Post Mills Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Post Mills Church
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | 449 VT 244, E of jct. with VT 113, Thetford, Vermont |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1818 |
| Architect | Dodge, Capt. E.S. |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 92001489 |
| Added to NRHP | October 29, 1992 |
The Post Mills Church is a very old and special church located in the small village of Post Mills, in Thetford, Vermont. It was built way back in 1818. This church is famous for its beautiful design, which is a great example of Greek Revival architecture. It also has very rare and old stencil artwork on its inside walls and ceiling.
Because of its unique history and design, the Post Mills Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. This means it is recognized as an important historical building in the United States. The church congregation is part of the United Church of Christ.
What the Church Looks Like
The Post Mills Church is a one-story building made of wood. It has a pointed roof and its outside walls are covered with clapboards, which are long, thin boards. The church sits on a foundation made of concrete blocks.
The front of the church faces south. It has a part that sticks out with a triangular shape at the top, called a pediment. A tall, square tower rises from the church roof. This tower has a clock on its first level. Above the clock is an open, eight-sided section with arched openings, which is called a belfry. This is where the church bell would be. The very top of the tower is also eight-sided and has a bell-shaped roof with a weathervane.
The front of the church has decorative flat columns, called pilasters, at its corners. A decorative band, called an entablature, goes across the front and sides of the building. The part of this band on the front section is very special. It was made in 1855 using the doors from the church's original box pews (old-fashioned church benches). Inside, the church used to have a gallery (a balcony) on three sides. Now, it only has a gallery at the back, with benches facing the pulpit where the speaker stands.
Church History and Unique Art
The Post Mills Church was built in 1818. When it was first built, it looked more like Federal architecture, which was a popular style at the time. Its design was partly based on plans by a famous architect named Asher Benjamin.
In 1855, the church had a big makeover. The old benches were replaced, and a platform was built for the pulpit. The side galleries were also removed.
A very special thing happened in 1887. An artist named Hiram Powell decorated the church's walls and ceilings with stencilwork. This means he used stencils to paint patterns. This type of decoration is very rare and delicate. It was made with a special water-based paint called distemper paint. Because it's so fragile, parts of this artwork have been carefully restored over the years.
The church was originally built for two different groups of people to use: Baptists and Congregationalists. People in the area had complained for a long time about how far they had to travel to the main church in Thetford Center. That trip was about 5 miles (8 kilometers) and would take most of the day back then! Also, around the 1810s, there was a clear separation of church and state. This meant people no longer had to pay taxes to support the main church, which made it easier for them to build their own local church.
See also
