First Congregational Church of Litchfield

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The First Congregational Church of Litchfield after the
restoration.  Photo courtesy of the First Congregational
Church of Litchfield.

First Congregational Church of Litchfield

21 Torrington Road

Litchfield, CT

Website:  The First Congregational Church of Litchfield

The Treasure:  The First Congregational Church of Litchfield is a quintessential old New England church, beautifully expressing the character of its time.

Accessibility: The exterior can be viewed anytime at 21 Torrington Road in Litchfield. The interior probably looks its best at worship time on Sunday mornings at 10:30.

Background:  Some say it’s the most photographed church building in New England. With its distinctive steeple, fluted columns, and perfect symmetry, the First Congregational Church of Litchfield manages the neat trick of appearing stoically formal and graciously welcoming at the same time. The unadorned interior offers a perfect complement to the promise of the exterior—it’s refreshingly clean and balanced with no ostentatious frills.

Pews and pulpit in the interior of the First Congregational Church
of Litchfield.  Photo courtesy of the First Congregational Church
of Litchfield.

Built in 1829, this building served as its congregation’s third meetinghouse. The first building had been constructed in 1723, just a few years after the first settlers arrived. When the congregation outgrew its first home, a larger one was built in 1761. And then they outgrew that one, too.

Lyman Beecher in a photograph by
Matthew Brady, between 1855 and 1865.
Source:  Wikimedia Commons

Active in Litchfield from 1810 to 1826, Lyman Beecher was the most famous preacher to serve as minister to this congregation. At the time of his arrival, he had already earned a reputation for his sermon concerning the duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton. However, his major claim to fame belongs to six sermons on intemperance—drunkenness—that he delivered and published at Litchfield in 1814. These impassioned speeches remained popular and sold well for over 50 years.

But tastes change. In the post-Civil War era, the graceful old meetinghouse fell out of favor. It was in fact considered an eyesore, with Henry Ward Beecher (son of Lyman Beecher, brother of Harriet Beecher Stowe, and a skilled preacher in his own right) pronouncing, “There is not a single line or feature in the old building suggesting taste or beauty.” A fourth church building—this time in the newly-fashionable Victorian Gothic style—was built and the old church building was neglected for over 50 years. In 1930, with Colonial revival movements stirring around the country, the congregation tore down their Victorian Gothic building, returning to their 1829 building. Now renowned for its plain beauty, the First Congregational Church of Litchfield is home to an active United Church of Christ congregation and all are invited to worship every Sunday morning at 10:30.

From a brochure for the restoration--showing the
classic design of the church.
Image courtesy of the First Congregational Church
of Litchfield.

Front facade of the First Congregational Church of
Litchfield during restoration.  Photo courtesy of the
First Congregational Church of Litchfield.

Notes from the Editor:  New England churches built in the two hundred years between 1640 and 1840 often were designed to reflect the beliefs of the Protestant Nonconformists, better known in America as the Puritans. The dignified yet plain meetinghouse of the First Congregational Church of Litchfield is typical of the Puritan style. These Congregational churches were independent, sometimes nurturing social movements such as abolitionism, women’s suffrage, and the temperance movement. It was also typical to call their building a meetinghouse, disdaining the fancy airs associated with the term “church.”

Cotton Mather, a famed American Puritan preacher and historian, had this to say in 1726: “We have modest and handsome Houses for the Worship of God, not set off with Gaudy, Pompous, Theatrical Fineries, but suited unto the Simplicity of Christian Worship.” Anything that smacked of the Roman Catholic Church or the Anglican Church was unacceptable. There were no vestments, candles, or crucifixes at the Litchfield meetinghouse.

Other Recommended Sites:  Litchfield is a historic town. Explore its history through the Litchfield Historical Society, which operates the Litchfield Historical Society Museum and two historic sites, the Tapping Reeve House and the Litchfield Law School.

Restored windows and shutters at the First Congregational Church of Litchfield.
Photo courtesy of the First Congregational Church of Litchfield.

Guest author for this entry:  Terry Price

Tour America's History Itinerary

Thursday’s destination:  Oral History of American Music Archive, Yale University

© 2012 Lee and Terry Price