Unitarian Meetinghouse facts for kids
|
Unitarian Meetinghouse
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
Meetinghouse in 1940
|
|
 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 7 Hartford Rd., Brooklyn, Connecticut |
|---|---|
| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1771 |
| Architect | Tyler, Daniel; Et al. |
| Architectural style | Georgian; Greek Revival |
| Part of | Brooklyn Green Historic District (ID82004401) |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001335 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | November 9, 1972 |
| Designated CP | September 23, 1982 |
The Unitarian Meetinghouse is a very old church building in Brooklyn, Connecticut. It stands where Connecticut Routes 169 and 6 meet. This building was finished in 1771, making it one of the few churches in Connecticut built before the American Revolution.
What makes it special is that we have many old records about it. These records helped people restore it to look just like it did when it was first built. The church has a unique design from that time. Its main door is on the long side of the building, and the pulpit (where the minister speaks) is right across from it. The bell tower with its steeple is at one of the short ends. This design hints at how churches changed in the 1800s, when main entrances moved to the tower end. This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
A Look Back in Time
When Brooklyn was first settled in the early 1700s, its land was part of other towns like Pomfret and Canterbury. The church group, or congregation, started in 1731. It was first known as the Mortlake Society. Their first meeting house was built in 1734.
The church building you see today was constructed between 1771 and 1774. The town of Brooklyn itself became an official town in 1786. Building this church was not easy. Some local groups, called Anglicans, did not agree with the plan for many years. This disagreement led to them building their own church, Trinity Church.
In the early 1800s, the church group split into two main parts: Trinitarians and Unitarians. The Unitarians eventually kept control of this building. In 1845, the building was changed quite a bit. The entrance moved to a new tower on the side. A full second floor was added, and the old pews and pulpit were replaced. However, in the late 1900s, all these inside changes were undone. The church was carefully restored to look like its original 1771 design. The tower stayed, but its steeple had to be replaced after a big storm called the New England Hurricane of 1938.
Important People and Its Purpose Today
Today, the Unitarian Universalist Society in Brooklyn, CT, owns and takes care of the building. This group is directly connected to the first Unitarian church group in Connecticut.
One of their first Unitarian ministers was Reverend Samuel May. He was a famous peace activist and worked to improve education. He also supported women's rights and was a key helper for Prudence Crandall. Prudence Crandall is known as an official female hero of Connecticut. In 1871, the Unitarian Universalist Society made history again. They ordained Reverend Celia Burleigh. She was the first female Unitarian minister and one of the first women to become a regularly ordained minister in any church group.
See also
