CHoWs - By Material


Wood


Abington Congregational
Abington, CT
Congregational, 1751
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!Oldest church in Connecticut.
Bethlehem Congregational
Bethlehem, CT
Congregational, 1790
Wood
Christ Church, Middle Haddam
Middle Haddam, CT
Church of England, 1786
Wood
First Church of Christ, Farmington
Farmington, CT
Congregational, 1771
Wood
First Congregational, Brooklyn
Brooklyn, CT
Congregational, 1770
Wood
Hampton Congregational
Hampton, CT
Congregational, 1754
Wood
Kensington Congregational
Kensington, CT
Congregational, 1774
Wood
Old Congregational Enfield
Enfield, CT
Congregational, 1774
Wood
Old Trinity, Brooklyn
Brooklyn, CT
Church of England, 1770
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!Its setting in the woods at the edge of town gives this church its perfect atmosphere of quietude, and of an earlier era.
St. Paul's, Woodbury
Woodbury, CT
Church of England, 1785
Wood
Westminster Congregational
Westminster, CT
Congregational, 1769
Wood
Wilton Congregational
Wilton, CT
Congregational, 1790
Wood
Old Christ Church
Laurel, DE
Church of England, 1771
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!Apart from exterior repainting/restaining, this church retains its original appearance and character, as well as original materials: it’s been unchanged for 250 years. It has no electricity, and its unpainted pews and interior walls reflect that era beautifully. Its setting out in the country is not completely rural (farm machinery can be heard in season), but one can imagine stepping back in time fairly easily here. This design of this beautiful church is based directly on its parent church, Green Hill (Whitehaven, Wicomico Co., MD), though the original is a brick building.
Prince George's Chapel
Dagsboro, DE
Church of England, 1757
Wood
Midway
Midway, GA
Congregational, 1792
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!Site of burial of some Signers of the Declaration of Independence. The relative quiet of the neighborhood, even with I-95 just a couple of miles to the east, enhances the sense of an earlier time that this very large churchyard suggests.
Alna MH
Alna, ME
Congregational, 1789
Wood
Congregational MH Castine
Castine, ME
Congregational, 1790
Wood
First Congregational, Kittery
Kittery Point, ME
Congregational, 1730
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!Oldest in Maine.
First Parish Church, Kennebunk
Kennebunk, ME
Congregational, 1773
Wood
First Parish MH
Biddeford, ME
Congregational, 1758
Wood
German MH
Waldoboro, ME
German Lutheran, 1770
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!A point of interest inside is a photograph of one of the men who worked on the construction. Since it was completed before the American Revolution, the photo is, of course, of the much older man: it was taken more than 60 years later.
Harrington MH
South Bristol, ME
Congregational, 1772
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!For some years, this building was across the road, in use as a barn. It’s been restored to its original foundations, and now presents quite well as a survival from the 18th century. Compare its appearance to that of Walpole, just a few miles away.
Nequasset MH
Woolwich, ME
Congregational, 1757
Wood
Old Meeting House, Harpswell Center
Harpswell, ME
Congregational, 1757
Wood
Walpole MH
South Bristol, ME
Presbyterian, 1772
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!Just a few miles from the Harrington Meeting House, Walpole bears a remarkable resemblance to it. They were completed within a year or so together. This too allows one to step back in time.
York Congregational
York, ME
Congregational, 1747
Wood
St. Francis Xavier
Compton, MD
Roman Catholic, 1767
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!One of the few Roman Catholic churches from the Colonial English era.
St. Mary Star of the Sea: Tubman Chapel
Church Creek, MD
Roman Catholic, 1767
Wood
Third Haven FMH
Easton, MD
Society of Friends, 1682
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!Second oldest wooden meeting house in the country. Thanks to its location set well back from the streets of Easton, it might seem like a good place to drift back to the 18th century.
Belchertown
Belchertown, MA
Congregational, 1789
Wood
Bernardston Cong Unit
Bernardston, MA
Congregational, 1739
Wood
Chestnut Hill MH
Millville, MA
Society of Friends, 1769
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!In a fine state of preservation, this meeting house looks as it must have looked in the 18th century, and depending on traffic, allows one to dream of being back in that time.
