Centre Church: A Historical Church and a Downtown Brattleboro Landmark
Our church began in 1814 as the Brattleborough Village Meeting House Society, being organized for the purpose of subscribing to and building a meeting house in the East Village. At first occasional services were held in a schoolhouse which was then located on the site of the present common, but the people residing in the East Village wanted to have a proper house of worship. Rev. William Wells, formerly pastor of the meeting house in the West Village, was hired on a yearly basis and began having regular services in the schoolhouse in April of 1814.
The parcel of land now known as the Common was purchased in 18I5 and the building was completed in December of 1815 but not used until July 5, when 14 members withdrew from the church in the West Village and commenced services in the new structure. The first Communion was held July 7, 1816 and the new church was formally dedicated on August 22, 1816.
The church was smaller than it is now, painted white with many windows, a shorter steeple and pillars in front. The pews were box-like, with doors, and there was a center aisle and two side aisles with four rows of pews. There were also pews at each side of, and facing, the pulpit at right angles to the other pews. There was a gallery on each side, curving around the rear end of the church, where the choir sat. The pulpit was raised about half the height of the room, supported by four pillars, with communion appurtenances below. The meeting house faced south and was located approximately where a historic marker now stands on the Common. There was a storage cellar, and horse sheds crossed the back of the building. At that time members bought and decorated their own pews and contributed to the minister's salary and the upkeep of the meeting house.
In 1842 the church decided to tear down the original meeting house and rebuild it at its present location, then known as the "Orchard." The church was basically as before except a little larger to accommodate more pews, the center aisle was omitted leaving long central pews. Half of the windows were omitted and the singers' gallery extended straight across the Main Street end of the church instead of curving. Two large chimneys projected into the church on the north and south sides to accommodate the hot air furnace. There was a porch fronted by a row of Doric columns. Horse sheds extended behind the church and bank building. The new structure was dedicated on January 11, 1843 and here is found the first mention of "Centre Church."
A chapel was built at the rear of the church after tearing down the northern section of horse sheds during the pastorate of George Tyler (l853- I 867). In 1864 a severe storm with winds of tornado proportions blew off the steeple down to the clock and also damaged the roof. During the repairs of this damage, the pillars were removed, the sanctuary extended to accommodate 26 more pews and a new steeple was built up from a stone foundation. Additionally, a new bell was installed about this time.
Over the years the church has bought property on both sides, removed the buildings, added to the chapel and added the Christian Education wing. The interior of the church was redecorated in 1888 with the pews being organized as they are now. Memorial Chapel was erected in 1924. In the 1940s the Mason family donated funds to have a small chapel built, which is now the Dunham-Mason Chapel behind the sanctuary. In the 1980s siding was added to most of the exterior of the church, the organ had major work done on it, and in 2008 the steeple and facade were rejuvenated.
The walkway to the front entrance was the final project to be completed and was done so with the hands of our own congregation! It was a time of fellowship and hard work and the end product is a delight!
The blank pavers that are currently in place can be replaced with an engraved paver so please consider purchasing a paver to commemorate a special person or occasion in your life. This will be an ongoing fundraiser for years to come!
We are proud and blessed to have been in Brattleboro for over 200 years now, and look forward to serving our community for many more!
The parcel of land now known as the Common was purchased in 18I5 and the building was completed in December of 1815 but not used until July 5, when 14 members withdrew from the church in the West Village and commenced services in the new structure. The first Communion was held July 7, 1816 and the new church was formally dedicated on August 22, 1816.
The church was smaller than it is now, painted white with many windows, a shorter steeple and pillars in front. The pews were box-like, with doors, and there was a center aisle and two side aisles with four rows of pews. There were also pews at each side of, and facing, the pulpit at right angles to the other pews. There was a gallery on each side, curving around the rear end of the church, where the choir sat. The pulpit was raised about half the height of the room, supported by four pillars, with communion appurtenances below. The meeting house faced south and was located approximately where a historic marker now stands on the Common. There was a storage cellar, and horse sheds crossed the back of the building. At that time members bought and decorated their own pews and contributed to the minister's salary and the upkeep of the meeting house.
In 1842 the church decided to tear down the original meeting house and rebuild it at its present location, then known as the "Orchard." The church was basically as before except a little larger to accommodate more pews, the center aisle was omitted leaving long central pews. Half of the windows were omitted and the singers' gallery extended straight across the Main Street end of the church instead of curving. Two large chimneys projected into the church on the north and south sides to accommodate the hot air furnace. There was a porch fronted by a row of Doric columns. Horse sheds extended behind the church and bank building. The new structure was dedicated on January 11, 1843 and here is found the first mention of "Centre Church."
A chapel was built at the rear of the church after tearing down the northern section of horse sheds during the pastorate of George Tyler (l853- I 867). In 1864 a severe storm with winds of tornado proportions blew off the steeple down to the clock and also damaged the roof. During the repairs of this damage, the pillars were removed, the sanctuary extended to accommodate 26 more pews and a new steeple was built up from a stone foundation. Additionally, a new bell was installed about this time.
Over the years the church has bought property on both sides, removed the buildings, added to the chapel and added the Christian Education wing. The interior of the church was redecorated in 1888 with the pews being organized as they are now. Memorial Chapel was erected in 1924. In the 1940s the Mason family donated funds to have a small chapel built, which is now the Dunham-Mason Chapel behind the sanctuary. In the 1980s siding was added to most of the exterior of the church, the organ had major work done on it, and in 2008 the steeple and facade were rejuvenated.
The walkway to the front entrance was the final project to be completed and was done so with the hands of our own congregation! It was a time of fellowship and hard work and the end product is a delight!
The blank pavers that are currently in place can be replaced with an engraved paver so please consider purchasing a paver to commemorate a special person or occasion in your life. This will be an ongoing fundraiser for years to come!
We are proud and blessed to have been in Brattleboro for over 200 years now, and look forward to serving our community for many more!