Abington Congregational Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Abington Congregational Church
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | CT 97, Abington, Connecticut, in town of Pomfret, Connecticut |
|---|---|
| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1751 |
| Architect | Edwin Fitch |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Greek Revival Vernacular |
| NRHP reference No. | 77001413 |
| Added to NRHP | September 19, 1977 |
The Abington Congregational Church is a very old and important church located in the small village of Abington, which is part of Pomfret, Connecticut. It was built way back in 1751. This church is special because it's the oldest church building in Connecticut that has been used for religious services without stopping since it was built! Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.
Contents
What Does the Church Look Like?
The Abington Congregational Church stands in a quiet, country area. It's a one-story building made of wood, painted white, with a pointed roof. The front of the church has three main sections, separated by tall, flat columns called Doric pilasters. Above the main entrance, there's a triangular shape called a pediment, which has a round window in the middle. A tall, square tower rises above the entrance, reaching up towards the sky.
A Long History
The church was first built in 1751. It was needed because the main church in Pomfret had grown too big. This building is one of the few left that shows how buildings were made in the 1700s in New England. They used a special method called peg and beam construction.
In the 1830s, the church building was made much bigger and changed. This is when it got its current look, which is called Greek Revival style. This work was done by a person named Edwin Fitch from Mansfield. Later, a house for the church's pastor, called a parsonage, was built in 1851. A building for church events, called a parish hall, was added in 1951.
The Church Today
Today, the Abington Congregational Church is home to a small group of people who worship there. It is part of the United Church of Christ. The church has a website with old records that can help people who are looking into their family history or studying history.
Historic Cemeteries
The church has two cemeteries nearby. The Old Cemetery was used from 1760 to 1900. It has gravestones for 82 soldiers who fought in the American Revolutionary War. The New Cemetery has many gravestones for soldiers from the American Civil War. It is still used today. Lists from both cemeteries are available on the church's website. You can also find a list of all Civil War veterans and their military groups from Pomfret, Connecticut, there.
The Church's Pastor
The current pastor of the church is Reverend Bruce A. Hedman. He has been serving the Abington church since 1988. Before coming to Abington, he worked at churches in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and in Union, Connecticut and Hampton, Connecticut.
See also
- List of the oldest churches in the United States
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Windham County, Connecticut
