The First Cathedral
Encyclopedia
The First Cathedral exists both as a non-denominational Christian ministry
based in Bloomfield, Connecticut
as well as the edifice in which the ministry is held . Originally known as The 1st Baptist Church, it was founded in 1968 in Hartford, Connecticut
. The pastor
is Archbishop
LeRoy Bailey Jr.
. At the time of his arrival there were approximately 60 members.
LeRoys' arrival brought new revolutionary teaching to the members of 1st Baptist Church. In fact, his first sermon preached was entitled "What in the world are you waiting for?", It was a sermon that began his push for growth in the church.
LeRoy established in his primary years at the church, his goals and objectives through sermons. One of these sermons, preached in 1974, was entitled "Going First Class", which was centered on the biblical passage Jeremiah 29:11:
LeRoy shared with the people in this sermon that was more to life then what they had experienced in the past and that he was determined to lead them into that lifestyle. The ministry grew tremendously. In 1970, LeRoy led the church into a larger facility.
In 1989, LeRoy led the church, now known as The First Baptist Church of Hartford, into a series of stewardship campaigns based on sermons with the themes of faith, equality, obedience and the hope for the future. For example, The third campaign entitled "Rise Up and Build" which raised funds for the construction of the The First Cathedral Edifice was based on; Joshua 22:26-27:
LeRoy allowed the people to contribute to his vision, by hold what he called " dream nights". An opportunity for members to communicate their hopes and aspirations in relation to the future of the ministry
Under LeRoy's Leadership, the church's membership has grown tremendously. As of 2005, the membership numbered over 11,000 making the cathedral the largest church in the New England Region.
s including Windsor High School In Windsor, Connecticut
, South Windsor High School
in South Windsor, Connecticut
, Enfield High School
and Enrico Fermi High School in Enfield, Connecticut
. In 2010, after the ACLU of Connecticut and Americans United informed the schools that continued use of the Bloomfield facility constituted a violation of the First Amendment's "establishment clause", which prohibits governmental entities from acting in a way that could be viewed as endorsing a religion. The high schools in Windsor, South Windsor, Enfield, East Hartford, and the Metropolitan Learning Center, a magnet school, subsequently decided against using First Cathedral
. Funding for the construction was raised via stewardship campaigns over twelve years. After two years of construction the 120000 sq ft (11,148.4 m²). facility was completed. In the planning phases of the building, church officials planned to remain called The First Baptist Church of Hartford while occupying the edifice called The First Cathedral. The Ministry became known as The First Cathedral as individuals within the community who were unfamiliar with these plans began confusing the two.
. The Cathedral Edifice is considered a radical departure from the Greek Revival and Georgian
Architectural Styles used in the construction of most New England Churches.
The First Cathedral is half of the complex of what is intended to be the final location of The First Baptist Church, The First Cathedral is full of symbolism. Church officials worked with architects and engineers to create an environment that is full of theological and biblical symbolism.
which is recorded in every canonized Gospel
.
The Doves' Feet are represented by the foundation of the Cathedral. The foundation of the Cathedral, being quite large and being located on former swampland
, is a network of grade beams that equally disburse the weight of the building.
The Structure
The structure of The Cathedral is divided into 3 levels:
• The First Level is the two commercial floors, the primary representing earth, the second representing Heaven
• The Second Level is located within the second of the commercial floors, The Two Balconies representing Heaven.
• The Third Level is Represented in the Cupola, 8 sided, ordained with stained glass windows, symbolic of the throne room of Heaven where God is
Exterior Walls
The immediate external wall of the Cathedral are covers with Dryvit, the dryvit wall installed in stages reminiscent of the extensive project, under taken by Nehemiah
, in the rebuilding of the city walls of Israel. Additionally the Sandstone
Color of the building is a reminder of the Wilderness Experience of the Ancient Israelites before reaching their promised land
.
.
•The Entrance way is a set of double doors, creating an energy saving lock. The double set of double door
s are reminiscent of the main entry way into an ancient city, the doors were part of the cities defense system.
•Stained Glass Mosaic-depicts people of all races and every ethnicity from all directions with their hands lifted in praise.
•Fountain'- the fountain is in the shape of a tomb, the water shooting out of the fount comes in the form of cross representing life out of death.
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
based in Bloomfield, Connecticut
Bloomfield, Connecticut
Bloomfield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 20,626 at the 2009 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and 0.2 square miles is water.Bloomfield is bordered by Windsor to the...
as well as the edifice in which the ministry is held . Originally known as The 1st Baptist Church, it was founded in 1968 in Hartford, Connecticut
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...
