Universalist Society Meetinghouse

Last updated
Universalist Society Meetinghouse
Universalist Society Meetinghouse, Orleans MA.jpg
Universalist Society Meetinghouse
USA Mass Cape Cod location map.svg
Red pog.svg
USA Massachusetts location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location3 River Road, Orleans, Massachusetts
Coordinates 41°46′59″N69°58′40″W / 41.78306°N 69.97778°W / 41.78306; -69.97778
Arealess than one acre
Built1834
ArchitectTaylor, David Jr.
Architectural style Greek Revival
NRHP reference No. 99000186 [1]
Added to NRHPFebruary 25, 1999

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. [2] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. [1]

Contents

Description and history

The meetinghouse is set on a short piece of River Road, between Main and School Streets, in the village center of Orleans not far from the town offices. The building is a two-story rectangular wood-frame structure, set on a granite foundation, with a gable roof. The roof ridge runs parallel to River Road, which lies to the north, and the main gable-end facade faces roughly east. The walls are finished with painted wooden shingles, with broad paneled pilasters rising at the corners to an entablature that encircles the building below the roof line. The main facade is symmetrically arranged, with two entrances each flanked by pilasters and topped by an entablature. Above each entrance at the second level is a sash window. The gable end is fully pedimented, with a small lancet-shaped window at the center. [3]

The interior of the building has a single large space, with a balcony gallery on three sides (excepting the west end). The original box pews were removed from the main floor, probably before 1900, with congregants apparently using folding chairs; box pews remain in the gallery. A 19th-century pressed metal ceiling obscures the original domed ceiling. The building now houses museum displays. [3]

The Universalist congregation of Orleans took form as early as 1832, when a number of congregants left the local Congregational Church over their theological differences. The new congregation was formally organized in 1833, and its new meetinghouse was built by David Taylor Jr. on land donated by David Taylor Sr., a former ship's captain and the local postmaster. The building was enlarged sometime in the 19th century by the addition of about 15 feet (4.6 m) to the west end; this probably took place between the 1840s and 1860s, when the congregation was at its largest. [3]

Faced with declining participation, the Universalists and Congregationalists reunited their congregations in 1939, holding services in the Congregational church and using this meetinghouse as a Sunday school. The building was sold to the Orleans Historical Society in 1971. [3]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rockingham Meeting House</span> Historic church in Vermont, United States

The Rockingham Meeting House, also known as Old North Meeting House and First Church in Rockingham, is a historic civic and religious building on Meeting House Road in Rockingham, Vermont, United States. The Meeting House was built between 1787 and 1801 and was originally used for both Congregational church meetings as well as civic and governmental meetings. Church services ceased in 1839 but town meetings continued to be held in it until 1869. It was restored in 1906 and has been preserved.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Church of Christ, Unitarian</span> Historic church in Massachusetts, United States

The First Church of Christ, Unitarian, also known as First Church of Lancaster and colloquially as "the Bulfinch Church", is a 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.

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

The West Congregational Church of Taunton, formerly the Westville Congregational Church, is a historic church located at 415 Winthrop Street in Taunton, Massachusetts. Built in 1792 and moved to its present location in 1824, it is the city's oldest church building, and a well-preserved example of Federal period architecture. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

<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">Bernardston Congregational Unitarian Church</span> Historic church in Massachusetts, United States

The Bernardston Congregational Unitarian Church is a historic church building at 49 Church Street in Bernardston, Massachusetts. The church is notable for the history of construction, movement, and reconstruction, since it was first erected in 1739, just two years after Bernardston was settled. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. Its congregation is affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Association which was established in 1820.

<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">First Congregational Church of Boscawen</span> Historic church in New Hampshire, United States

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Baptist Church (Waterboro, Maine)</span> Historic church in Maine, United States

The First Baptist Church, also known as the Old Corner Church, is a historic church at West and Federal Streets in Waterboro, Maine. Built in 1803-04 and altered to a Greek Revival appearance in 1849, it retains significant characteristics of more traditional Federal period meetinghouses. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Universalist Meeting House</span> Historic church in Maine, United States

The Universalist Meeting House is a historic church on Maine State Route 231 in the Intervale area of New Gloucester, Maine. Built in 1839, it is a fine example of a Greek Revival church in a rural context. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

<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">First Congregational Church (Orwell, Vermont)</span> Historic church in Vermont, United States

The First Congregational Church is a historic church in Orwell, Vermont. The current meeting house was built in 1843, and is one of state's best examples of Greek Revival ecclesiastical architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guilford Center Meeting House</span> 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.

<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">East Parish Meeting House</span> Historic church in Massachusetts, United States

The East Parish Meeting House, also known as the Fourth Parish Meeting House, is a historic church and meeting house on the rural east side of Haverhill, Massachusetts that is beautifully restored and currently used as a venue for weddings, services, open mics, community dinners and meetings, and more. The 1+12-story wood frame Greek Revival building was built in 1838, replacing a previous meeting house that was built on the site in 1744. The Meeting House was used for regular services until 1906, when its congregation merged with the nearby Riverside Memorial Church. The East Parish Meeting House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011. The building is now owned by a neighborhood association.

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

The Union Meetinghouse or Universalist Church is a historic church building at 97 Amesbury Road in Kensington, New Hampshire. Built in 1839–40, it is a well-preserved and little-altered example of a mid-19th century Greek Revival rural church. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013, and continues to be used for summer services.

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

The Enfield Town Meetinghouse is a historic Greek Revival style meeting house located on Enfield Street at South Road in Enfield, Connecticut. Completed in 1775 and moved and restyled in 1848, it hosted the municipal government until the 1920s. Now managed by the local historical society as a museum, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

References

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. "Orleans Historical Society: Meeting House Museum".
  3. 1 2 3 4 "MACRIS inventory record and NRHP nomination for Universalist Society Meetinghouse". Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 2015-03-18.