Christ Church (Guilford, Vermont)

Last updated
Christ Church
Christ Church Guilford Vermont.jpg
(2013)
USA Vermont location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
LocationCalvin Coolidge Mem. Hwy. (US Route 5) & Melendy Hill Rd.
Guilford, Vermont
Coordinates 42°48′58″N72°34′30″W / 42.81611°N 72.57500°W / 42.81611; -72.57500 Coordinates: 42°48′58″N72°34′30″W / 42.81611°N 72.57500°W / 42.81611; -72.57500
Area2 acres (0.81 ha)
Built1817
Architectural style Gothic Revival
NRHP reference No. 82001707 [1]
Added to NRHPMay 13, 1982

Christ Church is a historic church located at Melendy Hill Road and US Route 5 in Guilford, Vermont. Built in 1817 and later given Gothic Revival styling, it was the first Episcopal Church in Vermont. On May 13, 1982, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. [1] It is now owned by the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont and maintained by a local nonprofit organization. [2]

Contents

Description and history

Christ Church is set on a rise just south of Guilford's village center, overlooking Broad Brook and the junction of Melendy Hill Road and United States Route 5. It is a single-story wood-frame structure, with a gabled roof, clapboard siding, and a brick foundation. Its front facade is dominated by a projecting square tower, which rises 60 feet (18 m) in two stages. The tall lower stage has the main entrance, which is framed by pilasters and topped by a semi-oval fanlight window, at the base, and windows topped by half-round fans above, and is topped by a cornice and parapet with pinnacles at the corners. The smaller second stage houses the belfry, with rounded louver openings on each face, and is crowned by a similar parapet and pinnacles. The parapet and pinnacle detail is repeated across the rest of the main facade's cornice line. [2]

The church was built in 1817 with local materials, and was originally a copy of an Episcopal church located in Greenfield, Massachusetts, which is no longer standing. The bronze bell was installed in 1830. In 1837 the building was given the overlay of Gothic Revival details it exhibits today. At that time the original raised pulpit was lowered to the dais, for which for of the original box pews were removed. [2]

The church congregation was first part of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts until the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont was created in 1832. It suffered a steady decline in size, reflecting that of the town itself. Christ Church ceased to be an active parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont before the 1900s, but has never been deconsecrated and is still used occasionally for Episcopal church services. [3] It has been restored and is now maintained by the Christ Church Guilford Society which uses it primarily as a venue for musical and other cultural events as well as weddings and civil unions.

The pianist Rudolf Serkin is buried in the church cemetery, [4] as is Union Army general John Wolcott Phelps. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

Guilford, Vermont Town in Vermont, United States

Guilford is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The town was named for Francis North, 1st Earl of Guilford. The population was 2,120 at the 2020 census.

St. Marys Episcopal Church (Newton Lower Falls, Massachusetts) Historic church in Massachusetts, United States

St. Mary's Episcopal Church and Cemetery is a historic church and cemetery at 258 Concord Street, in the village of Newton Lower Falls, Newton, Massachusetts. St. Mary's Parish was formed in 1811. The church, built in 1813–14 and restyled in 1838, is the oldest church in Newton, and is a fine example of Gothic Revival/Federal style architecture. The cemetery, which dates from 1812, is the oldest non-government-owned cemetery in Newton. The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

St. Bartholomews Episcopal Church (Montgomery, Vermont) Historic church in Vermont, United States

St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church is a historic church building located on Vermont Route 118 in Montgomery, Vermont in the United States. Its congregation was formed in 1821 as Union Episcopal Church. Church construction began in 1833 and was completed in 1835, when it was consecrated by the Rt. Rev. John Henry Hopkins, first bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont. In 1897 its name was changed to St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church.

St. Johns Episcopal Church (Highgate Falls, Vermont) Historic church in Vermont, United States

St. John's Episcopal Church is a historic Episcopal church located on the village green in the village of Highgate Falls in Highgate, Vermont, in the United States. Built 1829–30, it is prominent local example of a Federal style church with Gothic Revival features. On September 3, 1976, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Church of Our Saviour (Killington, Vermont) Historic church in Vermont, United States

The Church of Our Saviour, also known as the Church of Our Saviour at Mission Farm, the Mission of the Church of Our Saviour and the Josiah Wood, Jr., Farm, is an historic Episcopal church and farm complex located at 316 Mission Farm Road, in Killington, Vermont. The church is a Gothic Revival stone building, built in 1894-95 of Vermont granite. In addition to the church, the 170-acre (69 ha) Mission Farm property includes a c. 1817 farmhouse, a guest and retreat house, a vicarage, a bakery and agricultural buildings. On October 29, 1992, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The Church of Our Saviour is part of the Three Rivers Regional Ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont, and the Rev. Lee Allison Crawford is the vicar.

Ridgebury Congregational Church Historic church in Connecticut, United States

The Ridgebury Congregational Church is a historic church in the Ridgebury section of Ridgefield, Connecticut. Founded in 1760, it is a member church of the United Church of Christ. It is a small wood frame Greek Revival structure, built about 1851 on an older foundation. Its main facade has a single centered entrance, flanked by tall windows. The entry is framed by pilasters and an entablature with cornice. The building's corners are also pilastered, with an entablature extending around the building below the roof line. A two-stage square tower rises above the entrance, topped with a parapet and pinnacles at the corners.

