First Church of Christ, Wethersfield: Difference between revisions
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The '''First Church of Christ, Wethersfield''', is an [[American Colonial Era]] church located in the [[Old Wethersfield Historic District]] of [[Wethersfield, Connecticut]]. |
The '''First Church of Christ, Wethersfield''', is an [[American Colonial Era]] church located in the [[Old Wethersfield Historic District]] of [[Wethersfield, Connecticut]]. Although the congregation was founded in 1635, the current Georgian-style, brick meetinghouse, with its distinctive white steeple, was built in 1761–1764. However, the church cemetery dates from the 1600s.<ref>[http://wethersfieldhistory.org/articles-from-the-community/the_first_church_of_christ/ "The First Church of Christ"], Wethersfield Historical Society.</ref> The interior of the meetinghouse was built as a crosswise room (''Querkirche''), altered considerably in 1838 and 1882, and returned to the original layout in 1971–1973.<ref>"The Meetinghouse", The First Church of Christ in Wethersfield.</ref> |
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[[File:Wethersfield, First Church of Christ.jpg|thumb|left|''Querkirche'' floorplan (1895)]] |
[[File:Wethersfield, First Church of Christ.jpg|thumb|left|''Querkirche'' floorplan (1895)]] |
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Revision as of 19:33, 23 March 2024
| First Church of Christ, Wethersfield | |
|---|---|
 2009 photo | |
  Location within Connecticut | |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Georgian Colonial |
| Address | 250 Main Street |
| Town or city | Wethersfield, Connecticut |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 41°42′46″N 72°39′07″W / 41.7129°N 72.6520°W |
| Completed | 1761–1764 |
| Website | |
| www.FirstChurch.org | |
The First Church of Christ, Wethersfield, is an American Colonial Era church located in the Old Wethersfield Historic District of Wethersfield, Connecticut. Although the congregation was founded in 1635, the current Georgian-style, brick meetinghouse, with its distinctive white steeple, was built in 1761–1764. However, the church cemetery dates from the 1600s.[1] The interior of the meetinghouse was built as a crosswise room (Querkirche), altered considerably in 1838 and 1882, and returned to the original layout in 1971–1973.[2]
According to a plaque at the tower entrance door, George Washington attended church there on May 20, 1781, during a conference with Count de Rochambeau at the nearby Joseph Webb House to plan the conclusion of the American Revolutionary War.[3]
John Adams visited Wethersfield resident and envoy to France Silas Deane in 1774 and wrote in his diary: “We went up the steeple of Wethersfield meeting-house, from whence is the most grand and beautiful prospect in the world, at least that I ever saw.”[4]
The church and its Austin organ hosted the first eighteen years of the Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival USA. This competition for young organists has been held annually since 1998 in the Hartford area, and was co-founded by First Church music minister David Spicer.[5]
The congregation was affiliated with the United Church of Christ from 1961 through 2004 when the congregation overwhelmingly voted to break away citing theological and social differences, including gay marriage.[6]
References
- ^ "The First Church of Christ", Wethersfield Historical Society.
- ^ "The Meetinghouse", The First Church of Christ in Wethersfield.
- ^ Photo of George Washington plaque
- ^ Daniel (June 22, 2007). "First Church of Christ, Wethersfield (1761)". Historic Buildings of Connecticut. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
- ^ Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival, FirstChurch.org
- ^ "WETHERSFIELD CHURCH BREAKS AFFILIATION". Hartford Courant. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
External links
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