KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) The Keene Unitarian Universalist Church on Washington Street has officially been added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources announced that the U.S. Secretary of the Interior has honored the building for its remarkable blend of Late Gothic Revival and Tudor Revival styles, according to a news release.
Built in 1894, the church’s sanctuary and parish hall reflect a transitional architectural period, combining two popular styles of the time, the release said. Its exterior features Roxbury granite walls, gabled dormers, leaded glass windows, and a crenelated bell tower. This tower houses one of only 28 Paul Revere bells remaining in New Hampshire, weighing 1,500 pounds.
Inside, the sanctuary boasts six original timber trusses and Paris-imported pews. A Tiffany “Truth” window, designed by renowned artist Frederick Wilson and installed in 1900, adds to its charm. Wilson, who led Tiffany’s Ecclesiastical Department, also created works for the U.S. Naval Academy chapel and had pieces shown at World’s Fairs in Chicago and Paris.
The church also displays plaques commemorating members, including one by muralist Francis Barrett Faulkner. His Edwards Memorial plaque is believed to be his only public work in his hometown of Keene.
Notably, the church’s 1894 construction used steam-powered machinery, considered cutting-edge at the time. A modern-style education wing, added in 1960 by architect Arthur M. Doyle, incorporates passive solar technology via a translucent Skywall system.
Architect Edwin James Lewis, Jr., who designed 35 Unitarian churches across the U.S. and Canada, created the original design for the Keene church, modeled after Christ Church in Dorchester, Massachusetts.
The church was added to the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places in 2021. Now listed on the National Register, it is eligible for preservation grants, including funding through the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP).
