South Bridgton Congregational Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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South Bridgton Congregational Church
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Fosterville Rd., South Bridgton, Maine |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1870 |
| Architect | Francis H. Fassett |
| Architectural style | Italianate, Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 87000947 |
| Added to NRHP | June 25, 1987 |
The South Bridgton Congregational Church is a very old and special church located on Fosterville Road in South Bridgton, Maine. It was built in 1870 and designed by a famous architect named Francis H. Fassett. This church is a great example of two cool building styles, Italianate and Gothic Revival, especially for a small town. Because of its unique design and history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
Contents
What Does the Church Look Like?
The South Bridgton Congregational Church is on the east side of Fosterville Road. It's a one-story building made of wood, sitting on a strong granite foundation. The ground slopes, so you can see almost all of its basement! The church has a pointed roof, called a gabled roof, and its outside walls are covered with wooden clapboards.
The Church's Tower and Front
The front of the church has a cool stepped design with three parts. On the right, there's a tall tower. It has two main sections, then a small roof, and above that, an open bell tower. This bell tower has an eight-sided spire that points up to the sky. Both the small roof and the spire have tiny gabled sections, like miniature roofs.
The middle part of the church's front is set back a bit from the tower. Both the tower and the middle section have main doors on the ground floor. These doors are shaped like round arches with fancy decorated frames. The section on the left is set back even further. It has a round-arch window, just like other windows on the church, with a round window above it. The corners of the building have special flat columns called pilasters. The roof's edge sticks out and has decorative blocks called modillions.
Inside the Church
When you step inside, you'll see that the church's interior is very richly decorated. It looks almost exactly as it did when it was first built! The main changes over the years have been adding electricity for lights and putting in an organ behind the altar in 1892.
A Look Back: The Church's History
This church was built between 1870 and 1871. It was actually the second church for this group of people. Their first church, which used to be across the street, is no longer there.
Who Designed This Church?
The church was designed by Francis H. Fassett, a very important architect from Portland, Maine. He was one of Maine's top architects in the mid-to-late 1800s. The South Bridgton Congregational Church looks similar to two other churches Fassett designed in Falmouth and Cherryfield. Sadly, those other two churches don't exist anymore, which makes this one even more special!
See also
