Christ Church Cathedral (Hartford, Connecticut) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christ Church |
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| Christ Church Cathedral | |
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| 41°46′6″N 72°40′27″W / 41.76833°N 72.67417°W | |
| Location | 955 Main St., Hartford, Connecticut |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Episcopal Church |
| History | |
| Founded | 1795 |
| Consecrated | December 23, 1829 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Ithiel Town Nathaniel Sheldon Wheaton (tower) |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Years built | 1827-1829 |
| Completed | 1939 (tower) |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Connecticut |
| Province | New England |
| District | North Central |
Christ Church Cathedral is a very old and important church located in downtown Hartford, Connecticut. It's known for its beautiful design, which was created by Ithiel Town in the 1820s. This church is one of the first buildings in the United States to use the Gothic Revival architecture style.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 because of its historical importance. Today, it serves as the main church, or cathedral church, for the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut. The offices for the diocese are right next door.
Contents
Exploring the Church's Design
Christ Church Cathedral is a large, rectangular building made of brownstone. It stands out in downtown Hartford, surrounded by bigger modern buildings. The church has a tall, square tower right in the middle of its front side.
Unique Architectural Features
The front of the church is divided into three parts by the tower. Each part has a doorway with a tall, pointed arch, like those found in Gothic buildings. Above these doorways are windows that also have a Gothic arch shape. The sides of the church have five sections, with strong supports called buttresses between the arched windows. Along the roofline, you can see decorative stone points called finials. These same finial details are also at the very top of the tower, which has a low fence-like structure around it.
A Look at Its History
People have been holding Anglican church services in Connecticut since 1702. The Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut, which this church belongs to, was officially started in 1785 by Samuel Seabury.
The famous architect Ithiel Town, who also designed Trinity Church on the Green in New Haven, created the plans for Christ Church Cathedral. The main part of the church was built between 1827 and 1829. The tower, however, took much longer to finish. It was designed by Nathaniel Sheldon Wheaton, who got his ideas from visiting country churches in England. The tower wasn't fully completed until 1939.
These two churches designed by Ithiel Town are considered the oldest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in the United States. Over the years, other architects like Henry Austin, George Keller, Frederick Withers, and Ralph Adams Cram made changes to the building. They were careful to make sure their additions matched and improved Town's original design.
More to Discover
- List of the Episcopal cathedrals of the United States
- List of cathedrals in the United States
- Richard Thomas Nolan
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Hartford, Connecticut
Online Resources
- Christ Church Cathedral official website: http://www.cccathedral.org/
- Episcopal Church in Connecticut website
- Old book about Christ Church history
zh:基督教会座堂 (哈特福德)
