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West Haven Baptist Church
West Haven Vermont 20040701.jpg
West Haven Baptist Church is located in Vermont
West Haven Baptist Church
Location in Vermont
West Haven Baptist Church is located in the United States
West Haven Baptist Church
Location in the United States
Location 48 Book Rd., West Haven, Vermont
Area 0.7 acres (0.28 ha)
Built 1831 (1831)
Architectural style Federal, Gothic Revival
MPS Religious Buildings, Sites and Structures in Vermont MPS
NRHP reference No. 07000161
Added to NRHP March 13, 2007

The West Haven Baptist Church is a very old church building. It is located at 48 Book Road in West Haven, Vermont. This church was built in 1831. It shows off two cool styles of architecture: Federal and Gothic. The inside also has a Victorian look. Because it is so special, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.

Exploring the Church Building

The West Haven Baptist Church stands in an open field. You can find it on the west side of Book Road. It is just south of Main Road. This is the main road that goes through the quiet community.

What the Church Looks Like

The church is a single-story building. It is made of wood and has a pointed roof. The outside walls are covered with clapboard siding. Its foundation is made of strong limestone. A small entrance area sticks out from the front. This part faces east. It has a main door in the middle. On each side of the door are windows with a Gothic arch shape.

The Church Tower

A short, square tower sits on top of the church. It is placed where the main building meets the entrance. The top part of the tower has openings with slats. This is called a belfry. Bells would usually hang here. The very top of the tower is flat.

Inside the Church

The inside of the entrance area is finished with beadboard. This is a type of wooden paneling. The main part of the church, called the sanctuary, has vertical wood panels. These panels go up to a chair rail. Above the rail, the panels are horizontal. You can also see cool stencil designs on the walls.

History of the West Haven Baptist Church

The church building was finished in 1831. It was built for a group of Baptists. This group started meeting in 1803. They are one of the oldest Baptist groups in Vermont.

Changes Over Time

The church building has been updated several times. In 1854, the Gothic-style windows were added. You can see these windows on the sides of the church too. The building was changed again in 1886. During this time, the pulpit and choir area inside were likely updated. The fancy Gothic parts of the tower were probably added in 1854. However, these parts were removed in 1927.

Current Use

Today, the West Haven Baptist Church is only used for services in the summer. This is because the building does not have a heating system.

See also

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