Springfield Congregational Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Springfield Congregational Church
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | ME 6, Springfield, Maine |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1852 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000193 |
| Added to NRHP | December 22, 1978 |
The Springfield Congregational Church is a very old and special church building located in Springfield, Maine. It stands on Maine State Route 6. This church was built in 1852. It is known for its beautiful and elegant design, which is called the Gothic Revival style. Even though it's in a quiet, rural area, it looks very fancy and well-made. Because of its historical importance, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
About the Church
The Springfield Congregational Church is found in the peaceful village center of Springfield. It is on the north side of Route 6, a short distance west from where Route 6 meets Maine State Route 169.
Its Design and Look
This church is a single-story building made of wood. It has a roof that slopes down from the front, forming a triangle shape called a gable. The outside walls are covered with a special kind of siding called "board-and-batten." This means long, flat boards are placed side-by-side, with thinner strips (battens) covering the gaps between them. The church sits on a strong foundation made of granite stone.
A tall, square tower rises from the front corner of the church. This tower has three main parts, or "stages." It also has strong, support-like corners that look a bit like buttresses. In the middle of the church's front wall, there is a beautiful window with three sections. This window has a pointed, Gothic style and reaches up into the main gable of the roof.
The main entrance to the church is at the bottom of the tower. It is set inside a pointed arch, which is another common feature of Gothic design. The second part of the tower also has Gothic-style windows. The third part has a special three-leaf design called a "trefoil" on each side.
Above the tower is an open area called a belfry, where bells would usually hang. This belfry has posts at each corner. These posts are topped with decorative pointy parts called pinnacles. An ornate railing connects these pinnacles, adding to the church's fancy look. The sides of the church have five windows, all shaped with the same pointed Gothic arches.
A Look Inside
The inside of the church is also very interesting. The roof is supported by special wooden beams called "open trusswork." This means you can see the beams that hold up the roof, which creates a grand, open feeling. However, at some point, a ceiling was added below these beams, covering them up.
History of the Church
The town of Springfield was started in 1830. It is located in a rural part of eastern Penobscot County, Maine. This area has always been mostly about farming.
The church group, or congregation, was formed in 1846. They worked together to build this church in 1852. It cost $2500 to build, which was a lot of money back then! The congregation has always been quite small. During the Great Depression, a difficult time in history, the group even stopped meeting for a short while. They have also sometimes shared a minister with a nearby church in Lincoln, Maine. Electricity was added to the building in 1946, bringing modern light to the old church. The person who designed this beautiful building is not known.
See also
