First Church of Christ, Congregational (Springfield, Massachusetts) facts for kids
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First Church of Christ, Congregational
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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First Church of Christ
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Springfield, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1819 |
| Architect | Isaac Damon |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Federal |
| Part of | Court Square Historic District (ID74000370) |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000135 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 1, 1972 |
| Designated CP | May 2, 1974 |
The First Church of Christ, Congregational, often called Old First Church, is a historic building at 50 Elm Street in Springfield, Massachusetts. This church was built in 1819. It is the fourth church building to stand on this spot. The Old First Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. It is also part of the Court Square Historic District.
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History of the Old First Church
The First Church group was started in 1637. This was the year after Springfield was founded by William Pynchon. He was a Puritan businessman. The very first church building was built in 1645 by Thomas Cooper. It was located where the southeast corner of Court Square is today.
This first church had two towers. One tower held a bell. The other tower was used to watch for approaching Native Americans. A second church building replaced it in 1677. Then, a third church was built in 1752. The current building, which you see today, replaced the third one in 1819.
Famous Visitors and Events
Dr. Samuel Osgood was a pastor here from 1809 to 1854. He was known for being an abolitionist. This means he worked to end slavery. During his time, many famous people visited the church.
- Daniel Webster, a well-known politician, visited the church.
- John Brown, another important abolitionist, lived in Springfield for a while and visited.
- In July 1851, the famous singer Jenny Lind performed a concert inside the church.
- In 1848, the body of former President John Quincy Adams lay in state in the church's main aisle. This allowed people to pay their respects.
What the Church is Used for Today
The First Church group stopped meeting in 2007. This happened after 370 years. They decided to close because of high repair costs and fewer members. The building was then sold to the City of Springfield for $900,000.
In 2011, a tornado hit Western Massachusetts. The roof of the church building was damaged by this storm. The city used money from the government to fix the roof. Today, the city rents the building to a local church called Wellspring Church. They hold their Sunday services there. The building is also rented out for weddings and other special events.
Architecture and Design
The church was designed by Isaac Damon. He was a famous architect from Northampton, Massachusetts. He lived from 1781 to 1862. During his career, he designed 13 churches. Some of these include the First Congregational Church of Blandford and the First Church of Northampton.
Steeple Height and City Buildings
From 1908 until 1970, the height of the steeple on the Old First Church was very important. It was 125 feet tall. The Massachusetts State Legislature made a rule in 1908. This rule said that no other building in Springfield could be taller than the church's steeple.
There was only one exception to this rule. That was the Springfield Municipal Group, which was finished in 1913. Because of this rule, Springfield has fewer very tall buildings, or skyscrapers. Other nearby cities like Hartford, Connecticut and Providence, Rhode Island have many more skyscrapers.
Ministers of the Church
- George Moxon: 1637–1652
- Pelatiah Glover: 1660–1692
- Daniel Brewer: 1694–1733
- Robert Breck: 1736–1784
- Bezaleel Howard: 1785–1809
- Samuel Osgood: 1809–1854
- Henry M. Parsons: 1854–1870
- Edward A. Reed: 1871–1878
- Edward Payson Terhune: 1879–1884
- Michael Burnham: 1885–1894
- Frank Lincoln Goodspeed: 1894–1908
- Neil McPherson: Began in 1910
See also
