First United Methodist Church - East Main-High Street Historic District - Greenfield, MA
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 42° 35.409 W 072° 35.834
18T E 697147 N 4718101
The English Revival style First United Methodist Church, historically the First Methodist Episcopal Church, is located at 25 Church Street in Greenfield, MA.
Waymark Code: WM13M15
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 01/04/2021
Views: 0
The Methodist Episcopal society in Greenfield was established in 1831. A small wooden church was erected in 1834. When the church became vacant in 1847 the Methodist bought the church and moved it to Church Street near present day Franklin Street.
When the small wooden church was sold at auction in 1883, plans were made for a new church building at this site. The present church was designed in the English Revival style by architect Manvis Roscoe Drew. The building was completed in 1885. In 1902 the church was moved to 25 Church Street to make room for the extension of Franklin St. At this time the church was enlarged, the roof was re-tiled and new stained glass windows were installed.
The façade of the two-story First United Methodist Church is covered in stucco on the lower level and wood shingles at the upper level. On the east side a set of steps leading up to a portico entrance covered by a tiled gable roof. Above the entrance is a three-story high square tower with a pair of windows on the stucco covered second level and a belfry with louvered Pallidian style windows on the shingle covered third level. The top of the tower has spires at each of the four corners. The main block of the church has four basement windows and a group of five stained glass windows on the lower level and a group of five stained glass windows on the upper level.
The east side of the main block of the church has two auxiliary entrances on the lower level. In between and under a gable roof is a large triple window that extends into the upper level. This center window is flanked by a pair of double rectangular windows. Beyond the main block is are additional wings housing the parsonage that were added after the church was moved. The west side of the church has a dormer extending from the roof and four rectangular windows. The last two windows extend into the upper level.