Calvary Methodist Church

Last updated
Calvary Methodist Church
ArlingtonMA CalvaryMethodistChurch.jpg
A photo of the church, taken in 2008
USA Massachusetts location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location300 Mass. Ave., Arlington, Massachusetts
Coordinates 42°24′33″N71°8′49″W / 42.40917°N 71.14694°W / 42.40917; -71.14694 Coordinates: 42°24′33″N71°8′49″W / 42.40917°N 71.14694°W / 42.40917; -71.14694
Arealess than one acre
Built1923
ArchitectMultiple
Architectural styleGreek Revival
NRHP reference No. 83003433 [1]
Added to NRHPJune 23, 1983

Calvary Methodist Church is a historic Methodist church building at 300 Massachusetts Avenue in Arlington, Massachusetts. Built in 1919-23, the building is a near replica of Boston's Kings Chapel, executed in wood. Its tower is topped by a belfry designed by architect Charles Bulfinch in 1809 and built for use on Boylston Market; it was rescued from demolition and given to the church in 1921. [2] The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. [1]

Contents

Description and history

The Calvary Methodist Church is located on the southwest side of Massachusetts Avenue, southeast of Arlington center. It is a rectangular wood frame structure, with a projecting vestibule and tower. The main block has a hipped roof, and its side walls have four round-arch windows. The projecting is fronted by four Ionic columns, with a square stage above that houses a clock with a single face facing front, and small round windows on the other three sides. This stage is topped by a balustrade, and a flush-boarded stage with wide projecting sections and a dentillated cornice. Above this is an octagonal belfry, with four wide sides housing round-arched louvered openings with engaged columns at the corners. A stepped-back octagonal section tops the belfry, with a concave roof at the very top. A parish house, built in 1953, is attached to the church by a narrow passage. [3]

The Methodist congregation first met in Arlington in 1916, and a plan for construction of a church for it soon followed. The present building was designed by James Macnaughton and William Perry, and construction began in 1919. The congregation had difficulty keeping up with the construction costs, and the builder threatened to sell off the partially-finished building for use as a theater. A town-wide appeal raised sufficient funds to cover the costs, and the building was completed in 1923. During the design process, Macnaughton had learned of Charles Bulfinch's planned cupola for Boston's Kings Chapel, which was never executed. He learned of the existence of a Bulfinch-designed cupola that had been installed on the Boylston Market, a Bulfinch design built in 1810 and torn down in 1887. The cupola had been removed in 1886 and purchased by a brewery in Charlestown, which was itself slated for demolition after closing due to Prohibition. The owner agreed to donate the cupola to the church, on condition that its origin be properly credited. [3]

See also

Related Research Articles

Church on the Hill (Lenox, Massachusetts) United States historic place

The Church on the Hill is a historic church building at 169 Main Street in Lenox, Massachusetts. Built in 1805, it is one of a small number of surviving Federal period churches in the region. Its congregation, gathered in 1769, belongs to the United Church of Christ, and its offices are located at 55 Main Street. The church building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

St. Stephens Church (Boston, Massachusetts) United States historic place

St. Stephen's Church is a historic church in the North End of Boston, Massachusetts. It was built in 1802-04 as the New North Church or New North Meeting House, and was designed by the noted architect Charles Bulfinch. It is the only one of the five churches Bulfinch designed in Boston to remain extant. The church replaced one which had been built on the site in 1714 and enlarged in 1730. The Congregationalist church became Unitarian in 1813, and the church was sold to the Roman Catholic Diocese in 1862, and renamed St. Stephen's. It was restored and renovated in 1964-65 by Chester F. Wright, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

First Congregational Church of Bennington United States historic place

The First Congregational Church of Bennington, also known as the Old First Church, is a historic church in Old Bennington, Vermont. The congregation was organized in 1762 and the current meeting house was built in 1805. The building, one of the state's best examples of Federal period religious architecture, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

First Church of Christ, Unitarian United States historic place

The First Church of Christ, Unitarian, also known as First Church of Christ, Lancaster and colloquially as "the Bulfinch Church", is an historic congregation with its meeting house located at 725 Main Street facing the Common in Lancaster, Massachusetts. The church's fifth meeting house, built in 1816, was designed by architect Charles Bulfinch, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977, recognizing it as one of Bulfinch's finest works.

North Avenue Congregational Church United States historic place

North Avenue Congregational Church is a historic church meetinghouse at 1801(previously at 1803) Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was completely renovated in 2015 to become a library for Lesley University. The former church now forms part of what is now the Lunder Arts Center complex.

Church of Christ, Swansea United States historic place

Church of Christ, Swansea is an historic church along United States Route 6 in Swansea, Massachusetts. The current Greek Revival church building was built in 1833 for a congregation with a recorded history of meetings dating to 1680. The church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. The congregation is affiliated with the United Church of Christ; its current pastor is Rev. Holly Norwick.