. The pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
is Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
LeRoy Bailey Jr.
Milestones in development
- 1968, The church is founded with Rev. Edward R. King as founding pastor.
- 1970, Rev. Dr. LeRoy Bailey Jr. begins his tenure as second pastor. .
- 1977, The church moves to a larger facility.
- 1979, The church becomes known as The First Baptist Church of Hartford.
- 1982, The School of Ministry was founded.
- 1989, Two apartment buildings for the elderly, managed by the First Baptist Housing DevelopmentSubdivision (land)Subdivision is the act of dividing land into pieces that are easier to sell or otherwise develop, usually via a plat. The former single piece as a whole is then known in the United States as a subdivision...
Corporation were constructed. (First and Second Villages) - 1989, The church bookstore (First Cathedral Bookstore) was founded.
- 1993, A mission in Kenya was started.
- 1995, A kindergartenKindergartenA kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
through 8th gradeEighth gradeEighth grade is a year of education in the United States, Canada, Australia and other nations. Students are usually 13 - 14 years old. The eighth grade is typically the final grade before high school, and the ninth grade of public and private education, following kindergarten and subsequent grades...
school was founded (First Academy). - 1997, The Praises of Zion, one of The First Cathedral's choirs, releases their first album. Themed: "Incredible", it was recorded live at The First Baptist Church of Hartford Edifice, purchased in 1977.
- 1997, The church begins construction on the Cathedral Edifice.
- 1999, The church moves to the Cathedral Edifice.
- 2001, Rev. Dr. LeRoy Bailey was consecrated into the Bishopric, becoming known as Bishop LeRoy Bailey Jr.
- 1997, The Praises of Zion releases their second album. Themed: "Forgetting What's Behind", it was recorded live at The First Edifice, purchased in 1977.
- 2003, Bishop Bailey authors "A Solid Foundation: Building Your Life from the Ground Up"
- 2004, The All-Purpose Playfields are built (First Cathedral Playfields).
- 2004, The church adopted 16 churches in Bangladesh.
- 2006, Bishop Leroy Bailey Jr. is appointed Archbishop, becoming known as Archbishop LeRoy Bailey Jr.
- 2006, The church adopted the Thurman Milner School in Hartford, ConnecticutHartford, ConnecticutHartford 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...
. - 2007, The church began a stewardship campaign to fund a future Family Life Center.
- 2007, The church builds 3 churches in PeruPeruPeru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
and one church in BangladeshBangladeshBangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
. In addition to the Church edifice in Bangledesh, the church built several wells in the country, serving several thousand residents. - 2007, The church begins an inter-mural program with The Greater Hartford Chapter of The Boys and Girls Clubs of America.
- 2008, The church builds a 40,000 dollar orphanage in UgandaUgandaUganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
. - 2008, The church begins The First Music Conservatory, with the intention of bringing a Christian alternative to learning music.
- 2008, The Praises of Zion records and releases their third album.
- 2009, "Discovering your Power" begins broadcasts both locally and nationally.
- 2010, The church launched First Cafe, an informal restaurant offering.
Goals for Future
- The church plans to build a Family Life Center.
- The church plans to expand its ministry into 83 Countries across the world, including The United States.
Changes brought by LeRoy Bailey
In 1971, Leroy Bailey was called to be the second pastor of the 1st Baptist Church, which at the time was located in Hartford, ConnecticutHartford, 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...
. At the time of his arrival there were approximately 60 members.
LeRoys' arrival brought new revolutionary teaching to the members of 1st Baptist Church. In fact, his first sermon preached was entitled "What in the world are you waiting for?", It was a sermon that began his push for growth in the church.
LeRoy established in his primary years at the church, his goals and objectives through sermons. One of these sermons, preached in 1974, was entitled "Going First Class", which was centered on the biblical passage Jeremiah 29:11:
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future"
- Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version)
LeRoy shared with the people in this sermon that was more to life then what they had experienced in the past and that he was determined to lead them into that lifestyle. The ministry grew tremendously. In 1970, LeRoy led the church into a larger facility.
