Second Church of Christ facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Second Church of Christ
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 277 Main St. Hartford, Connecticut |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1825 |
| Architect | Minard Lafever |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002836 |
| Added to NRHP | January 9, 1978 |
The Second Church of Christ, also known as the South Congregational Church, is a very old and important church building in Hartford, Connecticut. It was built between 1825 and 1827. This makes it one of the oldest public buildings still standing in Hartford today.
The church group, called a congregation, started way back in 1670. They are one of the oldest "Congregationalist" groups in the entire country. This means they are a type of Christian church that governs itself. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 because of its historical value.
What the Church Looks Like
The South Congregational Church stands south of downtown Hartford. You can find it at the corner of Main and Buckingham Streets. It is a two-story building made of brick.
The front of the church looks like an ancient Greek temple. It has four large columns, which is part of the "Greek Revival" style. The church also has a tall, fancy tower. Inside, the church was updated in the mid-1800s by an architect named Minard Lafever. He also used the Greek Revival style for the inside.
A Long History of Faith
The story of this church began when the Connecticut Colony was first settled in the 1630s. At that time, religious groups were strongly led by Reverend Thomas Hooker. After he passed away in 1647, his church group in Hartford started to have disagreements.
These disagreements led to a split in 1670. Thirty-one members left to form the Second Church. This new group said they followed Reverend Hooker's original agreement, and they even have a copy of it in his own handwriting.
Building the Church
The first church building for this group was built near where the current church stands. Their second church was also built in the same area. The building you see today was constructed between 1825 and 1827. It was built on land that used to belong to the second minister, Thomas Buckingham.
Local builders Nathaniel Woodhouse and William Hayden constructed the church. It is one of only four public buildings in Hartford that were built before 1830 and are still standing. In 1847, a two-story brick addition was carefully added to the back and side of the church. This addition was designed by Joseph Camp. Sadly, a tornado damaged this part of the church in 1979.
See also
