Union Church (Phillips, Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Union Church
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Main and Pleasant Sts., Phillips, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1835 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 89000844 |
| Added to NRHP | July 13, 1989 |
The Union Church, now called Phillips Congregational Church, is a very old and important church in Phillips, Maine. You can find it on Main and Pleasant Streets. This church was built way back in 1835. It's designed in a style called Greek Revival. It is the oldest church building in Phillips and a special landmark. Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
Contents
Discovering the Union Church's Design
The Phillips Congregational Church stands proudly near the corner of Main and Pleasant Streets. It has a great spot right in the middle of Phillips, Maine. The church is a rectangular building made of wood. It has a roof that slopes down from the front. The outside walls are covered with clapboard siding. It sits on a strong foundation made of granite stone.
The Church's Tall Tower
The most eye-catching part of the church is its tall, two-part tower. This tower rises high above the front of the building. The first part of the tower is square. It has clock faces on its sides. A decorative edge, called a cornice, separates this part from the next.
The second part is an eight-sided open belfry. A belfry is where the church bell would be. This one has rounded arch openings. On top of the belfry is a smaller, eight-sided cupola. A weather vane sits at the very top, showing wind direction.
Looking at the Front Entrance
The main front of the church has three sections. They are arranged evenly. There are two entrances, one on each side. These doors are framed by simple, flat columns called pilasters. Above the doors are decorative parts called entablatures with cornices. Windows with movable panes, called sash windows, are also part of the design.
Inside the Historic Church
When you step inside, you first enter a foyer. This is like a small lobby. From the foyer, you go into the main part of the church, called the nave. The nave has two aisles. These aisles separate three rows of long benches, known as pews.
At the back wall of the nave, there's a curved space. This is where a wood stove used to sit. It helped keep the building warm in the past. The second-level area, called the gallery, has mostly been closed off over time.
A Look at the Church's Past
The Union Church was built in 1835. It is one of only two churches from the 1800s still standing in Phillips. The other is a Methodist church built in 1867. It has a Gothic Revival style.
Who Owned the Church?
This church was special because three different groups helped pay for it. These groups were:
- Free Will Baptists
- Universalists
- Congregationalists
They shared ownership of the building for a long time. Then, in 1931, the Congregationalists became the full owners.
Changes Over the Years
The church has not changed much since it was built. One big change happened in 1939. The belfry, the part of the tower where the bell is, had to be removed. It was getting old and damaged. But don't worry, it was put back! In 1982, the belfry was rebuilt. The builders used old photos to make sure it looked just like the original.
See also
