Rocky Hill Congregational Church facts for kids

Rocky Hill Congregational Church
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Location	805-817 Old Main St., Rocky Hill, Connecticut
Area	less than one acre
Built	1805
Architect	Ackley, Elijah & Seth Dickenson
Architectural style	Georgian
Part of	Rocky Hill Center Historic District (ID07000111)
NRHP reference No.	82004438
Quick facts for kids Significant dates
Added to NRHP	May 07, 1982
Designated CP	March 9, 2007

The Rocky Hill Congregational Church is a historic church at 805-817 Old Main Street in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, USA. Built in 1808 for a 1723 congregation, it is a distinctive late example of Georgian architecture, and a prominent landmark in the town center. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Description and history

The Rocky Hill Congregational Church occupies a prominent position in the town center of Rocky Hill, on a triangular parcel bounded by Church, Old Main, and Center Streets. It is a two-story gable-roof wood frame structure resting on a brownstone foundation. It has distinctive late Georgian styling, with a projecting gabled entry section with corner pilasters, and three doorways. The central doorway is framed by engaged columns and topped by triangular modillioned pediment, while the flanking doorways are framed by pilasters and topped by an entablature and modillioned cornice. A three-stage square tower, housing a clock and belfry rises at a small setback from the projecting entry section.

The first church in Rocky Hill was built in 1727, after it was established as a separate parish of Wethersfield. By 1800 there were calls in the congregation for a new church. In 1805 it was agreed to build a new structure, modeled on a church in Middletown. Construction was begun the same year, and the new building was dedicated in 1808. After a lean period of membership in the late 19th century, the congregation rebounded, and funded construction of the adjacent parish house 1948-52 to a design by Kelly & Kelly architects. The building is noted for its fine Georgian features, and was documented in the 1830s as part of the Historic American Buildings Survey.