Winterport Congregational Church facts for kids
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Winterport Congregational Church
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 177 Main St., Winterport, Maine |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1831 |
| Architect | Calvin Ryder |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Part of | Winterport Historic District (ID75000112) |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000151 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 24, 1973 |
| Designated CP | October 3, 1975 |
The Winterport Congregational Church is a very old and special building in Winterport, Maine. It was first known as the Winterport Union Meeting House. This church is located at 177 Main Street.
It was built way back in 1831. The church is a great example of Gothic Revival architecture, which is a style that looks like old European churches. A famous local architect named Calvin Ryder designed and built it. Because of its history and unique style, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
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Exploring the Church's Design
The Winterport Congregational Church stands in the middle of Winterport's village. You can find it on the west side of Main Street. It sits a bit back from the road, with steps and trees leading up to it. This makes the church look quite grand.
What Does It Look Like?
The building is made of wood and has one story. It has a pointed roof and a strong stone base. The front of the church is covered in smooth wooden boards. The other sides have regular wooden clapboards.
The corners of the building have special flat columns called pilasters. These have pointed arch designs, like those found in Gothic buildings. The front of the church has a large, pointed Gothic window in the middle. On each side of this window are doors with similar pointed arch shapes.
The Church Tower
Above the roof, there is a tall tower. The bottom part of the tower is square. On top of that is another section that holds a clock and a bell. Above this, the tower becomes an eight-sided steeple. There are small decorative spires, called pinnacles, at the corners of its base.
A Look Back at the Church's History
In 1820, five different religious groups in Winterport decided to work together. They wanted to build a church that they could all use. This big effort led to the church being finished in 1831.
Who Built This Church?
Calvin Ryder, a well-known local builder and designer, was in charge of creating this church. He made sure it had its unique Gothic Revival style.
From Union to Congregational
Even though many groups helped build it, there were some disagreements between them. Because of this, the building soon became home to only the Congregationalists.
In 1860, a clock was added to the tower. The inside of the church was also updated around that time. Since then, the church has mostly stayed the same, with only small repairs. Since 1976, a local non-profit group has owned and taken care of the building.
See also
