South China Meeting House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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South China Meeting House
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Village St., China, Maine |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1884 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| MPS | Rufus Jones TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 83000459 |
| Added to NRHP | August 04, 1983 |
The South China Community Church is a special old building in South China, Maine. It's on Village Street. This historic church was built in 1884. Back then, it was a Quaker meeting house. Today, many different Christian groups use it for their services.
This church is important because it influenced a famous Quaker writer named Rufus Jones. He grew up in South China. Rufus Jones went to services here after this building replaced an older one called the Pond Meeting House. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This means it's a very important historical site.
Contents
What Does the Church Look Like?
The South China Community Church is in the middle of South China village. You can find it on the north side of Village Street. It's a large, single-story building.
Key Features of the Building
The most noticeable part of the church is its square tower. This tower has a belfry, which is a place where bells might hang. The belfry has special openings called louvers. The top of the tower looks like a pyramid.
To the right of the tower, there's a lower section with a gently sloping roof. Behind this, there's a taller part with a pointed roof facing forward. This taller section was the original main worship area.
To the left of the tower, there's a shorter section with a pointed roof. This leads to an even longer section with a lower roof.
Entrances to the Church
The main door is at the bottom of the tower. It has a small, pointed roof over it for shelter. There are other doors too. One is just to the left of the main door. Another is at the very end of the long section on the left.
A Look Back: The Church's History
The local Quaker community built the church's first main worship area in 1883. It replaced the older Pond Meeting House. The first building was a simple wooden structure.
How the Church Grew
Around 1900, the church became bigger. Workers added the tall tower and made the worship area larger. The sections on the left side of the church were added later on.
Rufus Jones and the Church
Rufus Jones was born and grew up in South China. Even as an adult, he spent his summers here. He often attended Quaker meetings at this church. People say he often spoke at these meetings too. His time here helped shape his ideas and writings.
See also
