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. It was designed by a famous architect named Wallace K. Harrison. People often call it the Fish Church because of its unique shape.
Inside, the church has amazing stained glass windows that are 60 feet (18 meters) tall. These windows make the main area, called the nave, shimmer with light. The church is a great example of modern design. It is also a very important building in architecture. Its tall Maguire Memorial Tower, which is 260 feet (79 meters) high, holds a set of 56 bells called a carillon. In 2021, the building was named a National Historic Landmark because of its special design. The church is still an active place of worship today.
Contents
A Look at the Fish Church's History
Early Churches in Stamford
The first First Presbyterian Church in Stamford was made of wood. It stood at 90 Broad Street from 1854 until it burned down in 1882. A new church, built from stone, replaced it. This stone church was made bigger in 1920 and was used until 1958.
In 1954, the church members decided to move to a new spot. They chose the current location at 1101 Bedford Street.
Designing the New Church
The famous architect Wallace K. Harrison designed the new church building. It was officially opened in March 1958. The church's shape looks like a fish. This shape can be seen from the side and also in the building's floor plan. The fish was an important symbol in early Christianity.
Amazing Stained Glass Windows
The church's unique shape is made even more special by its huge stained glass windows. These windows are in the main worship area. They have more than 20,000 pieces of colored glass. The windows on the right side show the story of the Crucifixion. The windows on the left side show the story of the Resurrection.
A large cross, 32 feet (9.8 meters) high, stands at the front of the church. This cross is made with wood from the famous Canterbury Cathedral in England. The church first had an electronic organ. Now, it has a large Visser-Rowland pipe organ.
Special Walls and Stones
Along Bedford Street, there is a stone wall with special tablets. These tablets tell about important events, groups, and people in Stamford's history. Many of these have a religious connection, from 1641 to 1975.
A path called the Memorial Walk leads to the main entrance. This path has over 100 stones. Each stone stands for an important person in the Judeo/Christian faith. These people range from Abraham to more recent times. Inside the church, a hallway near the chapel has over 100 stones from important Christian places around the world. A former pastor, Dr. George Stewart, collected these stones during his travels. The stone wall has a message: "from far places where other believers turned not their back."
The Maguire Memorial Tower and Carillon
The church is home to a set of 56 bells called a carillon. These bells are now in the tall Maguire Memorial Tower. The carillon first had 36 bells. It was called the Nestle Carillon because the Nestle Corporation had its main office in Stamford during World War II.
See also
- First Presbyterian Church
- List of carillons
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Connecticut
