Old Stone Congregational Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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First Congregational Church of Lyons
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Old Stone Congregational Church
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| Location | High and 4th Sts., Lyons, Colorado |
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| Area | 0.1 acres (0.040 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000547 |
| Added to NRHP | December 12, 1976 |
The Old Stone Congregational Church is a very old and important building in Lyons, Colorado. It is also known as the First Congregational Church of Lyons. This historic church was built a long time ago, between 1894 and 1895. Because of its special history and design, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. This list helps protect important places in the United States.
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Building a Historic Church
The First Congregational Church started in 1889. It was helped by another church in Longmont. This was less than ten years after a man named E. S. Lyon came to the area from Connecticut. He bought a lot of land, about 160 acres, which became the town of Lyons.
How the Church Was Built
Work on the church building began in 1894. It was finished on September 23, 1895. The people who went to the church, including the minister, helped a lot. They gave their time and effort, not just money and materials.
The main material used to build the church was sandstone. This stone came from local quarries right there in Lyons. Skilled workers cut the stone by hand. They laid the stones in straight rows, even though the blocks were different sizes. Experts have said that the stone cutting and fitting were done "exceptionally well." The walls of the church are very thick, about 20 inches (51 cm) wide!
Unique Church Design
The front of the church, called the facade, looks a bit uneven. The main door leads into the bottom of a single tall tower. This door has a rounded arch made of stones that fan out.
Special Stone Features
In the middle of the front are two windows. They have flat stone tops. A cool design feature is a large arch of stones that rises above these windows. Higher up, in the pointed part of the roof (called the gable), there is a round opening. This opening helps with air flow and has slats, like a vent. The tower goes up to the same height as the gable. Above that, there is a chamber with more slats and a unique "candle-snuffer" shaped roof.
A Community Gathering Place
For more than ten years after it was built, this was the only church in Lyons. It served as a central place for the community. Later, another church was built in town. When the church was added to the National Register, its congregation was part of the United Church of Christ. However, it no longer identifies with that group today.
