St. Thomas Episcopal Church (Dover, New Hampshire) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Thomas Episcopal Church
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | 5 Hale Street Dover, New Hampshire |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1891-1892 |
| Architect | Henry Vaughan |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival or English Perpendicular |
| NRHP reference No. | 84003241 |
| Added to NRHP | June 7, 1984 |
St. Thomas Episcopal Church is an old and important church in Dover, New Hampshire. It's located at 5 Hale Street. This church is part of the Episcopal faith. It was started way back in 1839. A famous English architect named Henry Vaughan designed its beautiful building. Because of its special design, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
Contents
Church History
St. Thomas Episcopal Church began on September 22, 1839. In 1840, they built their first church. It was a Carpenter Gothic style building. This first church was on the corner of Central Avenue and St. Thomas Street. It stood next to the William Hale House.
A New Location
In the late 1880s, the city of Dover needed land. They wanted to build a new City Hall. So, the city used a special power. This power allowed them to buy the church's land. They also bought the land where the Hale House stood. This process is called eminent domain.
The first church building was taken down in 1891. The William Hale House was moved. It went to the other side of Hale Street.
Building the Current Church
The church bought a new piece of land. It was right next to the moved Hale House. In 1890, they hired architect Henry Vaughan. He was asked to design a new church. He designed it in the Gothic Revival style. This style is also called English Perpendicular.
Construction started in 1891. The first church service in the new building was held in 1892. The church was officially dedicated on September 17, 1916. In 1901, the church bought the William Hale House. This house is also on the National Register of Historic Places. On June 7, 1984, the church itself was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
St. Thomas Episcopal Church is still an active church today. It is part of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire. The Reverend Suzanne Poulin became the church's leader on January 25, 2018.
Church Design
St. Thomas Church is in downtown Dover. It sits on the south side of Hale Street. It is across from the Dover City Hall. The church building is mostly shaped like a rectangle.
Key Features
A square tower rises from the northwest corner. This tower has a round turret on the outside. Inside the turret is a spiral staircase. The tower also has strong supports called buttresses at its corners. The main part of the church has side windows. These windows also have buttresses next to them.
The church has a pointed roof. This roof is supported by large wooden beams. These beams are called kingpost trusses. Inside the church, you can still see the original wooden details and plaster. The old gas lights have been replaced with electric ones. At the back of the church, a modern hall connects it to the William Hale House. The Hale House is just to the east of the church.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Strafford County, New Hampshire
- St. Thomas Episcopal Church (disambiguation)