In 1989, LeRoy led the church, now known as The First Baptist Church of Hartford, into a series of stewardship campaigns based on sermons with the themes of faith, equality, obedience and the hope for the future. For example, The third campaign entitled "Rise Up and Build" which raised funds for the construction of the The First Cathedral Edifice was based on; Joshua 22:26-27:
"That is why we said, 'Let us get ready and build an altar—but not for burnt offerings or sacrifices.' On the contrary, it is to be a witness between us and you and the generations that follow, that we will worship the LORD at his sanctuary with our burnt offerings, sacrifices and fellowship offerings. Then in the future your descendants will not be able to say to ours, 'You have no share in the LORD.'
- Joshua 22:26-27
LeRoy allowed the people to contribute to his vision, by hold what he called " dream nights". An opportunity for members to communicate their hopes and aspirations in relation to the future of the ministry
Under LeRoy's Leadership, the church's membership has grown tremendously. As of 2005, the membership numbered over 11,000 making the cathedral the largest church in the New England Region.
Ministries
- 2002, Began an organization that is a forum for churches of diverse denominations, ethnicities and geographic locations. Churches Covered and Connected in Covenant.
- 2004, Began a physical and spiritual health ministry. (The Good Life Wellness Center)
- 2006, Began a Christian Catering Service. (First Harvest)
- Multilingual/Translation Ministry Sign LanguageSign languageA sign language is a language which, instead of acoustically conveyed sound patterns, uses visually transmitted sign patterns to convey meaning—simultaneously combining hand shapes, orientation and movement of the hands, arms or body, and facial expressions to fluidly express a speaker's...
Ministry. - Annual Multicultural month
- Praises Of Zion, an award-winning Gospel MusicGospel musicGospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
choir.
Annual Events
- Covenant Conference
- Churches Covered and Connected in Covenant Conference held every other year (2001)
- Gospel Explosion (2007)
- Pastoral Anniversary Celebration, March of every year
- Annual Christmas Production (Late 1980s)
Controversial use of facility
The First Cathedral rents its facility to several local and regional organizations, including several local high schoolHigh school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
s including Windsor High School In Windsor, Connecticut
Windsor, Connecticut
Windsor is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States, and was the first English settlement in the state. It lies on the northern border of Connecticut's capital, Hartford. The population was estimated at 28,778 in 2005....
, South Windsor High School
South Windsor High School
South Windsor High School is located in South Windsor, Connecticut. It currently serves grades 9-12 with approximately 1,700 students. It is the only high school in South Windsor, but also admits students from Hartford through the Open Choice Program...
in South Windsor, Connecticut
South Windsor, Connecticut
-History:In 1659, Thomas Burnham purchased the tract of land now covered by the towns of South Windsor and East Hartford from Tantinomo, chief sachem of the Podunk Indians. Burnham lived on the land and later willed it to his nine children...
, Enfield High School
Enfield High School
Enfield High School is a secondary school located in Enfield, Connecticut. Enfield High School was established in 1893. The facility used currently was built in the 1960s and replaced the previous building which is now used as Thomas Alcorn Elementary School. The Enfield High School Complex and...
and Enrico Fermi High School in Enfield, Connecticut
Enfield, Connecticut
Enfield is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 45,212 at the 2000 census. It sits on the border with Longmeadow, Massachusetts and East Longmeadow, Massachusetts to the north, Somers to the east, East Windsor and Ellington to the south, and the...
. In 2010, after the ACLU of Connecticut and Americans United informed the schools that continued use of the Bloomfield facility constituted a violation of the First Amendment's "establishment clause", which prohibits governmental entities from acting in a way that could be viewed as endorsing a religion. The high schools in Windsor, South Windsor, Enfield, East Hartford, and the Metropolitan Learning Center, a magnet school, subsequently decided against using First Cathedral
Ministry affiliations
The First Cathedral is affiliated with several Ministries:- Churches United in Global Mission - A ministry of Crystal CathedralCrystal CathedralThe Crystal Cathedral is a Protestant Christian church building in the city of Garden Grove, in Orange County, California, United States. It is the headquarters and principal place of worship for Crystal Cathedral Ministries, a church founded in 1955 by Robert H. Schuller and affiliated with the...
in Garden Grove, CaliforniaGarden Grove, CaliforniaGarden Grove is a city located in northern Orange County, California. The population was 170,883 at the 2010 census. State Route 22, also known as the Garden Grove Freeway, passes through the city running east-west. The city is known outside the Southern California area for being the home of Robert H...
