Colonial Meeting House - History

History

The origin of the "town meeting" form of government, can be traced to meeting houses of the colonies.

The meeting houses that survive today were generally built in the last half of the 18th century. The styles are remarkably similar, most were almost square, with a steep pitched roof running east to west. There were usually 3 doors: The one in the center of the long south wall was called the "Door of Honor," and was used by the minister and his family, and any honored out-of-town guests. The other doors were located in the middle of the east and west walls, and were used by women and men, respectively. A balcony (called a "gallery") would usually be built on the east, south, and west walls, and a high pulpit would be located on the north wall.

When the separation of church and state took place, some towns complied with the law by building a floor at the balcony level, and using the first floor for town business, and the second floor for church.

Most of these structures that are still standing have been renovated several times to meet the needs of their owners and the styles of the times. In the early 19th century, people wanted "modern" churches that had one entrance on a short end of the building, a long isle to a pulpit on the other short end, and slip pews instead of box pews.