Arron Sturgis, Pres.,

Preservation Timber Framing, Berwick, Maine 03901

The "Old Corner Church" is a magnificent and well-maintained example of Greek Revival architecture, and it was a pleasure to study its construction. For the most part the building is in exceptional condition for its age.

From printed documentation, we understand that the Old Corner Church was erected in 1803-4. We also know that a significant change occurred to its interior in 1849, when it was upgraded from a side gallery to a rear balcony, and there is written evidence that the church was "lowered 7 feet." This quote is most unusual as many churches during the middle of the 19th Century were enlarging, many digging out basements and adding additional stories to their buildings for parish hall space.

Historically, a church of this age is created in massive timbers and roof trusses that allow great spans in the sanctuary. This church is no exception. Its timber frame is hand hewn, hemlock beams with a "parallel rafter king post truss."

The church sits near ground supported on a perimeter of granite capstones above grade and rubble stones beneath. The crawl space under the church is relatively inaccessible with viewing only between the stones.

The front gable and two eave walls are in excellent shape, despite some squirrel damage to the cornice molding here and there. Large triple hung clear glass windows with shutters provide fenestration along with a very Greek Revival trim detail at the eave and across the front of the church. The large windows along the front gable and eave walls appear to be windows placed in the building in 1849 when a significant change in the interior space took place. Old wavy glass and a fine muntin profile illustrate features consistent with the mid-19th Century.

The interior of the Old Corner Church is remarkable. It hosts a separated narthex as you enter from the front gable. The sanctuary contains beautiful bench pews arranged in a horseshoe pattern around a slightly elevated pulpit at the back gable end. A tin ceiling adheres to the bottom of the king post truss roof system and plaster walls terminate at large triple hung windows and a pew board wainscot. Two stairs lead to a second floor balcony.

The entire sanctuary interior has been added to an original plaster wall interior. Original plaster walls are still visible in the closet above the left stair well and some original wall stenciling appears in the right side stair well. Observing from the attic, it is clear that the walls are padded out to accept the new window and pew fenestration. While it is difficult to determine when every change occurred in the church, it is an educated guess that the interior changes coincide with the 1849 "lowering" of the church.

The tin ceiling may be from this period or perhaps slightly later. The church reveals a large wood stove location that once exited the building through the roof in two locations seen in the attic and a third location in the exterior chimney at the back gable. [2023 note: this exterior chimney at the back gable was removed when new period clapboards were installed in 2013]

Dark stained woodwork and sash indicate the 1849 changes made to the building.

The wall framing of the church can be seen from the attic to some degree. There are a number of open shafts, two at the gable and one along each eave that provide view from top plate to near depth of sill. These shafts appear to be placed for ventilation in what is clearly a double wall system complete with plaster and lathe.

Without opening a wall to confirm, this indicates that there was an original plaster wall system in place and that long studs were fastened to it to bring the interior of the sanctuary flush with the inside of the corner posts that originally extended into the space. The triple hung windows sit within the exterior wall plane with a beaded extension jamb spanning to the interior surface of the second wall plane. While this proves a significant amount of work was done to the interior of the church, it does not confirm the reduction of post height as indicated in the history of the church.

The balcony is constructed of stained pine and provides exceptional views of the sanctuary below. Floorboards indicate a re-use of materials or a change in configuration of the area over time. One gets a particularly good look at the mid-19th Century wood details in the window frames from this vantage point.

Hymnal racks on the backs of the pews and the entry doors from narthex to sanctuary appear to be consistent with the 1849 change. Chandeliers appear quite early, perhaps installed just after the turn of the century. The narthex ceiling appears quite low and interrupts the head casing on the entry doors on the interior. It is possible that this ceiling was added over an original plaster ceiling now hidden.

This building is clearly loved by many in the community and its construction, although altered over time, remains sound and magnificent. While no archival information exists about the lowering of the church, it is hard to imagine that the correct proportions of the current configuration would withstand such a blow. Physical investigation of a portion of the interior wall plane at one of the structural post locations could reveal good information in this regard. A closer look at the undercarriage may reveal more information as well. The removal of a pitched floor also noted in the written documentation may explain some of the lowering phenomenon. The removal of galleries is somewhat common as is the rearrangement of box to bench pews. This is the first example of lowering the church that I have encountered, leaving me with some skepticism.

A well-preserved Greek Revival exterior with intact front gable, cornice molding, and shuttered windows—remarkable for a structure erected in 1803–4.

Bench pews in a horseshoe arrangement around a slightly elevated pulpit, with a tin ceiling adhering to the king post truss roof system above.

Hand-hewn hemlock beams form a "parallel rafter king post truss"—a classic heavy timber system allowing the wide, open sanctuary span.

Large triple-hung windows with original wavy glass and fine muntin profiles—hallmarks of the mid-19th century renovation dated to 1849.