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St. John's Congregational Church & Parsonage-Parish for Working Girls facts for kids
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St. John's Congregational Church & Parsonage-Parish for Working Girls
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 69 Hancock St./643 Union St., Springfield, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1911 |
| Architect | B. Hammett Seabury |
| Architectural style | English Revival, Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 16000140 |
| Added to NRHP | June 28, 2016 |
The St. John's Congregational Church and Parsonage-Parish for Working Girls are two important historical buildings. They are located in Springfield, Massachusetts. The church was built in 1911 for an African-American church group. It shows beautiful English and Gothic Revival styles. The parsonage, built in 1913, is a good example of Colonial Revival architecture. Both buildings are very important to the history of Springfield's African-American community. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. Today, a different church uses the old church building. The original St. John's church group moved to a new, bigger building nearby. The parsonage house is still used by the St. John's group as a learning center.
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About St. John's Church and Parsonage
These historic buildings are found in the Old Hill neighborhood of Springfield. The old church stands at the corner of Union and Hancock Streets. The former parsonage is right next to it on Union Street. The newer St. John's church, which opened in 2013, is across Union Street.
What Are These Buildings?
The historic church faces Hancock Street. It is a one-story building made of wood. It has a pointed roof and a shingled outside. It was built in 1911. The design was created by B. Hammett Seabury, a well-known architect from the area. The parsonage is a two-and-a-half-story building also made of wood. It was also designed by Seabury and finished in 1913.
A Rich History of Community
The St. John's church group has a long history. It started from one of the oldest African-American church groups in Springfield. This group, called the Free Church, began in 1844. It was a very important place for the abolitionist movement. This movement worked to end slavery in the United States. The church was a key stop on the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped enslaved people find freedom. The famous abolitionist John Brown was part of this church group in its early years.
In 1889, the Free Church joined with another church group. They formed what is now St. John's. After the American Civil War, more African-American people moved to Springfield. The church group grew quickly. By the early 1900s, their building was too small.
Growing and Helping Others
The church building was constructed when Rev. William DeBerry was the leader. During his time, the church also built the parsonage next door. At first, this building was used to educate and train young girls. There was once a similar building for boys, but it is no longer standing. Rev. DeBerry also helped the church get land in East Brookfield. There, they created Camp Atwater. This was a summer camp for the church's young people. In the 1960s, the girls' training house became a meeting place for the church.
Today's St. John's
The new St. John's church building was completed in 2013. The original church building is now used by a different church group. The parsonage continues to serve the St. John's congregation as an education center.