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The First Presbyterian Church of Stamford is a church in Stamford, Connecticut designed by architect
The stone wall along Bedford Street contains a series of tablets which recognize significant events, institutions, and individuals in the history of Stamford, particularly those with a religious impact, from 1641 to 1975. The Memorial Walk leading from Fellowship Hall (a multi-purpose space which includes a kitchen and stage) to the main entrance of the Sanctuary, has more than 100 stones, each representing an important figure in the Judeo/Christian tradition from the days of Abraham to the present. The corridor outside the chapel contains a collection of over 100 stones from sites of historical Christian significance, gathered during the world travels of former pastor Dr. George Stewart. The stone wall bears the inscription: "from far places where other believers turned not their back."
The church is home to a 56-bell carillon, now housed in the Maguire Memorial Tower. It was originally of 36 bells and called the Nestle Carillon, as the Nestle Corporation was headquartered in Stamford during
Fish Church Online
Bell towers in the United States Carillons Churches in Stamford, Connecticut Presbyterian churches in Connecticut Modernist architecture in Connecticut National Register of Historic Places in Fairfield County, Connecticut National Historic Landmarks in Connecticut
Wallace K. Harrison
Wallace Kirkman Harrison (September 28, 1895 – December 2, 1981) was an American architect. Harrison started his professional career with the firm of Corbett, Harrison & MacMurray, participating in the construction of Rockefeller Center. He is ...
. Nicknamed the Fish Church for its unusual shape, it is a unique example of modernist architecture
Modern architecture, or modernist architecture, was an architectural movement or architectural style based upon new and innovative technologies of construction, particularly the use of glass, steel, and reinforced concrete; the idea that form ...
, and an architectural landmark. Its Maguire Memorial Tower holds a 56-bell carillon. The building was designated a National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places listed ...
for its architecture in 2021.
History and architecture
The original First Presbyterian Church of Stamford was a wooden structure located at 90 Broad Street from 1854 to 1882 when it burned down. It was replaced with a stone edifice, enlarged in 1920, which was used until 1958. In 1954, the congregation voted to relocate to its present location at 1101 Bedford Street. Designed byWallace K. Harrison
Wallace Kirkman Harrison (September 28, 1895 – December 2, 1981) was an American architect. Harrison started his professional career with the firm of Corbett, Harrison & MacMurray, participating in the construction of Rockefeller Center. He is ...
, the new sanctuary was dedicated in March 1958. Its shape has been likened to that of a fish- a symbol used in early Christianity. The fish shape is apparent both in the profile and in the floor plan of the structure. Enhancing the unique shape of the church are the enormous stained glass windows in the sanctuary, which contain more than 20,000 pieces of faceted glass. These windows depict the story of the Crucifixion (on the right side), and the Resurrection (on the left). A cross faced with wood from the Canterbury Cathedral in England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
, dominates the Chancel. The church originally had an electronic organ, now replaced with a large Visser-Rowland pipe organ. The stone wall along Bedford Street contains a series of tablets which recognize significant events, institutions, and individuals in the history of Stamford, particularly those with a religious impact, from 1641 to 1975. The Memorial Walk leading from Fellowship Hall (a multi-purpose space which includes a kitchen and stage) to the main entrance of the Sanctuary, has more than 100 stones, each representing an important figure in the Judeo/Christian tradition from the days of Abraham to the present. The corridor outside the chapel contains a collection of over 100 stones from sites of historical Christian significance, gathered during the world travels of former pastor Dr. George Stewart. The stone wall bears the inscription: "from far places where other believers turned not their back."
The church is home to a 56-bell carillon, now housed in the Maguire Memorial Tower. It was originally of 36 bells and called the Nestle Carillon, as the Nestle Corporation was headquartered in Stamford during World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
.
See also
* First Presbyterian Church *List of carillons
Carillons, musical instruments of bells in the percussion family, are found on every inhabited continent. The Netherlands, Belgium, and the United States contain more than two thirds of the world's total, and over 90 percent can be found in e ...
*List of National Historic Landmarks in Connecticut
This article describes National Historic Landmarks in the United States state of Connecticut. These include the most highly recognized historic sites in Connecticut that are officially designated and/or funded and operated by the U.S. Federal Go ...
References
{{reflistExternal links
Fish Church Online
Bell towers in the United States Carillons Churches in Stamford, Connecticut Presbyterian churches in Connecticut Modernist architecture in Connecticut National Register of Historic Places in Fairfield County, Connecticut National Historic Landmarks in Connecticut