South Tunbridge Methodist Episcopal Church

Last updated
South Tunbridge Methodist Episcopal Church
South Tunbridge Methodist Episcopal Church, Tunbridge VT.jpg
South Tunbridge Methodist Episcopal Church
USA Vermont location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location VT 110, 1/3 mi. N of Royalton town line, Tunbridge, Vermont
Coordinates 43°51′24″N72°30′7″W / 43.85667°N 72.50194°W / 43.85667; -72.50194 Coordinates: 43°51′24″N72°30′7″W / 43.85667°N 72.50194°W / 43.85667; -72.50194
Area2 acres (0.81 ha)
Built1833 (1833)
ArchitectHutchinson, William; Colburn, E.
Architectural styleFederal
MPS Religious Buildings, Sites and Structures in Vermont MPS
NRHP reference No. 01000215 [1]
Added to NRHPMarch 2, 2001

The South Tunbridge Methodist Episcopal Church is a historic church on Vermont Route 110, about one-third of a mile north of the Royalton town line in Tunbridge, Vermont. Built in 1833, it is one of the finest examples of late Federal period architecture in Orange County, and was a mainstay of social and civic life in southern Tunbridge for many years. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. [1]

Contents

Description and history

The South Tunbridge Methodist Episcopal Church stands facing east on the west side of Vermont 110, on a rise overlooking the road and the adjacent First Branch White River. It is one of two public buildings in what is now a rural cluster of residences; to its south stands a 1920s community hall. The church is a single-story brick structure, with a gabled roof and stone foundation. The roof is topped by a single-stage clapboarded square tower, which is topped by a corniced flat roof, and has arched louvered openings for the belfry. The main facade is three bays wide and symmetrically arranged, with entrances flanking a central sash window on the ground floor, and three windows above. The second-level windows are set in recesses and topped by distinctive recessed sunburst-patterned brickwork. The sills of these windows are formed out of ogee-shaped bricks. The windows on the side walls have the same features. The interior of the church has a vestibule area topped by a now-enclosed gallery, with the main hall featuring a pressed tin roof and raised pulpit at the western end. [2]

Prior to the construction of this church, area Methodists met in a house known then as the "old parsonage", a short way to the north. This structure was built in 1833 by William Hutchinson and E. Colburn. Its brickwork and distinctive sunburst decorations set it apart from other Federal period buildings in the area. For much of the 19th century, South Tunbridge was a thriving community, with a district school, post office, saw and grist mills, and blacksmithy. The church was a center of the local social life, hosting dinners and other social events for many years. [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

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.

First United Methodist Church (Highland Park, Michigan) Historic church in Michigan, United States

The Soul Harvest Ministries is located at 16300 Woodward Avenue in Highland Park, Michigan. It was built in 1916 as the First United Methodist Church and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Leicester Meeting House Historic church in Vermont, United States

The Leicester Meeting House is a historic church building at the junction of United States Route 7 and the Leicester-Whiting Road in the center of Leicester, Vermont. Built in 1829, it is a well-preserved example of vernacular Federal period church architecture executed in brick. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

Methodist Episcopal Church of Winooski Historic church in Vermont, United States

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Winooski, also known as the Winooski United Methodist Church, is an historic Methodist church building located at 24 West Allen Street in Winooski, Vermont. It was built in 1918, and is a significant local example of vernacular Carpenter Gothic architecture. On March 2, 2001, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Swanton Christian Church Historic church in Vermont, United States

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.

Memorial United Methodist Church Historic church in Vermont, United States

The Memorial United Methodist Church is a historic church in the village of Swanton, Vermont. Built in 1895, it is an architecturally distinctive example of Queen Anne architecture executed in brick. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.

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.

Cambridge Meetinghouse Historic church in Vermont, United States

The Cambridge Meetinghouse, also known locally as the Old Brick Church is a historic meetinghouse at 85 Church Street in Jeffersonville, the main village of Cambridge, Vermont. Built in 1826 as a union church for several denominations, it began use as the local town hall in 1866, a use that continued to 1958. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. It presently houses the local post office.

