St. John's Episcopal Church (East Hartford, Connecticut) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
St. John's Episcopal Church
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 1160 Main St., East Hartford, Connecticut |
|---|---|
| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1867 |
| Architect | Tuckerman, Edward Potter |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 83003567 |
| Added to NRHP | November 28, 1983 |
St. John's Episcopal Church is a historic stone church located at 1160 Main Street in East Hartford, Connecticut. Built in 1867, it is a famous local example of the High Gothic Revival style. This style was inspired by the grand cathedrals of the Middle Ages.
The church was designed by the architect Edward T. Potter. Because of its historical and architectural importance, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This is a special list of places the U.S. government considers worth preserving. The church's congregation, which started in 1854, later joined with St. John's Episcopal Church in Vernon.
Contents
Architecture and History
St. John's Church stands on a busy corner in downtown East Hartford, surrounded by Main Street, Burnside Avenue, and Rector Street.
A Classic Gothic Look
The church is a large building made of brownstone. It features a very steep roof covered in colorful slate tiles. The front of the church has tall, pointed windows, which are a key feature of Gothic architecture. These are called lancet-arched windows.
Behind the main church building is a parish hall that was added in 1912. It is interesting because it was one of the first buildings in the area to be made from concrete blocks.
From a Small Group to a Grand Church
The story of St. John's began in 1842, when students from Trinity College tried to start an Episcopal mission in East Hartford. A second, more successful attempt was made in 1852, and the mission was officially created in 1854.
Before their beautiful stone church was built, the members met in different places. The church's first minister was John James McCook, who served for an amazing 61 years. He likely helped with the plans for the new building.
The architect, Edward T. Potter, was a student of the famous church designer Richard Upjohn. Potter designed only a few buildings in Connecticut, making St. John's a rare example of his work. It is said that he would sometimes attend services at the church he designed.
See also