. - Connecticut Coalition of Churches
- Pastors in Covenant
- Churches Covered and Connected in Covenant
- The Capital Region Conference of Churches
- Dr. Myles MunroeMyles MunroeDr. Myles Munroe is the president and founder of the Bahamas Faith Ministries International , a Christian growth and resource center that includes leadership training institutes, a missions agency, a publishing company, a television network, radio and Web communications, and a church community...
- Bahamas Faith Ministries International
The First Cathedral: The Edifice
In 1998, the ministry at the time known as The First Baptist Church of Hartford broke ground on its first custom house of worship, on a 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) plot in Bloomfield, ConnecticutBloomfield, Connecticut
Bloomfield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 20,626 at the 2009 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and 0.2 square miles is water.Bloomfield is bordered by Windsor to the...
. Funding for the construction was raised via stewardship campaigns over twelve years. After two years of construction the 120000 sq ft (11,148.4 m²). facility was completed. In the planning phases of the building, church officials planned to remain called The First Baptist Church of Hartford while occupying the edifice called The First Cathedral. The Ministry became known as The First Cathedral as individuals within the community who were unfamiliar with these plans began confusing the two.
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
Architectural Styles used in the construction of most New England Churches.
The First Cathedral is half of the complex of what is intended to be the final location of The First Baptist Church, The First Cathedral is full of symbolism. Church officials worked with architects and engineers to create an environment that is full of theological and biblical symbolism.
Overall Structure
The First Cathedral edifice is built in the shape of a dove, a reference to the Baptism of JesusBaptism of Jesus
The baptism of Jesus marks the beginning of Jesus Christ's public ministry. This event is recorded in the Canonical Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. In John 1:29-33 rather than a direct narrative, the Baptist bears witness to the episode...
which is recorded in every canonized Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
.
External Symbolism
The FoundationThe Doves' Feet are represented by the foundation of the Cathedral. The foundation of the Cathedral, being quite large and being located on former swampland
Swampland
In physics, the term swampland is used in contrast to the term "landscape," to indicate physical theories or aspects of such theories which could be true if gravity wasn't an issue, but which are not compatible with string theory...
, is a network of grade beams that equally disburse the weight of the building.
The Structure
The structure of The Cathedral is divided into 3 levels:
• The First Level is the two commercial floors, the primary representing earth, the second representing Heaven
• The Second Level is located within the second of the commercial floors, The Two Balconies representing Heaven.
• The Third Level is Represented in the Cupola, 8 sided, ordained with stained glass windows, symbolic of the throne room of Heaven where God is
Exterior Walls
The immediate external wall of the Cathedral are covers with Dryvit, the dryvit wall installed in stages reminiscent of the extensive project, under taken by Nehemiah
Nehemiah
Nehemiah ]]," Standard Hebrew Nəḥemya, Tiberian Hebrew Nəḥemyāh) is the central figure of the Book of Nehemiah, which describes his work rebuilding Jerusalem and purifying the Jewish community. He was the son of Hachaliah, Nehemiah ]]," Standard Hebrew Nəḥemya, Tiberian Hebrew Nəḥemyāh) is the...
, in the rebuilding of the city walls of Israel. Additionally the Sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
Color of the building is a reminder of the Wilderness Experience of the Ancient Israelites before reaching their promised land
Promised land
The Promised Land is a term used to describe the land promised or given by God, according to the Hebrew Bible, to the Israelites, the descendants of Jacob. The promise is firstly made to Abraham and then renewed to his son Isaac, and to Isaac's son Jacob , Abraham's grandson...
.
Interior Elements
Within the Dove shaped edifice, are three major components, The Grand Lobby, The Grand Concourse and The Sanctuary, modeled after Solomon's TempleSolomon's Temple
Solomon's Temple, also known as the First Temple, was the main temple in ancient Jerusalem, on the Temple Mount , before its destruction by Nebuchadnezzar II after the Siege of Jerusalem of 587 BCE....
.
The Grand Lobby
The Grand Lobby is the 'facade' of The First Cathedral; the lobby contains several symbolic elements:•The Entrance way is a set of double doors, creating an energy saving lock. The double set of double door
Door
A door is a movable structure used to open and close off an entrance, typically consisting of a panel that swings on hinges or that slides or rotates inside of a space....
s are reminiscent of the main entry way into an ancient city, the doors were part of the cities defense system.
•Stained Glass Mosaic-depicts people of all races and every ethnicity from all directions with their hands lifted in praise.
•Fountain'- the fountain is in the shape of a tomb, the water shooting out of the fount comes in the form of cross representing life out of death.