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   Greek Revival

CHURCH TYPE INFORMATION

Name

Greek Revival

General Range

1825-1860


HISTORIC OVERVIEW OF THIS STYLE

Greek Revival style houses of worship were common in the mid-19th century. These buildings are actually high style examples of the Chapel Plan that feature classical entrance features on the front gable end. By the mid-1810s, it was becoming common for the tympanum on the front gable end to protrude from the wall surface over a porch defined by heavy columns. The use of a heavy Greek portico became more common in the 1820s and remained popular into the 1850s. This architectural movement was associated with an increased interest in classical architecture as well as the struggle of people in Greece who were rebelling against the Ottoman Empire. A subset of the Greek Revival style (common 1835-1860) featured a recessed entrance porch with "columns in antis," flanking the door; these churches often reflected this recess on the rear, where the pulpit is also recessed. Spires, when used, are usually located near the front gable end. They usually consist of a square louvered base supporting the spire above.
 
The interiors of Greek Revival style churches was the same as that of Chapel Plan churches of the period. Denominations that allowed boxed pews arranged them in banks that often surrounded an elevated pulpit on three sides (Presbyterian, Congregational) or faced a chancel area where the pulpit and altar are located (Episcopal, Lutheran). Denominations that did not usually allow boxed pews (Baptist, Methodist, Quaker) usually installed two banks of open seats in the front of the worship space for spiritually advanced members.


UPDATE

If you have additional information or corrections to the existing information, send an email to info@preservationerie.org.
Submitted information is reviewed by Preservation Erie prior to updating the database.


EXAMPLE


HISTORIC CHURCHES OF THIS TYPE

Municipality

Name

Address

Elk Creek Township

10410 HIGH ST

Fairview Township

7555 WATER ST

Girard Borough

First Universalist Church

107 Myrtle Street

North East Borough

First Baptist Church

43 S LAKE ST

Springfield Township

13687 RIDGE RD

Washington Township

12460 DRAKETOWN RD

Wattsburg Borough

Wattsburg Pbyn Ch

14425 CHURCH ST


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