Christ Church Cathedral (Hartford, Connecticut) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Christ Church
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Christ Church Cathedral
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 955 Main St., Hartford, Connecticut |
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| Area | 0.7 acres (0.28 ha) |
| Built | 1827 |
| Architect | Ithiel Town |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 83003558 |
| Added to NRHP | December 29, 1983 |
Christ Church Cathedral is a very old and important church in downtown Hartford, Connecticut. It's located at 955 Main Street. This beautiful building was constructed in the 1820s.
It was designed by a famous architect named Ithiel Town. The church is one of the first examples of Gothic Revival architecture in the United States. This style looks like the grand churches from the Middle Ages. In 1983, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a special building worth protecting. It serves as the main church for the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut.
Exploring Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral stands out in downtown Hartford. It's at the corner of Church and Main Streets. The church is surrounded by much larger modern buildings. It is made from brownstone and has a rectangular shape. A tall, square tower is centered at its front, facing east.
The front of the church has three main parts. Each part features a doorway. These doorways are set inside tall, pointed arches. Above each doorway is a window. The sides of the church have five sections. Each section has strong supports called buttresses. These buttresses separate the pointed-arch windows. Along the roofline, you can see decorative stone carvings called finials. These same details are also at the top of the tower. A low railing surrounds the top of the tower.
A Look at the Church's History
People have been holding Anglican church services in Connecticut since 1702. The Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut was officially started in 1785. This was done by Samuel Seabury, who was a bishop.
The architect, Ithiel Town, designed this church. He also designed Trinity Church on the Green in New Haven. The main part of Christ Church was built between 1827 and 1829. The tower was finished much later, in 1939. Nathaniel Sheldon Wheaton designed the tower. He got his ideas by visiting country churches in England.
These two churches, designed by Ithiel Town, are the oldest examples of Gothic Revival style in the U.S. Over the years, other architects added to the building. These included Henry Austin, George Keller, Frederick Withers, and Ralph Adams Cram. They were careful to make sure their additions matched Town's original design.
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