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 First Congregational Church - Great Barrington, MA Posted by:  neoc1
N 42° 11.723 W 073° 21.675
18T E 635303 N 4672769
First Congregational Church, more formally called the Society of the Congregational Church of Great Barrington, is located at 251 Main Street in Great Barrington, MA
Waymark Code: WM13B43
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 10/30/2020
Views: 2
The congregation of First Congregational Church of Great Barrington was first gathered in 1743. The current building replaces three previous meeting houses. The present stone structure was built, in 1882, upon the foundation of the previous structure which was destroyed by fire. The church was designed by William C. Brocklesby in the Romanesque Revival style and dedicated on September 21, 1883. Link
The walls of the structure are constructed of locally quarried blue-gray dolomite. The roof of the church and is made of green Vermont slate. A fourteen-foot rose window of blue cathedral glass is main feature of the west facade.
The interior features the largest remaining Hilborne Roosevelt organ which is installed in front of the aforementioned rose window. Unlike many other congregational churches the walls are lined with many stained glass windows.
A bronze plaque on the front lawn of the church is inscribed:
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
Gathered in 1743 as the Second Parish of Sheffield, the congregation
worshipped in The Meeting House which was located one half mile
from here in the Water Street Cemetery near the big bridge. It was one of
only three public buildings west of Springfield on the bourgeoning frontier
of Massachusetts Bay Colony. The first minister, Rev. Samuel Hopkins, a
22 year old graduate of Yale, found five men willing to accept an extremely
strict Puritan Covenant with God. It was the third church founded in this
Indian area of Housatunnock: Rev. Hopkins preached here for 25 years.
Eventually the people objected to his doctrinal and argumentative style of
preaching and the Town refused to pay his salary.
In 1813 the congregation moved to this site and built a Federal Clap-
board structure. Although there was a decided moderation of Puritan ethics
by this time, strict principles were enforced against the “amusements of the
ballroom,” “intoxicating liquors” and members who did not attend weekly
worship services.
In 1860 a stone church was built to replace the wooden building which
had been sold to the Town for use as the Town Hall. The new building
measured 108 x 60 ft. with a spire 140 ft. high. On March 4, 1882, fire
destroyed the house of worship and adjoining chapel.
This present structure, designed by W.C. Brocklesby, Hartford, CT, was
built upon the lower walls and foundations of the burned church and chapel
and dedicated Sept. 21, 1883. Inside is the largest remaining HILBORNE
L. ROOSEVELT ORGAN of 3,954 pipes, a gift of Timothy Hopkins, great,
great grandson of first minister. Attached by Cloister is the Parsonage/
Manse with its Carriage House (built 1884); architects were Peabody and
Stearns of Boston.
The Church Building, Manse and Organ were placed on the National
Register of Historic Places on August 20, 1992.
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Public/Private: Private
Tours Available?: No
Year Built: 1882
Web Address: [Web Link]
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