First Congregational Church of Blandford United States historic place

The First Congregational Church of Blandford is a historic church building at 4 North Street in the center of Blandford, Massachusetts. Built in 1822, it is a prominent example of a Federal-style church, built by a leading regional proponent of the style, builder Isaac Damon. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. It is now managed by a local nonprofit as a special event venue.

First Congregational Church of East Longmeadow United States historic place

First Congregational Church of East Longmeadow is a historic church in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts. Built in 1828, it is the oldest church building in East Longmeadow, and houses its oldest congregation. The church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The congregation is affiliated with the United Church of Christ.

Trinity Church (Waltham, Massachusetts) United States historic place

The Trinity Church, formerly the First Congregational Church, is a historic church in Waltham, Massachusetts. The present church building, an architecturally distinctive blend of Romanesque and Georgian Revival styling, was built in 1870 for a congregation established in 1820. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

Tuftonboro United Methodist Church United States historic place

Tuftonboro United Methodist Church is a historic Methodist church on New Hampshire Route 171 in Tuftonboro, New Hampshire. Built about 1853, it is one of the finest examples of ecclesiastical Greek Revival architecture in New Hampshire's Lakes Region. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

First Parish Church (Dover, New Hampshire) United States historic place

The First Parish Church is a historic church at 218 Central Avenue in Dover, New Hampshire. The church was designed and built by Captain James Davis in 1825, inspired by the Federal style designs of Charles Bulfinch, Asher Benjamin, and Alexander Parris. It is the fifth home to a parish that was first gathered in 1633 at Dover Point. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The congregation is affiliated with the United Church of Christ.

South Congregational Church (Newport, New Hampshire) United States historic place

South Congregational Church is a historic church building at 58 S. Main Street in Newport, New Hampshire. The two-story brick church was built in 1823 by the carpenter John Leach for a congregation established in 1779, and is the most northerly of a series of rural churches based on a design used by Elias Carter in the design of the Congregational church in Templeton, Massachusetts. The church building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. The congregation is affiliated with the United Church of Christ.

First Parish Church (Portland, Maine) United States historic place

First Parish Church is an historic church at 425 Congress Street in Portland, Maine. Built in 1825 for a congregation established in 1674, it is the oldest church building in the city, and one of its finest examples of Federal period architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. The congregation is Unitarian Universalist; its pastor is Reverend Christina Sillari.

Union Church (Phillips, Maine) United States historic place

The Union Church, now Phillips Congregational Church, is a historic church on Main and Pleasant Streets in Phillips, Maine. Built in 1835, this Greek Revival church is the oldest religious building in the small community, and a distinctive local landmark. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

First Baptist Church (Sedgwick, Maine) United States historic place

The First Baptist Church is a historic church building on High Street, off Maine State Route 172 in Sedgwick, Maine. It was designed in Greek Revival style by architect Benjamin S. Deane, based on published drawings by Asher Benjamin, and built in 1837 for a congregation founded in 1805. It is one of coastal Maine's finest Greek Revival churches, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

Christian Union Society Meetinghouse United States historic place

The Christian Union Society Meetinghouse, more recently known as the South Walden United Methodist Church, is a historic church on Bayley-Hazen Military Road in South Walden, Vermont. Built in 1825, it is a prominent local example of Federal style architecture. It is also notable for its association with a 19th-century religious movement in the region known as the "Age of Benevolence". The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

Williston Congregational Church United States historic place

Williston Congregational Church is a historic church in the center of Williston Village on United States Route 2 in Williston, Vermont. Built in 1832 and the interior restyled in 186o, this brick church is a fine local example of Gothic Revival architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

Swanton Christian Church United States historic place

The Swanton Christian Church, formerly the First Congregational Church of Swanton, Old Brick Meetinghouse, and New Wine Christian Fellowship is a historic church in the village of Swanton, Vermont. Built in 1823 and remodeled in 1869, it is a prominent landmark in the village, and a fine local example of Italianate styling on a Federal period building. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.

Boylston Market

Boylston Market (1810-1887), designed by architect Charles Bulfinch, was located in Boston, Massachusetts, on the corner of Boylston and Washington Streets. Boylston Hall occupied the third floor of the building, and functioned as a performance and meeting space.

Peterborough Unitarian Church Historic church in New Hampshire, US

The Peterborough Unitarian Church, also once known as the First Church in Peterborough, is a historic church at Main and Summer streets in Peterborough, New Hampshire. Built in 1825-26 for a congregation founded in 1752, it is one of the state's finest examples of a Federal period church, drawing inspiration from the publications of Asher Benjamin. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

References

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. "Calvary Church United Methodist". 2009-12-18. Archived from the original on 2008-12-19. Retrieved 2009-12-18.
  3. 1 2 "MACRIS inventory and NRHP nomination for Calvary Methodist Church". Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 2015-05-06.