First Church of Christ and the Ancient Burying Ground
Encyclopedia
First Church of Christ and the Ancient Burying Ground (also known as Center Church: First Church of Christ in Hartford or First Church in Hartford) is a historic church and cemetery at 60 Gold Street in Hartford, Connecticut
. It is the oldest church congregation in Hartford.
serving as the first pastor. The members of the congregation had previously migrated from England to Massachusetts and spent four years there before leaving Massachusetts after a dispute with the Massachusetts government. The old burial ground adjacent to the building in Hartford dates to around 1640. The current church meeting house dates to 1807 and is the fourth meeting house to serve as a place of worship for the congregation. The church meeting house and cemetery were added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1972. The congregation is currently affiliated with the United Church of Christ
(UCC).
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
. It is the oldest church congregation in Hartford.
History
The Hartford congregation was originally founded as a Reformed congregation in 1636 with Thomas HookerThomas Hooker
Thomas Hooker was a prominent Puritan colonial leader, who founded the Colony of Connecticut after dissenting with Puritan leaders in Massachusetts...
serving as the first pastor. The members of the congregation had previously migrated from England to Massachusetts and spent four years there before leaving Massachusetts after a dispute with the Massachusetts government. The old burial ground adjacent to the building in Hartford dates to around 1640. The current church meeting house dates to 1807 and is the fourth meeting house to serve as a place of worship for the congregation. The church meeting house and cemetery were added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1972. The congregation is currently affiliated with the United Church of Christ
United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination primarily in the Reformed tradition but also historically influenced by Lutheranism. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC...
(UCC).
Notable members and persons buried in the burying ground
- Thomas HookerThomas HookerThomas Hooker was a prominent Puritan colonial leader, who founded the Colony of Connecticut after dissenting with Puritan leaders in Massachusetts...
, Founder of Connecticut - William LeeteWilliam LeeteGovernor William Leete was Governor of the Colony of New Haven from 1661 to 1665 and Governor of the Colony of Connecticut from 1676 to 1683....
, Governor of Connecticut - Thomas WellesThomas WellesThomas Welles is the only man in Connecticut's history to hold all four top offices: governor, deputy governor, treasurer, and secretary. In 1639, he was elected as the first treasurer of the Colony of Connecticut, and from 1640–1649 served as the colony's secretary...
, Governor of Connecticut - George WyllysGeorge WyllysGeorge Wyllys or Wyllis served for a year as one of the early governors of the Connecticut Colony.Born at the manor of Fenny Compton in Warwickshire, England, to Richard and Hester Willis, part of an old, wealthy family. His first cousins Thomas and Richard, were baronets of Fen Ditton,...
, Governor of Connecticut
External links
- Official church website
- Historical catalogue of the First Church in Hartford. 1633-1885 (Pub. by the Church, Hartford: 1885)