South Canaan Congregational Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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South Canaan Congregational Church
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | CT 63 and Barnes Rd., Canaan, Connecticut |
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| Area | 0.8 acres (0.32 ha) |
| Built | 1804 |
| Architect | Dutton, Thomas |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 83001272 |
| Added to NRHP | March 16, 1983 |
The South Canaan Congregational Church is an old church building in Canaan, Connecticut. You can find it where Connecticut Route 63 meets Barnes Road. It was built way back in 1804. It's a great example of how churches looked during the early Federal period in America. Because it's so special, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
What Makes This Church Special?
This church is in the western part of Canaan, right at the corner of Barnes Road and CT 63. It's a two-story building made of wood. It has a pointed roof (called a gabled roof) and wooden siding (clapboarded exterior). The bottom part is made of stone.
How It Looks
A square tower rises from the middle of the roof. This tower has two parts: a bell section and an eight-sided spire on top. The edges of the main roof and the first part of the tower have decorative blocks. The corners of the building have special wooden blocks called quoins.
The front of the church has three sections. The middle section sticks out a bit and has the main entrance. This entrance has columns on the sides and a small triangular roof above it. Above the entrance is a special window with three parts, called a Palladian window. You can also find Palladian windows on the first part of the tower and at the back of the church, above where the preacher would stand. Inside, the church still looks much like it did in the early 1800s. It has many beautiful wooden decorations from that time.
A Look Back in Time
The South Canaan Church is one of three churches in Connecticut that look like a church built in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in 1793. That church was designed by a famous architect named Charles Bulfinch. This church is an example of the first stylish church buildings made between 1790 and 1810. These new churches replaced older, simpler meetinghouses.
When the church was built, South Canaan was near the center of the town of Canaan. At that time, Canaan was mostly a farming community. It even included the area that is now North Canaan, Connecticut. Later in the 1800s, other towns like Falls Village, Connecticut, East Canaan, Connecticut, and Canaan (village), Connecticut grew bigger. These towns became important for factories and railroads.
By 1982, the building was no longer used as a church. However, a local historical society worked to keep it safe and preserved.
See also
