Smith Meeting House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Smith Meeting House
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | Jct. of Meeting House and Governor Rds., Gilmanton, New Hampshire |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | c. 1840 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 98000196 |
| Added to NRHP | March 23, 1998 |
The Smith Meeting House is a special old church building in Gilmanton, New Hampshire. You can find it where Meeting House Road and Governor Road meet. This church was built around 1840. It's a great example of a simple, local church from the 1800s that has been kept in good condition. Because it's so important, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
Contents
About the Smith Meeting House
What the Church Looks Like
The Smith Meeting House is in a quiet, country area. It's close to the middle of Gilmanton, just south of where two roads, Meeting House and Governor Roads, cross. This building is made of wood and is about one and a half stories tall. It has a pointed roof and its outside walls are covered with wooden boards. The church sits on a strong foundation made of granite stone.
The front of the church has two doors that are placed evenly on each side. Above these doors, there are three windows. The window in the very middle is a beautiful stained glass window. It shows a design of flowers, a cross, and a crown.
Inside the Old Church
When you go inside, you'll find two small entry areas at the back. One of these areas has a narrow staircase. This staircase leads up to a special balcony where a choir would sing. The main room of the church is quite simple. It has wooden floors made of pine and wood panels on the lower part of the walls. Today, electric lights brighten the room. But you can still see the original lamps that used to burn kerosene and fancy hanging lights.
The Church's History
The Smith Meeting House was built around the year 1840. It was named after Isaac Smith, who was the very first minister in Gilmanton. He used to preach at the town's original meeting house, which was on the same spot. People say that some of the wooden parts used to build the first meeting house were also used in this church.
Over time, the church was not used much for town events. Its use for religious services also became less common in the late 1800s. To make sure the building was taken care of, a group called the Old Smith Meeting House Improvement Society took over its upkeep in 1898.