Christ Church, Cambridge
Cambridge, MA
Church of England, 1760
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!Just across Massachusetts Avenue is the Harvard U. campus, which contains another CHoW, Holden Chapel (q.v.).
Clapboardtrees MH
Westwood, MA
Congregational, 1730
Wood
Congregational Phillipston
Phillipston, MA
Congregational, 1784
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!Thanks to the small-town atmosphere, this church does give one the impression of having skipped two dozen decades backward.
Dighton Pedo-Baptist
Dighton, MA
Pedo-Baptist, 1770
Wood
East Hoosac FMH
Adams, MA
Society of Friends, 1786
Wood
First Church in Dedham
Dedham, MA
Congregational, 1762
Wood
First Congregational, Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury, MA
Congregational, 1766
Wood
First Parish Church, Milton
Milton, MA
Congregational, 1788
Wood
First Parish MH, Cohasset
Cohasset, MA
Congregational, 1747
Wood
First Parish MH, Groton
Groton, MA
Congregational, 1755
Wood
Goshen
Goshen, MA
Congregational, 1782
Wood
Groveland
Groveland, MA
Congregational, 1791
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!The church bell, cast by Paul Revere in 1795, is the oldest Revere bell in continuous service.
Holden Congregational
Holden, MA
Congregational, 1789
Wood
Hubbardston
Hubbardston, MA
Congregational, 1774
Wood
Long Plain FMH
Acushnet, MA
Society of Friends, 1759
Wood
Longmeadow MH
Longmeadow, MA
Congregational, 1767
Wood
Lynnfield Town MH
Lynnfield, MA
Congregational, 1714
Wood
Medfield
Medfield, MA
Congregational, 1789
Wood
North Orange Community Church
North Orange, MA
Congregational, 1781
Wood
Old Indian, Mashpee
Mashpee, MA
Congregational, 1717
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!Substantially restored after 2000.
Old Meeting House, Burlington
Burlington, MA
Congregational, 1732
Wood
Old Meeting House, Ludlow Center
Ludlow, MA
Congregational, 1784
Wood
Old North Vestry
Nantucket, MA
Presbyterian, 1732
Wood
Old Parish Congregational
Sheffield, MA
Congregational, 1760
Wood
Old Ship MH, Hingham
Hingham, MA
Congregational, 1681
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!This is the oldest wooden house of worship in the US. It is also the oldest CHoW in Massachusetts.
Old South, Second Presbyterian
Newburyport, MA
Presbyterian, 1756
Wood
Paxton Congregational
Paxton, MA
Congregational, 1767
Wood
Pelham MH
Pelham, MA
Presbyterian, 1743
Wood
Pembroke FMH
Pembroke, MA
Society of Friends, 1706
Wood
Rocky Hill MH
Amesbury, MA
Congregational, 1785
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!Believed to be completely unchanged since its construction, it’s one of the few which conveys its 18th century ambiance perfectly.
Second Congregational
North Beverly, MA
Congregational, 1714
Wood
Shirley
Shirley, MA
Congregational, 1773
Wood
South Hingham MH
South Hingham, MA
Congregational, 1742
Wood
Southampton Congregational
Southampton, MA
Congregational, 1786
Wood
St. Michael's, Marblehead
Marblehead, MA
Church of England, 1714
Wood
Swansea FMH
Somerset, MA
Society of Friends, 1702
Wood
Townsend
Townsend, MA
Congregational, 1771
Wood
West Granville
West Granville, MA
Congregational, 1778
Wood
West Parish MH
West Barnstable, MA
Congregational, 1717
Wood
Wilbraham Methodist
Wilbraham, MA
Methodist, 1793
Wood
Community Congregational
Greenland, NH
Congregational, 1756
Wood
Congregational MH
Amherst, NH
Congregational, 1771
Wood
Congregational, Chester
Chester, NH
Congregational, 1772
Wood
Congregational, Keene
Keene, NH
Congregational, 1786
Wood
Danville MH
North Danville, NH
Congregational, 1760
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!An isolated location and an apparently unchanged appearance make this an ideal location for evoking the colonial era.