Centre Street Congregational Church Historic church in Maine, United States

Centre Street Congregational Church is a historic church at 9 Center Street in Machias, Maine. Built in 1836-37, it is an important early example of Gothic Revival architecture in northern New England, apparently based on an early design by the noted Gothic architect Richard Upjohn. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The congregation is affiliated with the United Church of Christ; its current pastor is Rev. Susan Maxwell, M. Div.

Starksboro Village Meeting House Historic church in Vermont, United States

The Starksboro Village Meeting House is a historic church and town hall on Vermont Route 116 in the village center of Starksboro, Vermont. It was built in 1838 as a cooperative venture between three church congregations and the town, and is a fine local example of Gothic Revival architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.

First Congregational Church and Meetinghouse Historic church in Vermont, United States

The First Congregational Church and Meetinghouse, also known as the Church of Christ and the Townshend Church, is a historic church at 34 Common Road in Townshend, Vermont. Built in 1790 and restyled in 1840, it is one of the oldest church buildings in continuous use in the state. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002; the congregation was established in 1777, and is affiliated with the United Church of Christ.

Guilford Center Meeting House Historic church in Vermont, United States

The Guilford Center Meeting House, formerly the Guilford Center Universalist Church, is a historic building on Guilford Center Road in Guilford, Vermont. Built in 1837, it is a well-preserved example of transitional Greek Revival architecture. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. It is now owned by the local historical society as a community meeting and event space.

Williston Congregational Church Historic church in Vermont, United States

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 1860, this brick church is a fine local example of Gothic Revival architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

Holy Trinity Episcopal Church (Swanton, Vermont) Historic church in Vermont, United States

Holy Trinity Episcopal Church also known as Holy Trinity Memorial Church is an historic Episcopal church building located at 38 Grand Avenue in the village of Swanton, Franklin County, Vermont. Built in 1876 and expanded in 1909-10, the church facilities include a fine example of the Carpenter Gothic in the older section, and the Late Victorian Gothic Revival in the newer section. The church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Parish of the Holy Trinity in 2001. The church is an active parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont; its current rector is the Rev. Reid D. Farrell.

St. Georges Catholic Church Historic church in Vermont, United States

St. George's Catholic Church is a historic church and school building on Vermont Route 25 in Bakersfield, Vermont. Built in 1840, it housed the South Academy until 1888, when it was purchased by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington. It served as a church until 1996, and has since then housed the local historical society. It is a prominent local example of Gothic Revival architecture, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.

Goshen Church Historic church in Vermont, United States

Goshen Church is a historic church on Goshen Road in Bradford, Vermont. Built in 1834, it is a fine and little-altered example of vernacular Greek Revival architecture in a rural setting. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

Sudbury Congregational Church Historic church in Vermont, United States

Sudbury Congregational Church, also known as the Sudbury Meetinghouse, is a historic church and town hall at 2702 Vermont Route 30 in Sudbury, Vermont. When it was built in 1807, it was a nearly exact replica of Plate 33 in Asher Benjamin's 1805 Country Builders Assistant. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

Old Christ Church (Bethel, Vermont) Historic church in Vermont, United States

Old Christ Church is a historic Episcopal church at the junction of Vermont Route 12 and Gilead Brook Road in Bethel, Vermont. Built in 1823, it is a well-preserved Federal period church, lacking modern amenities such as electricity and plumbing. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. It is used for services only during the summer.

St. Pauls Episcopal Church (Royalton, Vermont) Historic church in Vermont, United States

St. Paul's Episcopal Church is a historic church building at Bridge Street and Vermont Route 14 in Royalton, Vermont. Built in 1836, it is a prominent early example of Gothic Revival architecture in the state, and is one of the oldest surviving public buildings in Royalton's historic village center. Now deconsecrated and maintained by the Royalton Historical Society, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.

First Presbyterian Church (Muscatine, Iowa) United States historic place

First Presbyterian Church is a Presbyterian Church (USA) church located in Muscatine, Iowa, United States. It, along with the attached Sunday School building, were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

Broad Brook House United States historic place

The Guilford Country Store is located at 475 Coolidge Highway in Guilford, Vermont, in the 1817 Broad Brook House, one of the oldest surviving tavern houses in the state, which has been in continuous use as a general store since 1936. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.

Dover Town Hall United States historic place

Dover Town Hall is located in the village center of Dover, Vermont, at the junction of Holland and Taft Brook Roads. Built in 1828, it is a well-preserved example of a transitional Federal-Gothic Revival church building, converted to government use in 1875. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

References

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 "NRHP nomination for Christ Church". National Park Service. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  3. St. Michael's Episcopal Church | history.
  4. Rudolf Serkin [1903 - 1991] - Find A Grave Memorial.
  5. John Wolcott Phelps [1813 - 1895] - Find A Grave Memorial.