South Congregational Church (Newport, New Hampshire) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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South Congregational Church
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | 58 S. Main St., Newport, New Hampshire |
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| Area | 1.7 acres (0.69 ha) |
| Built | 1823; 1918 (parsonage) |
| Architect | John Leach; James T. Kelley (parsonage) |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 89000187 |
| Added to NRHP | March 30, 1989 |
The South Congregational Church (also called the United Church of Christ in Newport) is a very old and important church building. You can find it at 58 S. Main Street in Newport, New Hampshire. This two-story brick church was built in 1823. A carpenter named John Leach built it for a group of people who started meeting in 1779.
It's special because its design was inspired by other churches in the area. One of these was a Congregational church in Templeton, Massachusetts. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. This means it's a really important historical site. The church group is part of the United Church of Christ.
Contents
What Does the Church Look Like?
The South Congregational Church is located south of downtown Newport. It sits at the corner of South Main and Church streets. It is a two-story building made of brick with a pointed roof. The front of the church has five sections. The middle three sections stick out a bit and have a pointed roof too.
The sides and front of the church have brick columns. These columns go up and connect with arches near the roof. The three middle sections on the front have doorways. Above these doors are half-round windows.
The Church Tower
A tall tower rises above the entrances. It has four main parts, called stages. Each stage has a low fence-like railing with decorative posts. The bottom two stages hold a clock and a bell. The bell section has arched openings.
The church bell was made in 1822 by Paul Revere & Sons. It weighs about 1,241 pounds (563 kg). The top two stages of the tower are shaped like an octagon. A small dome, called a cupola, sits on top of the tower.
A Look Back at the Church's History
The church was built in 1823. It is one of the best examples of Federal period churches in western New Hampshire. It was built two years after a similar church in Acworth. That church was likely designed by a builder named Elias Carter.
Carter's designs were very popular for churches in this area. Many churches in the early 1800s were inspired by his work. This includes the church he built in Templeton, Massachusetts.
Why Is It Located Here?
The church group started in 1779. The church's location, outside the main downtown area, is interesting. It's because there was a long-standing disagreement in town. People argued about where the town's center should be.
Because of this argument, the Baptist church was built at the town common. That's north of the current downtown. This church, however, was built here, further south.
The Parsonage Building
In 1918, a parsonage was built next to the church. A parsonage is a house where the church's minister lives. This building was paid for by Lizzie M. Richards. It was designed by James T. Kelley from Boston. Kelley had also designed Richards' house in 1898.
Images for kids
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The South Congregational Church in Newport, New Hampshire.
See also