Dover FMH
Dover, NH
Society of Friends, 1768
Wood
East Derry Parish
Derry, NH
Presbyterian, 1769
Wood
First Church, Hopkinton
Hopkinton, NH
Congregational, 1789
Wood
First Congregational, Rochester
Rochester, NH
Congregational, 1790
Wood
Hampstead Town Hall
Hampstead, NH
Congregational, 1745
Wood
Newington MH
Newington, NH
Congregational, 1712
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!Oldest in New Hampshire.
Old Meeting House, Jaffrey
Jaffrey, NH
Congregational, 1775
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!While not as isolated as some of the most colonial-seeming buildings, the MH in Jaffrey has a suitable setting suggestive of the 18th century.
Old Meeting House, New Durham
Durham, NH
Congregational, 1772
Wood
Old MH Town Hall, Mont Vernon
Mont Vernon, NH
Congregational, 1781
Wood
Old MH Town Hall, Richmond
Richmond, NH
Congregational, 1780
Wood
Old Town House, Henniker
Henniker, NH
Congregational, 1786
Wood
Salem Town Hall
Salem, NH
Congregational, 1738
Wood
Sandown MH
Sandown, NH
Congregational, 1773
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!An isolated location and an apparently unchanged appearance make this an ideal location for evoking the colonial era.
Union, West Claremont
West Claremont, NH
Church of England, 1773
Wood
Washington Town Hall
Washington, NH
Congregational, 1786
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!The town, apparently the very first in the country named for the General, is also billed as the highest (elevation) of any town in New Hampshire. Since its also a classic New England town with a green, standing there near the Town Hall, one can envision the earlier era rather easily.
Westmoreland Congregational
Park Hill/Westmoreland, NH
Congregational, 1762
Wood
Christ Church, Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury, NJ
Church of England, 1769
Wood
Mt. Bethel Baptist MH
Warren, NJ
Baptist, 1761
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!This MH is well-preserved, and has a fine cemetery adjacent, but because of its location about 10' from two very busy roads, it's not especially easy to drift back to colonial times while gazing at it.
Old Yellow MH
Imlaystown, NJ
Baptist, 1737
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!Not far from an amusement park and the New Jersey Turnpike, this meeting house has been able to retain its 18th century atmosphere thanks to its original appearance and the lack of modern development nearby.
Plainfield FMH
Plainfield, NJ
Society of Friends, 1788
Wood
Randolph MH, Dover
Dover, NJ
Society of Friends, 1758
Wood
Seaville FMH
Seaville, NJ
Society of Friends, 1727
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!This may be the smallest wooden Friends Meetinghouse; even though it’s not far from the Garden State Parkway, it’s in a pleasantly peaceful area, allowing one to imagine one has escaped modern influences momentarily.
St. Peter's, Freehold
Freehold, NJ
Church of England, 1770
Wood
Tennett, Freehold
Freehold, NJ
Presbyterian, 1751
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!Even in the nation’s most densely populated state, some locations still seem from another time. This church has sufficient surrounding land to produce that effect.
Caroline Setauket
Setauket, NY
Church of England, 1729
Wood
Chappaqua FMH
Chappaqua, NY
Society of Friends, 1754
Wood
Commack Methodist
Commack, NY
Methodist, 1789
Wood
Crum Elbow FMH
Hyde Park, NY
Society of Friends, 1779
Wood
First Presbyterian, Huntington
Huntington, NY
Presbyterian, 1784
Wood
Flushing FMH Queens
Flushing, NY
Society of Friends, 1694
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!This FMH is the oldest house of worship in the city of New York and in the state of New York. In nearly 20 years, I’ve never found it open.
Jericho FMH
Hicksville, NY
Society of Friends, 1788
Wood
Matinecock FMH
Oyster Bay, NY
Society of Friends, 1725
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!This meeting house’s setting allows one to drift back in time quite easily.
Mohawk Indian Castle
Mohawk, NY
Church of England, 1769
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!Upstate New York has numerous colonial-era houses of worship with excellent settings for the atmosphere. The history in this case is unusual: The church was established through charitable donations for the religious education of local Native Americans.
New Lebanon Shaker MH
New (Mt.) Lebanon, NY
Shaker, 1785
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!Although the Shaker community in Canterbury, New Hampshire, is perhaps the best-known remaining in America, this is the only structure built by Shakers during the colonial era that is still intact. It’s now part of a small college, and surrounded by a green campus and other buildings.
