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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The building in 2025
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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 two historic buildings found at 32 Thomas Street in the West End neighborhood of Portland, Maine. The church was built in 1897. It is a great example of Gothic architecture designed by Francis H. Fassett. The parish house was built later, in 1905. It was designed by the famous father-and-son architects, John Calvin Stevens and John Howard Stevens.
This church is very important in history. It is where Christian Endeavor International was started. This group is seen as a big step towards modern youth groups for young people. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The church group joined with another church in 2011. The building was then sold and now holds offices.
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About the Buildings and Their Story
The Williston-West Church and Parish House are located in Portland's West End. They are on the west side of Thomas Street. The church is at the corner of Carroll and Thomas Streets. It has a unique shape. A tall, square three-story tower stands at the street corner. The church walls have strong supports called buttresses. They also have windows shaped like pointed Gothic arches. A large round window, called a rose window, is on the main front of the church.
Next to the church, separated by a small open area, is the parish house. This is a two-story brick building. It matches the church's style. It is special because two of Portland's most famous architects worked on these buildings at different times. Francis H. Fassett was a top architect in the mid-1800s. He even taught John Calvin Stevens when he was starting out.
The Start of Christian Endeavor
The church is also important because of its history with young people. It was here that Francis Edward Clark started Christian Endeavor. This was a group for young people from different churches. It became a worldwide movement. It helped create many of the youth groups we see today.
What Happened to the Church?
Over time, the number of people attending the Williston-West Church became smaller. In 2011, the church group joined with another church. They formed the Williston-Immanuel Church. This new church now meets at a building on High Street. The old Williston-West Church property was then sold to a company that develops buildings. Today, the building is used for professional offices.
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