Swanton Christian Church

Last updated
First Congregational Church of Swanton
First Congregational Church, Swanton, Vermont.jpg
USA Vermont location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location42 Academy St.,
Swanton Village, Vermont
Coordinates 44°55′2″N73°7′21″W / 44.91722°N 73.12250°W / 44.91722; -73.12250 Coordinates: 44°55′2″N73°7′21″W / 44.91722°N 73.12250°W / 44.91722; -73.12250
Arealess than one acre
Built1823 (1823)
ArchitectJoseph A. Gallagher, Elisha Barney
Architectural styleItalianate
MPS Religious Buildings, Sites and Structures in Vermont MPS
NRHP reference No. 01000220 [1]
Added to NRHPMarch 2, 2001

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. [1]

Contents

Architecture and history

The Swanton Christian Church building is prominently situated at the southern end of the Swanton village green, between the former Swanton Academy building (now housing town offices) and the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church parish hall. It is a brick building, three bays wide and five deep, with a gabled roof. A tower rises from the front roofline, beginning with a square base housing a clock. It is topped by an extended modillioned cornice, above which is an octagonal belfry. Each facade of the belfry stage is topped by a bracketed low-pitch gable, and a narrow steeple rises above. The center bay of the main facade is a gabled projection, with the main entrance set in a tall segmented-arch opening. Windows in the flanking bays and the sides are also set in segmented-arch openings. [2]

Swanton was incorporated in 1790, and its town center was laid out in 1803. Its Congregational Society was organized in 1801, and met in schoolhouses and other local buildings until 1817, when the society built a union meetinghouse with the local Baptist congregation. The present brick church was built in 1823 by a union of four different congregations. The Methodist ended their use of the building in 1848, the Quakers in 1865, and the Congregational Society purchased the interest of the Methodists in 1867. Over the next two years, the building was enlarged and given its present Italianate styling. [2] The building is now occupied by a non-denominational Christian congregation.

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 Congregational Church of Bennington Historic church in Vermont, United States

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.

Lempster Meetinghouse Historic church in New Hampshire, United States

The Lempster Meetinghouse, formerly Union Hall, is a historic meeting house and church on Lempster Street in Lempster, New Hampshire. Built in 1794 to serve multiple Christian congregations, it is now a multifunction space owned by the town. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

South Congregational Church (Newport, New Hampshire) Historic church in New Hampshire, United States

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.

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.

Florona Grange No. 540 Hall Historic church in Vermont, United States

Florona Grange No. 540 Hall is a historic Grange hall and former church on Monkton Road in Monkton, Vermont. Built in 1811 as the Monkton Borough Baptist Church, it is the second-oldest church in Addison County. it is a fine example of Federal architecture with later Greek Revival additions. Its initial design is based closely on designs published by Asher Benjamin. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

Union Meetinghouse (Ferrisburg, Vermont) Historic church in Vermont, United States

The Union Meetinghouse is a historic church on United States Route 7 in Ferrisburg, Vermont. Built in 1840, it is architecturally an eclectic combination of Federal period design with Gothic Revival features. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

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.

Christian Union Society Meetinghouse Historic church in Vermont, United States

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 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.

Enosburg Congregational Memorial Church Historic church in Vermont, United States

The Enosburg Congregational Memorial Church is a historic church on Boston Post Road in Enosburg, Vermont. Built in 1820 and expanded fifty years later, it is a prominent example of ecclesiastical Italianate architecture. 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.

Congregational Church-Grand Isle Historic church in Vermont, United States

The Grand Isle United Methodist Church, formerly the Congregational Church—Grand Isle, is a historic church in Grand Isle, Vermont. Built in 1853-54, it is a well-preserved local example of Greek Revival architecture, and the town's oldest surviving church building. Originally built for a Congregationalist group, it is now home to a United Methodist Church congregation. The church 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.

Congregational Church of Chelsea Historic church in Vermont, United States

The United Church of Chelsea, previously the Congregational Church of Chelsea, is a historic church on Chelsea Green in Chelsea, Vermont. Built 1811–1813 with later stylistic additions, it is a fine example of Federal period architecture with Greek Revival alterations. Originally built for a Congregationalist group, it now serves as a union church, affiliated with the United Church of Christ. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

Clarendon Congregational Church Historic church in Vermont, United States

The Clarendon Congregational Church is a historic church building at 298 Middle Road in Clarendon, Vermont. Built in 1824 and modified with Gothic features in the 1880s, it is a well-preserved 19th-century brick church. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. The present minister is Rev. Bill Kingsley.

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.

References

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. 1 2 Anne M. Lattinville (1997). "NRHP nomination for First Congregational Church of Swanton". National Park Service . Retrieved 2016-10-29. with photos from 1997