Center Meeting House

“It is our Vision to conserve the Center Meeting House for future generations and to make it a center for activities that will unite and enrich our community.”

Welcome to the Center Meeting House web site.  Enjoy the photo of the new tower.  What a great sight!

Things have been moving along for the Center Meeting House.  It's not just the new bell tower!  In 2009, for the approximately final four months  beginning August 26, 2009 we had over 1,360 visits to this web site, just another indication of how important the Center Meeting House and its restoration are to our community.

Peruse the site for all kinds of fascinating information about the meetinghouse.  But for the very latest in what is happening, go directly to the "NEWS" button above this article. 

We hope that you will find interesting information about this grand old building which sits in the center of our town.  Over the past four and a half years it has seen many interesting events as we work to restore it and make it useful for our community again.

It is truly on the verge of once again being the heart and soul of our town, Newbury, New Hampshire.

The Center Meeting House restoration brings back a building which has been the architectural focus of Newbury for 177 years.  James L. Garvin, the State of NH's Architectural Historian has said the following about the building, "Newbury Center Meeting House retains great integrity of frame and finish, and exhibits the competence and skill of its builders.  Despite some changes carried out in the late nineteenth century when the church found renewed use as a summer chapel, the building exhibits much of its original interior and exterior joinery, which represents an excellent example of late federal-period design.  Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, the meeting house is one of New Hampshire's most significant small religious buildings"

The current renovation of the Center Meeting House which is a 501(c)3 charity registered with the IRS offers an exciting opportunity for anyone who is interested in playing a part in one of the town's historic moments. When completed, this glorious building will be a showcase of our town's history, and serve as a grand location for a variety of town-wide events, or intimate family, cultural or civic gatherings.

The Center Meeting House Architecture & Restoration Committee has moved slowly in its efforts to carefully ensure that each and every step of the renovation process is as true to the building's history as possible, to preserve the building for another 175 years.  An Historic Architect, as well as the state itself, keeps a watchful eye to insure that it retains it's 1832 flavor to the fullest extent possible.

We have two strategies to fulfill.  First, we envision restoring the building to its original condition using quality workmanship and materials.  Second, we want the building to be useable by the community for events, large and small, that will unite us and enrich our lives.

The pace of our work has been dictated by our fundraising efforts (learn more about this by viewing our Frequently Asked Questions page).

• We need to raise another $400,000 to bring the project to completion.
• This will still leave us with a $200,000 loan which we will want to retire as soon as possible.
• We hope to continue to attract a membership of 200 or more people who are interested in the well-being of our treasure, the Center Meeting House.
• This year we are pleased to report that 230 people have chosen to be members and part of this historic resoration project.
• Great towns do great projects!  And this is a momentous event for Newbury, NH and one that will be remembered for generations as a defining moment in our history.