Oblong FMH
Quaker Hill (Pawling), NY
Society of Friends, 1764
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!One of several upstate NY FMH’s in ideally colonial rural settings.
St. John's, Oakdale, LI
Oakdale, NY
Church of England, 1769
Wood
St. Peter's, Spencertown
Spencertown, NY
Presbyterian, 1771
Wood
St. Peter's, Van Cortlandtville
Van Cortlandtville, NY
Church of England, 1767
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!Its setting in a large cemetery allows one to dream of the 18th century more easily.
Trinity, Fishkill
Fishkill, NY
Church of England, 1769
Wood
St. John's, Williamsboro
Williamsboro, NC
Church of England, 1773
Wood
Catawissa FMH
Catawissa, PA
Society of Friends, 1789
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!Less than a third of the Friends Meetinghouses are built of wood; this is the only one remaining from the colonial era in Pennsylvania. Additionally, though I did not know to ask at the time about this MH, I've known of Catawissa for over 60 years: it was my 4th-grade teacher's home town, and she spoke of it in class occasionally.
Ephrata Saal
Ephrata, PA
Seventh Day German Baptist, 1711
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!Thanks to this unusual religious group’s historic nature, the entire complex has been preserved, allowing one to experience what being in a strongly-focused religious community in the mid-18th century was like.
Conanicut FMH
Jamestown, RI
Society of Friends, 1786
Wood
Dr. Hopkins MH
Newport, RI
Congregational, 1729
Wood
First Baptist, Providence
Providence, RI
Baptist, 1774
Wood
Hopkinton Union MH
Hopkinton, RI
First Day Baptist, 1789
Wood
Newport FMH
Newport, RI
Society of Friends, 1699
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!Oldest in Rhode Island.
Portsmouth FMH
Portsmouth, RI
Society of Friends, 1700
Wood
Sabbath Day MH
Newport, RI
Seventh Day Baptist, 1729
Wood
Saylesville Friends
Lincoln-Saylesville, RI
Society of Friends, 1703
Wood
Second Congregational, Newport
Newport, RI
Congregational, 1733
Wood
Six Principle Baptist
North Kingstown, RI
Six Principle Baptist
Wood
St. Paul's, Wickford
Wickford, RI
Church of England, 1707
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!It was moved around 1800, because of population changes, from its original location about five miles away.
Trinity, Newport
Newport, RI
Church of England, 1725
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!Although this is finished in white-painted wood, its architecture mirrors that of the Old North Church in Boston very noticeably.
John's Island Presbyterian
John's Island, SC
Presbyterian, 1719
Wood
St. David's, Cheraw
Cheraw, SC
Church of England, 1768
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!The church’s large cemetery, with numerous big trees, enhances the sense of the 18th century, even though the church is in the city of Cheraw.
First Congregational, Thetford
Thetford Hill, VT
Congregational, 1787
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!Completed about the same time as Rockingham, or a few days earlier.
Rockingham MH
Rockingham, VT
Congregational, 1787
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!Completed about the same time as Thetford, or a few days later.
Townshend MH
Townshend, VT
Congregational, 1790
Wood
Hebron Lutheran
Madison, VA
German Lutheran, 1740
Wood
Old Chapel, Penhook
Penhook, VA
Church of England, 1769
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!The very isolated location of this chapel makes it easy to imagine one has left the 20th century far away.
Providence Presbyterian
Gum Spring, VA
Presbyterian, 1747
Wood
Slash Church
Ashland, VA
Church of England, 1729
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!Probably the oldest wooden frame church in Virginia.
St. John's, Richmond
Richmond, VA
Church of England, 1741
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!The church has been rotated 90° on its foundations, but is the location of Patrick Henry’s famed “Give me Liberty” speech.
Rehoboth Church, Union-Gap Mills
Union-Gap Mills, WV
Methodist, 1785
Wood
Hold mouse here for more info!In addition to being a fairly rare example of a log-cabin church still standing (and the only intact CHoW in the state), the history of Rehoboth Church has two remarkable travel-related events: For the dedication, and for another ceremony some years later, Bishop Francis Asbury, the first American Bishop of the Methodist Church, made the long trip through wild country.


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