After 112 years, the United Church of Ludlow is finally getting some recognition.

On January 28, the National Park Service of the U.S. Dept of the Interior, added the United Church to its august listing known as the National Register of Historic Sites (NR).

In 2002 the Vermont Dept for Historic Preservation declared the church eligible for nomination to the NR.  Previously it had been listed on that agency’s list of historic state locations

Work on the nomination of the church began last summer with Paula Sagerman (pictured above), a preservationist historian from Williamsville, began collecting data on the church’s history and building.

Surprising Data

According to Ralph Pace, church trustee and chair of its restoration committee, some of the information developed by Sagerman’s investigation was surprising.  “One of the key things she discovered was the first representative to the Vermont Legislature from Ludlow in 1795 was Stephen Read whose home, at Buttermilk Falls, served as the first meeting place for the young church.”  Pace added that the report also noted that a “glebe” or church lot had been set aside in Ludlow for the Church of England in 1792 but was never developed.

The church, then known as the Congregational Church of Ludlow, also served as the Town’s first free library, open to all residents.

The nomination reports indicates that “The church may be the only example of intact mature Shingle Style church in Vermont.”  The original roof of the church, now slate, was wood shingles.

Building History

The current Church building was erected in April, 1892 at a cost of $10,918.43 (including furnishings) by the Congregational Church of Ludlow. 

 The first Congregational Meetinghouse was constructed in 1806.  This was superceded in 1839 by a second structure located on High Street near Depot Street.  The bell from the second church building is still in use in the current church.

 In April, 1930 the Congregational and Methodist Churches united forming the United Church of Ludlow, with the current Church as its home.

 The organ in the Church was built by George S. Hutchings.  It is an unaltered seven-stop, tracker action instrument made by this famous Boston firm.

A major restoration effort was started by the church in 2002 to renovate the 112 year old structure.  The first phase of the project was completed in 2003 with the total renovation of the slate roof, its flashing, chimney, and the restoration of the Ladies Parlor.  Plans call for continuing restoration work on the churches exterior shingling, trim and foundation in 2004, pending the availability of funds.

The inclusion of United Church of Ludlow in the National Register of Historic Sites means Ludlow now has four separate entities listed within it:  The United Church of Ludlow, the Black River Academy; the Ludlow Graded School (now the Senior Center), and the Spaulding, Zachariah Farm (aka the Brick Farm).