North Congregational Church

North Congregational Church was built in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1872-73, and was one of the early works by noted American architect Henry Hobson Richardson. It is one of his first works in the Romanesque style.

North Congregational Church
Grace Baptist Church
Hispanic Baptist Church
Iglesia Apostolica Renovacion Springfield
North Congregational Church is located in Massachusetts
North Congregational Church
North Congregational Church
42°6′22.63″N 72°35′11.35″W / 42.1062861°N 72.5864861°W / 42.1062861; -72.5864861
LocationSpringfield, Massachusetts
CountryUnited States
DenominationApostolic
Previous denominationCongregational
Weekly attendance500
Websitewww.iar.church
History
Former name(s)North Congregational Church
Architecture
Architect(s)Henry Hobson Richardson
Architectural typeRomanesque
Years built1872-1873
Clergy
Pastor(s)Reverend Dr. Pedro Rafael Osorio

Building

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The structure is of light sandstone and does not show the more distinctive features of later Richardsonian Romanesque works by Richardson and others. While the exterior is rectangular, the interior is cruciform with the corners filled by functional spaces i.e. the vestibule and church offices.[1]

The church is located at 18 Salem Street, at the corner of Salem and Mattoon Streets.[2]

History

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The North Congregational Society disbanded in 1935 and the church was sold and renamed Grace Baptist Church. It was later renamed Hispanic Baptist Church.[2]

By 2016, the church was operating as IAR (Iglesia Apostolica Renovacion) Springfield, part of the Apostolic Renewal Renovation Network, a network of 27 churches in 6 countries. It was a bilingual Apostolic congregation with Hispanic, African-American and Anglo-Saxon members, and a regular attendance of 500 people.[3]

In 2019, the church was put up for sale and there is no congregation using it. [4]

References

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  1. ^ Early church records
  2. ^ a b "North Congregational Church, Springfield (1873)". Historic Buildings of Massachusetts. 27 July 2009. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  3. ^ "Our History". IAR Springfield. IAR Springfield. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  4. ^ cite webtitle=Church for sale: Congregation puts H.H. Richardson building in Springfield’s Mattoon Street neighborhood on the market url=https://www.masslive.com/business/2019/05/church-for-sale-congregation-puts-hh-richardson-building-in-springfields-mattoon-street-neighborhood-on-the-market.html
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