The United Church of Northfield was built in 1835 by Charles Paine, a Northfield entrepreneur and Governor of Vermont from 1841-1843. He built what was then known as Paine’s Meeting House to give his mill workers a space to worship. Throughout its history the building has been a house of worship. The beautiful one-story, white clapboarded, Greek Revival building with it’s prominent clock tower and steeple stands overlooking Northfield’s Depot Square Historic District. The church is the oldest of the two remaining examples of 19th century architecture in the Historic District. The other is the old Central Vermont Railroad Station built c.1858 (now the Merchants Bank). The tower also contains a brass bell cast by George H. Holbrook of East Medway, Mass. in 1839. The Medway Foundry produced what was said to be the finest church bells in the country.

The horse sheds have been removed, but with few exceptions the building appears as it did at the dedication in 1836. In the early 1850’s it was purchased from the Paine estate by the Congregationalist Society. Soon after the purchase the building became too small for the growing congregation. The building was cut in half crosswise and enlarged to accommodate another 16 pews. The Congregationalists and the Universalists merged to form the United Church of Northfield in 1929.

Another major change to the structure was the addition of a community space below the church. Prior to 1858 there appears to have been only a crawl space below the building. The building was raised by Isaac Howe, and a hall was built beneath to rent out for community events. Today Howe’s Hall continues to function as a space for congregational and community events. The United Church of Northfield is a symbol of religious freedom and community spirit, and continues to be an anchor to Northfield’s Historic Downtown.

Complied by Debra Maloney-Evans,

Chairperson, Save our Steeple Committee

11/18/10