East Village Meetinghouse Historic church in Vermont, United States

The East Village Meetinghouse, also known as the Old Brick Church, is a historic church at 55 Vermont Route 14 in East Montpelier, Vermont. Built in 1833-34, it is a fine local example of Greek Revival architecture, and has been the focal point of the historic East Village for most of its history. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

Waterbury Center Methodist Church Historic church in Vermont, United States

The Waterbury Center Methodist Church, now the Waterbury Center Community Church, is a historic church building in Waterbury Center, Vermont. Built in 1833, it is a prominent visual landmark in the village, and a good local example of Federal period church architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

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.

Black River Academy United States historic place

The Black River Academy is a historic school building on High Street in the village of Ludlow, Vermont. Chartered in 1835, the school served as the town high school until 1938. The present building, a Richardsonian Romanesque structure built in 1888, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 for its architectural and historic educational significance. It presently houses the Black River Academy Museum, operated by the Black River Historical Society.

Bethel A.M.E. Church (Indianapolis, Indiana) Historic church in Indiana, United States

The Bethel A.M.E. Church, known in its early years as Indianapolis Station or the Vermont Street Church, is a historic African Methodist Episcopal Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. Organized in 1836, it is the city's oldest African-American congregation. The three-story church on West Vermont Street dates to 1869 and was added to the National Register in 1991. The surrounding neighborhood, once the heart of downtown Indianapolis's African American community, significantly changed with post-World War II urban development that included new hotels, apartments, office space, museums, and the Indiana University–Purdue University at Indianapolis campus. In 2016 the congregation sold their deteriorating church, which will be used in a future commercial development. The congregation built a new worship center at 6417 Zionsville Road in Pike Township, Marion County, Indiana.

Wait Block United States historic place

The Wait Block is a historic commercial building on Main Street in Manchester Center, Vermont. Built in 1884–85, it is a distinctive late example of vernacular Italianate design, executed in brick and marble. It notably survived the 1893 fire that devastated the village's business district. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

Poultney Central School United States historic place

The Poultney Central School is a historic former school building on Main Street in the village center of Poultney, Vermont. Built in 1885, it is a high quality example of Late Victorian Italianate architecture executed in brick. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977, and has been converted into residential use.

Fowler-Steele House United States historic place

The Fowler-Steele House, also known historically as Ivy Hall, is a historic house on North Main Street in Windsor, Vermont, United States. Built in 1805 and restyled about 1850, it has an architecturally distinctive blend of Federal and Greek Revival styles. It served for many years as a local church parsonage. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Lockwood-Boynton House United States historic place

The Lockwood-Boynton House is a historic house at 1 School Street in North Springfield, Vermont. Built c. 1800 and enlarged in 1813 by a local master builder, it is well-preserved example of Federal period architecture in brick, with distinctive colonnaded ground floor bays. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Cilley Covered Bridge United States historic place

The Cilley Covered Bridge is a historic 19th-century covered bridge, carrying Howe Lane across the First Branch White River a short way south of the village of Tunbridge, Vermont. Built in 1883, it is a fine example of a Kingspost truss structure, and is one of the town's five 19th-century covered bridges. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

Martin Chittenden House United States historic place

The Martin Chittenden House is a historic house on Vermont Route 117 in Jericho, Vermont. Built in the 1790s, it is one of the highest-style Federal period houses in Chittenden County, with a distinctive brickwork exterior and numerous unusual interior features. It was built by Thomas Chittenden for his son Martin, both of whom served as Governor of Vermont. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

The Kemp-Shepard House is a historic house on Highbridge Road in Georgia, Vermont. The main block of the brick house, built about 1830, is an important early work of a regional master builder, and it is attached to an older wood-frame ell. It was built on land that was among the first to be settled in the eastern part of the town. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

References

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. 1 2 Steven Melanson (1979). "NRHP nomination for South Tunbridge Methodist Episcopal Church". National Park Service . Retrieved 2016-09-09. with photos from 1997