The Congregational Church in Exeter facts for kids
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The Congregational Church in Exeter
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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The Congregational Church in Exeter, UCC
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | 21 Front St., Exeter, New Hampshire, United States |
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| Built | 1798 |
| Architect | Clifford, Ebenezer; Johnson, Bradbury |
| Part of | Front Street Historic District (ID73000270) |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000052 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 10, 1971 |
| Designated CP | July 5, 1973 |
The Congregational Church in Exeter is a special church located on Front Street in Exeter, New Hampshire. It is part of the United Church of Christ.
This church community started a long time ago, in 1638. It was founded by a minister named John Wheelwright. He came here after he had to leave the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Today, this church is actually two old churches that joined together. Long ago, in the 1700s, the First Parish and Second Parish of Exeter split up. This happened during a time called the First Great Awakening, because they had different ideas about religion. But they came back together in 1920!
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Famous People and History
Many important people have been part of this church's history.
- Nicholas Gilman, who signed the Declaration of Independence, was a member.
- When the two church groups were separate, Phillips Exeter Academy was started. John Phillips and other members of the Second Parish founded this famous school. The chapel at Phillips Exeter Academy today is in the building that used to be the Second Parish church.
- A church member named Amos Tuck was very involved in early efforts to end slavery. He even held meetings about this important topic at the church.
What the Church Does Today
Today, the church is very active. It has many members and a Sunday School for kids. They also have different programs to help people in their community and around the world.
The current Senior Pastor is the Rev. Dr. E. Carrington Heath, who is an author and minister. The church is a member of the United Church of Christ. Since 1996, it has been an Open and Affirming church, which means they actively welcome people from the LGBTQ community.
The church also works with a church in Pfizda, Zimbabwe. They help prepare homes for refugees who are moving to New Hampshire. They also give money to many local non-profit groups that help people.
About the Church Building
The church building you see today is at 21 Front Street in Exeter, New Hampshire. It was built in 1798 and can hold 400 people. This is the fifth building the church community has used. A local builder named Ebenezer Clifford designed it.
The building has some unique features:
- Its hip roof is thought to be the oldest of its kind on a church in New Hampshire.
- Unlike older churches that had entrances on three sides, this church only had entrances through its front section.
In 1838, the inside of the building was changed. They removed the old box pews (which were like small, enclosed seating areas). They also turned the gallery (a balcony area) into a full second floor. Now, the main worship area is on the upper level, and meeting rooms are downstairs. In 1930, an addition was built at the back, making the church more square-shaped.
Special Features and Recognition
The church building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. It is also part of the Front Street Historic District.
Inside the church, you can find some cool things:
- The pew where Abraham Lincoln sat when he visited his son at the nearby Phillips Exeter Academy.
- A portrait (painting) of Abraham Lincoln.
- A portrait of the Rev. Wheelwright, who founded the church.
The church's main organ is an Aeolian-Skinner organ. It has three keyboards and 20 sets of pipes, and it was first used in 1951. Next to the church, there is a small, working memorial garden. Some important town leaders, Folsom and Gilman, are buried there.
The church building is even mentioned in books! It appears in John Irving's 1989 novel A Prayer for Owen Meany. John Irving actually grew up attending this church.
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