Downtown in Hartford in Hartford County, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)

The Meeting House

Photographed By Michael Herrick, June 27, 2024

1. The Meeting House Marker

Inscription.

The Meeting House. . The Meeting House of The First Church of Christ in Hartford, "Center Church" Constructed in 1807 during the presidency of Thomas Jefferson, the building is Center Church's fourth Meeting House and is now the third oldest building in Hartford. Its architect is said to be Daniel Wadsworth, founder of Wadsworth Atheneum. The name "Meeting House" derives from the earliest years when, as the only public building in the city, it hosted all civic as well as religious gatherings. Today, Center Church, a diverse and inclusive faith community, continues to be active as a hub of worship and service in this Meeting House and the Church House.. Historical Facts of Note 1636: Arrival of the Reverend Thomas Hooker and followers from Cambridge, Massachusetts Bay Colony. They are known as the "Founders of Hartford." 1637: The settlement is named "Hartford" after Hertford, England, birthplace of the Reverend Samuel Stone, assistant to Hooker. 1636, 1640, 1739: Construction of first three meeting houses, the first two near the Old State House and the third at this site. 1638: Thomas Hooker preaches that democracy is founded in "the free consent of the governed," which inspired the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, a model for the U.S. Constitution. 1640: Ancient Burying Ground is officially laid out covering this entire block. Owned by the City of Hartford, it is restored and preserved by the Ancient Burying Ground Association. 1788: U.S. Constitution is ratified by CT delegates in the third Meeting House on this site. 1799: Hartford is shut down and residents gather on this site to mourn death of George Washington. 1881-1914: Stained glass windows are installed, five by Tiffany Studios, including windows honoring Horace Wells, discoverer of anesthesia, Thomas Gallaudet, founder of American School for the Deaf (both church members), and the Reverend Thomas Hooker. 1807: The fourth (current) Meeting House is constructed. 1813: The first Roman Catholic mass in Hartford is celebrated in this building. 1843: Abolitionist Frederick Douglass addresses a large crowd outside at this site. 1850: Steeple bell is restored and contains metal of original bell cast in England prior to 1632. 1881-1914: Stained glass windows are installed, five by Tiffany Studios, including windows honoring Horace Wells, discovererof anesthesia, Thomas Gallaudet, founder of American School for the Deaf (both church members), and the Reverend Thomas Hooker. 1909: Center Church House is erected at SW corner of this block for church's offices and for educational and social service programs focusing on Hartford's persons of need and immigrants. 1982: Over 600 CT residents gather here for a peaceful Unity Day rally as an alternative to a Ku Klux Klan "White Supremacy" event held in Meriden on the same date. 1994: Center Church congregation votes to formally document its affirmation of LGBTQ persons. 2019: The 1636 Heritage Partnership, Inc., a CT nonprofit and 501(c)(3), is incorporated to raise funds for the restoration and preservation of this Meeting House and the Church House. , ( photo captions ) , Frederic Edwin Church's "Hooker and Company Journeying through the Wilderness from Plymouth to Hartford, in 1636" in collection of Wadsworth Atheneum since 1859 , Third Meeting House, on this site 1739-1807 , Interior of Meeting House , Meeting House Steeple Bell , Reverend Thomas Hooker by Tiffany Studios, 1900

The Meeting House
of
The First Church of Christ in Hartford, "Center Church"
Constructed in 1807 during the presidency of Thomas Jefferson, the building is Center Church's fourth Meeting House and is now the third oldest building in Hartford.
Its architect is said to be Daniel Wadsworth, founder of Wadsworth Atheneum. The name "Meeting House" derives from the earliest years when, as the only public building in the city, it hosted all civic as well as
religious gatherings.
Today, Center Church, a diverse and inclusive faith community, continues to be active as a hub of worship and service in this Meeting House and the Church House. Historical Facts of Note
1636: Arrival of the Reverend Thomas Hooker and followers from Cambridge, Massachusetts Bay Colony. They are known as the "Founders of Hartford."
1637: The settlement is named "Hartford" after Hertford, England, birthplace of the Reverend Samuel Stone, assistant to Hooker.
1636, 1640, 1739: Construction of first three meeting houses, the first two near the Old State House and the third at this site.
1638: Thomas Hooker preaches that democracy is founded in "the free consent of the governed," which inspired the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, a model for the U.S. Constitution.

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1640: Ancient Burying Ground is officially laid out covering this entire block. Owned by the City of Hartford, it is restored and preserved by the Ancient Burying Ground Association.
1788: U.S. Constitution is ratified by CT delegates in the third Meeting House on this site.
1799: Hartford is shut down and residents gather on this site to mourn death of George Washington.
1881-1914: Stained glass windows are installed, five by Tiffany Studios, including windows honoring Horace Wells, discoverer of anesthesia, Thomas Gallaudet, founder of American School for the Deaf (both church members), and the Reverend Thomas Hooker.
1807: The fourth (current) Meeting House is constructed.
1813: The first Roman Catholic mass in Hartford is celebrated in this building.
1843: Abolitionist Frederick Douglass addresses a large crowd outside at this site.
1850: Steeple bell is restored and contains metal of original bell cast in England prior to 1632.
1881-1914: Stained glass windows are installed, five by Tiffany Studios, including windows honoring Horace Wells, discovererof anesthesia, Thomas Gallaudet, founder of American School for the Deaf (both church members), and the Reverend Thomas Hooker.
1909: Center Church House is erected at SW corner of this block for church's

Photographed By Michael Herrick, June 27, 2024

2. The Meeting House Marker

offices and for educational and social service programs focusing on Hartford's persons of need and immigrants.
1982: Over 600 CT residents gather here for a peaceful Unity Day rally as an alternative to a Ku Klux Klan "White Supremacy" event held in Meriden on the same date.
1994: Center Church congregation votes to formally document its affirmation of LGBTQ persons.
2019: The 1636 Heritage Partnership, Inc., a CT nonprofit and 501(c)(3), is incorporated to raise funds for the restoration and preservation of this Meeting House and the Church House.

( photo captions )
— Frederic Edwin Church's "Hooker and Company Journeying through the Wilderness from Plymouth to Hartford, in 1636" in collection of Wadsworth Atheneum since 1859
— Third Meeting House, on this site 1739-1807
— Interior of Meeting House
— Meeting House Steeple Bell
— Reverend Thomas Hooker by Tiffany Studios, 1900

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Government & Politics. A significant historical year for this entry is 1807.

Location. 41° 45.87′ N, 72° 40.442′ W. Marker is in Hartford, Connecticut, in Hartford County. It is in Downtown. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street and Gold Street, on the right when traveling south

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on Main Street. Located in front of Hartford’s Center Church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 675 Main Street, Hartford CT 06103, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Center Church (here, next to this marker); Frederick Douglass (a few steps from this marker); Hartford (a few steps from this marker); The Hartford Courant (within shouting distance of this marker); Rev. Samuel Stone (within shouting distance of this marker); This Approach (within shouting distance of this marker); Sacred to the Memory (within shouting distance of this marker); John Haynes (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hartford.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 28, 2024, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 35 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 28, 2024, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.