St. John the Baptist Church (Wakefield, New Hampshire) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. John's Church, Rectory, and Parish Hall
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St. John the Baptist Church
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | 118 High Street, Sanbornville, Wakefield, New Hampshire |
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| Area | 3.3 acres (1.3 ha) |
| Built | 1876-1877 |
| Architect | Haight, Charles C. |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 84002519 |
| Added to NRHP | June 7, 1984 |
St. John the Baptist Church is a beautiful old church located in Sanbornville, New Hampshire, a village within Wakefield, New Hampshire. It's an Episcopal church, which is a type of Christian church. This special building was constructed between 1876 and 1877.
The church is a great example of a style called Carpenter Gothic architecture. This means it looks like grand Gothic churches but is built mostly with wood. Because of its unique design and history, St. John's Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. This list includes important places across the United States that are worth preserving.
Contents
What Does St. John's Church Look Like?
St. John's Church sits on a triangular piece of land in Sanbornville. This land is bordered by High Street, Wakefield Road (also known as New Hampshire Route 153), and St. John Street. The church building itself is in the middle of this area. It faces west, towards High Street.
Church Design and Style
The church is a wonderful example of Gothic Revival architecture. This style brings back the look of medieval Gothic cathedrals. A famous architect named Charles C. Haight designed it. This was one of his earlier projects.
The church's design was partly inspired by a book called Rural Architecture by Richard Upjohn, published in 1852. However, Haight added more fancy details to his design. The church has a unique shape, like a cross, but it's not perfectly even on all sides. A tall tower sticks out from the front, on the right side.
Other Buildings on the Property
Besides the main church building, there are two other important structures on the property. The rectory, which is the home for the church's priest, was built in 1881. The parish hall, a building used for church events and meetings, was added in 1894. Both of these buildings show a simpler, everyday style of late Victorian architecture.
The History of St. John's Church
The construction of St. John's Church began in 1876 and finished in 1877. It was built because of a special wish from Mrs. Josiah Low, who wanted a church built before she passed away. Her granddaughter made sure her wish came true. Other members of the Low family also helped by donating money.
Becoming a Church Community
The church was officially dedicated on September 14, 1877. This ceremony was led by Bishop William Woodruff Niles, who was the third bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire.
At first, the church property was much smaller. But more gifts from the Low family allowed the church to buy the entire 3.3 acres (about 1.3 hectares) it owns today. These gifts also helped pay for the rectory to be built. For many years, St. John's was a "mission" of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire. This means it was a smaller church supported by the larger diocese. On June 14, 1961, St. John's Church became a full "parish," meaning it was a self-supporting church community.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Carroll County, New Hampshire
- St. John the Baptist Church (disambiguation)
