First Church of Christ, Congregational (Farmington, Connecticut)

Infobox_nrhp | name = First Church of Christ, Congregational
nrhp_type = nhl


caption =
location= Main Street, Farmington, Connecticut
lat_degrees = 41
lat_minutes = 43
lat_seconds = 14.14
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 72
long_minutes = 49
long_seconds = 47.05
long_direction = W
locmapin = Connecticut
area =
built = 1771
architect = Judah Woodruff
architecture = Greek Revival
designated = May 15, 1975cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1581&ResourceType=Building
title=First Church of Christ |accessdate=2007-10-03|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service]
added = May 15, 1975cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]
governing_body = First Church Of Christ, Congregational
refnum = 75002056

First Church of Christ, Congregational, in Farmington, Connecticut, is a historic Greek revival church that served the Amistad Africans before their return to Africa.

The church, originally known as the Meeting House, was built in 1771, designed by Judah Woodruff. The slender steeple on top of the bell tower can be seen for miles. The church is cited as an "excellent example of its architectural style and period".citation|url=PDFlink| [http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Text/75002056.pdf National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: First Church of Christ, Congregational] |398 KB|last=Greenlee|first=Marcia M.|date=September 27, 1974|publisher=National Park Service and PDFlink| [http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Photos/75002056.pdf Accompanying 6 photos, exterior and interior, from 1967 and 1974.] |2.66 MB]

When the Africans who had participated in the slave revolt on La Amistad were released in 1841, they came to Farmington and stayed with Austin Williams before their return to Africacitation|title=PDFlink| [http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Text/98001190.pdf National Historic Landmark Nomination: Austin F. Williams Carriagehouse and House] |342 KB|last=Cunningham|first=Jan |date=September 15, 1996|publisher=National Park Service and PDFlink| [http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Photos/98001190.pdf "Accompanying 10 photos, exterior and interior, from 1996 and undated"] |3.49 MB] and attended this church. The Amistad case was important for the abolitionist cause and significant in the history of slavery in the United States.

The church was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1975. It may possibly be included in the Farmington Historic District.

ee also

* First Church of Christ, Congregational (disambiguation)

References

External links

* [http://www.firstchurch1652.org/ First Church of Christ, Congregational, 1652 website]
* [http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/CT/Hartford/state4.html First Church of Christ listing on the National Register]
* [http://libraries.mit.edu/rvc/kidder/photos/CT05.html First Church of Christ images]
* [http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/amistad/ Amistad: Seeking Freedom in Connecticut, a National Park Service "Discover Our Shared Heritage" Travel Itinerary]