First Congregational Church of Boscawen

Last updated
First Congregational Church of Boscawen
BoscawenNH FirstCongregationalChurch.jpg
USA New Hampshire location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location12 High St., Boscawen, New Hampshire
Coordinates 43°19′19″N71°37′45″W / 43.32194°N 71.62917°W / 43.32194; -71.62917
Area1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built1799 (1799)
Architectural styleGreek Revival
NRHP reference No. 82001689 [1]
Added to NRHPApril 19, 1982

The First Congregational Church of Boscawen is a historic church at 12 High Street in Boscawen, New Hampshire. Built in 1799, the wood-frame church was significantly altered in 1839, when it acquired its present Greek Revival character. It is one of the few surviving meeting houses in New Hampshire that continues to combine religious and municipal functions; it basement space is used for town meetings and elections. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. [1]

Contents

Architecture and history

First Congregational Church, Boscawen, c. 1909 Congregational Church, Boscawen, NH, c. 1909.jpg
First Congregational Church, Boscawen, c. 1909

The First Congregational Church of Boscawen occupies a prominent location on the north side of the community's main village, at the junction of High and King streets (U.S. Routes 4 and 3 respectively). It is a two-story wood-frame structure, with a gabled roof and clapboarded exterior. Its front facade, facing south toward the road junction, is modeled as a Greek temple, with corner pilasters supporting an entablature consisting of an architrave, plain frieze, and moulded cornice. This entablature is continued around the two sides of the building. The church tower rises from the center of the front facade, and consists of three stages: the first stage is an enclosed square with a single small window in its rear face, the second is an open belfry surrounded by pilastered supports, to which the octagonal steeple is mounted. [2]

The church was built in 1799, originally serving both civic and religious functions in the manner of a traditional colonial meeting house. It was oriented with the main entrance on the long side, facing south. In 1839, the building underwent a major renovation, which included rotating the building 90°, placing the main entrance on a short side, removing the box pews in favor of the present slip pews, and removing the traditional high pulpit and sounding board. The municipal functions were also at this time moved out of the building, until 1847. The town then petitioned the congregation for permission to establish a town meeting space in the basement, by raising the building several feet. This proposal was agreed and implemented, and the basement space continues to be used by the town for election polling and other functions (although its offices are in another building). In 1940, the building was again rotated 90°, this time to accommodate realignment of US 3. [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Addison Baptist Church</span> Historic church in Vermont, United States

The Addison Community Baptist Church is a historic church building at 4970 Vermont Route 22A in the village center of Addison, Vermont. Built in 1816 and restyled in 1849, it is one of Vermont's oldest Baptist churches, and a good local example of Greek Revival architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 as Addison Baptist Church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Universalist Society Meetinghouse</span> Historic church in Massachusetts, United States

The Universalist Society Meetinghouse is an historic Greek Revival meetinghouse at 3 River Road in Orleans, Massachusetts. Built in 1834, it was the only Universalist church built in Orleans, and is architecturally a well-preserved local example of Greek Revival architecture. The Meeting House is now the home of the Orleans Historical Society and is known as the Meeting House Museum. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montville Baptist Church</span> Historic church in Massachusetts, United States

The Montville Baptist Church, now known as the Sandisfield Arts Center, is an historic former Baptist church and Orthodox Jewish synagogue at 5 Hammertown Road in Sandisfield, Massachusetts. The Greek Revival building was constructed in 1839 as a Baptist church. After 83 years as a Baptist church meeting house, the building was converted into use as an Orthodox synagogue for 75 years. In 1995 the Sandisfield Arts Center formed as a non-profit to preserve the building. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Rochester Congregational Church</span> Historic church in Massachusetts, United States

North Rochester Congregational Church is a historic Congregational church at 247 North Avenue in Rochester, Massachusetts. Built in 1841 for a congregation established in 1790, it is a high quality example of Greek Revival architecture. The church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Congregational Church (Stoneham, Massachusetts)</span> Historic church in Massachusetts, United States

The First Congregational Church is an historic church in Stoneham, Massachusetts, United States. Built in 1840, it is a fine local example of Greek Revival architecture, and is a landmark in the town center. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 13, 1984. The church is affiliated with the United Church of Christ; the current pastor is the Rev. Ken McGarry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bozrah Congregational Church and Parsonage</span> Historic church in Connecticut, United States

Bozrah Congregational Church and Parsonage is a historic church and parsonage at 17 and 23 Bozrah Street in Bozrah, Connecticut. The church, built in 1843, is a well-preserved example of churches transitional between Federal period meeting house architecture and 19th-century Greek Revival church architecture. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marlborough Congregational Church</span> Historic church in Connecticut, United States

