St. John Catholic Church (Saint John Plantation, Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. John Catholic Church
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Location | St. John Rd., St. John Plantation, Maine |
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Area | 1.1 acres (0.45 ha) |
Built | 1909 |
Architect | Pelletier, Aimee |
Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
NRHP reference No. | 03000017 |
Added to NRHP | February 12, 2003 |
The St. John Catholic Church is a very old church building. It is located on St. John Street in a quiet area called St. John Plantation, Maine. This church was built a long time ago, between 1909 and 1911.
It is a beautiful example of a building style called Colonial Revival architecture. This style looks back to the designs of early American colonial times. The church is special because it's so detailed and well-preserved in a faraway rural place. Because of its history and beauty, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. This list includes important historical places in the United States.
Since 2007, the church has been looked after by the St. John Vianney parish. This group is based in Fort Kent. They are part of the Diocese of Portland. Before that, it was part of the St. Louis parish.
About the Church Building
The St. John Catholic Church stands on the north side of St. John Street. This is the main road in the small community of St. John Plantation. You can find it about half a mile west of the town offices. It is located between the road and the Saint John River.
What it Looks Like
The church is made of wood and is shaped like a rectangle. It has one main floor and a roof that slopes down on two sides, called a gable roof. A tall tower sticks out a little from the front of the church. The front of the church has three sections. The two outer sections have narrow windows. These windows have many small glass panels and a rounded top.
The main door is at the bottom of the tower. It has a rounded porch-like cover, called a portico, over it. Above the door, there is a large round window, known as a transom. Higher up in the tower, there is a big window with fifteen glass sections. It also has a rounded top.
The first part of the tower ends with a decorative border, called a cornice. This border is above the main roof's highest point. Above this is a belfry, which is where church bells are usually kept. Each side of the belfry has two arched openings with slats. Another cornice sits above the belfry. On top of that is an eight-sided cap with leaded glass. A golden cross sits at the very top of the tower.
Inside the Church
The inside of the church is very fancy. It has lots of detailed woodwork. There are also beautiful decorations made from plaster and pressed tin. Local builders made this church between 1909 and 1911. They built it for the French Catholic people living in the area. The inside of this church looks similar to the St. David Catholic Church built in 1872. That church was in nearby Madawaska.