Williston-West Church and Parish House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Williston-West Church and Parish House
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Williston-West Church
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 32 Thomas Street, Portland, Maine |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1897 |
| Architect | Francis H. Fassett (church), John Calvin Stevens (parish house) |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000232 |
| Added to NRHP | June 22, 1980 |
The Williston-West Church and Parish House are an old church and its nearby house located at 32 Thomas Street in the West End neighborhood of Portland, Maine, United States. The church was built in 1897. It is a beautiful Gothic-style building designed by Francis H. Fassett. The house, called the parish house, was built in 1905. It was designed by John Calvin Stevens and John Howard Stevens. The church is famous because Christian Endeavor International, a group that helps young people, started here. This group was a big step for modern youth programs. The whole property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This means it's an important historical site. The church group joined with another in 2011. The property was then sold and changed into offices.
Contents
About the Church and Its History
The Williston-West Church and Parish House are found in Portland's West End. They are on the west side of Thomas Street. They take up the northern half of the block between Carroll and Clifford Streets. The church is at the corner of Carroll and Thomas. It has a unique shape. A tall, square three-story tower stands out at the street corner. The church walls have strong supports called buttresses. They also have windows shaped with Gothic arches. A large round "rose window" is on the main front of the church.
The Parish House
Next to the church, separated by a small open area, is the parish house. This is a two-story building made of brick. It was built in a similar style to the church. The church and parish house are special because they show the work of two of Portland's most famous architects. Francis H. Fassett was a top architect in the mid-1800s. He even taught John Calvin Stevens when Stevens was starting his career.
A Place for Young People
The church is also important for its history. It was here that Francis Edward Clark started Christian Endeavor International. This was a group for young people from all different churches. It grew to become a worldwide organization. It helped shape how churches work with young people today.
Changes Over Time
The number of people in the Williston-West Church group became smaller over time. So, in 2011, they joined with another church group. They formed the Williston-Immanuel Church. This new group now meets at a church on High Street. The old church property was then sold to a company that develops buildings. In 2014, there was a legal case about how the property could be used. The city of Portland won the case in court. Today, the building is used for offices, including Majella Global Technologies.
See also
Images for kids
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An early 20th century postcard showing the Williston Church.
