St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church (Montgomery, Vermont) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | VT 118, Montgomery, Vermont |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1835 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 88001467 |
| Added to NRHP | October 1, 1988 |
St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church is a very old church building in Montgomery, Vermont. It is located on Vermont Route 118. Today, it is known as Pratt Hall and is a special historic place.
The church's group, called a congregation, started in 1821. It was first known as the Union Episcopal Church. Building the church began in 1833 and finished in 1835. A bishop named John Henry Hopkins officially opened it. In 1897, its name changed to St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church.
The church group stopped meeting in 1974, and the building was no longer used as a church. The Montgomery Historical Society now owns it. On October 1, 1988, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important building in American history. It is a great example of Gothic Revival architecture in Vermont.
What Pratt Hall Looks Like
Pratt Hall is in the village of Montgomery. It stands near the town's common, which is a grassy area. The building is made of wood and has a pointed roof. Its outside walls are covered with clapboards, which are long, thin boards.
A square tower sticks out from the front of the building. At the bottom of the tower is an arched doorway. There are also tall, narrow windows on the sides. Above the entrance, there is a round window. The top part of the tower has a bell area and a fancy top edge. Inside, the building has beautiful wooden designs in the Gothic style.
The Story of This Historic Church
The Episcopal church group in Montgomery was one of the first in the town. This building was their very first church. It was built between 1832 and 1835 on land bought in 1829.
This church is one of the oldest examples of Gothic Revival style in Vermont. This style became popular not long after the first building of its kind was finished in Arlington. At first, different church groups shared the building. But soon, only the Episcopalians used it. As fewer people attended, the church only held services in the summer starting in 1927. This was when more visitors came to town.
In 1972, the church leaders thought the building was unsafe. They planned to tear it down. But the Montgomery Historical Society bought the building in 1974. They have worked hard to fix it up and keep it safe ever since.
Today, the society uses Pratt Hall for its own meetings. They also let other people use it for special events. These events include weddings, small concerts, and community talks. The society named the building Pratt Hall to honor Lawrence Pratt. He was the person who worked hardest to save the building from being destroyed.
More to Explore
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Franklin County, Vermont
- St. Bartholomew's Church (disambiguation)
- Union Church (disambiguation)
