Because of its history and design, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. The church is part of the American Baptist Churches of Vermont and New Hampshire.
Contents
About the Church Building
The Georgia Plain Baptist Church stands in a small, quiet village called Georgia Plains. You can find it on the west side of Stonebridge Road. It's a one-story building made from red bricks. These bricks are laid in a special pattern called English bond. The church also has sand-colored bricks used for decoration.
Church Design and Features
The main part of the church has a roof that is very steep and pointed. The front of the church has three main sections. On the right side, there is a tall tower. This tower has strong supports called buttresses. It rises up to a bell tower with openings for sound, called a belfry. Above the belfry is a steeple covered in slate.
The main door to the church is at the bottom of this tower. It's shaped like a pointed arch, which is typical of Gothic style. Above the door, there is a small, narrow window. On the left side of the church's front, there is a smaller section with a simpler entrance.
Inside the Church
The middle part of the church's front has a large, beautiful stained glass window. This window is also shaped like a Gothic arch. When you go inside the church, you can still see many of its original parts. These include fancy carved wooden details, a ceiling made of pressed metal, and the old light fixtures.
History of the Congregation
The Baptist church group in Georgia started in 1793. It was the second religious group to form in the town, after the Congregationalists. For many years, the Baptists met in Georgia's town hall.
Building the First and Second Churches
In 1848, the group built their first church building right where the current one stands. Sadly, that first church burned down in 1876. But the community worked quickly, and the church you see today was finished just one year later, in 1877.
Important People in Church History
The Georgia Plain Baptist Church is special for a few reasons. In 1919, it ordained the first female pastor of any church type in Vermont. Her name was Reverend Grace Brooks.
Another very important person for the church was Reverend Alvah Sabin. He was born in Georgia and even became a United States Representative. Reverend Sabin was the pastor for a very long time, serving the church for 53 years!
See also