The Marlborough Congregational Church is a historic Congregational Church at 35 South Main Street in Marlborough, Connecticut. Built in 1842, it is a well-preserved example Greek Revival architecture. In addition hosting religious services, it also hosted town meetings for many years. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Centre Congregational Church</span> Historic church in New Hampshire, United States

The Centre Congregational Church is a historic Congregational church on Province Road in Gilmanton, New Hampshire. Built in 1826–27, it is one of the region's best examples of a late Federal-period church. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cotton Mountain Community Church</span> Historic church in New Hampshire, United States

The Cotton Mountain Community Church, also known as the Wolfeborough, Brookfield and Wakefield Meetinghouse, is a historic church on Stoneham Road in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, near the town line with Brookfield. Built about 1852, it is a well-preserved example of a rural New England meeting house with vernacular Greek Revival style. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. Since 1957, when it stopped being used for services, it has been cared for by a local nonprofit group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Springfield Town Hall and Howard Memorial Methodist Church</span> Historic church in New Hampshire, United States

The Springfield Town Hall and Howard Memorial Methodist Church, also known as the Springfield Union Meeting House, is a historic civic and religious building on Four Corners Road in Springfield, New Hampshire, USA. Built about 1797 and restyled in 1851, it is a rare surviving example in the state of a meeting house whose functions include both civic and religious uses. It is also a good example of Greek Revival and Gothic architecture, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elm Street Congregational Church and Parish House</span> Historic church in Maine, United States

The Elm Street Congregational Church and Parish House is a historic church complex at Elm and Franklin Streets in Bucksport, Maine. It includes a Greek Revival church building, built in 1838 to a design by Benjamin S. Deane, and an 1867 Second Empire parish house. The church congregation was founded in 1803; its present pastor is the Rev. Stephen York. The church and parish house were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Brooksville Congregational Church</span> Historic church in Maine, United States

West Brooksville Congregational Church is an historic church in West Brooksville, Maine on the east side of Maine State Route 176, 1 mile (1.6 km) northwest of the junction with Varnum Road. Built in 1855 for a congregation established in 1812, the present church building is a fine local example of Greek Revival architecture, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. The congregation is affiliated with the United Church of Christ; worship is held every Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. Sunday School begins at 9 a.m. Communion is served the first Sunday of every month.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Post Mills Church</span> Historic church in Vermont, United States

The Post Mills Church is a historic church at 449 Vermont Route 244 in the Post Mills village of Thetford, Vermont. Built in 1818 and remodeled in 1855, it is an excellent example of Greek Revival architecture, with extremely rare late 19th century stencilwork on its interior walls and ceiling. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. The congregation is affiliated with the United Church of Christ.

The Holland Congregational Church is a historic church on Gore Road in Holland, Vermont. Built in 1844, it is a prominent local example of Greek Revival architecture, and is the town's only surviving 19th-century public building. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sudbury Congregational Church</span> 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Hampton Town House</span> Historic church in New Hampshire, United States

The New Hampton Town House is a historic meeting house at the junction of Town House Road and Dana Hill Road in New Hampton, New Hampshire. Since 1799, it has served as the community's town hall, and is one of three surviving 18th-century town halls in Belknap County still used for that purpose. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Ipswich Town Hall</span> United States historic place

The New Ipswich Town Hall is a historic academic and civic building on Main Street in the center village of New Ipswich, New Hampshire. The 1+12-story wood-frame structure was built in 1817 to serve the dual purpose of providing a town meeting place, and to provide space for a private academy. The building has been little altered since 1869, when it was substantially reconfigured solely for town use. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Temple Town Hall</span> United States historic place

The Temple Town Hall, also known as the Union Hall and the Miller Grange Hall, is a historic municipal building in the center of Temple, New Hampshire. Built in 1842, it is a fine example of Greek Revival architecture, which has served the community as a church, Grange hall, and town hall. It continues to be used for social functions. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in June 2007, and the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places in April 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kensington Town House</span> United States historic place

The Kensington Town House is the town hall of Kensington, New Hampshire. Located at 95 Amesbury Road, the single-story wood-frame building was erected in 1846, and has been its only purpose-built municipal hall. It is a good local example of civic Greek Revival architecture, and its hall has historically hosted town meetings and social functions. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.

The Langdon Meeting House is a historic meeting house and former church at 5 Walker Hill Road in Langdon, New Hampshire. Completed in 1803 as a combination town hall and church, it is now a multifunction space owned by the town, and is claimed by the town to hold the record for consecutive town meetings held in the same space. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2020, and the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places in 2012.

References

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. 1 2 "NRHP nomination for First Congregation Church of Boscawen". National Park Service. Retrieved 2014-03-04.