South Congregational Church (Springfield, Massachusetts) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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South Congregational Church
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South Congregational Church
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Springfield, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1875 |
| Architect | William Appleton Potter |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000245 |
| Added to NRHP | April 30, 1976 |
The South Congregational Church is a very old and beautiful church in Springfield, Massachusetts. It was built in 1875. A famous architect named William Appleton Potter designed it. The church is still used by its community today. Many important people helped pay for it, like Daniel B. Wesson from Smith & Wesson guns. Others included Charles and George Merriam, who created the Merriam-Webster dictionaries. Daniel Harris, known for his bridge designs, also helped.
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Discovering the South Congregational Church
This church is a special building. It was one of the first big projects for its architect, William Appleton Potter. People at the time thought its design was "a rather bold departure." This means it looked very different from other churches back then.
The Church's Unique Look
The church is about 136 feet (41 meters) long and 77 feet (23 meters) wide. It is made from strong limestone, which came from Longmeadow. The base of the church is made of granite from Monson.
The rounded part of the church, called the apse, faces Maple Street. It has a cone-shaped roof with red stripes. This apse has nine windows with pointed, Gothic arches. These arches are made of alternating light and dark stone.
To the right of the apse is a tall tower. This tower reaches 120 feet (37 meters) high above the main entrance. The tower is very fancy. It has arched windows and yellow sandstone stripes. There is also another entrance at the back of the church. It was made fancier later on.
Inside the Church
The inside of the church was designed in a special way. It was made so that everyone could see the stage area, called the pulpit. This was unusual for churches at that time. It made the inside feel a bit like an amphitheatre, where everyone has a good view. The decorations inside the church often show themes from nature. For example, the tower entrance has decorations that change with the seasons.
Later Additions and History
In the 1940s, a building called a parish house was added to the east side of the church. It was built with bricks. The outside of the parish house was covered with limestone. This limestone came from the same place as the church's stone. It was saved from another church that was being torn down.
The South Congregational Church was recognized as an important historical place in 1976. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
See also
