Fish Church facts for kids
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First Presbyterian Church
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Stained glass interior of the Fish Church in 2015
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1101 Bedford Street, Stamford, Connecticut |
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| Area | 6.58 acres |
| Built | 1958 |
| Architect | Wallace Harrison |
| Architectural style | Modern |
| NRHP reference No. | 100006271 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | January 13, 2021 |
| Designated NHL | January 13, 2021 |
The First Presbyterian Church of Stamford is a special church in Stamford, Connecticut. A famous architect named Wallace K. Harrison designed it. People often call it the Fish Church because of its unusual shape.
Inside, the church has amazing stained glass windows. They are 60 feet (18 meters) tall and shimmer with light. This church is a great example of modern design. It is also a very important building. Its tall Maguire Memorial Tower is 260 feet (79 meters) high. This tower holds a set of 56 bells called a carillon. In 2021, the building became a National Historic Landmark because of its unique design. The church is still an active place of worship today.
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History and Design of the Fish Church
The First Presbyterian Church has a long history. The first church building was made of wood. It stood from 1854 until it burned down in 1882. A new stone church was built in its place. This stone church was used until 1958. In 1954, the church decided to move to its current spot.
A Unique Fish Shape
The new church was designed by Wallace K. Harrison. It opened in March 1958. Its shape looks like a fish. The fish is a symbol used by early Christians. You can see the fish shape from the side and from above. This makes the church truly special.
Amazing Stained Glass Windows
The church has huge stained glass windows. They make the unique fish shape even more striking. These windows have over 20,000 pieces of colored glass. They tell important stories from the Bible. The windows on the right show the story of the Crucifixion. The windows on the left show the Resurrection.
Special Features Inside
A large cross stands in the front of the church. It is 32 feet (10 meters) high. This cross is covered with wood from the famous Canterbury Cathedral in England. The church once had an electronic organ. Now, it has a big Visser-Rowland pipe organ.
The Maguire Memorial Tower and Carillon
The church's tall Maguire Memorial Tower holds a carillon. This is a musical instrument with many bells. The carillon has 56 bells. It was first built with 36 bells. It was called the Nestle Carillon. This was because the Nestle Corporation was in Stamford during World War II.
Images for kids
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The stone church built in 1885
See also
- First Presbyterian Church
- List of carillons
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Connecticut
