The First Congregational Church of Plainfield is a historic
Congregational church at 519 Norwich Road in
Plainfield, Connecticut
Plainfield is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 14,973 at the 2020 census. The town comprises four villages: Plainfield (south, ZIP code 06374), Moosup (northeast, 06354), Wauregan (northwest, 06387), an ...
. It was built in 1816, for a congregation founded in 1705, to plans by noted early architect
Ithiel Town
Ithiel Town (October 3, 1784 – June 13, 1844) was an American architect and civil engineer. One of the first generation of professional architects in the United States, Town made significant contributions to American architecture in the f ...
, and is a relative rarity in the state as a Federal period stone church. The church was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...
in 1986.
The congregation is affiliated with the
United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ (UCC) is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination based in the United States, with historical and confessional roots in the Congregational, Calvinist, Lutheran, and Anabaptist traditions, and with approximatel ...
.
Architecture and history
Plainfield's First Congregational Church is located on the north side of the town's main village, on the west side of Norwich Road (
Connecticut Route 12
Connecticut Route 12 is a state highway that runs between Groton and the state line in Thompson.
History
Route 12 was preceded by New England Interstate Route 12. The southern terminus of NE-12 was originally at New London, Connecticut. It trave ...
) south of Cemetery Road. It is a -story stone structure, built out of locally quarried fieldstone. It has a projecting gable-front Doric temple front supported by four columns, and a multistage tower with steeple. The first stage of the tower is stone, and houses a clock with faces on three sides. The second stage is a wood-frame belfry, with louvered round-arch openings.
The church was built in 1816, after a gale destroyed the previous
colonial meeting house
A colonial meeting house was a meeting house used by communities in colonial New England. Built using tax money, the colonial meeting house was the focal point of the community where the town's residents could discuss local issues, conduct rel ...
. It is a significant early work of
Ithiel Town
Ithiel Town (October 3, 1784 – June 13, 1844) was an American architect and civil engineer. One of the first generation of professional architects in the United States, Town made significant contributions to American architecture in the f ...
, a native of nearby
Thompson who became a leading architect of the early 19th century. Its interior was subjected to significant alterations in the 1850s, and no longer reflect Town's design. In addition to its religious role, this building also hosted town meetings and other civic functions during the 19th century.
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See also
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References
External links
Church website
{{DEFAULTSORT:First Congregational Church Of Plainfield
United Church of Christ churches in Connecticut
Churches on the National Register of Historic Places in Connecticut
Churches in Windham County, Connecticut
National Register of Historic Places in Windham County, Connecticut
Plainfield, Connecticut