Merryall Union Evangelical Society Chapel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Merryall Union Evangelical Society Chapel
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Chapel Hill Rd., New Milford, Connecticut |
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| Area | 0.1 acres (0.040 ha) |
| Built | 1890 |
| Built by | Soule, Tourney & Co.; Et al. |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 86001240 |
| Added to NRHP | June 5, 1986 |
The Merryall Union Evangelical Society Chapel, also known as the Merryall Union Chapel, is a special historic church building. You can find it on Chapel Hill Road in the Lower Merryall area of New Milford, Connecticut. Built way back in 1890, it's a fantastic example of a building style called Carpenter Gothic. This means it looks like a grand Gothic church but is made mostly of wood, with lots of fancy details. Today, the chapel is used during the summer for church services by different ministers. It also hosts weddings and other private events. Because of its unique history and architecture, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
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What Does the Chapel Look Like?
The Merryall Chapel is located in a quiet, rural spot about 4 miles (6.4 km) north of downtown New Milford. It's a single-story building made of wood, with a very steep, pointed roof. The outside walls are covered with overlapping wooden boards called clapboards.
Unique Architectural Features
A square tower sticks out from the front of the chapel, facing the street. This tower has a pyramid-shaped roof and a decorative piece on top that looks like a lily flower. The main entrance is at the bottom of this tower. Above the door, there's a pointed arch design, which is typical of Gothic style.
Inside the Chapel
The side walls of the chapel have tall, narrow windows with pointed arches, just like the one above the door. Inside, the chapel is decorated in a Victorian style, which was popular when it was built. Instead of long pews, there are chairs with decorative spindle backs for people to sit on. At the back of the chapel, there's a slightly raised area that serves as the altar. This area has comfy velvet armchairs and a couch.
How the Chapel Started
The Merryall Union Evangelical Association was formed in 1884. Its main goal was to provide Sunday School education for children in the local area. Before the chapel was built, it was hard for people to travel to the town center for church services.
A Place for Everyone
The chapel you see today grew out of that first organization. It began offering regular church services to local families. These services were usually open to everyone, no matter their specific church background. Traveling ministers or ministers from other nearby churches often led the services.
Who Cared for the Chapel?
Around 1900, a local sewing club took over the care of the building. They made sure services were offered regularly, especially during the summer months. This was a great way to welcome summer visitors to the area. In the 1970s, a new non-profit group was created. This group now oversees the care and maintenance of the historic Merryall Union Chapel.
See also
